Free Following Your Heart by Jerry S. Eicher

own good time,” Daett said. “It does for all of us. We can never be other than what we are meant to be. But I do wish you had settled this matter about leaving again before you returned.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t say that,” Mamm spoke up. “Susan is home now, and that’s gut enough for me.”
    â€œI’m afraid he’s right,” Susan said, a catch in her voice. It was true, and it might as well be said. Perhaps this was not the best morning to be saying such things, but broken hearts seem to spill things out easier than whole ones.
    â€œThen there’s the matter between you and Thomas, which is far from settled,” Daett continued, still not done with his lecture.
    â€œIt’s settled as far as I am concerned,” Susan responded. “I want nothing to do with Thomas.”
    â€œI am sorry to hear that,” Daett said. “I was hoping you would get things worked out. I am not that young anymore, and I really do need help on the farm. Mamm and I should have started building a dawdy haus this fall already.”
    â€œSo you want me marrying someone I don’t love?” Susan asked.
    â€œ Ach , you love Thomas well enough,” Mamm interrupted before Daett could answer. “It’s just your broken heart needs time to mend. You are getting things mightily confused, Susan. That’s what I say.”
    â€œThomas fell in love with Eunice, with my best friend,” Susan said. “Tell me why I should trust him again.”
    Mamm didn’t answer, and Susan looked down to see Samuel staring up at her with wide-open eyes. She had to keep her voice down or the baby would start bawling. That was all they needed when they pulled into Deacon Ray’s front yard. How ironic that church was at his place today. Well, it served him right. He had kept Teresa away, and so they show up with her baby. Let him chew on that grass blade for a while.
    â€œSometimes we have to make the choice that is the right one,” Daett was saying. “Even when our hearts are hurting and wanting something else. I don’t know what all you learned out there in the Englisha world, Susan, but it couldn’t all be gut . I advise you to forget anything you were told and submit to the ways of our people.”
    â€œAnd take Thomas back just like that?” she asked. “Even when he’s got his heart set on Eunice?”
    â€œYou’re wrong on that point, Susan,” Mamm said. “The boy looks about as loyal as they come.”
    â€œYou say that because you want to see me married off!” Susan shot back. “That’s why you can’t see what’s in front of your own eyes. He was kissing Eunice! The boy is not fit for me.”
    â€œWe should not think too highly of ourselves,” Daett scolded. “I’m afraid for the thoughts that sometimes come out of your mouth, Susan. They speak of pride and self-exaltation. Thomas would make a gut husband for you.”
    â€œI’m not changing my mind,” Susan said. “And as for leaving again, I’ll have to see what happens. The way people are treating Teresa isn’t helping much. Everyone ought to be ashamed of themselves.”
    Mamm turned around in her seat. “Look, Susan,” she said, “you have to hold that tongue of yours. I know how much you like your friend, and I know some of what you went through to bring her here. My heart goes out to you and to Teresa. But that is not what everyone else is seeing. They are seeing only Samuel and wondering about a young woman who shows up with a baby but no husband. They’re piecing together why she’s alone.”
    â€œ Yah , and that’s wrong of them,” Susan said. “At least in the Englisha world people give girls like Teresa a second chance. They don’t judge her harshly.”
    â€œ Ach , so now comes your praise for the Englisha world,” Daett said. “I can only hope