Love Inspired Suspense June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2, page 34
She reclaimed her hand and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “If whatever this is...” she jerked her chin in his direction “...if whatever this is fizzles out, you’ll want me to leave and I don’t know if I can do that to the children, especially Daisy.” Every thought that had been swirling around in her head didn’t sound any more rational when she spoke them out loud.
He took a small step back and lifted his hand to gently brush her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “What are you saying?” His words were weighted with expectation.
“Perhaps I should just be their nanny.” There was no danger in being their nanny, except that she’d have to see Jonah every day and wonder about what could have been. And what if he met someone else? In a way, she felt trapped in an impossible situation. She wanted to protect her heart. The children’s hearts. But there didn’t seem to be a clear path to avoiding hurt. And she had had enough of that in her young life.
“Is that what you want?” The pain she had been struggling to avoid was evident in his voice.
“I want to be there for the children and I’m afraid our relationship could jeopardize that.”
He shook his head and a tremble of regret coursed through her. “That won’t work for me.”
Her heart started to race. “But...”
Jonah closed the distance between them. “That won’t work because I’ve fallen for you. If you need more time to figure things out, I’m okay with that. But I want to be more than the father of the children you watch. I want to be your future.”
Liddie swallowed hard. “I want that, too. But I’m afraid. I don’t want to get hurt.”
“I’ll keep you safe.” Jonah drew her into his arms and held her close. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and she breathed in his clean scent. The fresh air. Soaking in this moment.
Jonah continued, “As Daisy would say, ‘The bad guys are in jail.’” He angled his face to study hers. “If you’re going to avoid getting close to anyone because you’re afraid, well—” he smiled “—you’ll miss out on the best parts of life. I don’t know about you, but I think some people are worth taking that risk for.”
Liddie rested her cheek on his chest and closed her eyes. She felt safe. She felt loved.
“Sometimes it takes a little faith.” His deep voice rumbled through her. Faith.
Liddie lifted her face to search his expression. Everything she ever wanted was reflected in his eyes. He hiked an eyebrow as if to say, “What do you think?” She got up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips.
Gott had brought her to this farm. To these children. To this man. Exactly where she was meant to be. It took faith, she realized.
“You’re right. I’m willing to take a leap.”
Jonah slid his hands up to her cheeks and tipped his forehead against hers. “Let’s just keep both feet on the ground for a bit.”
EIGHTEEN
Ten months later...
Jonah pulled back on the reins, slowing the workhorses in the field where he had been binding corn. He held up his hand to block the late afternoon sun and scanned his property. A sense of pride swelled in his chest. His beautiful home. The barn. The space that had once been a greenhouse had been replaced by a wildflower garden in memory of his first wife and tended to by Liddie and the children. It had been Liddie’s idea. His heart swelled.
On the country road, sunlight reflected off a vehicle as it slowed. He watched as it turned onto his property. Jonah hollered over his shoulder, “Looks like our company is here!”
Elijah and Caleb, Liddie’s younger brothers, secured the bound cornstalks and jumped off the wagon whooping and hollering. With the winding down of summer, Jonah was approaching the end of his first growing season, the first on this land since his former in-laws had farmed it. Liddie’s younger brothers came over when they could, splitting their time between both farms. Jonah knew it wasn’t sustainable, but it would do for now. He double-checked the load of bound cornstalks and hopped back up front and grabbed the reins. He flicked his wrists and the horses lurched forward toward the barn.
Tomorrow was another day.
By the time Jonah made sure the horses were fed and settled, Liddie had already invited her sister and family inside. Their shiny vehicle looked out of place on the tranquil Amish farm.
Finally tranquil. It had taken a long time, but things had finally fallen into place.
After he cleaned up, he found Daisy and Andy in the sitting room fawning over their new cousin, who was cooing and smiling in his mother’s lap. He was struck by how much Liddie looked like her older sister Bridget, if the kapp and bun were replaced with a fancy haircut and stylish clothes.
