Forever

by Karen Ann Hopkins

  “She’s a very lucky girl.”

  “I don’t know about that, but she’s the one who encouraged me to come here and see you and the baby. She thought I needed some closure or something before we went to the next level.”

  “She’s a smart girl. I hope you don’t let her get away.”

  He shook his head and said, “This time I won’t.”

  The look that passed between us was bittersweet. The connection was still there, but it was fast disappearing with every snowflake that drifted down.

  Pulling a small wrapped package from the inside of his jacket, he handed it to me and said, “Well, I better get going. Please, take this for the baby.”

  After he handed it to me, he turned away, and I reached out and grabbed his arm.

  “Where are you going? You should give this to Sarah Ann in person.”

  “I thought I should leave since Noah didn’t want to see me.”

  Shaking my head, I tugged him toward the door.

  “I was being stupid. You were a good friend to me when I needed one most.” I tried to stop my quivering lip but failed. “Please, come in and see the baby. Noah will handle it.”

  Hunter nodded, and we quickly made our way into the warmth of the old house. When we walked into the family room, Summer’s eyes widened in surprise, but she got herself together quickly and greeted him.

  “Hi, there— It’s been a while.”

  “Yes, it has,” Hunter said as he walked across the room and knelt beside Summer, where Sarah Ann was lying happily on her legs.

  He looked at her for several long seconds before he glanced back at me and exclaimed, “She’s a beautiful baby.”

  “Why, of course she is,” Summer informed him as if she thought he was an idiot for having to say it out loud.

  I smiled and, remembering the package in my hands, I joined Summer on the couch and unwrapped it.

  The bright pink rattle had a star in the middle with the words Drama Queen on it.

  “I figured if she’s anything like her mother, it’s the one for her,” Hunter said, grinning.

  I laughed. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  “We have an unexpected visitor?” Noah said from the doorway, turning all of our heads.

  Hunter quickly rose and crossed the room with an extended hand.

  “Congratulations on your baby. She’s a real beauty,” Hunter said.

  Noah only hesitated for an instant before he grasped Hunter’s hand, and I let out a breath of relief.

  “Thanks, she’s a keeper,” Noah said, looking Hunter straight in the eye.

  Hunter must have needed closure on all sides, when he went on to say, “It’s taken some time for me to work things out, but I’ve moved on and am content with my life.” He glanced back at me and then faced Noah again. “I really do wish the best for both of you.”

  Noah nodded his head slowly in acknowledgment and then reached out to squeeze Hunter’s shoulder in a friendly way.

  I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

  “I better get going before the roads get any worse. You guys, take care. Maybe we’ll see each other again sometime.”

  Before he had a chance to leave the room, I jumped up and raced over to him. I was careful not to give him the hug goodbye that I desperately wanted to. Noah could be taken out of the Amish world, but the Amish would never fully be taken out of him, and his wife hugging her former boyfriend in front of him would have ruined any progress the two young men had just made.

  “Don’t you want to hang around and talk to Sam before you go?”

  Hunter quickly said, “Tell him I’ll give him a call next week.” He looked over my shoulder at Summer and added, “Maybe we can arrange a double date or something. I’d really like him to meet Hailey.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Summer answered with a smile.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Noah said, turning away with Hunter.

  When they were both out of earshot, Summer exclaimed, “That was plumb weird.”

  I nodded in agreement and sat down beside her again.

  “I’m glad he came by, though. The way our friendship ended had been bothering me for a while now.”

  “And you’re not at all jealous about this Hailey chick?”

  “No, not at all.” When Summer raised her eyebrows in doubt, I said, “Seriously, I’m surprised myself, but seeing Hunter’s eyes light up when he spoke about her made me really happy. He’s a great guy, and he deserves to be in love.”

  “With a girl who loves him back,” Summer agreed, but then her voice became sharp when she pointed out the window and exclaimed, “You have more company.”

  I swiveled and gasped when I saw the buggy being pulled by the dark bay horse coming up the driveway. Getting on my knees, I leaned over the back of the couch to get a better look.

  “It’s Noah’s parents— What on earth are they doing here?”

  “I was hoping you could tell me that.” Noah’s voice popped up behind me as he bent over and looked out the window himself.

  “They might want to see the baby,” I suggested, watching Amos help Rebecca out of the buggy after it had stopped beside the pathway.

  “I wasn’t expecting them.”

  “What’s the big deal? They probably want to see Miss Precious here,” Summer said.

  I looked up at Noah and saw the worry on his face.

  “Usually, my folks wait for us to come to them. Taking the horse and buggy out on a snowy day like this is unlike them,” Noah told Summer.

  Before Noah and I could get to the door, Dad was already there, welcoming the Millers in. Rebecca came straight to me with a hug before she sat down beside Summer. Summer quickly relinquished Sarah Ann without being asked, and soon enough, Rebecca had the baby resting in her arms.

  Noah and I exchanged worried glances while Dad and Amos stood talking about the winter weather for a minute. Sam, whose hair was still damp from the shower, appeared and slipped by the men to settle comfortably into the recliner.

  I was nibbling my pinky nail when Amos finally turned to Noah and spoke up. “Noah, your mother and I came here today with an idea. One that I hope you’ll consider for the well-being of your young family.”

  Noah looked confused and said, “I don’t understand.”

  Amos glanced at Dad, and I held my breath.

  Dad said, “I’ve been trying to figure out what I’m going to do with this old house. You see, it’s too big for me and Tina, especially with Sam in college and Justin following him out the door in a few years.” He took a breath and looked between me and Noah before continuing. “The house market isn’t very good right now to sell for any kind of profit and Meadowview has begun to grow on me.”

