Summer Storms Read online

  COPYRIGHT

  Summer Storms

  © 2017 by Amy Clipston

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

  Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Epub Edition April 2017 ISBN 9780718088361

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  CIP data available upon request.

  Printed in the United States of America

  17 18 19 20 21 LSC 5 4 3 2 1

  CONTENTS

  Copyright

  Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Discussion Questions

  Acknowledgments

  An Excerpt from Lakeside Love Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Other Novels by Amy Clipston

  About the Author

  Amish Living Ad

  With love and appreciation for the members of my Bakery Bunch

  GLOSSARY OF PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH WORDS

  *THE GERMAN DIALECT SPOKEN BY THE AMISH IS NOT A written language and varies depending on the location and origin of the settlement. These spellings are approximations. Most Amish children learn English after they start school. They also learn High German, which is used in their Sunday services.

  ach—oh

  aenti—aunt

  appeditlich—delicious

  bedauerlich—sad

  bopli—baby

  bruder—brother

  bruders—brothers

  bu—boy

  buwe—boys

  daadi—grandpa

  daadihaus/dawdy haus—grandparents’ house

  daed—father

  danki/danke—thank you

  dat—dad

  dochder—daughter

  Englischer—English or non-Amish

  fraa—wife

  freind—friends

  freinden—friends

  froh—happy

  gern gschehne—you’re welcome

  Gmay—church district, community

  Gott—God

  gut—good

  haus—house

  Ich liebe dich—I love you

  jah—yes

  kaffi—coffee

  kapp—prayer covering, cap, woman’s head covering

  kind—child

  kinner—children

  lieb—love

  liewe—love, a term of endearment

  maedel—girl, young woman

  mamm—mom

  mammi—grandma

  mann—husband

  mei—my

  mudder—mother

  narrisch—crazy

  nee—no

  onkel—uncle

  rumspringa—period of running around

  schee—pretty

  schweschder—sister

  suh—son

  schweschder—sister

  sohn—son

  Was iss letz?—What’s wrong?

  wunderbaar—wonderful

  ya—yes

  CHAPTER 1

  HAPPINESS BUBBLED UP FROM INSIDE ARIANA SMUCKER as she leaned back on her palms and gazed up toward the sky. The aroma of sunscreen filled her nostrils, and the hot summer sun kissed her cheeks. Then she smoothed the skirt of her red bathing suit over her thighs before smiling over at her best friend, who was sitting beside her. “This day is absolutely perfect. Don’t you agree?”

  “Ya.” Mariella Ebersol kicked her legs in the water, and the floating dock they were sitting on shifted. She pushed her long, blonde braid behind her shoulder, and her deep-brown eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight. “I can’t believe you’ll be married in five months.” She moved her slim fingers over the skirt on her black bathing suit.

  “Ya, November is coming quickly.” Ariana’s heart fluttered and a grin overtook her lips as she looked toward the shoreline. Her fiancé, Jesse Zook, sat on the beach with her brother, close enough that she could see their faces as they talked. They were surrounded by members of their youth group as well as other visitors to Maryland’s Cascade Lake.

  Resting her hands on the warm wooden dock, Ariana kept her gaze focused on Jesse. He pushed his hand through his thick sandy-blond hair and nodded. With his cobalt-blue eyes and strong jawline, Jesse was the most handsome man she’d ever known, and she couldn’t wait for their wedding.

  She looked over at her brother, Tobias, and her smile faded as she took in his deep frown and dark expression. Tension gripped Ariana’s shoulders and her thoughts spun with anxiety. It was rare that their youth group could take a day off from work at their homes, jobs, and farms to visit a lake. Why would Tobias be troubled on a beautiful day like today?

  A group of teenagers swam near the dock, and a girl squealed as a boy splashed her, pulling Ariana from her concern.

  “You look worried.” Mariella leaned over toward Ariana. “Was iss letz?”

  Ariana turned toward her. “I was just watching Tobias talking with Jesse. Tobias looks so bedauerlich. I was hoping today would cheer him up.”

  “Cheer him up?” Mariella tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

  Ariana blew out a sigh as she recalled the past week. It seemed as if her brother and father had argued nonstop. She’d hoped a day away from their farm would brighten Tobias’s mood, but the scowl on his face as he spoke to Jesse indicated he’d brought his trouble with him to the lake.

  “Tobias has been arguing with mei dat again.”

  “Oh.” Mariella seemed to hesitate, as if awaiting more details, but Ariana couldn’t bring herself to share everything she witnessed daily between her brother and father. “They still aren’t getting along?”

  “No.” Ariana fingered her thick braid as she continued to watch Tobias interact with Jesse. “I’m worried it might be getting worse.”

  “Ach, no.” Mariella crossed her arms over her middle. “Do you think you can do anything to help?”

