Secrets of the Son

Mary is within her first year of marriage to Samuel who had returned home to their Amish community of Honeybrook, a year earlier, carrying with him secrets of a life time amongst the English. Pregnant and looking forwrd to the birth of their first child, she arrives home with her family on the last Sunday of January 2002, and collapses from a stroke. Upon awakening that following Monday, she finds herself being attended to in a military hospital far and away from her quiet community. Samuel by her side, Mary begins to find light in the darkness of her illness in the unveiling of Samuel's past, thus beginning her journey into the world of the English and Samuel's 25 years.

Willard (Will; Sarge; Doc) Carpenter is a complex man of diverse interests. A soldier by nature he responds to people who chide him for using sir with them by saying ＂You can take the sergeant out of the Army but not the Army out of the sergeant.＂ A born again Christian, he cautions ’folks’ not to mistake his faith with weakness. He is not shy when it comes to going to war on principle, but shy’s away from conflict. Mr. Carpenter does not like sports but enjoys shooting and horsback riding. he collects art and wines and listens to slow romantic soundtracts while writing. He relaxes by reading usually at night before falling to sleep. Having spent a lifetime caring for children whether as a nurse, foster parent or father of exchange students he enjoys passing out ’lollies’ to what he calls ’young uns’ at his hoagie restaurant. A romantic, he loves movies and books that take him to ’that’ place. He adores his wife who loves sharing those interests with him. With their children grown and out of the house they enjoy each other’s friendship by traveling, watching reality TV and holding hands. As they had done for the past 30 years they talk about everything. They love to talk. After his wife he loves his children more than his own life. He is not their friend but their father and that word to him is everything.