My Review:
A Cousins Prayer
by Wanda Brunstetter
A Cousins Prayer is a wonderful story about one of my favorite areas of interest, the Amish.
Katie Miller is in a horrible car accident that results in the death of her boyfriend. She feels that the accident is her fault because she got upset in the car because of a bee.
Driven by guilt, she moves away from her community to live with her grandparents in Florida. When her grandparents decide to move away she returns home again.
Trying to deal with her ever increasing panic attacks after moving back to her Amish community Katie finds a friend in Freeman Bontrager. Will Freeman be able to help Katie get over her loss?
With vivid descriptions of the Amish family life, A Cousins Prayer takes you on a journey through the lives and loves and adventures of life in the tight knit community of the Amish.
It's awesome in this day and age to see neighbors helping neighbors in of their time of need. And everyone getting together for fellowship and prayer.
How nice the world would be if more people lived their lives as the Amish do. Loving, caring and forgiving.
This book will leave you with a good feeling as all the Amish books do. Pick one up today at Amazon.com and be sure to look for more books in the Amish series!
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tourbook review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour
Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason
it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for
old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
Barbour Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wanda E. Brunstetter is nationally recognized as an expert on theAmish community, and her book sales have topped the three million mark. Her books White Christmas Pie, A Sister’s Hope, and
Allison’s Journey topped Publishers Weekly Paperback Religion Bestsellers lists in 2008. Her books have also received other
honors, including the 2006 Reader’s Choice Award and the CBD Book of the Week. Brunstetter enjoys an uncommon kinship with
the Amish and loves to visit their communities throughout the country.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $10.97
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602600619
ISBN-13: 978-1602600614
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Prologue
Katie
Miller’s stomach churned as she read the letter she’d just received from her cousin Loraine:
Dear Katie,
Wayne and I will be getting married the last Thursday of April. I’d like you to be one of my attendants.
Katie’s heart pounded. There was no way she could go to her cousin’s wedding, much less be one of her
attendants.
“Who’s the letter from?” Katie’s grandmother asked, taking a seat on the porch swing beside
Katie.
“Loraine. She’s getting married in April, and she wants me to be one of her attendants.” Katie
almost choked on the words.
“That’s wunderbaar. I’m sure you’re looking forward to going.”
Katie shook her head. “I don’t want to go.”
“Think how disappointed Loraine would be if you weren’t at
her wedding.”
Katie’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I can’t go back to Indiana, Grammy.”
“Loraine and Wayne have been through so much. Don’t you want to be there to share in their joy?”
Katie
shivered despite the warm Florida breeze. If Timothy hadn’t been killed on their way to Hershey Park last fall, she’d be
planning her own wedding right now.
“Katie, did you hear what I said?”
Katie nodded,
hoping she wouldn’t give in to the tears pushing against her eyelids. “If I hadn’t freaked out about a bee in the van,
Timothy, Paul, and Raymond would still be alive.” Katie drew in a shaky breath. “Jolene wouldn’t have lost her hearing,
either, and Wayne would still have both of his legs.”
“You’re not to blame, Katie. It was an accident. It
might have happened even if you hadn’t been afraid of the bee.” Grammy touched Katie’s arm. “You need to accept it and go
on with your life.”
“I–I don’t know if I can.”
“Timothy wouldn’t want you to continue
grieving for him. He wouldn’t want you to blame yourself for the accident.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“Then you ought to listen.” Grammy took hold of Katie’s hand. “Let’s go inside so you can write Loraine and
let her know you’ll be at the wedding.”
“I–I’m afraid to go. The thought of traveling alone scares me. I
don’t think I can deal with all the painful memories that are there.”
“Will you go to Loraine’s wedding if
I go with you?”
“What about Grandpa? Would he go, too?”
Grammy shook her head. “He has
things to do here.”
Katie couldn’t imagine what things Grandpa would have to do. He was retired and spent
a good deal of his time at the beach.
“What about it, Katie?” Grammy asked. “Will you go to the wedding
if I go along?”
Katie sat for several seconds, thinking things through. Finally, she gave a slow nod. It
would be easier going back to Indiana with Grammy along, and as soon as the wedding was over, they’d come back here.
Chapter 1
“It sure is good to have you home,” Katie’s father said as
they headed down the road in his buggy toward Uncle Amos and Aunt Priscilla’s house. He glanced over at Katie and smiled.
