“Asking your uncle if he’ll be kind enough to let me drive you home.”
“Levy, I have my plans.”
“Ja, you probably do. But you haven’t heard my plans.”
Something in the tone of his voice made her pause.
“I certainly wouldn’t mind getting back to the store,” Uncle Peter said to Jane. “Your aunt is working by herself.”
Jane sighed and climbed out of the buggy, taking Levy’s outstretched hand as she stepped down.
“Thank you, Peter,” Levy said. “I’ll bring her back.”
Uncle Peter turned his horse around, crossed the street and headed back toward Grand Creek.
“What’s this all about?” asked Jane. She tried to deny the searing hope that trembled at the edge of her soul. Why had Levy run after her? Why had he stopped her plans to return home?
“I need to let Maggie rest a bit.” Levy gestured toward a nearby park with generous shade trees and a hitching post for Amish buggies. “Will you let me rest her?”
“Of course.” Avoiding him, she turned and patted the animal’s sweating neck.
Leading the horse, Levy walked toward the cool oasis. Jane, silent but with her emotions in chaos, walked on the other side of the mare.
Levy hitched the animal to the hitching post and sat down on a bench. Jane perched at the other end.
“I...” His voice came out as a croak, and he cleared his throat. “I have to apologize,” he began.
“For what?”
“For many things, but first and foremost for that clumsy marriage proposal I made a couple weeks ago. I’ve been beating myself up over it ever since.”
Jane’s emotions cooled. Is that what this was all about? “You already apologized, remember? You’re forgiven.”
“Nein, I’m not. I don’t deserve to be. I’ve had a hard time in the past, forgiving myself. I spent so many years taking on the blame for what Eliza did. But where you’re concerned, I don’t want to look ahead to years of regret. I can’t mess this up again. I can’t let you go, Jane.”
Her heart began hammering. Levy was still being awkward and clumsy in some ways. But he was trying very hard to say something very important. Above all, Jane did not want to misunderstand his intent. “What do you mean?”
“Jane...” He groped for her hands, held them firmly in his. “I want to ask you again to be my wife. Not as a business arrangement, not as a permanent nanny to Mercy, but because I love you.”
Her jaw dropped open in shock. She spent a few moments simply gaping at him. “Levy, where did this come from? I thought you didn’t like me.”
“Didn’t like you!” He stared. “Nothing could be further from the truth! Jane, I’ve worked with you for months now, and everything you do is wonderful. Everything. Your wit, your intelligence, your dedication to Mercy, your business sense, your hard work—everything. I haven’t found anything about you I couldn’t admire. It was only when Eliza told me you were going home that I realized how much I loved you.”
Conflicting emotions warred within her. This change of feeling on his part was so sudden, so unexpected, that she didn’t know what to say. For one of the few times in her life, she was speechless.
At her silence, she saw panic cloud Levy’s face. “Please, Jane, say yes.”
“I...I...” she stuttered.
His grip tightened on her hands, then he released them and half turned away. “So I misread the situation.” He dropped his head in his hands in despair. “I embarrassed you again with my clumsiness. I’m so sorry.”
“Levy, this is all so unexpected,” Jane choked out. “I was going home because I was convinced I meant nothing to you...”
He raised his head. “You mean the world to me, Jane. You mean the moon and the stars to me.”
She couldn’t help but smile a bit at his melodramatic turns of phrase. Then she turned serious. “Levy, what about your sister? What about Mercy?”
“I don’t know yet. She seems anxious to become a mother to her own child, but she’ll need help. She talked to your aunt about working in the store...”
“But if she works in the store, what about the baby? Who’s going to take care of her?”
“That’s part of the problem. She wants to contribute, but doesn’t quite know how. Jane, there’s something else you should know. Mercy wasn’t born out of wedlock. Eliza was married to an Englischer, but he died in a car accident while she was pregnant.”
Jane gasped. “Ach, how sad!”
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s very complicated. She has a long road ahead of her, but at least she wants to stay and be baptized.”
“Then Gott did answer your prayers.”
“Ja, as far as Eliza is concerned.” He looked at her. “I’m still waiting to see if He answers my prayers as far as you’re concerned. I’m waiting to see if Mercy’s beautiful nanny will become my wife.”
Maybe it was the hand of Gott reaching out, but she suddenly felt more confident of her path.
But she warned him, “I can be stubborn and hot tempered...”
“Welcome to the club.”
She laughed at that. “Levy... I... I have a confession to make. I thought about accepting your marriage proposal a couple weeks ago until the letter from your sister changed things.”
He couldn’t have looked more surprised than if she’d clobbered him over the head. “But you turned me down!”
“Ja, with some hotheaded words, as I recall. But later I talked things over with Tante Catherine. I thought about it all through the night and decided a one-sided marriage could eventually be made to work.”
“One-sided? You mean...?”
