A Season of Love Read online

  “Don’t be gegisch,” Rebecca whispered, her voice sounding thick. “It’s not your fault, and Trisha needed you.” She looked up at Lindsay. “How is Trisha?”

  “She’s doing well.” Lindsay sat on the edge of the bed. “She’s walking around now with a soft cast.”

  “What brought you back so soon?” Rebecca asked while holding Lindsay’s hand. “I wasn’t expecting you for a few more weeks.”

  Lindsay hesitated. She couldn’t bear to tell her aunt a fib, but she also didn’t want to cause any trouble for Katie who had only done what she believed was right.

  “Did Katie call you?” Rebecca asked, raising her eyebrows with suspicion.

  “She wrote me,” Lindsay said. “But please don’t be upset with her. She’s very worried about you, and she knew I would want to know what was going on. She felt she had to tell me.”

  Rebecca smiled and touched Lindsay’s cheek. “I’m not angry.”

  “Gut,” Lindsay said, relief flooding her.

  “I just didn’t want you to feel obligated to come back heemet since Trisha and Frank needed you,” Rebecca continued. “I wanted Trisha to be well before you came heemet. You’d made a promise to her first.”

  “But I want to help you,” Lindsay said. “You’re my family too.”

  “It’s so gut to see you,” Rebecca said while squeezing her hand. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you and everyone else too,” Lindsay said. “I had a gut time, but this is mei heemet.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I have made a decision. I want to join the church.”

  Rebecca sucked in a breath and tears filled her eyes. “Are you certain?”

  Lindsay nodded. “I’m absolutely certain. I’m ready.”

  “Ach, Lindsay.” Rebecca squeezed her hand again. “That’s the best news I could ever hear.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m so froh.”

  Lindsay told her a little bit about her trip, sharing the same news as she’d told Matthew in the van. When Rebecca yawned, Lindsay stood. “I should let you rest. We can talk later.”

  “That’s a gut idea,” Rebecca said. “Did Daniel know you were coming heemet?”

  Lindsay shook her head. “No, he didn’t.”

  Rebecca looked confused. “How did you get heemet from the bus station? Did you get a taxi?”

  “No, I didn’t take a taxi.” Lindsay’s cheeks heated. “Matthew arranged for a ride heemet and met me at the bus station.”

  “Matthew?” A smile turned up Rebecca’s lips. “You called him and asked him to pick you up?”

  Lindsay nodded. “I didn’t call Onkel Daniel because I wanted to surprise you all.”

  “That’s sweet,” Rebecca said. “I’m glad to hear Matthew picked you up. He’s a gut young man.”

  “I know. I’ll let you rest for a while,” Lindsay said. “I’ll bring you your lunch after your nap.”

  “Danki, mei liewe,” Rebecca said.

  Lindsay gently closed the door behind her and headed back to her room. Stepping through the doorway, she found Katie sitting on her bed and frowning while holding Lindsay’s cell phone.

  “This fell out of the pocket of your tote bag when I moved it out of the doorway.” Katie frowned. “Where did you get it?”

  “It was a gift from Aunt Trisha and Uncle Frank,” Lindsay said, sitting next to Katie on the bed.

  “A gift?”

  “Ya,” Lindsay said, taking the phone from her. “They bought it for me after I got my GED.”

  Katie looked alarmed. “You got your GED?”

  Lindsay nodded.

  “Why would you do that?” Katie’s expression turned to confusion. “I thought you loved living here. I thought you liked being Amish and couldn’t stand when your sister said you were selling yourself short.”

  “I do love it here,” Lindsay said. “And I know for certain I want to be Amish.”

  Katie shook her head. “You’re not making sense. You say you want to be Amish, but you got your GED.”

  “I know.” Lindsay stuck the phone in the front pocket of her tote bag. “But I was so tired of Jessica hassling me that I wanted to prove to myself I could do it. Since I got my GED now, before I’m baptized, it shouldn’t be a problem, ya?”

  “That’s true.” Katie paused, and a smile grew on her face. “Does that mean you want to be baptized and join the church?”

  Lindsay nodded, and Katie grinned.

