danced on their slender stalks; a meadowlark heralded them from the meadow. They paused under the shade of a big old oak tree. Toby turned toward her, looking deep into her eyes.
Grace, I—
She knew he was going to kiss her. She leaned forward and—
Her eyes flew open as she felt Sophie return.
“All right, we are back. I see Joy is still sleeping. Thank you, Lord.”
Grace could feel a flush start up her neck. Good thing Sophie couldn’t read her mind or decipher her dreams. What would Toby’s lips feel like on hers? How would she breathe if he ever kissed her a long time? Was her heart beating extra hard like Sophie had asked?
She watched Sophie settle Hamre in to nursing. “Is he staying awake longer so he doesn’t want to eat as often?”
“Somewhat.” Sophie peeked under the blanket at her son. “Garth can never seem to hold these babies enough. Every evening he sits and rocks them, one in each arm. He says it helps make up for when he was away from Linnie. That little girl of his would have nothing to do with him when he went to Minneapolis to visit at Christmas, but she warmed up to him a bit sooner when he went back to sell his house.”
Since Joy was still sleeping, Grace stood. “Think I’ll go on home. Wish you could come with me.” Should I offer again to spend the night, or did Sophie not answer before on purpose?
“Me too. But even more I wish I could show you Mr. Wiste’s house.”
Why don’t you want me to stay the night, and why do you keep talking to me about his house? Her head ached a little at the many twists and emotions their conversation took.
“It’s going to be your house.”
“Soon, but for now it’s not.”
Grace waved and walked down the steps to the grass Lemuel kept mowed. The garden was huge, and she waved to the young black man out hoeing. She should have been doing the same today. The large round leaves of hollyhocks filled a bed on the eastern side of the house, while lilies of the valley sent a sweet fragrance to welcome her as she reached the street front. It immediately relaxed her. She noticed a man walking toward her from the direction of the flour mill and waved when she realized it was Toby. Maybe he’ll offer to walk me home . She waited for him to meet her. He looked tired, even with his fedora shading his eyes, eyes that did not brighten with his smile.
“Hello.” Please be happy to see me .
“You visiting with Sophie?”
She nodded. “You were working at the mill today?”
“Yeah, it’s almost finished.”
“You didn’t come to the fish fry.” Her hands clenched the paper-wrapped rhubarb bread Mrs. Sam had insisted she take home to Mor.
“No time.”
Toby, talk to me. What is wrong? “Why don’t you come to our house for supper?” She couldn’t believe she’d suggested such a thing.
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’ve agreed to help my mother tonight.”
“How about tomorrow night?” She reached out and touched his arm. Her frustration made her tongue thick, the words harder to say. Grace, if your mother heard this, she would be appalled. Why am I doing this? It must be because of what Sophie said .
When he stepped back away from her as if he’d been burned, she swallowed hard. He can’t even bear my touch . Pain seared her soul.
“Sorry, Grace, I just don’t have time right now.” He touched one finger to his hat brim and nearly broke into a run getting away from her.
He didn’t have to be rude. She stared at his sweat-stained back. Here I think I’m in love with you and you can’t even spend five minutes in my company. Even friends don’t treat each other like that . Grace thought over the list of questions Sophie had asked. She honestly wasn’t sure how to answer them with Toby, although she was clear about her thoughts concerning Jonathan—she knew she wasn’t in love with him. Did her uncertainty mean she really wasn’t in love with Toby? But he was—she thought he was—her best friend, at least her
Grace, I—
She knew he was going to kiss her. She leaned forward and—
Her eyes flew open as she felt Sophie return.
“All right, we are back. I see Joy is still sleeping. Thank you, Lord.”
Grace could feel a flush start up her neck. Good thing Sophie couldn’t read her mind or decipher her dreams. What would Toby’s lips feel like on hers? How would she breathe if he ever kissed her a long time? Was her heart beating extra hard like Sophie had asked?
She watched Sophie settle Hamre in to nursing. “Is he staying awake longer so he doesn’t want to eat as often?”
“Somewhat.” Sophie peeked under the blanket at her son. “Garth can never seem to hold these babies enough. Every evening he sits and rocks them, one in each arm. He says it helps make up for when he was away from Linnie. That little girl of his would have nothing to do with him when he went to Minneapolis to visit at Christmas, but she warmed up to him a bit sooner when he went back to sell his house.”
Since Joy was still sleeping, Grace stood. “Think I’ll go on home. Wish you could come with me.” Should I offer again to spend the night, or did Sophie not answer before on purpose?
“Me too. But even more I wish I could show you Mr. Wiste’s house.”
Why don’t you want me to stay the night, and why do you keep talking to me about his house? Her head ached a little at the many twists and emotions their conversation took.
“It’s going to be your house.”
“Soon, but for now it’s not.”
Grace waved and walked down the steps to the grass Lemuel kept mowed. The garden was huge, and she waved to the young black man out hoeing. She should have been doing the same today. The large round leaves of hollyhocks filled a bed on the eastern side of the house, while lilies of the valley sent a sweet fragrance to welcome her as she reached the street front. It immediately relaxed her. She noticed a man walking toward her from the direction of the flour mill and waved when she realized it was Toby. Maybe he’ll offer to walk me home . She waited for him to meet her. He looked tired, even with his fedora shading his eyes, eyes that did not brighten with his smile.
“Hello.” Please be happy to see me .
“You visiting with Sophie?”
She nodded. “You were working at the mill today?”
“Yeah, it’s almost finished.”
“You didn’t come to the fish fry.” Her hands clenched the paper-wrapped rhubarb bread Mrs. Sam had insisted she take home to Mor.
“No time.”
Toby, talk to me. What is wrong? “Why don’t you come to our house for supper?” She couldn’t believe she’d suggested such a thing.
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’ve agreed to help my mother tonight.”
“How about tomorrow night?” She reached out and touched his arm. Her frustration made her tongue thick, the words harder to say. Grace, if your mother heard this, she would be appalled. Why am I doing this? It must be because of what Sophie said .
When he stepped back away from her as if he’d been burned, she swallowed hard. He can’t even bear my touch . Pain seared her soul.
“Sorry, Grace, I just don’t have time right now.” He touched one finger to his hat brim and nearly broke into a run getting away from her.
He didn’t have to be rude. She stared at his sweat-stained back. Here I think I’m in love with you and you can’t even spend five minutes in my company. Even friends don’t treat each other like that . Grace thought over the list of questions Sophie had asked. She honestly wasn’t sure how to answer them with Toby, although she was clear about her thoughts concerning Jonathan—she knew she wasn’t in love with him. Did her uncertainty mean she really wasn’t in love with Toby? But he was—she thought he was—her best friend, at least her
Similar Books
