Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) (23 page)

She grinned as her cheeks flushed at the touch of his warm lips. “I’ve missed you too. We better start on our walk. I only have a few minutes. My
mamm
will probably come looking for me soon.”

“That’s okay,” he said. “A few minutes with you will be
wunderbaar
.”

Holding hands, they crossed the driveway and sat on the ground. Above them, the stars twinkled in the clear night sky.

“It’s the perfect night,” she said.

“
Ya
, it is.” He placed the lantern on the ground and
draped his arm around her shoulders. “Did you talk to your parents?”

“I did, and they were completely calm.”

Joshua raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Your
dat
was calm?”

“
Ya
,” she said with a shrug. “I was just as surprised as you are now. He even told me he was proud of me because I’ve shown him that I’ve matured and I’m no longer selfish. As a result I won’t even be punished.”

“Wow.” Joshua gave a little chuckle. “I’m stunned.”

“
You
are?” Lydia laughed. “I’m still reeling from the surprise of it. I’m glad I did it. God wanted me to, and I’m glad I listened.” She snuggled into his side.

“I’m glad you listened too,” he said, rubbing her arm. “It was the right thing to do.”

She looked up at him. “Josh, I have one question that has been bothering me since that night we argued.”

“What’s that?”

“You said that you threatened Mahlon to keep him from giving my name to the bishop. What was your threat?”

Josh touched his chin, considering his response. “Let’s just say I have a few secrets on him that could get him into even more trouble.”

“Oh?” Lydia asked.

“I know who provides his illegal drugs,” Joshua said. “He’s seeing an
English maedel
who has connections through her
bruder
. I told him if he gave your name, I would give her name, which would cause even bigger problems for him.”

“Oh, dear.” Lydia gasped. “How did you know that?”

Joshua shrugged. “You’d be surprised by how much
buwe
talk while they play volleyball. We can be a lot like
maed
at quilting bees.”

“
Danki
for protecting me,” she whispered, moving closer to him and inhaling his musky scent. “You were there for me when I needed you most.”

He kissed the top of her prayer covering. “
Danki
for being
mei maedel
.”

“I’m so froh,” she said. “After all of the scary and horrible things that happened this year, the summer is turning into a
wunderbaar
time in my life. I’m certain
mei schweschder
is going to get well, and I have you. I’m very blessed.”

“I am too,” he said. “
Ich liebe dich
, Lydia Jane Bontrager.”

“I love you too, Joshua Glick,” she whispered, closing her eyes and savoring the moment.

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

Cream together with:

½ cup shortening

Blend in:

½ cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup peanut butter

Add 1 beaten egg and mix thoroughly. Stir in flour mixture, alternately with ½ cup milk. Mix well. Fold in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoon. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

1. Throughout the book, Lydia feels the pull of two roles — being a normal sixteen-year-old girl and filling in as a mother and provider for the family. By the end of the story, she realizes it’s her duty to fill in for her mother. If you were in her situation, which role would you have fulfilled? Would you have served as a mother and provider or would you have rebelled against the pressure?

2. Lydia’s relationship with her father is strained near the end of the book. Despite her best efforts to work things out with him, their differences aren’t resolved until after a scary medical issue with her sister Ruthie is overcome. Think of a time when your relationship with a close friend or loved one was strained. How did you overcome the issues in your relationship? How did you and that person find the strength to forgive? Or is this relationship still strained to this day? What Bible verses would help with this?

3. Lydia’s grandmother, Elizabeth Kauffman, quotes Psalm 59:16: “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” What does this verse mean to you?

4. Lydia feels caught at a crossroads when Barbie tells her she’s not going to teach next year and suggests Lydia apply to become the full-time teacher. Although Lydia enjoys working as the teacher’s assistant, she thinks she
may want to work full time at her grandmother’s bakery with friends and family members instead. After praying and opening her heart to God, Lydia realizes teaching is God’s path for her life. Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads? If so, how did you find your way to the path you were meant to follow?

5. At one point in the story, Lydia feels as if she’s lost her relationship with three important people in her life: her father, Joshua, and Tristan. Think of a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help with this?

6. What role does the bakery play in the family unit and community? Can you relate this to your life and your family traditions?

