Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Author:Suzanne Woods Fisher [Fisher, Suzanne Woods]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042000, FIC053000
ISBN: 9781441246387
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

As busy as Bess was with wedding preparations, she found time to dart out to the greenhouse and check on the rosebud two to three times a day, looking for changes, hoping there might be an excuse to leave a message at Billy’s office. The rose capsule remained stubbornly intact, as if it wasn’t going to budge until it was good and ready.

Riehl relatives streamed in and out of Rose Hill Farm, cooking and baking and moving furniture, readying the farmhouse for the wedding tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

In less than twenty-four hours, Bess was going to become Mrs. Amos Lapp. Earlier today, before the relatives started arriving, Lainey had come into Bess’s bedroom with a newly sewn blue wedding dress and white apron draped over her arm and shut the door. “Bess, let’s have a talk about what to expect.”

At first, Bess didn’t know what she meant and opened her mouth to ask when Lainey cut her off. “Sex. We need to talk about sex.”

Oh. Bess’s mouth clamped shut. Easily embarrassed, she felt her cheeks flame. She knew bits and pieces about what happened between a husband and wife, informed by Maggie, who claimed to be an expert in such matters. But Lainey was far more thorough than Maggie, more descriptive, and probably more accurate, seeing as how she was married and Maggie was not.

Nor was Lainey at all embarrassed by the topic. She gave Bess a very clear idea of what went on behind closed doors between a man and wife. “All the modesty, all the careful covering up that’s been a part of your life—it’s all set aside when it comes to your marriage bed. God intended for you to enjoy your moments.”

Enjoy your moments. A beautiful comment; permission to savor the gift of intimacy between a man and a woman. Why, then, did Bess feel her heart grow heavy? Why did she feel so sad?

Amos was a hard worker and genuine and kind, fine looking, and she knew he would make a good husband. Bess didn’t want to be alone in life. But she had seen the way Lainey and her father would fall into each other’s arms if they thought no one was looking, as if they were hungry for each other. She didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Amos.

“Any questions?”

So many. But how could Bess even begin to reveal the questions and doubts that were flooding through her?

Lainey gave her a thoughtful look. “Bess, if you—”

A shriek split the air, then silence . . . followed by a mournful wail. Either Lizzie or Christy had taken a tumble, and Lainey flew out the bedroom door to see which one was hurt and how badly.

Through the open door, Bess heard Lainey comfort her daughter and the sobs subside. Slowly, she closed her bedroom door and went to curl up on the window seat. Soon, she would be needed downstairs to help cook chicken and chop celery for tomorrow’s wedding meal. She saw a buggy arrive, then another and another.

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