Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

Author:Charlotte Hubbard [Hubbard, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2023-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

When Isaac arrived at the lodge for supper on Wednesday evening, he knew immediately that part of the meal had burned. Ruby and Beulah were carrying a relish tray and a gelatin salad to the table, and they looked up when they saw him.

“Gut evening, Isaac! We’re glad you’ve come for supper,” Beulah said rather loudly.

Ruby met him at the table, rolling her eyes. “Time will tell if you’ll be glad,” she hinted under her breath.

“Our extra places are set for Irene and Dale,” Beulah continued, speaking like a woman who was hard of hearing. She held Isaac’s gaze, nodding toward the kitchen. “Maria offered to cook tonight, so it’s a shame Eddie will be eating with Fannie at Preacher Marlin’s place—”

“And I just saw Ezra hiking up the hill,” Isaac put in, matching the volume of Beulah’s speech. “I suspect he’ll be eating at Harley’s house. With Vera.”

When Maria appeared in the kitchen doorway to frown forlornly at him, Isaac realized the Kuhns had been preparing him for more of a roller-coaster ride than usual. It was clear that he’d just burst Maria’s bubble, where Ezra was concerned, and he expected the tears to flow at any moment. As the lodge door opened and the newlywed Kraybills entered, however, Maria smoothed her pink gingham dress and smiled brightly.

“Irene, welcome back!” she said too cheerfully. “Oh, and you, too, Dale! I—I hope you folks won’t mind that I was the cook this evening—”

As though afraid something else might burn to a crisp, the blonde disappeared into the kitchen. Isaac chatted with the Kraybills as they settled into chairs at the table, and then Maria came from the kitchen with a large tray of pastries. She focused on Irene.

“While you were away, Irene, I—I was wondering if you and Phoebe would let me join your Promise Lodge Pies business,” she said hopefully. “I’d leave the pies to you two, but I was hoping you’d let me expand the menu by baking my best-selling pastries—my mainstay varieties in Cloverdale—”

“What time of day would you want to bake?” Irene interrupted. “Phoebe mentioned that you’d spoken to her about this idea. We’ve agreed that our little building doesn’t have enough workspace—or ovens—for pies and pastries to be made at the same time.”

Maria’s face fell. Dale had the presence of mind to gently take the tray from her hands before she dumped its contents on his wife.

“I’m still wondering why you don’t return to your own bakery,” the storekeeper said kindly. “Folks at church have been asking when you’ll reopen, Maria. Everyone really misses your breads and sweets.”

Maria pressed her lips into a thin line and retreated to the kitchen again. Isaac saw that she wasn’t happy with the way the conversation was going, so she’d abandoned it, as was her habit.

Ravenous, Isaac snatched an apple fritter from the tray. He took a big bite.

It melted in his mouth. The luscious confection contained enough cinnamon and apples to convince him to take another big bite to savor the soft chew of the pastry.

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