“Ja. I fell in love with you a long time ago, Levy. But I felt you didn’t see me as a marriageable woman, just a useful one.” Her old bitterness still tinged the word. “I couldn’t seem to escape the curse of being useful but not lovable.”
A tremulous smile lit his face. “So...has Gott answered my prayers?”
“Ja. I will marry you, Levy.”
Epilogue
“It’s lovely.” Aunt Catherine laid out Jane’s blue dress. “Eliza did a beautiful job sewing it.”
“I feel a little guilty, not sewing my own wedding dress.” Jane fingered the dark blue fabric which, she knew, brought out the color of her eyes. “But Eliza is such a fine seamstress, and she really wanted to make the dress. I think it’s one of her ways to thank me for taking care of Mercy for her.”
“Eliza has certainly settled down. I’m glad she’s one of your wedding newehockers.”
“And my younger sisters are the other two attendants.”
“Your parents seem to like Levy very much. I’m so glad.” Catherine dropped a kiss on Jane’s forehead. “You and Levy will be very happy, I’m sure.”
Jane hugged herself, her face aglow. “It’s a dream come true. I should have known Gott had a plan for me. And Levy. And Eliza. And Mercy.”
Catherine chuckled. “I must say, you make one of the happiest brides I’ve ever seen. And by this time tomorrow, you and Levy will be bound forever.” Catherine’s eyes crinkled. “You’re both gut for each other, that I can plainly see.”
“She’s gut for me,” said Levy, coming into the room.
“No doubts about your future wife?” teased Catherine.
“Are you kidding? Gott gave me the most beautiful bride in the world.”
Jane felt her heart well up with love for this man who thought her beautiful.
Aunt Catherine looked from one to the other, then murmured, “I think I hear Peter calling me,” and escaped from the room.
“Tomorrow.” Levy smiled at her.
“Tomorrow,” breathed Jane.
* * *
Just after noon on the following day, Bishop Kemp stood before the gat
hered community and concluded his sermon on the merits of marriage.
“Levy and Jane, please come forward,” intoned the bishop.
Attired in her new blue dress, Jane stood up and faced the leader of their community. Beside her, Levy also stood.
“You have heard the ordinance of wedlock within the provisions of our faith,” Bishop Kemp said. “Are you now willing to enter wedlock together as Gott in the beginning ordained and commanded?”
Levy spoke first. “Ja.”
Jane spoke next. “Ja.”
The bishop directed his next words to Levy. “Do you stand in the confidence that this, our sister, is ordained of Gott to be your wedded wife?”
“Ja.”
The bishop turned to her. “Do you stand in the confidence that this, our brother, is ordained of Gott to be your wedded husband?”
Ordained of Gott. Never were there truer words. This man to whom she was joining herself was, indeed, ordained by Gott. Jane fought back tears. “Ja.”
The bishop continued with the vows. Then he took her right hand and clasped it with Levy’s. His grip was strong, sure, confident. Jane smiled up at the man now joined with her for the rest of her life.
“...be with you and help you together and fulfill His blessing abundantly upon you through Jesus Christ. Amein,” concluded the bishop. He wiped a tear away and smiled at the couple.
She looked at Levy, the strong, handsome man who had chosen her—a plain Jane—as his wife. Above all, she wanted to lean in and kiss him, but that wasn’t done at a wedding ceremony. Instead, she turned her attention to the bishop for the closing formalities.
Levy’s hand was warm around hers. She was now something she never thought she would be—Levy’s wife—and she closed her eyes a moment. “Danke, Gott,” she whispered.
“Ja,” Levy whispered back. His hand tightened over hers. “Danke.”
* * *
If you enjoyed this book by Patrice Lewis,
be sure to pick up
The Amish Newcomer
And check out these other Amish stories
A Secret Amish Crush by Marta Perry
Someone to Trust by Patricia Davids
Her Forbidden Amish Love by Jocelyn McClay
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at
www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from Hers for the Summer by Jill Kemerer.
Tante Catherine’s Macaroni and Cheese
1 pound pasta (spiral or elbow macaroni)
1 cube (8 tablespoons) butter or margarine
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
4 cups milk
2 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For topping:
½ cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Add pasta to large pot of boiling water (with ½ teaspoon salt, if desired); cook for about eight minutes. Turn off heat, drain pasta, return to pot.
In a large saucepan, melt butter at low heat. Stir in flour a tablespoon at a time while drizzling in milk to make a white sauce. Once all the milk is added, cook at low heat, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens. Turn off heat. Add spices, Worcestershire sauce and cheese, stir until cheese melts.
Pour cheese sauce over pasta, stir to coat.
Pour pasta/cheese into 9x13 Pyrex baking dish (or other three-quart oven baking dish). Sprinkle with Parmesan/breadcrumb topping. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until topping is lightly browned.
Dear Reader,
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Jane and Levy’s story. This book meant a lot to me because I, too, am a plain Jane. And I, too, met my “Levy” and have been blessed with thirty wonderful years of marriage to my best friend, a man who looked past my face and saw my heart.
