Joanna's Amish Inheritance

By Sarah Amberson

Joanna thought that inheriting her aunt's home in the Amish town would only be a case of signing papers and forgetting about it...Forgetting about the town just as her mother did years ago. But she finds out that the house still needs work and the bakery her aunt owned still employs numerous people.

Joanna wants to just sell the assets and get out of the town...but she begins to experience growth in herself that she didn't anticipate. Surrounded by happiness, her former life beckons as her friends and ex-boyfriend beg for her to come back...but a budding romance with one of the bakery employees is pulling at her heart to stay. Will becoming Amish be the thing that Joanna has been needing all her life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201581763

Book preview

JOANNA’S AMISH INHERITANCE

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SARAH AMBERSON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

JOANNA’S AMISH INHERITANCE

SWEETLY AMISH

UNDER THE AMISH TREES

THE AMISH ENGAGEMENT

TEARS OF AN AMISH WIDOW

Joanna tapped her foot nervously. She wasn’t really nervous about this meeting, but more so about getting back home.

She didn’t want to be here, out in Michigan in the middle of nowhere. Everything here was a painful memory of her mother, her mother who had barely been a part of her life and now was dead.

The thought made Joanna’s heart squeeze. She had somehow always assumed that she would make things up with her mother, that they would have time to resolve their issues.

But the phone call she had received two months ago had changed all that. Her mother had passed away in a deadly car crash, leaving Joanna behind forever.

And here she was. The house that her aunt had left to her mother nearly six years ago had been at the back of Joanna’s mind. She never would have thought her mother would leave it to her. There were others in her life that she’d been closer with that probably would have been better suited to living here.

If her mother had passed on the house with the intentions of keeping it in the family or for Joanna to make things right, there was no way that was going to happen. She was going to sell it as soon as she possibly could and then be back on her way to New York, where she belonged.

She had never even met her aunt. She wondered what had made her aunt become Amish. Everything she knew about the Amish did not make her want to join the community. She couldn’t imagine life with out TV and parties, and going out on the town with friends.

The lawyer came back into the room with a clipboard of papers. Okay, Joanna, here are the papers that need to be signed for both the house and the bakery.

The bakery? Joanna asked.

Yes, it was part of your mother’s estate. Now, at this moment, the assets are under temporary control of an ummm... oh, Andrew Yoder. He has been responsible for looking after the properties while your mother was absent.

You mean since she got the properties? Joanna asked with a scoff.

Yes. That would be right. The lawyer slid the papers across the smooth desk to her. She picked up the metal pen and dropped signatures on all of the dotted lines that the lawyer pointed to.

Is that all? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I wanted to ask how soon I can sell both the house and the, uh, bakery.

You want to sell them? You know, the bakery brings in a fair amount of income which will be transferred to your account each month.

The bakery is still running? For some reason, Joanna was surprised. She had expected the places to be two dilapidated buildings, ready to exchange to a new owner who actually wanted to be here and care for them.

Yes, it is. Look, you can’t sell either of these for at least a few weeks until the paperwork is completely finished. And to be honest, I think that you should really consider talking with Andrew. He will be able to tell you what work these estates will need before they will be able to be sold at a reasonable price.

What if I sold them as they are? Joanna wanted to go back to New York and leave the properties that were a part of her past there, in her past. She really didn’t want to get involved in some big project right now.

For the house I honestly don’t think anyone would purchase it from you. It still needs a lot of work. Here are the appraisal papers. The Lawyer handed her a yellow manila folder full of papers. Go down to the town, take a look around and talk with Andrew. I am sure he will be able to answer any questions you might have and put your doubts to rest. And the bakery has made a good deal of money already. There is enough in that account to keep you going for years so you might want to reconsider selling it.

Joanna nodded and sighed. Thank you for your help. Hopefully, I’ll be back sooner rather than later to transfer ownership to someone else. I’m not sure I’m cut out to run a bakery even if it does earn good money.

Joanna stood and gathered all the papers she had been given. She paused outside the lawyer’s office. When she had read this was a small town, she hadn’t realized how small. She spotted several buggies and horses going down the street. She realized that this town was predominantly Amish.

She wondered if there would even be a taxi cab if she waited here. There were a few cars that came and went, but they were all personal cars, and none stopped to offer her help. She refused to stand holding her thumb out. That seemed preposterous to her.

After several moments of deliberation, she started to walk down the street towards the Amish community. It wasn’t hard to find. There was a big sign that pointed to it and many of the buggies were going in that direction.

Joanna was grateful that she had chosen to wear tennis shoes. Paired with her jeans and a too big t-shirt, it was not too uncomfortable to walk.

A vibrating in her pocket made her pull out her cellphone. Greg’s name flashed across the screen. She wanted to hang up and tuck the cellphone back in its place, but she knew that it would be no use and he would just call back again. So instead, she pressed the green ‘receive’ button and put the phone to her ear.

Greg, why are you calling again?

No need to be so hostile, I just want to know how you are. I heard about your mom. I tried to come see you, but you were never home. Greg sounded about as genuine as he ever had.

There was a reason that they had broken up and it hadn’t been because he was a perfect boyfriend.

Listen Greg, I appreciate you asking about me and checking up on me, but I’m fine. You’re not my boyfriend anymore so I don’t need to tell you where I am or how I am.

I know that, Joanna, but I’ve been thinking, maybe we made a mistake. Greg actually did sound sad this time.

