A Life of Joy Read Online Free PDF

to surprise him. Please don’t tell him, okay?”
    “I won’t. I’ll leave that up to you.” Lindsay frowned while imagining how Jake would take the news of Jessica’s plans to go to New York.
    Jessica had shared with Lindsay that Jake wasn’t thrilled when Jessica accepted a scholarship to a college in Virginia instead of going to a school near Lancaster County. He would probably be even more disappointed to hear that she was traveling to New York City and not spending the summer working in the furniture store with him.
    “I can’t wait to see you!” Jessica said. “It’s been too long. I bet Emma and Junior are big now, huh?”
    “Yeah. They’ve grown like weeds.”
    “Give them a hug and kiss for me and tell them that their favorite cousin is coming to see them.”
    “I will,” Lindsay said.
    “Oh, hang on a minute,” Jessica said.
    Lindsay heard muffled voices and then Jessica spoke again.
    “Hey, I gotta go, but I’ll see you Friday, okay?” Jessica said. “Love you, sis.”
    “Love you too,” Lindsay said before the dial tone sang in her ear. She stepped out of the phone shanty and found that darkness had descended on the farm.
    With the flashlight in her hand, she started across the driveway. The buggy was gone, and she assumed Matthew and Samuel were on their way back to their homes, which were located a few miles away.
    Lindsay climbed the porch steps while the conversation with her sister replayed in her mind. Jessica was going to break her promise to Lindsay, the rest of the Kauffman family, and Jake Miller and go to New York City for the summer. The idea seemed crazy and courageous all at the same time. Lindsay was disappointed in Jessica, but also a tiny bit jealous. And she knew the root of that jealousy—Lindsay would never be brave enough to leave home and travel to a big city. While she didn’t understand her sister’s priorities, she envied her confidence and bravery.
    However, what bothered Lindsay most was that the news would most likely break Jake’s heart. She absently wondered just how much longer Jake would wait for her older sister.
    She entered the kitchen, and Rebecca and Daniel looked up from the table, each with a concerned expression.
    “ Was iss letz ?” Daniel asked.
    “I had a message from Jessica, so I called her back.” Lindsay joined them at the table.
    “Is she okay?” Rebecca asked.
    “She’s fine.” Lindsay cleared her throat while choosing her words. “But she’s not coming here for the summer.”
    “Oh?” Daniel looked confused. “Why not?”
    “She’s going to New York City next week to begin a summer internship with some big accounting firm.”
    “What?” Rebecca asked with a gasp before exchanging a shocked expression with Daniel.
    “She’s going to stop here on her way up to New York. She’ll be here Friday night.” Lindsay met Daniel’s gaze. “She asked us to not tell Jake. She wants to share the news with him herself.”
    Daniel nodded. “I understand. It’s best if he hears this news from Jessica.”
    Lindsay turned to Rebecca. “She and I are so different. I can’t imagine picking up and moving to New York like that. I mean, she’ll be staying with friends, but still. That’s so … brave.”
    Rebecca touched her hand. “You’re very brave in other ways.”
    “God created us all differently, Lindsay,” Daniel said. “Don’t compare yourself to Jessica. What’s right for her isn’t necessarily right for you.”
    “You’re right,” Lindsay agreed.
    Daniel stood. “Well, it’s getting late. We better be off to bed.”
    Rebecca stayed in her seat and continued to write on her notepad. “I need to plan a big meal for Friday if Jessica is coming. And I’ll have to do some extra cleaning.”
    “I’ll stay home and help you,” Lindsay said.
    “No, no,” Rebecca said. “I can handle it.”
    “Don’t be gegisch , Becky,” Daniel said. “I know you’ve been tired lately. We’ll all pitch