“Your mamm said Loraine was real pleased when she got your letter saying you’d be one of her attendants.”
Katie clutched the folds in her dress as she stared out the window. She didn’t know why she felt so edgy. She hadn’t felt
like this when she was in Florida. She’d been depressed after Timothy died, but not quivery inside the way she’d been since
she’d climbed into Dad’s buggy. She was grateful they didn’t have far to go.
Dad motioned to what was left
of the barn they were passing. “Take a look at the devastation from the tornado that hit this past winter. That terrible
storm affected nearly everyone around these parts in some way or another.”
“No one was killed, though,
right?”
“No, but some were injured, and the damage was great. Many, like Wayne’s folks, lost their homes,
barns, and shops. It’s a good thing the house Wayne started building before he lost his leg didn’t sustain any damage from
the tornado,” Dad said. “Several of the men in our community finished it for him, and Wayne’s folks have been livin’ in it
ever since.”
“Will they continue living there after Loraine and Wayne get married?” Katie asked.
Dad nodded. “At least until their own house is done.”
Katie knew from some of the things Loraine
had said in her letters that she and Ada hadn’t always gotten along so well. She wondered how things would be having them
both living under the same roof.
“Look at the Chupps’ place.” Dad pointed to the left. “They lost their
barn, his buggy shop, and the house. Only those who’ve actually seen the destruction of a tornado like we had here can even
imagine such a sight.”
Katie gripped the edge of the seat. “I don’t understand why God allows such
horrible things to happen.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s not our place to question God. His ways
are not our ways.”
Katie clamped her teeth together in an effort to keep from saying what was on her mind.
Dad wouldn’t understand if she told him how angry she was with God for taking Timothy. He’d probably give her a lecture and
say it was Timothy’s time to die, like he’d said to her on the day of Timothy’s funeral.
“Do you know how
long you’ll be helping at Loraine’s?” Dad asked.
“Probably most of the day, since I’m sure there’s a lot
to be done before the wedding. You can come by sometime before supper and pick me up, or I can ask someone to give me a
ride home.”
“I don’t mind coming back for you. I’ll be here around four, okay?”
“That’s
fine, but if we get done sooner, I’ll just ask for a ride home.”
“Sounds good.” Dad guided the horse up
Uncle Amos’s driveway and directed him toward the barn. When they stopped at the hitching rail, Dad turned to Katie and
said, “Have a good day, and don’t work too hard. You’re lookin’ kind of peaked today.”
“I’ll be fine,
Dad.” Katie climbed out of the buggy and headed to the house. She wasn’t fine at all. It seemed strange being back here
again. She’d only been gone from home a little over six months, but it seemed a lot longer.
She noticed
several people in the yard, pulling weeds and planting flowers, but didn’t see any sign of Loraine or her folks. She
figured they must be in the house.
When she stepped onto the back porch, she drew in a shaky breath. She
wished Grammy or Mom would have come with her today, instead of going shopping in Shipshewana. Katie figured since Mom and
Grammy hadn’t seen each other for several months, they probably wanted to spend some time alone.
Just as
Katie lifted her hand to knock on the back door, it swung open. Loraine stepped onto the porch and gave Katie a hug. “It’s
so good to have you home! Danki for coming. It means a lot for me to have you and Ella as my attendants.”
“Danki for asking me.” Katie forced a smile. In some ways, it was good to be here, but she felt as out of place as a
chicken in a duck pond.
“I just wish Jolene could be here, too.”
“She’s not coming?”
“Huh-uh. Her aunt’s been dealing with carpal tunnel on both of her wrists, and she recently had surgery to
correct the problem. Jolene thought it’d be best if she stayed in Pennsylvania to help out.”
“That makes
sense. But do you think Jolene will ever come back to Indiana?” Katie asked.
“I hope so.” Loraine opened
the door and motioned Katie inside. “Ella and her sister Charlene are in the kitchen. We decided to have a snack before we
head out to the barn to help decorate the tables for the wedding meal.”
When Katie entered the kitchen
behind Loraine, she saw Ella and Charlene sitting at the table.
Ella jumped up, raced over Katie, and
gave her a hug that nearly took Katie’s breath away. “It’s so good to see you! We’ve all missed you so much!”
