there! I’ve got to see if he’s okay,” Lester shouted. He dashed away before Abby could stop him.
With her heartbeat matching the rhythm of her footsteps,Abby raced down the sidewalk toward the burning building. She was panting for breath by the time she reached Lester’s side.
One part of the store was engulfed in flames, and smoke bellowed from the roof like a teapot boiling over. Lester’s eyes darted back and forth as he took in the situation. “I have to go inside and see if everyone made it out okay.”
Abby grabbed hold of his arm. “You can’t, Lester. Please. It’s too dangerous.”
His wild-eyed expression caused Abby to worry that he might ignore her warning and do something foolish. “What if Joe and the other workers are still inside? Someone has to see if they’re all right,” he argued.
“That’s the firemen’s job. They’re here now, so please let them handle things.”
Lester’s gaze went to the burning building, then back to Abby. She clutched his arm tighter. “If you went in and something happened to you, I would be overcome with grief. Please, Lester, please stay put.”
He nodded slowly. “I guess you’re right.”
Four firemen rushed into the building, and Abby released the breath she’d been holding. A few seconds later, Joe and several other people who worked at the cheese store emerged from the other side of the building.
“Is everyone out?” one of the firemen shouted.
Joe nodded. “Jah, we’re all safe.”
Abby breathed a sigh of relief, and she could see by the look on Lester’s face that he was equally thankful. He grabbed his friend in a bear hug. “I’m sure glad you’re okay. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to one of my future wedding attendants.” He glanced over at Abby with a questioning look. “That is, if there’s still going to be a wedding in November.”
She clicked her tongue. “Of course there will be. I’ll be back from Pennsylvania in plenty of time.”
N aomi arched her back and straightened with a groan. She’d been stocking shelves all morning and was paying the price for working too long without a break. She sank wearily to the stool behind the counter, relieved that Sarah was sleeping in the back room and she could finally have a few minutes to rest. Caleb had gone out to run some errands a few hours ago, saying he would be back before closing time, so she’d been on her own for quite a while.
Naomi glanced at the stack of envelopes piled on one end of the counter and decided now would be a good time to read today’s mail. She discovered a letter from her old English friend, Ginny Meyers, who was now Ginny Nelson. Three years ago Ginny had married Chad, the young man who ran the fitness center where Ginny worked when she and Naomi ran off to Portland, Oregon. Ginny’s letter said she and Chad had moved from Portland and now lived in Puyallup, Washington, where they’d opened a fitness center they planned to remodel soon.
Naomi smiled. Ginny always did want her own place of business, and now she’s gotten her wish. Too bad she doesn’t come home to visit more often. I know her folks still miss her.
Thinking about Ginny and the time they’d spent in Oregon made Naomi feel sad. Those had been stressful days, when she’d been homesick and thought she couldn’t make it through another day. But God had seen her through the rough times. He’d brought Naomi home on Christmas Day, and her family had accepted her unconditionally.
Just the way God accepts wayward sinners, she mused. Henever turns anyone away who comes to Him with a repentant heart.
Naomi had just finished reading Ginny’s letter when the front door opened and a customer stepped in. At least she’d thought it was a customer, until she looked up and saw Abby Miller standing on the other side of the counter, holding a small black suitcase.
“Abby, what a surprise! What are you doing here? Did Fannie know you were coming?”
Abby set the suitcase on the
With her heartbeat matching the rhythm of her footsteps,Abby raced down the sidewalk toward the burning building. She was panting for breath by the time she reached Lester’s side.
One part of the store was engulfed in flames, and smoke bellowed from the roof like a teapot boiling over. Lester’s eyes darted back and forth as he took in the situation. “I have to go inside and see if everyone made it out okay.”
Abby grabbed hold of his arm. “You can’t, Lester. Please. It’s too dangerous.”
His wild-eyed expression caused Abby to worry that he might ignore her warning and do something foolish. “What if Joe and the other workers are still inside? Someone has to see if they’re all right,” he argued.
“That’s the firemen’s job. They’re here now, so please let them handle things.”
Lester’s gaze went to the burning building, then back to Abby. She clutched his arm tighter. “If you went in and something happened to you, I would be overcome with grief. Please, Lester, please stay put.”
He nodded slowly. “I guess you’re right.”
Four firemen rushed into the building, and Abby released the breath she’d been holding. A few seconds later, Joe and several other people who worked at the cheese store emerged from the other side of the building.
“Is everyone out?” one of the firemen shouted.
Joe nodded. “Jah, we’re all safe.”
Abby breathed a sigh of relief, and she could see by the look on Lester’s face that he was equally thankful. He grabbed his friend in a bear hug. “I’m sure glad you’re okay. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to one of my future wedding attendants.” He glanced over at Abby with a questioning look. “That is, if there’s still going to be a wedding in November.”
She clicked her tongue. “Of course there will be. I’ll be back from Pennsylvania in plenty of time.”
N aomi arched her back and straightened with a groan. She’d been stocking shelves all morning and was paying the price for working too long without a break. She sank wearily to the stool behind the counter, relieved that Sarah was sleeping in the back room and she could finally have a few minutes to rest. Caleb had gone out to run some errands a few hours ago, saying he would be back before closing time, so she’d been on her own for quite a while.
Naomi glanced at the stack of envelopes piled on one end of the counter and decided now would be a good time to read today’s mail. She discovered a letter from her old English friend, Ginny Meyers, who was now Ginny Nelson. Three years ago Ginny had married Chad, the young man who ran the fitness center where Ginny worked when she and Naomi ran off to Portland, Oregon. Ginny’s letter said she and Chad had moved from Portland and now lived in Puyallup, Washington, where they’d opened a fitness center they planned to remodel soon.
Naomi smiled. Ginny always did want her own place of business, and now she’s gotten her wish. Too bad she doesn’t come home to visit more often. I know her folks still miss her.
Thinking about Ginny and the time they’d spent in Oregon made Naomi feel sad. Those had been stressful days, when she’d been homesick and thought she couldn’t make it through another day. But God had seen her through the rough times. He’d brought Naomi home on Christmas Day, and her family had accepted her unconditionally.
Just the way God accepts wayward sinners, she mused. Henever turns anyone away who comes to Him with a repentant heart.
Naomi had just finished reading Ginny’s letter when the front door opened and a customer stepped in. At least she’d thought it was a customer, until she looked up and saw Abby Miller standing on the other side of the counter, holding a small black suitcase.
“Abby, what a surprise! What are you doing here? Did Fannie know you were coming?”
Abby set the suitcase on the
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