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    A Plain and Simple Christmas
    A Plain and Simple Christmas
    A Plain and Simple Christmas
    Ebook171 pages2 hours

    A Plain and Simple Christmas

    By Amy Clipston

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you’ll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman’s story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams … and secrets. You’ll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the “English” way of life—and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an “Englisher” (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home for Christmas to reconcile with her family, especially her stern father, who is the religious leader for her former Amish church district.So Anne Mae writes a letter to Kathryn Beiler, her brother’s wife, to enlist her help. Kathryn asks her husband, David, if she should arrange Anna Mae’s visit. David cautions her that a visit would cause too much stress in the family and instead suggests they visit Anna Mae and her husband in the spring. However, Kathryn arranges the visit anyway, believing in her heart that it’s God’s will for the family to heal.When Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster for Christmas, the welcome she receives is nothing like what she had hoped for.A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one’s family, and the determination to follow God’s will regardless of the outcome, A Plain and Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next … right to the very last page.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateSep 21, 2010
    ISBN9780310590385
    Author

    Amy Clipston

    Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including Christianbook, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and five spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston.

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    Reviews for A Plain and Simple Christmas

    4/5

    109 ratings31 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Anna Mae McDonough is shunned by her family and the Amish community. She left her community to marry Kellen McDonough who is an Englisher and moved to Baltimore. She is know expecting her first child and is now long to reconnect with her family and with the approaching of the holidays.Anna Mae reach out to her sister in law to make arrengments to come and visit her family for the holidays. Her sister in law talks to her husband David. Her husband tell her not to do this and agrees to take her and the children to visit Anna Mae and Kellen in the spring. Katherine goes against her husband wishes and plans this visit for Anna Mae.
    • 5/5
      Annie Mae knew when she married Kellan McDonough, a non-Amish, that she would be shunned by her Amish family. She loves Kellan and has built a happy life with him, but it has been three years and she misses her family, especially now that she is pregnant and wants her baby to know his grandparents. Christmas is coming, and she longs to spend the holiday with her family. Christmas can be a time of miracles - will there be a miracle for Anna Mae and her family?"A Plain and Simple Christmas" is a heartwarming story set in the Amish community. Despite the title, there is nothing simple about the story. People who marry outside the Amish faith are shunned by the family and Anna's struggle to reunite with her family is heartbreaking at times. Author Amy Clipston does an excellent job of showing how hard shunning can be on families, both for those shunned and those doing the shunning. Clipston treats the subject sensitively neither condemning nor condoning it - it is simply part of the Amish faith, which is how she treats it. All of the characters are strong, and it is interesting to watch the clash of wills among these characters who love each other despite what has happened. Besides the shunning, Clipston does a nice job of showing Amish life and explaining how they celebrate Christmas. I love Christmas and reading books set at Christmas time and while this book does fall back on the well-worn plot of a very pregnant woman who may or may not give birth at Christmas time, I still enjoyed reading it."A Plain and Simple Christmas" is a nicely done novella set in the Amish community.
    • 4/5
      I will admit before I started reading this book, I was very wary about it. I had read Clipston's first Amish book last year and I did not like it at all. In fact, I had major problems with it and swore that I would never read another of her books again. Then I saw that she had written a Christmas novella and I'm a sucker for Christmas books. So I picked up this books with very low expectations and was thinking that I would find myself being very disgruntled again. Therefore it was a complete shock to find that not only was the story done very well but that I found myself enjoying the book very much.The story deals with a couple with the wife being ex-Amish. Anna Mae left her Amish community and family after she fell in love with Kellan. Because of this, she had been shunned by her family. Two years later, she's pregnant with their first child and missing her family dreadfully. Plans are made to go back and visit them but there's a lot of trepidation and tension. Anna Mae's family could completely reject her and her husband. This whole scenario is very interesting to me. Anna Mae has no intention of returning to the Amish faith yet she still wants to reconnect with her family. Kellan brings up a very good point of asking why they are shunning her when she's not only a faithful Christian but she's married to a Christian as well. While the whole thing deals with tradition and custom, it's a very legit question because as true Christians they really shouldn't be doing it at all.The only over dramatic part was that I knew with Anna Mae being so pregnant at the time of the visit that her having the baby not in a hospital was bound to happen. She just kept ignoring all the signs that she was about to go into labor and of course there would be a snowstorm during the climax scene. Nothing wrong with it but I could see this coming miles away. A bit predictable but nothing completely out of the ordinary.Overall, I will have to say that I did enjoy this story. Beliefs are challenged but also allowing for both sides to come to a truce with each other. I really liked all the characters especially Kellan (especially because he never gave in to become Amish which I was dreadfully afraid he was going to by the end of the book just to be with Anna Me). The best part of this for me was that even though Anna Mae respects her parents and their beliefs, she has chosen a life for herself and chooses to stay with her husband and make a family together instead of going back to her childhood home. This was a really nice Christmas story as well. In short, it has made me think twice before banishing an author from my library again. At the least, I'll give the author a second try because like Amy Clipston, they might surprise me on the second go round.
