Read Online In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kim Vogel Sawyer
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Petey.
Alice-Marie bustled forward and shook Petey’s hand. Then she reached for Bennett and clung. “Oh, it’s so nice to meet Elisabet’s good friends from childhood. I hope you won’t find my presence an unwelcome intrusion. I wanted to have supper with Elisabet, but she said she already had plans to meet you. I was so very, very disappointed that she relented and said I could come, too.” She giggled, covering her lips with her fingertips. “And I must say, it isn’t often a girl gets to dine with two such dashing men. I feel so very honored.”
Libby shook her head. Would Alice-Marie stop talking long enough for them to eat? She grabbed Alice-Marie’s elbow and gave her a little push toward the door. “Let’s go.” She sent an apologetic look over her shoulder as Petey and Bennett fell into step behind them. They joined the line that snaked along the wall from the serving table all the way to the door. The line moved slowly, but they chatted about their chosen courses of study—to Libby’s surprise, Alice-Marie hoped to become a nurse one day—and filled the time.
When they reached the serving table, Bennett zipped around the girls and handed them each a tray. “Here you are, ladies.”
“Oooh.” Alice-Marie tipped her head and fluttered her thick lashes at Bennett. “Aren’t you the gentleman?”
Libby rolled her eyes. If Alice-Marie only knew. Instead of gesturing the ladies forward, Bennett retained his spot ahead of them and began filling his plate. Libby looked at Petey, and they exchanged a grin. In his blue eyes, she read her own thought: – Bennett just wanted to be first .
When they’d all made their selections, Bennett led them to a table along the south wall. He pulled out Alice-Marie’s chair for her, earning another simpering look, and then quickly sat down beside her. Libby plunked down her tray and reached for her chair, but to her surprise Petey pulled it out and held it for her. Embarrassed yet pleased, she slid into her seat.
Petey started to sit, but his peg leg slipped on the smooth tile floor. He tilted sideways, banging his elbow into Libby’s shoulder.
“Petey!” she cried in alarm and grabbed his arm with both hands.
He caught the table edge and lowered himself into the chair. “Whew.” He flashed a grin around at the others. “I’m all right. Just clumsy.” He looked at Libby’s hands. “You can let go—I’m safe now.” Although his tone was mild, she sensed irritation in the firm set of his jaw.
Rebuffed, she jerked her hands back. Her fingers trembled slightly as she needlessly lined up her cutlery next to her plate like soldiers at attention. “W-would you bless the food for us, Petey?”
Immediately, Alice-Marie bowed her head. Bennett released the salt shaker he’d just picked up. Petey folded his hands and closed his eyes. Libby did likewise. Petey’s low voice was nearly swallowed by rowdy conversations, clanking silverware, and squeaking chairs in the crowded dining hall. But by leaning sideways slightly, Libby was able to hear his simple prayer of thanks for the food.
He said amen and Libby straightened. Her shoulder lightly bumped against his arm, and he sent her a quick smile. Whatever had irritated him earlier seemed to have fled. Relieved, she grinned back and then turned her attention to her food.
While they ate, Alice-Marie plied them with questions. Before long, she directed every question to Bennett, ignoring Petey and Libby. She seemed particularly enamored with Bennett’s tales of caring for himself on the streets. The girl had seemed dismayed— even repulsed—by Libby’s orphan status, yet she offered only admiration and sympathy to Bennett. Libby jabbed her fork into the mound of mashed potatoes on her plate and tried not to seethe.
Bennett scraped up every last crumb on his plate and headed for seconds. Alice-Marie watched him go, her expression rapt. Then she leaned forward and fixed Libby with a scolding look.
Alice-Marie bustled forward and shook Petey’s hand. Then she reached for Bennett and clung. “Oh, it’s so nice to meet Elisabet’s good friends from childhood. I hope you won’t find my presence an unwelcome intrusion. I wanted to have supper with Elisabet, but she said she already had plans to meet you. I was so very, very disappointed that she relented and said I could come, too.” She giggled, covering her lips with her fingertips. “And I must say, it isn’t often a girl gets to dine with two such dashing men. I feel so very honored.”
Libby shook her head. Would Alice-Marie stop talking long enough for them to eat? She grabbed Alice-Marie’s elbow and gave her a little push toward the door. “Let’s go.” She sent an apologetic look over her shoulder as Petey and Bennett fell into step behind them. They joined the line that snaked along the wall from the serving table all the way to the door. The line moved slowly, but they chatted about their chosen courses of study—to Libby’s surprise, Alice-Marie hoped to become a nurse one day—and filled the time.
When they reached the serving table, Bennett zipped around the girls and handed them each a tray. “Here you are, ladies.”
“Oooh.” Alice-Marie tipped her head and fluttered her thick lashes at Bennett. “Aren’t you the gentleman?”
Libby rolled her eyes. If Alice-Marie only knew. Instead of gesturing the ladies forward, Bennett retained his spot ahead of them and began filling his plate. Libby looked at Petey, and they exchanged a grin. In his blue eyes, she read her own thought: – Bennett just wanted to be first .
When they’d all made their selections, Bennett led them to a table along the south wall. He pulled out Alice-Marie’s chair for her, earning another simpering look, and then quickly sat down beside her. Libby plunked down her tray and reached for her chair, but to her surprise Petey pulled it out and held it for her. Embarrassed yet pleased, she slid into her seat.
Petey started to sit, but his peg leg slipped on the smooth tile floor. He tilted sideways, banging his elbow into Libby’s shoulder.
“Petey!” she cried in alarm and grabbed his arm with both hands.
He caught the table edge and lowered himself into the chair. “Whew.” He flashed a grin around at the others. “I’m all right. Just clumsy.” He looked at Libby’s hands. “You can let go—I’m safe now.” Although his tone was mild, she sensed irritation in the firm set of his jaw.
Rebuffed, she jerked her hands back. Her fingers trembled slightly as she needlessly lined up her cutlery next to her plate like soldiers at attention. “W-would you bless the food for us, Petey?”
Immediately, Alice-Marie bowed her head. Bennett released the salt shaker he’d just picked up. Petey folded his hands and closed his eyes. Libby did likewise. Petey’s low voice was nearly swallowed by rowdy conversations, clanking silverware, and squeaking chairs in the crowded dining hall. But by leaning sideways slightly, Libby was able to hear his simple prayer of thanks for the food.
He said amen and Libby straightened. Her shoulder lightly bumped against his arm, and he sent her a quick smile. Whatever had irritated him earlier seemed to have fled. Relieved, she grinned back and then turned her attention to her food.
While they ate, Alice-Marie plied them with questions. Before long, she directed every question to Bennett, ignoring Petey and Libby. She seemed particularly enamored with Bennett’s tales of caring for himself on the streets. The girl had seemed dismayed— even repulsed—by Libby’s orphan status, yet she offered only admiration and sympathy to Bennett. Libby jabbed her fork into the mound of mashed potatoes on her plate and tried not to seethe.
Bennett scraped up every last crumb on his plate and headed for seconds. Alice-Marie watched him go, her expression rapt. Then she leaned forward and fixed Libby with a scolding look.
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