She’d have to face Samuel soon. She hadn’t been able to see his reaction very clearly as he read the paper, but she had seen enough to know that it had affected him greatly. The only thing she didn’t know was the future that it would lead to. Would she lose everything?
She closed her eyes. If God knows the beginning from the end, He knows how things will turn out. She prayed that things would work out the best for everyone concerned. Then she left things in God’s hands. I will have belief and know that even if things look dreadful, God will make things right.
“Good night, Lois,” Mary whispered. When she turned to leave, she came face to face with Samuel in the doorway.
“If you’re not busy, I think we need to talk,” he said in a low voice.
Mary swallowed nervously. She wanted to say something—anything, but words wouldn’t come.
“Come with me,” he said, before disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.
Mary could feel her chest tightening as she followed him. Walking into Samuel’s office, she could feel the tension right away. Samuel was quiet, but he watched her intently the entire time.
He then walked over to the sofa and sat down, motioning for her to sit across from him. “Please, have a seat.”
Chapter 23
“Before you say anything, I owe you a huge apology. You saw the agreement, didn’t you?”
“I did. The agreement between you, Beth and William.”
“I had a dreadful childhood. My Dat abandoned me and my mudder and then when Mamm passed away I went drifting from one foster family to another until the authorities found my Amish grandmother. Things were a little better then when I became a part of the familye of Gott. But still, I had no close family and my grandmother soon passed away.” She looked at him. Her past was her only excuse for her deception.
“Mary, that doesn’t excuse your lies.”
He wasn’t going to understand. “My husband died before my eyes as he was walking out on me after I told him I was pregnant. I had no way to raise the child and didn’t want her to end up like me. I wanted her to be happy and carefree.” She looked up at him and he didn’t say anything. “Beth and William had no kinner and they agreed to take mine and raise her.”
“Why didn’t you say something when Beth died? I’ve invested my time and money into that child. A child that is no blood relative of mine.” His voice was louder now.
Mary gasped. It hadn’t occurred to her to look at it like that. “But she was Beth’s child.”
“Nee! Not really.”
Mary could only wonder where things stood now. Was Lois in danger of being tossed away with her?
Samuel seemed to be at a loss just as she was because he sat there silently for some time. Finally he spoke. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve gone through. I had no idea you were holding onto such secrets.”
Not knowing what to make of what he was saying, Mary just sat there in a daze. She could feel her lips quivering, but there were still no words coming to mind. The time had come to be completely honest about everything. “I saw what you were reading before I left this morning. I didn’t know how to tell you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself sooner than this.”
Samuel stared at her, almost squinting as he said, “Jah, I read it. I probably shouldn’t have, but I can’t take that back now. I just wish you had trusted me enough to tell me, but I do understand how difficult it must’ve been. My heart broke for you thinking what a difficult decision you must’ve faced, and you must’ve faced it more than once. I can’t imagine living through all that you have, and I certainly can’t fathom walking through life with such a heavy burden in my heart.”
Mary’s throat felt like it was closing up; she couldn’t breathe as freely as she wanted, but she was slowly beginning to understand the meaning behind the tone of his voice. “So, you’re not mad?”
Samuel shook his head. “Nee. I’m not mad, of course not. How could I be? What you did for Beth and William was the most noble thing that I’ve ever heard of in all of my thirty-five years of life. I was initially skeptical when Beth first broke the news to me about her expecting a boppli, but that was because I knew that she and William had been trying unsuccessfully to have children for a long time. I know miracles happen when you least expect them, though, so I guess I just thought Gott had finally heard their prayers. Now that I’ve heard the truth, it paints you in a far different light.”
Here it comes, Mary thought, her posture immediately becoming rigid getting ready to be let down all over again. “I’m sorry,” she said sniffing back tears.
“Nee, don’t be upset,” he said. “I’m just saying what you did showed me what’s truly in your heart. You’ve put the happiness of others before your own countless times; even my own. You could’ve told me right away and taken Lois from me, but you didn’t. You allowed me to love Lois as if she were a part of my familye. You stayed so she would be happy and so that I would be too.” A faint smile touched his lips as his voice trailed off.
