An Amish Mother for His Twins

by Patricia Davids

  “I haven’t convinced you?” There was a smile in his voice.

  “You haven’t.”

  “Maisie has a temper.”

  “I’m working on overcoming that.”

  “Don’t work too hard at it. I find I admire a woman who can give me a piece of her mind and argue with me and still make me want to kiss her.”

  Maisie pressed her lips tightly together. She wanted to be kissed but not because she looked like the woman he loved.

  “Oh, Maisie, what can I say that will make you hear me and not your doubts? You see into my heart. You know what I’m feeling the way Annie never did. I see a hundred ways in which you are different from your sister and I love every one of them.”

  “You said you loved my sister, too. How can I be sure this love is for me and not something left from loving her?”

  “I did fall in love with your sister. I will never tell you differently. As I have gotten to know you, I have grown to love you. I didn’t fall in love with you. My love grew so slowly I didn’t know it was happening. Then it was there, like a sunflower forever turning its face to the sun. You are the woman who loves my children as much as I do. A woman who has a strong and enduring faith in God. I love you, Maisie. Not because you look like Annie or because you cook for me and keep my house, but in spite of all that. More than anything, I trust you will always love me and never leave me.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I have seen what kind of woman you are. I see your love for me in the way your eyes light up when I walk into the room. I feel it when your hand touches mine. I hear it in your voice even when you’re scolding me. It took me a while to figure it out, but I’m sure now. I love you, Maisie whatever-your-middle-name-is. I’m going to kiss you. Speak up if you have any objections.”

  It was all happening so fast. “I’m sure something will occur to me.”

  He smiled. “Until it does.” He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers.

  Every doubt and worry she had fell away as her heart soared with happiness. She slipped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with all the joy in her soul. She loved him and he loved her. She would never doubt it again. When he drew away, she reluctantly let him go.

  He sighed and tucked her head beneath his chin. “Have I convinced you?”

  “Not totally.”

  He chuckled. “I should’ve known. What will it take?”

  “If you would hold me like this forever and never let me go I might be convinced.”

  “Oh, if only I could but the kinder will want to be fed soon. Will you marry me, Maisie?”

  “I think I will have to.” She leaned back to look up at him. “How else can I show you how much I love you?”

  “You could start with another kiss?”

  She cupped his face with her hands. “Far be it from me to argue about such an important issue.”

  He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Is this how I win one of our squabbles?”

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “Nee, but I suspect we will have fewer in the future.”

  He laughed and hugged her tightly. “I’m not so sure about that, my love.”

  “We should notify the bishop of our decision soon. He’ll be surprised.”

  “Don’t be too sure. It was his idea.”

  She pushed back to look at him. “What was?”

  “He suggested to me, because his wife suggested to him, that I should marry you and give the children a mother instead of a nanny.”

  “Did he really?”

  “I thought it was a preposterous idea.”

  “Oh, you did? Was that why you proposed?”

  “Something tells me I’m slipping onto thin ice again. What’s for supper?”

  * * *

  Maisie burst out laughing, as he hoped she would. He wasn’t the least bit interested in eating. He wanted to kiss her again. Nothing she baked could come close to the sweet taste of her lips. He laid his forehead against hers. “Gott took us on a roundabout path to each other, didn’t he?”

  She reached up to brush a lock of his hair off his face. “Perhaps that was so we will never take each other for granted.”

  He captured her hand and kissed her palm. “How soon can we marry? I don’t want to wait another day to call you my own.”

  “Since we have both been married before we won’t need a big ceremony. Two weeks after he reads the banns I’m guessing. We can join the church here at the same time.”

  “Do you want a big wedding?” He would give her whatever her heart desired.

  “I had that. I don’t need it again. Just a few of our new friends and neighbors will be fine.”

  “Then let’s go see the bishop in the morning.” He wanted to go now, but he knew she wouldn’t want to wake the babies and take them out again.

  A knock at the door made her move away from him. “Whoever it is, they have terrible timing,” he muttered as he crossed the room and opened the door.

  Lilly Arnett stood on the porch. “Is Maisie here?”

  He stepped aside. “She is. Come in.”

  Lilly was grinning from ear to ear as she made a beeline into the kitchen. “I have the best news. The man who was going to rent my property has changed his mind. It’s yours if you want it, Maisie.”

  His love laid one finger alongside her lips. “Did you hear that, Nathan? I can have a place of my own. What a tough decision.”

  He frowned. She was teasing him, wasn’t she? He caught the twinkle in her eyes and crossed to her side. “Shall I help you pack?”

  She laughed. “Danki, Lilly, but I won’t be needing a place.”

  Lilly’s face fell. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I’m going to marry a lumberjack with a nice cabin that needs only a few minor improvements.”

  Lilly grinned. “The cabin or the lumberjack?”

  Nathan chuckled as he draped his arm over Maisie’s shoulders. “She’ll improve both.”

  “Congratulations,” Lilly said, taking Maisie’s hand. “The two of you deserve every happiness.”

