They gathered in Abilene’s sitting room. Adam’s mother had been busy preparing food all day, which Adam said was normal, but Annalise sensed he wasn’t sharing something.
“I imagine you have lots of questions about the bonding,” his grandfather said.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. Was this like a sex talk for immortals? “Um, Adam’s been explaining enough.”
Ezekiel chuckled. “I thought a female point of view might also be helpful.” He looked over Annalise’s shoulder and waved a hand. “Rachel.”
A floorboard creaked and a slight woman stepped into the den. She looked like every other Amish beauty on this farm—plain, timid, obedient, with lots of unspoken thoughts waiting to escape.
Ezekiel stepped to the woman’s side. “Annalise, this is Rachel, wife of Samuel Roche. I think you two will have a lot to discuss. Rachel was also English.”
Annalise’s entire demeanor shifted with intrigue. “Hi.”
Finally, a woman she could relate to.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Rachel said.
“Adam and I will take our conversation outside so you two can talk,” Adam’s grandfather announced. “We will not be far.”
“Soooo,” Annalise said, feeling as if she were on some sort of blind date. She didn’t want to bombard the woman with questions, but she had eight million. She should start with something easy. “Do you mind if I ask where you got your apron? You have a bow. I’ve only been able to find the ones that need eight million pins.”
“Only married females can have tying aprons. You’ll have one soon.”
Would she? “Oh. What about mated women?”
She frowned. “Do you not intend to marry Adam?”
She fidgeted, tapping her hands over her knees. The woman looked about Annalise’s age. “Are you related to Adam?”
The woman laughed. “We’re of no blood relation but connected distantly through marriage. I arrived just before the twins were born.”
So she was older than Adam’s thirty-seven years. “How old are you?”
She considered the question. “Well, I arrived in the seventies when I was a teenager... You know, after a while you lose count.”
“And you said you’re connected to Adam’s family by marriage?”
Her gaze turned contemplative. “My husband is the son of Mary Zehr. So my mother-in-law, Mary, is a sister to Faith Zehr. Faith is married to Ezekiel, Adam’s grandfather. So she’s no longer a Zehr, but a Hartzler.”
“Wow. I’ll never wrap my brain around that sort of lineage.”
“You figure it out after a while.”
“You're the first person I’ve met who’s been human. You ... blend in so well.”
“They prefer to call outsiders English and refer to themselves as simply Amish. That way there’s no chance of anyone accidentally overhearing something and getting the wrong impression. Where are you from, Annalise?”
“Bensalem.” Annalise glanced at the door. When was Adam coming back? She wanted him to share her excitement.
“Is that in Pennsylvania?”
“Yes. Where are you from?”
“Quebec. I was nineteen when Samuel found me.”
“How did you know you were making the right choice?”
“It wasn’t easy. I left behind three brothers, my parents, my cat, and a fiancé.”
Her lips parted. “That must have been incredibly difficult.” For once, she saw a silver lining to having no one.
“It was difficult at first, letting go of so many comforts and customs. Saying farewell to family. Samuel was very patient. He allowed me to write to them as often as I wanted. I sent letters for a long time. After a while, it was easier to simply let go. I couldn’t explain my situation, and nothing would have changed my mind. I belong here with the others.”
“No regrets?”
The woman smiled and shook her head. “No regrets. I feared I might grow to resent Samuel, but there is no resentment between us. Only love. And the love of bonded mates is greater than any human emotion I’d ever known.” She laughed. “Of course, he’s very handsome. My fear was never if I could love him. My distress stemmed from culture shock. I mean ... they’re Amish.”
“Yes!” Her eyes widened with excitement. “That’s my thing, too! I don’t know if I can do it. The women here are...” She leaned close and lowered her voice, “So different.” She avoided words like repressed. “And I love my modern comforts.”
“I miss television.”
“Right? And what about other stuff? Shopping, going to the movies, social media, having parties.”
“Samuel takes me on a trip once a year and we do those things. He prefers I behave as a good Amish wife, but he never objects to my modern traits either. And I don’t mind giving him his way most days.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Samuel gives me so much in return. I’d be lost without him. He’s the other half of my soul. Who cares what we wear or where we live? So long as I’m with him and we’re safe to live openly without fear, I’m happy. Living anywhere else would put so much unnecessary stress on a couple. Here, we can feed when we want. We can live without shame or judgment. No one notices that we don’t age. And our men are virile, Annalise. Pregnancy is inevitable. Our children are safe here as well.”