Read Online Brian's Choice by Vannetta Chapman - Free Book Online Page B

neglected to grocery shop the week before. He was reaching for the leftover chicken casserole when he heard a knock on his front door.
    Hurrying to open it, he was surprised to find Katie looking pretty and fresh in the October dawn. Seeing no buggy, he assumed she had walked over from her sister’s home. What caused her to rise and head to his house so early in the morning?
    â€œWe thought you could use some breakfast. JoAnna made fresh raisin bread yesterday.”
    â€œYou saved me. I was about to eat chicken casserole.” Brian wanted to invite her in, but he realized that might be inappropriate. “I just made coffee. We could sit on the porch and enjoy the bread if you can stay.”
    â€œ Ya . That’s a gut idea.”
    Once they were settled and had watched the sun fully rise, Katie asked him about what had happened the day before at the police station. He told her everything, including the story of his journey to Cody’s Creek.
    â€œI remember the first time I saw you,” she said, glancing at him and then away.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œYou were standing at the front of the classroom, and I had just arrived with my nephews.”
    â€œThe first day of school. It feels like years ago.”
    Katie laughed. “You looked none too pleased to see me.”
    â€œI was expecting a young girl just out of eighth grade.”
    â€œSo you were disappointed?” Katie’s smile grew, brightening Brian’s day as much as the sunshine splashing across his fields.
    â€œNo. I was not disappointed in you, Katie. I wouldn’t have made it through the last few months of learning to teach again—learning to teach differently—without you.”
    Katie sipped her coffee and then said, “Tell me about Bridgette.”
    â€œI’ll need more coffee for that.” He carried their mugs to the kitchen, refilled them, and then returned to the porch. Somehow it wasn’t as difficult as he imagined to speak of Bridgette. How she was before, and how she was now.
    â€œSo she’ll walk again?”
    â€œYes. She’s already making great progress. She writes to me occasionally, and my parents do as well.” Brian waited for the familiar sorrow to pierce his heart, but it didn’t. Perhaps he’d learned to accept Bridgette’s forgiveness as well as God’s.
    â€œWhat do your parents think of your choice to become Amish?”
    â€œThey don’t understand it. They keep saying they’ll visit, but I think they’re afraid. So far they’ve only sent letters.”
    â€œMaybe someday…”
    â€œI hope so. I pray they will.”
    â€œDo you think you’ll ever go back?”
    â€œTo California?”
    â€œTo being Englisch .”
    â€œNo. That was a one-way path for me,” he said gently.
    â€œI’m glad.” She looked as if she wanted to say more, but the morning’s quiet was broken by the sound of a buggy approaching.
    Moses Miller and Samuel Schwartz waved hello.
    â€œWe’ve come to help plant your winter crop, Brian,” Moses said cheerily.
    Katie claimed she had to return to help her sister with the cleaning. “Church is at our place tomorrow. You’ll be there?”
    â€œOf course.”
    As he joined Moses and Samuel in the field, it occurred to Brian that this was his family now, his community. There may be one or two that would have their suspicions, that would wonder if he was involved with Stella’s disappearance, but within every group there was always a few individuals who remained skeptical of new members. It wasn’t just because he was Englisch . No doubt they would treat new Amish families the same way.
    Brian could either focus on those few negative folks or embrace those who supported him. With Moses on his left and Samuel on his right, the decision wasn’t all that hard.

SIXTEEN
    Katie paused for a moment to watch as Brian entered her sister’s