Katie smiled. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Loraine asked.
Katie nodded and took a seat at the table.
“How about a piece of my sister’s appeditlich
friendship bread?” Charlene motioned to the plate of bread on the table.
“I’m sure the bread’s delicious,
but I’m not really hungry right now.”
“As skinny as you are, you oughta eat the whole loaf.” Charlene’s
eyebrows lifted high. “Are you sure you’re not hungry?”
Katie shook her head.
Ella shot
her sister a look of disapproval, but Charlene didn’t seem to notice. She was busy cutting herself another hunk of
bread.
“Didn’t you have a birthday last month?” Charlene asked, her mouth full.
Katie
nodded. “I turned twenty.”
Charlene grabbed her glass and took a drink. “You’d sure never know it. Why,
you don’t look like you’re more than sixteen.” She pointed to herself. “I look older than you.”
Katie
groaned inwardly. She didn’t need the reminder that she looked young for her age. She couldn’t help it if she was short,
petite, and had the face of a teenager. At least I act more mature than my sixteen-year-old cousin, she thought.
“I got a letter from Jolene last week,” Ella said. “She won’t be coming to Loraine’s wedding because—”
“She already knows,” Loraine interrupted. “I told her about Jolene’s aunt when we were out on the porch.”
“I wonder if Jolene’s using her aunt’s surgery as an excuse not to come home. She might be afraid that she won’t fit in
with the rest of us now that she can’t hear,” Charlene put in.
Ella shot her sister another look. “I’m
sure that’s not the reason. Jolene would never make up an excuse not to come to the wedding.”
Katie’s
shoulders tensed as she shifted her gaze to the window. What would her cousins think if they knew she hadn’t wanted to come
home for the wedding? Did they have any idea how hard it had been for her to make the trip? Even with Grammy along, Katie
had felt anxious on the bus ride. Every horn honk and sudden stop had sent shivers up her spine. She knew she couldn’t have
made the trip home alone. Even though she wasn’t looking forward to riding the bus again, she looked forward to going back
to Florida where there were no painful reminders of the past.
Loraine stood. “Would anyone like to see my
wedding dress?”
Charlene’s hand shot up. “I would!”
“Me, too,” Ella said.
Katie nodded as well.
“I’ll be right back.” Loraine scurried out of the room.
Charlene
nudged Katie’s arm. “What’s it like in Pinecraft? That’s where your grossmudder lives, isn’t it?”
Katie
nodded as she fiddled with the edge of the tablecloth. “As you know, Pinecraft is the section of Sarasota where many Plain
People have homes or come to rent. It’s a nice community.”
“Is it true that there are no horses and
buggies?” Charlene asked.
Katie nodded. “Unless they’re going out of the area and need to hire a driver,
everyone either walks or rides a bike.”
“Do you go to the beach very often?” Ella questioned.
“Jah. Grandpa and I go there a lot. We enjoy looking for shells, and Grandpa likes to fish.”
Charlene
sighed. “I wish I could visit Florida sometime. I’m sure I’d enjoy being on the beach.”
“Maybe you can
visit me there sometime.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “You’re going back?”
“Of course. My home’s
in Pinecraft now.”
The room got deathly quiet. Ella and Charlene stared at each other as though in
disbelief.
Katie figured it was time for a change of subject. “Who did Wayne choose to be his attendants?”
she asked.
“Jolene’s bruder, Andrew, and Freeman Bontrager,” Ella replied. “Wayne and Freeman have become
good friends since Freeman and his sister, Fern, moved back to Indiana a few months ago.”
“Freeman opened
a bicycle shop,” Charlene added. “Mom and Dad bought me a new bike for my birthday in February.”
“Oh, I
see.” Katie stifled a yawn. She’d had trouble falling asleep last night.
“Freeman won’t be helping here
today because he has lots of work at the shop.” Charlene sipped her iced tea. “You should see all the bikes he has. I’ll
bet he’d do real well if he had a shop in Sarasota, since so many people ride bikes there.”
“Here it is,”
Loraine said, sweeping into the room with a khaki green dress draped over her arm. “I’ll wear a full white apron over the
front of the dress, of course.” She held it out to Katie. “What do you think?”
With trembling fingers and
a wave of envy, Katie touched the smooth piece of fabric. “It–it’s very nice.”
