The First Day of Summer - Amish Romance

By Hannah Miller

Anna's whole life is turned completely upside down in one afternoon. A year later, with a young daughter, she feels as if there is nothing in her life that can help her pick up the pieces. Joshua, an old friend of Anna's, steps back into the picture after a long absence, and helps her to see that life is not maybe as dark as it once was. 

As they rekindle a friendship that they both had thought was long gone, they begin to relive the history of their lives together, including what caused the shift in their relationship. Joshua reveals something about his past that greatly troubles and surprises Anna, and causes her to withdraw. Will she ever be able to face what he has told her, or will she have to end their relationship so soon after they rediscovered it? 

A standalone short story, with no cliff-hangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amish Romance Club
• Release date: Nov 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386504788

Book preview

The First Day of Summer

Chapter 1

W ell, it does indeed look like you will be parents, the doctor said with a wide smile on his face.

Anna and Micah grinned at each other and back at the doctor. Anna dabbed a handkerchief that she had sewn herself to dry her large, brown eyes, and Micah’s were a brighter green than they normally were.

Micah squeezed her shoulder.

Oh, I can’t believe it! Anna said, her face flushed and glowing beneath her ivory prayer cap. She clapped her hands together.

The warm sun filtered in through the windows, creating a comfortable and peaceful feeling in the room.

The doctor pulled up a chair and sat down beside the bench the couple sat upon. He drew a pair of eyeglasses from the pocket of his coat, and adjusted the stethoscope around his neck.

The baby seems healthy, and is growing at a good rate. You’re definitely where you should be for being about twelve weeks along.

When is the baby due? Micah asked.

Well, it appears that... the doctor flipped up a page on his clipboard. Ah, yes. December twenty-first, give or take a few days.

That’s very close to your birthday, Micah said to Anna, who nodded in reply.

We will need to get your next appointment set up, the doctor added as he got to his feet and walked to the calendar on the wall. It would be good for me to see you again at twenty-four weeks. Is that going to be okay?

Anna nodded. I’m sure that we can arrange for someone to bring us into the city.

You don’t have your own car? the doctor questioned.

Micah and Anna shook their heads. Micah appeared to be growing pale.

Anna assumed the news of being a father was still sinking in.

Hmm, that is quite interesting. I am unfamiliar with the customs of the Amish, he said. Well, as long as you are able to get back here for your appointment.

Don’t worry, we wouldn’t miss it for the –

Micah, who had been holding Anna’s hand, suddenly squeezed it so hard that she protested to the pressure.

Micah, I’m excited too, but –

His face was the color of broken egg shells, and his eyes bulged as he grasped the front of his shirt with his free hand.

Micah? Anna cried, grabbing his shoulder as he bent over. She felt dizzy; fear had replaced elation so quickly that she felt like a completely different person.

Micah! she shrieked when he didn’t reply.

He fell all the way to the floor, not even attempting to catch himself.

The doctor, who had his back turned and looking at the calendar, turned and rushed over to Micah who was lying on his side.

Anna began to sob, and leaned up against the wall behind her. She could not remember standing. She could not believe her eyes; her husband laid on the ground, unresponsive to the doctor or herself. Something was very wrong, and it clouded her mind with pure, uninhibited panic.

Somehow she found herself on the floor beside him as the doctor called out for