Aaron stood in the lobby of the Lancaster Grand Hotel Tuesday morning. The large and ornate lobby boasted a sparkling chandelier, elaborate woodworking on the fireplace, and impressive paintings on the walls.
He hoped Linda was working today. He’d been thinking about her ever since he saw her last week, but he hadn’t run into her at the bed-and-breakfast. Once he’d asked where she was, and Trey said she’d gone to the market with Hannah. He wondered if Linda had been avoiding him. He couldn’t stop worrying that he had said something wrong that caused her not to speak to him at his parents’ house and then avoid him at the bed-and-breakfast. He couldn’t stand the worry any longer, so he drove to the hotel that morning in the hopes of asking her if she was upset with him.
“May I help you?” a young lady at the desk asked.
“I was wondering if I could speak to Linda Zook,” Aaron said. “She works here.”
“Sure.” She smiled. “I’ll get her for you. I think I saw her go toward the supply closets.” She walked around the front desk and started down a hallway.
Aaron rested his elbow on the counter while he waited for her to return with Linda. A few minutes later, Linda came in, standing tall as the two women made their way to the front desk. The limp he’d spotted last week was gone, and she was smiling. His Linda, the one who had gone skating with him, was back. The tension released from his shoulders.
Her eyes met his, and her pink lips formed a smile as she approached him. “Aaron. I wondered if it was you when Stacey described you.”
He looked at the blonde, who was back behind the desk. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, Stacey,” Linda repeated.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” Aaron asked Linda.
“Ya.” She turned to Stacey again. “If Gregg asks for me, tell him I’m taking a quick break.”
“Okay.” Stacey smiled.
Linda looked up at Aaron. “We can sit over there.” She pointed toward a sitting area. “We also have fresh coffee. Would you like to have a cup?”
“That would be perfect.” Linda walked him to the canisters in a corner of the lobby, where he poured two cups of coffee. Then he followed Linda to a table at the far end of the sitting area.
“How’s your day going?” he asked as they sat down.
“Fine.” She sipped her coffee and then gave him a curious expression. “I never expected you to come to the hotel. What brought you out here today?”
“We haven’t talked in a while.” Aaron was enjoying the sight of her beautiful face.
“Ya, I know.” She placed her cup on the table. “I think we’ve both been busy. Trey said I missed you yesterday too. I was hoping you’d still be at the bed-and-breakfast when I got back. Hannah was eager to get out of the haus, and she asked me to go to the market with her. I’m sorry we missed each other.”
“I’m sorry too,” he admitted, grateful that she wasn’t avoiding him. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“You were worried about me?” She tilted her head in question. “Why would you worry about me?”
“You were different when I saw you at my mamm’s haus a week ago.”
“I know I couldn’t stop to talk because mei onkel was in a hurry, but what do you mean I was different?”
“You weren’t yourself.” Aaron fingered his cup while he spoke. “You held yourself differently and you seemed to be limping. You didn’t stand up straight, and you looked unsure of yourself. You weren’t the same maedel who ice skated with confidence the week before.”
Linda hesitated and then looked down at her coffee.
“Linda.” He leaned forward in an attempt to encourage her to meet his gaze. “Look at me.”
She raised her eyes to meet his, and her expression was cautious.
“Are you afraid of your onkel?” he asked gently.
Her eyes widened. “Why would you ask me that?”
“You just seemed uncomfortable around him. I’d noticed it a little bit when I picked you up to go skating, but it was much more pronounced last week.” He hoped he wasn’t crossing a line by asking her such personal questions, but he had to know the truth.
Linda blew out a sigh and looked down at her cup again.
“You can trust me,” he pressed on. “I’m only asking because I care about you.”
She met his gaze, and her eyes were full of such affection that his heart felt like it turned over.
“You know mei onkel and aenti took me in when my parents died,” she began. “Mei onkel has always treated me as if I were unlovable, and it’s only become worse since mei aenti died. He’s made it clear that all I’m good for is cleaning house, washing dishes, and taking care of laundry because of my disability. So after my aunt died, I took the job at the hotel to try to show him I could do other things besides take care of him.”
“Wait. Your disability?” He shook his head with bewilderment. “What disability are you talking about?”
“I told you I was hurt in the accident that killed my parents. I had surgery on my legs. I have a limp.” She paused and looked embarrassed. “My left leg favors my right leg because my right leg was mangled in the accident.”
“You don’t have a limp,” he insisted.