“Are you okay?” Loraine
asked with a look of concern. “Your hand’s shaking.”
Katie dropped both hands into her lap and clutched
the folds in her dress. “I’m fine. Just a bit shaky because I didn’t have much breakfast.”
“Then you
oughta have a piece of this.” Charlene pushed the plate of friendship bread toward Katie. “You’ll blow away in a strong
wind if you don’t put some meat on your bones.”
Katie ground her teeth until her jaw began to ache. One
of the first things Mom had said to her when she’d arrived home was that she needed to gain some weight. Of course, Dad had
mentioned it, too.
“Charlene’s right.” Ella spoke up. “If you’re feeling shaky, then you should eat
something.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Katie grabbed a piece of bread and took a bite. Then she washed it down
with a sip of iced tea.
Bam! The screen door swung open, causing Katie to nearly jump out of her seat.
Walking with a slow, stiff gait, Wayne entered the room. His face broke into a wide smile when he saw Katie. “Wie geht’s?”
“I’m fine.” The lie rolled off Katie’s tongue much too easily. She was getting used to telling people
what she thought they wanted to hear.
Wayne moved across the room and stood beside Loraine’s chair. “We’
re sure glad you could come for the wedding.”
Katie forced a smile and nodded.
“Would
you like to see my new leg?” Before she could respond, Wayne pulled up his pant leg, exposing his prosthesis.
Katie bit back a gasp. “D-does it hurt?” She could hardly get the words out.
“It did at first, but I’ve
pretty well adjusted to it now.” Wayne took a seat beside Loraine. “It could have been worse, and I’m grateful to be
alive.”
Uneasiness tightened Katie’s chest, and she blew out a slow, shaky breath. Seeing him like this
was a reminder of what she’d caused—and what she’d lost.
Wayne reached around Ella and grabbed a piece of
bread. “Looks like you’ve been baking again, huh, Ella?”
She nodded. “It keeps me busy when I’m not
helping my daed in his business.”
“Those wind chimes he makes are so nice,” Loraine said. “I might buy one
soon, to hang on our porch.”
“You won’t have to do that,” Charlene said. “Dad and Mom are planning to
give you one of his nicest sets of wind chimes for a wedding present.”
Ella poked her sister’s arm. “It
was supposed to be a surprise.”
Charlene covered her mouth. “Oops.”
Loraine poured
another glass of iced tea and handed it to Wayne. “How are things going outside?”
“Pretty good. By the end
of the day, I think your folks’ yard will look like a park.” He grinned and lifted his glass to take a drink. “This sure
hits the spot. It’s getting mighty warm out there. Much warmer than normal for April, I think.”
“That’s
fine with me,” Loraine said. “A warm spring day is exactly what I wished we’d have on our wedding day. I hope the weather
stays just like it is—at least until Thursday.”
Katie stared out the kitchen window, blinking back tears
of envy and frustration. I’d give anything if it were me and Timothy getting married in two days. Oh, Lord, please give me
the strength to get through Loraine’s wedding.
Katie
Miller’s stomach churned as she read the letter she’d just received from her cousin Loraine:
Dear Katie,
Wayne and I will be getting married the last Thursday of April. I’d like you to be one of my attendants.
Katie’s heart pounded. There was no way she could go to her cousin’s wedding, much less be one of her
attendants.
“Who’s the letter from?” Katie’s grandmother asked, taking a seat on the porch swing beside
Katie.
“Loraine. She’s getting married in April, and she wants me to be one of her attendants.” Katie
almost choked on the words.
“That’s wunderbaar. I’m sure you’re looking forward to going.”
Katie shook her head. “I don’t want to go.”
“Think how disappointed Loraine would be if you weren’t at
her wedding.”
Katie’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I can’t go back to Indiana, Grammy.”
“Loraine and Wayne have been through so much. Don’t you want to be there to share in their joy?”
Katie
shivered despite the warm Florida breeze. If Timothy hadn’t been killed on their way to Hershey Park last fall, she’d be
planning her own wedding right now.
“Katie, did you hear what I said?”
Katie nodded,
hoping she wouldn’t give in to the tears pushing against her eyelids. “If I hadn’t freaked out about a bee in the van,
Timothy, Paul, and Raymond would still be alive.” Katie drew in a shaky breath. “Jolene wouldn’t have lost her hearing,
either, and Wayne would still have both of his legs.”
