A Seat by the Hearth

by Amy Clipston

  “We’re not homeless, Priscilla, and we’re not destitute. I’ll eventually find us another place to live. I have money in the bank. I’ve been saving for years.”

  “I know that.” She touched his cheek, enjoying the scratchy feel of his beard. “What do you want?”

  Mark looked across the room as if the dresser held all the answers. “I like working with Allen, but I do miss the horses.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded as he faced her once again. “I enjoyed the work. I never knew how much I could enjoy training horses until I went to work with your dat.”

  “So you like working there more than you like working for Allen?”

  “Ya, I do.” His expression became fierce. “But I won’t allow him to hurt you ever again.”

  “I know that.” She touched his cheek again as affection overwhelmed her. “But what if we went back on our terms?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if we told him we’ll come back only on certain conditions?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “We just need to decide what we want.” She touched his shoulder. “What will it take to get you back there?”

  Mark rubbed his beard. “I would want to earn a salary, and then I’ll build our haus when we’re ready. It will be our haus, and I’ll pay for it. I don’t want your dat to foot the bill, and I don’t want him to have a hold on us. I’ll earn my way on that farm. I’m not going there to get anything for free.”

  “I understand.”

  “And your dat has to prove to me that he can treat you with respect. If he says one thing out of turn, we’re gone.” He snapped his fingers. “Does that sound gut?”

  “Ya.” She rubbed his shoulder. “Do you want to talk to my parents tomorrow while Ethan is in school?”

  “If that’s what you want, then ya.”

  “Okay. It’s settled, then.” She smiled.

  “Gut.” Mark grabbed her by the waist, and she squealed as he pulled her over to him. “Come here, mei fraa.” He grinned before kissing her.

  She relaxed against him as she lost herself in the feel of his lips, and bliss bubbled through her veins.

  Priscilla stood beside Mark on her parents’ front porch the following morning. The door opened, and her mother gave a little squeal as she opened it wide.

  “Priscilla. Mark.” Mamm gestured for them to come in. “I’m so froh to see you.”

  “It’s nice to see you too,” Mark said as they stepped inside the house. “Is Yonnie home?”

  “Ya, we were just having kaffi in the kitchen,” Mamm said. “Hang up your coats and come join us.”

  Priscilla looked up at Mark, and he gave her a reassuring smile as they hung their coats on the pegs by the front door. Then they followed Mamm into the kitchen.

  “Priscilla.” Dat’s expression brightened as he looked up at her. “Mark. Wie geht’s?”

  “We were wondering if we could talk to you,” Mark said.

  “Please have a seat.” Dat gestured to the chairs across from him.

  “Would you like some kaffi?” Mamm offered.

  “Ya, please,” Mark said. “Danki.”

  “I’ll help you serve it.” Priscilla took mugs from the cabinet and set them on the table. Mark sat down across from Dat.

  “What do you want to discuss?” Dat’s expression seemed hopeful.

  “Edna told Priscilla you still want us to move back to the farm,” Mark began. “She said you want me to work for you, and you want to leave the farm to Ethan and any kinner we might have.”

  “That’s true.” Dat fingered his beard. “I really need your help. I can’t run this farm by myself, and you’re the best farmhand I’ve ever had. Besides that, you’re family now.” He looked up at Priscilla. “And I miss all of you. I especially miss having mei grosssohn around.”

  Priscilla’s hands trembled as she poured coffee into Mark’s mug. Why did her father always know how to get right to her heart, no matter how much he’d hurt her in the past?

  When she handed Mark his mug, he touched her arm and gave her a tender smile. The simple gesture calmed her, and her hands stopped shaking.

  Crossing to the counter again, Priscilla filled a mug for herself and then sat down beside Mark. Her mother sat down across from her.

  “What do you say?” Dat asked Mark. “Will you come back?”

  “We will.” Mark looked at Priscilla once again. “But only under certain conditions.”

  “Okay.” Dat’s expression brightened. “What are your conditions?”

  “I want to earn a salary,” Mark said. “We’ll live in the daadihaus until I have enough money to build a haus.”

  “No, I can build you one,” Dat said. “I have plenty of money.”

  “No.” Mark’s voice was even but firm. “I want to earn our haus and build it with my own money. I don’t want anything for free. I’ll save enough to build the haus Priscilla wants.” He glanced at her. “I want mei fraa to be froh.”

  Priscilla gave him a little smile, and then she and her mother shared a smile.

  Mark faced her father again. “And you have to treat Priscilla with respect. I won’t allow you to hurt her anymore, and I want you to be a gut role model for Ethan. You have to earn back our trust. I won’t permit you to insult or criticize Priscilla at all. If you do, we’ll leave again. I’ll find a haus to rent and go back to working for Allen or mei dat.”

