A Place of Peace Read Online Free PDF Page A

napkins. “Today you haven’t acknowledged one word I’ve said.” Her expression became coy. “And you haven’t even complimented my chicken salad.”
    He couldn’t help but smile. “Your chicken salad is superb, Naomi.
Danki.”
    “Gern gschehne.”
She handed him the cake. “Your dessert.”
    “Danki.”
While they ate their cake, he asked her how her day was going at the farmer’s market.
    Once their lunch was finished, Timothy helped her pack up her basket and then walked her to the front of the shop, which was located across the street from the farmer’s market in Bird-In-Hand.
    “Danki
for another
appeditlich
lunch,” he said, handing her the quilt.
    “Gern gschehne,
Timothy. You know I love bringing you lunch.” She batted her long lashes and gave him a coy smile.
    He inwardly groaned. Did she expect a kiss? His gut had told him to cut off the friendship because she would wind up expecting more. He was going to have to tell her how he truly felt sooner or later, and from the expression on her face, it was going to have to be sooner.
    But now was neither the time nor the place. He couldn’t break her heart and then send her back to work.
    Besides, wouldn’t breaking her heart put me in the same category as Miriam after what she did to me?
    The thought hit him like a ton of bricks. He was wrong to mislead Naomi. He was obligated to not hurt her.
    “There you go again!” She gestured dramatically and sighed. “You’re off on another planet. I wish I could read your mind, Timothy.”
    “No, you don’t,” he muttered.
    “What was that?” She tilted her head in question.
    “Nothing.” He touched her shoulder. “I best let you get back to work before your
mamm
prohibits you from having lunch with me.”
    “I doubt that will happen.” Her flirtatious grin was back. “How about I bring you lunch again tomorrow?”
    Oh, she was so eager. If she only knew the inner turmoil he was battling. He forced a smile. “That would be
wunderbaar.
Enjoy the rest of your day.”
    “You too.” She turned and trotted toward the farmer’s market.
    Timothy watched her disappear across the parking lot and shook his head. Naomi deserved a suitor whose intentions were clear and whose emotions were focused on her. He said a silent prayer that he could be the person she deserved and that he would find the strength to get Miriam Lapp out of his mind and his heart.
    Miriam set a German apple cake on the table next to the shoofly pie. “How are those oatmeal cookies coming along?” she asked Abby.
    Her cousin grimaced. “I think I burned this batch too.” She set the cookie sheet on the stove and huffed. “I’m not a good cook.”
    “Ya, you are.” Edna rubbed Abby’s back. “You are too harsh with yourself, just as you always were when you were a
maedel.”
She moved the cookies around on the sheet with a spatula. “Some of these are good. Grab the plastic wrap, and we’ll package up the good ones.”
    Miriam was wrapping up the German apple cake when she heard a car motor up the driveway. Her stomach flipped at the thought of seeing Beth Anne for the first time in nearly four years. She hoped Beth Anne would speak to her and not treat her like Gerald had.
    A tap sounded on the door, and Miriam bit her bottom lip.
    “Answer that please, Miriam,” Edna called. “We’re almost done with these cookies.”
    Miriam hesitated and glanced at Abby, who nodded toward the door as if reading her worried thoughts.
    “Go on,” Abby said with a sweeping gesture. “She’s only human like you.”
    Miriam pulled the door open and found Beth Anne standing on the porch alongside a young
English
woman with dark hair.
    Beth Anne’s eyes widened with shock. “Miriam.” She touched her arm. “I’m so very sorry about your
mamm.
I’ve been asking the Lord to comfort your family.”
    Beth Anne’s gesture brought tears to Miriam’s eyes.
“Danki,”
Miriam whispered.
    “This is my niece, Jessica Bedford.” Beth