During all our years together, we’ve operated a home woodcraft business. While we’ve never run a booth at a farmer’s market, we’ve run just about every other kind of booth you can imagine. We also have a small farm where we raise similar produce to what Levy raises. In short, there’s a lot of personal experience in these pages!
I love hearing from readers and welcome emails at [email protected].
Patrice
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Hers for the Summer
by Jill Kemerer
Chapter One
Maybe she wasn’t meant to be a mommy. Maybe she was only meant to nurture other people’s children.
Eden Page tucked her hands into the pockets of her winter coat as she strode toward Cattle Drive Coffee. The air was clear and cold, typical for Rendezvous, Wyoming, in mid-April. It had been another long, never-ending winter. Signs of spring were all around, though. Green shoots of flower bulbs poked out in front of the bank across the street, and a few of the trees had loosened their grips on the tight buds capping off their branches. For the first time since her sister died, Eden wondered if spring was on its way in her own life, too.
Mia had been gone for almost five years. Since then Eden had been drifting along, babysitting full-time for friends and waiting and hoping for Mr. Right to show up. Unfortunately, Mr. Wrong hadn’t even knocked on her door at this point.
For as long as Eden could remember, she’d wanted to get married, have children and live in Rendezvous, preferably on a ranch. She didn’t regret quitting college to be here for Mia’s final months, and she was thankful she’d been able to babysit her nephew, Noah, until Mason Fanning, Mia’s husband, got remarried last year. Eden still spent a lot of time with the five-year-old boy.
Rounding the corner, she picked up her pace. It was time to accept reality. While only twenty-six, she might never get married or have children. The guys around here weren’t interested in her and never had been. If she didn’t take charge of her life soon, another five years would pass by with little to show for them, either.
The faded maroon awning above the coffee shop entrance came into view. Maybe she could finish her degree in early childhood education and get a job teaching preschool. Or expand her babysitting services.
“Howdy, Eden.” Mr. Jenkins, her favorite usher from church, tipped his cowboy hat to her as he walked his two black Labs. He got around well for a man his age. “Think it’ll snow tonight?”
“I hope not. I’m ready for warmer weather.” She gave him a smile and petted the dogs. Their tongues lolled as they lifted pet-me eyes to her. Chuckling, she scratched behind their ears.
“At least it’s Friday, right?” His brown eyes twinkled. “You have big plans?”
She did not have big plans. She didn’t have any plans.
“I’m keeping it low-key.” She gave the dogs’ ears a final scratch. “What about you?”
“There’s a World War II documentary on I’ve been looking forward to.” He tugged on the leashes, and the dogs moved forward. “Well, I won’t keep you. See you Sunday.”
“Enjoy yourself.” She opened the door to the coffee shop. Her night sounded even less exciting than Mr. Jenkins’s. At least he had a documentary to look forward to. She had nothing. Normally, she offered to babysit Noah so Mason and Brittany could have some couple time, but the three of them had other plans this evening.
The coffee shop was almost empty, and why wouldn’t it be? Friday nights were for hanging out with friends, ordering p
izza or going to Roscoe’s for burgers—not for heavily caffeinated beverages.
The warmth of the room and hardwood floors drew her forward, and she ordered her favorite latte. While the teenager behind the counter prepared the drink, Eden turned to stare out the front windows. A young couple laughed as they strolled past arm in arm. Across the street, Eden could just make out Stu Miller helping Gretchen Sable out of his truck. Stu and Gretchen were in their seventies, and they’d managed to find love. Why couldn’t she?
She couldn’t even get a date. It was like she was invisible to men. Was it too much to ask for a little romance?
“Here you go.” The girl handed her the cup and began wiping down the counter like her life depended on it. The shop didn’t officially close for another hour. She probably had plans, too.
Back outside, Eden braced herself against the chill. Her apartment wasn’t far. Last year she’d moved out of her parents’ house into the apartment above Brittany Fanning’s dance studio. Eden was glad Mason had married Brittany, although it was strange to think of him married to anyone other than her sister.
What was she going to do about her future? She loved babysitting, but it didn’t offer benefits like paid vacations or retirement plans, and taking care of her best friend Gabby’s eighteen-month-old daughter, Phoebe, a few days a week wasn’t exactly paying the bills. After selling the family ranch last year, Eden’s parents had blessed her with a lump sum of money. She kept her expenses low, but it was a relief to have the financial cushion now that Gabby no longer needed her to babysit Phoebe full-time.
Pale pink and lavender streaked the sky as the sun slid down the horizon. She wrapped both hands around the takeout cup and sipped it as she turned onto Third Street. The coffee warmed her insides, kicking her pulse up a notch. She barely glanced at the bungalow converted into a dentist office or the parking lot with dead grass poking out of the cracked blacktop. Up ahead, the dance studio and her apartment beckoned.
Her phone dinged. She pulled it out of her pocket.
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