“Hi, how are ya doing?” He gave her a dimpled grin—the kind of sweet smile that used to cause a stirring in her heart.
“Okay, I guess. Nice car you’re driving.”
“Wish it were mine, but it’s only a demo.” Trent continued to smile, never taking his eyes off of her. “You look great, Miranda.”
A shiver went through her as Trent’s gaze slowly roamed from her head, down to her toes, and back to her face again.
“Is that a new shade of lipstick you’re wearing?”
She lifted her chin and gave him a probing gaze. In all the time they’d been married, he’d never once mentioned her lipstick. Or much of anything else about her appearance, for that matter. Why the sudden interest now? I bet he’s trying to butter me up.
“It’s not new.” Miranda spoke slowly, deliberately. “I’ve worn this same lipstick many times in the past.”
“Okay then, but you do look nice this morning. Are you on your way to work?”
“Yes, I am. And what might you be here for? Did you come to plant more flowers?” Miranda couldn’t keep from speaking in a tone of sarcasm.
Trent lifted both hands. “All right, you’ve found me out. I did plant the roses. Do you like them?”
She slowly nodded. “They’re beautiful, but I’m not happy about the reason you put them there.”
He tipped his head slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t act innocent, Trent. You felt guilty for not staying with the kids during the cooking class, so you—”
“Okay, okay, I admit it. I did feel bad about not sticking around. But the real reason I planted the roses was to remind you of our wedding day. Remember the beautiful bouquet you carried as you walked down the aisle toward me—your eager groom?”
Miranda shifted her weight, clutching her purse close to her side. “Of course I remember.”
“I still love you, honey, and I want to come home.”
She swallowed hard, hoping he wouldn’t know how close she was to letting her tears fall. Thinking back to their wedding day, Miranda recalled how she’d thought she and Trent would always be happy together, making beautiful memories throughout the years. But those hopes and dreams had gone out the window when her husband admitted he had feelings for another woman and wanted to pursue a relationship with her. It wasn’t long after Miranda insisted he move out of their home that Trent said he was sorry and pleaded with her to forgive him. Of course, Miranda said no. She couldn’t trust him anymore. And with good reason. He couldn’t even keep a simple promise to take the kids to cooking class.
She bit her bottom lip. Trent did take them. He just didn’t stay there like I expected him to. And he asked the kids not to tell. That’s deceitful behavior from a man who claims to love me.
“Well, aren’t you going to say anything, Miranda? Can I come home or not?”
Trent’s question pulled her back to the present. “No. I can’t believe you think that just because you planted some roses in my flower bed, our marriage should be back on track and everything would be peachy—or should I say rosy?”
Trent huffed impatiently. “What’s it gonna take to convince you to give me another chance? What do I have to do to get back in your good graces?”
“For one thing, you’d need to take an interest in spiritual things.” Her chin jutted out. “And I don’t mean just going to church.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“You need to make a serious commitment to God and become the spiritual leader in our home.”
He spoke as though his words were chosen deliberately. “I am not a bad person, Miranda. And I’m getting sick and tired of you making me feel like one. Just because I almost got caught up in an extramarital affair doesn’t mean I’m headed down the road toward—”
She held up her hand. “I don’t want to discuss this with you anymore, Trent. And I won’t be late for work on account of you.”
He glared at her. “Why do you always have to blame me for everything? Did it ever occur to you that your holier-than-thou attitude might be part of our problem?”
Trent’s words stung like a slap across the face. If she didn’t leave now, Miranda knew she would either say something mean or break down in tears. “Sorry, Trent, but I have to go. Debbie and Kevin are inside with their babysitter if you want to say hello.” Miranda hurried to her car and opened the door. Short of a miracle, she doubted that she and Trent would ever live together again.
Miranda closed her eyes and took in a breath. I just wish the children weren’t affected by all of this. They deserve two parents who love the Lord, as well as each other. She sniffed deeply. Perhaps that’s too much to hope and pray for, but I have to trust God to help me get through this without losing faith and becoming a bitter person.
Chapter 21
Kevin leaned his elbows on the table and stared at Miranda as she fingered the handle of her teacup. “Mommy, are you mad at Daddy?”
She blinked. “Why would you think that?”
“’Cause he said so when he came by the other day.”
Debbie poked her brother’s arm and put one finger against her lip.
“What’s going on?” Miranda asked. “Has your father been talking about me behind my back?”
Debbie dropped her gaze to the table, while Kevin slumped in his chair.
“Okay, kids—out with it. What did he say?”
“Just said you was mad at him for plantin’ the flowers.”
Miranda felt a flush of heat on the back of her neck. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding to her son’s statement. What I wouldn’t do for a God-fearing husband in this house. If only Trent would get his act together and be that kind of man for his family. “I am not mad at him for that.” She spoke in a soft tone, glancing at her watch. “And you know what? You two need to go brush your teeth so we can leave for Heidi’s on time. You don’t want to miss her third cooking class.”
After finishing his glass of orange juice, Kevin pushed away from the table. “Wonder what she’ll teach us to make today.”
“I hope it’s something good.” Debbie left her seat too.
