The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,95
gently put a finger to her lips. “Mei lieb, God had other plans for me. I have spent my entire life taking care of others. And it’s not a burden, but a blessing. I want to take care of you and Jonas. God’s plan was for me to fall in love with you, Katie Ann. And nothing would make me happier than living out my life with you and the two of us raising Jonas together.”
She looked deep into his eyes, silently begging for the Holy Spirit to guide her. Then she knew. “I will go anywhere to be with you, Eli. I love you.”
He smiled. “You don’t have to go anywhere, Katie Ann. I’m staying here.”
“But . . . I don’t understand. You said you could never leave your family.”
“It would hurt me deeply to have to leave all of them.”
She shook her head. “I would never ask you to do that, Eli, but I don’t understand.”
“Do you know how much an acre of land costs here compared to Middlefield?” He stroked his chin. “Much cheaper here.” He paused again. “And have you ever noticed how there isn’t a camera in your face everywhere you go here? Not nearly as many tourists. And there is plenty of room.”
Katie Ann’s eyes widened.
“You’ll be meeting most of your extended family this fall when they move to Canaan, a decision they made on their own. They want the freedom to spread out and grow here in Canaan—with us.”
Katie Ann threw her arms around him. “Eli! I love you so much. This is wonderful news! I can’t wait to meet everyone— Jake, Hannah, Ida Mae, Karen, Frieda, Maureen, and all their families and—”
Eli eased her away for a moment. He pushed back a strand of loose hair that had fallen across her face, then cupped her cheek. “They aren’t all coming.”
Katie Ann didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
“Maureen . . .” Eli lowered his eyes for a moment. “Maureen won’t be coming. Her husband has taken over his father’s blacksmith business, and he said they will be staying in Middlefield.”
She knew that Eli held a special place in his heart for his youngest daughter. “Ach, Eli, I—I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that you love me.” He pulled her close.
“I do. And we will visit Maureen often.” She pulled out of his embrace slowly. “Are you sure this is what you want, Eli?”
Then Eli did the unthinkable. He picked her up around the waist and swung her around until all the wildflowers molded into a blurred rainbow of sheer beauty. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”
Katie Ann saw Martha stomping across the meadow, lifting her white heels high as she walked. She wiggled free of Eli’s hold but could hardly contain herself as tears of joy poured down her cheeks.
“What in the world is going on out here?” Martha put her hands on her hips. “First I saw you crying, and now . . .” She grinned. “Are those happy tears?”
“Eli and I are getting married!” Katie Ann bounced on her toes.
Martha threw back her head and laughed. “Just had to go and steal my glory today, didn’tcha, honey?” Then she pulled Katie Ann into a tight hug. “I don’t know how I’m going to live without you here, though.”
Katie Ann had to pry herself from Martha’s embrace. “You don’t have to. Eli is staying here, and . . .” She smiled at Eli. “His family—all but his youngest daughter—are moving here.”
Martha looked at Eli, her eyes wide. Then she laughed. “That’s the best wedding present I could have asked for. This makes me very happy!” She kissed Katie Ann on the cheek and hugged Eli. “Now I have to go find my new husband before he starts missing me.” She turned to leave but then turned back around. “Just think of all the fun we’re going to have here in Canaan with such a big family.”
Katie Ann closed her eyes and thanked God for the wonder of His love. Then she kissed Eli on the mouth—right in front of Martha.
Martha shook her head, mumbling as she turned to head back toward the house. “Good grief. My wedding day, and I can’t even hold on to the spotlight.” She twisted her head around and winked at Katie Ann. “But you go, girl!”
Acknowledgments
THERE IS ALWAYS A MILD LEVEL OF ANXIETY WHEN I write my acknowledgments, for fear of forgetting someone. With each book, more and more people are involved in the process,