“You’re not to blame, Katie. It was an accident. It
might have happened even if you hadn’t been afraid of the bee.” Grammy touched Katie’s arm. “You need to accept it and go
on with your life.”
“I–I don’t know if I can.”
“Timothy wouldn’t want you to continue
grieving for him. He wouldn’t want you to blame yourself for the accident.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“Then you ought to listen.” Grammy took hold of Katie’s hand. “Let’s go inside so you can write Loraine and
let her know you’ll be at the wedding.”
“I–I’m afraid to go. The thought of traveling alone scares me. I
don’t think I can deal with all the painful memories that are there.”
“Will you go to Loraine’s wedding if
I go with you?”
“What about Grandpa? Would he go, too?”
Grammy shook her head. “He has
things to do here.”
Katie couldn’t imagine what things Grandpa would have to do. He was retired and spent
a good deal of his time at the beach.
“What about it, Katie?” Grammy asked. “Will you go to the wedding
if I go along?”
Katie sat for several seconds, thinking things through. Finally, she gave a slow nod. It
would be easier going back to Indiana with Grammy along, and as soon as the wedding was over, they’d come back here.
Chapter 1
“It sure is good to have you home,” Katie’s father said as
they headed down the road in his buggy toward Uncle Amos and Aunt Priscilla’s house. He glanced over at Katie and smiled.
“Your mamm said Loraine was real pleased when she got your letter saying you’d be one of her attendants.”
Katie clutched the folds in her dress as she stared out the window. She didn’t know why she felt so edgy. She hadn’t felt
like this when she was in Florida. She’d been depressed after Timothy died, but not quivery inside the way she’d been since
she’d climbed into Dad’s buggy. She was grateful they didn’t have far to go.
Dad motioned to what was left
of the barn they were passing. “Take a look at the devastation from the tornado that hit this past winter. That terrible
storm affected nearly everyone around these parts in some way or another.”
“No one was killed, though,
right?”
“No, but some were injured, and the damage was great. Many, like Wayne’s folks, lost their homes,
barns, and shops. It’s a good thing the house Wayne started building before he lost his leg didn’t sustain any damage from
the tornado,” Dad said. “Several of the men in our community finished it for him, and Wayne’s folks have been livin’ in it
ever since.”
“Will they continue living there after Loraine and Wayne get married?” Katie asked.
Dad nodded. “At least until their own house is done.”
Katie knew from some of the things Loraine
had said in her letters that she and Ada hadn’t always gotten along so well. She wondered how things would be having them
both living under the same roof.
“Look at the Chupps’ place.” Dad pointed to the left. “They lost their
barn, his buggy shop, and the house. Only those who’ve actually seen the destruction of a tornado like we had here can even
imagine such a sight.”
Katie gripped the edge of the seat. “I don’t understand why God allows such
horrible things to happen.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s not our place to question God. His ways
are not our ways.”
Katie clamped her teeth together in an effort to keep from saying what was on her mind.
Dad wouldn’t understand if she told him how angry she was with God for taking Timothy. He’d probably give her a lecture and
say it was Timothy’s time to die, like he’d said to her on the day of Timothy’s funeral.
“Do you know how
long you’ll be helping at Loraine’s?” Dad asked.
“Probably most of the day, since I’m sure there’s a lot
to be done before the wedding. You can come by sometime before supper and pick me up, or I can ask someone to give me a
ride home.”
“I don’t mind coming back for you. I’ll be here around four, okay?”
“That’s
fine, but if we get done sooner, I’ll just ask for a ride home.”
“Sounds good.” Dad guided the horse up
Uncle Amos’s driveway and directed him toward the barn. When they stopped at the hitching rail, Dad turned to Katie and
said, “Have a good day, and don’t work too hard. You’re lookin’ kind of peaked today.”
“I’ll be fine,
Dad.” Katie climbed out of the buggy and headed to the house. She wasn’t fine at all. It seemed strange being back here
again. She’d only been gone from home a little over six months, but it seemed a lot longer.
She noticed
several people in the yard, pulling weeds and planting flowers, but didn’t see any sign of Loraine or her folks. She
figured they must be in the house.