Kevin wrinkled his nose. “The corn dogs we made last time were okay, but they were so little.”
“Course they were, silly. That’s why Heidi called them ‘mini corn dogs.’”
“I ain’t silly.”
“Are so.”
“Huh-uh.”
Miranda put her cup in the sink and turned the water on full blast, hoping to drown out Debbie and Kevin’s bantering. She’d been tempted to tell them the reason she was mad at their father, but stopped herself in time. It wasn’t right to involve the children in her and Trent’s problems, and she certainly didn’t want them to take sides. Their separation was hard enough on the kids, and she disliked even asking them what their father had said. They were already in the middle of this mess, and the last thing either child needed was to become an informer.
Miranda turned off the water. She heard the faucet running in the bathroom and knew one of them was in brushing their teeth. She combed her fingers through her shoulder-length hair, and watched a pair of turtle doves in the yard. She thought about Trent’s comment that she was partly to blame for their relationship falling apart.
“It might be true,” she murmured. “I may have done things to drive him away.” Miranda lifted her hands with intertwined fingers, bowing her head in prayer. Lord, if it’s meant for Trent and me to be together again, please show us both what we need to do in order to work things out. And help me learn to be more forgiving.
Millersburg
“Are you ready to go, sweetie?” Ellen called to her daughter. “We don’t want to be late for class number three.”
“Okay, I’m ready, Mom.” Becky met Ellen at the door with a smile. “How do I look in my new blue-and-white-striped shirt?”
“You look nice, and a little nautical with your red sneakers.” Ellen winked, pointing to Becky’s feet.
Ellen smiled as she grabbed her cell phone and put it in her purse. She looked forward to seeing Darren today and appreciated the things they had in common. In addition to being single parents, they both enjoyed the outdoors, shared Christian beliefs, and had careers of a helpful nature. It might be too soon to think this way, but Ellen could almost see a future with Darren. It was the first time since she’d adopted Becky that she’d been seriously interested in a man.
“Are we going, or what?” Becky tugged on her mother’s arm.
“Of course.” Ellen followed her daughter out the door, locking it behind them. I wonder if Darren’s been thinking of me.
Dover
Darren eyed his son, sitting across the table from him, staring at his bowl of cold cereal. “Aren’t you hungry this morning?”
Jeremy shrugged. “I guess.”
“You guess you’re not hungry, or did you mean you are?”
“I’m not hungry. My stomach doesn’t feel right, Dad. Think I might be comin’ down with the flu.”
Darren wasn’t sure whether to take his son seriously, since Jeremy sometimes feigned sickness to get out of doing something. “You wouldn’t be trying to get out of going to the cooking class, would you?”
Jeremy lowered his head, rubbing his hand through his messy hair.
“I thought now that you and Becky are getting along better, you wouldn’t mind going.”
“She’s not my best friend, Dad.” Jeremy dropped a piece of his toast on the floor for his dog.
Darren didn’t approve of feeding the dachshund table scraps but decided not to make an issue of it this time. Bacon looked like he needed some more meat on his bones. “I wasn’t insinuating that you and Ellen’s daughter are best friends, Jeremy. I just thought—”
“Can we talk about somethin’ else?”
“Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know. Anything other than Becky or her mother.”
“Okay.” Darren drummed his fingers on the table. Does my son have something against Ellen. Do I dare ask?
Clearing his throat, Darren blurted the question. “How do you feel about Becky’s mom? Do you like her, Jeremy?”
“She’s okay, I guess.” Jeremy rubbed his forearms. “She did catch a nice trout the day we went fishin’.”
“That she did.” Darren chuckled, remembering Ellen’s surprised expression when she reeled in the fish. “So you wouldn’t mind if I ask Ellen to go out to dinner with me—just the two of us this time?”
Jeremy blinked rapidly. “How come?”
“Because I enjoy being with Ellen, and I’d like the chance to get to know her better.”
“Okay, sure, whatever.”
“Maybe we can plan it so you can spend the night with one of your friends.”
Jeremy frowned. “I’m not a baby, Dad. I can stay here by myself.”
Darren shook his head. “You’re not even close to being an adult yet. And until you’re a few years older, I will not leave you alone for a long period of time.”
Jeremy tossed the dog another piece of toast. “Guess if you think you have to see Ellen alone, I’ll talk to my friend, Todd. See if I can spend the night with him.”
“Good. I’m glad we got that settled. Now finish your breakfast so we can get on the road. I don’t want you to be late for Heidi’s class.”
“Sounds like you’re the one who’s excited about going,” Jeremy mumbled, picking up his spoon. “Bet the only reason is so you can see Becky’s mother again.”
Ignoring his son’s comment, Darren changed the subject. “I still need to shave, pick out a shirt, and comb my hair.”
“Okay.” Jeremy spooned some cereal in his mouth.
Darren couldn’t deny it. Ever since their time spent at the lake the previous week, Ellen had been on his mind. So much so, that he’d decided to sit in on the cooking class again today. And if he had the opportunity to speak to her privately, before or after the class, he planned to bring up the idea of a dinner date.
