The Days of Redemption Read Online Free Page A

to swallow him whole in the middle of the night. Since his mamm had passed away almost three years ago, it had been only him and his daed . Now it was hardly even that. Though they’d had countless conversations about his calling to mission work, Ed hadn’t left the country without a certain amount of remorse.
    No matter what his daed said to the contrary, Ed couldn’t help but wonder if moving his father to the retirement home before he’d left was the right choice.
    But there would be time enough to go over plans in the next few days and weeks. And for sure, time enough to rehash his father’s living arrangements. “What’s new with you here?”
    â€œOh, nothing much. I’ve been beating Jacob Showalter here in cards almost every day, and I heard from your cousins in Indiana—two of them have new babies. And we have a new worker here . . . Viola Keim.”
    Hearing her name was jarring, like a barrel of dishwater had just been tossed on his head. “I saw Viola when I arrived.”
    His father’s gaze softened. “She’s a right pretty thing, ain’t so?”
    He would have liked to say he hadn’t noticed. But he had. Few women could carry brown eyes and brown hair so well.
    It was a shame she was so full of herself. “She is pretty.” For what that was worth. Pleasing looks were well and good, but if they didn’t match a sweet personality, he didn’t think they counted for much. “Who else have you been visiting with?”
    But his father wasn’t about to be sidetracked. “That Viola is a dear girl. I’ve been reading her your letters. Every one.”
    â€œEvery one?”
    â€œOh, jah. Sometimes, multiple times.”
    Ed felt his cheeks heat. He’d written some of those letters late at night, when he was so tired and exhausted that he’d given in to temptation and written more about his feelings of loneliness or frustration or difficulties than he usually would. He’d often treated the letters like journal entries—so much so that he’d often considered not sending them to his father for fear that it all would be too much for him to handle.
    Realizing that all of his private feelings had been read out loud was embarrassing. He recalled one letter where all he wrote about was how he wanted a truly hot shower!
    â€œDaed . . . I hadn’t intended for you to share the letters.”
    â€œBut you had to know I would.”
    â€œI guess I did,” he said weakly. Now that he was sitting here with his father, he realized he’d naively assumed his father would feel as protective of the letters as Ed had.
    But most of all, he’d not imagined that he’d be sharing every bumbling word he’d written. And not to beautiful volunteers!
    â€œOh, Viola enjoyed them. I know she did. Why, I think she could be interested in you. You should see if she wants to go walking or something.”
    Ed was pretty sure that the only place Viola would want to walk was away from him! “Daed, I don’t think so.”
    â€œBut she’s your age. She’ll make someone a fine frau, mark my words.”
    It was time to nip this in the bud. “Daed, I didn’t come here to go courting. I want to spend time with you.”
    â€œWell, that should take up one or two hours a day. What are you going to do with the rest of your time?”
    He laughed, though it was uncomfortable. “I thought we could do some things together. Maybe go on a trip.” As his guilt crept forward he added, “Maybe you want to live at home while I’m back? I’d enjoy that.”
    â€œYou want me to sit by myself in that big haus while the two of us try to put together some terrible meals?”
    Put that way, it did sound kind of ridiculous. “I can cook. Some.” Actually, he’d gotten pretty good at making rice and beans.
    His father scowled. “I have no intention of