Mary sat there, almost oblivious to the world around her. What was happening? It was as if he saw her struggle the same way that she did. Every other man in the world would have seen her past as unforgivable and horrid, and her lies as a betrayal. Samuel was commending her for facing so many obstacles and doing what she had to for her baby.
“I didn’t know what to do, but I didn’t know how to tell you either,” she said, her sadness spilling out in her voice. “Do you hate me now? You don’t, do you?”
“Hate? I don’t think I could ever hate you,” Samuel said, standing up. He stepped toward her and reached out his hand. Not knowing what else to do, she extended her own, and then rose out of the chair as he pulled her to her feet. “To be honest, reading that letter has made me fall more in love with you.”
She caught her breath, letting her hand fall back to her side.
He chuckled and cleared his throat. “That just slipped out.”
“You love me?”
He looked into her eyes. “Who wouldn’t love you, Mary?”
“Um, a lot of people. My late husband, for one.”
“I didn’t know him too well, but I know he was a fool. He didn’t know what he had and I don’t want to be charged with making a similar mistake. Mary, will you marry me?”
This time when he asked, it was different. He asked from the heart and she could feel the love in his words.
He held out his hand again and she didn’t hesitate to put her hand back in his. Mary’s chest felt as though it was on the verge of exploding. Out of every possibility that had crossed her mind earlier that day, this was not close to one of them. She never expected him to be so understanding and accepting. Good things had rarely come her way. “Really?” she asked, her voice as soft as the quietest whisper.
“Jah, really,” he said, whispering back. “We’ll marry soon, and you’ll never have to worry about losing Lois. I give you my word on that. Even if you reject me, I’ll allow you to take Lois and help you with her, so you two will never have to worry. Lois will have the life you envisioned for her.”
Her defences broke down, and the brave front that she’d been holding up since Lois was born was shattered. The tears fell down her cheeks. “Really?” she asked again, still in disbelief. “I was so afraid to face you after I saw what you were reading. I thought you would never want to see me again. I can’t even believe what you’re saying right now. I thought you’d turn me out, and Lois too.”
“Well, believe it.” Samuel laughed and then crouched down beside her gripping her hand tighter.
“You’re so nice. Beth made me a similar offer. They said I could live with them and they’d help me all they could, but it wasn’t ideal and I want the very best for her.” Mary watched him intently, their gaze interlocked as time slowed. As he leaned in, she closed her eyes and waited. As the tears trickled down her skin, Samuel’s soft lips touched hers, sending chills through her body. When the embrace finally ended, she opened her eyes slowly
and looked back at him with a smile that she felt would stay on her lips forever.
“I’ll give you time to think it over. Will you need time to think it over?”
“I won’t. I’ve been giving it some thought for a long time.”
“You have?”
She nodded. “I’ll marry you, if you’re sure.”
He laughed and hugged her to him. She nuzzled her face into his solid chest. “I am sure. Surer than I’ve ever been about anything.” He released her. “When we marry, I will officially be her vadder, and nobody ever has to know how our little familye came to be,” Samuel said, as he blinked back tears. “We’ll tell Lois when she’s old enough to understand.”
“Jah, okay,” Mary said, leaning forward hungry for one more kiss.
Samuel stepped back. “I believe I just said, 'I love you.'”
Mary giggled. “You did.”
As Samuel wiped the tears from Mary’s face, he asked, “And?”
“I love you, too,” she said with a giggle. Thanks to Samuel, she had a home and a place where she belonged. Lois would have the basic necessities of life and never go to bed hungry. Most of all, Lois would have both a mother and a father who loved her.
“You’ve made me realize there are more joys to life than running a successful business. You and Lois have changed me.”
Mary could scarcely stop tears from falling. What would she have done if he hadn’t come along? She sent up a silent prayer of thanks. She now knew that all things were possible with God. He had shined His light into the darkness of her life, changing it forever. Now, the burden of the secret was lifted, and best of all, she and Lois had a lifetime of happiness in front of them with Samuel's love to hold their family together.
