Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) by Katie Crabapple Page B

so."
    He pulled the daisies from behind his back and held them out to her, a huge grin on his face.
    Sarah smiled, clapping her hands together. "Oh, they're beautiful!" She immediately burst into tears.
    "What did I do wrong? I didn't mean to make you cry!"
    Sarah sniffled and shook her head. "You didn't do anything wrong. I love them! My father used to bring my mother daisies all the time. It just brought back sweet memories. And no one has ever brought me flowers before. Well, only my best friend Bobbie, and it's not the same to receive a gift from your girlfriend as it is to receive one from your husband."
    He grinned. "I'm happy to hear Bobbie is a girl, because the name doesn't sound like it."
    Sarah laughed. "I told her that the day we met!" She took a quick step forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Karl. They're beautiful, and just what I need to brighten up the table at dinner."
    Karl pulled the bag of candy from behind his back. "I got you this too." He was amazed at how happy it made him to give her something that made her smile.
    Sarah took the small bag from him and looked in it. "Taffy! My favorite!" She smiled, shaking her head at him. "Will you always surprise me, Karl?"
    He nodded. "You never know. Tomorrow I might bring you a new pail so you can scrub floors!"
    She laughed. "And if you do, I'll thank you nicely."
    "Clothes pins?"
    "I'm going to finish this window and then be right downstairs," she told him, ignoring his silliness. "I'll meet you down there."
    "Does it have to be done right now?" he asked with a frown. Surely she should want to spend time with him now that he was home, not scrub windows.
    "It's the last one. If I get it done now, I won't have to come back up here tomorrow." She would make sure to air out the upstairs and keep it cleaned occasionally, but for now, there was little to do.
    He frowned. "All right. I'll see you in a minute."
    He went to the kitchen and washed and dried his hands after setting the flowers on the table. When she came down less than five minutes later, he had his newspaper and he was reading it at the table.
    "Thank you for waiting for me." She hurried to wash her hands and then she served the soup and the bread from last night. She would use the last of it for French toast in the morning. It was her favorite way to use up old bread.
    She picked up the flowers and put them in a glass and set them in the center of the table. If he made a habit of bringing her flowers, she would need to get a vase.
    As soon as she was sitting, her hand found his, and he prayed for them, thanking God for bringing her into his life.
    "The flowers and candy were a lovely surprise." Sarah was still in shock. Yes, she'd told him that was the right gift to buy, but she was surprised that he'd actually done it.
    Karl grinned at her. "I'm glad they made you happy." He looked around the kitchen. "I can't believe just how much you've done since you arrived. This place looks brand new."
    She smiled. "My mother believed in keeping a very clean home. I try to follow her example."
    "Just don't neglect your husband to keep your house perfect," Karl mumbled under his breath.
    Sarah put her spoon down, reaching out to take Karl's hand. "Are you feeling neglected?"
    He shrugged. "I just thought you'd come downstairs with me as soon as I got home, but you stayed up there to wash a window."
    Sarah grinned, shaking her head. "Well, it needed to be done. I'll do my best not to neglect you, though." She took another bite of her soup, doing her best not to laugh at him. He seemed almost like an overgrown toddler upset that his mother was playing with another child. "Do you work tomorrow?" she asked.
    He nodded. "I always have to work Saturdays, whether I want to or not."
    "But you'll keep the Sabbath?" she asked, hoping it was true. She wanted to spend Sunday with her husband. Of course, they'd go to church first, but after, she wanted him to be there.
    "Yes, we'll go to church on Sunday."
    "Maybe we