A Legacy of Love: An Amish Heirloom Novella

By Amy Clipston

Local volunteer fire fighter Leon King agrees to repair his ex-girlfriend Susie Bontrager’s grandparents’ antique rocking chairs for her future home with her fiance and is forced to acknowledge that his feelings for her have not quite gone away. As Susie spends time with Leon, she begins to recognize she is marrying the wrong man for all the wrong reasons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Apr 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9780310351986

Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She's sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Leon King swallowed the swelling lump of emotion that threatened to choke him as he stood in a cemetery, surrounded by a multitude of community members. He was vaguely aware that the warm September sun was beating down on his shoulders and black hat, but he didn’t care. He was staring at the moist earth covering the grave of his friend Charlie Glick.

As the minister began reciting a closing prayer, Leon lifted his head to observe Minerva Yoder, Charlie’s fiancée. Tears poured down her cheeks, and she gripped her father’s arm as if it were a lifeline.

Leon had seen Charlie only a couple of weeks ago. Their volunteer fire companies both responded to a call, a traffic accident on Lincoln Highway in Paradise. The two men worked together to free the passengers from a car pummeled by a tractor trailer, and once the injured were loaded into ambulances, they chatted as they cleared the scene. Charlie talked about his upcoming wedding and moving into the house he’d built on his father’s farm.

But now Charlie was dead. Two days earlier he’d been hit by lightning while repairing shingles on his father’s dairy barn. He was gone in an instant. And he was only twenty-five years old, the same age as Leon.

Leon looked to his right. His friend and fellow volunteer firefighter Jamie Riehl stood with his girlfriend, Kayla Dienner. Kayla sniffed and wiped her eyes, and Jamie released her hand and put one arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him. Like Minerva, Kayla seemed to rely on someone else to hold her upright.

The affection between Jamie and Kayla touched Leon deep in his soul, surprising him. And then an unexpected thought overwhelmed him.

He was alone.

He hadn’t had a serious girlfriend in nearly four years. He had no one to comfort, no one special to encourage him after a tough day at the fire station or working at his father’s furniture store.

A nagging hollowness filled his gut as his gaze moved back to the grave. He couldn’t allow himself to waste another day. He was ready to find someone special and settle down.

He looked again at Charlie’s grave, and a chill moved down his spine at another gripping thought. I don’t want to die alone.

When the minister’s prayer ended, a murmur of conversations spread throughout the crowd, and community members slowly and quietly began to make their way to the buggies that lined the long street.

Leon turned to Jamie and Kayla.

I can’t believe he’s gone. Jamie spoke in a low voice and shook his head. We just saw him at that traffic accident a few weeks ago.

Leon sighed. Ya.

We never know God’s plan for us, Kayla nearly whispered, and her shoulders shuddered slightly, as though she was still trying to regain her composure.

Jamie nodded. We have to appreciate every day the Lord gives us.

Leon cleared his throat against another knot of emotion as his friends studied each other for a moment. What was wrong with him? Why was he so sensitive today? It wasn’t as though he hadn’t seen grief before—or two people in love.

He needed to change the subject before his emotions got the better of him in public.

Are you volunteering this week, Jamie?

"Ya. I’m on for Friday."

I am too. Leon folded his arms over his chest. He looked past Jamie, and his breath stalled in his lungs as his gaze landed on Susie Bontrager, his ex-girlfriend. They worshiped in different church districts, and he hadn’t seen her for a couple of years. Her eyes met his, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She gave him a little wave. He returned the gesture.

Susie was standing with her fiancé, Joshua Chupp. She looked up at him and said something, and then they both started walking toward Leon. The muscles in Leon’s shoulders tightened. Susie’s face was radiant with a bright smile, and she was as pretty as ever.

I’m going to take Kayla back to her family’s restaurant, Jamie said, yanking Leon from his thoughts. I’ll see you at the station on Friday.

Ya. Leon nodded at Kayla. Take care.

I’m sure I’ll see you at the restaurant soon. Kayla gave him a shy smile before taking Jamie’s hand and leaving with him through the crowd.

Leon. As Susie came close, her blue-green eyes sparkled in the midmorning sunlight. How are you?

"I’m gut." He smiled at her and then nodded at Josh, who returned the greeting.

You know Josh, right? Susie touched Josh’s arm.

Of course I do. Leon swallowed a chuckle. We were all in the same combined youth group when we were teenagers.

Right. I forgot that. Susie’s cheeks blushed, a pretty complement to the bright-red hair peeking out from under her prayer covering. We’re getting married in November.

Josh nodded. I’d heard that. Congratulations.

A man appeared beside Josh and touched his shoulder. Josh looked at Leon and then at Susie, as though he might be reluctant to leave them alone. Excuse me, he said before stepping away.

As Leon was drawn to Susie’s gorgeous eyes, regret slammed through him. Why had he let her slip through his fingers four years ago? "You look gut."

You do too. She smiled up at him, but then her smile faded. I was sorry to hear about Charlie. He was one of Josh’s cousins.

Leon grimaced. I didn’t know that. I’m sorry for Josh and his family.

"Danki. It was a shock. Charlie’s dat said it wasn’t even raining when it happened. The storm popped out of nowhere, completely unexpected. She clasped her hands together. Are you still volunteering with the fire department?"

"Ya. I volunteer one or two days every week."

I remember how much you loved it. Is that how you met Charlie?

"Ya. We saw each other on quite a few calls. I just saw him at the scene of an accident a couple of weeks ago."

Josh and I saw him at church on Sunday. I didn’t imagine we’d bury him today. You see someone one day, and then the Lord calls him home the next. Change can come in an instant.

"Ya."

And then only silence passed between them as they stared at each other for a moment. He longed to know what she was thinking. Was she remembering their time together as boyfriend and girlfriend? Did she ever miss him? Why, after all these years, did he suddenly feel this rush of attraction toward his ex-girlfriend—especially when she was engaged to someone else?

I was wondering if I could ask you a favor. I’ve been planning to get in touch with you. Susie’s words crashed through his thoughts.

Sure. He folded his arms over his black vest and white shirt. What do you need?

"Mei mammi left me two rocking chairs. Do you remember them? They were always in our schtupp."

"Ya, I remember them. I sat in them quite a few times." Susie had been so close to her grandmother.