Angels Are Among Us

Chapter Three: Friends After All These Years

Mumbling softly to herself, Charity Longacre glanced towards the barn where she could spot her father and brothers working steadily. They were trying to prepare the entire farm for the guests that would begin arriving for the wedding ceremony tomorrow.

Almost every family in Nappanee had accepted the invitation and would be there to help her celebrate her union with the love of her life, Jonah. She appreciated their help much more than she could possibly say. Charity had been waiting for this day for so long that she wanted everything to be perfect.

Charity was so busy thinking about the plans for the next day that she didn't notice the almost giant-sized figure creeping up beside her. Even the slight creaking of the porch wouldn't distract the dreamy state of mind Charity had put herself in. The massive shadow got closer and closer and with each step seemed to be growing in size. Suddenly, the figure pounced and swept the young woman from her feet.

Charity shrieked in surprise as she felt herself lifted away from the solid porch. A second later, she found that she was lying backwards across someone's back as her cap floated to the ground. She thought to herself, 'What is going on?' Her heart skipped a beat for a brief moment until she saw her captor.

"Jonah Dewberry! What are you doing?" the brunette asked her bear-like fiancé that currently was holding her in a very awkward upside down position. When he didn't answer right away, she continued to scream at him in a very unladylike manner.

This strange behavior didn't bother Jonah at all. Sometimes he felt that Charity needed to relax and stop worrying so much. Plus he thought she was just too cute when she got angry. Enraged, his beautiful young fiance started to beat on his muscular back with her fists.

Though the likelihood that she could hurt him was slim, Jonah decided to give her an even bigger scare. With careful ease and grace, the young man flipped Charity around until she was facing him. He tried his hardest to look stern and angry as his eyes met her dark ones.

He cleared his throat before talking, "Now Charity...you know better than to beat on your husband-to-be....."

"Well if that certain 'husband-to-be' happens to enjoy scaring his wife-to-be like that then he had better get used to being beat on. For I, personally, will not tolerate being made a fool of like that ever again. Let it be known that if you so much as think about pulling a stupid prank like that again, you will have to deal with the uncomfort of a cold bed. Do you understand me, Jonah Dewberry?" Charity snapped with her eyes flashing. She was joking, of course, but she did enjoy seeing the powerful man before her dissolve into the persona of a scolded child. In a fit of mock anger, Charity snatched her white prayer cap from the porch and stomped into the house before slamming the door behind.

Jonah's mouth crumbled when he heard his love speak to him in such harsh tones. He hadn't meant any harm! He only wanted to make her feel better for she had been so worried about the wedding and everything. Sighing to himself, Jonah turned and began shuffling down the steps towards his carriage.

"Oh, Jonah! Can't you take a joke?" A soft voice spoke up from doorway. Surprised, Jonah swiveled around and blanched at Charity who was standing there looking extremely amused.

"Why did you do that? I really thought I had made you mad when all I wanted to do was cheer you up! Don't trick me like that again, Charity!" Jonah responded with a slight bit of wounding in his tone. The woman above him only smiled in response. Jonah was about to grab her and haul her off to give a major tickle attack when the distant hum of a car engine sounded throughout the farm.

Both of the young adults turned to face the driveway where a dark blue car was making its way towards the house. Jonah couldn't remember seeing a vehicle like that in town and headed towards it.

"Who is that?" Charity asked in a confused manner.

Jonah responded, "I'm not sure, sweetheart. Maybe its a tourist who lost their way or something. I'll take care of it." The man made his way to the car which parked a little bit away from the barn and the house. When he was halfway there, Jonah heard doors open and spotted two people emerge from the car.

"Excuse me? Can I help you?" Jonah called out to the two strangers as he jogged towards them. He could tell now that they were two women, one quite a bit younger than the other. It was the youngest of the duo that caught his interest right away. She was extremely beautiful with her long wavy hair that blew in breeze and her porcelain skin tone. But, it wasn't just her beauty that drew in the young Amish man. There was something vaguely familiar about this woman and he could not figure it out.

"Jonah....Jonah Dewberry? Is that you?" The younger woman spoke in an awed voice.

Jonah stared at her as she and her companion approached him, "Um...yes...I am Jonah Dewberry. How do you know my name?"

The mystery beauty looked at him for a moment, "What do you mean? I know your name because I know you. Remember?"

"I'm sorry. I can't recall someone like you, ma'am. Could you elaborate by giving me your name or something of that nature?"

"Are you telling me that you don't recognize me at all?"

"Well, you do seem somewhat familiar, but I can't figure out why."

The older woman finally spoke up, "Well, honey, its not really a surprise. You have changed quite a lot over the last couple of years."

"No, I haven't. I look the same as I did nine years ago when I last saw Jonah." The young lady replied.

