Read Online The Divided Family by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online

indication that they’d been dismissed for the day. He popped a breath mint in his mouth and got out of the truck. As he walked toward the door, his nephew Scott stepped out, carrying a lunch box in one hand while adjusting his straw hat with the other.
    “Hey, Uncle Joel! What are you doin’ here?” Eyes wide, the boy looked up at Joel and grinned.
    Joel raked his fingers through the back of his hair. “I … umm … came by to talk to your teacher.”
    Scott tipped his head, looking quizzically at Joel.
    “It’s just a little grown-up talk.” No way was Joel about to explain the reason for his visit with Anna.
    “Are ya comin’ to the school Christmas program tomorrow evening? Me, my brother, and my sisters all have parts.” The boy moved his head slowly up and down. “We’ve been practicin’ for the last couple of weeks.”
    “I bet you have.” Joel remembered how excited he used to get when he was a boy and the class would prepare for the program their parents and other family members would be invited to attend. He’d always tried to do his best so he wouldn’t embarrass his folks.
    Joel flinched when he thought about Christmas, only a few days away. He’d been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his buddy, Tom, but Christmas Day he would be by himself. He’d thought maybe one of his sisters would invite him to spend the holiday at her house, but after the scene he’d created when Dad’s will was read, he wasn’t surprised no one had asked.
I wonder what Kristi will be doing this year. I sure miss spending time with her. It seems odd not to have bought her a gift.
Joel was giving in to self-pity, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He felt like a ship without an anchor these days.
    “So are ya comin’ to the Christmas program?” Scott tugged on Joel’s jacket.
    “Maybe. If I get off work in time to drive down here.”
    “Sure hope you can make it.” The boy continued to look at Joel. “Guess I’d better head out. Doug, Martha, and Lillian went home already. I stayed after to practice my part a bit longer.”
    Joel gave Scott’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll try to be there to see you perform.”
    “Okay! See you soon, Uncle Joel.”
    Joel watched his nephew head out on his bike, then turned and went into the schoolhouse. He found Anna at the front of the room, sitting behind her desk and going over paperwork. When Joel cleared his throat, she jumped.
    “I—I’m surprised to see you, Joel. If you stopped by to see one of your nieces or nephews, they’ve already left.” Anna’s cheeks were bright pink, and her blue eyes as vivid as ever.
    “Well, I … uh … was visiting with my nephew Scott outside, and he mentioned the Christmas program tomorrow evening. I told him I’d try to make it to the holiday performance, but I actually came here today to see you.”
    “Oh, what about?” Anna placed her pen beside the papers on her desk.
    Joel leaned on her desk, hoping he wouldn’t lose his nerve and would be able to say the right words. “See … the thing is … I came to apologize.”
    Fingering her paperwork, Anna murmured, “For what, Joel?”
    “For hurting you when I broke things off and left the Amish faith.” There, it was out. If she accepted his apology he’d stop by Dad’s place and tell Aunt Verna what he’d done. Telling Anna he was sorry would surely be considered a selfless act.
    She blinked a couple of times, and the color in her cheeks darkened. “What brought this on all of a sudden? Have you changed your mind about being English?”
    He shook his head. “I’m happy living with modern things. I … I’ve been thinking about us, though, and wanted you to know that I feel bad about the way things ended.” Joel leaned a bit closer. “Will you accept my apology?” Remembering how his dimpled smile used to temper Anna’s mood whenever they got into a disagreement in the past, Joel thought he’d go that route and see if it would work on her now. So he