Read Online The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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had ever seen her. “Tuesday. I wish we had room for one more guest.”
“Don’t think a thing about it,” Annie said. “These events are for family and friends. So, where will you live after the wedding?”
Mattie’s eyes met Gideon’s, and she chuckled. “With his grandmother. She has lots of room.”
Gideon winked. “Which is exactly where we told our families we’d live when we were just little kids.”
“Only then,” Mattie said, “our plan was to live on separate floors of the house, me sharing a room with his grandmother. That’s a change in plans I’m sure she appreciates.”
“No doubt.” Annie smiled.
Someone from the diner called to Gideon. “Well, we’d better tell the stragglers it’s about closing time here. We just wanted to thank you both.”
They left, and Aden wished Annie and he had a chance at a happily-ever-after too. But how could they? They’d each taken a vow to stay faithful to their respective churches. It was forbidden for them even to court.
Annie passed Aden the towel. “I need to get back to work.”
After she left, Aden finished wiping down the work station, his mind fully on Annie. His mother was at the side door, chatting with numerous Old Order Amish women she’d known her whole life.
Aden grabbed a wire brush and began scrubbing the grill. He and Annie had enjoyed each other’s company a lot over the years. During her long stay after the accident, they’d shared a special bond—working and praying together as friends during that stressful time while Daed and Roman recuperated. When they discovered they shared a similar sense of humor, they grew even closer. Every time she’d visited Apple Ridge since that time, his feelings for her had grown stronger. But he’d stood his ground, refusing to give in to the dream of what he wanted most out of life—Annie.
The bells on the diner door gave a muted jingle. He glanced up and saw Annie. His attention stayed glued to her as she held on to the doorknob while talking to Gideon and Mattie, the last customers left in the restaurant. Annie waved before she locked the door behind them.
Watching Annie made his heart feel all tingly and vibrant, as if an electric current ran through it. He and Annie would work for two more hours, and then they planned to share a meal he’d make for her. Afterward they’d go for another walk in the cherry tree orchard, this time in the daylight. They might ride horses … if they could do it without being seen.
He’d never looked forward to anything like he did having time with her.
His mother snapped her fingers, pulling his attention away from Annie. Mamm had that worried look—the one she had for a full year after Daed and Roman’s accident.
“What?” He went back to his work, raking the wire brush across the grill.
“Aden,” she whispered.
When she said nothing else, he looked up and saw her staring at him. She gestured toward Annie. “Please, Son, tell me I’m not seeing what I think I see.” The desperation in her voice made him cringe. “Look, this doesn’t seem like two old friends working together. You must know that.”
He hoped and feared his mother was right.
Before he could say anything else, Annie came through the swinging door. Her cobalt dress made her eyes look more blue than green. With a tub of dirty dishes propped on one hip, she walked two fingers through the air and then flopped her arm to her side.
He laughed and nodded. Her gesture was part of the sign language they’d started developing last night. Her expressive hands saidshe was exhausted. With this made-up language they could communicate at any time without words, even across a crowded room. Something he’d enjoyed greatly since the diner opened that morning.
But the hunger to talk to her was so strong that he pushed beyond his self-consciousness more than he ever had. Unlike Roman, who had no ability to use his legs, Aden could at least use his voice, and now he had someone worthy
“Don’t think a thing about it,” Annie said. “These events are for family and friends. So, where will you live after the wedding?”
Mattie’s eyes met Gideon’s, and she chuckled. “With his grandmother. She has lots of room.”
Gideon winked. “Which is exactly where we told our families we’d live when we were just little kids.”
“Only then,” Mattie said, “our plan was to live on separate floors of the house, me sharing a room with his grandmother. That’s a change in plans I’m sure she appreciates.”
“No doubt.” Annie smiled.
Someone from the diner called to Gideon. “Well, we’d better tell the stragglers it’s about closing time here. We just wanted to thank you both.”
They left, and Aden wished Annie and he had a chance at a happily-ever-after too. But how could they? They’d each taken a vow to stay faithful to their respective churches. It was forbidden for them even to court.
Annie passed Aden the towel. “I need to get back to work.”
After she left, Aden finished wiping down the work station, his mind fully on Annie. His mother was at the side door, chatting with numerous Old Order Amish women she’d known her whole life.
Aden grabbed a wire brush and began scrubbing the grill. He and Annie had enjoyed each other’s company a lot over the years. During her long stay after the accident, they’d shared a special bond—working and praying together as friends during that stressful time while Daed and Roman recuperated. When they discovered they shared a similar sense of humor, they grew even closer. Every time she’d visited Apple Ridge since that time, his feelings for her had grown stronger. But he’d stood his ground, refusing to give in to the dream of what he wanted most out of life—Annie.
The bells on the diner door gave a muted jingle. He glanced up and saw Annie. His attention stayed glued to her as she held on to the doorknob while talking to Gideon and Mattie, the last customers left in the restaurant. Annie waved before she locked the door behind them.
Watching Annie made his heart feel all tingly and vibrant, as if an electric current ran through it. He and Annie would work for two more hours, and then they planned to share a meal he’d make for her. Afterward they’d go for another walk in the cherry tree orchard, this time in the daylight. They might ride horses … if they could do it without being seen.
He’d never looked forward to anything like he did having time with her.
His mother snapped her fingers, pulling his attention away from Annie. Mamm had that worried look—the one she had for a full year after Daed and Roman’s accident.
“What?” He went back to his work, raking the wire brush across the grill.
“Aden,” she whispered.
When she said nothing else, he looked up and saw her staring at him. She gestured toward Annie. “Please, Son, tell me I’m not seeing what I think I see.” The desperation in her voice made him cringe. “Look, this doesn’t seem like two old friends working together. You must know that.”
He hoped and feared his mother was right.
Before he could say anything else, Annie came through the swinging door. Her cobalt dress made her eyes look more blue than green. With a tub of dirty dishes propped on one hip, she walked two fingers through the air and then flopped her arm to her side.
He laughed and nodded. Her gesture was part of the sign language they’d started developing last night. Her expressive hands saidshe was exhausted. With this made-up language they could communicate at any time without words, even across a crowded room. Something he’d enjoyed greatly since the diner opened that morning.
But the hunger to talk to her was so strong that he pushed beyond his self-consciousness more than he ever had. Unlike Roman, who had no ability to use his legs, Aden could at least use his voice, and now he had someone worthy
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