Secret Ballot by Yvonne Lehman

Author:Yvonne Lehman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-04T00:00:00+00:00

thirteen

Over the weekend, Ross hadn’t had much time to think about the question he’d sneaked into Beth’s office. He’d had a campaign meeting on Friday night and was at his dad’s most of Saturday going over some of their strategy.

Beth had spent much of Saturday writing E-mail messages to Pamela, asking her to send personal notes to some of the questioners whose letters would not be answered in the column. He admired her conscientiousness and didn’t attempt to suggest anything different when she mentioned at dinnertime that she was going to write in her journal and perhaps read for awhile.

They again attended Sunday school and church on Sun-day, although the president and his family weren’t there.

Monday morning, Ross tried not to show his eagerness to read her column. He’d appeared at the breakfast table earlier than usual in time to hear the ending of a story she and Jacobs had read from a book called Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul.

“Every one of these stories make the tears well up,” she said, wiping her eyes with a napkin. “Jacobs and I read one after we read from the Bible.”

“What I’m anxious to read this morning,” Ross said, while dishing food onto his plate, “is what you’ve written in your column.” Trying not to act overanxious, he took a bite of food, said, “Mmmm, good,” and washed it down with orange juice. Then he picked up the paper and turned to her column.

A quick scan revealed his question had not been an-swered. He tried not to show disappointment by reading each question and answer carefully. He laughed at the “Desperate Phil” question and answer.

“I like the way you handled that,” he said.

He read the others, nodding and taking bites of his food. One questioner was concerned about putting her mother in a nursing home versus bringing in a nurse to provide home care. After making a few comments both pro and con, Beth suggested the person pray about the decision. That was wise, Ross thought, rather than pretending she had all the answers and leaving herself open for criticism. He nodded. “The prayer angle on this one puts the ultimate responsibility back on the person with the problem. That’s good,” he said, laying the paper aside.

Suppose she didn’t think his question serious enough to answer? He didn’t think it necessary to pray about it—he’d just have to take matters into his own hands. And no time like the present.

“Before you start work, I want to show you something,” Ross said.

Right after breakfast, he led her up the hallway, through the foyer, and out the front door. He spread his hands and watched her expression.

“They’re out,” she said, her gaze taking in the profusely blooming cherry trees in his yard and the others lining the street on both sides. “I’ve wanted to see this since I was a little girl. Oh, how beautiful.”

“Yes,” he said, “very beautiful.” He swept her up, putting one hand on her waist and taking the other, spinning

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