Amish Going Home

By Erica Fanning

 Lovina Miller has more than her share of problems. Entering into the Englisch world, she runs back to her Amish roots when her boyfriend becomes violently possessive. Once she returns to her hometown, she tries to make amends with Abraham. Abraham is the hard-working Amish man who is married to his work in a store. And that's the only long-term relationship he ever saw for himself. Until Lovina returned and reminded him jokingly of a childhood promise. That they would get married...Having endured his own hurts, can Abraham find a way to mend their broken hearts and keep Lovina safe from the dangerous Englischer that seeks to do her harm?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201075590

Book preview

AMISH GOING HOME

ERICA FANNING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMISH GOING HOME

THE AMISH PROMISE

KAYLA

A BROKEN AMISH HEART

AN AMISH FRIENDSHIP

SUSAN’S RUMSPRINGA

THEIR AMISH LOVE

MY AMISH ROOTS

Lovina Miller walked to her car after a long day at work. Working in corporate America had its perks, like working a regular schedule; but it certainly also came with its downfalls, like sitting in traffic for an hour when it should only take 20 minutes to get home. Today, Lovina didn’t really mind the traffic. It was Friday and that meant that she had the whole weekend to relax before starting everything over again on Monday.

Before driving, Lovina checked her cell phone for any missed messages. There was one from Justin Verne, her ex-boyfriend.

Can I come over tonight?

The answer, of course, was no. The last time Justin was in the same vicinity as Lovina, she left with bruises on her face and arms. She wasn’t about to let him near her. She was too afraid to tell him that, even through text, so she went with a slightly different answer.

Hey, I just got off and it’s been a long week. Maybe some other time.

Before Lovina had locked her phone, a response came through.

You work the same hours all the time. It couldn’t possibly be that stressful. I’ll be over around 8.

The indirect approach didn’t seem to be working, so Lovina changed her tactic.

Look, I just don’t want to see you anymore. We broke up for a reason and I’d like to keep that distance between us.

At this point, Lovina knew it was best to wait until Justin responded before driving.

We didn’t break up. YOU dumped ME.

You’re right, Lovina replied. I did, and there’s still a reason I did that and I don’t want to see you. If you come over tonight I WILL call the cops.

Lovina wasn’t sure she’d actually be able to deliver on calling the police if Justin showed up and she hoped he didn’t see through that bluff, but regardless, he stopped responding and she finally put her phone down and put her car in gear.

No matter what happened, she was still glad to be going home for the weekend.

Lovina pulled into her driveway and a shot of panic ran through her. Justin’s car was there. Her first instinct said to call the cops, but she reasoned her way out of calling them by thinking that maybe she should talk to him. Maybe Justin had changed. Lovina knew she certainly had.

Lovina walked into her house and set her keys in the bowl by the door.

Hello? Lovina waited for a response but didn’t hear one. Just to be certain, she looked back at the visiting car in the driveway. From what she could see, there was no one in the car.

Where is Justin?

Lovina felt as though every fiber of her being was on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Hey.

Lovina swiveled her head toward the voice and saw Justin standing in the living room with a beer in his hand. The smirk on his face and the malicious intent in his eyes told Lovina that was not the first beer he’d had.

Everything inside Lovina told her to get out of the house immediately, but she didn’t know where else to go.

Call the cops! Get out of town! Do SOMETHING!

I thought I told you I didn’t want you to come over. Lovina went with a more civil way of defusing the problem in the hopes that it would work.

Well, you should’ve taken your key back when you left me. Justin raised the keychain up that Lovina had given him a few years before when they had first started dating and she inwardly groaned.

Lovina’s relationship with Justin hadn’t always been so bad. In fact, he was one of the nicest men that Lovina had met outside of the men in her Amish community many years before. It was just when Lovina had given up hope for there being any nice guys in the English world that Justin showed up. For the first year of their relationship, everything had been great and very sweet.

