Adoring Addie Read Online Free PDF Page A

what he’s destroyed.” Martin took the money anyway.
    â€œHe’ll pay me back.” Somehow. Someway. I’d see to it.
    Martin nodded at me. “See that he does.” He held the money up. “This should help Jonathan—at least he wasn’there to see it happen.” Martin told me good-bye and headed back to the booth.
    I followed him. Mervin was trying to lift the mantel, but Martin told him to leave it as he showed Mervin the money.
    â€œDenki, Addie,” Mervin called out. “That will help. With our grandfather ill and Jonathan’s family not farming here yet, he’s supporting the family.”
    In the background Timothy revved his Bronco and then honked the horn.
    â€œYou’d best go.” Mervin stepped out of the booth, his eyes sympathetic.
    â€œJah.” I picked up my basket. “Please don’t try to retaliate,” I said. “It isn’t our way.” I couldn’t help pointing it out, even though Mervin knew it as well as I did. We’d been taught that since we were babies.
    â€œMaybe you should talk to Timothy about that,” Mervin said.
    I nodded. “I will. And to my Daed.”
    Martin snorted. “A lot of good that will do.”
    My face grew even warmer.
    The horn blared again.
    Feeling defeated, I gave a half-hearted wave to the twins, called out a good-bye to Hannah and Molly, who’d retreated back to their tables, and cut across the flattened pasture to Timothy.
    â€œThey’re jerks,” he said as I opened the back door and put my basket on the seat.
    â€œThey’re not.” I climbed into the front of the yellow jacket on wheels, feeling as if I were part of a hive gone wild. “Even if they did tell you to keep away from their cousin. Tabitha, right?”
    He scowled at me. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
    â€œHannah told me.”
    Timothy stared straight ahead, but venom filled his voice. “Then she’s full of it.”
    I shook my head.
    Timothy gripped the steering wheel tighter. “And so are all the Mosiers. Always have been.”
    â€œDon’t say that.”
    â€œAnd the one that does the carvings? He’s the biggest loser of all.”
    My anger with my brother neared the boiling point. “How would you know?” I fastened my seat belt, glared at Timothy until he fastened his too, and then stared straight ahead. “Besides, you’re the one who instigated it.”
    He gunned the car, spinning out as he sped toward the highway. “No—the Mosiers started it years ago.”
    I knew my parents didn’t think highly of the Mosiers, but I had no idea what was behind the hard feelings. “What happened between our two families?”
    â€œYou don’t know?” He had a smirk on his face.
    â€œNo, I don’t.” And I was pretty sure he didn’t either.
    â€œWell, I’m not going to be the one to gossip about it. And don’t ask Mamm or Dat. It will just make them mad.”
    I’d ask Aenti Nell. “Regardless of all that,” I said, “I heard you’d had too much to drink last weekend. And you were definitely the instigator today. You should apologize . . . and stop this nonsense.” I stared straight ahead. “I gave the twins money to cover the damages. You’ll have to pay me back.”
    He let out a snort. “I wasn’t the one who knocked over that stupid mantel. And you didn’t ask me if I wanted you to pay for it.”
    â€œI’ll talk to Daed about it, then.”
    He snorted again. “Good luck with that. He doesn’t care.” He turned left instead of right at the stop sign.
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œBy Sam and George’s.”
    I sighed. Our older Bruders were renting a trailer from an Englisch family down the road. I hadn’t seen it yet . . . and had no desire to. “Is that why you came