  “I’m so excited to hear the news,” Katie said. Her expression became curious. “How did you get Matthew to pick you up at the bus station?”

  “I called him,” Lindsay said. “We’d written a couple of letters back and forth, and I knew he’d keep a secret if I asked him to. He’s a gut friend.”

  “I’m glad you’re back.” Katie stood and picked up her own bag, which contained all her clothes from her overnight stays. “I guess we should go downstairs, so we don’t disturb the kinner and Aenti Rebecca while they nap.”

  “I appreciate all you’ve done.” Lindsay stood and hugged her friend. “I’m going to unpack before I come down. I want to get organized.”

  “That sounds gut.” Katie hefted her bag onto her shoulder. “I packed everything of mine, so I’ll be ready to go when Onkel Daniel arrives heemet from work. It will be strange to go back heemet after being here for a while. I had fun, though.” She looked curious. “Are you hungry? Can I make you a snack?”

  Lindsay touched her stomach as it rumbled. “Ya. That would be wunderbaar. I had some crackers on the bus, but I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

  “I’ll make you something.” Katie started toward the door. “I’ll have it ready soon, so hurry down.”

  “Danki,” Lindsay said.

  While Katie disappeared into the hallway, Lindsay contemplated how much she loved being back in Bird-in-Hand. She’d first moved here four years ago from Virginia Beach. Lindsay and her older sister, Jessica, had come to Bird-in-Hand to live with her mother’s sister, Rebecca, after their parents were killed in a car accident.

  When Lindsay and Jessica first arrived, they both felt as if they’d entered another world, or perhaps another century, since Rebecca, Daniel, and the rest of the community lived simple, plain lives without modern clothes, television, electricity, or other up-to-date conveniences Lindsay used to take for granted.

  Lindsay had embraced life in the Bird-in-Hand community, quickly becoming a member of the Kauffman family. By contrast, Jessica protested and fought against the changes until she was permitted to move back to Virginia and live with their parents’ friends Frank and Trisha McCabe.

  Lindsay pulled her dresses and aprons from her duffle bag as she thought about her sister. Jessica was Lindsay’s polar opposite, beginning with their appearances. Jessica had dark hair and eyes, and Lindsay had deep red hair and bright green eyes. Jessica had finished high school, graduating with honors, and then moved on to college. She was now finishing up a highprofile internship with an accounting firm in New York City.

  On the other hand, Lindsay kept with Amish tradition and didn’t continue her education beyond eighth grade, other than achieving her GED while staying in Virginia Beach with Frank and Trisha. Instead of going to high school, Lindsay began working in the Kauffman Amish Bakery, owned by Elizabeth Kauffman, with Rebecca and Rebecca’s sisters-in-law.

  After placing her dirty clothes in the hamper, Lindsay hung her clean dresses and aprons on the hooks on her wall and then put her undergarments in her dresser. Once all of her clothes were properly put away, she stowed the bag under her bed.

  Heading to the stairs toward the smell of bacon and eggs, Lindsay smiled. This was truly her home, and it was so very good to be back where she belonged.

  2

  Later that evening, Katie rode next to Daniel in his buggy and discussed the weather as they drove back to her house. She spotted her father and her older brother, Samuel, as Daniel guided the horse toward the barn near her house.

  “Danki again for stay
ing with us,” Daniel said as he halted the horse. “You were a great help to us.”

  “Gern gschehne, Onkel Daniel,” Katie said, while grabbing her bag from the floorboard. “I was froh to help.”

  Katie’s father, Robert, and Samuel approached as she and Daniel climbed from the buggy. Katie greeted them and lifted her bag onto her shoulder.

  “Wie geht’s,” Robert said, shaking Daniel’s hand. “What brings you and Katie out here tonight? I thought she was working for you all week.”

  “Lindsay surprised us and arrived heemet today,” Daniel said. “We appreciate all Katie has done for us. Danki for allowing her to work for us, Robert. I know she has obligations at the bakery.”

  Samuel shot Katie an accusing look, and her shoulders tensed.

  Squaring her shoulders in defiance, Katie frowned at her brother and then turned toward Daniel. “I’m going to head inside and see if mei mamm needs any help,” she said. “Danki for bringing me heemet.”