* * *
Thank you for reading
The Amish Woman And Her Secret Baby.
* * *
Coming Soon in the
Amish Women of Pleasant Valley series -
Book 3
The Amish Widower’s Promise.
Click here to add your email if you’d like to receive Samantha Price’s new release alerts.
Other books by Samantha Price:
Stand-Alone Christmas novel:
In Time For An Amish Christmas
AMISH MISFTIS
Book 1 The Amish Girl Who Never Belonged
Book 2 The Amish Spinster
Book 3 The Amish Bishop’s Daughter
Book 4 The Amish Single Mother
Book 5 The Temporary Amish Nanny
Book 6 Jeremiah’s Daughter
Book 7 My Brother’s Keeper.
SEVEN AMISH BACHELORS
Book 1 The Amish Bachelor
Book 2 His Amish Romance
Book 3 Joshua’s Choice
Book 4 Forbidden Amish Romance
Book 5 The Quiet Amish Bachelor
Book 6 The Determined Amish Bachelor
Book 7 Amish Bachelor’s Secret
EXPECTANT AMISH WIDOWS series.
Book 1 Amish Widow's Hope
Book 2 The Pregnant Amish Widow
Book 3 Amish Widow's Faith
Book 4 Their Son's Amish Baby
Book 5 Amish Widow's Proposal
Book 6 The Pregnant Amish Nanny
Book 7 A Pregnant Widow's Amish Vacation
Book 8 The Amish Firefighter's Widow
Book 9 Amish Widow's Secret
Book 10 The Middle-Aged Amish Widow
Book 11 Amish Widow's Escape
Book 12 Amish Widow's Christmas
Book 13 Amish Widow’s New Hope
Book 14 Amish Widow’s Story
Book 15 Amish Widow’s Decision
Book 16 Amish Widow’s Trust
AMISH LOVE BLOOMS
Book 1 Amish Rose
Book 2 Amish Tulip
Book 3 Amish Daisy
Book 4 Amish Lily
Book 5 Amish Violet
Book 6 Amish Willow
AMISH BRIDES
Book 1 Arranged Marriage
Book 2 Falling in Love
Book 3 Finding Love
Book 4 Amish Second Loves
Book 5 Amish Silence
AMISH TWIN HEARTS
Book 1 Amish Trading Places
Book 2 Amish Truth Be Told
Book 3 The Big Beautiful Amish Woman
Book 4 The Amish Widow and the Millionaire
AMISH ROMANCE SECRETS
Book 1 A Simple Choice
Book 2 Annie’s Faith
Book 3 A Small Secret
Book 4 Ephraim's Chance
Book 5 A Second Chance
Book 6 Choosing Amish
AMISH WEDDING SEASON
Book 1 Impossible Love
Book 2 Love at First
Book 3 Faith's Love
Book 4 The Trials of Mrs. Fisher
Book 5 A Simple Change
AMISH SECRET WIDOWS' SOCIETY (Cozy Mystery Series)
Book 1 The Amish Widow
Book 2 Hidden
Book 3 Accused
Book 4 Amish Regrets
Book 5 Amish House of Secrets
Book 6 Amish Undercover
Book 7 Amish Breaking Point
Book 8 Plain Murder
Book 9 Plain Wrong
Book 10 Amish Mystery: That Which Was Lost
About the Author
Samantha Price is a best selling author who knew she wanted to become a writer at the age of seven, while her grandmother read to her Peter Rabbit in the sun room. Though the adventures of Peter and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail started Samantha on her creative journey, it is now her love of Amish culture that inspires her to write. Her writing is clean and wholesome, with more than a dash of sweetness. Though she has penned over eighty Amish Romance and Amish Mystery books, Samantha is just as in love today with exploring the spiritual and emotional journeys of her characters as she was the day she first put pen to paper. Samantha lives in a quaint Victorian cottage with three rambunctious dogs.
Click here to add your email if you’d like to receive Samantha Price’s new release alerts.
www.samanthapriceauthor.com
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The Amish Woman And Her Secret Baby: Amish Women of Pleasant Valley Page 10