  Dat nodded. “I understand, and I’ll prove myself to you. I’ll do anything to have you come back. I don’t want to lose my family again. You’re all important to me.”

  Mark looked at Priscilla. “Does that all sound gut to you?”

  Priscilla nodded. “Ya.”

  Dat met her gaze, and his eyes glimmered with tears. “Danki for forgiving me and giving me another chance. I won’t let you down.”

  Tears stung her own eyes as she silently asked God to guide her father’s heart toward her.

  Mark looped his arm around Priscilla’s shoulders and gave her a little squeeze before looking at her father again. “When do you want us to come back?”

  “How about today?” Dat asked.

  Mamm clapped. “I’m so froh. I’ll have my family back together.”

  Priscilla smiled. “Ethan is going to be so excited.” She squeezed Mark’s hand.

  While she knew her relationship with her father would never be perfect after the way he’d treated her, for the first time in a long time, her heart was filled with hope.

  “So Mollie was right,” Priscilla said as she held her newborn niece against her chest a week later. She moved the rocking chair in Florence’s family room back and forth. “She knew she was going to have a baby schweschder.”

  “I know.” Laura laughed. “She predicted I would have a girl, and I did.”

  Cindy smiled as she touched Catherine’s little fingers. “I can’t get over how tiny she is.”

  “She looks like an angel,” Sarah Jane chimed in.

  “I know.” Priscilla looked down at her. “That little nose and that thick, dark-brown hair. She’s so schee, and I love her name. Catherine Savilla Lambert is beautiful.”

  Laura smiled. “Mollie insisted we name her after her other mamm, as she calls Savilla. It seemed fitting that we remember Savilla this way.”

  “Ya, I agree.” Happy tears gathered in Priscilla’s eyes. “She’s just perfect.”

  “You’ll be next,” Laura said with a smile. “I can feel it.”

  “I hope so.” Priscilla bit her lower lip as heat infused her cheeks. Her marriage had been just about perfect the past couple of weeks, and she couldn’t have been any happier. Their relationship had grown deeper and more meaningful since they’d stayed at Laura’s house. Priscilla could feel Mark’s love surrounding her and making her more courageous every day. She had the marriage she’d always wanted. God had truly blessed her the day she became Mark’s wife.

  They’d also settled into a comfortable routine on her fa
ther’s farm during the past week. Dat had been respectful and kind to her, and they’d had a few meaningful talks. She was hesitant to trust him after the lifetime of hurt he’d subjected her to, but she allowed herself to remain hopeful that someday she and her father could grow closer.

  She touched Catherine’s little fingers, and her heart fluttered. She and Mark had so much to look forward to as a couple. She looked forward to the day she and Mark would have a child together. She was certain it would happen in God’s perfect timing.

  “May I have a turn to hold her?” Cindy held up her arms.

  “Of course.” Priscilla passed the baby over to Cindy and then stood so she could take the rocking chair.

  “Are you ready to go?” Mark appeared in the doorway with Ethan by his side. “It’s getting late.”

  “Ya.” Priscilla stood, and she and Mark both said good night to the sisters. She followed Mark and Ethan into the kitchen, where they said good-bye to the rest of the family. Then she walked with Mark and Ethan out into the cold so they could start their journey home.

  “This is perfect,” Mark said as Priscilla snuggled up next to him in front of the fire in the daadihaus later that evening. “Hot chocolate, a warm fire, and mei schee fraa.”

  “You say that to all the maed.” Priscilla looked up at him and pulled the quilt over her lap. Then she smiled at the hearth, admiring the pinecones, evergreen branches, and candles she’d used to decorate it for Christmas.

  “Are you calling me a user again?” he said, grinning.

  “Well, you know what they say. If the shoe fits . . .” She laughed, and then she took a sip of hot chocolate before setting her mug on the coffee table and snuggling closer to Mark. “I can’t believe how adorable our two new nieces are. Do you think we’ll have a girl someday?”

  “We can hope.” He kissed her forehead. “How many kinner do you want?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe six?”

  “Six?” He cringed, and she laughed. “How about two more?”

  “Or three.” She touched his bearded chin. “You have three biological siblings.”

  “Ya, I sure do.” He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I don’t care how many we have as long as I’m with you.”

  “I feel the same way.” She leaned against him and relished the sound of his heartbeat.

  “I have something for you. I know it’s not Christmas yet, but I can’t wait to give it to you.” He reached under the sofa, pulling up a large piece of flat wood. “I’ve been working on this for a while. I used to tinker with it before we moved in with Laura and Allen, before going to sleep.” He handed it to her. “Here.”

