Read Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) for Free Online

the bakery?”
    “The children are mostly well behaved,” Lydia explained while fiddling with the napkin again. “We just have a few rambunctious boys who get into mischief sometimes.”
    Tristan grinned as he finished the butterscotch macaroon cookies. “I was known to get into some mischief when I was younger, right, Mom?”
    His mother chuckled. “Yes, you gave your father and me a few gray hairs.” She took one more cookie and then closed the box. “I’m going to ruin my dinner if I keep eating these. This was so nice of you, Lydia. I would love to meet your parents sometime. Maybe we can come up for a visit.”
    “Oh,” Lydia said, touching the ties on her prayer covering while she considered the offer.
I don’t think
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would enjoy that right now
. “That would be very nice, Mrs. Anderson. But I don’t think this is the best time to visit. My youngest sister has been ill for a while. Her name is Ruthie, and she’s four, like Michaela. She’s seen quite a few doctors, and it’s been really difficult to handle at our house. I know that my parents would enjoy meeting you, but I think we need to wait until we know what’s going on with my sister.”
    Mrs. Anderson and Tristan both frowned.
    “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Mrs. Anderson said. “Do the doctors know what’s wrong with her?”
    “My parents took her to see a specialist today, and I think they finally got an answer.” Lydia stared down at the frayed napkin on the table. “They haven’t told me what the doctor said yet. I think they want to wait until later when my siblings are in bed.” She dreaded that conversation with her parents but knew she would have to endure it.
    “I’m really sorry, Lydia,” Tristan said. “That has to be really difficult for everyone in your house.”
    Lydia met his kind expression and smiled. “Thank you. It’s really difficult for all of us.”
    “Maybe once your sister is better we can have you and your family over.” Mrs. Anderson looked around the kitchen. “Of course, it’ll have to be after this mess is sorted out.”
    “That would be nice. Tristan told me your husband is starting a new job here in Lancaster, right?” Lydia asked, in an attempt to change the subject from her family.
    “Yes, that’s right. My husband took a job as a professor here,” Mrs. Anderson explained. “We’re making a new start in Lancaster. He’d been on sabbatical for a while.”
    “Doesn’t school end in June for you?” Lydia looked at Tristan.
    “Yeah,” Tristan said. “But I finished up my finals early, so we were able to move before the end of the year. Even though I didn’t have any real classes left, my parents are making me finish out the year here anyway.” He had an annoyed expression on his face, and Lydia swallowed her laughter.
    “We decided to come early before the start of next semester so my husband could get organized.” Mrs. Anderson gave Tristan a little smile. “This one wasn’t happy about the move at all, so his father had to bribe him.”
    “Bribe him?” Lydia was confused. “What do you mean?”
    “He gave me a car as a way to make the transition easier,” Tristan explained. He folded his hands on the table and frowned. “I wasn’t happy about leaving my friends — especially my girlfriend. But I already told you that. Anyway, since he gave me a car, I can drive down and visit them every once in a while.”
    His mother looked at him with serious eyes. “As long as your grades don’t suffer.”
    “Yes, Mom.” Tristan rolled his eyes at Lydia, and this time she laughed.
    They discussed the weather until the children came trotting into the kitchen with Bitsy in tow.
    “You should see the upstairs, Lydia,” Irma said while puffing to catch her breath. “They have a television in every room! Michaela turned hers on, and we saw a program with talking penguins in a city zoo!” She laughed, hugging her arms to her stomach. “It was so funny. Can you imagine