  “Can you do us a favor?” Maisie asked suddenly. “Could you stay with the babies for a little bit?”

  “Oh, I’d love to.”

  “Danki, we won’t be long.” Maisie took his hand and pulled him toward the door.

  He followed her outside, curious as to where she wanted to go. There was a full moon rising in the east, giving enough light to see by. She chose the path that led to Lilly’s house. Where was she going?

  When they reached the bridge, she stopped. The moon shone down, making the rippling brook sparkle with reflected light. The sound of the stream rushing over the rocks drowned out everything but the beating of his heart as she gazed at him in the moonlight.

  She cupped his face with her hands. “The first time I saw this bridge I knew you had built it.”

  “How?”

  “I just did. I thought then it would be a wonderful place to kiss the man I love.”

  He drew her close. “Shall we see if it is?”

  She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I thought you would never ask.”

  “What did I do to deserve you?”

  She rose on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, “Only Gott knows that. I’m just following the path he set my feet upon.” Then she kissed him, and he knew his heart was truly home.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, look for these other books by Patricia Davids:

  An Amish Wife for Christmas

  Shelter from the Storm

  The Amish Teacher’s Dilemma

  A Haven for Christmas

  Someone to Trust

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Their Surprise Amish Marriage by Jocelyn McClay.

  Dear Rea
der,

  When I was growing up I used to wish I had a twin. What fun that would have been. I also wished for a sister but one never showed up.

  During my years as an NICU nurse I cared for hundreds of twins, a few triplets and even sextuplets. There is another story.

  The parents of twins faced the same hardships as other new parents but their trouble wasn’t double as long as they were both committed to caring for each other as well as their babies.

  It isn’t only the Amish who step up to help new families. We Englisch do it, too. Grandparents, aunts, sisters, brothers—they all come forward to help. It warms the heart to see so much shared love when love seems to be absent in our current society. It isn’t, I assure you. Babies will always bring out the best in people. I think that’s why God made them. They test our hearts and comfort our souls.

  I hope you enjoyed reading about Nathan and Maisie. There are more North Country Amish stories coming in the future. Stay tuned.

  Love to all,

  Patricia Davids

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  Their Surprise Amish Marriage

  by Jocelyn McClay

  Chapter One

  She had to tell him. Stealing a glance at the dark-haired man across the grove, Rachel Mast rested her hand against her stomach. She didn’t know if this bout of nausea was exacerbated by the thought of telling Benjamin, or just another round in the seemingly endless succession she’d had lately. In this case, it was most likely just the thought of talking to Ben. They hadn’t exchanged a word with each other since the day Aaron left. Since the day they’d... Swallowing against the prickling sensation at the back of her throat, Rachel pressed her hand more tightly against her stomach. She had to tell him.

  Mired in thought, she flinched when words were spoken just off her shoulder.

  “I’m so glad Ben came today. His appearances at these events have been about as rare as yours.” Rebecca’s comments told Rachel her younger sister’s attention was also on the man chatting with a young Amish woman while he tapped a spile into a maple several trees away.

  Turning her back on the couple, Rachel took the clean pail from Rebecca to hang its handle on the hook tacked via a spile to their tree. “We were both baptized into the church this fall. Maybe we’ve felt ending our rumspringa meant no longer attending the youngie gatherings.” Or maybe Ben felt the same guilt and shame she did. In the past six weeks, it’d been a race to see who’d depart a room the fastest when the other one appeared.

  “But neither of you are married.”

  Rachel felt the blood drain from her face. Rebecca’s mittened hand flew to her mouth. “I mean... I know you thought you’d be married to Aaron by now. I’m... I’m sorry I mentioned...” Reaching out, she touched Rachel’s shoulder before turning to hurry back to the sled, parked in the middle of the grove behind two winter-coated Belgian horses. Rachel knew Rebecca’s haste was more an embarrassed escape rather than a need to gather additional pails for the clusters of young people tapping the nearby maple trees for syrup.

  Upon reaching the sled, Rebecca anxiously glanced in her direction. Rachel sighed. She couldn’t blame her sister. Rachel had been counting down the days until her and Aaron’s wedding announcement could be made. All plans were in place for a customary late fall wedding. Until Aaron had been kicked by a horse on baptism Sunday, spending the morning at the hospital getting a complicated fracture set instead of becoming a member of the church along with Rachel.

  Although sorely disappointed, Rachel hadn’t despaired. Aaron would surely be baptized sometime after the Christmas season so they could be married. No one, least of all her, expected him to disappear into the Englisch world in January, a few days prior to doing so. And she couldn’t follow him—even if she knew where he went—as having been baptized, she’d be shunned if she left.

  Inconsolable, Ben—also stunned by his brother’s departure—had given her a ride home so they could commiserate in private. Rachel flushed as she recalled the shock and grief that had extended to comfort being sought. And offered. Which had led to...

  Sagging against the tree, Rachel warmed chilled hands on her now-heated cheeks as she watched the clear liquid spilling down the spile into the bucket, an indication the maple sap was indeed running. She wished everything were just as clear to her. How naive she’d been, when her life had seemed so simple a few months ago. Oh, Aaron, why did you leave? When are you coming back? Are you coming back?

