Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page A

stained-glass studio before. It’s interesting.”
    Andrew raised his eyebrows and followed the man’s gaze, trying to see the surroundings through the eyes of someone unfamiliar with the craft. He remembered his own awe when he first started—the pleasure of combining colors and shapes to create scenes, the patience required to prepare each piece of glass to fit the overall scene, the efficiency of the flowchart of steps that Beth had posted on the wall to make certain he did things in the proper order, and finally the satisfaction of viewing a finished product.
    His gaze located the cardinal piece, still resting on the display bench and awaiting packaging. He hadn’t created anything that elaborate yet, but he looked forward to the day Beth trusted him with larger projects. Suddenly he wondered if this stranger was an artist, too, seeking employment. Andrew’s heart skipped a beat. The man was obviously worldly. His clothing and mustache set him apart from the Mennonite men of Sommerfeld. Would Beth, who had been raised in the world, prefer his assistance?
    “Are you a stained-glass artist?” Andrew blurted out the question, his words loud in the peaceful shop.
    The man shook his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mirth. “Huh-uh.”
    But he didn’t expound on his answer, leaving Andrew floundering. After a few more awkward seconds of silence, Andrew waved his hand toward the worktable and said, “Well, I was busy cutting pieces. If you don’t mind, I’ll just...” He backed toward the table.
    “That’s fine. Do you mind if I look around?”
    Andrew shrugged. He had no authority to tell him yes or no. Knowing how the glass fragments flew with the use of the cutting wheel, he set aside the task of cutting and took up a stone to grind the rough edges of the glass pieces laid out on the worktable. He kept a furtive eye on the stranger, who walked slowly around the periphery of the small building, his hands clasped at the base of his spine, his expression bland.
    It seemed hours passed before the sound of a car’s engine alerted Andrew to Beth’s return. He hurried to the back door and opened it for her.
    She bustled through with a smile on her face and quickly removed her coat. In place of the purple suit, she wore faded jeans, a blue T-shirt that brought out the bright hue of her eyes, and a flannel shirt with none of the buttons fastened. How could she be so cute in such sloppy attire?
    “The weatherman says this will all clear off by midmorning, so—” Her cheery patter stopped when she spotted the stranger. Handing her coat to Andrew, she walked to the man. “Hello. Welcome to Quinn’s Stained-Glass Art Studio. I’m Beth Quinn.”
    Andrew experienced a prickle of discomfort at the ease with which Beth greeted the man. He didn’t care for the way the man gave Beth a quick once-over with his eyes, perusing her as thoroughly as he had the studio. But Beth didn’t seem bothered by it. Her smile remained intact.
    Andrew’s fingers crushed her coat in a stranglehold.
    “My name is Sean McCauley. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Beth tipped her head, tumbling her shining ponytail across one shoulder. “What can I do for you?”
    Sean McCauley slipped the tips of his fingers into his jacket pockets and smiled at Beth. “I’m a shopper.”
    Andrew’s chest constricted at Beth’s light, friendly laughter.
    “Well, I don’t often have shoppers come by the studio. As you can see”—she held out her arms, indicating the space—“I don’t have a gift-shop area at all, although I hope to expand as my business grows.”
    The man gave a slow nod, his mustache twitching. “Would you mind sharing your expansion plans with me?”
    Andrew bristled. How were Beth’s plans this man’s concern? But Beth didn’t seem to see anything wrong with the question. She didn’t hesitate.
    “Certainly. Right now it’s a fairly small working studio, appropriate for preparing pieces for craft fairs. I’ve