    • 4/5
      A heartwarming tale of an Amish Christmas and family. Anna Mae wishes to come back to her family after leaving to live in the "English" world. She is expecting her first child and wishes that her baby will know about her family. She believes that Christmas is the perfect time to start rebuilding a relationship. But will her Amish family agree?One point to note: the text of the book often has Amish words (in italics) put in place of the "English" translation. There is a dictionary at the beginnning and most of the time it can be inferred through context. However, towards the end, it did get quite annoying to have to flip back to the beginning to figure out those words they didn't use quite as much.
    • 5/5
      A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS by Amy Clipston is a heartwarming, sweet inspirational fiction/general. it is well written with strong characters,details and depth. It has Amish,faith,love,forgiveness,birth of a babe,separation of a family member,family,shunning,an Amish marrying a Englisher, following God’s will no matter the consequences, and the miracle of Christmas.This is a sweet heartwarming story of faith and family differences and the coming together of a family. Anna Mae is shunned by her family after marrying Kellan, an Englisher by her family. Her father, the bishop of their Amish community refuses to welcome her home for a visit. Anna is with her first child and determined to make amends with her family. She wants her child to her family. Her husband only has a sister. She enlists the help of her sister-in-law. Although, all does not go has planned. We have a near delivery of their baby in a barn, a disastrous dinner at Anna’s brother’s house, and the forgiveness of her father after her husband shows him the Christian way. This is a quick read, fast paced, page turning story of family, forgiveness,the bond between mother,daughter,family and the miracle of Christmas.I would highly recommend this book for it is a great read for Christmas and will lift your spirits. AAR
    • 2/5
      While the overall message of the book is heartwarming, I found to be too easy for my taste. The plot is so predictable, I had it figured out in the first chapter. The lack of even moderate action makes for a boring read. Plain and simple is the perfect description of this plot.
    • 3/5
      I was disappointed in Clipston's latest book. A Christmas story with the Kauffman Amish Bakery characters, this story didn't hold my interest like previous books in this series. Anna Mae, who married outside her Amish faith after baptism, moved to Baltimore with her Englischer husband. She is happy but still longs for Lancaster County and returns in time for Christmas. There is the usual resistance by her family to her return and the usual make-up scene at the end of the book. Been there. Read that. Nothing new.
    • 5/5
      What a great little Christmas story! If you are looking for a quick read this holiday season, this book book fits the bill. Anna Mae wants nothing more than to reunite with her family for Christmas. With the help of her sister-in-law she prays for a Christmas miracle. I loved the ending to this book. I don't want to write too much because it will give away the ending and it's worth the read!
    • 4/5
      A Plain and Simple Christmas is my first experience with author Amy Clipston. Her writing style is exactly what this title implies--plain and simple--but don't let that discourage you from reading this book. She has created very likable characters (with the exception of Henry, the dad), and the plot draws the reader in very quickly. Even though I knew there would be a happy, tidy ending, that did not stop me from reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting. When I reached the mid-way point, the drama increased, and I started to really wonder whether or not Anna Mae and her Englisch husband would be received well by her family and friends. Thanks to some scheming and planning by her sister-in-law, her first few moments back in Bird-in-Hand were memorable. But it wasn't until their next day's visit that things started to get hairy. Personally, I've been through some of those family moments where the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Amy relayed that same tension through the pages, and I have to admit, I was a bit worried for Anna Mae dealing with all this stress...all while pregnant with a baby whose arrival is not far away!Prior to reading this book, I had not read either of Amy's other Amish novels which share the same characters as A Plain and Simple Christmas. I never once felt that it was difficult to relate to the characters, nor did I feel that I didn't have enough of their backstory. This book very easily stood on it's own, and it's a great addition to all of the other Christmas novellas available this season. My rating is 4 stars.**Thanks to Zondervan through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program for providing a copy for review.
    • 4/5
      A great little read... perfect to read just before Christmas. Growing up in Southern Michigan, the Amish were a familiar presence and a fascinating people from my childhood. This book portrays the importance of faith and family in the Amish home and also the tradition of shunning, an interesting concept followed out of love to discourage young people from leaving the order. The sprinkling throughout of the Germanic dialect used in the Amish homes made this story even more authentic with a nice glossary for translation when necessary.
    • 4/5
      The basic premise of the book, What happens when an elder is given the opportunity to live his faith in the not so simple act of forgiveness. The act of faith that Anna Mae shows when she risks shunning by marrying the man that she believes God has put in her life is so corageous. To then seek reconciliation with her family after 3 years and risk being shunned again is heart wrenching.The lessons of love, forgiveness and acceptance that others may serve God in different ways is very powerful. A very apt example of 1 Corinthians 12 (now there are difference of administrations [operations] but it is the same God who works all in all...). I really enjoyed this book,and recommend it to others. Just an organizational aside, the glossary should have been in the back.