  I couldn’t take the suspense any longer and blurted out, “What does this have to do with us, Dad?”

  Dad smiled and glanced at Amos before speaking. “I’ve decided to stay here in the town. I’m going to move into Tina’s house, which is closer to the hospital.” He spread his arms and added, “That means this place will be empty and in desperate need of its own family.”

  My heart jumped, and I said, “Are you kidding me?”

  Noah was more reserved with his emotions and asked, “What exactly do you have in mind, David? I can’t afford to buy this house…were you thinking about renting it out?”

  Dad shook his head. “That’s where your parents come into this, Noah. They are willing to lend you the money for a down payment on your own mortgage. I’m going to let you and Rose have it for a fraction of what I bought it for. Consider it a kind of housewarming gift.”

  I held my breath, waiting for Noah’s reaction and desperately trying to keep the excitement from bursting out of me.

  Noah turned to Amos and said, �
��Is that true, Father? Why would you do such a thing when you’re so upset that I left the Amish? The last thing I thought you’d ever want is for me to be close by, corrupting the younger kids.”

  Noah’s resentment cut the air like a knife, and I sagged in the seat, suddenly afraid that a fight was about to break out.

  “This has been a year of change for all of us. Yes, we’d rather you remained in our faith, but we aren’t willing to turn our backs on you for the decision. You must get away from the city and all the bad things that go with it. You belong here. You always have.”

  Noah ran his hand through his hair and said, “I don’t know what to say.”

  Usually, Rebecca let her husband do the talking, but this time she spoke up herself, and all heads turned her way. Since she was holding the sleeping Sarah Ann in her arms, her words carried even more meaning.

  “Noah, nothing has changed as far as the shunning is concerned. In order to preserve our way of life and guide your younger siblings to join the church, we won’t be able to be with you and your family the way it would have been if you’d stayed with us. But we can help you, and we want to do so. This precious little angel deserves to grow up away from the city, safely surrounded by her kin on both sides of the family. We want to be a part of her life.”

  The silence in the room was unbearable, but I didn’t dare to speak. I understood what was going through Noah’s head—he was afraid that being so close to the Amish, without being a part of their world, would be more difficult than staying away.

  I knew what I wanted, though, and I looked into Noah’s eyes, waiting.

  “There is one catch.”

  Sam’s voice broke the tension, and I said, “What?”

  “Sorry, Dad, nothing personal, but when I come home from college, I’m staying here. Tina’s kind of irritating, and I consider this place home.” He looked straight at Noah and added, “If it’s all right with you, bro.”

  The smile that erupted on Noah’s face made me suddenly relax. Dad and Amos were grinning also, and Summer rose and pulled me into a hug.

  “You’re never going to be able to get rid of me,” she whispered into my ear.

  “I never want to,” I said.

  The throat-clearing in the doorway got everyone’s attention. Justin stood there in his pajama pants and Halo T-shirt.

  Looking directly at me and ignoring the others, he said, “I’m staying, too.”

  “Now wait a minute…”

  Dad began to protest, but Amos smacked him on the back and said, “That argument is better left for another day, friend.” He then turned to Noah and asked, “Have you made your decision?”

  Noah reached his hand out to me, and I took it, allowing him to pull me under his arm and against his side. He looked down and said, “I believe I know what you want to do….”

  I nodded my head vigorously, and he laughed and said, “Then we’re moving in. I still don’t know what I’ll do about work, but, by the grace of God, something will surely come up.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot about that.” Amos laughed, and I could see the joy on both his and Rebecca’s faces. He said, “I’ve got several jobs lined up once the weather breaks. I won’t be able to get around to all of them, and even though Elijah’s mood softened considerably toward our family after Sarah’s death, I certainly won’t be recommending him to my customers. It’s my understanding your friend Matthew Weaver isn’t enjoying his time working for the man…he might be persuaded to join with you on the jobs.”

  “Thank you, Father, for everything… And you, too, David. Rose and I are blessed to have our families.”

  “And, it doesn’t even matter that you’re from different worlds. In the end, family is family,” I said.

  Noah nodded, and Amos said, “Amen,” before he joined Rebecca on the couch. She handed him Sarah Ann, and he bent down to kiss her forehead. When he pulled back, her little fist was clamped around the end of his beard. Everyone laughed, Amos the loudest.

  Noah joined his parents, and Summer sat down on Sam’s lap. She whispered something into his ear, and he chuckled. Dad went to meet Tina who’d just arrived, and I wandered over to stand beside Justin.

  Seeing all of the most important people in my life gathered together made a honey warm feeling spread inside of me.

  Finally, after so long, I’d found where I belonged.

  Glancing sideways at Justin, I said, “I’m going to be keeping an eye on you.”

  He laughed and turned away, taking the stairs two steps at a time.

  Pausing in stride, he looked back and smirked. “I don’t think you’ll be able to keep up with me…but we’ll see.”

  Now I knew how Sam felt.

  At that moment, my gaze met Noah’s, and with a brilliant smile, he motioned for me to join him on the couch. After I squeezed in beside him, his mouth brushed my ear, and he whispered, “I’ll love you forever.”

  His lips against my skin caused the tingling sensation to erupt inside of me that only Noah could create.

  I sighed against his face and murmured, “Forever.”

  After all the struggles we’d been through, we’d finally made it.

  * * * * *

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  ISBN-13: 9781460325421

  FOREVER

  Copyright © 2014 by Karen Ann Hopkins

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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