  “Please tell your mamm hello and danki again for allowing you to stay with us, Katie,” Daniel said. “We couldn’t have gotten by without you. You’re wunderbaar gut with the kinner.”

  “I will tell her,” Katie said. “Gut nacht.”

  Katie heard her father ask about Rebecca as she hurried up the steps and into the house. She dropped her bag at the base of the stairs and found her mother, Sadie, sitting at the kitchen table with her sister Nancy while they created a shopping list.

  “Hi,” Katie said as she stepped into the kitchen. “Wie geht’s?” She hugged her mother and then grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter and bit into it. When the juice trickled down her chin, she snatched a paper towel to wipe it away.

  “Katie,” her mother said, her eyes round with surprise. “I’m so glad you’re heemet. Is Rebecca doing better?”

  Katie shook her head and dropped into a chair across from her mother while taking another bite of the apple. “No, she’s about the same, but Lindsay came heemet today and surprised everyone.”

  “She did?” Nancy asked. “How was her visit to Virginia? Did she have fun at the beach?”

  “She had a gut time.” Katie shared a few of Lindsay’s stories about walking on the beach, working at the nursing home, and frequenting her favorite restaurants. “She’s back for good now. She told me she wants to join the church too.” She bit into the apple again, enjoying the tart sweetness.

  “That’s wunderbaar,” Nancy said with a smile. “When did she get heemet?”

  “Earlier this morning,” Katie said. “Matthew picked her up from the bus station.” She took two more bites of the apple and then wrapped the core in the paper towel.

  Their mother glanced at Nancy. “Why don’t you go see if the kinner are ready for bed? I’ll be up shortly to tuck them in. I’d like to speak with Katie alone.”

  “Yes, Mamm.” Looking disappointed, Nancy stood and started for the stairs. Katie assumed her younger sister wanted to stay and find out more about Lindsay’s trip and homecoming.

  “Did you eat supper?” Sadie asked, gesturing toward the apple core.

  “Ya, I did eat supper, but I was still hungry,” Katie said, placing her hands on the table. “Lindsay and I made chicken pot pie. Onkel Daniel was very glad to see Lindsay was heemet. He was really surprised. He told me to say danki for allowing me to stay over and help them out.”

  “It’s the proper thing to do when family members need help.” Sadie looked curious. “Matthew picked up Lindsay from the bus station? How did he know she was coming heemet? She must’ve called him, ya?”

  “She did.” Katie bit her bottom lip and wondered if her mother was going to grill her about Lindsay and the situation at Rebecca’s house. While Katie loved her mother, Sadie was known in the community for having a loose tongue. Katie knew things she shared with her mother might be repeated at an upcoming quilting bee.

  “How’s Rebecca’s spirit?” Sadie asked. “Is she holding up okay despite her complications?”

  “I think so.” Katie shrugged. “She seems very tired and a little frustrated that she can’t get up and do things around the house. She’s froh Lindsay is heemet, and she thanked me for everything I’ve done just like Onkel Daniel thanked me. I’m glad I was able to help them out.”

  Sadie looked suspicious. “How much fun did Lindsay have in Virginia Beach?”

  Katie paused, choosing her words with care. “She spent time with old freinden and enjoyed the beach but spent most of her time taking care of her aenti Trisha.” Although Katie understood why Lindsay had gotten her GED, she knew her mother wouldn’t. She figured it was best to keep that information to herself since Lindsay was going to join the church. She glanced at the list in front of her mother in hopes of distracting her. “Are you planning on going shopping tomorrow?”

  Her mother sighed. “Ya, I think so. I was hoping to wait until Friday, but we’re out of quite a few things. Are you going to go back to work at the bakery tomorrow?”

  Katie shrugged. “I was planning on it. Do you want me to help you with the shopping instead?”

  Her mother waved off the question. “I can handle the shopping, Katie. Your mammi will be happy to have you. I’m certain the bakery is still very busy even though there are more bakers working there now. Elizabeth told me she hired three new bakers — Hannah, Fannie, and Vera — when you went to work for Rebecca since tourist season was in full swing.”