    • 5/5
      A Plain and Simple Christmas, by Amy Clipson, is a very sweet book and highly recommended. It is a story of a family trying to come back together after a serious rift. They do with kindness and through a faith that is written very purely. There aren't 'bad guys' - just good people with normal human flaws - it's through each individual character's courage, the family's love for each other and their strong faith that they find their way back to each other. Actually I am surprised really at how much I really liked this book. I often find "Christian" literature to be heavy handed and not always well written. Even though each character's faith is central in almost every interaction and thought, somehow Amy Clipston does this without it seeming false. It reads as just a part of the characters, rather than as robotically inserted Bible bits to make sure the the reader knows this is Christian lit. The author doesn't need to put in the sage older character to show everyone else the way to God, but writes God in each character, young and old, male or female. I don't know that I would have titled it as the publisher did though, it strikes me more as a lovely family story that happens to be set at Christmas time. It is appropriate for any time of year, as I'm sure we can always find times where humility and kindness would help us out with our families.
    • 5/5
      I adored this book, I thought Anna Mae was a great character. I felt for her through out this story and for her family too. She was shunned when she chose her English husband and her family took it hard. After 3 years, she writes to her sister in law to about coming out to visit. Kathryn was thrilled to hear from her and got things rolling. Everyone was worried how Anne Mae's dad was going to take the news since he is the bishop for the community. Kathryn's husband and Anna Mae's brother David, was not happy at first about the visit as he knew his dad was not going to take it well. Anna Mae is pregnant with her first child and wants to mend the relationship with her family so they can be a family again. Kellan her husband is very supportive and loves her very much. It is a touching story of love and healing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is an easy read.I liked the fact that the story is not all sugar coated so to speak. Anna Mae is not as welcomed as she thought she would be. There are some tough times along with the good. It all makes the book more realistic.
    • 4/5
      This was a nice, quick Christmas read. It did get a bit religious during certain places in the story. But the story and its characters were well developed. The story made me reflect and think about my family and how I would feel in the situation. It also was a great chance to understand how other feel and think about their situation. It was a great story of love, committment and strength.
    • 4/5
      I think for a novella, A Plain and Simple Christmas, was an excellent read. It really made you feel for Anna, who wants to get back into speaking terms with her Amish family. A family that turned her out after she chose to marry and live with an ‘Englisher’. You can really tell that Kellan really loves her, and would do anything for her. When she goes back to her family, it really makes you believe the story is true with their conflicting emotions and reactions to Anna.Very good read!
    • 4/5
      A very enjoyable Christmas book. Just right for an afternoon at home by the fireplace! I think the best books are ones that can be shared by many ages. I opened this book to read it and found the following note from my 13 year old granddaughter."Grandma, Thank you for letting me borrow this book. It was very good. ILY. Love Danielle"
    • 2/5
      An ER review.I normally judge holiday books on how they make me feel. Can I smell the food? Does it make me want to cook that something special? Do I feel the weather and surroundings? Can I relate to the characters? Overall does the book bring out my inner soul??I know a Novella is a shorter story and the author does not have the ability to give a lot of back story, yet I would have wished for more. I was not able to "Feel" the situations and personalities of these characters. The storyline was a pat script with a unoriginal ending.
    • 5/5
      A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS by Amy Clipston is a heartwarming, sweet inspirational fiction/general. it is well written with strong characters,details and depth. It has Amish,faith,love,forgiveness,birth of a babe,separation of a family member,family,shunning,an Amish marrying a Englisher, following God's will no matter the consequences, and the miracle of Christmas.This is a sweet heartwarming story of faith and family differences and the coming together of a family. Anna Mae is shunned by her family after marrying Kellan, an Englisher by her family. Her father, the bishop of their Amish community refuses to welcome her home for a visit. Anna is with her first child and determined to make amends with her family. She wants her child to her family. Her husband only has a sister. She enlists the help of her sister-in-law. Although, all does not go has planned. We have a near delivery of their baby in a barn, a disastrous dinner at Anna's brother's house, and the forgiveness of her father after her husband shows him the Christian way. This is a quick read, fast paced, page turning story of family, forgiveness,the bond between mother,daughter,family and the miracle of Christmas.I would highly recommend this book for it is a great read for Christmas and will lift your spirits. This book was received for review from Library Thing and details can be found at Zondervan and My Book Addiction and More.
    • 3/5
      A very sweet and cozy Christmas story. The story is very predictable and the writing is adequate. A good Christmas read.
    • 5/5
      This is one of those books that is hard to put down. I really enjoyed the story. Anna Mae McDonough is ready to reconcile with her family, especially her parents; after marrying an "Englisher" three years prior. This is a story of reconciliation. I enjoyed her sister-in-law Kathryn, and her determination to bring the family together again. I would highly recommend this book!
    • 3/5
