A Place of Peace (21 page)

“Danki.”
Miriam cleared her throat. “I wanted to speak with you about another matter.”

He gestured toward chairs on the porch. “Please, have a seat. Would you like a drink?”

“No,
danki.”
Miriam lowered herself into a rocker. “I won’t keep you long.”

“Wie geht’s?
“ he asked, fingering his gray beard.

“I would like to join the church,” she said, her body trembling with anxiety and excitement. “I’m ready to be baptized.”

His expression was stern. “You know this is a huge commitment, Miriam. You have to renounce all of your worldly possessions.” He pointed in the direction of the Honda. “Foremost your car.”

She nodded. “I plan to take the car back to Indiana and give it to my
English
friend. I’m ready to live by the
Ordnung
and give my life to Christ.”

He rubbed his beard while studying her. “Are you certain?”

“Absolutely. I need to make a trip to Indiana to take care of some things and then I’ll be ready to start instruction. I would like to be baptized this year. I know it’s going to be held at my
daed’s
house, and it would mean a lot to him to be there. I know this is short notice since the classes are already in session this summer, but I wanted to ask you—no, beg you—for an exception for the sake of my father and his declining health.”

The bishop shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to say no. You’ve missed too many instructional classes to be baptized this year. You’ll have to go to another district next year or wait two years for our next district class.”

“Please hear me out.” Miriam took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. “You may think that I ran off four years ago to sample the
English
life without any thought about how my leaving affected my family. However, that’s not true.”

Gideon held his hand up to stop her from speaking. “I’m in no place to judge you or anyone else. We leave the judgment to God.”

“No, wait.” She clasped her hands together as tears filled her eyes. “I want to explain. I left not only because I thought I belonged in the
English
world, but also because someone whom I loved had betrayed me. However, I’ve learned some hard lessons, including that I belong here with my family and the person I love didn’t betray me. Losing my mother and almost losing my father taught me even more. Now I know with all my heart that I want to be Amish and I want to be here with my family.” With her voice caught, she paused to wipe her eyes.

Clearing her throat, she continued. “My father’s health is fragile. His heart is broken after losing my mother and he looks as if he’s aged a decade in only a few days because of his stroke. He’s finally let me back into his life after four years, and I want to show him I’m still the girl he remembers. I want to be baptized with the current class. I take my vows seriously, and I’m begging you to let me into that class. Please let me share this moment with my father while he’s still alive. I’ll make up the classes whenever it’s most convenient for you. I’ll work hard and show you that I’m dedicated.”

Compassion glimmered in the bishop’s eyes. “You’re absolutely certain about this, Miriam?”

She nodded. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

The bishop paused for a moment. “You make that trip to Indiana and then come see me when you get back and we’ll begin your instruction,” he finally said.

“Danki.”
Miriam stood and shook his hand. “I’ll come see you next week. Have a
gut
day.” She started toward the car, her heart pounding with excitement.

“Miriam,” he called after her.

She turned, meeting his stern gaze.

“This is a very serious decision,” he said. “It’s not one to be taken lightly. Once you’ve joined, you’re in for life.”

“I know in my heart that it’s the right time for me to make the commitment to Christ and my community.”

“Gut.”
His expression softened. “We’ll go visit your
daed
later this afternoon.”

“Danki.”
Miriam climbed into her car. As she turned the ignition, bringing her Honda to life, she considered what it would feel like to give up her car, her driver’s license, her job at the pediatrician’s office, her laptop, her email address, her jeans, and her makeup. Although the sacrifices were great, the reward was so much greater. She would finally be a true part of the Amish community, the community of her birth and her parents’ birth.

Yes, she was ready to give it all up. She was ready to live as a true member of the Lapp family. The thought filled her with a warmth she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Nevertheless, there was one disappointment nagging at her.

If only I could have Timothy by my side.

The thought echoed in her mind as she drove to the Kauffman Amish Bakery. She parked in the lot out front and then headed in the front door, past the loud
English
tourists blocking the small aisles and filling their baskets with pastries and trinkets, including key chains, figurines, dolls, postcards, magnets, and T-shirts.