“Ya, I do.” Her eyes glinted with tears, and she sniffed. “Especially when I get tired. That’s why I had never ice skated before. Onkel Reuben made me believe I couldn’t do what other children could do. He said I’d never be able to do anything like sports because of my legs. That’s why I never played softball at school or went to youth group and played volleyball with the other kinner. He said my limp would always hold me back in life.” A tear escaped her eye, and she quickly brushed it away with the back of her hand. “He even said the same thing about the scars on my legs. I overheard him tell mei aenti that no man would ever want me because of my scars.”
He was stunned by her words. Anger boiled inside him as he thought of her uncle. How could he have convinced her she was disabled? Why would anyone want to break someone’s spirit—especially someone like Linda, who was beautiful both inside and out? “I don’t understand your onkel. I only saw your limp once, and that was last week when you were with him at mei mamm’s house.”
Linda sniffed again and then sipped her coffee.
“Linda, your onkel is wrong about everything. You’re not disabled, and you’re not ugly because of scars on your legs, and you’re not unworthy of love.” Aaron reached across the table, took her cup from her, and set it down before taking one of her hands in his. “You’re schee, and you’re confident both at the bed-and-breakfast and here. I never thought of you as disabled.”
Another thought came to him.
“Linda, do you limp mostly when you’re at home?”
“Well, yes. But that’s because I’m tired—”
“Are you sure? Why would you have been tired when you and your onkel visited mei mamm last week?”
“I . . . I don’t know.”
“I don’t doubt that the effects of your injury are real, but maybe how pronounced your limp is, how pronounced you think it is, could have something to do with discouragement, not just fatigue. Think about it, won’t you?”
“Okay. I will.”
Linda looked down at their hands. He enjoyed the soft, warm touch of her skin. “So, your onkel is the reason you never participated in singings?”
She nodded. “I thought I belonged at home.”
He leaned forward and fixed his gaze on her deep-brown orbs. “He’s wrong about you, Linda. Don’t let him hold you back. He can’t keep you locked up forever. You need to live your life.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes wide. “Okay.”
“I don’t think anyone has ever told you how special and wonderful you are. You can’t let him keep you from the life you deserve.” He ran his thumb over the palm of her hand.
“Danki.” She wiped her eyes as a few tears trickled down her cheek. “How are things with your family?”
“They’re okay.” He unclasped her hand and leaned back in the chair. “Manny and I are making progress on the bathroom. The new shower is going to be installed later this week.” He sipped his coffee. “Mei mamm invited me to come to church.”
“Really?” Linda’s expression brightened. “Are you going to come?”
“I’m not sure.” He ran his fingers over the table. “I don’t know how the community would react to seeing me at church again.”
“What do you mean? We’re all froh that you’re back.”
“Not everyone is froh I’m back.” He grimaced.
“Solomon and Becky.” Her smile faded, and he nodded. “They’re still cold to you.”
“Becky seems to be coming around. She hasn’t been as aloof as she was when I first arrived. Solomon is the same, though.” Aaron held up the coffee cup. “It’s obvious that he doesn’t want me here. In fact, he’s eager for me to leave.”
“Aaron, I have faith that Solomon will come around,” she said. “You need to be patient.” Her expression became hopeful. “Please come to church. The congregation will be delighted to see you.”
He couldn’t say no to her hopeful expression and her captivating eyes. “All right.”
Linda grinned. “Wunderbaar! I’m going to hold you to that promise.” She glanced toward the clock on the wall and her eyes widened. “Ach, no. I went past my break time. I have to get back to work.”
He picked up their empty cups and stood. “I didn’t mean to keep you so long. I just had to see you.”
She stood and pushed her chair in. “It was a nice surprise. I enjoyed the break.”
“I’ll see you at the bed-and-breakfast,” he said as they walked to a trash can.
“And at church.” She smiled up at him. “You promised me you’ll come.”
“Yes, I did promise.” He touched her hand again. “Have a gut day.”
“You too.” Her smiled widened. “You’re doing well with your Dietsch.”
He chuckled at her expression. “I’m trying.”
“You’d better brush up on the language before church. I don’t want you to get lost during the sermon. See you later.” She started walking toward the hallway—with no limp at all. She turned once to give him a little wave and was gone.
He waved back at her, and at that moment he knew he was losing his heart to Linda Zook.
Linda felt as if she were walking on air as she made her way back to the supply closets. She couldn’t stop her smile while she filled her cart with towels and toiletries. She’d never expected Aaron to visit her, and she’d never dreamed of sharing her deepest secrets with him. She’d never told anyone about how unkind her uncle had been or the scars on her legs. Not even her limp. Aaron had listened with sympathy, and he’d told her that her uncle was wrong. Aaron thought she was worthy of love! She’d felt as if she were dreaming when he’d said that.
Could he possibly love her?
