Leah rubbed her eyes groggily as she made hot cakes for her husband and her now uncle,
they both smiled as she put the plate on the table, "Leah" Ethan's uncle got up from
where he had been seated and put his arm on her shoulder, "hard night?" Leah smiled,
"not much sleep" Ethan smiled at his young wife, he couldn't wait until they returned to
Nappanee, cause first off that was his home-their home now, and because he wanted to
start a family as soon as possible, he had grown up in a large family home, and he wanted
a large family of his own, Leah had no objections, other then she was ready to fall over at
the moment, Ethan's uncle helped her to a seat and place a nice hot cup of coffee in her hands, "here drink
my sweet niece" Leah smiled and sipped the warm and bitter liquid and smiled, "Thank you" his uncle
smiled, "call me Joseph" he smiled she nodded, "thank you Joseph"
"Bye Anne and Joseph" Leah waved as she was lead to the buggy by Ethan, "bye Aunt Anne and Uncle
Joseph" Ethan said. "So which relative are we going to visit?" Ethan laughed, "one more night I promise,
before we can share a bed as husband and wife" Leah giggled, "we aren't forbidden?" Ethan smiled "nope
once were married we can share a bed as husband and wife but I will tell you now that where we are going
they have separate beds" Leah sighed, "I thought sleeping with my husband was going to be enjoyable
but Ethan I haven't shared a bed with you since I was seventeen years of age" Ethan blushed I remember
that night, it was before Neal died, when Ethan said 'Neal' Leah felt tears spring in her eyes. Neal was the
one who had brought her here given her the courage to stand, "I remember Ethan, it was a sad and yet
happy time for me" Ethan pulled the buggy over, as Leah shook tears fell down her face remembering
Neal in his sad last days;
Neal lied on the hospital bed a weary smile lit his pale face; his skin was like thin paper veins popped out
all over his arms and his neck, Seventeen year old Leah looked at her dying step father then at the
magazine she was reading, Eighteen year old Ethan was working with Dr. Practor it was birthing season
for calves. "Leah" Neal said, Leah dropped the magazine she was reading and looked over at him, "Are
you in pain want me to call a nurse?" Neal shook his head, "no sweetie I want to talk to you"
"I am listening"
"it won't be long now, Leah"
"Neal don't-"
"Now don't you go falling apart on me kiddo I am not afraid to die I know where I am going from here."
"You have changed my mother" Leah said, Neal touched her hand weakly, "no I only helped make her feel
safe" Neal's voice got quiet for a moment an Leah thought he may have falling asleep , but soon his voice
came again, "and watch out for Ethan too"
"Why?"
"He's Amish honey. It's in his blood" Neal touched her hand, "I don't want your heart broken"
Neal had cared about her, and he was right Ethan had broken her heart just like he implied, Love give you
the power to break someone, Ethan had broke her but for better if he hadn't left like he had she wouldn't
have been sitting next to him. Ethan put his arms around her, "Leah I know sweetie I know it still hurts"
Leah recalled the letter she had written to her mother that day when she had left for her new fresh start
Dear mother I am sorry I have to leave on bad terms like this but our lifestyle has fallen, mom I am sorry if
there is someway u can forgive me please do, I meant no hard feelings on what I said, I take it back word
by word, I am in Nappanee Indiana if you ever want to come visit I love you
LeahLeah had the feeling that she and her mother would see each other someday, but she couldn't imagine her
mother ever reading the note she had left on the bare mattress two and a half years ago, "Ethan do you
think my mother misses me?" Ethan wiped tears from her eyes, "only god can tell you that" he kissed the
top of her head, "a lot has changed in two years" Ethan nodded and steered the buggy to the road again, "I
would say that I never intended for it to end up like this but Leah I will say it has changed for the good"
Leah smiled and took in a breath of fresh air, "Ethan" he nodded as a sign he was all ears, "I love the
Amish lifestyle and I loved it when I was baptized, I don't want to ever turn back to the old selfish me"
Ethan laughed, "You were never selfish you were just of the world" Leah nodded, "I hope my mother will
visit someday" Ethan let out a long breath "Leah it is possible, I hope it's when we have a family" Leah
looked around she didn't recognize anything, "where are we going?" she asked, Ethan smiled, "were going
to visit Eli, actually to the bus station but still" Leah felt a smile broaden on her face Eli Ethan's older
brother, last time she had seen Eli was when she was English and she didn't know her way, now she was
Amish and Mrs. Longacre Ethan's wife she smiled at the thought.