“You made it,” Jonah said, smiling a bit too brightly, eager to make a good first impression on Liddie’s sister and brother-in-law. What would they think of him? A simple Amish farmer.
Zach Bryant, the DEA agent, stood and extended his hand with a broad smile. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
“We are so glad you came!” Liddie’s hesitant smile reflected some of his nerves. She had been up before dawn helping Ellen clean the house top to bottom, as if she had something to prove. “You have to meet Caitlin. Isn’t she the most beautiful baby?” Liddie was practically beaming. She tipped her head and smiled at her brothers. “You boys have another niece.”
Elijah and Caleb wandered over to inspect their sister’s baby. Caleb reached out and Bridget smiled. “You might want to wash up from the fields first.”
“I see someone still thinks she’s the boss,” Elijah said in a playful tone and without missing a beat, he gently slugged his brother in the shoulder. “Let’s wash up. I hope dinner’s almost ready. I’m starving.”
“After you wash up, you can help drag the picnic table into the shade,” Ellen hollered from where she was doing last-minute dinner preparations. “The baby doesn’t need to have the sun beating down on her beautiful skin.”
Jonah watched his borrowed field hands hustle off to the utility sink to do as they were told, then he turned back to his company. “Must have been a long drive.” He rubbed his hands together, trying to imagine a 400-mile trip in one day. The daily van trips back and forth to Buffalo had grown old and once he decided to work on the farm, he didn’t miss the commute or the construction work at all. He still did his woodworking when the mood struck, but now with Liddie, he enjoyed spending his free time with her and the children.
“Wasn’t too bad. The baby slept for a good chunk of it,” Zach said.
“We’ll pay for that tonight.” Bridget planted a kiss on the baby’s head and as if on cue, the baby fussed.
Daisy disappeared and came back a few moments later and placed her favorite doll on the baby’s lap. “Here, baby, don’t cry.”
“What a pretty doll,” Bridget said, gently adjusting the fabric of its dress. The baby settled in and her eyes grew heavy. “Oh, looks like your doll did the trick.” She offered the doll back to Daisy. “Thank you for sharing.”
Daisy shook her head. “I’d like Caitlin to have it.”
Jonah met Liddie’s gaze and held. She covered her mouth with her hand, and the simple gold band reflected the late afternoon sun beaming in through the window. Something deep in his heart hitched.
“Denki,” Bridget said. “We’ll make sure we bring your doll every time we visit.”
The little children asked to go outside with the older boys to set up the table for dinner and the baby settled in for a nap.
“Here, let me put the baby down.” Zach scooped up the baby, tucking the doll in next to her. “You said there was a bassinette in our room?”
“Yah, it’s all set up in the bedroom at the top of the stairs,” Liddie said.
“Well, I’ll let you two catch up,” Jonah said.
“No, hold on a minute,” Bridget said. “I’d like to talk a bit with the man who finally was able to get my sister to settle down.”
Jonah’s gaze drifted to Liddie, whose cheeks brightened. “Jonah made the choice easy. I was baptized and we married as soon as we could.”
“The bishop probably didn’t want you to wait until autumn.” Bridget laughed. Most Amish weddings occurred after the fall harvest. “In case you changed your mind.”
“Bridget, stop teasing,” Liddie said playfully, then grew serious. “I’d never change my mind.”
Jonah smiled and reached out to gently squeeze his wife’s hand. “I’ll go check on the children.” He slipped out of the room, forever grateful that happiness once again filled his home.
* * *
Sitting in the rocking chair next to Bridget, Liddie clasped her sister’s hand and practically squealed. “I’m so happy you were able to come, especially with the baby.”
“I’m happy to be here, too. I can’t wait for Mem and Dat to meet her.”
“Have you talked to Dat?” Liddie asked, finding herself holding her breath as she waited for the answer.