The change seemed to be overnight. Justin started drinking, then he started to verbally abuse her and call her names. Pretty soon, he was beating her and forcing her to do things she didn’t want to do. Lovina hated the fact that she hadn’t left sooner, but when she had finally had enough, she left without another word. Justin didn’t pursue her and until this day, Lovina hadn’t heard from him.

Now he stood in her living room and the only thing she could think about was why she didn’t break off the relationship when he started drinking. Even though drinking wasn’t necessarily taboo in her Amish community, she saw what it did to people and had promised herself that she would never be in a relationship with someone that drank.

In a flash, Justin closed the distance between him and Lovina. By the time she realized what was happening and made a move toward the door, it was too late and his hand was holding it shut.

It’s been three months. Let’s talk.

Lovina felt helpless. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew that she couldn’t stay there another second. Without really thinking, Lovina grabbed her keys and jabbed one of them up into Justin’s arm, removing it from holding the door shut. She hurriedly opened it and was halfway to her car before she heard him coming up behind her. Lovina pulled her phone out to dial 911, but Justin grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, causing her body to instantly drop to the ground.

Lovina hoped that one of the neighbors saw what was happening as Justin now stood over her and smiled.

Get in the house. His order sounded like a threat.

Tears stung Lovina’s eyes. This was not how she was going to live, she decided in that moment. As she stood, Lovina lunged at Justin. It didn’t really knock him over, but she was able to ricochet off his body just enough to get to her car before he registered what was happening. Lovina opened the door and got in the car, but wasn’t able to close the door before Justin reached in and grabbed her arm. That didn’t stop Lovina this time. She jammed the key in the ignition with her free hand and as soon as the car started, she threw the car into gear and took off, Justin still holding her the entire time.

Lovina wasn’t sure how fast she was going before Justin let go, but it was longer than she would have liked. She looked in her rearview mirror to see him standing. She could feel the hatred even from this far away.

Feeling unsafe, Lovina had the thought to head back to her Amish community. That was the only family she really had, and Justin didn’t know any of them or even where the community was located. It was as if auto-pilot had been kicked on in Lovina’s brain as she took a turn toward the highway and made her way back to the only place she had ever felt absolutely safe.

Abraham Fischer straightened the shelves of his store for the fourth time in an hour. Today had not been a busy day, but it was Friday evening and many people were winding down for the weekend. The community would be having a workday tomorrow, and many of the city-folk would be coming to assist. Abraham kept his opinions of the Englishers to himself, but he had always appreciated the help of those that came for workdays like the one they were about to have.

Many Englishers simply seemed nosy and more than once Abraham just wanted to tell them if they were so interested in the Plain lifestyle that they should just take it up. But lately they had been too busy on their technology to even pay attention to the world around them, especially more recently. Abraham wondered how many walls and timelines he had been added to that he had no knowledge of simply because the Plain communities didn’t use these devices.

Although Abraham wondered about these things from time to time, he never really fretted over it. His community was absolutely perfect, and the residents were simply required to love everybody, no matter what their differences were. Abraham many times had more in common with the Englishers than most of the residents anyway because he had chosen to stay single and find his purpose in his life’s work of running a store instead of in having a wife and family. Maybe one day he would have a family, but for today, Abraham was perfectly content remaining devoted to his work.

He had no sooner walked in when a face from the past walked in the door and turned to look at him.

Abraham, she said, with a hint of relief in her voice.

It was Lovina Miller.

Lovina moved toward Abraham, who swiftly put his arms out in a defensive stance before Lovina had a chance to hug him.

Wait, what are you doing here? How did you get in?

Abraham’s face and voice screamed confusion, but Lovina didn’t have the energy to tell him the whole story just now.

The door wasn’t locked. Why, are you supposed to be closed?

Yes. Abraham sighed and went to the door, locking it when he got there. I’m going to have to talk to Timothy about that.

