Christmas in Sugarcreek Read Online Free Page B

glad you came home early. Would you like some coffee or tea?”
    “Kaffi would be most welcome.”
    “I’ll brew you a fresh pot.”
    As he followed her down the stairs, then stretched out his legs while he watched her fill up the coffee maker, he said, “What have you been doing today?”
    “You know I worked this morning.”
    “I know that, to be sure. Since you dropped me off at work.”
    Lilly felt her cheeks heat. He still wasn’t all that eager to learn to drive, so she was the designated driver. Though he seemed fine with that, sometimes it made her uncomfortable. Not because she minded driving him—never that. But because it sometimes reminded her of just how different his life was now.
    “What have you been doing since you got home?”
    “Oh, this and that,” she said airily. “Laundry and cleaning.”
    But instead of looking pleased, he eyed her with concern. “I told you that you didn’t need to worry about having a spotless house, Lilly. You are still working at the Sugarcreek Inn. I don’t want you to wear yourself out.”
    “I’m not weak, Robert.”
    “I know that.”
    Her working had been a matter of contention between them. At first, Robert had wanted her to quit her job as a waitress and stay home—not because he minded her working, but he felt that she tried to do too much.
    “Lilly, I hate to think of you never giving yourself time to rest or to see your friends, or even to play on your computer.”
    At the mention of her laptop, Lilly flushed. That was always how he phrased it—her playing . As the coffee continued to brew, she turned and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “As a matter of fact, I was upstairs sitting on the guest-bedroom bed playing on the computer,” she admitted. Almost like she was in trouble.
    Something flickered in his eyes, but he only nodded.
    “Have I told you that you look pretty today?”
    This time she didn’t bother to hide her emotions. “Gretta helped me finish this dress,” she said proudly. “She brought it to me at the inn this morning.”
    “How much of this dress did you sew?” he asked, amusement lacing his voice.
    “The outside seams. And I cut out the pattern. Well, I tried to do a sleeve but Gretta had to redo it.” Fingering the fabric again, she admitted, “As soon as she brought it to me, I ran to the back and changed clothes. Kay hardly knew what to think.”
    “I bet she wasn’t as entertained as the customers were by your quick change.” He laughed. “Lilly, I love how honest you are with me. You make me smile.”
    “Still?”
    “After all these months ?” he asked, exaggerating the last word. “ Jah, even after all these months.”
    After bringing him a cup of coffee, black with no sugar, she sat down next to him. “You used to visit me at work, you know.”
    He paused. “And so I did. Well, perhaps I’ll walk down next time you’re waitressing and have a piece of pie for lunch.”
    The warmth that was always so present between them bloomed anew. “I hope you will,” she murmured.
    Reaching out, he brushed his thumb against her cheek, just to feel her, she supposed. Then, after another moment, he cleared his throat. “So, I talked to my family. Though my daed was civil enough, he doesn’t feel like it would be right for us to visit on Christmas Day. He feels it might be too awkward.”
    “I’m sorry he feels that way.” With effort, she refrained from saying anything more. His family, especially his cousin, had seemed to go out of their way to make sure Robert knew that he wasn’t part of their family anymore. She’d naively imagined that they would come around after just a few weeks.
    But of course that had just been a pipe dream. She worried that Robert’s cousin Abe had continued to make his displeasure evident. And she had a feeling that he was littering Robert’s parents’ minds with doubts.
    Robert continued to look away, making her feel even more sorry for him.
    “My father did say that we