7. At the end of the book, Lydia feels compelled to confess to her parents that she committed an indiscretion, which happened at the beginning of the story. Even though the news of her secret didn’t leak out into the community, Lydia wants her parents to know the truth. She also felt that she needed to confess before taking on the role as school teacher. Have you ever felt compelled to tell the truth about a secret? How did you feel after you confessed? How did the person you told take the news of your confession? What Bible verses would help with this?

8. Lydia’s grandmother recites Hebrews 12:1–2: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” What does this verse mean to you?

9. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Lydia, Joshua, Beth Anne, or even Ruthie?

10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?

aamen:
amen

ach:
oh

aenti:
aunt

appeditlich:
delicious

Ausbund:
Amish hymnal

bedauerlich:
sad

beh
: leg

boppli:
baby

bopplin:
babies

bruder:
brother

bu:
boy

buwe:
boys

daadi:
granddad

daed:
dad

danki:
thank you

dat:
dad

Dietsch:
Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)

dochder:
daughter

dochdern:
daughters

Dummle!:
hurry!

Englisher:
a non-Amish person

fraa:
wife

freind:
friend

freinden:
friends

froh:
happy

geb acht uff dich:
take care of yourself

gegisch:
silly

gern gschehne:
you’re welcome

grank:
sick

grossdaadi:
grandfather

grossdochdern:
granddaughters

grandkinner:
grandchildren

grossmammi:
grandmother

Gude mariye:
Good morning

gut:
good

Gut nacht:
Good night

haus:
house

Ich liebe dich:
I love you

kind:
child

kinner:
children

kumm:
come

liewe:
love, a term of endearment

Mammi:
grandma

maedel:
young woman, girl

maed:
young women, girls

mamm:
mom

mei:
my

mutter:
mother

naerfich:
nervous

narrisch:
crazy

onkel:
uncle

Ordnung:
the oral tradition of practices required and forbidden in the Amish faith

schee:
pretty

schpass:
fun

schtupp:
family room

schweschder:
sister

Was iss letz?:
What’s wrong?

Willkumm heemet:
welcome home

Wie geht’s:
How do you do? or Good day!

wunderbaar:
wonderful

ya:
yes

A
s always, I’m thankful to my mother, Lola Goebel-becker, my best friend and plotting partner, who offers her unending support, love, and proofreading skills. I also appreciate my husband, Joe; my sons, Zac and Matt; my mother-in-law, Sharon; and my precious aunts, Trudy Janitz and Debbie Floyd, for their love and excitement about my books. Thank you also to my “aunt” Terry O’Brien for her love and her support of this story.

I’m more grateful than words can express to my awesome friends who tirelessly critique for me—Stacey Barbalace, Sue McKlveen, Janet Pecorella, and Lauran Rodriguez. I appreciate your email messages, pep talks, and hugs, both in person and virtual.

I’m very grateful to my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.

I’m thankful for the medical professionals who gave their generous time to me and helped with my research, including Jerome Menendez, Nurse Practitioner at the Transplant Center in Levine Children’s Hospital. I’m still convinced you’re a superhero!

Thank you also to Kimberly Arnold, MSN, CPNP, in the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Levine Children’s Hospital for your research assistance with pediatric leukemia. I’m grateful to Kim Lassiter for introducing me to Christie Tucker, RN, MSN, whose generous time with
my pediatric leukemia questions was invaluable. Thank you, Christie, for your patience and helpful phone conversations.

To my agent, Mary Sue Seymour—thank you for your unending friendship, support, and guidance in my writing career.

I’m grateful to my amazing editor, Jacque Alberta. I appreciate your guidance and friendship. Thank you also to Lori Vanden Bosch for her fantastic editing. Special thanks to every person at Zondervan who helped make this book a reality.

To my readers — I’m so honored you choose to read my books. As always, I appreciate the wonderful emails and your prayers for my husband.

Thank you most of all to God for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify you. I’m so grateful and humbled you’ve chosen this path for me.

Special thanks to Cathy and Dennis Zimmermann for their hospitality and research assistance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge the following resource used to research information for this book:

C. Richard Beam,
Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary
(Lancaster: Brookshire Publications, Inc., 1991).