“Miriam!” Lindsay squealed and rushed around the counter, engulfing Miriam in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Danki.”
Miriam held her tight. “How are you?”

“We’ve been so busy. Please tell me you’re coming back.” She pulled away from the hug and examined Miriam’s expression. “Please?”

“I need to discuss that with your
Aenti
Beth Anne.”

“She’s in the back.” Lindsay jammed her thumb toward the kitchen. “You know the way.”

“Danki.”
Miriam patted Lindsay’s shoulder while stepping past her.

Her smile deepened when she stepped back into the kitchen. While she enjoyed working for the pediatrician in Indiana, she loved the bakery. The sweet smell of icing and apple pie assaulted her senses, causing her stomach to growl.

Miriam’s former coworkers were busy at work in the kitchen. Elizabeth was wrapping a pie while Beth Anne pulled a sheet of cookies from an oven. Kathryn was icing a chocolate cake.

Beth Anne spun to face the door, and her eyes widened when they met Miriam’s. “Miriam!” Beth Anne rushed over and hugged her. “How are you?”

“Gut.” Miriam nodded a greeting to Elizabeth and Kathryn, who both looked surprised to see her. “Could I possibly talk to you in private?”

“Of course.” Beth Anne led her to the office, shutting the door behind them. “Have a seat.” She gestured toward the chair across from the desk.
“Wie geht’s?”

Miriam lowered herself into the chair. “I’m coming back to stay—permanently.”

“Ack, that’s
wunderbaar!”
Beth Anne clapped her hands together. “Will you come back to work at the bakery?”

“I’d like to—if you’ll hire me again.”

“Of course!” Beth Anne patted Miriam’s shoulder and then sat in the chair across from her. “May I ask why you decided to come back?”

“My
daed
had a stroke.”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“Danki.
He has some paralysis, but overall he’s okay. He’s at Lancaster General and will be moved to a rehabilitation center in a few days to learn to do basic daily tasks, like dressing himself.” Miriam cleared her throat, hoping to hold back her emotions. “He asked me to come back. I left because my family had been treating me like a stranger. Only Hannah and
Aenti
Edna have been treating me like family —up until I came back to see my
daed.
Now
Daed,
Lilly, and Gerald have apologized and asked me to be a part of the family again.”

“Oh my goodness.” Beth Anne’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what to say. That’s a beautiful story. I’m so happy for you.” She squeezed Miriam’s hands. “I’m glad you’re coming back.”

Miriam bit her lip, internally debating if she should tell Beth Anne about Lilly’s confession.

“What else is on your mind?” Beth Anne’s expression was full of concern.

“There’s something else Lilly told me, and I want to share it with you. But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Please tell me.” Beth Anne’s lips curved into a sweet smile. “We’re friends. You can be honest with me.”

“I wanted to share something Lilly told me just to clear the air between us.”

Beth Anne tilted her head in question. “What is it?”

“Lilly fabricated the stories about Timothy cheating on me and vice versa. She was jealous of me, and she wanted to tear Timothy and me apart.” Miriam’s voice quavered. “I wanted you to know I never did anything to hurt Timothy. I left the community after Jeremy Henderson died because I felt I had nowhere else to go.”

Frowning, Beth Anne shook her head. “I’m so sorry your sister caused the breakup.”

“
Ya.
” Miriam swiped away an errant tear. “I’ve forgiven her, but I have disappointment and regret in my heart.” She forced a sad smile. “But I know Timothy and Naomi are going to be married in the fall, and I wish him all of the happiness in the world.”
Although I wish I could share that happiness with him.

“Miriam.” Beth Anne took her hand again. “You’re a strong woman.”

“I can’t change the past.” Miriam sat up straight. “God is in control, and I need to follow His lead. I’m going to be baptized in October.”

Beth Anne’s wide smile returned to her lips. “That’s
wunderbaar!”

“Danki.
I’d love for you to be there.”

“I’d love to come and share the special day with you. You just let me know.” Beth Anne gestured toward the door. “When would you like to start back here? We need you as soon as you’re available.”

