Read Online Amish Promises by Leslie Gould - Free Book Online Page B

Lehmans’ driveway, she passed a wagon heading toward the house.
    â€œWho’s that?” Shani asked Tim.
    â€œOur bishop.” Tim squinted out the window and shaded his eyes with his hand. “Gideon.” The man stopped the wagon by the clothesline.
    Shani shifted into Park in front of the house and turned off the ignition.
    â€œYou don’t need to stop in,” Tim said.
    â€œEve has something for me.”
    â€œOh.” Tim kept his head down and opened the door without looking at her.
    She climbed out quickly and pushed up her long sleeves as she strode toward the house. The day had grown warm. Unsure of whether to go to the back door or the front, she glanced at Tim, hoping he might instruct her.
    He’d walked back to the bishop, his arms crossed and stance wide, oblivious to her.
    She decided on the front door and knocked a few rapid beats. Little feet pattered toward her, and then the door swung open. The little girl, braids sticking out from beneath her little bonnet, turned her round face upward and smiled broadly.
    â€œIs your aunt home?” Shani asked.
    â€œJah.”
    â€œMay I speak to her?”
    The older girl appeared. A strand of her blond hair had managed to work its way out of her bun at the base of her neck. “Rose, invite our neighbor in.” The girl was polite and poised.
    Rose stepped back, sweeping her arm in a wide arc. “Come in.”
    Shani smiled as she stepped over the threshold. The little girl had quite a presence.
    Eve stepped into the living room. “Hallo,” she said. “How is Simon today?”
    â€œHe’s doing much better.”
    Eve exhaled and then asked, “How about your husband?”
    â€œOkay,” Shani answered.
    â€œ Gut ,” the woman said.
    Shani guessed that meant good. She looked around as her mouth watered from the smell of something baking.
    â€œWe’re having lunch. Soup and biscuits. Would you like some?” the woman asked.
    Shani’d had a protein bar for breakfast. And then another one midmorning. “Sure.”
    â€œZane and Charlie are here,” Eve said.
    â€œAre they staying to eat?” Shani followed Eve.
    Eve shrugged. “I invited them.”
    Shani stepped into the kitchen. Charlie stood by the back door, while Zane sat at the table, along with the baby and the older boy. Zane appeared as comfortable as could be.
    â€œFancy meeting you here,” she said, tousling his hair. He ducked away.
    Charlie stepped closer. “We’re just taking a break. All the boxes are in the right rooms and mostly unpacked. We left the kitchen and bathroom for you. Of course you’ll have to say exactly where you want the furniture.” He grinned.
    â€œSounds good.”
    Eve motioned for her to sit down and then pulled a plate and bowl from the cupboard. She turned to Charlie. “Would you like some soup?”
    He glanced at Shani. She nodded, hoping she communicated he could go back to the farmhouse and make a sandwich or be gracious and eat Eve’s soup.
    â€œSure,” Charlie said, heading to the empty seat by the baby. The baby tried to pick up a slice of cooked carrot on her high-chair tray and fussed when she couldn’t. After an odd silent prayer, Charlie speared the veggie with his fork and held it to the baby’s mouth. She managed to pry it off with her lips.
    Shani couldn’t help but smile. The man was a natural. NikkiHall had been a fool to let him go—and a coldhearted one to do it while he’d been deployed. But, selfishly, Shani knew having Charlie unattached meant he was more available to help Joel. He worked three days each week at a fire department on the edge of Philly and had spent much of his time off the past two months trying to encourage Joel to keep doing his exercises and stay positive.
    The two hadn’t met until Joel was assigned to Charlie’s unit and moved to Philly to get ready to deploy while