'Nine years? There's only one person I can think of who I haven't seen in nine years....' Jonah's musings were interrupted by the arrival of his fiancé behind him.

Charity stood beside Jonah and stared at the young woman before her. Eventually the two females met gazes and Charity froze in place. Then, before she could comprehend what she was seeing, Charity threw herself into the strange woman's arms and hugged her tightly.

"Charity! Oh, I've missed you so much! You look amazing!" The woman cried as she wrapped her arms around the young brunette.

"Me?" Charity looked up into the female's face and smiled, "You're the one who looks beautiful, Leah."

Jonah's heart stopped as soon as his love said the name Leah. Now, he knew where he had seen the dark-haired beauty before. She was Leah Lewis-Hall, the English girl who had fallen in love with Ethan and changed the lives of the strict Longacres.

"Well, Jonah, aren't you going to welcome Leah?" Charity asked as she glanced at her frozen fiancé.

Jonah stared into Leah's face and grinned, "It's wonderful to see you again, Leah. I assume you have come to attend our wedding?"

"Yes, I have. How could I not come to the wedding of one of my best friends?" Leah responded with a joyous expression on her face. She regretted now all of the thoughts of doubt about coming to the wedding. Charity's smile was worth every bit of pain she might have to go through with seeing Ethan again. Leah reminded herself that she was not the same lovesick teenager she had been nine years ago. She would be strong this time when it came to her emotions.

Ten minutes later, Charity pulled Leah into the crowded kitchen in order to reintroduce her. The large room was packed with women, all of them dressed in basic Amish dresses and prayer caps. Leah noticed a few familiar faces in the mass of people. Her friend led her to a smiling older lady who embraced Leah tightly.

"Oh, Leah! It has been too long, my dear," Tillie Longacre gushed as she held the smaller female in her arms. Holding Leah by the shoulders, the Longacre matriarch looked her over with a great deal of scrutiny. The young woman was as beautiful as ever especially with her dark hair now flowing down her back in loose curls. And while she was dressed like most English, she was elegant in the long black skirt and cream-colored blouse.

Leah smiled with remembrance about the kind and supportive Amish woman who had so graciously accepted her into the community. When Leah had been dating Ethan, she always felt like an outsider to his world, but Tillie always made sure that her son's English girlfriend felt comfortable and loved.

She embraced the older lady one last time before speaking, "Mrs. Longacre. I've missed you so much these past couple of years."

"And I you, Leah. When Charity told me she invited you to her wedding, I wasn't sure if you would accept under the circumstances nine years ago. I can't tell you how happy I am that I was wrong!"

"You are too kind, Mrs. Longacre," Leah said.

Tillie smiled, "Leah, we are both educated adults now. I would prefer for you to call me Tillie. Would that be all right with you?"

"Absolutely. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Charity joined in the joyous reunion, "Leah, let me introduce you to some of the other guests for the wedding." The beautiful brunette led her friend around the crowded kitchen introducing the dozen or so women. Leah faintly remembered some of the female's names, but there were a few new faces.

She was overjoyed to see Charity's younger sister, Elizabeth, sitting at the long wooden table, glowing with happiness as she laid a hand on her swollen stomach, "Elizabeth! I've missed you as well. Congratulations on the baby!"

"Thank you, Leah. I am so happy to see you again. Actually this is my second child."

"Second? How old are you now, Elizabeth?" Leah asked.

Elizabeth grinned, "I'm twenty-two. I have a son named Gideon who is two years old."

"I'm so happy for you!"

Then a pretty dark-haired woman strolled towards Leah. She seemed somewhat familiar, but Leah couldn't place her face.

"It's nice to see you, Leah," the mysterious woman spoke softly as if afraid of angering her.

"Hello....um....you too..." Leah stammered as she attempted to figure out why this girl seemed so familiar.

A shadow of a smile flashed across the woman's face, "You don't remember me, do you?"

Leah blushed, "I'm afraid not. You do seem familiar though..."

"Leah, it's me, Martha Dewberry....though I'm now Martha Longacre."

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Yes, it's another cliffhanger! I absolutely love writing those even though I know, from personal experience, that they are pure torture for readers.

I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter! I'm currently finishing up my senior year in high school so life is a bit chaotic to say the least. My free time has decreased dramatically these past few months so my writings are being delayed...unfortunately.

Also, I knew this chapter would be hard to write, in order to get the emotions right, and I wanted to do a good job on it so there was quite a bit of editing involved.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Look for another one in the next month or so. Unfortunately, that's probably how long the delays between chapters will be until July or August. Thanks to all the readers and reviewers for your patience and support! 51 reviews for two chapters! I have never gotten that much feedback! You guys are absolutely amazing! I will list individual thanks at the end of the next chapter! Keep on reviewing and I promise I will try to update sooner!! Thanks again!!