Free Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) by Jerry S. Eicher Page A

Crystal. I’m home, and you know what home is to me. Why have you come?”
    “Alvin… ” She reached out and touched his arm. “Please, Alvin. Let me explain.”
    He drew back. “Explain what? There’s nothing to explain. It’s over between us. I have no more feelings for you.”
    Her voice was soft. “I know that, Alvin. And that’s why I’ve come tonight. I respect you. I wanted you to know that I’m not here for that.”
    “Then why are you here?” His voice sounded unnecessarily harsh, but he couldn’t help it.
    “I wanted to see where you came from, I guess. What kind of world produced a good man like you.” Crystal’s expression was intense.
    “Crystal, please. Your being here isn’t going to work. There are too many questions that will come up. You can’t just come here without expecting to cause problems. People will talk.”
    She held out her hands. “But I haven’t done anything, Alvin. I went to church with your deacon and his wife this morning. I did that after asking around in Beaver Springs and being directed to the deacon’s residence. I told them I had family in the area and wished to visit an Amish church. And the Amish people couldn’t have been nicer! I was shocked that after the service you raced outside and left without speaking to me. That’s when I decided I’d better look you up to make sure you understood I wasn’t here just to see you.”
    “Deacon Mast told you where I live?” Alvin choked out.
    Crystal paused for a moment. “Yes. Was that bad? I was visiting family and was curious about your community. That’s all.”
    There were a dozen things wrong with this situation, Alvin thought. Among those was what Debbie would think. And what the ministry would do when they discussed Crystal. On top of that, he had to deal with his daett on the subject now. “Your presence complicates everything, Crystal.”
    “I see.” She seemed deeply hurt. “I meant no harm, Alvin. But you know how life is out there. Do you blame me for coming here? I’m looking for something better. Is that wrong?”
    Alvin took Crystal’s hand. “I don’t blame you, and I’m sorry for my outburst. But it’s better if you leave and go back to where you came from.”
    Pain showed on her face. “Did you have to change this much, Alvin?”
    “You can’t stay, Crystal. It’s that simple.” He forced out the words.
    “I’m making it uncomfortable for you. I didn’t mean for that to happen.” She began to tear up.
    Alvin was at a loss.
    Crystal continued. “So you won’t help me? No one here will help me?”
    Alvin glanced up at the sky for a moment. He reached out and took her hand. “Come, Crystal. I want you to meet my parents. I will leave this situation in Da Hah ’s hands.”

Nine

    A lvin awoke in the morning darkness to the jangle of the alarm clock. He gave the clock on the dresser a whack. That didn’t stop its racket, so he groped until his thumb found the shut-off button. He felt on the floor for his clothing and noted his head was throbbing. He had a splitting headache, which explained why he’d slept until the alarm went off. Normally he was up a few minutes before… if not sooner.
    Alvin stood and shook his head as the memory of last night flashed into his mind. Crystal Meyers had paid him a visit, and he had introduced her to his parents. Those brief moments had been awkward but necessary. The gesture had seemed the least he could do. They’d walked in and Alvin noticed the astonished look on his daett ’s face. Alvin had taken Crystal up to the rocker where his mamm sat.
    “ Mamm , this is Crystal. Crystal, this is my mamm , Helen. She had a stroke earlier in the year and is still struggling with the effects.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Knepp,” Crystal said, reaching down to shake Helen’s hand.
    “ Gut evening.”
    Mamm appeared to not comprehend what was going on, but this whole situation was incomprehensible, Alvin thought.
    When they turned to