A Reluctant Bride by Kathleen Fuller Page B

check from the fund on the spot.
    Maybe a miracle would happen.
    But as she headed toward the Troyers’, she had the feeling she wouldn’t see a miracle anytime soon.

    The clink of silverware against plain white dishes was the only sound in the Troyers’ dining room. Aden held a fork in his hand, but he could barely bring himself to eat the open-faced meat loaf sandwich his mother had prepared for supper that night. He was still concerned about Sadie, even though he hadn’t seen her since her parents’ burial. He glanced at Sol, who was shoveling the food into his mouth as if he couldn’t get it down his gullet fast enough. His brother had always eaten that way, polishing off a meal in record time, then excusing himself as soon as possible. Which was fine by Aden. The less time he spent with Sol, the better.
    â€œI gotta geh ,” Sol said, shoving back from the table, barely giving a glance to his mother as he stood. He hurried out of the room. He never explained where he went, although Aden suspected whatever he was going to do most likely would involve booze and trouble. He set down his fork in disgust.
    â€œDelicious supper, Rhoda. As always.” Daed wiped the corner of his mouth with a paper napkin and gave her a small smile. Then he looked at Aden, his expression frosty. “Is there something wrong with yer food?”
    â€œ Nee .” He quickly shoveled a forkful of meat loaf into his mouth. He swallowed, barely chewing it. Of course his father would ignore Sol’s rude behavior and focus on nitpicking Aden’s every move.
    A sharp rapping sound came from the front door. Mamm quickly stood. “I’ll get it,” she said and hurried from the kitchen.
    Aden turned to his daed , who was finishing off the last bit of tea from his glass, and fought the deep-seated resentment that never wavered. How many sermons had his father preached on the Ten Commandments over the years—the commandment to honor thy father and mother in particular? Aden loved his mother. He honored her. But he had to scrape the bottom of his soul to find a shred of respect for his father.
    â€œWe have company.”
    Aden looked up as Mamm came into the kitchen, followed by Sadie. His heart stilled at the mix of emotions passing over her face. Sorrow, exhaustion, grief . . . and shame? Her rosy cheeks shone with it, and her gaze never strayed to his. She barely glanced at his father when he started to speak.
    â€œWhat can we do for you, Sadie?”
    She held a black leather purse and rubbed her thumb back and forth on the strap. The black bonnet that covered her white kapp framed her face, and Aden couldn’t pull his gaze from her. He wished he could erase the past and ease her pain. But there was nothing he could do.
    â€œI was wondering . . .” Her thumb moved faster across her purse strap until Aden thought she might rub the color right off the leather. “Could I talk to you for a minute?”
    The bishop nodded and stood. “We can geh into mei office.” He didn’t say anything else, and Sadie followed him out of the kitchen.
    His mother began to clear the table. Aden stood and started to help, but she shook her head. “I’ll take care of it,” she said. She always declined his offers of help, especially when it came to doing anything in the house.
    â€œI’ll check on the hives then,” he said, pushing his chair up to the table. The bees were fine, but he couldn’t stay in this house. Not when he wanted to know what was going on with Sadie. The urge to listen in on her conversation with his father overwhelmed him. He fought against it and went outside. But instead of going to his hives, he looked up at the sky, taking in the streaks of pale pinks, purples, and oranges. A beautiful sunset. He briefly wondered if Sadie appreciated sunsets as much as he did. Then he shrugged. It didn’t matter what she appreciated. He would never find