The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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this, Roman. No sneaky, manipulative tricks. That will only make matters worse. He’s your brother. Pray for him. Be patient. And don’t do anything stupid.”
A den sat at a table filled with people in Mattie’s parents’ home. The wedding ceremony was over, and the celebrations had begun. Guests chatted and joked throughout the big, formal meal of the day. Aden tried to stomach enough food so he didn’t draw attention to himself, but he didn’t really hear anything that was said.
When the mealtime was over, he took his glass of water with him as he searched for a place to hide. His mother had confronted him about Annie on Saturday night. Today was Tuesday, and her words continued to loop through his mind. But it was the depth of hurt and concern in her eyes and the trembling of her hands that haunted him the most—that and the threat that now hovered over his family. His whole family would pay, would be thrown into a poverty pit, if he and Annie didn’t go their separate ways.
He went to a quiet spot and stared out a window, wondering what Annie was doing today. He’d still gone to the orchard every night since Mamm had informed him of the ultimatum Moses had issued, but he hadn’t told Annie about it yet. He’d tried to talk about the seriousness of what they were doing. His plan was to ease into the fact that hergrandfather knew and had hung a threat over his family. But she cut him off before he explained anything, saying she didn’t want to talk about it. Truth was, neither did he. Did raising the stakes really matter? They both knew what they were doing was wrong in the eyes of their churches. Maybe in the eyes of God.
Even if Mattie and Gideon could’ve invited her to the wedding, Aden wouldn’t have been able to do more than speak to her for a few minutes. Less than three or four, really. Anything more would have caused a ripple of people questioning their friendship.
They wouldn’t be the only ones. He had lots of questions himself. Why was this happening to them? How was he ever going to return to his usual life once she was gone? Her presence filled his life, and her absence would leave an awful void. Could they hang on to each other and muddle through everyone’s disapproval? Or would he ruin her life and his family’s livelihood by trying to find a way for them to be together?
If she had come today, she’d have felt the weight of being an outsider. Even though she had a passing acquaintance with Mattie’s and Gideon’s out-of-town wedding guests who’d come into the diner last week, she hardly knew any of the local Amish. Aden had attended church meetings and Amish gatherings his whole life, so he knew almost everyone … except a few of Mattie’s Amish friends from Ohio who had arrived last night.
Out in the yard a small group of girls about Annie’s age talked and laughed. The guests were milling about inside and outside while the helpers cleaned up after the noon meal. Soon the single girls woulddisappear into a room to prepare for the Amish tradition of the Choosing, where men chose partners for the wedding festivities of singing, passing around snacks, playing a few games, and sharing the evening meal. Custom called for the unmarried men, from eldest to youngest, to enter the room one at a time to make their choices.
If Annie were here, she wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the Amish Choosing. If there were a few single Mennonites here, they’d have their own Choosing. Otherwise, she’d be left out completely.
Throughout the ceremony Aden couldn’t keep from imagining himself and Annie in place of Gideon and Mattie. How had his friendship with Annie so quickly grown into desire for a lifetime with her?
An Amish girl bounded in through the door, flashing a quick smile at everyone before continuing into the living room. There were several single men here older than Aden, and he speculated what girls might be left by the time his turn came at the Choosing. He’d like
A den sat at a table filled with people in Mattie’s parents’ home. The wedding ceremony was over, and the celebrations had begun. Guests chatted and joked throughout the big, formal meal of the day. Aden tried to stomach enough food so he didn’t draw attention to himself, but he didn’t really hear anything that was said.
When the mealtime was over, he took his glass of water with him as he searched for a place to hide. His mother had confronted him about Annie on Saturday night. Today was Tuesday, and her words continued to loop through his mind. But it was the depth of hurt and concern in her eyes and the trembling of her hands that haunted him the most—that and the threat that now hovered over his family. His whole family would pay, would be thrown into a poverty pit, if he and Annie didn’t go their separate ways.
He went to a quiet spot and stared out a window, wondering what Annie was doing today. He’d still gone to the orchard every night since Mamm had informed him of the ultimatum Moses had issued, but he hadn’t told Annie about it yet. He’d tried to talk about the seriousness of what they were doing. His plan was to ease into the fact that hergrandfather knew and had hung a threat over his family. But she cut him off before he explained anything, saying she didn’t want to talk about it. Truth was, neither did he. Did raising the stakes really matter? They both knew what they were doing was wrong in the eyes of their churches. Maybe in the eyes of God.
Even if Mattie and Gideon could’ve invited her to the wedding, Aden wouldn’t have been able to do more than speak to her for a few minutes. Less than three or four, really. Anything more would have caused a ripple of people questioning their friendship.
They wouldn’t be the only ones. He had lots of questions himself. Why was this happening to them? How was he ever going to return to his usual life once she was gone? Her presence filled his life, and her absence would leave an awful void. Could they hang on to each other and muddle through everyone’s disapproval? Or would he ruin her life and his family’s livelihood by trying to find a way for them to be together?
If she had come today, she’d have felt the weight of being an outsider. Even though she had a passing acquaintance with Mattie’s and Gideon’s out-of-town wedding guests who’d come into the diner last week, she hardly knew any of the local Amish. Aden had attended church meetings and Amish gatherings his whole life, so he knew almost everyone … except a few of Mattie’s Amish friends from Ohio who had arrived last night.
Out in the yard a small group of girls about Annie’s age talked and laughed. The guests were milling about inside and outside while the helpers cleaned up after the noon meal. Soon the single girls woulddisappear into a room to prepare for the Amish tradition of the Choosing, where men chose partners for the wedding festivities of singing, passing around snacks, playing a few games, and sharing the evening meal. Custom called for the unmarried men, from eldest to youngest, to enter the room one at a time to make their choices.
If Annie were here, she wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the Amish Choosing. If there were a few single Mennonites here, they’d have their own Choosing. Otherwise, she’d be left out completely.
Throughout the ceremony Aden couldn’t keep from imagining himself and Annie in place of Gideon and Mattie. How had his friendship with Annie so quickly grown into desire for a lifetime with her?
An Amish girl bounded in through the door, flashing a quick smile at everyone before continuing into the living room. There were several single men here older than Aden, and he speculated what girls might be left by the time his turn came at the Choosing. He’d like
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