Seasons in Paradise. Barbara Cameron

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СКАЧАТЬ bed all morning if she could,” Linda said. “If you took her some food, she’d stay there longer.” She walked to the stairs and called up.

      Mary Elizabeth and Lavina winced. Their mudder had quite a carrying voice when she called up the stairs.

      “She must have a pillow over her head,” Linda muttered as she started up the stairs.

      “So, you’ll never guess who Leah’s getting to do the renovation on the new shop.”

      Lavina stared at her. “Sam? Really?”

      “Who told you?”

      “No one. I could just tell by the look on your face. Does that mean you’ll see more of him since you’re helping with the things the shelter ladies are sewing?”

      Mary Elizabeth nodded.

      “Well, well.” Lavina took another sip of her ginger ale, then picked up a cracker and bit into it. She looked thoughtful. “This is interesting. David left the community and didn’t intend to return, but then he did when his dat got sick and we got back together and got married. Sam refused to return and said he didn’t want to get back with you and now the two of you are going to be tossed together—”

      “We’re not going to be tossed together,” Mary Elizabeth said flatly. “I don’t want him anymore.” She ate the last bite of her pancakes and set her fork down on her plate with a snap. “You and Rose Anna are welcome to the Stoltzfus men. I’ve had enough of Sam.”

      Lavina reached to touch her hand. “I’m sorry he hurt you so much. I know how that feels.”

      “I know you do. David hurt you a lot. I’m glad the two of you got back together, but I don’t have as forgiving a heart as you do.”

      “If you love him, you find a way to forgive him,” Lavina said simply. She touched her abdomen and smiled. “And if you do, there’s a lovely reward.”

      Mary Elizabeth felt a lump form in her throat. She’d never seen Lavina look so happy.

      “Sam’s not interested in me, so I have to move on.” She got to her feet and set her plate in the sink. “I think I should start looking for someone else. I’m not wasting any more time. I want a mann and kinner.”

      “I felt that way, too. But then you remember what happened. God had other ideas.”

      “Well, He hasn’t had them this time with Sam and me.”

      “Nee? Then why do you suppose He’s got Sam working on Leah’s shop and you’re helping coordinate the crafts she’ll sell there?”

      They heard footsteps descending the stairs. Their mudder entered the kitchen followed by a grumpy looking Rose Anna still in her house robe.

      “Someone decided to get up for pancakes,” Linda said cheerfully as she walked to the stove and turned the gas flame up under the cast iron skillet.

      Rose Anna sank into a chair and yawned. She frowned at her plate and appeared half-asleep. Mary Elizabeth took pity on her and rose to get her a cup of coffee. She set it in front of her schweschder, stirred in two teaspoons of sugar then sat again. Rose Anna thanked her. At least Mary Elizabeth thought her grunt was a thank-you.

      She perked up some when their mudder placed a plate of pancakes in front of her.

      “Lavina, how are you feeling? Want to try a pancake?”

      Mary Elizabeth studied her face. Lavina had lost the greenish tinge.

      “Maybe a small one.”

      “See you upstairs,” Mary Elizabeth said as she rose and left the room. She couldn’t wait to get sewing. Working on a quilt settled her as nothing else did. She sat in her favorite chair and began working.

      Lavina came upstairs a few minutes later.

      “How’d the pancake do?”

      “The boppli seems to like it.” Lavina patted her abdomen and sat in a nearby chair. She didn’t pick up her quilt in the basket next to it right away. “So what are you going to do now that you’ve decided not to be interested in getting together with Sam?”

      “I mean it.”

      Lavina nodded. “I know you do. I know you.”

      “There’s a singing Sunday evening. I thought I’d go to it.”

      “You’re going to the singing?” Rose Anna asked as she walked into the room. “We can go together!”

      “That’s right.” Mary Elizabeth realized she was stabbing her needle into the fabric and relaxed her fingers. She was going to the singing, and she was going to have fun. She’d meet someone and forget all about Sam.

      Why, she had put him totally out of her mind. Totally.

      Sam who?

      Chapter 5

      5

      Mary Elizabeth looked around at the group of young people at the singing. It was the second one she’d attended with Rose Anna and while she was having fun, she hadn’t met anyone new.

      And it felt like Noah’s Ark tonight. So many people had paired up with someone or come with them. Although couples who dated kept their relationship secret, it didn’t take a genius to figure out who had already decided who they wanted to spend the evening with. Some had already left early, deciding it would be more fun to go for a long buggy ride home.

      While everyone took a break and enjoyed snacks, Mary Elizabeth took a careful inventory of the available single men. She knew all of them. Had grown up with them, attended schul with them. None of them had attracted her then. None did now.

      Like Lavina and Rose Anna, she’d fallen in love with a Stoltzfus man and couldn’t seem to find anyone else she liked.

      “Stop frowning, you’ll scare men away,” Rose Anna hissed.

      Mary Elizabeth shrugged. “It’s not like there’s anyone here this evening that I’m interested in.”

      “I know what you mean, but you have to give it a chance.”

      “I saw you talking to Mark Troyer.”

      Rose Anna grinned. “He’s sweet. And fun. But he’s no John Stoltzfus.”

      “So you’re just flirting?”

      “Schur. Why not? John’s off enjoying himself in the Englisch world. He may never come back the way David did. So I may as well keep my eyes open, enjoy someone interested in me.” She glanced over at the refreshment table, met the gaze of Mark. He grinned at her. “Gotta go,” she said and headed over to the table.

      Mary Elizabeth shook her head. Rose Anna had been moping around about John just weeks ago, but now she was flirting with Mark.

      “Gut-n-owed.”

      She turned and stared into СКАЧАТЬ