When Mercy Rains Read Online Free PDF

a reunion. I’m sure of it.”
    They rounded the final bend leading to the reception area, and Suzanne caught Alexa’s arm, guiding her away from the stream of others making their way to baggage claim. She looked into her daughter’s expectant face and feared her heart might break. Why hadn’t she told Alexa the truth years ago when she began asking about the big family living on a farm in Kansas? Her mother’s harsh command rang in her memory, stinging her anew. “I don’t care what you want, young lady. You will give up that baby to your cousins, and no one besides you and me will ever know what you did!” Suzanne hadn’t wanted to inflict pain on her precious girl, so she’d sidestepped Alexa’s questions rather than divulge the events surrounding her leave-taking.
    She’d always admired Alexa’s cheerful outlook and active imagination, seeing them as gifts even if she sometimes wished her daughter would ground herself more in reality. For years she’d carried a boatload of regrets, but thebiggest one at that moment was that she had not been completely honest with the most important person in her life. The truth would shatter Alexa.
    She gently squeezed Alexa’s elbow. “Honey, listen to me. I know how excited you are—how long you’ve wanted to meet your grandmother and uncle and aunts—but I don’t think you fully understand how the Mennonites live.”
    A sheepish grin climbed her cheek. “Actually, Mom, I know more than you know I know. I kind of researched Old Order Mennonites when I was in junior high.” She shrugged. “Curiosity …”
    Suzanne cringed. “Well, you still don’t know how my family lives. Please don’t be hurt if there isn’t—”
    Alexa’s gaze moved beyond Suzanne’s shoulder. She jerked loose of Suzanne’s light grasp and pointed. “Mom, look. That man over there has a sign with Zimmerman on it. Let’s go!” Without a moment’s pause, Alexa looped her arm through Suzanne’s elbow and headed for the waiting man.
    He wore the Sunday garb of Suzanne’s sect—white shirt buttoned to the collar and tucked into black trousers. A suit coat with no lapels hung open, revealing a sliver of navy-blue suspenders. The man appeared to search the crowd, but as Alexa and Suzanne approached, he pinned his focus fully on Suzanne. His gaze traveled from her face down the line of her simple sweater and matching cardigan, long skirt, and bottom four inches of her low-heeled slouch boots and then up again. His brow furrowed, but he appeared more puzzled than disapproving.
    He dropped the crude sign with its block-letter printed name into a nearby receptacle and took two steps toward them. “Suzy?”
    Alexa arched her eyebrows, her lips quirking into a teasing grin. “Suzy?”
    Suzanne gave her daughter a brief frown, then turned to the man. “I go by Suzanne now, but yes, I’m Suzanne Zimmerman.”
    The man’s puzzlement faded in an instant. He released a self-conscious chuckle. “I’ll try, but it’ll be pretty hard for me not to call you Suzy.”
    Only then did she notice the pale scar running from the outer corner of his left eye to his hairline, the result of a childhood encounter with the sharp barbon a neighbor’s wire fence. The entire fellowship had praised God for allowing the barb to miss his eye and leave his sight unaffected. A buzzing filled her head and her jaw slackened. “Clete?”
    He nodded, his blue eyes sparkling. “That’s right. Welcome home, Sis.”
    And then Suzanne found herself wrapped in her brother’s embrace. When she’d left, he’d been a gangly eleven-year-old, the top of his head barely reaching her chin. Now his chin pressed against her temple, and his firm hold spoke of a man’s strength.
    His deep voice—unfamiliar yet somehow known—filtered past the ringing in her ears. “It’s been a long time. Too long.” Did a hint of recrimination color his tone?
    Suzanne extracted herself and peered into her brother’s face. “I’m