  “Oh my goodness!” Priscilla gaped as she ran her fingers over the carving that was a perfect representation of their little house. He’d even included her small garden with the happy flowers. Tears filled her eyes at the love and tenderness he’d carved into the wood for her. “Mark. This is exquisite.”

  “You think so?” He frowned. “It’s not perfect, but I’ll get better as I work on more carvings.” He smiled at her. “I wanted to use the tools you gave me to make you something special. We’ll always have this as a memory of our first haus.”

  “I love it.” She touched his cheek. “Danki.”

  “Gern gschehne.” He threaded his fingers with hers. “This way you’ll always remember where we started out.”

  “I love our little haus. I just want to stay here in front of the hearth with you.” She looked up at him. “Do you think we should build a hearth in our new haus?”

  “Why not? It’s going to be our haus, right? We should have what we want.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Like I said before, I just want to make mei fraa froh. Ich liebe dich,” Mark whispered against her hair.

  “I love you too.”

  Mark brushed his lips against hers, sending happiness buzzing through her like a honeybee. She smiled against his mouth and silently thanked God for giving her true love and happiness. Her most fervent prayers had been answered. She could hardly wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1.When Priscilla left the community eight years earlier, she believed she’d never go back. By the end of the book, she realizes the Amish community is her true home. What do you think caused her to change her point of view throughout the story?

  2.Franey is jealous when she learns Mark is going to marry Priscilla. She’s so upset that she says cruel things about Priscilla. Have you ever been jealous of a friend? If so, did that jealousy cause you to say things that weren’t true? Did you regret what you said, and did you ask for forgiveness? Share this with the group.

  3.Laura confides in Priscilla that she experienced miscarriages early in her marriage. She also shares with Mark that she is nervous about her pregnancy because of her past losses. Could you relate to Laura and her experience? Share this with the group.

  4.Priscilla believes she’s damaged and unworthy of love. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses helped?

  5.At the start of the book, Mark doesn’t believe he’ll ever want to get married and have children. His dream of owning his own home on his father’s farm is enough for him. However, he changes as the story progresses. What do you think caused him to change his point of view about his future?

  6.Yonnie has always been hard on Priscilla, believing his tough parenting style was permissible. He discovers the error of his ways at the end of the story. What made him realize he’d been wrong and ask for forgiveness? How have you felt convicted of a wrongdoing?

  7.By the end of the book, Mark realizes he’s fallen in love with Priscilla. What do you think helped him realize how strong his feelings for her were?

  8.Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Priscilla, Ethan, Mark, or someone else?

  9.What role did Ethan play in Mark and Priscilla’s relationship? Did he help strengthen their marriage?

  10.What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  AS ALWAYS, I’M THANKFUL FOR MY LOVING FAMILY, including my mother, Lola Goebelbecker; my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt. I’m blessed to have such an awesome and amazing family who puts up with me when I’m stressed out on a book deadline.

  Special thanks to my mother and my dear friend Becky Biddy, who graciously read the draft of this book to check for typos. Becky—I’m sure you ran out of a few dispensers of tape flags on this one! Also, thank you, Becky, for your daily notes of encouragement. Your friendship is a blessing!

  I’m also grateful to my special Amish friend, who patiently answers my endless stream of questions.

  Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.

  Thank you to Zac Weikal and the fabulous members of my Bakery Bunch! I’m so thankful for your friendship and your excitement about my books. You all are amazing!

  To my agent, Natasha Kern—I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, advice, and friendship. You are a tremendous blessing in my life.

  Thank you to my amazing editor, Jocelyn Bailey, for your friendship and guidance. I appreciate how you push me to dig deeper with each book and improve my writing. I’ve learned so much from you, and I look forward to our future projects together. I also cherish our fun emails and text messages. You are a delight!

  I’m grateful to editor Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, you are a master at connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. I’m so thankful that we can continue to work together!

  Thank you to Janet Jeter for help with the twin research. You’re so blessed to not only have a twin brother but also another set of twins in your family! Thank you for giving me pointers on Laura
and Mark’s connection. I’m so grateful to have you as one of my work buddies.

  I also would like to thank Kristen Golden for tirelessly working to promote my books. I’m grateful to each and every person at HarperCollins Christian Publishing who helped make this book a reality.

  To my readers—thank you for choosing my novels. My books are a blessing in my life for many reasons, including the special friendships I’ve formed with my readers. Thank you for your email messages, Facebook notes, and letters.

  Thank you most of all to God—for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify You. I’m grateful and humbled You’ve chosen this path for me.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Dan Davis Photography

  AMY CLIPSTON IS THE AWARD-WINNING and bestselling author of the Amish Heirloom series and the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She has sold more than one million books. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mom, and three spoiled-rotten cats.

  Visit her online at amyclipston.com

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