Amish Widow's Hope
Page 11
“Jah, you’re far too old for me. I need to look for someone younger.”
“I’m serious, Anita.”
Anita gulped as she looked into his eyes. The joking was over. He was being serious, and she knew she had to give a straightforward answer. “I think age doesn’t matter. It might matter if it were a large age gap or if the younger person was still a teenager, but a slight difference shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Do you remember the list that Fran gave you a long time ago?”
“Jah. I don’t think I’ll ever forget Fran’s list.”
He pulled the paper out of his pocket.
She stared at the paper. “You kept it?”
He nodded.
“I wondered where it got to.”
He held the paper in one hand, and with the other hand reached into the basket and pulled out a pin. “I need to ask you an important question, Anita Graber.”
Anita’s heart pounded. Was he going to ask her to marry him? She realized she wanted him to.
When he hesitated, she asked, “What question?”
He smiled. “I’ve added my name to Fran’s list.”
Anita put her hand to her mouth and giggled.
“I was hoping that you might take this piece of paper and this pin, and if you happen to stick the pin in my name, I’m hoping you’ll agree to marry me.”
“And what if the pin sticks in someone else’s name?”
“You won’t have to marry him. We won’t let him know about it, but if you do stick the pin in my name, you’ll have to marry me. What do you say?”
“This is a big decision. And we’re leaving it up to chance?”
“We’re leaving it up to Gott. This is how the bishops are chosen. Well, not with a pin, but by lot, which is a similar principle.”
“Are you prepared for the outcome?” Anita’s heart pounded hard against her chest.
“More than prepared. I’ve been thinking for a long time about asking you to marry me, but at the same time giving you a way out.”
Anita stretched out her hand. “Give me the paper.”
“You have to close your eyes, and I’ll put the pin and the paper in your hands when you tell me you’re ready.”
“Since when do you make all the rules?”
“Shh. This is my idea, so I make the rules. Now close your eyes and tell me when you’re ready.”
“Okay, but you have to keep an eye on Daniel. He’s been trying to walk, and I don’t want to miss his first steps.” She glanced down at Daniel who was sitting next to her, playing happily with the limp daisy chains. Then she closed her eyes and silently prayed that Gott would help her choose his name if he were the man for her. And she hoped that he was. She left it in Gott’s hands, and without opening her eyes, said, “I’m ready.”
She placed her hands out and Simon carefully placed the pin between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand, and then placed the paper in her other hand.
“Now I’ve unfolded the paper, and it’s the right side up. You’ve got no idea where I could’ve put my name. I don’t want you to think I’ve put it at the bottom.”
“Which is the top and which is the bottom?”
“I’ve handed it to you with the top at the top, and the bottom at the bottom.”
“And what happens if I don’t stick the pin in your name?”
“Everything in life can’t be planned, Anita. Sometimes you have to take chances.”
With her eyes still closed, she nodded. She placed the paper down in front of her on the blanket, circled the pin and then pushed the pin into the paper. When he remained silent, she was certain that she’s missed his name. “Can I open my eyes now?”
“Jah.”
Anita opened her eyes and looked down at the list. She saw that it wasn’t Fran’s list at all, and what’s more, every spot on the page held Simon’s name. She looked up at him and laughed. “I knew it.”
“Nee you didn’t.”
“Jah, I thought you might have done something like that.”
He leaned over. “Will you marry me, Anita Graber?”
She nodded. “I will.”
He leaned over and gently pressed his lips against hers.
“I have to marry you now. I said I would if the pin stuck you.”
“You’re exactly right.”
They both laughed, and Daniel clapped his hands and joined in.
“When do you think we should tell Amos and Hannah?” Anita asked, wondering what their reactions would be.
“A year or two.”
“That’s most likely for the best,” Anita said. “But who knows what man Fran will try and make me marry before then.”
“Perhaps we should marry as soon as we can?”
Anita nodded. “Perhaps.”
“I do have that list, you know - Fran’s list - the real one. I kept it as a reminder.”
Anita laughed. “A reminder of what?”
“A reminder that I shouldn’t let you out of my sight for too long.” He smiled at her. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever been able to talk to.”
Anita’s face hurt from smiling so much. “Really?”
“Jah. I knew there was something about you from the moment I first saw you walk into the kitchen at Amos and Hannah's house.”
“I felt a certain fondness toward you too, back then, but it seemed no one else thought we’d make a match.”
He took hold of her hand. “It never matters what others think. We’re the ones who have to live our lives. As long as we’re not hurting other people, it shouldn’t matter who we love.”
“It doesn’t matter. You can remember to say all that when we go back to the haus to tell Amos.”
Simon cleared his throat. “I’ll let you do the talking.”
“The one who does the asking is the one who has to do the talking. You asked me to marry you, so you have to tell Amos.”
He pulled a sad face. “Okay.” He leaned down and kissed Daniel on top of his head. “I’ll hold Daniel in my arms while I tell him, so Amos can’t hit me.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Anita thought back to the old man on the bus who’d given her words of comfort over a year ago. As he’d promised, time had made things easier. She no longer dwelt on trying to figure out why Joshua was taken from her. For Daniel, she had to live in the present and be happy. God had given her Simon now, a wonderful man to be happy with, and God had blessed her with a son. How could she be sad any longer?
After they enjoyed some private time together, Anita and Simon, and Daniel went back that evening to tell Hannah and Amos their news.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God:
from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence;
I shall not be greatly moved.
Psalm 62:1
* * *
Thank you for reading
Amish Widow’s Hope.
If you’d like to keep reading the Expectant Amish Widows series, the next book is:
Book 2 The Pregnant Amish Widow
* * *
After her husband's death, Grace Stevens returns to her family and her Amish community. She'd suffered through an abusive marriage and wanted nothing more than to get baptized into the Amish faith and begin a new life.
Grace finds it impossible to put the past behind her when Marlene, the woman who caused her to leave the community, was now living in Grace's family home and married to Grace's brother.
Can Grace come to terms with having her late husband's baby, forgive Marlene enough to comfort her, and secure the love of the man she once loved so dearly?
EXPECTANT AMISH WIDOWS
Book 1 Amish Widow's Hope
Book 2 The Pregnant Amish Widow
Book 3 Amish Widow's Faith
Book 4 Their Son's Amish Baby
Book 5 Amish Widow's Proposal
Book 6 The Pregnant Amish Nanny
Book 7 A Pregnant Widow's Amish Vacation
Book 8 The Amish Firefighter's Widow
Book 9 Amish Widow's Secret
Book 10 The Middle-Aged Amish Widow
Book 11 Amish Widow's Escape
Book 12 Amish Widow's Christmas
Book 13 Amish Widow’s New Hope
Book 14 Amish Widow’s Story
Book 15 Amish Widow’s Decision
Book 16 Amish Widow’s Trust
Book 17 The Amish Potato Farmer’s Widow
Book 18 Amish Widow’s Tears
About Samantha Price
A prolific author of Amish fiction, Samantha Price wrote stories from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she took up writing full time. Formally an artist, she exchanged her paintbrush for the computer and, many best-selling book series later, has never looked back.
Samantha is happiest on her computer lost in the world of her characters.
To date, Samantha has received several Amazon All Stars Awards; Harlequin has published her Amish Love Blooms series, and Amazon Studios have produced several of her books in audio.
Samantha is best known for the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series and the Expectant Amish Widows series.
To learn more about Samantha Price and her books visit:
www.samanthapriceauthor.com
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