“I did. Briefly.” Bridget smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s proud of you. I could hear it in his voice.”
“We’ve had to mend a lot of fences over the past year,” Liddie said. “Our relationship’s not perfect, but it’s much better than it had been. It helped that I married a nice Amish man.”
Bridget released a quiet breath through her nose, and Liddie realized she had put her foot in her mouth. “I mean...”
“No, no, it’s fine. I’m surprised Father agreed to a visit from me. I’m not exactly the perfect Amish daughter.”
“You’ve built a wonderful live with Zachary, and now the baby.” Liddie carefully chose her words. “It has to be hard for Amish parents. They want the best for their children, yet they have the added pressure of raising their children to remain among the Amish.” She frowned. “I’m sure I’ll feel the same way when Daisy and Andy get older.”
“Ah, thankfully you won’t have to face that for a long time.” Her sister’s voice held a nostalgic note.
“If your beautiful baby can’t soften up Dat I don’t know what will,” Liddie said, longing to encourage her sister. A beautiful Englisch baby wasn’t the way to reconcile with their strict Amish father, but they also knew their father’s love for their mother wouldn’t allow him to forbid a visit. What grandparent didn’t want to meet their grandchild?
“I have faith that you’re right,” Bridget said. “And I’m glad you and Jonah will be coming with us.”
“Oh,” Liddie said, “I hope you don’t mind that the children’s aunt and their cousins will be coming for a visit while you’re here.”
“Maggie’s sister?” Hearing Jonah’s deceased wife’s name on her sister’s lips sounded odd.
Liddie nodded. “Turns out our family isn’t the only one that needed to mend fences. Ruthann and Jonah had a bit of a falling out.” She lowered her voice so as not to be overheard. “She had wanted this farm for her family.”
“Really?”
Heat flooded Liddie’s face and she waved her hand in dismissal. “I shouldn’t gossip. Their differences seem to be in the past. Ruthann and Jonah want to make sure their children grow up knowing their cousins.”
“That’s wonderful,” Bridget said. “I hope Caitlin stays close with hers.”
“Of course.” Liddie’s voice cracked with emotion.
“Jonah seems really nice,” Bridget said, seemingly eager to change the subject.
“Who would have thought I’d be married so soon?” Liddie had enjoyed writing long detailed letters to her sister. The first explained the excitement on the farm and how she couldn’t believe evil had found her again. Her big sister had written back, joking that Liddie must be a magnet for the bad guys.
Subsequent letters told of her blossoming romance and her surprisingly quick baptism and her marriage to Jonah. They were able to marry in January—an off month for Amish weddings—in a small ceremony. Even though Ellen still lived with them, it felt like less tongues would wag if they were married after their growing affection became obvious. More than one person had approached their little family after a church service or two, trying to ruminate about their relationship. In private, Jonah and Liddie laughed, speculating the bishop wanted to hurry up and have her join the church before they lost her. There were probably whispers of truth to that.
“Sometimes things just work out the way they’re meant to,” Bridget said, tracing one of the grains in the wood on the arm of the rocker. “I hope maybe some time you and Jonah and the children can come visit us in Virginia.” Her smile quickly faded and Liddie was eager to make her feel better.
“Perhaps we could make the trip to deliver a rocking chair for you and the baby. Jonah makes such beautiful pieces.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Bridget leaned forward, and the chair dipped as she slid up to the edge. “Maybe you could time it with the baby’s baptism.” Her big sister waved her hand, seemingly self-conscious. “I mean, maybe you could celebrate with us at the house afterward if you’re too uncomfortable to come into the church. I know it’s not how the Amish do it, and all.”
“I’ll talk to Jonah, but I’m sure he’d love to go on an adventure. We’d have to time it with work here on the farm.”
“Of course.” Bridget leaned back in the chair and seemed to settle in.
“I’m happy you found a church, even if it’s not Amish. I didn’t realize until I had fully come back to my faith how much I was struggling without it.”
