Sewn with Joy (44 page)

Joy fought with worry deep inside. She could see from Matthew's eyes that he meant what he said, but she didn't want to hope too much. She wasn't sure she could take getting hurt again.

“And your parents?” It was the question that worried her the most. “What do they think?”

“I've already talked to them. They're beginning to understand.”

She stood there quietly, trying to take in his words. He watched her for a moment before again reaching into his jacket pocket.

“I have something for you. I was going to wait until tomorrow, on Christmas, to give you this, but it couldn't wait.” His hand held a small wooden disk, and he extended it to her. It was a tree circle, sanded down and stained so the natural colors of the rings came through.

“If someday you're willing to marry me, Joy, know that I will
do my best to love you in the thin spaces as I do through the thick ones.”

“Through thick or thin. I heard that at an
Englisch
wedding once.”

“
Ja
, I've heard the phrase before too.”

She sighed. “It means more to me now. Just like a tree, we will know hard years and plentiful ones. And being committed to both will carry us through. And yes, Matthew. I will marry you. I long to be your wife, almost as much as I long to draw close to God.”

Matthew extended his hand, and Joy placed her hand in his. His skin felt warm, and her breaths quickened as he squeezed.

Then, without warning, Matthew pulled her into his arms, and placed upon her lips the softest kiss. It was a kiss of forgiveness, of love, and of hope. That was where she wanted to stay forever—with Matthew, in his arms. And now she knew for certain—that was also exactly where he wanted her to be.

Epilogue

Christians never meet for the last time.

A
MISH PROVERB

A
licia stood at the doorway of the warehouse, looking at the space that was nearly empty. All the props had been packed up and stored in Sarasota somewhere. They'd all worked hard. They'd done their best, and now it was up to the viewers. If the show got good ratings and the network approved a second season, then they'd be back. She liked the idea of that. She looked forward to working with Rowan on this very set. She always loved working with her husband, which is now what she called him again.

Alicia also especially looked forward to spending more time with Joy. She'd purchased a gift for her and dropped it off—a cell phone.

“You don't have to use it for anyone but me,” Alicia had told her, “but I need to be able to talk to you, Joy. I need to be able to hear your voice and have someone speak some sense into me when all the Hollywood voices fill my head.” Thankfully, Joy agreed.

Alicia heard a car park outside, and she knew it was there to take her to the airport. Rowan's assistant had arranged for her luggage to be picked up, and then her. He'd gone ahead to his next job, and she couldn't wait to join him in Canada, despite the cold there.

She'd said her good-byes to Joy last night, but still she hesitated. She'd discovered so much in Pinecraft. She'd discovered so much about herself and about friendship. Mostly, she'd discovered so much about God.

Finally, Alicia brushed a strand of hair back from her forehead and took a deep breath, heading out. She had nearly reached the car when she noticed someone hurrying her direction. It was an Amish woman. It was Joy!

Alicia moved in her direction. She laughed when she noticed Joy carried a big bundle in her arms.

Joy paused right before Alicia, panting. “I have something for you. I know you have to go, but I don't want you to go without this.” Then, without hesitating, Joy pulled a large quilt from the bag.

Alicia gasped. It was one of the most colorful quilts she'd ever seen, with blues, purples, and reds designed in an intricate checkered pattern. She ran her fingers over the design, now understanding how much work had gone into this. “Oh, my goodness. It's so beautiful!”

“It's the one my Aunt Martha made.”

“It's yours? The one you kept on your bed? Oh no, Joy, I can't keep it.”

Joy shook her head, refusing to listen. She pushed the quilt into Alicia's hands. “It's mine, and I want to give it to you. I want you to remember me when you're gone. More than that, I want you to remember that God is stitching together every piece of your life.” Joy chuckled. “Besides, in Canada, I think you're going to need it far more than I need it in Pinecraft.”

Alicia didn't know what to say, and so she did the only thing she knew to do. She gently set the quilt on the backseat of the car and then pulled Joy into an embrace. And with her friend in her arms she said a silent prayer of thanksgiving and hope. Her future
was different because of this friend, and Alicia hoped someday her story would bring hope to the lives of many others too.

Somehow she knew it would. God had brought her this far, and He would see her through to the end.

