Free Simple Choices by Nancy Mehl

word.”
    He stared at the table for a few moments. “You know what? I tend to agree with you. Pat doesn’t know Harmony the way we do. I realize Hannah saw something in Wichita that excited her, but to throw away everything she’s believed in her entire life and leave this place and her parents behind? It’s very hard to accept.”
    I sighed with relief. “Thank God someone believes me. But what can we do?”
    “I don’t know. Let’s wait until Pat goes over to the Muellers’ house. Maybe he’ll find something helpful that will point him in the right direction. In the meantime, what was the name of that boy Hannah likes?”
    “Jonathan Vogler.”
    “Aren’t they that Old Order family that lives right outside of town?”
    I nodded. “Ida said they just recently started going to Bethel. I’ve seen them, but I don’t know them at all.”
    “I think I’ll check up on him,” Sam said. “See if he knows anything.”
    “Great. Can I come with you?”
    “Well, I don’t mean right this minute, Grace. But I will try to find out what I can as soon as possible. Besides, don’t you need to hang around here and wait for your parents?”
    I put my hand on the side of my face. “Yikes! My parents. I almost forgot.” As realization dawned, a feeling of dread filled me. “Oh Sam, I promised my mom and dad that Harmony had changed. They think they’re coming to a wonderful, peaceful town. Instead they’re coming to a place full of anger—and most of it’s directed at me.”
    “Grace, Harmony is
not
full of anger. For crying out loud, just because Emily’s blaming you for the way Hannah’s acting, it doesn’t mean five hundred people are in some kind of uncontrolled frenzy.”
    His frustration made me realize I’d blown the situation out of proportion. “You’re right. I’m just so anxious for this homecoming to go well. You know my parents wanted us to have the wedding in Fairbury. They were both reluctant to come back to Harmony. They only agreed because of me. If they get here and everything is messed up … Well, it just can’t happen, that’s all.” I blinked back tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks again.
    Sam reached over and put his hand under my chin. “We need to pray for Hannah, and we need to pray over your parents’ trip. Then you need to trust God and stop worrying, okay?”
    I nodded. Sam removed his hand from my face and took my hands in his. We prayed for several minutes. When we finished, I felt better.
    “Why do I keep forgetting that God doesn’t want me to worry or fret about anything?” I smiled at Sam. “I’m so thankful I have you to get on my case when I start trying to do God’s job for Him.”
    Sam stood to his feet and pulled me up with him. “Keeping you straightened out is my cross to bear, I guess.”
    I laughed. “Poor boy. Do you think you can handle it?”
    He put his arms around me. “I’m a pretty determined fellow, willing to spend the rest of our lives finding out.”
    His warm breath on the back of my neck made me shiver, and I playfully pushed him away. “I need to clean up the kitchen and get ready for my folks. My dad said he’d call me before they left, and I haven’t heard a word. I’m guessing he forgot. I have no idea when they’ll show up.”
    “I’ve got some apple picking to do. I could come back when I’m done and wait with you.”
    “Oh that would be wonderful. That way I can introduce you to my folks when they arrive. And I wouldn’t have to sit here by myself.”
    “Sounds good.” Sam started to walk out of the kitchen, but at the doorway he stopped. Then he turned and frowned at me. “Do I have your word that you won’t spend your time worrying about Hannah?”
    I held my right hand up as if swearing an oath. “I promise.”
    I followed him out to the front porch and waved good-bye as he drove away. The rising sun spread its colors across the awakening sky with blues, pinks, and oranges. I stared out across the