Greg, please don’t start again. You are the one who made a mistake, not me and I am not about to help you fix it. The image of Greg kissing one of the girls that she had considered a friend came to mind and made her stomach churn. She tried to calm the anger that rose in her every time the image came up in her mind.

Come on, Joanna. Hoe many times do I have to apologize? You know that I regret what I did. I miss you and I want you back. Can’t you just give me one more chance?

Greg, I can’t hear you well. There’s not a lot of signal where I am, but listen to me carefully. You’ve apologized too many times, because I don’t believe a single word of them. Stop harping me about it. We are not getting back together and that’s final.

Aww come on. You wait and see... I’ll change your mind. Greg’s broken voice came through the little cellphone speaker. Joanna looked up. Large trees were on either side of her. There was no sign of cars, electric lines, or any other bit of modern cities. It was as if she had stepped into the past.

Greg, the signals really bad. Stop calling me, okay?

Before she could hear his response, she hung up the phone. She was tired of blowing Greg off and having to ignore his calls. Of course, she missed him. She did miss what they had shared once. The memories they had made together and the love they’d had for one another, or at least the illusion of it was something special.

She had considered getting back together with him several times, but those times were usually late at night when she was feeling depressed and alone. She had already wasted nearly two years of her life with him and she wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

She tucked her cellphone back into her pocket and smiled as the little Amish community came into view. The simple houses, with trimmed lawns and white picket fences looked as if they’d been plucked out of a movie and placed in the middle of nowhere.

There were the occasional people in the front of their homes or behind them working in the garden or fields. As Joanna passed one home, she saw a woman with two younger children sitting on the porch. They had bowls in front of them and appeared to be shelling peas.

At another house, there was a young man chopping wood. The sounds and the sights in this neighborhood were surreal. Everyone was so busy and in tune with the things around them. No one was sitting and texting on their cellphones, or listening to loud music while they partied.

She stopped at one home where a woman was in her front garden, picking cabbages.

Excuse me, Ma’am. Could you point me in the direction of the bakery? she asked, feeling self-conscious in her worldly clothing next to this woman. She was dressed in a long dress that hid all of her curves and left a lot to the imagination.

Nothing like Joanna’s jeans and t-shirt.

Of course, go right down this street about another five or so minutes. It will be on your left-hand side. It’s a rather large building, you can’t miss it. They have the best bread there. The woman gave her a warm smile that put Joanna at ease. Maybe she shouldn’t care what people thought of her or her dress. It seemed like this woman didn’t care anyway.

Thank you, Joanna gave a little wave and then continued on her way. True to the Amish woman’s words, the bakery was visible after a few more moments of walking.

Jonna hesitated at the door. What was she supposed to say? Did she just walk in and tell them that she was the new owner and wanted to shut the place down? She had a feeling that going about it like that wouldn’t go over well.

She needed to find Andrew Yoder. Then he would help her figure out how to break the news to everyone else. Armed with a plan, she squared her shoulders and stepped inside. The first thing she noticed was the delicious smell of fresh bread and pastries. Everywhere she looked there was bustling activity.

A young man who looked about her age stepped up to her. Good afternoon, miss. The name’s Andrew. Can I help you?

Andrew? Good, you were just the person I needed to see. Joanna forced a smile as she realized how her words must have sounded.

Really? I wasn’t aware that we had met before. Andrew was tall, with a square jaw and sparkling blue eyes. He had light blonde hair that fell in an unruly mess on top of his head.

I mean... I’m the new owner of this bakery as well as my aunt’s home. The lawyer said that I should talk to you as you are the one in charge of the places or something like that. Joanna felt suddenly nervous. Something that she hadn’t felt in front of a man in the longest time.

Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Andrew looked sympathetic.

That I’m the new owner? Joanna asked, trying to understand his condolences.

No, about your mother. I knew her. She mentioned she would be leaving the bakery and house to her daughter. I’m assuming that if it’s been left to you that she has died. That’s sad. I didn’t get a chance to know her well as she only visited occasionally but she was a sweet woman.

Oh, Joanna felt silly for not understanding sooner. It’s all right. It was nearly two months ago.

Are you all right? It’s always hard to lose someone close to you.

"Yes, I’m all right. Thank you for asking. Joanne realized that it was the first time that someone had been truly worried about how she was in all of this. Most people said they were sorry for her loss, or asked what her mother had been doing in the last few years of her life.

Having this essential stranger ask about her wellbeing caused a warmth that Joanna wasn’t aware was even possible for her anymore.

So, tell me, what are you planning to do with the bakery? You should know that a lot of people support their families with the jobs they do here. Andrew didn’t sound angry or condescending. It was simply as if he were explaining something difficult to a small child.

I- I don’t really know how everything runs here. I have to be honest with you, Andrew. My plan was to sell it as soon as possible. Joanna felt guilty hearing the words come out of her mouth. If it bothered Andrew at all, he didn’t show it.

I know that you have a right to do whatever you’d like with the place. It is technically yours. But could I ask you for something?

Of course, Joanna felt a connection as well as a sense of debt to this young man for all the work he’d put into this bakery which wasn’t even his.

Will you give it one month? Let me show you around the place, show you how it works and show you your aunt’s home. You may change your mind.

Joanna felt uncertain. She doubted that she would change her mind, but even if it was possible, did she want to? She thought of New York and the bustling busy everyday life that awaited her when she went back. Maybe some time out here to slow down would do her some good before returning.

I- I suppose I could do that. I think a vacation from the city might do me some good. I’ve been running and running and sometimes I forget to stop and look around, she said wistfully.

"That’s great! You know, for a second there I thought you