When she stepped onto the back porch, she drew in a shaky breath. She
wished Grammy or Mom would have come with her today, instead of going shopping in Shipshewana. Katie figured since Mom and
Grammy hadn’t seen each other for several months, they probably wanted to spend some time alone.
Just as
Katie lifted her hand to knock on the back door, it swung open. Loraine stepped onto the porch and gave Katie a hug. “It’s
so good to have you home! Danki for coming. It means a lot for me to have you and Ella as my attendants.”
“Danki for asking me.” Katie forced a smile. In some ways, it was good to be here, but she felt as out of place as a
chicken in a duck pond.
“I just wish Jolene could be here, too.”
“She’s not coming?”
“Huh-uh. Her aunt’s been dealing with carpal tunnel on both of her wrists, and she recently had surgery to
correct the problem. Jolene thought it’d be best if she stayed in Pennsylvania to help out.”
“That makes
sense. But do you think Jolene will ever come back to Indiana?” Katie asked.
“I hope so.” Loraine opened
the door and motioned Katie inside. “Ella and her sister Charlene are in the kitchen. We decided to have a snack before we
head out to the barn to help decorate the tables for the wedding meal.”
When Katie entered the kitchen
behind Loraine, she saw Ella and Charlene sitting at the table.
Ella jumped up, raced over Katie, and
gave her a hug that nearly took Katie’s breath away. “It’s so good to see you! We’ve all missed you so much!”
Katie smiled. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Loraine asked.
Katie nodded and took a seat at the table.
“How about a piece of my sister’s appeditlich
friendship bread?” Charlene motioned to the plate of bread on the table.
“I’m sure the bread’s delicious,
but I’m not really hungry right now.”
“As skinny as you are, you oughta eat the whole loaf.” Charlene’s
eyebrows lifted high. “Are you sure you’re not hungry?”
Katie shook her head.
Ella shot
her sister a look of disapproval, but Charlene didn’t seem to notice. She was busy cutting herself another hunk of
bread.
“Didn’t you have a birthday last month?” Charlene asked, her mouth full.
Katie
nodded. “I turned twenty.”
Charlene grabbed her glass and took a drink. “You’d sure never know it. Why,
you don’t look like you’re more than sixteen.” She pointed to herself. “I look older than you.”
Katie
groaned inwardly. She didn’t need the reminder that she looked young for her age. She couldn’t help it if she was short,
petite, and had the face of a teenager. At least I act more mature than my sixteen-year-old cousin, she thought.
“I got a letter from Jolene last week,” Ella said. “She won’t be coming to Loraine’s wedding because—”
“She already knows,” Loraine interrupted. “I told her about Jolene’s aunt when we were out on the porch.”
“I wonder if Jolene’s using her aunt’s surgery as an excuse not to come home. She might be afraid that she won’t fit in
with the rest of us now that she can’t hear,” Charlene put in.
Ella shot her sister another look. “I’m
sure that’s not the reason. Jolene would never make up an excuse not to come to the wedding.”
Katie’s
shoulders tensed as she shifted her gaze to the window. What would her cousins think if they knew she hadn’t wanted to come
home for the wedding? Did they have any idea how hard it had been for her to make the trip? Even with Grammy along, Katie
had felt anxious on the bus ride. Every horn honk and sudden stop had sent shivers up her spine. She knew she couldn’t have
made the trip home alone. Even though she wasn’t looking forward to riding the bus again, she looked forward to going back
to Florida where there were no painful reminders of the past.
Loraine stood. “Would anyone like to see my
wedding dress?”
Charlene’s hand shot up. “I would!”
“Me, too,” Ella said.
Katie nodded as well.
“I’ll be right back.” Loraine scurried out of the room.
Charlene
nudged Katie’s arm. “What’s it like in Pinecraft? That’s where your grossmudder lives, isn’t it?”
Katie
nodded as she fiddled with the edge of the tablecloth. “As you know, Pinecraft is the section of Sarasota where many Plain
People have homes or come to rent. It’s a nice community.”
“Is it true that there are no horses and
buggies?” Charlene asked.
Katie nodded. “Unless they’re going out of the area and need to hire a driver,
everyone either walks or rides a bike.”
“Do you go to the beach very often?” Ella questioned.
“Jah. Grandpa and I go there a lot. We enjoy looking for shells, and Grandpa likes to fish.”
Charlene
sighed. “I wish I could visit Florida sometime. I’m sure I’d enjoy being on the beach.”
