The Beloved Hope Chest Read online

  PRAISE FOR AMY CLIPSTON

  “Clipston is as reliable as her character, giving Emily a difficult and intense romance worthy of Emily’s ability to shine the light of Christ into the hearts of those she loves.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4½ STARS, TOP PICK! ON THE CHERISHED QUILT

  “Clipston’s heartfelt writing and engaging characters make her a fan favorite. Her latest Amish tale combines a spiritual message of accepting God’s blessings as they are given with a sweet romance.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL ON THE CHERISHED QUILT

  “Clipston delivers another enchanting series starter with a tasty premise, family secrets, and sweet-as-pie romance, offering assurance that true love can happen more than once and second chances are worth fighting for.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4½ STARS, TOP PICK! ON THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE

  “In the first book in her Amish Heirloom series, Clipston takes readers on a roller-coaster ride through grief, guilt, and anxiety.”

  —BOOKLIST ON THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE

  “Clipston is well versed in Amish culture and does a good job creating the world of Lancaster County, Penn. . . . Amish fiction fans will enjoy this story—and want a taste of Veronica’s raspberry pie!”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE

  “[Clipston] does an excellent job of wrapping up her story while setting the stage for the sequel.”

  —CBA RETAILERS + RESOURCES ON THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE

  “Clipston brings this engaging series to an end with two emotional family reunions, a prodigal son parable, a sweet but hard-won romance and a happy ending for characters readers have grown to love. Once again, she gives us all we could possibly want from a talented storyteller.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 ½ STARS, TOP PICK! ON A SIMPLE PRAYER

  “. . . will leave readers craving more.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4½ STARS, TOP PICK! ON A MOTHER’S SECRET

  “Clipston’s series starter has a compelling drama involving faith, family and romance . . . [an] absorbing series.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4½ STARS, TOP PICK! ON A HOPEFUL HEART

  “Authentic characters, delectable recipes and faith abound in Clipston’s second Kauffman Amish Bakery story.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 STARS ON A PROMISE OF HOPE

  “. . . an entertaining story of Amish life, loss, love and family.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 STARS ON A PLACE OF PEACE

  “This fifth and final installment in the ‘Kauffman Amish Bakery’ series is sure to please fans who have waited for Katie’s story.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL ON A SEASON OF LOVE

  “[The Kauffman Amish Bakery] series’ wide popularity is sure to attract readers to this novella, and they won’t be disappointed by the excellent writing and the story’s wholesome goodness.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL ON A PLAIN AND SIMPLE CHRISTMAS

  “[A Plain and Simple Christmas] is inspiring and a perfect fit for the holiday season.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 STARS

  OTHER BOOKS BY AMY CLIPSTON

  THE AMISH

  HEIRLOOM SERIES

  The Forgotten Recipe

  The Courtship Basket

  The Cherished Quilt

  The Beloved Hope Chest

  THE HEARTS OF THE

  LANCASTER GRAND

  HOTEL SERIES

  A Hopeful Heart

  A Mother’s Secret

  A Dream of Home

  A Simple Prayer

  THE KAUFFMAN AMISH

  BAKERY SERIES

  A Gift of Grace

  A Promise of Hope

  A Place of Peace

  A Life of Joy

  A Season of Love

  YOUNG ADULT

  Roadside Assistance

  Reckless Heart

  Destination Unknown

  Miles from Nowhere

  NOVELLAS

  A Plain and Simple Christmas

  Naomi’s Gift included in

  An Amish Christmas Gift

  A Spoonful of Love included

  in An Amish Kitchen

  A Son for Always included

  in An Amish Cradle

  Love Birds included in

  An Amish Market

  Love and Buggy Rides included

  in An Amish Harvest

  Home Sweet Home included

  in An Amish Home

  NONFICTION

  A Gift of Love

  ZONDERVAN

  The Beloved Hope Chest

  Copyright © 2017 by Amy Clipston

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Clipston, Amy, author.

  Title: The beloved hope chest / Amy Clipston.

  Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, 2017. | Series: An Amish heirloom novel ; 4

  Epub Edition March 2017 ISBN 9780310000952

  Identifiers: LCCN 2016054296 | ISBN 9780310341970 (trade paper)

  Subjects: LCSH: Amish--Fiction. | Domestic fiction. | GSAFD: Christian fiction.

  Classification: LCC PS3603.L58 B45 2017 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016054296

  All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

  Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

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

  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.

