A Promise of Hope

by Amy Clipston

  Turning, she faced her mother standing in the doorway.

  “Would you please come here?” Mamm asked, her pretty face distraught.

  Sarah headed for the door, wondering what had upset her mother. She hoped Kathryn hadn’t told their mother that she was having a breakdown. The last thing she needed was another lecture about allowing Peter to rest in peace. It was much easier said than done.

  Mamm stepped out onto the concrete. When the mysterious man followed her, Sarah stopped, frozen in place as she assessed him. He seemed to study her also, his brown eyes fixed on her as he sauntered toward her, the swing of his arms echoing Peter’s movements.

  Sarah remained cemented in place, feeling as though her shoes were sinking in quicksand. Her mouth dried, and her heart thumped madly in her chest. Was she hallucinating again, or was this man who resembled Peter advancing toward her?

  Mamm and the man stopped near Sarah, and Sarah’s gaze never left his. While Peter’s eyes had been a deep hazel, the mystery man’s were the color of mocha, reminding her of the milk-chocolate pies she loved to bake.

  “This is Luke Troyer,” Mamm said, breaking through Sarah’s reverie. “Peter’s cousin.”

  Sarah gasped and clasped her mother’s arm to steady herself. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound escaped. After clearing her throat, she tried again. “That’s impossible,” she whispered. “Peter had no family. There must be some mistake. Troyer is a common Amish name.”

  “He was my kin,” Luke said. “His full name was Peter Jacob Troyer, and he was born on May 25 in Middlefield, Ohio. He had a strawberry birthmark on his upper left shoulder blade, and he was a talented carpenter.”

  Sarah’s hands trembled as she stared into Luke’s deep brown eyes. In her heart, she knew he was telling the truth, but doubt still filtered through her mind.

  But why would Peter lie?

  She wondered if this man who claimed to be Peter’s relative was really just someone posing as a Troyer in order to gain something. But what could he be after?

  “Anyone could’ve confirmed that information,” Sarah said, hoping to sound more confident than she felt. “That doesn’t prove you’re his Freindschaft.”

  He folded his arms across his broad chest. “Your brothers and father agree there’s a family resemblance between Peter and me.”

  Unable to disagree, Sarah nodded.

  “I’ll leave you two alone to talk,” Mamm said, her voice shaking with emotion. She disappeared into the bakery.

  Sarah opened her mouth to protest her mother’s desertion and then stopped. She cut her eyes to the tentative smile growing on Luke Troyer’s lips, and her body tensed.

  Suddenly her mother’s favorite verse from Romans 12 echoed in her mind: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

  She bit her lip while the words soaked through her being. Was Luke the source of hope she’d been begging God to send her?

  No!

  The internal response sent a jolt through her soul. He couldn’t be the tranquility she craved. Having Luke here sent her already-crumbling confidence sinking into a black hole of doubt.

  Who was this man? Why was he here when Peter had said he had no family left in Ohio?

  She put her hand to her throbbing temples. “This is all too much,” she muttered.

  “Sarah Rose?” He stepped toward her. “Are you all right?” He held a hand out to her.

  “Please don’t touch me.” She took a step back.

  His eyes widened with shock, and he raised his hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “This is just a lot to take in.” She gestured toward him. “I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.”

  He glanced back toward the bakery and then at her. “Would you like to go for a walk?”

  She hesitated and then nodded. “I guess it would be okay for a few minutes, but then I need to get back to work.”

  “That sounds fair.”

  Fastnachts (Raised Donuts)

  2 cups milk

  1/3 cup lard

  3/4 cup sugar

  1-1/2 tsp salt

  2 eggs

  1 yeast cake/package

  1-1/2 Tbsp warm water

  About 7 cups sifted flour

  Oil for frying

  Powdered sugar

  Bring milk and lard to boiling point, but do not boil. Stir in sugar and salt and let cool to lukewarm. Beat eggs and add to the mixture. Soak yeast cake in warm water and keep warm. Sift and measure the flour. Combine yeast and mixture. Add enough flour until able to handle easily. Knead well by stretching and folding it over itself. Let rise overnight.

