“I assume you made sure your name was on the child’s birth certificate?”
Leviticus glanced at Verity. Her head was down, her hands neatly folded in her lap. Where did she get her strength? “I thought it was. When I asked to see the document, she made up some excuse about Naomi’s name being spelled wrong and how she’d send me a copy. Yesterday was the first time I saw the amended copy. My name was nowhere on it, and the lawyer said I could easily be charged with kidnapping.” He cleared his throat, repositioned himself in his seat. He took a nervous glance Verity’s way. She sat looking straight ahead, as if she’d rather be anywhere than this office hearing what a fool he had been.
“There was no short-term marriage between you and this woman?”
Leviticus answered. “Nee.”
Sam’s informal demeanor evaporated. He was all business now. “I thought Amish folk married before they started a family.”
Otto cleared his throat, his fingers tugging at his beard. Verity slumped in her chair as if in pain. “We usually do, but Leviticus wasn’t a member of the church at the time the kind was conceived.”
“Ah.”
Leviticus loathed what he was about to admit, especially with Verity listening. “Julie and I were sharing an apartment, living together, but only for a short time.”
“You live with her for more than six months? Ever refer to her as your wife?”
“Nee. Our relationship wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?”
If the floor had opened and swallowed him, Leviticus would have been happy to fall in the hole.
Otto sat grim-faced, listening to Leviticus’s words, disapproval washing out his complexion. He’d been told the bare facts weeks ago, but now the whole story of Naomi’s conception was coming out. He tapped his fingers against the leather arm of his chair.
“I was in the army at the time and living the life, if you know what I mean.”
Sam’s head bobbed. “I do. These things happen. But you were honorably discharged?”
“Ya.”
“Good. That’s a plus. You supported your child?”
“I did while I was away, and during the time I was in the hospital recuperating from my wounds.” Leviticus saw Verity’s head turn away from him. “Once I picked Naomi up, I stopped paying the nanny’s wages. There was no agreement put down on paper about child support from Julie. I thought she got on with her life. Forgot about me and the kind until yesterday.”
“Okay.” Sam scribbled several lines of information down before he spoke again. “Let me consider Florida laws and see what’s going to make or break this case.” He rose and gave Leviticus another bone-crunching handshake and then turned and patted Verity affectionately on the back. “Wish I had better news for you,” he told Leviticus. “But you’re going to have to prove paternity with a DNA test and then we’ll have to fight this in courts. Parental rights cases can be messy and take a long time.” Brows raised, his sympathetic gaze redirected solely on Leviticus. “As I see it, you don’t have a leg to stand on, but if we can get something on this Hernandez woman, we might stand a chance.”
“It’s best we leave that. Julie’s Naomi’s birth mother. I won’t slander her in public.”
Sam cleared his throat. “She’s happy to smear you. Why not go in for the kill? She’s taken your child, lied, implied she’d have you arrested for kidnapping. But maybe you still have feelings for this woman?”
“Nee, nothing like that. It’s just not our way.” For the first time in a long time, Leviticus meant it when he said our way. He was a Plain man now. A man of faith. He’d put his trust in Gott. Plain men didn’t slander women, even if they had ripped their heart out by stealing their kinner.
Sam walked them out, bear-hugged Otto, shook Leviticus’s hand again and nodded at Verity.
Leviticus put his straw hat back on his head as he headed for the door, Verity by his side, his legs weak and trembling. “You’ll let me know when you find something out?”
“Sure will.”
Otto, Verity and Leviticus were silent as they strolled to the elevator. Verity hurried ahead, as if what she had heard was more than she could handle. Leviticus’s heart broke for her, but then his mind went into overdrive. There was so much they needed to talk about. Why had he waited so long to confide in her? He rubbed the back of his neck. And there was Julie to contend with. She wasn’t cut out to be a mamm. He had to find a way to get Naomi back.
Otto slowed his step. “You okay?”
Leviticus rubbed the stubble growing on his chin. Am I okay?
“Nee. I keep seeing Naomi reaching out to Verity, crying mamm.” He threaded a hand through his hair and replaced his straw hat. He glanced up at Verity waiting for the elevator to arrive. “She loves that child as much as I do. Losing her has ripped the heart out of her. Faith doesn’t understand where her little schweschder went and keeps asking for her.” His shoulders slumped. “Julie’s selfish, dedicated to her job. I can’t understand her marrying a man who wants kinner. I had to beg her to keep the boppli when she found out she was pregnant. She wanted no part of being a mamm back then.”
“Maybe she woke up to what she’d done. There has to be some good in her.”
Moments later, Leviticus stepped off the elevator with Verity following close behind. He massaged the constant ache in the back of his neck. “I keep praying for Gott’s will, asking Him to show me what to do, but all I hear back is deafening silence.”
“Gott has a plan for Naomi’s life.” Otto tugged at his beard.
“I’m trying to find peace, but I’m new at this thing called faith.” And he was trying to be strong, for Verity’s sake as much as his own.