      A very sweet Christmas Story about an amish woman who chooses to marry an outsider and then is shunned by the family. It is a redemptive heartwarming look into family and the humility. I enjoyed this book and gave it only three stars because the Amish "language" was distracting to me.
    • 5/5
      Amy Clipston has once again created a beautiful story full of faith, healing, forgiveness and love, which is so perfect during this holiday season. Having previously read two of her books already, I was very pleased to learn that I had won this book thru the Early Reviewers Program. The author is fast-becoming one of my favorite authors with her heartwarming tales of the Amish, and this book is no exception. A Plain and Simple Christmas is a sweet story of a former Amish woman's desire to reconnect with her family after being shunned for marrying an English man. She has been away from her family for three years, and with the approaching holiday season, sets up a surprise visit with the help of her sister-in-law, even though she knows that the outcome may not be favorable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a heartwarming, feel-good book that is so perfect for this time of year. I love reading about the Amish and their traditions, and the author makes you feel like you are right there experiencing all the emotion that the characters are going through. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It is what Christmas is all about. I thank the publishers for sending this book my way, and also the author for another wonderful story.
    • 4/5
      A very good book. I love Amish stories, and this one was an excellent addition to the ones I have read. It is the story of an Amish woman who left the community to marry an Englisch man, and her desire to mend fences with her family. It shows the closeness of the Amish people, while also showing how difficult it is for the people who leave. I liked the way that Kathryn stood up for herself and her desire to heal the rift between the two families. There was a lot of faith, some tears, and a happy ending -- my favorite kind of story!
    • 4/5
      A lovely holiday tale that explores the complexities that families of mixed religious practices face. This story reveals the common ground that is found when an Amish family reconnects with a family member that has left the Amish lifestyle. The "Plain and Simple" message is that love and forgiveness is the true meaning of Christmas.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderfully heartwarming tale about family, forgiveness, and the true meaning of Christmas. Anna Mae is a former Amish woman who was shunned by her community after she chose to marry a non-Amish man. Three years later and pregnant with her first child, she feels the loss of her family and wants to reconnect. When she arrives in her hometown, things don't go as she had hoped and she fears that she may have lost some of her family members forever.This is one of my favorite genres and it did not disappoint. Amy Clipston has a wonderful gift for storytelling and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
    • 3/5
      A short and sweet tale of family redemption at Christmas. I generally like Amish stories having grown up not far from Lancaster, Pa., but this one was not my favorite. The addition of Pennsylvania Dutch language within the conversations was annoying rather than interesting.I just couldn't find myself interested in the lives of the characters.
    • 5/5
      This was a very enjoyable story. It revolves around the Amish Faith and traditions. It is a perfect read to get ready for the holidays. The story length was great for a relaxing time. I loved the message of forgiveness and pride while still explaining the Amish traditions. This story really fits in well with the season. Really worth my reading time!!
    • 5/5
      Okay. Can I just say that I REALLY, REALLY want to spend Christmas in Lancaster?! Amy Clipston is a fantastic author of Amish novels and never disappoints with her ability to use wonderful detail and description, leaving her readers thirsty for more of her novels! When I FINALLY (yes, FINALLY...I waited what felt like YEARS for this amazing little book ;-)!) received this book, I couldn't WAIT to read it! The is just adorable....plain and simple-PERFECT for the story! When you open A Plain and Simple Christmas, you're instantly transported to Maryland, where we meet Anna Mae, a young, shunned Amish mother-to-be, and her English husband, Kellan. As I started reading Anna Mae's story, I could feel her emotional struggles of missing her Amish family at a time of year that's meant to be celebrated and shared with family. She really worked her way into my heart! So, what's to happen when she enlists the help of her Amish sister-in-law, Kathryn with making a way for her and Kellan to visit for Christmas? And will another Christmas birth bring peace and forgiveness??? I absolutely LOVED this little book. I felt so much a part of this story....helping Kathryn bring Anna Mae and Kellan home for Christmas and right beside Anna Mae, feeling her emotions and thoughts as if they were my own. I was in praying mode all through this book! Amy did a wonderful job with this little book! She kept us right in line with her Kauffman Amish Bakery series by using sweet Kathryn and her family in this book,too. That being said, though, you wouldn't HAVE to read this with the series (though I always think it's best to read the entire series with the branch offs). It would make the PERFECT Christmas gift for any book lover or Amish lover in your life. The message in this 5 star little book, of family,forgiveness and God's tender love is phenomenal and gripping. This is definitely a keeper and high on my Christmas book recommendation list! *This book was provided for review by Zondervan Publishing Company*
    • 4/5
      I received an Early Reviewer copy of this book. It is a sweet, feel-good read about an Amish family. The main character falls in love with a young man outside the Amish faith and is shunned by her family when they marry. She is happy with her husband, but misses her family. She returns to her family at Christmastime and things turn out well. It is an inspiring story of love and forgiveness.
    • 3/5
      A short and sweet tale of family redemption at Christmas. I generally like Amish stories having grown up not far from Lancaster, Pa., but this one was not my favorite. The addition of Pennsylvania Dutch language within the conversations was annoying rather than interesting.I just couldn't find myself interested in the lives of the characters.