  Interior design: James Phinney

  Printed in the United States of America

  17 18 19 20 21 / LSC / 5 4 3 2 1

  With love and appreciation to Pastor John (“PJ”),

  Pastor Naomi, and all my friends at Morning Star

  Lutheran Church in Matthews, North Carolina

  GLOSSARY

  ach: oh

  aenti: aunt

  appeditlich: delicious

  Ausbund: Amish hymnal

  bedauerlich: sad

  boppli: baby

  brot: bread

  bruder: brother

  bruderskind: niece/nephew

  bruderskinner: nieces/nephews

  bu: boy

  buwe: boys

  daadi: granddad

  daed: dad

  danki: thank you

  dat: dad

  Dietsch: Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)

  dochder: daughter

  dochdern: daughters

  Dummle!: hurry!

  Englisher: a non-Amish person

  faul: lazy

  faulenzer: lazy person

  fraa: wife

  freind: friend

  freinden: friends

  froh: happy

  gegisch: silly

  gern gschehne: you’re welcome

  grossdaadi: grandfather

  grossdochder: granddaughter

  grossdochdern:
granddaughters

  grossmammi: grandmother

  Gude mariye: Good morning

  gut: good

  Gut nacht: Good night

  haus: house

  Ich liebe dich: I love you

  kaffi: coffee

  kapp: prayer covering or cap

  kichli: cookie

  kichlin: cookies

  kind: child

  kinner: children

  kuche: cake

  kumm: come

  liewe: love, a term of endearment

  maed: young women, girls

  maedel: young woman

  mamm: mom

  mammi: grandma

  mei: my

  mutter: mother

  naerfich: nervous

  narrisch: crazy

  onkel: uncle

  Ordnung: The oral tradition of practices required and forbidden in the Amish faith

  schee: pretty

  schmaert: smart

  schtupp: family room

  schweschder: sister

  schweschdere: sisters

  Was iss letz?: What’s wrong?

  Willkumm: welcome

  Wie geht’s: How do you do? or Good day!

  wunderbaar: wonderful

  ya: yes

  AMISH HEIRLOOM SERIES FAMILY TREES

  Ruth m. Mose Byler

  Lizanne m. Alvin (“Al”) Zook

  Martha (“Mattie”) (m. Isaiah Petersheim [deceased]) and then (m. Leroy Fisher)

  Esther m. Ivan Fisher (Both deceased)

  Leroy (m. Martha)Joel (m. Dora)

  Martha “Mattie” m. Leroy Fisher

  Veronica (m. Jason Huyard)Rachel (m. Michael Lantz)Emily

  Agnes m. Wilmar Hochstetler

  Paul (m. Rosanna)ChristopherGabriel (deceased)

  Rosanna m. Paul Hochstetler

  MamieBetsy

  Vera m. Raymond Lantz (both deceased)

  Michael (“Mike”) (m. Rachel)John

  Sylvia m. Timothy Lantz

  Samuel (m. Mandy)MarieJanie

  Annie m. Elam Huyard

  Jason (m. Veronica)Stephen

  Tillie m. Henry (“Hank”) Ebersol

  Margaret m. Abner (deceased) Lapp

  Seth (deceased)Ellie

  Fannie Mae m. Titus Dienner (Bishop)

  Lindann

  Susannah m. Timothy Beiler

  DavidIrma Rose Beiler Smucker (m. Melvin)

  Irma Rose m. Melvin Smucker

  Sarah

  NOTE TO THE READER

  WHILE THIS NOVEL IS SET AGAINST THE REAL BACKDROP OF Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with any work of fiction, I’ve taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however, it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description, since each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

  CONTENTS

  Praise for Amy Clipston

  Other Books by Amy Clipston

  Glossary

  Amish Heirloom Series Family Trees

  Note to the Reader

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  PROLOGUE

  MATTIE FISHER SAT AT THE TABLE IN HER LARGE KITCHEN and fingered the tiny onesie her eldest daughter, Veronica, found in Mattie’s hope chest last year. A weight settled on her shoulders as her mind swirled with thoughts of her past, a past her three daughters had no idea existed until one by one they’d found the secret items Mattie had hidden away.

  Her fingers moved to the stack of letters her middle daughter, Rachel, found. Raw emotion tightened Mattie’s belly as memories from twenty-eight years ago washed over her. Then she touched the birth and death certificates, handprints, footprints, and zipper baggie with a lock of blond hair. When Emily, her youngest, found those precious items, Mattie knew it was time she told her girls about her past. They had questions, and Mattie had a responsibility to answer them.

  Closing her eyes, she silently prayed for the right words.

  “Mamm, are you all right?” Veronica asked as she entered the kitchen, followed by Rachel and Emily. They all turned their eyes to the items Mattie had placed on the table.

  “Ya.” Mattie gestured toward the empty chairs. “Pour yourselves some tea and have a seat.”

  Emily brought three cups of tea to the table before sitting down beside Veronica.