The notion sent excitement skittering through her. But she had to suppress these feelings. Aaron wasn’t a member of the community, but he had promised to go to church. Perhaps he’d be inspired to join the church after attending a service and realizing how much he’d missed worshiping in the Amish church.
She’d hold on to that hope.
Aaron parked his truck in the driveway at Saul Beiler’s farm a few weeks later. He was determined to keep his promise to Linda and also make his mother happy; however, he was apprehensive. What if the congregation rejected him? What if his friends weren’t happy to see him after all? All his worries swirled through his mind as he walked up to the barn where the male members of the congregation were gathered before the service.
Saul spotted him and walked over. “Aaron! It’s so gut to see you.”
“Danki.” Aaron shook his hand. “My mamm asked me to come to a service. I thought I’d come today.”
“I’m froh that you could join us.” Saul patted Aaron’s arm. “Come see everyone.”
Aaron walked over to the group.
“Look who came to visit,” Saul announced. “Remember Aaron Ebersol?”
“Aaron!” A familiar face emerged from the crowd. “I heard you were back.”
“It’s great to see you.” Another friend approached with his hand ready to shake his. “Willkumm!”
“Where have you been?” a third asked.
Aaron was overwhelmed by the encouraging welcome. His old friends shook his hands and told him they were happy to see him. All of them had beards, evidence that they were married. They stood and talked for several minutes, assuring him they were interested in hearing about his life in Missouri.
“Aaron!” His father sidled up to him. “It’s great to see you here. Your mamm mentioned she invited you to church. I’m so thankful you made it.”
“Danki, Dat.” Aaron looked past his father to Solomon, who scowled at him and then walked away. “I’m glad to be here.” He meant the words, despite his brother’s cold stare.
“Your mamm will be delighted.” His father’s expression was full of gratitude. “You’ve made us so froh. Danki for coming home.”
Tears stung Aaron’s eyes as a lump swelled in his throat. For a moment he couldn’t speak. He only nodded in response to his father’s emotional words.
“Aaron.” Becky appeared behind them, pushing his mother in a wheelchair. “It’s gut to see you. I’m glad you decided to come to church with us today. And look who else is here! One of the reasons your mamm can come to services is that new ramp you built.”
“Danki, Becky.” Aaron was grateful that Becky smiled at him. The gesture helped to heal his battered heart.
His mother’s eyes sparkled with tears. “Y-you c-came.”
“Mamm.” Aaron leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry it took me a few weeks, but I’m finally here.”
Mamm reached up and touched his cheek. “Y-you’re h-here. I’m f-froh.”
“It’s time.” His father pointed toward the barn. “Let’s head inside.”
Aaron walked with his father toward the barn, which was set up with rows of benches. While his father went to sit with the other married Amish men, Aaron found a place in the back where the other non-Amish guests sat. He folded his hands on his lap while members of the church made their way into the barn.
Although it had been many years since he’d participated in an Amish service, he quickly felt comfortable. Glancing across the barn, his father met his eyes and smiled at him. Solomon sat beside their father and kept his gaze trained on the hymnal in his hands.
The women filed in and sat in the rows in front of him. He searched for Linda, and his pulse accelerated when he saw her making her way to her seat. Without looking back toward him, she sank onto a bench beside Madeleine. He longed for her to turn around and see him. After all, it had been three weeks since he’d promised her he’d go to church. She’d mentioned it a few times at the bed-and-breakfast. He told her he would keep his promise and attend a service, but he didn’t promise when he would go. Now that he’d kept that promise, he wanted her to see him. He watched her, hoping she’d feel his stare and turn to face him.
Madeleine looked over her shoulder, and she smiled when she saw him. He nodded in response. She leaned close to Linda and whispered in her ear. Linda’s eyes widened as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her face lit up with a beautiful smile as she raised her hand in a slight wave. He returned the smile as he waved in response.
He knew at that moment he’d made the right choice in coming to church.
Linda turned toward the front again, and his eyes moved toward the married men across the barn with his father and Solomon. He found Reuben in the sea of faces, and he grimaced. He wondered why the older man didn’t see the beauty Aaron found in Linda. How could Reuben treat Linda so badly?
The service began with a hymn, and Aaron redirected his thoughts to the present. He joined in as the congregation slowly sang the opening hymn. A young man sitting across the barn served as the song leader. He began the first syllable of each line and then the rest of the congregation joined in to finish the verse.
While the ministers met in another room for thirty minutes to choose who would preach that day, the congregation continued to sing. Aaron saw the ministers return during the last verse of the second hymn. They hung their hats on the pegs on the wall, indicating that the service was about to begin.