  If Ben had heard from Aaron, surely he’d have told someone who would’ve mentioned it to her?

  Rachel pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples. Even though the late February afternoon was just above freezing, she began to perspire. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Ach, the Old Testament verse was certainly true in this case. Rachel swallowed against another bout of nausea. Being sick in the snow would only raise questions she couldn’t answer. And she had enough of those herself. What would Ben say? Would he believe her? Would he ask her to marry him? What if he didn’t? What if she wed Ben and Aaron came back? Marriage was for life. Her nose prickled with the threat of tears. There seemed no good options.

  What if she waited, and didn’t marry, leaving her to face even more shame? And Aaron never returned? Pressing her cheek against the rough bark of the maple tree, Rachel panted shallowly, the crisp winter air a contrast to the bile at the back of her throat.

  She was running out of time. She had to tell Benjamin.

  * * *

  Benjamin Raber gently tapped the spile into the maple tree, listening—without hearing—to the constant chatter from the woman at his elbow. He was glad Lydia Troyer had clung to him like a cocklebur to a horse’s mane upon his arrival at the youngies outing. It kept him from talking with others. It helped keep his eyes from straying, like they did now to the tall brunette woman across the way, currently resting her head with its neatly pinned kapp against a tree.

  Frowning, Ben stilled his hands as his eyes narrowed. Was Rachel all right? He shifted his weight in her direction before, tightening his lips, Ben continued with his task. Rachel didn’t need his help. Not that she’d tell him either way. She was like a startled deer whenever she came in sight of him now, the way she’d jump and dash off. Besides, he wouldn’t know what to say to her anyway. Lead congregated in his stomach. Or what he’d say to his brother if he ever saw him again.

  “Are you all right?”

  He blinked at Lydia’s question, having momentarily forgotten she was there.

  “Ja.” Ben redirected his hammer, glad he’d been tapping gently instead of swinging away when he hit his hand. Of course, a whack to the head might be just what he needed. Firming his jaw, he took the bucket from Lydia and set it on the hook. A whack to the head was surely what he’d needed weeks ago when a teary-eyed Rachel had curled against his chest and whispered, I’m so glad you’re here with me. Could you just hold me? Ben stared unseeing at the silver lid as he fastened it to the top of the spile. Of course he had. He’d dreamed of holding Rachel for years. When she’d looked up at him, it’d seemed the most natural thing in the world to kiss her. And when she’d kissed him back...

  “Wait up!” He could hear Lydia crunching through the snow behind him as he stalked to the next tree. “I thought you said that tree was big enough to support another tap and bucket.”

  Ben grunted. “Sometimes just because something is possible, it doesn’t mean you should do it. It leads to...trouble.” Plucking the drill from where he hooked it on his belt, Ben placed it against the bark, angled up so when the sap flowed, it would drip down to the bucket.

  Lydia placed her mittened hand over B
en’s bare fingers. Furrowing his brow, he looked up to see her simpering smile at a very, very close distance.

  “I hope you don’t really feel that way. Because I’m hoping it’s possible you give me a ride home today.”

  Ben’s fingers flexed and the sound of the power drill cut into the crisp afternoon. Lydia jerked her hand and herself back. Thankful to have borrowed the drill from the furniture shop where he worked, Ben shifted his attention back to the tool in his hand. He sighed as he continued his task. He wished he had the glib tongue of his friend and former coworker, Samuel Schrock. Samuel would know how to flirt back. Or did before he was married. Ben’s brother, Aaron, also would’ve known how to respond. Only too well. Ben’s hands tightened. He winced when the drill bit cut farther into the maple than he’d intended. Carefully withdrawing it, he patted the tree, silently apologizing.

  Clearing wood shavings from the edge of the newly drilled hole, he gave Lydia what he hoped passed as a smile. “I need to get back home. Got to help with chores tonight.”

  He didn’t have to; it was the quickest excuse he could think of. But, having said it, it’s what he would do. That was the way Ben worked. His folks would surely be surprised to see him home early today, as he was only here this afternoon because his mother had basically kicked him out of the house. Things need to go back to some semblance of normal around here. We don’t know why Aaron left, when or even if he’s coming back. She’d pinned Benjamin with a look. I’m tired of you pacing around the house like a lonely goat when you’re not at work. Aaron is gone. That doesn’t change our lives. We have to go on.

  Ben’s younger siblings were attending the event, an activity planned when the late February weather finally warmed up enough during the day to prompt the sap to run. Ben had wanted to come, while simultaneously wanting to avoid it. The reason for his conflict was leaning against a tree several yards distant.

  Except that she wasn’t. Not anymore. A stolen glance revealed Rachel had straightened and was staring in his direction. Ben fumbled the spile and hook he was pulling from his pocket, almost dropping them into the snow. This was the first time she’d looked at him in weeks. Surprisingly, she held his gaze. He felt as frozen as the snowman some of the younger attendants had rolled up in the small clearing.