A Scarlet Cord Read Online Free

Grandpa LaSalle have—” She had been about to blame her in-laws for overindulging Jerica but caught herself midsentence. “Well, we’ve all spoiled her a little.”
    They had reached the food-laden buffet tables by now, and Joel looked over the spread in front of them. “Wow. So much food, so little time … Any recommendations?”
    “Oh, right here,” she said, picking up a serving spoon from a large casserole. “You have to try Margaret Unruh’s vrenika. It’s heavenly.”
    “Vrenika? I’ve never heard of it.”
    “I hadn’t either until I met Mrs. Unruh. It’s an old Mennonite dish … German, I think … a little like a dumpling but with a cottage-cheese filling and the most wonderful gravy …”
    He wrinkled his nose. “Sounds … um, interesting, but I think I’ll pass.”
    “Your loss.” She shrugged, and scooped a small serving onto her own plate.
    “Cottage cheese has never been a favorite of mine,” he said.
    “You can’t even taste it. Honest.”
    “Then what’s the point?” His smile was rather smug. “Thanks anyway, but I think I’ll go for something a little more familiar.” He reached for the spatula in a pan of lasagna and dished up a generous serving. “Now, this looks good.”
    “Don’t say I didn’t try.” She put another dumpling on her plate.
    They moved on to the end of the long stretch of tables where an impressive array of desserts awaited them. She took a small slice of cherry pie and snaked her way through dozens of tables as she looked for an empty place.
    As she went by the children’s table, she checked to make sure Jerica was behaving. The Breyer sisters, eleven and thirteen, had unofficially taken charge of the younger children. Jerica was seated between the two adolescent girls, happily licking the frosting from a sugar cookie.
    Melanie spotted some friends at a table near the double doors, but all the chairs were taken. The only available seats seemed to be at a large table where several young married couples had congregated. She started for the empty seats.
    “Hey, Melanie,” several voices chimed, accompanied by the screech of chair legs as they adjusted to make room for her at the table.
    Reluctantly, she deposited her plate on the table beside Norm Arnett.
    “Hi, Melanie.” Rita Arnett leaned around her husband’s burly form and greeted her with a smile, but Melanie didn’t miss the possessive arm that went around Norm’s shoulder.
    She arranged her Styrofoam cup and plastic utensils near her plate. After four years it was still difficult to watch happily married couples interact. As much as they tried to include her, eventually their conversation would turn to marriage and family life, and she would be left out. It was a painful reminder of all she’d lost.
    With her place saved, she went to check on Jerica again. When she returned, Joel Ellington had taken the seat across the table from her. Introductions were made all around, and the talk turned to Joel’s move to the Midwest.
    “Have you succumbed to culture shock yet?” Marti Stinson asked.
    “Well, I do miss my classical radio station. All I can seem to get around here is country-western.”
    “Kinda hard to sing about pickup trucks and hound dogs with an East Coast accent, huh?” Norm joked.
    “Not to mention gee-tar pickin’,” Joel laughed good-naturedly.
    By the time they got to dessert, it was obvious that Joel Ellington was going to fit in well here. Melanie relaxed a little, enjoying the amiable give and take and feeling happy that Joel was being made welcome. He was warm and personable, and she found herself more than a little attracted to him.
    She shook her head as if to chase the thought away. This is ridiculous. Why am I thinking such things? I don’t even know the man . She forced her attention back to the conversation.
    When she pushed away from the table and excused herself a few minutes later, Joel looked up and gave her a smile that caused her heart to beat