Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) Read Online Free

after the wedding—and bring this husband of yours with you.”
    Lois pasted on a bright smile and settled in. The conversation soon flowed easily enough—now that the hard part was out of the way. The talk was all about Verna’s baby and the Amish wedding season ahead of them. Lois’s face fell momentarily when that subject came up, but she recovered quickly.
    Finally, just before she left, Lois spent some time alone with Ida. The two whispered together near the front door when Saloma went into the kitchen. Debbie watched the sisters with no little sadness that things would never be as they had been. Lois’s happiness in the Englisha world made that only too apparent.

Three

    T he next morning as Bishop Beiler preached the main sermon, Debbie shifted to a more comfortable spot on the bench. The group of baptismal candidates had their seats set up near the ministers. She wasn’t used to sitting right out in the open where everyone could see her. Usually she was seated behind a row or two of younger girls. Debbie tried not to move, but that had been difficult for the entire three-hour church service. She clasped her hands on her lap and forced herself to focus on the bishop. The clock on the living room wall crept toward twelve. The sermon would close soon, and she wasn’t about to embarrass herself on the day of her baptism by squirming like a three-year-old.
    Debbie sat up even straighter when Minister Kanagy’s gaze came her way. He hadn’t paid much attention to her all morning, even during their last instruction class upstairs. Perhaps Minister Kanagy thought he should make one last check before it was too late.
    I look perfect! Debbie wanted to yell. But that wasn’t even remotely the attitude a baptismal candidate should have. She smiled to think how her lack of being raised Amish sure showed at times. Minister Kanagy, of course, wouldn’t take that as an excuse.
    At least Minister Kanagy hadn’t paid any attention to Ida, who was seated over in the unmarried girls’ section. If he had, Debbie might have glared at him, baptism or no baptism. But a glare at Minister Kanagy could have no good end—even after one was baptized.
    She hadn’t caught sight of Alvin all day. He was seated somewhere among the row of unmarried men, she was sure. Alvin would be here for her baptismal day, even if some emergency had come up on the farm. Alvin’s daett would cover for him, although Edwin was officially retired and lived in a dawdy haus with his wife, Helen, who had suffered a serious stroke this year.
    Debbie focused again on Bishop Beiler’s preaching. The bishop had his hands clasped now. He paused for a long moment before he turned toward the row of baptismal candidates. “We have come to this important step in the lives of these young people. All summer we as a ministry have tried to instruct them on how a godly and humble life is to be lived before Da Hah . We have found them submissive and willing to obey. For this we are grateful, and our hearts are glad. So without further words, if these are still willing to confess their faith before Da Hah and this congregation, they may kneel.”
    Debbie waited until the others moved first. Since she was the only girl in the class, all she had to do was follow the boys. Debbie slipped to her knees and brushed the long folds of her dress behind her. She bowed her head as Bishop Beiler began to ask the questions at the other end of the line.
    The bishop’s voice trembled when he reached her. “Do you, our sister Debbie, confess before Da Hah and these many witnesses that you will forsake the devil, the world, and your own flesh, and that you will obey the voice of Da Hah alone?”
    “ Yah ,” Debbie said softly.
    A light touch of a hand came down on her kapp.
    Deacon Mast, who stood beside the bishop, tipped his waterpitcher three times as the bishop intoned, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You may stand to your