Read Online Sarah's Orphans by Vannetta Chapman - Free Book Online Page B

and singing again.
    Luke was fidgeting.
    Isaac reached into his pocket for something, smiled, and carefully pressed the pocket closed. Surely he hadn’t brought some animal to church. Had he?
    The final hymn was sung, and then Sarah was busy helping with the meal while the men moved chairs and created tables by putting planks across sawhorses. The meal was also held in Brian’s barn, which she had thought might be cold. It wasn’t, though. Between the number of people and the stove in the corner that had been going long before they arrived, it was actually pleasant.
    She didn’t notice Paul walk up behind her until he said, “Brian’s house is a bit small, but the barn is nice.”
    How did a person answer that?
    And why was he even talking to her?
    â€œ Ya , that’s true,” she mumbled and nearly dropped a dish of potato salad.
    â€œI’ll carry that for you.”
    â€œNo need.”
    â€œI’m happy to. Should I put it over there? With the vegetables?”
    Well, you wouldn’t put it with the desserts! Sarah thought. But instead of saying that, she thanked him and hurried away.
    Mealtime after Sunday service was always hectic for a few moments. Once everyone began eating, everything slowed down. Sarah sat next to Becca and Joshua, though she made sure she could see the boys a few tables over. It was her responsibility to keep an eye on them now.
    â€œI saw Paul speaking with you,” Becca said in a low voice.
    â€œHave you ever met a more sour man?” Sarah realized how that must sound, and she quickly amended it. “What I mean is, he doesn’t seem terribly happy.”
    â€œHe’s happier than he was last week, is what I hear.” Joshua’s plate was heaped with food. She didn’t remember him eating that much on the mission trip, but then he’d been worried about his brother at that time. Now Alton lived in Texas and worked full-time for Mennonite Disaster Services.
    â€œHe doesn’t look happier,” she said, grateful that no one else was sharing their table.
    She didn’t want to seem to be gossiping about Paul Byler. She didn’t want to gossip about anyone. She hadn’t even started this conversation.
    â€œHe looked happier when he took that bowl of potato salad from you,” Becca said. She was five months pregnant and had the glow that expectant mothers had after they made it past their time of morning sickness. “He was grinning.”
    It was plain her friends were teasing her, but Sarah didn’t know about what.
    Joshua leaned across the table and said, “I heard he made an offer on Leon’s old place.”
    Sarah had just swallowed a forkful of ham and macaroni casserole, and she promptly started coughing. Becca patted her back and Joshua waited, apparently amused by her reaction.
    When she’d stopped coughing and caught her breath, she said, “Paul? Buying the place next to ours? But, it’s…it’s…it’s falling apart!”
    â€œ Ya , a gut place for a bachelor to start.” Joshua winked at Becca and resumed devouring the mountain of food in front of him.
    â€œDon’t look so flustered.” Becca took a sip from her glass of water. “You’ll have neighbors again. That will be a gut thing.”
    Indeed, but it wasn’t what she’d prayed for. She’d prayed for a friend—a female friend. The conversation turned to Becca’s pregnancy and the progress on the home they were building. Sarah didn’t notice Andy walk up behind her until he leaned down and said, “The bishop would like to speak with us.”
    â€œIs everything all right?” Becca asked.
    â€œ Ya .” Sarah had meant to tell her friend about their situation at home, but she’d been waiting for the right moment. “I’ll come find you later.”
    And then she was hurrying beside her brother across the yard and through the snow. The