The Rose Ring by Lucie Ulrich

Author:Lucie Ulrich [Ulrich, Lucie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2014-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

For the next week, Micah worked to keep things friendly between him and Sky and avoided any run-ins with his brother. Things were looking up.

When he came down to breakfast the following Friday morning, he placed a large box on the kitchen counter. The comforting aroma of coffee and biscuits filled the room and had his stomach growling.

Annie tossed some eggshells into the trash. “Whatcha got in there?”

“A surprise for Sky.” He sliced the tape with his pocketknife and opened the box. With great care he pulled out the largest item covered in bubble wrap. Using his knife again, he slit another piece of tape and released the item from its cocoon.

Annie stepped closer. She took the rose pattern teapot from his hands and held it in front of her. “Beautiful. Sure beats the plain old ceramic thing I use.”

“Carl gave it to her after his wife died, and it’s special to Sky. I thought it might make her feel a little more at home.” He reached in for a smaller item. “I won’t take out all the cups and saucers, but a couple would be nice, and maybe the creamer and sugar bowl. What do you think?”

Annie set the pot down with great care. “I think you’re going to have that girl so confused she won’t know what to think from one day to the next.”

He glanced at her with a frown.

“Just the other day, you went from making her feel like an outsider to telling her she was pretty. Not to mention the whole thing with Doug.”

Micah took out another cup. “You heard that? What are you, part bat?”

She shook her head. “Nope, all mom.” He opened his mouth, but she stopped him. “No, not your mom, but seeing as I’ve pretty much raised you from the time you were no more than a pup, I’m taking some liberties.”

Micah swallowed the lump in his throat. Annie had never pretended to be his mother, but this was the closest she’d come to acting like one. He unwrapped a teacup and placed it next to the pot. “I’m trying, Annie, but I don’t know how to make it right by everybody.”

“You can’t. The key is to be honorable. You and Sky entered into an agreement, and you need to see it through. Two years will give you plenty of time to discover whether or not you want to stay together. Don’t try to force things you don’t feel, but at the same time keep an open mind. As crazy as the whole thing is, God just might have had a hand in it from the start. And if it wasn’t his plan, that doesn’t mean he won’t turn it around to benefit both of you. Maybe even all of us.”

She lined a hot griddle with rows of sausage patties and went back to cracking and scrambling the eggs.

Micah had to give her credit. The woman knew how to make him think. Even the mention of God didn’t bother him the way it might have a short time ago.

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.