Read Amish Circle Letters II: The Second Circle of Letters for Free Online

stepdaughter. How blessed, she thought, am I to have such thoughtful children. “Why don ’t you sit for a spell and I’ll make you some hot cocoa? It’s cold outside today.” She didn’t wait for an answer as she hurried to take some milk from the propane operated refrigerator and poured some into a waiting pan to heat up on the stove.
    It was over an hour later before Menno and Melvin returned from their barn chores. The younger girls were already seated at the table and Suzanna was helping Mary Ruth with the food. Bread was toasted. Oatmeal was ready. Juice was poured. All that was needed was the blessing over the meal from Menno.
    Mary Ruth glanced up when she heard the men return from the chores and enter the washroom. Her heart pounded, a swelling anticipation for a reaction from her husband. She placed one hand on the counter, steadying herself as she waited for him to fulfill her dream. She reached up with her other hand, making certain that her hair was smoothed back and no stray hairs had fallen from beneath her prayer kapp . She pinched her cheeks, just a little, hoping that they looked rosy and fresh.
    And then he walked into the kitchen. He didn ’t stop in the doorway. He didn’t seek her out. There wasn’t a sparkle in his eye. Instead, he merely carried the coffee pot and ceramic mug toward the counter, avoiding her eyes. “ Danke for the coffee, Mary Ruth,” he mumbled before taking his place at the head of the table.
    She stared at him, her mouth gaping open in surprise. Surely he had seen the note? How could he have missed it? She was stunned. He had read the note and still wouldn ’t look at her? He loathed her so much that he couldn’t even meet her eyes?
    Somehow, she managed to walk toward the table to take her own seat. Her heart pounded inside of her chest and her hands were shaking. She couldn ’t tear her eyes away from Menno. She hoped he would look up, smile or even wink at her. Nothing.
    Oh, she had expected many things from Menno, but a continuation of the silent treatment was not one of them. With a heavy heart, Mary Ruth bowed her head to pray when Menno lowered his own. Keeping to God ’s instruction was going to be more difficult than she imagined.
     
     
    Mimi woke up in her bed, alone and, for the briefest of moments, confused. She glanced over to where she had imagined Steve would be lying but he wasn ’t there. Had she dreamt the wedding? Had she made up the memory of their first night together? She sat up and looked around the room. Everything looked so familiar: her dress hanging on the wall, her prayer kapp on top of her dresser. But then she saw it: man’s clothing that was folded neatly on the chair by the window.
    And she smiled, sinking back into the pillows.
    There were footsteps outside of the door and the doorknob turned. In the dim light of dawn, Mimi saw the door open and Steve poked his head into the room. His eyes were bright and his hair messy from having already been working outside with his hat on, creating a soft ring around his head.
    When he saw her, the slightest of smiles crossed his face, a look of adoration in his eyes. “ Gut mariye, fraa ,” Steve teased, stepping into the room and carefully shutting the door behind him. For a moment, he stood there, watching as she pulled the covers up to her chin while she sat up. Only the neckline and sleeves of her nightgown were exposed as she peered at him, her eyes wide and bright and her hair loose and hanging down her shoulders.
    Steve carried two coffee mugs in his hand and, after crossing the room, he handed one to her. “How did you sleep?”
    “Right gut, danke ,” she said, a blush covering her cheeks. She took the coffee mug and felt the steam rise to warm her face. “Ummmm. Smells gut. Did you make it?”
    He laughed. “ Nee , your mamm did.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and Mimi moved over to make room for him. “I can do lots of things, but cooking isn’t one of them. I can