A Season of Love by Amy Clipston Page B

could’ve done this without you.”
    “Gern gschehne , ” he said, gripping the reins. “I think it went very well. Now let’s get you to the youth gathering.”
    “I’ll see you later tonight,” Lindsay said as she climbed out of the buggy in Lizzie Anne’s driveway.
    “Have fun,” Daniel said.
    “I will,” Lindsay replied. “I’ll get a ride heemet with Samuel and Katie.” She rushed toward the barn. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends the news. She’d left a message for Matthew earlier in the day telling him she was going to meet with the bishop before the youth gathering and found him waiting for her outside the barn.
    He raised his eyebrows in question as she approached, and she couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on her face.
    “Wie geht’s , ” Matthew called. “From the excited look on your face, I guess your meeting with the bishop went well?”
    “It did,” she said, her voice bubbling with her excitement. She clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe it! He said yes! He gave me permission to make up the discussions I’ve missed, and I’ll be baptized with mei freinden. ”
    “That’s wunderbaar , Lindsay.” Matthew chuckled. “You’re really that surprised?”
    “Of course I am.” Lindsay turned toward him. “He said I can make up the classes beginning next week Monday.” She shared the conversation she’d had with the bishop, and Matthew listened with interest.
    “I’m so froh ,” Matthew said. “What wunderbaar news.”
    “Do you think I said the right things?” Lindsay asked, hoping for his approval.
    Matthew’s face assumed a serious expression. “Lindsay, I’ve figured out a couple of things about you since we became freinden. ”
    She held her breath.
    “First of all,” he began, “you’re very, very smart. And you’re always genuine. I don’t think you have a dishonest bone in your body. So please stop doubting yourself because I could never doubt you.”
    Speechless, she nodded.
    “Now,” he said, gesturing toward the barn door. “Let’s go see our freinden before we miss the whole event.”
    “That sounds like a wunderbaar idea,” Lindsay said as they began to walk toward the barn door, where voices rang out in High German while the youth members sang hymns from the Ausbund.
    They stepped into the barn and Lindsay glanced around, finding Katie, Lizzie Anne, and Samuel sitting together on a bench. Lindsay dropped down next to Lizzie Anne, while Matthew sat beside Samuel.
    “You look awfully excited, Lindsay. What’s going on?” Lizzie Anne asked with a grin.
    Katie leaned toward Lindsay. “That’s what I was going to ask.”
    “I went to see the bishop,” Lindsay said looking between her friends. “And I’m joining your baptism class.”
    Both of her friends pulled her into a hug at the same time. Lindsay smiled and spotted several people turning around to see what the fuss was.
    “We’re attracting attention again,” Lindsay said.
    “I don’t care,” Katie said, smiling. “I’m glad you made this decision. It will be nice for us all to join the church together.”
    “I agree,” Lizzie Anne chimed in. “This is how it should be.”
    “Ya , ” Lindsay said, pushing her ribbons behind her shoulder. “It is.”
    “This is wunderbaar gut ,” Lizzie Anne said. “We’re all going to be baptized together. Can you tell me about your conversation with the bishop? I know it’s very personal, but I’m really surprised you went to see him. Would you mind telling us?”
    “ Ya , I can tell you,” Lindsay said with a shrug. “I’m not embarrassed. He was very nice.”
    “Let’s go outside and talk so we don’t disturb anyone,” Katie suggested.
    Katie stood with Lizzie Anne and Lindsay outside the barn while they listened to the story of Lindsay’s visit to the bishop.
    “That’s wunderbaar !” Katie said, clapping her hands together. “I’m so glad you went to visit him.”
    “Ya!” Lizzie Anne hugged