  The following day roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 2-inch squares and make a slit in the center. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Fry in deep fat until brown. While warm, roll in powdered sugar.

  4

  Timothy glanced out the kitchen window to where Sarah Rose and Luke stood talking. He gritted his teeth and swallowed a groan.

  This can’t be happening!

  Ever since Peter’s death, Timothy had worried he’d be caught in the lie of knowing about Peter’s past. Now with this relative from Ohio showing up, the truth would be revealed, making Timothy look like a liar. His stomach roiled as he paced around the kitchen in front of his siblings.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Kathryn asked. “You got ants in your pants?”

  While his siblings snickered, Timothy huffed. “We’ve got to be careful of this man. We can’t know who he is for sure, and he’s only going to upset Sarah Rose by bringing up the past—a past that Peter can’t defend.”

  Daniel’s brows furrowed with question. “What are you saying?”

  Timothy gulped. I said too much. “I just meant that this man is coming at the worst possible time. Sarah Rose is in a very delicate condition. We don’t need her upset right now. How can we even be sure he’s truly Peter’s freindschaft?”

  “He’s family,” Beth Anne said. “You can see it in his eyes. He’s a Troyer in search of other Troyers.”

  “Timothy has a point.” Kathryn tapped her finger on the counter. “Why would he suddenly show up after his cousin is dead? Is he going to take advantage of Sarah in her fragile state?”

  Timothy swallowed a sigh of relief. Danki, Kathryn! Finally someone is listening to me.

  “No, he won’t take advantage of her or upset her.” Timothy crossed his arms. “I won’t allow it. I’ll watch him like a hawk. He needs to tend to his business and then leave.”

  “You’re overreacting,” Daniel said, raising his hands to calm Timothy. “We don’t know if he’s a liar, and we don’t know what he’s after. We need to give him a chance.”

  “We need to protect Sarah,” Kathryn said. “She’s still grieving for her husband.”

  Daniel lowered himself onto a stool. “He didn’t even know Peter was married. I saw surprise in his eyes when I told him Peter had a widow.”

  “Ya, he seems genuine,” Beth Anne said. “I’m a good judge of character.”

  Timothy shook his head. His siblings were always too quick to trust people. He knew all about how liars operated. Miriam Lapp, his ex-fiancée, had proved that when she shattered his trust along with his heart. He needed to make sure that Luke left and left soon, before he hurt Sarah Rose or, worse yet, convinced her to come to Ohio with him to be with the rest of the Troyer family. Sarah needed to be with the Kauffmans, not the Troyers.

  “He could be a good actor,” Timothy said. “People like that take you by surprise.”

  Meeting his gaze, Kathryn nodded with understanding. “Ya. It’s the truth.”

  Beth Anne waved them off with a frown. “You two were always the skeptics of the family.”

  “And rightfully so,” Timothy said, turning his stare toward the door. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt Sarah. She’s been through enough, and it’s our job to protect her.”

  Luke fell in step with Sarah as they moved
across the parking lot toward a pasture beyond the bakery. He closed his eyes for a split second, checking to see if he’d been dreaming. However, when his eyes reopened, the blonde was still walking beside him, the sweet aromas of the bakery emanating from her like an invisible cloud. Luke shook his head with astonishment at the revelation.

  Sarah was beautiful. No, she was stunning, almost angelic. Her skin was porcelain, and the hair peeking from beneath her prayer kapp was honey blonde, even lighter than her siblings’. Her eyes were powder blue and her lips a deep pink. When she spoke, her voice was soft and sweet, reminding him of the treats lining the counters and shelves inside the bakery.

  He couldn’t help but wonder how Peter had managed to court and marry such a delicate beauty.

  Jealousy bubbled up inside of him. While Luke had put his own life on hold, Peter had managed to sweet-talk his way into this close family and win himself a lovely bride.

