Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) by Jerry S. Eicher

Author:Jerry S. Eicher [Eicher, Jerry S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736955171
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2014-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

After dark that evening, Alvin pushed open the front door of the dawdy haus without a knock. This was, after all, his daett’s place, and he was expected tonight for supper. Mildred would have told his daett by now, and if the truth be told, his daett was probably behind Mildred’s invitation. Anything to encourage Alvin’s interest in Mildred and distract him from Debbie.

Alvin squinted in the sudden light of the gas lantern hanging from the ceiling. His daett looked up from rocker with a pleased expression. “Gut evening, son. I see you decided to come.”

“I told Mildred I would,” Alvin muttered.

Mamm was sitting on the other rocker, and Alvin approached for a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. A faint smile crossed her face. “You’ve come to visit again.”

“Yah, Mamm.” Alvin took a seat on the couch. He turned around for a quick smile when Mildred chirped from the kitchen doorway, “It’s gut you’re here, Alvin. I’ll have everything ready in a minute.”

“No rush,” Alvin said, even though his stomach growled. The smells drifting from the kitchen didn’t help either.

“I see the deacon was here again,” Daett said when Mildred had disappeared.

“Are you happy now?” Alvin made no attempt to hide his bitterness. “They’re wanting me to stay back from communion.”

His daett didn’t look surprised. “Sufferings and humiliations are always gut for a man. And you could use some. You’ve risen way too fast in life, coming back from your time in the world to take over my farm. If I’d had my say-so, you’d have been left in the bann for another year or so.”

“That’s why it wasn’t left in your hands,” Alvin shot back. “And what would we do now if I weren’t here? Mamm needs funds for her doctoring and care. And you sure couldn’t supply it for her.”

His daett didn’t appear fazed by the sharp words. He shrugged. “I admit you speak the truth, but it’s still not gut for you. I’m glad to hear the ministry is taking steps to rein you in. Maybe this will wake you up to what a mistake you’re making by dating that girl Debbie. Those Englisha girls always had an awful pull on you, Alvin. I see that now, and I pray you will wake up in time.”

“Bishop Beiler thinks the world of Debbie,” Alvin said.

That seemed to silence his daett—at least for the moment. He settled back in his rocker.

Mildred appeared in the kitchen doorway again. “It’s ready, everyone! Can’t be allowing the food to grow cold!”

His daett rose with a smile on his face. “She can cook, that girl can. Think about that, Alvin.”

So his daett did have a hand in his invitation tonight, Alvin thought as he helped his mamm to the table. Well, it made no difference. He was here to eat, and that was all.

Mildred stood by the stove as they found their seats. Then she took the one next to him. Alvin knew it was her usual place, but tonight her presence so close rushed over him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.