Read Online Blessings by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online Page B

would understand? Your father wanted you to be a farmer like the rest of your family. But you wanted something else. Surely you know how I feel!”
    “But I didn’t break any fellowship rules to become a stained-glass artist, Trina. What you’re talking about—going to college—that’s different.”
    Trina stared at him in amazement. The one person she felt would be completely, 100 percent on her side seemed to distance himself from her. Tears threatened again.
    Andrew went on quietly, his gaze lowered. “Being a wife. . .and mother. . .is the highest calling for any woman. If you didn’t have Graham wanting to marry you, I’d probably say keep learning what you can about animal care from the Internet or books and help out the way you did with Regen. But not at the expense of a family.”
    Trina slammed her fist against the tabletop. “Oh, this is so aggravating! Why can’t anyone understand?”
    “And why can’t you understand what you’re throwing away?”
    At Andrew’s angry tone, Trina drew back, gawking at her cousin. “Th–throwing away?”
    “Yes.” He glared at her, his lips quivering. “You have a man—a good man—who wants to marry you. You could become a wife and then a mother, but you’d rather take care of sick kittens. What’s wrong with you, Trina?”
    Of all the people she’d feared might attack her, Andrew was at the bottom of the list. She sat in silence, too hurt to respond.
    “Don’t be selfish.” He held himself stiffly erect, his chin high. “You have an opportunity Livvy would kill to have—the opportunity to be a mother. And if you throw it away over some ridiculous idea about—” The last words came out in a growl; then he seemed to crumble. He spun, leaning his hips against the table with his back to her.
    Trina slipped from the stool and rounded the table. She touched Andrew’s arm. “Andrew? Is something wrong with Livvy?”
    Tears winked in her cousin’s dark eyes. His chin quivered. “All the trouble she’s been having with. . .female issues?”
    Trina nodded. The family had been praying for Livvy’s difficulties.
    “She got her tests back today. The doctor says she won’t be able to. . .”
    Although he didn’t finish the statement, Trina needed no more explanation. She tightened her fingers on his arm. “I’m sorry.”
    “Me, too.” His voice had lost its hard edge, but it still lacked his usual warmth. He placed his hand over hers and looked directly into her eyes. “Trina, think carefully about what you want. Going to school, getting a degree—people do it every day. But not everybody has the opportunity to build a family. Don’t throw something so valuable away over a childish dream.”
    Trina pulled her hand back, stung by his simplification of her desires. But she didn’t argue. She nodded. “I’ll think about it. And pray about it.”
    “Do that.” He headed for the door, cupping her elbow and pulling her along with him. “I need to get home to Liv. I’ll talk to you later, Trina.”
    After he drove off, Trina started for the café. But she didn’t want to face her mother after the two emotionally exhausting conversations she’d just had. But where to go? Since Andrew’s opinion was now colored by his personal conflict, who else might be able to offer support and sympathy?
    “Beth,” Trina whispered. Beth wasn’t Mennonite. She would have a different viewpoint from everyone else in town. Trina would ask Beth. She set off in the direction of the little bungalow on Cottonwood Street.

    The door opened to Trina’s knock, and Sean McCauley stood framed in the doorway. He smiled, his mouth half hidden by his mustache. “Well, hello. It’s Trina, right? Come on in.”
    Trina stepped over the threshold and stood on the little square of linoleum in front of the door. A television set blared from the corner, the screen showing a close-up image of a man holding a microphone and pointing to a building behind him. Sean quickly