Emma Blooms At Last Read Online Free

later today, the familiar saying made her sigh. This traditional Thursday ceremony in mid-November marked the fourth wedding Cedar Creek had celebrated this fall, and now that her brother was finally marrying her best friend, Emma felt her inner clock ticking.
    Life was passing her by. She’d always pictured herself wed to Abby’s nephew, Matt Lambright, but he’d married Rosemary Yutzy in September, leaving Emma to lament all those years she’d spent pining for an unrequited love and caring for her aging parents. Was she now doomed to remain a maidel? She’d been paired with Jerome Lambright as a sidesitter at Amanda and Wyman Brubaker’s wedding, and she’d spent most of that day—and a fewoccasions since then—avoiding his flirtatious looks and remarks. He’d be around all day today, too, and Emma was feeling edgy about his presence. Jerome seemed awfully flashy, showing off with his mule teams . . . acting way too full of himself. But was she a fool to shy away from his attention?
    Emma told herself such concerns had
not
kept her awake half the night—that she’d been dressed for the wedding at four this morning because the local women had agreed they’d prepare the food early, to discourage Abby from helping at her own wedding. Indeed, the back door of the glass-walled greenhouse swung open, and the bride stepped inside as though she intended to work while no one could catch her at it.
    â€œGut morning, Abby! All ready for your big day?” Emma called out.
    Abby’s startled laughter rang in the large high-ceilinged room. “Jah, and I don’t know what to do with myself, Emma!” she admitted as she strode between the tables. “Mamm and Barbara and the rest of them keep insisting I’m not to cook or cut pies or—”
    Emma caught her best friend in a hug, reveling in the way Abby returned her embrace. “See there? It’s not as easy as you think, accepting help from other folks,” she teased. “Consider this whole day—all the food and the work your friends want to do—as their gift to you, Abby. I expect to see you smiling alongside James, enjoying yourself until the last guests go home tonight.”
    â€œI’ve heard
that
a time or two.” Abby glanced across the road toward the Graber house, which was as lit up as the Lambright place. “And how’re your folks doing this morning, Emma?”
    â€œDat’s spinning like a top and Mamm’s fussing over every little thing. What with having our two sisters’ families staying over last night, I’ve been reminded how large gatherings are getting harder for Mamm to handle.” She let out a sigh.
    â€œJah, we’ve got a houseful, too,” Abby murmured. “But I’m soglad both of your folks are alive to celebrate this day with us. Mamm’s not saying as much, but I suspect she’s wishing Dat were here to—”
    Hoofbeats and the rumble of wheels made them turn to watch a wagon and two other horse-drawn rigs pull into Lambright Lane. Their lanterns and headlights glowed in the indigo sky as the horses’ breath rose from their nostrils. “This’ll be Beulah Mae bringing the steam tables, no doubt,” Emma said as she rebuttoned her coat. “Makes it mighty handy, having her restaurant and Lois’s bakery in town to do most of the cooking for these big events.”
    â€œJah, that’s Preacher Abe climbing down from the first wagon,” Abby confirmed. “I’ll get Sam so the menfolk can assemble our serving line.”
    Emma went outside with her, waving as the Nissleys, Lois Yutzy’s family, and Amanda Brubaker and her girls emerged from the various vehicles. Even though these ladies had prepared most of the food ahead of time, they still had a lot to do before they’d be ready to serve nearly three hundred people. Guests would start arriving around sunup for