Excerpt for An Amish Starry Christmas Night
Julia Fisher’s emotions became unsettled even more as the bus zoomed through Ohio. Leaving her home in Florida to visit her parents and niece gave her a rush of happiness, but seeing the man she loved again would be difficult. He was the reason she left Ohio. She couldn’t bear to stay after he’d married her twin sister, Grace.
She’s always wondered if Mark Byler had met her first, would he have married her instead? After all, Grace and she were identical twins. A wave of sadness went through her realizing how hard it would be to see her family without Grace being present. Why did she have to die from leukemia? Losing her twin had been devastating. Even though they were mirror images of each other, their personalities had been different. She’d always envied Grace’s easygoing and sweet nature. While Grace loved their peaceful town, Clayton Falls, she’d always wanted more adventure in life. But when she moved to Pinecraft, a small neighborhood community of Amish and Mennonites outside Sarasota, it hadn’t been for the adventurous reason.
“Soon, we’ll be at our stop,” Rebecca said. “You’ve been quiet. Do you feel okay?”
During the long eighteen hour bus trip from Sarasota, she’d enjoyed talking with her cousin, Rebecca. But the last couple of hours, her mind could only focus on seeing Mark again and his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. Grace loved her little girl and it was sad that Hannah had to grow up without her mother. But she didn’t say any of this to her cousin. “I feel fine. I’m been thinking how nice it’ll be to spend time at home with my family.”
Rebecca laughed. “Are you sure about that? I’ve been thinking how we left warm Sarasota to spend Christmas in cold Ohio.”
“I’m hoping the schoolhouse will be warm tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing Hannah in the Christmas program. Mamm said Hannah’s excited about being in it.” Julia asked, “Are you going to the Christmas program this evening?”
“Ya, I am. It’s hard to believe Hannah’s in first grade already.” Rebecca gave her a thoughtful glance. “Do you ever miss teaching?”
Julia nodded. “Ya, I do.” If she hadn’t been teaching in another district and had been living at home, maybe Mark would’ve asked her to the Sunday singings instead of Grace. But then we wouldn’t have Hannah and she’s a blessing from God...even more so with Grace no longer with us, she thought sadly.
“I’m glad we made the trip together. It’ll be good to be home for Christmas.” Rebecca grinned. “There might be some new men for us to meet. We could even decide not to return to Pinecraft.”
She shrugged. “I doubt I’ll get married now at my age. But you’re still young.”
“You’re only five years older than I am.”
At age twenty-nine, Julia couldn’t imagine getting married. Who would she marry? Most Amish men married in their early twenties. And the person she would like to marry wasn’t in God’s plan for her.
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Julia Fisher’s emotions became unsettled even more as the bus zoomed through Ohio. Leaving her home in Florida to visit her parents and niece gave her a rush of happiness, but seeing the man she loved again would be difficult. He was the reason she left Ohio. She couldn’t bear to stay after he’d married her twin sister, Grace.
She’s always wondered if Mark Byler had met her first, would he have married her instead? After all, Grace and she were identical twins. A wave of sadness went through her realizing how hard it would be to see her family without Grace being present. Why did she have to die from leukemia? Losing her twin had been devastating. Even though they were mirror images of each other, their personalities had been different. She’d always envied Grace’s easygoing and sweet nature. While Grace loved their peaceful town, Clayton Falls, she’d always wanted more adventure in life. But when she moved to Pinecraft, a small neighborhood community of Amish and Mennonites outside Sarasota, it hadn’t been for the adventurous reason.
“Soon, we’ll be at our stop,” Rebecca said. “You’ve been quiet. Do you feel okay?”
During the long eighteen hour bus trip from Sarasota, she’d enjoyed talking with her cousin, Rebecca. But the last couple of hours, her mind could only focus on seeing Mark again and his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. Grace loved her little girl and it was sad that Hannah had to grow up without her mother. But she didn’t say any of this to her cousin. “I feel fine. I’m been thinking how nice it’ll be to spend time at home with my family.”
Rebecca laughed. “Are you sure about that? I’ve been thinking how we left warm Sarasota to spend Christmas in cold Ohio.”
“I’m hoping the schoolhouse will be warm tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing Hannah in the Christmas program. Mamm said Hannah’s excited about being in it.” Julia asked, “Are you going to the Christmas program this evening?”
“Ya, I am. It’s hard to believe Hannah’s in first grade already.” Rebecca gave her a thoughtful glance. “Do you ever miss teaching?”
Julia nodded. “Ya, I do.” If she hadn’t been teaching in another district and had been living at home, maybe Mark would’ve asked her to the Sunday singings instead of Grace. But then we wouldn’t have Hannah and she’s a blessing from God...even more so with Grace no longer with us, she thought sadly.
“I’m glad we made the trip together. It’ll be good to be home for Christmas.” Rebecca grinned. “There might be some new men for us to meet. We could even decide not to return to Pinecraft.”
She shrugged. “I doubt I’ll get married now at my age. But you’re still young.”
“You’re only five years older than I am.”
At age twenty-nine, Julia couldn’t imagine getting married. Who would she marry? Most Amish men married in their early twenties. And the person she would like to marry wasn’t in God’s plan for her.
Read the rest of the story: Amazon
Barnes & Noble