  Somehow life didn’t seem fair.

  Sarah stood straight as an arrow, as if she were marching to her death. He could feel anxiety radiating from her.

  “Peter never spoke of relatives in Ohio,” she said, breaking the silence between them. “If I had known about you, I would’ve contacted you in time for the funeral. I’m sorry you missed it.”

  “It’s not your fault. Daniel told me Peter claimed he didn’t

  have any family.” His eyes moved to her hands, folded across her abdomen, and he stopped short. He’d noticed her shape earlier, but the meaning of her size hadn’t registered with him until that moment.

  Peter was expecting a child.

  No, life wasn’t fair. Now Peter was gone, leaving a widow who would soon be a single mother.

  “Zwillingbopplin,” she whispered, her blue eyes full of sadness. “Our first kinner.”

  While it made his pulse kick with joy at the notion that he would still have family, a quick look at her face reminded him of her grief. “Zwillingbopplin,” he repeated. “Sarah Rose, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  She nodded, glancing down at her stomach. “I am too.” Her gaze collided with his again, her crystal eyes hardening. “Why would Peter not tell me about his family? It doesn’t make sense. Family is the most important thing of all—aside from God, of course.”

  Luke scanned the pasture while collecting his thoughts. He couldn’t tell her the truth. It would hurt her too much, and her condition was already delicate at best. He could tell by the sadness and anger in her eyes that his mere presence had rocked her to her very core.

  It was best to just tell her what she needed to know, which was very little.

  He spotted a wooden park bench near the fence that closed off a few horses from the open pasture. “Let’s sit and talk, so you can get off your feet,” he said.

  They walked together. After she slowly lowered herself onto the bench, he sank down beside her. She smoothed the black apron over her black dress, a sign of mourning. When his eyes met hers, his heart sank at the hurt and turmoil he found there. He vowed not to tell her anything that would upset her. Her condition was paramount.

  “What did Peter tell you about his past?” Luke asked.

  “He said his parents, Hezekiah and Ruth Troyer, died when he was young and an older couple named Abner and Clara Yoder raised him.” She stared down at her hands. “And he didn’t have any siblings. He moved here after his adoptive parents had died. He sold the family farm to pay off their debts and then came to Lancaster County to be closer to his Uncle Ephraim, who lives in a neighboring town. I never met his uncle, but I understood he was the only family Peter had left.”

  Luke resisted the urge to shake his head with disappointment. Peter wasn’t an orphan and had been raised by his biological parents.

  “And Peter came to work for the family furniture store?” Luke prompted her to move on with her story.

  “Ya. My dat was very happy with his work.” Sarah’s eyes glistened. She cleared her throat and placed her hands back on her belly. “Peter said his foster father taught him how to make cabinets.”

  “How did you meet Peter?” he asked.

  Her expression softened, her eyes reflecting happy memories. “He had joined the church in Ohio, but he became a member of our church district since he quickly made friends here. We met at a singing one Sunday night. He offered to take me home, and I told him no since I didn’t know him. But he pursued me.” She laughed. “He was relentless. He actually got a job at my father’s shop in order to get to know me. It took about six months, but I finally agreed to see him.”

  “Why were you so unsure of him?”

  “He was new to our church district.”

  “When did you marry?”

  “Two years later. Peter wanted to save money. We built a house on my dat’s land, and we moved in the spring after we married.” She sighed, her smile fading. “He wanted a big family. At first, we didn’t think God wanted us to have kinner. I only just found out we were having zwillingbopplin after he died. He never knew.”

  He stared across the pasture, wondering what kind of parent Peter would’ve been.

  “Sarah Rose!” A strident voice behind them caused them both to jump.

  Turning, Luke found Timothy charging toward them, his expression serious. He wondered if the guy ever smiled or if he was a constant killjoy.

  “Timothy?” Sarah asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “I think you should come back inside and rest,” her brother said.

