The Substitute Bride: A Novella by Pagels Carrie Fancett

Author:Pagels, Carrie Fancett [Pagels, Carrie Fancett]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Hearts Overcoming Press
Published: 2015-10-11T04:00:00+00:00

Perhaps he’d best not comment on her postal job. Louis didn’t want to push his luck. Or blessings as they may be. He chose to change the topic after seeing Sonja’s face blanch. Perhaps he was scaring her with his rushed courtship. Was that what this was? Courtship? With the handful of women he’d courted, all had ceased allowing him to call on them after he’d missed multiple events because of his work. And now he may lose his opportunity with Sonja because of her work. God had a sense of irony—that was for sure.

“Sonja.” Maybe he should be more formal. “Miss Hoeke…”

She raised a hand. “Please, feel free to continue calling me Sonja. After all, I was a dear friend of your intended, as you mentioned.”

His intended? How had she known? Had she read his proposal of marriage? It had arrived after Cora’s death. Perplexed, he took a bite of biscuit and chewed, but it suddenly lacked flavor. Louis set it down and took a long swig of black coffee. “Why don’t we visit Cora’s grave together tomorrow?”

He’d have contacted the sexton by then and made arrangements for the move and could share that with her.

“I have to carry my father’s route for him.”

“Perhaps after?”

She cocked her head at him. “I’ll get my chores done quickly after work, and I’ll meet you there.”

Soon their meal arrived. He surreptitiously watched as Sonja enjoyed her food. She closed her eyes and smiled, as she obviously savored her food. He grinned. This woman enjoyed life. Somehow Sonja had become more like those sisters of hers, who always seemed to be having a gay old time. Sonja relished the moment, as those young women used to do, while she’d trailed after them. He needed to enjoy life more, too. She suddenly opened her eyes and fixed him with a gaze as she ran the tip of her tongue over a bit of gravy that clung to her perfect lips. He swallowed.

“What are you thinking, Louis?”

“I…” He drew in a deep breath and patted his mouth with his napkin, then set it aside. “I was wondering how your sisters are faring.”

Blinking at him, she speared a bit of chicken and brought it to her mouth. Then she cocked her head at him as she chewed.

“I remember a beautiful girl who followed her sisters around and they treated her as though she was a stray cat.”

A spark flared in Sonja’s green eyes. She set her fork on the ironstone plate. She huffed a laugh. “Cora was more a sister to me than my own were. Each has gone off, and the only time Mother and Father hear from them is when they need something.” A few heads swiveled to look in their direction as Sonja’s voice rose.

Louis leaned in and covered her hand, tapping the tabletop with his own. “I’m sorry. You deserve better. And I’m glad our mutual friend was a blessing to you, as she was to me.”

Sonja impaled another piece of meat with her fork.

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