The minister began the first sermon, and his message droned on like background noise to the thoughts echoing in Aaron’s head. Although he tried to concentrate on the preacher’s holy words, he couldn’t stop looking at Linda. He studied her back, taking in her slight frame and the dark hair peeking out from under her prayer covering.
While the minister continued to talk in German, Aaron lost himself in memories of the past, of sitting with the young men in the congregation and thinking of what mischief they could get into when the service was over. He redirected his thoughts to the sermon, taking in the message and concentrating on God. He wondered what God had in store for him. Did he want him to rejoin the community? Was Aaron supposed to become a member of the Amish church just as his friends who were sitting in the barn had done?
The first sermon ended, and Aaron knelt in silent prayer along with the rest of the congregation. He closed his eyes and thanked God for bringing him back to the community and for blessing his mother during her recovery. He also prayed for Linda, asking God to help her find confidence to believe in herself. After the prayers, the deacon read from the Scriptures, and then the hour-long main sermon began. Aaron willed himself to concentrate on the sermon, listening to the deacon discuss the book of John.
Relief flooded Aaron when the fifteen-minute kneeling prayer was over. The congregation stood for the benediction and sang the closing hymn. While he sang, Aaron’s eyes moved again to Linda. He wondered if she could feel his eyes studying her. He hoped they would have a moment to talk after the service was over. Would she feel confident to be herself despite her uncle’s presence?
“Aaron!” Peter approached him and shook his hand. “It’s so gut to see you. Welcome to church again.”
“Danki,” Aaron said. “May I help convert the benches into tables?”
“Ya, ya.” Peter leaned down and they started setting up the tables. “How did you like the service? Did it seem odd to you?”
“Not at all,” Aaron said as they slipped the benches into the stands so that the benches converted into tables for the noon meal. “It all came back to me.”
“That’s great.” Peter grinned. “You’ll have to eat with the guys and me. We can get caught up.”
“That sounds gut,” Aaron agreed.
Linda stepped into Saul’s kitchen and found Madeleine and Emma placing peanut butter spread and bread on trays. Several other women were helping to serve the meal as well. “Let me help you deliver the food.”
“Danki.” Madeleine moved closer to her. “Are you going to talk to Aaron?”
Linda felt her cheeks heat. “I can’t really talk to him now. Mei onkel is here and everyone will see me talking to a man who isn’t baptized.”
“He’s your friend.” Madeleine looked at her. “I’m not baptized, and I’m friends with Saul. We can’t date until I’m baptized, but we can still talk.”
“But you’re going to take classes and everyone knows it. It’s different for me,” Linda whispered as the other women moved about the kitchen. “Aaron hasn’t decided to be baptized. And mei onkel has made it clear he doesn’t approve of our friendship.”
Madeleine gave her a skeptical look. “You’re thirty-one, right?”
Linda nodded.
“You’re not a child, Linda,” Madeleine whispered with emphasis. “You’re allowed to have friends, even friends who are English.” She handed Linda a coffeepot. “Go fill coffee cups and make a point of talking to Aaron.”
Linda hesitated, and her hands shook as she nodded. “I will.” She carried the coffeepot into the barn and started filling the men’s cups. Her pulse fluttered when she realized she was serving the table where Aaron sat surrounded by a group of young men and his father. Aaron looked up at her and smiled, and butterflies swirled in her stomach.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” She held up the pot. “Coffee?”
He nodded, and her hands were shaking slightly as she filled his cup.
“I told you I’d keep my promise.” His voice was soft and warm.
“You certainly did.” She gave him a tentative smile and then filled the other cups nearby.
When she finished at that first long table, the coffeepot was empty. She was walking toward the house for more when she heard someone call her name. Turning, she found Aaron approaching her with an anxious expression on his face.
“Aaron,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
He hurried over to her. “You didn’t seem to want to talk to me in the barn.”
She frowned. “I don’t want to give mei onkel the wrong impression. You’re not baptized, and he doesn’t approve of my friendship with you.”
Aaron’s expression was wounded, and her heart twisted. “I thought you agreed with me when I said you shouldn’t let him hold you back,” he said.
“I appreciate what you said, and I do agree. But I also have to follow the rules of the community. People talk.” She motioned toward the house. “I need to get more coffee. I’ll see you at the bed-and-breakfast.”
She started to turn, then smiled. “I’m glad you came. I can tell your friends are froh to see you. I told you the community would welcome you back.”
He smiled, and her heart fluttered. “Danki.”
“Did you understand the sermons?”
He laughed, and she delighted at the sound. “Ya, I did.”
“Gut.” She smiled at him and then walked back to the house, her pulse skittering with every step. She hoped she’d see him at church again soon. Maybe God did intend for Aaron to return to his Amish roots.