Read Online The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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receipt.
“Aden.” Gideon peered into the kitchen from the pass-through. “Do you mind if Mattie and I come back there for a minute?”
Aden motioned for them. He removed his apron and set it on a nearby work station. Today was Friday, the last day the couple needed the diner to help feed their friends and family from out of town. From the start, Mattie had felt it was important for tradition’s sake that she and her family take over feeding the guests in the customary style during the last three days before the wedding. Aden didn’t doubt she had the energy for it. Both she and Gideon were so happy that the room could not contain their enthusiasm.
He remembered how miserable Gideon and Mattie had been after they split up three years ago. At the time, Aden thought the breakup made no sense. They had seemed crazy about each other. But they had ended their relationship, and both had moved away from Apple Ridge. Now that Aden knew the whole story, he understood. Gideon had been diagnosed with leukemia, and in his determination to free Mattie from the burden his illness would put on her, he ended their relationship. Without knowing the truth, Mattie moved to Ohio to live with her brother and began a cake shop—Mattie Cakes. And the two stayed apart for three years. After a close brush with death, Gideon began improving. Mattie’s shop burned down, and after she returned to Apple Ridge, she learned the truth. And forgave Gideon.
In some odd way the story had a few similarities to him andAnnie. She’d once lived in Apple Ridge, moved away, and returned to steal his heart. The last time they worked side by side, they were simply friends. Now, almost five years later, she’d returned, and their bond grew stronger with every glance, word, and dream.
Gideon pushed the swinging door open with the palm of his hand and held it there for Mattie to go first.
Gideon’s actions had been based in love, especially since he was deathly ill and in isolation for the better part of a year, but maybe relationships weren’t often meant to be practical. By misleading Mattie, Gideon had caused both of them more pain. They were apart three years—almost to the day.
Mattie grinned. “I can’t thank you enough for helping feed our friends and family this week so the burden of it didn’t land on Mamm. I never expected the kind of service you’ve given us.”
“Glad we c-could do it.” Aden focused on a song, the music and cadence, and it seemed to help.
Gideon put his hand on Mattie’s back and rubbed it. “I can’t figure out how you and Annie kept all the orders straight while running both the family-style meals for us and providing for the regular customers, and you were able to serve the meals so smoothly.”
“S-s-sign language, sort of.”
Mattie smiled at Gideon. “We used to do that when we were kids. And when Gideon stayed at his grandmother’s, we used flashlights for Morse code, spoke through walkie-talkies, and tied notes to the mane of a horse.”
“Neither of us knew what the flicking on and off of the flashlightmeant.” Gideon chuckled. “But we’d do about anything to stay in contact, even after we’d spent the whole day together.”
Annie came through the kitchen door with a bin of dirty dishes. Aden’s heart turned a flip, and he understood the overwhelming need to be in touch every waking moment. But the truth was, even if Annie cared for him, as he hoped she did, they faced worse survival odds than Gideon had.
“A-Annie missed a lot of sleep to help out this week.”
Mattie peered around Aden toward the sink. “Denki.”
Annie unloaded the bin and rinsed her hands. “I’ve enjoyed every minute,” she said over her shoulder before turning off the water.
Aden held out a kitchen towel, and she dried her hands. The sense of comradeship between them felt so right.
“You two are walking down the aisle next week, right?” Annie asked.
Mattie glanced up at Gideon, looking the happiest Aden
“Aden.” Gideon peered into the kitchen from the pass-through. “Do you mind if Mattie and I come back there for a minute?”
Aden motioned for them. He removed his apron and set it on a nearby work station. Today was Friday, the last day the couple needed the diner to help feed their friends and family from out of town. From the start, Mattie had felt it was important for tradition’s sake that she and her family take over feeding the guests in the customary style during the last three days before the wedding. Aden didn’t doubt she had the energy for it. Both she and Gideon were so happy that the room could not contain their enthusiasm.
He remembered how miserable Gideon and Mattie had been after they split up three years ago. At the time, Aden thought the breakup made no sense. They had seemed crazy about each other. But they had ended their relationship, and both had moved away from Apple Ridge. Now that Aden knew the whole story, he understood. Gideon had been diagnosed with leukemia, and in his determination to free Mattie from the burden his illness would put on her, he ended their relationship. Without knowing the truth, Mattie moved to Ohio to live with her brother and began a cake shop—Mattie Cakes. And the two stayed apart for three years. After a close brush with death, Gideon began improving. Mattie’s shop burned down, and after she returned to Apple Ridge, she learned the truth. And forgave Gideon.
In some odd way the story had a few similarities to him andAnnie. She’d once lived in Apple Ridge, moved away, and returned to steal his heart. The last time they worked side by side, they were simply friends. Now, almost five years later, she’d returned, and their bond grew stronger with every glance, word, and dream.
Gideon pushed the swinging door open with the palm of his hand and held it there for Mattie to go first.
Gideon’s actions had been based in love, especially since he was deathly ill and in isolation for the better part of a year, but maybe relationships weren’t often meant to be practical. By misleading Mattie, Gideon had caused both of them more pain. They were apart three years—almost to the day.
Mattie grinned. “I can’t thank you enough for helping feed our friends and family this week so the burden of it didn’t land on Mamm. I never expected the kind of service you’ve given us.”
“Glad we c-could do it.” Aden focused on a song, the music and cadence, and it seemed to help.
Gideon put his hand on Mattie’s back and rubbed it. “I can’t figure out how you and Annie kept all the orders straight while running both the family-style meals for us and providing for the regular customers, and you were able to serve the meals so smoothly.”
“S-s-sign language, sort of.”
Mattie smiled at Gideon. “We used to do that when we were kids. And when Gideon stayed at his grandmother’s, we used flashlights for Morse code, spoke through walkie-talkies, and tied notes to the mane of a horse.”
“Neither of us knew what the flicking on and off of the flashlightmeant.” Gideon chuckled. “But we’d do about anything to stay in contact, even after we’d spent the whole day together.”
Annie came through the kitchen door with a bin of dirty dishes. Aden’s heart turned a flip, and he understood the overwhelming need to be in touch every waking moment. But the truth was, even if Annie cared for him, as he hoped she did, they faced worse survival odds than Gideon had.
“A-Annie missed a lot of sleep to help out this week.”
Mattie peered around Aden toward the sink. “Denki.”
Annie unloaded the bin and rinsed her hands. “I’ve enjoyed every minute,” she said over her shoulder before turning off the water.
Aden held out a kitchen towel, and she dried her hands. The sense of comradeship between them felt so right.
“You two are walking down the aisle next week, right?” Annie asked.
Mattie glanced up at Gideon, looking the happiest Aden
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