    Book preview

    A Plain and Simple Christmas - Amy Clipston

    CHAPTER 1

    Anna Mae McDonough closed her eyes and folded her hands across her protruding belly. A tiny bump responded to the touch and she smiled.

    Thank you, Lord, for this bountiful meal on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day, her husband’s smooth voice said. And thank you for all of the blessings we have—our home and our wonderful life together. Kellan paused and Anna Mae glanced up, just as he squeezed her hand.

    Thank you, Lord, Kellan continued, most of all for our baby who will be here in January. Amen.

    Amen, Anna Mae whispered, squeezing his hand. Happy Thanksgiving, Kellan.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Annie, he said, his brown eyes filling with warmth.

    Butterflies fluttered in her stomach in response to his loving gaze. It’s hard to believe this is our third Thanksgiving in Baltimore.

    He filled his plate with slices of turkey and passed her the platter. Time has flown since I found you in that bakery.

    Her smile faded, and she rested her hands on her belly. Memories of Lancaster County crashed down on her. Holidays spent with her four siblings and their families were chaotic, with children running around the room screaming. Anna Mae would find herself in the kitchen laughing and gossiping with her mother, three sisters, her sister-in-law, and nieces.

    Tears filled her eyes as she glanced around her small, empty, quiet house. Kellan’s only sister lived clear across the country in Los Angeles. Anna Mae had only met her sister-in-law once, and that was at their wedding three years ago. Kellan’s father had died eight years ago, and his mother had abandoned him and his sister when he was ten years old. The only family they had was each other.

    And sometimes the silence on holidays was deafening to Anna Mae.