Reader's Guide

1. What did you find unique about Pinecraft, Florida? What surprised you about the setting?

2. What are the specific themes in
Sewn with Joy
? What did you take away as a reader?

3. In what ways did you relate to Joy? Does she remind you of yourself or someone you know? If so, how?

4. Alicia's pain and struggles are revealed more as the book goes on. How do you feel about the struggles she faced? Do you think they are true to life?

5.
Sewn with Joy
gives glimpses of the characters from
Made with Love
and
Planted with Hope
. In what ways are the sisters different? How are they the same?

6. How well do you feel the Amish community is represented in this book? Did you learn anything new about the Amish?

7. Who is your favorite character in the novel? Why?

8. What do you appreciate about Joy and Matthew's relationship? Do you find it realistic? Why or why not?

9. What part of this novel most surprised you?

10. What did you learn about God's grace in this novel?

11. What recipe do you want to try?

12. What was your favorite Amish proverb in the book? Why?

13. Who would you recommend this book to?

Made with Love

One

Keep your words soft and sweet in case you have to eat them.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

August 15

L
ovina Miller opened the refrigerator and slipped her mixing bowl and pie crust ingredients inside to chill.
Mem
had taught her that to get the best results one had to put in one's best efforts.
Mem
had also told her, more than once, to get her mind out of the kitchen and be sociable for a change. It wasn't as if Lovina didn't enjoy attending the volleyball games and the church events where bachelors could be found…it was just that she had her mind on other things. On a pie shop. Of her own.

The kitchen window was open. A breeze blew in, ruffling the red and white checkered curtains—one of the few things that had moved with them from Ohio to Pinecraft, Florida.

The breeze wasn't hot and sticky like most mornings this time
of year, and she was thankful. Instead, the southerly wind carried in salty air and the scent of flowers. It smelled of rain too. And maybe of promise? Lovina liked to think so.

She closed the refrigerator door and looked at the six empty glass pie plates on the counter ready to be filled with crusts. Making the crusts was her favorite part, and filling them was a close second. But today they'd have to wait. She had an important assignment. Something inside her said not to dawdle. Could it be the Spirit of God that her grandma used to talk about? Did He really place dreams in the hearts of men and women like Grandma always said? Lovina would do anything to know. It would help her make sense of her inner urgency. The urgency telling her that today baking pies could wait.

The street outside their house was empty except for a gray stray cat that strolled just beyond their white picket fence, striding as if she owned the place.

Pinecraft was a favorite vacation destination for Amish and Mennonites during the winter. In August it was nearly empty except for the hundred or so full-time residents. There was no way Lovina could have a pie shop open by Thanksgiving when the first tourist buses rolled into town, was there? Her mind told her no, but something in her heart told her she needed to keep praying, keep looking, keep dreaming.

A shuffling sounded behind Lovina. One of her sisters was also awake. The loud yawn told her it was Hope.

Lovina turned to see her sister in Amish dress and
kapp
, with her hair mostly tucked in. Hope was always in too great a hurry to get outdoors to worry about spending time smoothing down her unruly strawberry blonde hair. Much to
Mem
's chagrin. This morning a few strands of fine, reddish blonde hair slipped from the bobby pins under her
kapp
and framed her face.

Hope moved to the window over the stainless steel sink, closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Oh, Lovina, do you smell the gardenias this morning? They are lovely.”

Lovina sniffed the air again. “Is that the flowery scent on the breeze?”

“Ja.” Hope chuckled. “Those small white flowers on the bush with the dark green leaves are gardenias…like the name of our street.”

Lovina nodded. “It is lovely, but not quite as good as the aroma of a pie fresh from the oven.”

Hope tucked a strand of hair back into her kapp and took out a paper bag, packing a sandwich she'd made the night before and some fruit for her outing. She shrugged. “To each her own.”

Lovina's mind turned back to the crusts. She'd been craving lemon meringue for a while, and
Dat
always enjoyed cherry. She opened the door to the small pantry and pulled out a jar of cherry filling. She tried not to compare the pantry to the cellar back in Ohio. She could nearly get lost among all the bins and shelves of jars as a girl. She brushed the top of the jar with her finger, brushing away the dust.