The Decision Read Online Free Page B

gathering.
    As she glanced around the spacious room, a lump formed in her throat. With the help of several men in their district, Lloyd had built this extra-large dining room to accommodate up to one hundred people. In addition to being used for their sit-down dinners, the add-on had served them whenever it was their turn to host one of their biweekly church services. It was also used on days when Edna would invite a group of women into her home for a quilting party or some other function.
    She moved over to the large window, looking out at the field Lloyd had rented to one of their neighbors after he’d retired from farming. It had been planted in alfalfa and was already growing nicely. When Lloyd used to work the fields, Edna enjoyed going out to see how he was doing or bringing him water and a snack to eat. He’d always been appreciative and hadn’t seemed to mind the interruption. Lloyd used to tell Edna he was glad for the break and that it was a good opportunity for them to visit awhile.
    Edna’s gaze went to their giant oak tree. A swing Lloyd had put up for Elaine many years ago still hung from a lower branch. It had provided hours of fun for their granddaughter through the years. Even though Elaine was twenty-two years old, she still took time to enjoy that swing and gleefully giggled as she swung back and forth.
    Pushing her thoughts aside lest she give in to threatening tears, Edna left the room and headed back to the kitchen. Although difficult to face, she was glad there were so many reminders of Lloyd all around, for each one held a special memory. Memories of him would help keep her going.
    Edna was just getting ready to take a stack of napkins and a box of silverware to set by the dishes when she heard a horse and buggy coming up the lane.
    Peeking out the kitchen window, she watched as the driver parked his rig near the barn. When the young Amish man got out of the buggy and secured his horse to the hitching rack, Edna realized that it was Jonah Miller. No doubt he had come here to see Elaine. Too bad he’d just missed her.
    “If you’re looking for my granddaughter, she’s not here right now,” Edna said after she’d answered Jonah’s knock.
    “Came by to check on both of you,” Jonah replied with a grin.
    Such a nice-looking, thoughtful young man
, Edna mused.
He reminds me of Lloyd at that age. Not just in looks, but in his kindness for others. I’m so glad Elaine is being courted by him
.
    She opened the door wider and asked him to come in. “I’m sorry, Jonah. Where are my manners? Good morning to you, and would you like a cup of coffee? I made it fresh this morning.” Edna’s face heated, for she felt a bit rattled right now.
    “Some coffee sounds good.” He removed his straw hat, placing it on the wall peg near the back door. “So where’s Elaine off to this morning?” he asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
    “She went over to Rockome Garden Foods,” Edna replied, filling a cup with coffee and handing it to Jonah. “There are a few things we need for the group of tourists who’ll be coming here Friday evening.”
    Jonah quirked an eyebrow. “You’re hosting a dinner so soon?”
    She gave a brief nod.
    “Couldn’t you have rescheduled it for a better time? I’m sure you and Elaine are both emotionally drained.”
    “I’ll admit, we’re tired physically and mentally, but we’ll be fine,” she said, pouring herself some coffee. “Like I told my granddaughter, it helps to keep busy, and we don’t want to disappoint the people who have paid in advance to have dinner in an Amish home. For some who live out of town, this might be the only chance they’ll have to visit our Amish community.”
    Jonah blew on his coffee and took a sip. “I see what you mean. Keeping busy in stressful situations has worked for me on more than one occasion. When you’re good and tired, it helps you fall asleep quickly, too.”
    “Were you referring to situations in your work as a