  “Was iss letz?” Rachel’s face clouded with concern as she sat down across from Mattie. “Emily invited Veronica and me over for sisters’ day, and she said you had something important to tell us. Does it have to do with these things we found in your hope chest?”

  “Ya, I do have something to tell you, and these things are part of it.” Mattie cleared her throat and cradled the warm mug in her hands. Then she forced a smile as her daughters watched her with furrowed brows. “I’ve told you I’ve known your father since I was a little girl, but I haven’t told you the whole story about how we became more than freinden.”

  Emily lifted her hand, stopping Mattie from continuing. “Mamm, I’m confused. I thought you and Dat were gut freinden and one day he asked you to be his girlfriend and then you got married.”

  “It was more complicated than that.” Mattie ran her finger over the edge of her mug. “I was married to a man named Isaiah before I married your dat.” She paused. “And shortly after I married your dat, I almost ended our marriage.”

  Her daughters gasped in unison and then, all at the same time, started firing off questions.

  “Slow down now. I’ll answer all your questions, but you have to give me a chance to explain first.” She cleared her throat again, this time past a swelling lump. She paused for a beat as her daughters stared at her, their eyes wide.

  “It all started so many years ago.”

  Mattie closed her eyes for a moment and was transported to the small farmhouse Isaiah rented when he moved from Indiana after coming to visit a friend. He decided to stay after he met Mattie and they fell in love.

  She could almost smell the sweet aroma of apple pie as she began to share the story.

  CHAPTER 1

  FEBRUARY 1989

  MATTIE SAT AT HER TABLE ACROSS FROM HER MOTHER AND SISTER as the sweet aroma of apple pie wafted through the small kitchen.

  “I can’t believe you’re three months along already,” Lizanne, Mattie’s older sister, said as she filled Mattie’s mug. “Have you and Isaiah discussed names?”

  “Ya, we’ve discussed them briefly.” Mattie suppressed a smile and held her warm mug in her hands.

  She and Isaiah had talked about names last night while listening to the rain beat a steady cadence on the roof above them in the small farmhouse they rented. Isaiah’s gorgeous blue eyes had shimmered in the low light of the lantern flickering on the bedside table as he ran his hand over her flat abdomen and shared the names he preferred.

  Mattie sipped her tea and then set her mug on the table.

  “And . . . ?” Lizanne leaned forward.

  “Isaiah would like to name t
he baby Jacob if it’s a bu.” Mattie folded her hands. “He said it would be after his daadi. As you know, his parents are both deceased and he has no siblings.”

  “What about if it’s a maedel?” Lizanne grinned. “Do you still like the name Veronica?”

  “Ya, and he likes it too.” This time Mattie smiled. She had fallen head over heels for Isaiah the moment she met him at a combined youth group event four years ago. After dating for two years, they married, and now they were expecting their first child. She couldn’t be any happier than she was at that very moment.

  “My first grandchild.” Mamm wiped a tear from her eyes. “I can’t wait, but the time will go quickly.”

  “Ya, August will be here before we know it.” Excitement sent flutters swirling through Mattie’s stomach.

  “It seems like only yesterday I was expecting Lizanne.” Mamm chuckled. “Your dat was so worried.” She touched Lizanne’s arm.

  “He was?” Lizanne’s eyes rounded. “I’ve never seen him naerfich about anything.”

  “Men are usually naerfich with babies. At least, they are with the first one.” Mamm placed her mug on the table. “Is Isaiah nervous?”

  Mattie touched her chin as their conversation from last night filtered through her thoughts once again. Isaiah’s worried expression had nearly broken her heart.

  “I don’t think he’s worried about the boppli, but he is concerned about building a haus, one that’s bigger than this one.” Mattie absently folded a paper napkin as she spoke.

  “What do you mean?” Mamm’s eyebrows rose.

  “Isaiah is eager to buy some farmland and build on it, but I’m not. I’m froh here in our little haus. We’ll be fine with one child. We can build a bigger haus before more kinner arrive. As long as Isaiah and I have each other and our family, we’ll be fine.”

  “You’ll have your own farm soon enough.” Mattie’s mother glanced up at the clock above the sink and frowned. “Where did you say Isaiah went this morning?”

  “He had to run to the bank, but he should be back soon.”

  “It’s been quite awhile, hasn’t it?” Lizanne chimed in. “Didn’t you say his driver picked him up at nine?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Well, it’s almost noon.” Lizanne leveled her gaze at Mattie. “Don’t you think he should’ve been back by now?” Mattie saw concern in her sister’s blue eyes as Lizanne tucked a stray strand of golden hair under her prayer covering. At twenty-seven, Lizanne was only three years older than Mattie, and especially since they had inherited the same coloring from Mamm, Mattie wondered if she looked the same way when she was wondering if all was well.