Epilogue

A week later, I sat in a pew in the middle of Juliet’s church. My grandmother was at my side with her hands folded on her lap. Juliet, with Jethro sleeping on her lap and Reverend Brook at her side, sat on the other side of my grandmother. The seat to my right was empty.

At the front of the church, Charlotte sat with her back to us as her fingers flew across the organ’s keys, and the music she created rose through the pipes and filled the space.

The deacon of her new district, my grandmother’s district, had told her that she didn’t have to choose between her love of music and her love of God. He thought she could have both. Charlotte planned to continue living at Swissmen Sweets. Even though she remained Amish, she had left her home district. Her family wouldn’t welcome her back, and neither would Deacon Clapp. I knew a time would come when Charlotte would have to make that final decision to join the Amish church, whichever church it might be, or leave forever. Thankfully, it was not on this day, a day to celebrate all her hard work and her talent.

The church was full of Amish and English people who were there just to hear Charlotte play. I had never known an organ to have so much life. It was no wonder she was so torn when Deacon Clapp had said that she had to give it up.

I watched Charlotte’s hands move across the keys so closely that I didn’t know there was someone standing at my side until he cleared his throat.

I jumped and looked up to find Aiden, still dressed in his Sheriff’s Department uniform, looking down at me. His dimple was on full display, which did nothing for my nerves.

He gestured to the small open seat beside me. I nodded that he could have it, scooting over to make room for him and causing everyone down the line in my pew to do the same. Both Juliet and my grandmother looked down the pew in our direction, and the two women shared a secret smile as Aiden took the seat beside me.

His hand dropped onto the pew’s seat next to my own. He squeezed my hand. I pulled my hand away and folded my hands in my lap, wishing that I’d had the nerve to hold on to him.

After a moment, I snuck a peek at Aiden, who was looking forward, engrossed in the music, just like everyone else there. He had a secret smile on his face that matched the one his mother and my grandmother had shared just a moment ago. That’s when I knew my heart was in all sorts of trouble.