“Maybe you can
visit me there sometime.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “You’re going back?”
“Of course. My home’s
in Pinecraft now.”
The room got deathly quiet. Ella and Charlene stared at each other as though in
disbelief.
Katie figured it was time for a change of subject. “Who did Wayne choose to be his attendants?”
she asked.
“Jolene’s bruder, Andrew, and Freeman Bontrager,” Ella replied. “Wayne and Freeman have become
good friends since Freeman and his sister, Fern, moved back to Indiana a few months ago.”
“Freeman opened
a bicycle shop,” Charlene added. “Mom and Dad bought me a new bike for my birthday in February.”
“Oh, I
see.” Katie stifled a yawn. She’d had trouble falling asleep last night.
“Freeman won’t be helping here
today because he has lots of work at the shop.” Charlene sipped her iced tea. “You should see all the bikes he has. I’ll
bet he’d do real well if he had a shop in Sarasota, since so many people ride bikes there.”
“Here it is,”
Loraine said, sweeping into the room with a khaki green dress draped over her arm. “I’ll wear a full white apron over the
front of the dress, of course.” She held it out to Katie. “What do you think?”
With trembling fingers and
a wave of envy, Katie touched the smooth piece of fabric. “It–it’s very nice.”
“Are you okay?” Loraine
asked with a look of concern. “Your hand’s shaking.”
Katie dropped both hands into her lap and clutched
the folds in her dress. “I’m fine. Just a bit shaky because I didn’t have much breakfast.”
“Then you
oughta have a piece of this.” Charlene pushed the plate of friendship bread toward Katie. “You’ll blow away in a strong
wind if you don’t put some meat on your bones.”
Katie ground her teeth until her jaw began to ache. One
of the first things Mom had said to her when she’d arrived home was that she needed to gain some weight. Of course, Dad had
mentioned it, too.
“Charlene’s right.” Ella spoke up. “If you’re feeling shaky, then you should eat
something.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Katie grabbed a piece of bread and took a bite. Then she washed it down
with a sip of iced tea.
Bam! The screen door swung open, causing Katie to nearly jump out of her seat.
Walking with a slow, stiff gait, Wayne entered the room. His face broke into a wide smile when he saw Katie. “Wie geht’s?”
“I’m fine.” The lie rolled off Katie’s tongue much too easily. She was getting used to telling people
what she thought they wanted to hear.
Wayne moved across the room and stood beside Loraine’s chair. “We’
re sure glad you could come for the wedding.”
Katie forced a smile and nodded.
“Would
you like to see my new leg?” Before she could respond, Wayne pulled up his pant leg, exposing his prosthesis.
Katie bit back a gasp. “D-does it hurt?” She could hardly get the words out.
“It did at first, but I’ve
pretty well adjusted to it now.” Wayne took a seat beside Loraine. “It could have been worse, and I’m grateful to be
alive.”
Uneasiness tightened Katie’s chest, and she blew out a slow, shaky breath. Seeing him like this
was a reminder of what she’d caused—and what she’d lost.
Wayne reached around Ella and grabbed a piece of
bread. “Looks like you’ve been baking again, huh, Ella?”
She nodded. “It keeps me busy when I’m not
helping my daed in his business.”
“Those wind chimes he makes are so nice,” Loraine said. “I might buy one
soon, to hang on our porch.”
“You won’t have to do that,” Charlene said. “Dad and Mom are planning to
give you one of his nicest sets of wind chimes for a wedding present.”
Ella poked her sister’s arm. “It
was supposed to be a surprise.”
Charlene covered her mouth. “Oops.”
Loraine poured
another glass of iced tea and handed it to Wayne. “How are things going outside?”
“Pretty good. By the end
of the day, I think your folks’ yard will look like a park.” He grinned and lifted his glass to take a drink. “This sure
hits the spot. It’s getting mighty warm out there. Much warmer than normal for April, I think.”
“That’s
fine with me,” Loraine said. “A warm spring day is exactly what I wished we’d have on our wedding day. I hope the weather
stays just like it is—at least until Thursday.”
Katie stared out the kitchen window, blinking back tears
of envy and frustration. I’d give anything if it were me and Timothy getting married in two days. Oh, Lord, please give me
the strength to get through Loraine’s wedding.
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