Canton
“I don’t want to go to Heidi’s today. Something bad will happen to me like it did before.” The muscles along Kassidy’s jawline tensed.
“Life is full of ups and downs, Kassidy.” Denise handed her husband a cup of coffee when he took a seat at the kitchen table. “Isn’t that right, Greg?”
“Absolutely.” He brushed his fingers across his mustache and looked over at Kassidy. “So you’d better get used to it, because you’ll be faced with many obstacles over the course of your life.”
Kassidy’s face slackened as she hunched over. “Well, if that’s how it is, then life really stinks.”
Denise placed her hand on Kassidy’s shoulder. “It does stink sometimes, but if we keep a positive attitude and try to do what’s right, it will be easier to deal with problems when they come along. Besides, you’ll learn over time the challenges we experience give us a chance to do things better the next time around.” Denise thought about her own situation, where the owners of the expensive house she’d hoped to sell had changed their mind and taken it off the market.
Kassidy picked up her glass of milk and took a drink. “It’s kinda hard to have a positive attitude when people make fun of my red hair or think it’s funny when something bad happens to me. Some of the kids at Heidi’s cooking class thought it was hilarious when my blouse got grass and mud stains on it.” Her forehead wrinkled deeply. “I don’t like any of those kids, and I wish I didn’t have to take any more of Heidi’s classes.”
“Just remember this.” Denise touched her daughter’s arm. “No matter what age we are, we’re never too old to gain knowledge and learn from our mistakes. Same goes for the other kids in the class.”
Kassidy grunted. “Well it doesn’t seem like they’ve discovered how to be nice yet.”
“Perhaps you could start by setting a good example. Did you read the Bible verse Heidi wrote on the back of the recipe card she gave you during the last class?”
Kassidy shook her head.
Denise rose from her seat and returned to the table with the card. “This is what it says: ‘Beloved, let us love one another.’”
Greg looked at her through squinted eyelids. “Is that Amish woman teaching cooking classes or doing a Bible study?”
“We are not studying the Bible, Greg. The Amish are God-fearing people, and I think Heidi just wants to share a little of her faith with the class.”
“Yeah, well, that’s fine and dandy. Just don’t let it go to your head so you end up coming home in a preaching mood.” Greg pushed his chair away from the table. “I’ve got to head out. I’m supposed to meet my friend Arnie at the golf course today.” He bent and kissed Denise on the cheek, then landed a quick peck on Kassidy’s forehead. “You two have fun at the cooking class.”
Kassidy’s eyes brightened a bit as she looked up at him. “Okay, Dad, I’ll try.”
Chapter 22
Walnut Creek
Heidi popped a fresh strawberry in her mouth. Its sweet, juicy flavor made it tempting to eat more, but the others in the bowl were for the strawberry shortcake they’d be making today. She looked forward to another class. Her doubts about teaching children had been erased, for she’d soon learned what a pleasure it was to spend time with them, watching as they learned to make a new recipe. The mouthwatering smell of sweet shortcake she’d made for dessert tonight rose from the oven and brought back memories of Heidi’s childhood when her mother made the tasty dessert for their family during the warm summer months.
Looking out toward the garden, an image of Marsha came to mind, with the red stain of
strawberries all over her face and hands. Heidi chuckled, thinking how much fun Randy and Marsha had helping her yesterday as they picked the plump berries. The children had eaten more than they picked, but that was the fun of it all.
Heidi had started washing the breakfast dishes when Randy dashed into the kitchen. Sliding to a halt in his stocking feet, he announced, “Someone’s car is pulling into the yard out front.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me know. Now, please head upstairs and put your shoes on. My students will be here soon for the cooking class.”
Randy nodded. “I’ll make sure Marsha is wearin’ her shoes too.”
“Good idea, Randy. I appreciate you being so helpful.”
He scampered out of the kitchen, and Heidi dried her hands on a paper towel, then hurried to the front door to see whose vehicle had pulled in. Since her class wouldn’t start for another half hour or so, she figured it wasn’t one of her students. But it could be their mailman, Lance, bringing a package to the house, as he often did.
When Heidi went out to the front porch, she was delighted to see Kendra getting out of her car. She waited in anticipation as the young woman opened the rear door and took her ten-month-old baby girl out of the safety seat. Kendra looked like she’d lost all her baby weight, and she was wearing a pretty, floral dress with pink sandals.
As she watched them approach, Heidi realized this was the first time she’d seen her little namesake without her heart being filled with regrets. Kendra had a right to raise her own child, and Heidi’s life had become filled with the joy of taking care of the Olsen children. She and Lyle had talked earlier this week and decided to move forward in taking the necessary steps to adopt Randy and Marsha. It had been over six months since the children’s parents died and they’d become wards of the state. In all that time, no relatives had come forth to seek custody, so Heidi felt safe in seeking to adopt Marsha and Randy.
“It’s good to see you.” When Kendra stepped onto the porch, Heidi greeted her with a hug. “How are you and your little one doing these days?” She reached out and touched the sweet child’s silky hair.
Amish Cooking Class--The Celebration Page 15