  “I’m sitting on a bench, Timothy. I think I’m resting just fine.” Holding her back, she hoisted herself up. Her brother reached out to help her, and she swatted his hand away. “I’m fine. Don’t suffocate me!”

  Luke bit back a smile at her feistiness. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also strong.

  “Mamm says we should offer our guest something to eat,” Timothy said.

  She faced Luke. “Are you hungry? Would you like some lunch?”

  He stood. “That sounds nice.”

  “Let’s go find you some of my famous pork chops and scalloped potatoes,” she said. “Mamm and I brought it for lunch today. It was left over from last night.”

  As they strolled back toward the bakery, Timothy motioned for Luke to hang back with him. “Your being here is not the best timing,” he said through gritted teeth. “My sister has been through enough after losing her husband.”

  Luke flinched at the sting of the words. “I’m not going to do anything to upset her. I’m just trying to find out what happened to Peter.”

  “I can tell you what happened. He passed away, and now we’re all trying to pick up the pieces. My sister doesn’t need you here upsetting her. She didn’t know Peter had a life outside of Lancaster County, and you’re opening up a can of worms that doesn’t matter anymore.” Timothy scowled. “I think it would be best if you just left. Peter is gone, and we’ll take good care of her. We don’t need you or the rest of your family.”

  Luke studied Timothy’s expression. “So you know about Peter’s past?”

  “I know enough. If Sarah finds out, it will crush her.” He lowered his voice. “I’m going to watch your every move. My concern is my sister and her welfare. Don’t do anything that will upset her. If you do, then my brothers and I will escort you to the train station and send you on your way fast enough to make your head spin.”

  Raising his eyebrows, Luke nodded. “I understand.”

  Stepping into the kitchen, Luke wondered how close Timothy had been to Peter.

  More important, just how much did Timothy know about Peter’s past?

  Sarah stepped back into the kitchen after serving lunch to Luke, Daniel, and her father on the porch outside the bakery. Worry and doubt played havoc with her emotions. She felt as if the very ground beneath her feet was shaking with the uncertainty in her heart. Who was Luke Troyer and why had he shown up now, nearly six months after Peter had died?

  But the question haunting her the most was why, oh why, hadn’t Peter told her he had family
in Ohio? What else had he hidden from her?

  Sarah had trusted Peter with her very heart and soul. Why would he lie to her?

  Since she was a little girl, Sarah had dreamt of having a loving marriage modeled after her parents, who had met young and fallen head over heels in love with each other. She believed with all of her heart that there should be no secrets between a husband and a wife.

  Hadn’t Peter felt the same way?

  Pushing the hurtful questions away, Sarah poured herself a cold glass of water from the pitcher in the refrigerator. After taking a long drink, she set the glass down on the counter. When a hand gripped her arm, she jumped, startled. She turned to face Timothy frowning at her.

  “Why didn’t you announce yourself?” she snapped with a glare. “I can’t stand it when you sneak up on me.”

  “Sorry.” He shifted his straw hat and wiped sweat from his brow.

  “Why aren’t you outside eating lunch with the rest of the men?”

  “I wanted to speak with you alone.” He scanned the bakery and then nodded toward the door. “Let’s go outside for a minute.”

  Shaking her head with impatience, Sarah followed him out to the parking lot. “What’s so important that we have to step outside? I have baking to do. You may get a day to goof off, but I actually work.”

  “This is important.” Timothy leaned against the fence. “I want you to be cautious of Luke.”

  “Why?” Sarah’s stomach roiled at the seriousness of her brother’s words. She couldn’t handle more distressing news of Peter’s past. “What do you know about him?”

  He shrugged. “It’s just a feeling I have. I don’t want you to upset yourself. You need to concentrate on the bopplin right now, not what some stranger from Ohio says.”

  He glanced across the pasture, and she wondered why he was avoiding eye contact with her.

  “Timothy, is there something you’re not telling me?” She studied his face, waiting for his gaze to meet hers, but he kept his eyes focused on the ground and kicked a pebble. “Please look at me.”