  Ariana swallowed a snort. “No. They’re both so stubborn. They never seem to listen to each other. I think that’s part of their problem.”

  Mariella gave a little laugh. “That sounds possible.”

  Jesse and Tobias suddenly stood up from the shoreline and started up the hill that led to the picnic area. They were walking slowly, still talking.

  “Is it lunchtime?” Ariana asked.

  “It might be. Why?”

  Ariana pointed toward the shore. “I think Jesse and Tobias are going to lunch without us.” She frowned. Why hadn’t Jesse remembered to invite her and Mariella to join them?

&nb
sp; Mariella clicked her tongue. “That’s awfully thoughtless.”

  “Ya, it is.” Ariana turned toward Mariella and raised her eyebrows. “Are you hungry?”

  Mariella shrugged. “Sure.”

  “We’d better go before they eat without us.” Ariana stood up on the floating dock, held out her hand, and lifted Mariella to her feet.

  She dove into the cool lake water and swam toward the shoreline with Mariella beside her. Ariana relished the feel of the cool water sluicing over her body. When she reached the shallow area, she waded to the beach, where she found her beach towel and pink bandana waiting for her.

  She pushed the bandana over her hair and draped the dry towel over her shoulders before trotting up the hill after Jesse and Tobias.

  “Jesse!” she called. “Wait for me!”

  He stopped and turned, his eyebrows raised. Tobias looked at her, but went on.

  “Did you forget I was in the water?” She pointed back toward the lake.

  “Whoops.” He shook his head as a smile turned up his lips.

  She rested her hand on her hip. “I thought I asked you to let me know when you and Tobias were going to have lunch.”

  “I’m sorry.” He ran his hand over his clean-shaven chin. “I forgot.”

  “You forgot?” She took a deep breath as irritation nipped at her.

  “Ya, I did. I was caught up in my conversation with Tobias, and I completely forgot you wanted me to call you for lunch.” His lips formed a thin line as he walked back down the hill toward her. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right.” She shrugged, even though his oversight did send a pang of disappointment through her.

  At just under six feet, Jesse stood over her by several inches. She silently admired how the summer sun had already begun to tan his handsome face and naturally highlight his hair to a golden blond. Like the rest of the young men in their youth group, he was clad in swim trunks.

  She hugged the towel to her body as her gaze moved to his broad shoulders, and her eyes widened. “Your shoulders are turning pink. You should put on more lotion before you burn.”

  “I’ll be fine.” He gestured toward their group of friends as they walked past them toward the picnic area. “We should go before the tables fill up.”

  He held out his hand and she laced her fingers with his, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers.

  As they began the trek up the hill, she glanced around for Mariella. “Where did Mariella go?”

  Jesse pointed in front of them. “She’s almost up the hill.”

  Ariana followed his gaze to where Mariella trudged, hugging her blue beach towel around her body. Tobias walked a few feet in front of her.

  She looked up at Jesse again. “You and Tobias seemed to be in a deep conversation.”

  Jesse nodded. “Tobias needed someone to listen.”

  “Oh?” Holding fast to his hand, she pulled him back, slowing their pace. “What did he need to talk about?”

  Jesse blew a breath out through his nose. “I guess he’s been arguing with your dat a lot lately.”

  Ariana nodded as worry coursed through her once again. “What did he say?”

  “He was venting.” Jesse shrugged. “He’ll be fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay.” She hoped he was right.

  “Let’s have lunch, and then I’ll try to talk to him again later.”

  “Sounds gut.” Ariana let Jesse lead her to a picnic table. She sat down on the end beside Mariella as Jesse sat down across from her and beside Tobias. When she closed her eyes in silent prayer, she thanked God not only for their food, but for this beautiful day.

  In late afternoon, Ariana lifted a bottle of root beer to take a drink. She was sitting on a glider on the far end of Mariella’s back porch with members of her youth group surrounding her. They were all enjoying Mariella’s father’s cold homemade drink and sharing stories. Ariana searched the sea of familiar faces for Jesse and Tobias, but neither was on the porch.

  As one of the young men began telling a story about a hunting trip he took last year, Ariana descended the porch steps and walked toward the pasture. She found Jesse leaning against the fence as he spoke to two of his friends, and she gripped her bottle tighter as she walked toward him.

  “Jesse?” she called, but he continued talking as if he hadn’t heard her. “Jesse?”

  “Jesse.” Ivan tapped his arm. “Ariana is calling you.”

  “Oh.” Jesse turned toward her. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

  Ariana pressed her lips together as frustration tightened her shoulders. “Could I please speak to you for a moment?”

  “Ya, of course.” Jesse followed her to the far end of the fence. “What do you need?”