Seconds later, they stepped into bright sunlight and meandered down the sidewalk. Leviticus, afraid to ask the bishop, spoke anyway. “What if it’s not Gott’s will for me to have Naomi back?”
His heart pounded in his ears. Was it possible? Could the Gott he now served ask such a thing of him, of Verity? He chewed at his nail. Could he live without his daughter and still serve a Gott who allowed such a thing to happen?
“The Ordnung requires we trust Gott. It also reminds us we are His beloved children.”
Leviticus’s hands tightened into fists at his sides; he wished he could reach out and take Verity’s hand. This situation was his fault, but she suffered for his mistakes. He couldn’t fault her in any way. Naomi had become her daughter as much as his own. But somehow, they’d have to learn to accept Gott’s will. Were his blunders too much for her to forgive? Was he asking too much?
“You sure you two are okay?”
“Ya, we’re okay,” Leviticus said, hopeful Albert’s being home would distract Verity from her worry for Naomi.
Please, Gott. Help us find a way to accept Your will for our lives, our child’s life. Don’t let my growing faith veer to the right or to the left. And, Gott, help Verity to forgive me and find a way to love me as much as I’ve grown to love her.
Chapter Nineteen
Four long tables had been pushed close together to accommodate the crowd of family and friends who’d come to celebrate Albert’s blessed homecoming and Thanksgiving Day meal.
Verity seated herself in between Clara and Leviticus with a sigh. There had been a lot of last-minute things to do. Lack of sleep and more work than she could handle had her tired and not just a little grumpy.
“Verity.” Leviticus nudged her. “Would you pass along the sweet potato casserole?”
“I’m sorry. Did you say something?” Verity redirected her attention her husband’s way. Leviticus’s arm was extended, patiently waiting, the sticky casserole dish held out for her to take. She did as she was asked, smiling her apology to Clara.
I haven’t said a single word to Leviticus the whole meal. She really hadn’t talked at length to anyone. She glanced down at the head
of the table. Albert was seated in his place of honor, looking fit as a man could look after days of hospital care.
Verity couldn’t help but notice how lackluster her husband’s expression was. Like her, his thoughts were no doubt on Naomi. He was putting on a show of normalcy for his daed. Verity lowered her head, pushed round a slice of turkey, her appetite poor. Since learning the truth about Leviticus’s past she’d spent so much time searching for understanding, for a way to forgive his secret life as a soldier and the painful loss of Naomi. Some way she had to be able to trust him again. But being Amish had taught her to forgive, helped her finally find a measure of peace. It was Gott’s job to deal with Leviticus’s past and to bring Naomi home. Not hers. She had to lean on her faith, believe for the child’s return.
Gott’s will be done.
From time to time, as the meal progressed, Verity heard Albert laughing out loud at the head of the table. No doubt at something one of his old cronies had said about his inability to successfully get food to his mouth. Albert’s stroke might be impeding his use of a fork and his speech, but he wasn’t letting his disabilities ruin his good mood or his Thanksgiving meal.
Having her father-in-law home filled her heart with joy, but for the life of her, she couldn’t stop fretting over Naomi. Where was the tiny child this Thanksgiving Day?
She glanced down at Albert again, noticed how pale he still looked, but refrained from suggesting he lie down for a while. That afternoon he’d raised a fuss when he heard the day nurse’s suggestion that he stay in bed during the meal. Feisty as always, he’d made it clear he was not eating turkey and dressing without his family and friends around him. He would eat at the table or not eat at all.
Not being able to use his fork properly hadn’t slowed the thin old man down one bit. What didn’t hit his mouth hit the floor, but she didn’t care a whit about the mess he was making. She could clean up under his chair later. He was home and happy. That was all that mattered.
Albert hooted his approval when the sweet potato dish was passed his way around the table a second time. He didn’t say a word, but his lopsided smile expressed his appreciation to Verity. Clara scooped a small portion of the sticky goo onto her beloved father-in-law’s plate and then went back to her chair and started chatting with Solomon.
A loud knock came at the door. At the end of his table, Joe Muller, Albert’s cousin, shifted in his chair. “You want me to open it?”
His mouth full of food, Albert nodded his approval.
Joe scooted out of his chair and eased the door open. His expression became confused as he spoke to whoever was at the door. He stepped back inside and closed the door most of the way. “There’s a fancy Englischer out there, insisting on speaking to you, Leviticus.”
Verity laid down her napkin, her stomach quivering, watching as Leviticus excused himself and made his way through the maze of tables and over to the door. He slipped out quickly and shut it behind him.
A chill went down Verity’s spine, the memory of the last unexpected visitor at the grove haunting her.
Forks clattered against plates, the hum of the room drowning out whatever was being said on the porch. Minutes turned into what seemed a half hour. The sound of a car motor starting up drew her attention to the window.
Joe scooted away from the door as it opened wide.
Her hand raised to her mouth, Verity smothered a gasp as Leviticus stepped across the door’s threshold, holding Naomi in his arms. His gaze sought hers, tears glistening in his eyes. A genuine smile creased dimples into his face.
Verity rose, excitement filling her to overflowing. Naomi was home!
