Rosemary Opens Her Heart: Home at Cedar Creek, Book Two by Naomi King

Author:Naomi King
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781101605417
Publisher: New American Library
Published: 2012-11-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Abby was standing at her mamm’s greenhouse sink, scraping the crusty hash-brown casserole from the sides of an emptied glass pan, when James came to stand beside her. “I owe you a big apology for my behavior the other night,” he murmured. “Can we talk about it somewhere?”

She recognized the same pain in his expression that she’d been feeling since Sunday evening, but what had taken him so long to come around? Does that really matter? Hear him out, so you can put your doubts to rest.

Abby glanced behind them. The big glass room was noisy, with so many folks chatting as they ate their meal, so the two of them would be able to converse quietly here. As was the Amish custom, the Bontrager family and the older members of the Cedar Creek community had been seated first, so she and James—the folks their age and younger—wouldn’t fill their plates until this round of guests had finished their dinner. “I’m listening,” she said as she ran water over the pan.

James gently grasped her wrist. “Abby.”

She stopped scrubbing the baked-on cheese, drawn in by his earnest gaze.

“You’re the last person in the world I want to hurt.” He leaned closer to speak near her ear in a wistful voice. “I got cold feet because— Now don’t take this wrong, Abby, but just when I was ready to kiss you the other night, your laughter sounded like Zanna’s and I saw her in the way you raised your eyebrows—”

Abby blinked. This wasn’t what she’d expected to hear, yet James’s desperate expression told her he was completely sincere. He looked exasperated with himself and spooked by what had happened.

“—and I would never compare you to your sister, Abby,” he continued earnestly. “I ruined a wonderful-gut ride, and it’s bothered me all week, and…I didn’t know how to tell you. Can you forgive me, Abby? Please?”

Oh, but his gaze delved into her lonely heart, enough that she could set aside her momentary disappointment that he’d thought about pretty, vivacious Zanna instead of delivering that kiss they’d both wanted. But hadn’t it taken great courage to tell her the truth? Some fellows would never bother trying to explain.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

It was the only line of the Lord’s Prayer that placed responsibility on the one asking God for such things as daily bread and delivery from evil. And hadn’t everyone in Cedar Creek witnessed the forgiveness James had granted Zanna?

Abby’s heart fluttered. Her disappointment released its grip. “Jah, James, I’ll forgive you. I’m glad you asked. Glad you told me what happened.”

James exhaled. He rested his forehead against hers for only a moment, but his gesture soothed her soul. “Denki,” he whispered. “I know I need to make up for the way I hurt you, but I still want that kiss, you know. Don’t think for a minute that I’ve forgotten about it.”

Abby felt a pleasant rush of warmth. She considered giving him a peck on the cheek, but with so many folks in the room this wasn’t the time or the place.

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