Love’s Journey Home Read Online Free PDF

thesis.”
    “Jah.” Something about her words told Annie there was more. Something that made Catherine
     even more nervous than the mere fact of the visit itself. Which was plenty. “Something
     you’ll do next year. What brings you now?”
    “It’s about the effects of living in a closed community.” Catherine opened the bag
     and pulled a chunky black thing from it. In the fading light, Annie struggled to make
     it out. “Also the effects of living in an Amish community and then leaving it.”
    “What is that?”
    Annie leaned forward.
    A camera. Her sister held a camera.
    “I want permission from the family to take photos. I want to illustrate my thesis
     with the photos. And then publish it.” Catherine held out the camera. “Touch it. It
     won’t bite.”
    “I don’t think…you’ll have to…” Annie shrank back, letting the camera dangle between
     them. “Luke will want to talk with the bishop.”
    “I know. That’s fine. I understand.” Catherine laid the camera on top of the bag.
     “In my spare time, I take photographs. It’s become my hobby, I guess you’d say. I
     want to be able to capture something here.”
    “Capture the memories you’ve missed and will miss.”
    “I’ve made my own memories. Don’t be sorry for me. Be happy. It was meant to be.”
    “What do you mean it was meant to be?”
    “Don’t you see? If I’d stayed here and married, some Plain man would be forced to
     stay with a fraa who could bear him no sons, no daughters. God had a plan for me too,
     and it couldn’t have been to stay here and doom some good man to a miserable, childless
     marriage. Don’t look so sad. I’m fine. And there’s more.”
    Annie shifted in her seat, wishing Emma were here. Emma would know how to handle this.
     More. More than the master’s degree and the doctor and the not being able to have
     children. It seemed impossible that there could be more.
    “I’m writing a memoir. It was Sheila—Doctor Baker’s—idea. She says it’ll help me to
     resolve unresolved issues. It’s already been accepted for publication. I wanted you
     and the family to know since it involves you.”
    “A memoir? What is a memoir?”
    “You don’t know? Of course, you don’t know.” Catherine laughed, but the sound had
     no joy in it. “There’s so much. A memoir is stories from a person’s life. His or her
     memories.”
    “Your memories?”
    “And by extension, your memories.”
    “You’re telling people about my life?” So this was it. Catherine had come not for
     the thesis, still a year away, but for this memoir. This sharing of their private
     lives. Who would care or find interest in her life? Who out there in the world cared?
     “About me?”
    “Yes. And Luke and Emma and Josiah and Mark and the twins.”
    Annie couldn’t fathom it. She felt stupid, but still she asked, “You’re telling the
     whole world, the Englisch world, about our family?”
    “Yes. Well, anyone who decides to buy a hardback book for twenty-four-ninety-five.”
     Catherine leaned forward in the chair, her gaze lifted as if searching for something.
     A crack of lightning sent a sliver of light zigzagging across the sky, brightening
     the room for a few seconds. Thunder rolled, a deep rumble that seemed to ripple from
     one horizon to the other. “And given the current fascination with the Amish way of
     life, I’m thinking that will be quite a lot of people.”
    A wail sounded from above. Loud and clear. Noah. Already. Annie despaired of him ever
     sleeping through the night.
    Annie rose. Catherine stood too.
    “I have to go up.”
    “I know.” Catherine touched Annie’s sleeve. “I’m sorry I was gone so long.”
    “Me too. I’m sorry you won’t be staying.”
    “I can’t.”
    “No, you can’t.”
    The sound of a horse whinnying mingled with the pounding of the rain. Annie turned
     to look toward the door. A sharp intake of air from Catherine told Annie her sister
     knew. She’d stayed