“I’m going to go back to Indiana tomorrow to tie up some loose ends. I need to get rid of my car, give notice to my employer, and pack up some things. I also need to explain to my cousin Abby exactly what my plans are. I’d like to start when I get back.”

Beth Anne nodded. “That sounds perfect.”

“My sisters and I will be caring for my
daed,
so I may need a day or two off during the week.”

“Family always comes first.” Beth Anne smiled. “I’m so
froh
you’re coming back. You sounded so sad when you left me the message the day you left. I was worried about you.”

“I was very upset. My
daed
had thrown me out of his house, and then Lilly had told me—” Miriam stopped mid-sentence. She was afraid to reveal too much of her feelings about Timothy to Beth Anne. Since Beth Anne was his sister, Miriam didn’t want to make her feel uneasy or caught in the middle between them. “Lilly confessed she had lied to Timothy. It was too much for me to handle.”

Beth Anne shook her head. “I can’t imagine how that betrayal felt.”

“I did some soul searching and decided I couldn’t stay in a community where my family treated me like a stranger. That’s why I left.”

“It makes sense. Family members are our most important allies.”

Miriam smiled. “It feels
gut
to be back. And I’m so thankful you’ll extend the job to me again.
Danki,
Beth Anne. You’re a
wunderbaar
friend.”

“You’re always welcome, Miriam.” Beth Anne squeezed her hand again. “Don’t forget that.”

They chatted for a few moments about how busy the bakery had been and then Beth Anne led Miriam back to the kitchen.

“Miriam is coming back to work with us,” Beth Anne announced. “She’s going to be baptized and join the church too.”

“Wunderbaar!”
Elizabeth rushed over and hugged Miriam. “I’m so
froh
to hear the news.”

“That’s gut,” Kathryn said with a smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Miriam wondered if Hannah had something to do with Kathryn’s change of heart or if it was because Timothy had finally moved on with his life and was going to marry someone else.

“Danki,”
Miriam said. “I’ll be starting in about a week. I need to travel back to Indiana to take care of a few things. Once I get back, I’ll be here for good.”

“I’m so
froh
for you,” Elizabeth said, squeezing Miriam’s hand. “You’re welcome here anytime.”

“I’ll call you when I get back,” Miriam said.

“Perfect. Have a safe trip.” Beth Anne hugged her again.

Heading to her car, Miriam whispered a prayer of thanks to God for her
wunderbaar
friends in Lancaster County.

Timothy was reading his Bible when a knock sounded at the front door later that evening. He crossed the room, opened the door, and found Beth Anne smiling on the porch with a pie in her hand.

He raised an eyebrow with suspicion. “I’ve fallen for this before, Beth Anne. You can’t possibly think I will again, do you?”

“It’s apple pie.” She moved the pie back and forth in front of him. “Yum. Smell it? It’s
appeditlich.”

He grinned and shook his head. “Incorrigible,” he muttered, motioning for her to enter his home. He led her into the kitchen, where he grabbed plates and utensils. “What are we going to discuss this time? Or should I say, what will you lecture me about?”

“What if this is a friendly visit?” she asked, grabbing a knife from a drawer.

“What if I’m a monkey’s uncle?”

She laughed while cutting the pie.

“Coffee?” he offered.

“No, thanks. But make it if you’d like some.”

He lowered himself into the chair across from her and breathed in the warm, sweet aroma of the pie. “You and
Mamm
are the best bakers I know.”

“Miriam is better than me by far.” She served him a piece and then licked her fingers.

His stomach twisted.

So, this is about Miriam—again.

He swallowed a groan. He’d been trying in vain to forget Miriam, but her beautiful face filled his mind every time he laid his head on the pillow at night. She’d managed to capture his heart once again.

He forked some pie into his mouth and moaned with pleasure. “You’ve outdone yourself. It melts in my mouth.”

She smirked.
“Danki.”

“Are you here to discuss her again?” he asked.

“Who?”

He narrowed his eyes with annoyance. “Miriam.”

“Ya.”
She took a bite of the pie. “Ack, it is
gut.”