    I’m sorry. Kellan leaned over, taking her hands in his. I didn’t mean to upset you by bringing up Lancaster.

    It’s okay, she whispered. She swiped her hand across her wet cheek and forced a smile. I cherish these times with you and wouldn’t give them up for anything. And it was the truth. She’d never for one second regretted leaving her community to build a life with Kellan.

    The baby kicked, and she looked down at her belly. Tears clouded her vision as she contemplated her newborn growing up without a host of relatives to love him or her.

    What is it, Annie? Kellan asked. I can tell by your expression that you’re stewing on something. This delicious dinner is going to get cold if you don’t fill your plate soon.

    It’s just— Her voice broke when she met his loving gaze. She cleared her throat and took a deep, ragged breath, hoping to stop the threatening tears. I have so many memories of holidays and birthdays with my siblings and cousins. She rubbed her belly. Our baby won’t know any of them, and my family won’t know our baby.

    Kellan frowned and shook his head. You’re upset because it’s been so long since you’ve been together as a family. Maybe after the baby is born, you can see them again.

    Leaning forward, she took his warm hands in hers. You’re probably right, but I wish I could have it all—you and my family."

    You can have it all. He shrugged and lifted his glass of Coke. I’ve told you I have no objections to seeing your family. You name the time, and we’ll go up there and visit them. I can take vacation anytime I want. That’s the beauty of being the owner of McDonough Chevrolet. I can take time off and leave it in the hands of my capable staff.

    You know it’s not that simple with my father. Despite her sudden loss of appetite, Anna Mae filled her plate with turkey, gravy, stuffing, a homemade roll, and homemade cranberry sauce. Thoughts of her father rolled through her mind. She knew she was at fault for not reaching out more. However, she’d wanted to build a new life without the emotional complications of dealing with the shunning.

    I don’t get that whole shunning thing. He shook his head. They say it’s because they love you, but how is cutting off your child showing her you love her?

    They shun in order to prevent members from leaving the community. When a member leaves, it’s emotionally painful for the member’s family. With her eyes trained on her plate, she cut some turkey and moved the piece through the gravy. "Daed’s the bishop for the district, the religious leader. It’s his job to keep us on the right path and enforce the rules of the Ordnung."

    But we go to our own church. Why isn’t that good enough for him and the rest of the community? Why do they have to punish you for leaving?

    Sighing, Anna Mae looked up at him. Kellan, my family is only following the traditions of the Amish that have come before them. The Amish beliefs and traditions go back a few hundred years. Shunning isn’t punishment. They want their children to keep the traditions they’ve learned from their parents. They respect other Christians and don’t believe that other ways of living are wrong. The Amish don’t judge others or think their way is the only way. However, they want to keep their children within the community. They love me and want me to come back.

    He glowered. Without me.

    She touched his hands. I’m not going to go back. I just miss my family. I miss seeing them and spending time with them.

    Kellan chewed more turkey, his eyes concentrating on his meal. He then looked at her. How about we go visit them for Christmas? We can just show up and surprise them.

    Anna Mae shook her head. "That wouldn’t be wise. Daed wouldn’t take kindly to a surprise visit. I’m certain he loves me, but he’s very hurt that I left. I’m sure he thinks I rejected him and my mother."

    Kellan’s expression brightened. What if one of your sisters helped you plan it?

    Anna Mae considered his suggestion and then shook her head. I can’t see one of them deliberately going behind my father’s back. They’d be sure to tell him before I arrived, and that would make for a very uncomfortable and short visit.

    He grinned. I bet I know someone who would be happy to help you.

    Who?

    Your brother David’s wife.

    Kathryn. Anna Mae nodded, a knot developing in her throat at the thought of her sister-in-law. She was the most supportive of my relationship with you. She seemed to be the only one in the family who understood why I left. She might consider planning a surprise visit. Kathryn was always known for speaking her mind, despite the consequences.

    Why don’t you write her a letter and tell her how you’re feeling?

    Maybe I will. Anna Mae bit her lip, hoping to stop the threatening tears. I miss her.

    Let’s enjoy this delicious meal. After we’re done eating, I’ll clean up while you write a letter to Kathryn.

    Okay. Anna Mae tried to keep the conversation light while they ate.

    After finishing off the meal with pumpkin pie and coffee, Kellan stood and gathered up the dishes. I’ll take care of this. You go write that letter.