  “I thought you were going to join me.” She gestured toward the porch. “You said you’d have a bottle of root beer with me, and I even saved you a seat on the glider.”

  “Oh right.” Realization dawned in his blue eyes. “I’m sorry. Ivan, Henry, and I haven’t seen one another much since they got so busy working in their dat’s store. We were getting caught up. I forgot I promised to sit with you.”

  “I understand.” Ariana nodded despite her disappointment.

  “I’ll come up there now.” He took her hand in his and gently tugged her toward the porch. “Let’s go. I’ll grab you another root beer from the cooler.”

  “Wait.” She stopped him, and they looked at each other. “I wanted to ask you if you’ve seen Tobias.”

  Jesse nodded. “I saw him sitting with Mariella on the porch, but then I saw him walk alone toward the barn a while ago. I meant to follow him, but then I ran into Henry and Ivan, and I lost track of time.”

  A niggling of worry started at the base of Ariana’s neck. Tobias had seemed off all day.

  “I was hoping today would help him.” She looked out over the pasture. The sky was clogged with gray clouds, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

  “Would you like me to find him?”

  “Ya, please.”

  “All right. We have to get going soon anyway. I think a storm is coming. Also, I promised mei dat I’d be home in time to help feed the animals.” His expression seemed tentative. “You’re still riding with me to get home, right?”

  “Ya, I’d like to.”

  “Gut.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll go find Tobias. You go back to the porch and enjoy the rest of your time with our freinden. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Her earlier worry dissipated as Jesse smiled at her. Before their trek from Cascade Lake back to Gordonville, Pennsylvania, he’d changed into dark trousers and a deep-blue shirt that accentuated his eyes. Ariana admired him as he headed toward the large barn. Her stomach took flight on the wings of a hundred butterflies at the notion of driving home with him this afternoon. Stealing a quick kiss would be the perfect ending to this special day spent with friends.

  CHAPTER 2

  DREAD BOGGED JESSE’S STEPS AS HIS BOOTS CRUNCHED on the rock path leading to Mariella’s father’s barn. Tobias’s glum mood and initial silence, followed by his venting, had bothered Jesse all day. Despite his efforts to cheer up Tobias before lunch, his best friend had never changed. Maybe he could find a way to cheer up Tobias now, before they headed home for the evening.

  The scent of rain wafted over Jesse as he glanced over his shoulder. Ariana sat down on the porch glider and then leaned over to talk to one of their friends. The ties from her prayer covering flittered around her shoulders as she nodded.

  Before they climbed into the van to head back to Gordonville, she’d changed into a green dress and pulled her hair up under a prayer kapp. She was attractive no matter what she wore, but he already longed for another sight of her long, thick braid and the wisps of dark hair falling around her face when she was swimming in the lake. Since he wasn’t permitted to take a photo of her, let alone own a camera, he did his best to commit how she’d looked to memory.

  Turning, Jesse hurried into t
he barn. The aroma of animals mixed with moist earth invaded his nostrils as he walked past the stalls, looking for Tobias. When he reached the back of the barn, he slipped out through the side door and headed around to the back. He stopped short when he found Tobias leaning against the barn wall, holding a translucent glass bottle with a clear liquid sloshing around in it. Was that alcohol? No, it couldn’t be. Could it?

  Jesse blinked. “What are you doing?”

  “Relaxing.” Tobias held up the bottle, which was already half empty. “Would you like some?”

  “What is that?”

  “Vodka.” Tobias took a long drink and then cleared his throat as he swiped a hand across his mouth. “It’s the gut stuff. Have some.” He held the bottle out to him.

  “No.” Jesse approached him, his thoughts spinning with a combination of anger and confusion. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “Nope.” Tobias took another long draw.

  “Give me that before you get sick.” Jesse reached for the bottle, but Tobias snatched it away from his grasp. He tucked the bottle behind his back and glared at Jesse. “You said you didn’t want any, but don’t spoil my fun.”

  “Spoil your fun?” Jesse gritted his teeth, amazed Tobias had found a way to sneak a bottle out here. “Do you realize how much trouble you’ll be in if Mariella’s dat catches you back here drinking? He’s the bishop!”

  Tobias snorted. “Please. I’m not hurting anyone. I’m just doing what I have to do to unwind. I don’t get much chance to relax, so I need to enjoy it while I can.”

  Jesse rubbed his temples and flattened his lips together. In the eighteen years he’d known Tobias, ever since they were six years old, he’d never seen him behave so irresponsibly. The man standing in front of him was someone he didn’t recognize. What would Ariana say if she found Tobias drinking alcohol? Worse, how would their father react?

  Tobias’s expression darkened. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  Jesse took a deep breath in a vain attempt to curb the anger and frustration gripping him. “Is this about your dat? I’m trying to understand why you’re behaving this way. But I can’t—”