Bridget reached out and squeezed her sister’s hand. “You’re so right.”
“So, is parenting everything you thought it would be?” Liddie asked, eager to learn more about her sister’s life in Virginia. “You must be a pro with Caitlin after working as a nurse with those precious high-risk babies.”
“Nothing fully prepares you for taking care of your own baby, but yeah, I do think caring for the sickest babies makes you learn to take things in stride, especially when you’re blessed with a healthy baby.” Her sister’s tone oozed with love.
“Will you go back to work at the hospital?” Liddie had a hard time imagining handing over that sweet little baby for strangers to watch. “It’s too bad we don’t live closer. I’d love to watch Caitlin. So would Daisy and Andy.”
“I’ll take a year off, for sure. And then we’ll see where life takes me.”
Voices sounded through the open window. Liddie dipped her head to look out. “The picnic table is all set. Why don’t you go outside? I’ll be there in a few minutes. I want to help Ellen.”
A quick frown flashed on her sister’s face. “I hope you’re not going to treat me like a guest in my own sister’s home.”
Liddie jerked her head back a fraction and smiled. “Of course not, I just thought you’d need a break after your long drive.”
The two women wandered into the kitchen and Bridget picked up a dish to pass. “I’ve been sitting for hours. Carrying a few dishes outside is hardly taxing.”
Liddie caught Ellen’s gaze. The woman who had once upon a time judged the Outsider—the nanny—who had invaded her daughter’s home gave the two women a warm smile. “Many hands make light work.” She grabbed a dish herself and turned toward the door. “Let’s hurry up. The men are probably hungry.”
* * *
Later that night, Liddie made sure all her houseguests had everything they needed. She climbed the stairs and was surprised to find Bridget in PJ bottoms and a T-shirt pacing the floor outside of the bedroom with sweet baby Caitlin fussing in her arms. A soft glow of a lantern flickered in the landing.
Bridget smiled at her approaching sister. “I think we have a night owl on our hands.” She pivoted and walked the other way and then returned. “She’s been fed, changed, and she’s still like, ‘Hi, Mommy, I want to be held.’”
Liddie held out her arms. “Let me take her so you can sleep.”
Bridget’s eyes flared wide with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. “Are you sure? Weren’t you headed off to bed yourself?”
“Oh, come to Aunt Liddie, sweet little one.” She gently took the baby into her arms and drew her close, running her hand in a soft circular motion on her back, drinking in the smell and feel of her. “I’d happily trade some sleep to spend time with my niece.”
Bridget dragged a hand through her shoulder-length hair. It still struck Liddie as out of place after growing up with a sister whose hair grew down past her waist. “If you’re sure,” she said around a yawn.
“I’m sure. Just leave your bedroom door ajar and I’ll sneak in and put her in the bassinette after I get her to sleep.”
Bridget leaned in and kissed the baby on the top of her head, then brushed a kiss on Liddie’s cheek. “You’re the best.”
Liddie smiled, then went downstairs. She settled into the rocking chair and cooed at the baby, telling her how lucky she was to have such a wonderful mommy and how one day when she was older, her auntie would share stories about what it was like growing up on a farm.
It didn’t take long for the baby to drift off, her chubby cheek smooshed against Liddie’s chest. Liddie leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the subtle back and forth of the rocking chair and the sweet scent of her niece’s head.
Liddie had just dozed off when she felt Jonah’s beard brush her forehead. “You look content,” he said, his voice low and deep.
“Bridget had trouble getting the baby to sleep,” Liddie whispered, angling her head to catch a glimpse of the baby’s face in the soft flickering light. Her tiny chest rose and fell.
“Looks like you did just fine.” Jonah sat down in the rocking chair next to hers, his gaze fixed on hers.
“Thank you for welcoming my family.” She adjusted the edges of the soft pink blanket wrapped around the baby. “I know some people will gossip about us having Englisch visitors in our home.”