  “I miss baking, and it will be nice to get back to working with mei aentis and cousins.” Katie stood. “I better go out and ask Dat to arrange a ride for me.” She stepped onto the porch and found her father and brother climbing the stairs. “Dat, I’m going to go back to work in the morning. Would you please arrange a ride to the bakery for me?”

  “Ya, of course,” her father said. “I’ll call right now.” He headed toward the small shed that housed their family’s phone.

  Samuel’s stare was accusing. “You told Lindsay about Aenti Rebecca, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” Katie said, crossing her arms over her apron. “I prayed about it, and I felt it was the right choice. Lindsay has a right to know Aenti Rebecca is sick, because Aenti Rebecca is like her mamm.”

  Samuel’s frown softened. “Are you saying you didn’t get in trouble?”

  Katie shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Even Onkel Daniel understood. Both Onkel Daniel and Aenti Rebecca are glad she’s back.”

  Her brother rubbed his chin. “I guess in this situation you were right to follow your heart.” He smiled. “Lizzie Anne will be very excited to see Lindsay again too.”

  “Oh ya! I’m so excited mei two best freinden and I will be back together again. It’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to talk,” Katie said. “I better get upstairs and unpack.”

  While climbing the stairs with her bag on her shoulder, Katie smiled. She was glad to be home. Life would get back to normal again.

  Lindsay brought the platter of eggs, fried potatoes, sausage, and bacon to the table where her uncle and cousins sat. She then grabbed the basket of bread and placed it in the center of the table before sitting next to Emma. After a silent prayer, she retrieved a piece of bread, sliced it, and slathered butter on it before handing it to Emma, who giggled with delight as she bit into it. Lindsay then filled a plate for Daniel Junior before looking at her uncle, who was cutting up his scrambled eggs.

  “Aenti Rebecca looked gut this morning,” Lindsay said. “She seemed to have some color back, ya?”

  Her uncle nodded and lifted his cup of coffee. “Ya, she does.”

  Lindsay scooped a pile of fluffy yellow eggs onto her plate and thought about the question that had haunted her through the night. She wanted to share it with her uncle, but she felt doubt nipping at her.

  Lindsay glanced at Daniel Junior, who bit into a hunk of bread and chewed with a grin on his face, his mouth open. “Appeditlich, Lindsay.”

  “Danki, but please chew with your mouth closed, Junior.” Looking back at her
plate, Lindsay again considered talking to her uncle about her burning question: Should she talk to the bishop about joining the church? She met his curious eyes.

  “Is something bothering you, Lindsay?” Daniel asked. “You don’t seem like yourself this morning.”

  “I’ve been thinking about something,” Lindsay began as she placed her fork on her plate. “It kept me up most of the night.”

  Daniel looked sympathetic. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She nodded. “I want to be baptized.”

  “Ach.” He looked surprised. “That’s a big decision. Are you certain?”

  “Oh yes. I’m positively certain.” She gripped her fork again. “I want to be baptized with mei freinden, though I know I’ve missed most of the classes. Do you think there’s a chance I could join them somehow?” She absently cut up her egg while she considered her options. “I can always join another district next year, but it would be even more special to be baptized with mei freinden this year.”

  Daniel set his coffee mug on the table and touched his beard. “You remember when your aenti Miriam was baptized, ya?”

  “Ya,” Lindsay said. “I do remember that. It was after she moved back here from Indiana. She started dating Onkel Timothy not too long after that.”

  “She received special permission from the bishop,” Daniel said. “Timothy told me she had to go talk to the bishop and explain why it meant so much for her to join the church.” He speared some potatoes with his fork. “Do you feel comfortable doing that?”

  “I don’t know.” Lindsay lifted her napkin and thought about Bishop Abner Chupp. “Bishop Chupp is a fair man, but he’s a little imposing.”

  “He’s really not imposing.” Daniel smiled. “He’s just a humble man like me. We’re all the same in God’s eyes.”

  “But you’re mei onkel. It’s easy to talk to you when I want to tell you something very personal and serious, like my decision to join the church.” Lindsay wiped her mouth. “Aenti Miriam spoke to the bishop and explained she wanted to be baptized, and he allowed her to come to classes, right?”