Miss Muffet was one of Amelia’s very special friends. They had gone to high school together in Toronto, and they’d stayed close ever since.
Muffet was a very dear friend of Amish romance author Anne Blackburne, and since Amelia was Amish romance author Patricia Johns’s editor, she and Muffet had kept a special connection. It was funny how life worked out.
Muffet loved travelling. She was known for travelling extensively with Anne. The two of them were quite adventurous–their latest trip being in a kayak! So it was a lovely surprise when Muffet came through Alberta to see Amelia’s new pollywog.
“She’s just beautiful, Amelia!” Muffet said.
“Thank you,” Amelia said proudly. “George and I are so happy. We’re very tired, of course, but very happy.”
“What is it like being a mother?” Muffet asked.
Amelia turned thoughtful. “It’s having a tiny person who didn’t exist outside of you a month ago, and all of a sudden you can’t seem to remember any time clearly before she was there. I can’t imagine anything without Brigette now.” But then she remembered who she was talking to. Muffet was the most adventurous friend Amelia had! She did it all–rock climbing, canoeing, paddle boarding, sky diving!
“Even though we haven’t gone further than the coffee shop!” Amelia added bashfully. “My entire life is wrapped up in our apartment now! And look at you–still the world traveller!”
“There’s a season for everything,” Muffet said softly. “And honestly, Amelia, you never know when your next adventure will come along, so you’d better rest while you can. Especially with a pollywog.”
“Do you think I still have adventures outside of our apartment?” Amelia asked.
“Of course!” Muffet replied. “They pop up when you least expect them. Don’t worry, Amelia. You’re just overtired from having a new baby.”
Amelia reached out and took Muffet’s hand. “I’m SO glad you came, Muffet.”
Somehow, Muffet always knew just the right thing to say.
Miss Muffet was only staying for a couple of days, and Amelia made sure to take some time out with her friend, just the girls.
“How is Anne Blackburne doing?” Amelia asked.
“Oh, she’s working hard as always,” Muffet said. “Things have been hard for her lately, but she’s an impressive woman. Such strength and dignity and heart… It shows in her writing, too.”
“Isn’t it funny how I’m working for Patricia Johns, and you travel with Anne Blackburne?” Amelia asked. “Patricia is working hard on a book right now. Listen…”
They were both silent, and from a distance Amelia could hear the clatter of a keyboard.
“Is that her writing?” Muffet asked.
“It sure is. This is going to be a terrific book. She’s been so wrapped up in it that she went to the grocery store in her slippers once, and then another time she completely forgot to make dinner. Luckily, I’d whipped up a batch of cabbage rolls, so everyone ate. But she’s very focused right now.”
“You sound like a good friend to her,” Muffet said.
“What would our authors do without us?” Amelia asked.
“I have no idea,” Muffet agreed seriously.
It was a noble task to care for an author, and Amelia and Muffet took it very seriously.
George was anxiously awaiting Amelia’s return from her visit with Muffet. He was glad Amelia had such good friends, but he had something he wanted to talk over with her. He had an opportunity. It was funny how everything could be hopping along normally, and then a chance like this one could drop in a frog’s lap.
When Amelia came in the front door, George called to her.
“Amelia! Come here!”
Amelia rushed into the dining room where he sat in front of his computer.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“First of all the bad new. I’m afraid my great-aunt Agatha died,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sorry, George!”
“I didn’t know her, and I’m sad I won’t get the opportunity now. Did you know that she owned a bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania?”
“I had no idea!” Amelia said.
“It’s called the Froggy Amish B&B,” he said. “And she’s left it to me.”
Amelia stared at George in shock. “To you?”
“The problem is, it needs someone to live there and run it,” George said. “And the lawyer who emailed me said that in order to inherit it, we’d have to move out there and run it ourselves.”
“Are you sure this isn’t a scam?” Amelia asked dubiously.
“I’m sure! I’ve double checked everything, and I even called my mother. It’s legitimate.”
“But what about your job?” Amelia asked.
George had had time to think this over while he waited for his wife to come back, and he’d thought it over from every angle he could.
“Well… This is obviously very new,” George said, “but I was thinking it would be so nice to be at home with you and Brigette. I wouldn’t miss things anymore, and if you were willing, Amelia, we could run it together. Think what fun it would be to live in Amish Country. We could meet all sorts of new people, and I’d love the chance to run our own business. I really would! I think it would be more satisfying than bank work.”
Amelia and George looked at each other, their eyes wide and their hearts pounding in excitement.
“It’s crazy…” Amelia breathed.
“Absolutely nuts!” George agreed. “So… what do you think?”
If you love stories about love and romance set in Amish Country, you’ll love my books! Have you tried them yet?
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
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