Winter's Awakening (Seasons of Sugarcreek 1) by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Christian Fiction, Amish, Christian, General, Romance, Fiction, Religious, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780061852220
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The line was going slow because of Jacob’s grandfather. Old Mr. Kempfs never failed to spark a conversation wherever he went, and the line for lunch after services must have seemed as good a time as any to catch up on the latest news.

As everyone waited in a long line around the perimeter of the barn, the weather was commented on as well as a new remedy someone had heard about for toothaches.

Gretta tried to look as if the minor interruption didn’t bother her at all, but in truth, she was more than a bit chilly, standing as near as she was to the barn’s opening. The metal building, so much easier for the farmers to install nowadays, was in most ways a mighty good spot for church services and a luncheon. But there was no insulation against the cold.

In addition, her head was aching something fierce. All she wanted to do was have her bowl of soup and sandwich and go sit down.

Finally Jacob’s grandfather patted a youngster on the head, said goodbye, and went off to sit with the other men at the far back table and the line started moving again.

Beside her, Miriam was chatting to her sister, Ruth, about a dinner Ruth was hosting for her in-laws. Usually, Gretta would be eager to hear the details of the meal, and to offer some suggestions, too. Used to be, every so often she’d put herself to sleep at night imagining all the kinds of dinners that she’d cook for her own in-laws.

But now her future was all topsy-turvy, like someone had pulled a rug out from under her feet. She was finding it difficult to keep her bearings. All she wanted was to get her lunch and sit down.

The line inched closer. Ahead of her, she heard her mother exclaim over the potato salad of Jenna Seitz. Gretta frowned. Jenna always did know how to put just the right amount of sugar and vinegar in her salad. She, herself, had never mastered that. Hers was always too sweet or too tangy.

Most days her failed attempts didn’t bother her. Now, though, it seemed to be yet one more source of aggravation.

Finally they approached the two long tables where everything was spread out. Gretta picked up a bowl and plate. Following the others, she passed over the peanut butter spread put out for the children. Instead, she ladled in a portion of vegetable soup and placed some trail bologna, freshly sliced bread, pickles, relish, and salad on her plate, then followed the others to the women’s row of benches.

In the summer, many of the young people liked to sit together outside. More than once she and Miriam had brought along a quilt and sat with girlfriends under the trees, enjoying the day and the opportunities to visit and catch up with friends. The day would be made perfect when Joshua would join her—sometimes with his siblings Judith or Caleb, and sometimes with friends.

Of course, in the winter it wasn’t near as easy to find a quiet place.

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