    No. Let me help you. Anna Mae rose and reached for his mug.

    Anna Mae, he began with mock annoyance, I’ll take care of the dishes. Go write to Kathryn so you can rest easy tonight. The baby doesn’t need the stress you’re feeling about your family. Writing to Kathryn will ease your mind.

    Stepping around the table, Anna Mae brushed her lips against Kellan’s warm cheek. I don’t deserve you.

    He set the dishes on the table and swept Anna Mae into his muscular arms. Actually, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you. He kissed her lips, slow and easy, and then smiled down while brushing back a wisp of light brown hair that had escaped her bun. Even though she now lived an English lifestyle, she always wore her hair up. Some parts of her upbringing were still comfortable to her. You’re so sweet and loyal. I’ll never understand how your family could shun you.

    Kellan, I already explained—

    I know, I know. He held her close and whispered into her ear. No matter what happens with our family, I love you. Don’t forget that.

    I love you too. She closed her eyes, silently thanking God for her wonderful husband.

    He let go of the embrace. Go write your letter. I’ll get the dishes under control.

    Thank you. After retrieving her favorite stationery from the roll-top desk, Anna Mae settled into Kellan’s easy chair.

    At a loss for how to begin the letter, she stared across the room at her favorite wedding portrait of her and Kellan, standing together at the altar of his church. Clad in a simple white dress, Anna Mae stood holding a small bouquet of flowers while clutching Kellan’s arm. Her dress and the ceremony were both very different from an Amish wedding, but Anna Mae had wanted to fit into Kellan’s English world. After all, she’d broken every Amish rule by leaving her community and marrying him. It was both the happiest and saddest day in her life. Only Kellan’s sister and a handful of his friends and employees attended. She’d wished her family would’ve come, but they had objected to her leaving and did not condone their union. Anna Mae was cut off from the family when she left, even though leaving was her choice.

    Closing her eyes, Anna Mae thought back to that fateful day when she’d met Kellan McDonough. It had been four years ago when Kellan had stepped into the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where Anna Mae worked with her sister-in-law Kathryn and Kathryn’s relatives.

    Anna Mae was twenty-three and had joined the Amish church the previous spring. After a few months of instruction covering the Ordnung, the unwritten rules of the Amish, she’d been baptized and had taken a public vow to live by the Amish beliefs. All three of her sisters were married, but Anna Mae had all but given up on finding a mate. She’d been certain she’d become an old maid, working in the bakery and making quilts for auction until she was too old and frail to work.

    However, her life had changed irrevocably when a handsome English customer approached her and asked her to sit on the porch with him and share a slice of chocolate cake. Anna Mae hesitated, but Kathryn nudged her forward, telling Anna Mae to relish a much-needed break.

    The customer introduced himself as Kellan McDonough, a car dealership owner from Baltimore in town visiting old friends. Kellan’s soft-spoken demeanor and easy sense of humor intrigued Anna Mae. She was more comfortable chatting with her new friend than she’d ever felt with the young Amish men in her community.

    Their conversation on the porch lasted an hour, ending only when Beth Anne, Kathryn’s sister, came looking for Anna Mae. When Kellan said goodbye and shook Anna Mae’s hand, a spark ignited between them.

    Kellan visited Anna Mae at the bakery every day for the next week and then wrote her letters after he returned to Baltimore. Six months later, he visited her again, and six months after that he proposed to her.

    Annie? Kellan’s concerned voice brought her back to the present. You all right?

    She opened her eyes and found him standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a pot in one hand and a dishtowel in the other. Yes, I’m fine, she said. I was just losing myself in memories.

    He dried the pot with the towel. Good ones, I hope.

    She smiled. The best.

    Do you need anything, like a drink or a snack?

    She groaned. If I eat anything else, I’ll explode. Thank you, though.

    You call me if you need anything.

    I will. Love you. She lifted her pen.

    Love you too. He retreated into the kitchen.

    Taking a deep breath, Anna Mae began to write. Once she completed the letter, she signed and sealed it. After addressing the envelope, she closed her eyes and whispered a prayer, asking God to somehow reunite her with her family for Christmas.

    CHAPTER 2

    Walking up her long driveway, Kathryn Beiler smiled as her middle daughters prattled on about their day at school.

    "Naomi told Millie that Danny likes her,

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