Mary Lapp had promised to keep Amelia updated on all the newest developments with the Amish school’s new teacher. So Mary came over one morning and settled in for a coffee with Amelia.
“Brenda Hershberger is gorgeous,” Mary said, leaning forward. “We Amish don’t focus on outward appearances because that’s not the most important part of a person. But just as an observation–she’s terribly beautiful. And all the single men in these parts seem to be in love with her.”
“Is she a good woman?” Amelia asked.
“She’s very good. I mean, she’s not much of a cook, and she can’t sew a straight seam to save her life, but she’s got a good heart and she’s very kind. You can learn cooking and sewing, but character is harder to develop.”
“True…” Amelia murmured.
“The problem is, Brenda was burned in her last romance,” Mary went on. “She was engaged to a man she’d been courting since she was seventeen. Everyone thought they’d marry, and then he dumped her and went off to marry another girl in a different community.”
“Poor Brenda!”
“Yes, and he was the bishop’s son.” Mary gave Amelia a meaningful look. “She should have been able to trust him. So now, she has a very difficult time trusting a man to love her truly and never leave.”
“That’s understandable!” Amelia said. “I would feel the same way, I’m sure!”
“And now with Valentine’s Day upon us, I know of seven different bachelors who are planning on giving her a Valentine’s Day gift,” Mary said. “SEVEN!”
“Honestly, Mary,” Amelia said. “That’s not the worst problem to have. To be beautiful and desired by all the single men after her heart was broken… it could be worse.”
Amelia enjoyed these coffee chats with Mary. Hearing all the stories about the people in The Amish community made Amelia feel part of things. It wasn’t truly gossip if you wished the people well! That was something that Amelia believed very firmly.
And this story was a doozy!
That afternoon, George and Amelia needed to go into town and mail some packages at the post office. So they got all bundled up, and they got onto their bicycle, and they headed out toward town. On the way, they passed the little Amish schoolhouse.
It was recess time, and the children were outside playing. They laughed and hollered, and threw snowballs. And standing up on the step of the school house was a woman bundled up so well that Amelia couldn’t quite make out her face.
“Did you know that the teacher there is so beautiful that she has seven local bachelors planning on giving her a Valentine’s Day gift?” Amelia asked.
“Seven?” George said, surprised. “That’s a lot.”
“I know,” Amelia agreed. “What would you do if before you met me there had been seven woman wanting to marry you, George?”
“Would you be one of them?” George asked.
“Well, I don’t like being one of throngs of women going after a man,” Amelia said thoughtfully.
“No, that isn’t like you at all,” George agreed.
“What would you do?” Amelia pressed.
“I’d tell the seven women that it was very nice to have met them, and I’d go find that bookish little frog with the mug of tea, and I’d ask if I could take her out for dinner.”
Amelia blushed. “And who would the bookish frog be?”
“You, of course!” George said. “I’ve never been one to like having throngs of women throwing themselves at me, either. Besides, I can’t image being married to anyone but you.”
“Oh, George!” Amelia said. “That was a very good answer.”
All the same, Amelia wondered what Brenda Hershberger was going to do!
Every Valentine’s Day, George wrote Amelia a love letter. He wasn’t very good at writing them. He wasn’t very poetic, but Amelia loved getting that first one so much that he hadn’t been able to stop.
It was difficult to find a place where he could get some quiet to write, though. He tried in barn, but Ronnie the rooster and his wife Lucy had been having a marital squabble about something, and so George had to give them their privacy to sort things out. So the next best place was in the bathroom with the door locked.
Amelia had been very preoccupied with Brenda Hershberger, the Amish school teacher with all the suitors. She’d been wondering what poor Brenda would do.
“Roses are red,” George wrote. “Violets are blue. Even if I have a hundred women wanting to marry me, I’d still choose you!”
He wasn’t sure if that was just right, and he crumpled up the page.
Amelia knocked on the door. “George?”
“Yes, Amelia?” he called back.
“Mary’s daughter told her what happened at school today,” Amelia said through the door. “Do you want to know?”
“Um… Sure,” George replied.
“She said no to all the suitors, and she bought herself a puppy,” Amelia said. “She said until she knew a man’s character well enough, she would accept no gifts.”
“That’s impressive,” George said. “What a good stand to take.”
And suddenly he found himself feeling very grateful that Amelia had ever taken a chance on him at all. He’d just been a humble frog.
His next letter–the one he’d give his wife–began like this:
Dearest Amelia,
Thank you for accepting my invitation to coffee when we met. You could have gone out with any other frog, but you chose me. I’m such a lucky frog…
I wish you all a really wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend. There are so many ways to celebrate. If you’re looking for some romantic reading, check out my books! You just might find your next read!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!