“We’ve got a sleepy girl here. Verity, would you help me get her ready for her nap?”
“Ya, sure,” she muttered, pushing back her chair and almost knocking it over as she hurried to reach Leviticus’s side.
Albert waved his hand, trying to utter words.
Leviticus grinned his father’s way. “We’ll be right back, Daed. You keep eating.”
Verity fell over her own feet as she scurried beside Leviticus, her hand on the small child’s arm. Gott has heard our prayers. Naomi is home!
* * *
With the push of his shoulder, Leviticus eased the children’s bedroom door shut behind them.
Verity’s eyes sought his, perplexed and wide with wonder. “Our boppli is home for gut?”
Leviticus nodded, his hands trembling as he laid the child in her cot. Verity reached out and lovingly touched Naomi’s dark curls, her rosy cheek. Verity’s shoulder leaned into Leviticus’s chest for support. “I don’t understand. What’s happened?”
The feel of Naomi cuddled up close to him had moved him beyond any joy he’d ever experienced. “I honestly can’t say what changed. All I know for sure is Maxwell Horthorn brought our dochder back.” Leviticus picked up the folder of papers the lawyer had given him and handed them to Verity. “He gave these papers to me and assured me they were legal. Look for yourself. He said they’re signed by Julie and stamped by the local magistrate. The most important paper acknowledges me as Naomi’s natural father and gives you permission to adopt Naomi as your own. Julie has relinquished all parental rights to her.”
“But that woman was determined to lay claim to Naomi.”
Joy rushed through him. “I know. But Horthorn said Julie changed her mind. Seems her future husband dumped her, and she had no further need of Naomi.” Leviticus slid his arm around Verity’s shoulders, and side by side, they stood watching their dochder sleep. Naomi’s lips puckered, her mouth nursing on an imaginary bottle.
Leviticus laughed. “Look at her. It’s like she never was gone.”
He watched the darkness leave Verity’s eyes, saw pure joy replace it.
“I can’t believe she’s ours once again.” She snuggled close, her face pressed against his chest.
“I need to ask your forgiveness, even though I know I don’t deserve it. I’ve given you every reason to distrust me, but I’ve changed and will continue to become the man you need in your life. Gott has forgiven me for my transgressions, helped me to see what is important and what’s not. I need your love.”
“I forgive you your past, Leviticus.”
He was so grateful that her Amish faith was stronger than his, and that she’d found a way to forgive him. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve been a family since we said our vows.” He pulled Verity closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and sighing with relief when she didn’t resist his overture of affection.
Verity’s eyes sought his, her look of confusion gone as he bent to softly kiss her lips.
Leviticus lifted her chin. “Please believe me when I tell you that you mean the world to me, and not just as a mamm for Naomi. My feelings for you go deep, so much deeper than I knew possible.” He held her gaze, allowed all the love he felt for her to shine to the surface for her to see. “You and the girls have shown me what true love is. You’re precious to me. I promise to never hurt you again.”
Her brow furrowed, ashamed she had to ask. “The Englischer world? Does it still beckon to you?”
“Nee, not anymore. I am a Plain Amish man now. My desire is to serve the Lord, be a gut husband and dat.”
Verity rested her forehead against his chest, her arms circling his waist. “I’ve dreamed of this moment, been too afraid to dare hope for fear you’d slip away again.”
Leviticus could feel Verity’s body trembling. “Ten years ago, I was a fool. Forgive me for leaving. Say you’ll be my love once again.”
Verity lifted her head, her love revealed in her eyes, in the sweet smile on her face. “I’ve loved you most of my life. How could that change now?”
Leviticus smiled. He’d dreamed of this moment, as well, longed for it for so long. “I promise you will always come first, that I will be a good husband and daed to our girls. But most of all, I promise to l
ove you until my last breath and beyond.”
Their kiss was warm and promising. They had time now, time to be the familye they both longed for. But his father awaited. “We have so much to talk about, but first we’d best get back to Daed. He’ll be wondering.”
Verity nodded, her smile bringing a glow to her face. “Do you think anyone will notice the difference in us? I feel as if our love is shining like diamonds all around us.”
Leviticus laughed. “Let them wonder. This joy is ours and ours alone.”
* * *
If you enjoyed Their Convenient Amish Marriage,
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by Cheryl Williford:
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Dear Readers,
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be writing books again and enjoying my new way of life to the fullest. The last two years have been difficult ones. I was diagnosed with an early stage carcinoma just outside my pancreas in late 2015. Seems that’s not a good spot to have cancer. The only way to remove it was with a Whipple surgery, which is called the bad, bad, bad surgery. Very dangerous and difficult to recover from.
I underwent the surgery in October of that year. I don’t remember a lot about those first six months, but I can tell you it wasn’t fun. Spent many months in rehab, regaining my ability to eat by mouth after several months with a stomach tube. Lost forty-five pounds. Was as weak as a kitten and stupid from pain meds. Got home safe and had to completely change my way of eating, when I could stomach the thought of food.
Their Convenient Amish Marriage Page 18