Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman

while. She felt her mother instantly stiffen, and she wondered if perhaps she’d forbid her to go.
    “I suspected that she would want to spend more time with you.” Mamm eased out of the hug, cupped her hand under Linda’s chin, and said, “And that is all right.”
    Linda felt relief, but there was something about the way her mother spoke that made Linda suspect that it wasn’t as all right as Mamm let on.

    Josie had a spring in her step that she didn’t remember having for years, and it had been a long time since she’d used her fine china and set the table in the formal dining room, complete with candles and fresh flowers. She stepped back to inspect her work. Perfect . She heard the front door open, glad that Robert was on time. She had so much to tell him. The timer on the oven dinged, and she headed back to the kitchen. She pulled the pan from the oven just as Robert entered the kitchen. She looked up in time to see him glance into the formal dining room.
    “I take it things must have gone well today.” He placed his briefcase on the kitchen counter, waited for her to put the pan down, then wrapped his arms around her.
    “Oh, Robert. It was a perfect day.” She buried her head in his chest and squeezed him tightly.
    He gently eased her away. “Josie, I’m so glad, and I want to hear all about it, but I have some news for you.”
    She arched her brows. What could possibly be more important than her news?
    “Remember Dr. Noah Stoltzfus, the doctor who put me in touch with some people at Lancaster General regarding Amanda?”
    She nodded.
    “Well, Noah also knows someone whose specialization is the type of inoperable tumor that you have.”
    No, no. Don’t ruin this day . She pulled away, turned her back toward him, and combed a hand through her hair. “Robert, I don’t want to see any more doctors. I’ve seen plenty, and they all say the same thing.”
    Robert gently spun her around, cupped her cheek, and gazed lovingly into her eyes. “Just one more, Josie. Please. Do it for me.”
    Josie twisted her mouth to one side, then the other. “I thought Dr. Stoltzfus ran a small clinic and catered mostly to the Amish community.”
    “He does. But he used to work at Lancaster General, and he has friends there. You know how hard it can be to get an appointment with a really good specialist. It can take months.” They both looked at each other, and there was no need to verbalize what was on both their minds—how many months? “Please,” he said again, his eyes begging her. He kissed her on the cheek. “I invited him and his wife for dinner. Can we set two more place settings?”
    Josie pushed away from him. “Robert, why didn’t you give me any warning?” She thrust her hands on her hips. “And I have so much to tell you about my day with Linda, and . . .”
    “I know, baby. I tried to call all the way home and kept getting ‘call failed.’ . . . And I want to hear every little detail about your day with Linda. I’m so happy for you. But I think it’s important for you to meet Noah. I’ve met his wife several times when I’ve been at his clinic. I think you’ll like her.”
    Josie let out a heavy sigh. “I guess I don’t have much choice. Let me go get two more place settings.”
    Robert gently grabbed her arm. “Hey, come here, you.” He pulled her close again, cupped the nape of her neck, and whispered, “I’m not giving up. Do you hear me?”
    Josie eased away and looked him in the eyes. “This was such a good day for me, Robert. I just want to share it all with you, and I’m so tired of talking about medical stuff.”
    “Tonight, over a glass of wine, after our guests are gone, I want to hear every little detail of your day with Linda.” He paused with pleading eyes. “But let’s hear about Noah’s specialist. Please.”
    Josie forced a smile for Robert’s sake. She’d accepted her fate years ago. It terrified her, but she’d accepted it. Robert hadn’t. “I hope they