Following Your Heart Read Free Page A

it helps that we never had a dishwasher in that dump of an apartment,” Teresa said. “Perhaps God was preparing me for this life, though I never scraped dishes clean before I washed them. Mom was different, you know.”
    â€œYes, I remember,” Susan said with a smile. “Have you written your mamm to let her know you and Samuel arrived safely?”
    â€œYesterday,” Teresa replied. “I mailed the letter to Laura’s address. I’m sure she’ll be kind enough to take it down to Mom.”
    The two girls worked together, moving between the sink and the kitchen table. Moments later Susan saw a frown flit across Teresa’s face. She stopped what she was doing and asked, “Is something wrong?”
    Teresa didn’t answer right away. Susan was ready to ask again when Teresa said, “Do your parents hate me? After all, I haven’t lived like they believe a person should. I have a son and I’m not married.”
    â€œOf course they don’t, Teresa!” Susan said. “Don’t even think such thoughts.”
    â€œI hope my being here doesn’t make trouble for them,” Teresa worried.
    â€œThey like you and little Samuel,” Susan said. “I know they’ll love you when they get to know you better. They’re wonderful people, and they don’t hate anyone, especially you.”
    â€œBut you talk about things…” Teresa’s voice drifted off.
    â€œThings that seem private to you? That’s one of the many things to get used to,” Susan said. “We keep few secrets—from each other or from the community.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œ Yah ,” Susan replied. “Are you sure you want that?”
    Teresa took a deep breath before speaking. “With all my heart I want it. Even more than you can imagine. I so want to get away from my old life. I want to find the peace I feel around here. I want to raise little Samuel to be a godly man and see him marry a wonderful Amish woman someday.”
    â€œThose are good things to want,” Susan said. “Just be aware that it’s going to be a long, hard road. That’s all I can say.”
    â€œYou keep saying that,” Teresa said. “But look where I’ve already come from. Was that easy?”
    â€œI guess not,” Susan admitted.
    â€œThen why should I expect this to be easy?” Teresa asked. “No, even if it’s hard, I’m going to live and die Amish from here on out.”

C HAPTER T WO

    S usan drove south on the graveled road with Teresa beside her. Their shawls were wrapped tight over their shoulders, with their kapps pulled forward on their heads. Like Mamm had said, the southern Indiana weather had given them a balmy winter day, but there was still a nip in the air. Susan offered more of the buggy blanket to Teresa, who smiled but didn’t pull the blanket any higher over her knees.
    Already Teresa looked like an Amish woman with her white kapp and apron dress Mamm had given her, her cheeks rosy from the wind.
    â€œI’m fine,” Teresa said when Susan continued looking at her. “I really am.”
    â€œWell, wrap yourself up if you get cold,” Susan said. “You’re not used to riding in a buggy in this kind of weather.”
    Teresa took a deep breath and pushed her kapp back. A moment later she gave Susan a quick glance, a question in her eyes. “Is this okay?” Teresa asked. “I don’t want to be inappropriate. But I do want to look around on my first real buggy ride since I’ve been here.”
    Susan laughed. “That’s fine, but don’t push the kapp back too far or it will blow off. And you will have to learn to look by turning your head instead of just moving your eyes.”
    Teresa looked astonished. “But then people will know when I’m looking at them,” she said.
    â€œIt’s called being Amish,” Susan said.