Read Online Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon - Free Book Online Page A

her husband, Freddie, who had walked out last Christmas, not even taking his clothes. Beth had been raised on a farm in upstate New York and knew a lot about natural beauty but hardly anything about men. As for Dooley’s friends who were coming, there was only Tommy, who played mandolin and guitar and banjo and used to live up the street from the rectory. Dooley really wanted to keep thewedding small and have his school friends visit when things were more settled. She knew them all, she would like that; some had kids now.
    She fidgeted with her phone, took a photo of the cows in the green distance, and sent it to Dooley. She had come out here to try to arrange things in her head before she called him, but she couldn’t think and she couldn’t wait. She needed to hear his voice now.
    He was tossing stuff into a giveaway pile; she heard a Dave Rawlings CD playing in the background.
    â€˜It looks possible!’ she said, startled by her tears. Funny how people are surprised when prayers are answered. ‘They called early this morning. A few days before the wedding, they think. But they’re not sure.’
    â€˜This is good.’ He was hoarse with his own feelings or maybe exhaustion or actually both. ‘Don’t worry.’
    She felt the commingled rush of joy and fear. She could hardly believe it was happening at last, and yet the timing . . .
    This was a hugely delicate situation. How would all the wedding commotion at Meadowgate affect Jack Tyler? It had been close to impossible over the last two years to keep such an enormous secret from their parents, while the Owens and Willie and Lily, even Beth, knew everything. In its own way this had been as intense as their commitment to vet school.
    â€˜We have to stay calm.’ She gulped a breath. ‘We cannotget crazy.’ She was already a little crazy, but was doing all she could to hide it.
    â€˜Let’s put craziness behind us,’ he said. ‘And about the weather—it should be against house rule to stress about it. If it rains, we get wet. So what, we’ll remember it.’
    Truman leaped onto the bench and made himself at home in her lap.
    â€˜Great. Okay. Yes.’ She breathed out, let it go; she had to let it all go. ‘It’s beautiful here. We’re getting rain tonight.’
    â€˜Love you,’ he said.
    â€˜Love you back.’
    â€˜Miss you.’
    â€˜Miss you more.’
    She would say how much more, but it was impossible to put into words.
    â€˜How are the girls?’
    â€˜I just sent you a picture. If they only knew who’s headed this way!’
    They laughed together. She was getting her breath back. ‘Wait till you see what Clarence is doing for the guest gifts. Amazing. It’s a really big order; two other carvers are working with him, they’ll deliver the Friday before.’
    She was dying to tell him about his wedding gift; he was her best friend and it was strange not to talk about it. She stroked Truman, gave him a neck rub.
    â€˜We decided about the dancing,’ she said. ‘If we get married on the porch, Harley and Willie will take the chairsaway while supper happens in the barn. So, dancing on the porch!’ With ribbons and roses twined on the railings and lights sparkling in the trees and lanterns flickering around the yard like fireflies.
    She wanted to feel like a firefly herself on the night of their wedding. If she could just find a dress.

    He liked sitting with Cynthia in the glider, which did indeed glide. Smooth as silk for an old hand-me-down, and a perfect way to savor the evening downpour on the tin porch roof. He could hardly wait until tomorrow to see how the grass was coming along.
    Nearly two years had passed since his wife had labored over the writing and illustrating of a Violet book—or any book. She seemed content these days to observe all manner of activity without being stirred to put it between covers.