He turned back to Lovina.

Again, I ask you: what are you doing here?

It’s kind of a long story and I don’t want to keep you.

I’ve got nothing better to do.

Lovina was confused and excited. Maybe he remembered. She wasn’t sure, but she needed a reason to stay away from Justin.

Do you remember that pact we made, 15 years ago?

Abraham got really quiet and looked away. After a moment, he looked up at her.

I never forgot.

Abraham was intrigued by the fact that the only woman he had truly loved was back in his life and that she remembered their pact. If Lovina was there, that meant that the pact was in effect and she needed help.

It’s times like these that I’m glad we made that pact, Lovina mentioned.

15 years ago, a young Lovina Miller and Abraham Fischer were best friends and anyone that knew them knew they were inseparable. Almost as a joke, Lovina made Abraham promise that no matter what happened, they would always protect each other, no matter what. No matter how far apart they were or what the situation was, they would always believe the best in each other and they would do everything in their power to bring the other person through to safety.

Abraham, I have to tell you the reason why I’m here.

Abraham nodded once then pointed out that he needed to close his shop for the night first. He sent Lovina to his house and finished what he was doing. Abraham wouldn’t have told Lovina this, but he also needed some time to think and process what had just happened. In the span of ten minutes, his world was suddenly flipped on its head and he needed to make sure this wasn’t a dream.

When he arrived at his home, Lovina had already made dinner for the two of them and was simply waiting for him to be seated. He washed his hands quickly and sat down at the table just as Lovina was sitting.

Abraham took a few bites of food before finally asking Lovina why she had returned after all this time. She put down her fork and knife and reached down for the napkin on her lap. She dabbed the corners of her mouth and then began to tell Abraham her story.

Lovina told Abraham about how she had met Justin, and how he had been good to her for a long time, but eventually he started to drink and became a different person. Lovina told Abraham about how she had convinced herself that the relationship she had with Justin was normal and she simply didn’t have a good grasp on relationships. Lovina told Abraham about how Justin had abused her and mistreated her, and finally Lovina told Abraham about that day when she had to physically drive away with him hanging onto her just to make it to the community safely.

Abraham slammed his fist on the table in anger. The last thing he wanted to hear was that some low-life hurt somebody he loved, but it was even worse because that person hurt Lovina.

That is unacceptable, Abraham whispered, trying to contain himself since it wasn’t Lovina that caused him to be upset. Lovina, why didn’t you reach out to me sooner?

Lovina had been crying during most of her story, but now she was fully weeping. Abraham moved around the table and took her in his arms. He patted the back of her head and simply held her for a while as she cried.

No matter what happens, I will protect you, Abraham promised.

Lovina spent half the night awake, wondering if Justin might find her.

Will he find the car? I shouldn’t have brought it all the way here! What if he comes in the middle of the night? What if he finds out how well I know Abraham? Will Abraham be in danger? I shouldn’t have come at all!

All night, the thoughts of doubt and fear swirled around in her head. When the morning light crept into the living room windows where Abraham had let her sleep, Lovina sighed heavily and decided to make breakfast for her and Abraham. Less than ten minutes later, Abraham was awake and in the kitchen.

Good morning, he said more cheerfully than she felt.

I hope so, Lovina replied. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.

Abraham’s face grew concerned.

Why not?

Because I’m scared. I don’t want to put you in danger because I’m here asking for help. What if Justin finds out where I am? What if he puts the whole community at risk? What if—?

Abraham grabbed Lovina gently by the shoulders and forced her to look at him.

"You will never put me in unnecessary danger. The thing about pacts is that they’re forever. This pact will never become void. I will do whatever I can to protect you. So... what can I do to help you?"

Just... be here for me. Lovina couldn’t think of anything else. Would it be too much to ask if I could stay here?

Abraham smiled.

Of course.

Lovina and Abraham didn’t need to talk about why that was necessary. Shortly after