Salt Water Taffie (Boardwalk Brides Book 1) Read Online Free

taking it in. “Fifty years old.”
    “Seventy,” her pop interjected, “but the age shouldn’t matter. It’s just a piece of machinery, like any other. Made out of the best possible materials, so it should last another seventy years, at least.”
    “At least,” Taffie echoed.
    “Well, it’s not like any other machine I’ve ever seen or worked on.” Ryan looked up, the sparkle in his eyes diminishing.
    Taffie felt the energy slip right out of her and she sat on one of the nearby wooden barrels. “Not exactly what I needed to hear today.”
    “Is there someone you can call?” Pop asked. “Surely you know lots of people in the appliance business. Maybe one of them. . .”
    “Maybe.” Ryan raked his fingers through his dark hair.
    “We need to pray,” Pop said. “The Bible says, you have not because you ask not. Well, Lord, we’re asking. . . .” He dove into an intense dialogue with the Almighty, right then and there, not pausing to warn anyone.
    Taffie had grown up watching Pop chat with God in this fashion, but wasn’t sure what their new appliance guy would think of it. To his credit, Ryan bowed his head and appeared to join in.
    Pop, never one to pray with his eyes closed, paced the room, the tenor of his voice rising dramatically. “Lord, we ask for wisdom from on high. We don’t know what to do, but we know that You do. You are the Creator of all things, so surely You know how to fix a taffy machine. Your Word says that our faith can move mountains. This taffy machineis our mountain, Lord, and we’d be grateful if You’d see fit to move it. Up and down and all around. Send us the person to accomplish tha t─ we ask in Your Son’s name.”
    Without so much as an amen , he ended his prayer and took a seat on a nearby barrel. Taffie watched as Ryan did the same. The men sat in silence for a few minutes, while Taffie bit her tongue. She wanted to speak but knew better.
    Finally Ryan cleared his throat. “So, um. . .what next?”
    Taffie released a sigh. How could she explain her father’s somewhat fascinating views on faith to a total stranger? Carl Carini was of the opinion that if you asked the Lord a question, He was bound to answer. . .sooner or later.
    Problem was, they never knew if it would be sooner or later, and Pop appeared to have a lot more patience than most. She’d seen him wait it out for hours before moving.
    Ryan stood and began to pace the room. “Tell you what,” he said at last. “I could call my older brother Luke. He’s had some experience as a mechanic. I think that’s what you’re going to need—someone who can actually engineer the part.”
    “Yes, and amen!” Pop rose to his feet and clapped his hands together. “I knew the Lord would answer our prayer.”
    “Well, I make no promises. . .” Ryan looked a bit flustered, but Taffie noticed the color returning to his cheeks. “But I’ll see what Luke has to say. Just give me a few minutes to make the call.”
    “Son, take all the time you like.” Taffie’s father gave him a friendly pat on the back. “I’ll fix you a coffee. What kind do you like?”
    “Espresso would be great,” Ryan said.
    “And what about some candy to go with that?” Taffie asked. “Our taffy is the best in town.” She led the way to the candy counter, gesturing for him to join her behind the glass case.
    “Oh, trust me, I know.” He flashed a grin and her heart melted. “I’ve been coming to Carini’s since I was a kid. I’ve probably consumed a dozen pounds of vanilla over the years.”
    “Just vanilla?” She reached for the scoop.
    “Well, um. . .”
    “What?” She gave him a pensive look.
    “I’m a creature of habit. What can I say?”
    “So, vanilla all the way?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “Wow.” Taffie leaned her elbows on the counter and looked him in the eye. “So, you’re telling me there’s not one other thing in this place that appeals to you more than vanilla?” She gestured to the rows of candy,