Read Online Sweet Forever by Ramona K. Cecil - Free Book Online Page A

white-gloved hands, clasped in the lap of her rose taffeta skirt. Occasionally, however, she’d cast a shy glance up toward Jacob, who stood preaching from the open Bible draped across his outstretched arm.
    From her vantage point beside the piano, Rosaleen squirmed on the gold velvet-upholstered hassock. She wondered if anyone was actually listening to Jacob’s sermon, as all eyes seemed trained on either Sophie Schuler or herself.
    Lacing her fingers together, she pressed her balled fists into the lap of her blue chintz dress. Self-conscious, she felt sure everyone would recognize it as one of Becky Morgan’s cast-offs.
    After the initial butterflies in her stomach settled down, she’d actually enjoyed playing for the service. Jacob’s introduction had been mercifully brief and simple, describing her as “Mrs. Archer, an accomplished pianist in Mrs. Buchanan’s employ, who’ll be filling in at the piano for a time.”
    Also, she’d been surprised to find herself enjoying watching him preach. What she heard bore scarce resemblance to the fire-and-brimstone sermons her former guardian had leveled at his congregation. Jacob’s voice, tender and moving, spoke of God’s enduring love and His calling of all to repentance.
    All!
    Jacob’s impassioned but gentle voice reading the words of Jesus brought tears to her eyes. Could it actually mean what it said? Could it mean her?
    She found the picture Jacob painted of Christ as the Good Shepherd a compelling one. One she longed to grasp. Yet she could still hear Wilfred Maguire’s contradicting words ringing in her ears.
    “ You are a harlot’s spawn—wicked and irredeemable. ”
    It was all so confusing. Which was right? Which was wrong? Rosaleen didn’t think she could bear opening her heart, hoping to find inclusion, only to learn that Jesus’ invitation did not apply to her and that her former guardian had been right.
    She looked at Jacob then at Sophie Schuler. One way or another, her heart seemed destined to be broken in Madison, Indiana.
    At the conclusion of Jacob’s sermon, Rosaleen watched for his nod. Taking her place at the piano, she accompanied the congregation in their singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”
    During the benediction, she sat quietly, feeling very apart from the others in the room. Did God actually hear Jacob’s heartfelt words? Would he hear hers? The last time she remembered expressing anything that resembled a prayer had been that night in the river when she’d feared drowning. Had God heard her? Had it been His hand that saved her?
    “Rosaleen.”
    Jacob’s voice startled her from her musings, and she whirled around on the piano seat. Rosaleen hated the jealousy gripping her as Jacob approached arm in arm with Sophie Schuler.
    “Rosaleen, there is someone I’d like you to meet.” He smiled, glancing affectionately at the diminutive blond girl beside him. “This is Sophie Schuler, an old friend from my home village.”
    Standing, Rosaleen smiled, surprised at how easy and genuine the response came.
    “Sophie, this is Mrs. Rosaleen Archer. She has graciously agreed to act as pianist for our congregation until such a time as you might feel prepared to accept that duty.”
    “I—I don’t know. Oh Jacob, must I?” Sophie murmured through her fingertips she pressed against her lips.
    Rosaleen saw stark fear glisten in Sophie’s pale blue eyes.
    “Why, no. Of course you don’t have to if you’d rather not.”
    As Jacob patted Sophie’s hand, Rosaleen felt a pain in the vicinity of her heart.
    “Mrs. Archer is such a wonderful pianist. I’m afraid the piano was not one of the studies at which I excelled during my education at Miss Ely’s Academy for Girls. Would you mind terribly continuing your music ministry, Mrs. Archer?” Hope shone from the girl’s eyes.
    At once, Rosaleen felt both ashamed of her own jealousy and compelled to relieve the girl’s anxiety. “No, of course not.”
    Glancing at Jacob,