Blessings Read Online Free PDF

could wait tables and mop the floors. It doesn’t have to be me.”
    Mama opened her mouth, but Dad put his hand on her knee, silencing her. He looked at Trina. “Your mother and I will discuss this, Trina. I’ve known Josiah Groening most of my life, and I trust him as an employer for one of my children. But there are several things that would need to be worked out for you to work in Lehigh.”
    “But, Troy—,” Mama started.
    Dad hushed her with a look. “The girl is nineteen already, Deborah. She’ll be on her own before long. She might as well explore a little bit before becoming responsible for her own home. And better she explore under the supervision of someone we approve.”
    Mama’s lips nearly disappeared, she pinched them so tightly together.
    Trina gave her father a brief hug. “Thank you, Dad.”
    “We’ll talk more tomorrow. To bed now. We have service in the morning.”
    Trina hurried off, but sleep didn’t come quickly. Through the bedroom wall, the mumble of her parents’ voices—Mama’s angry, Dad’s frustrated—kept her from drifting off. Two emotions warred within Trina’s heart—guilt for creating conflict between her parents and hope that they would say yes to her request.



F OUR

A fter Sunday morning service, the members of the fellowship mingled in the churchyard beneath the summer sun, visiting. Graham scanned the grounds, seeking Trina. When he spotted her with Andrew and Livvy, he jogged over and joined them.
    Trina’s smile of welcome lit her eyes. The tawny specks of gold in her brown irises picked up a hint of lavender from her dress of bold purple—a royal color that suited her somehow. Graham wished he could slip his arm around her waist and draw her near, the way Andrew did with Livvy. But that would certainly start the tongues wagging! Instead, he greeted Andrew and Livvy first then turned to Trina. “Do you have plans for lunch?”
    Trina raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. Her squint wrinkled her nose. “Mama invited Uncle Henry and Aunt Marie and their twins for lunch.”
    Graham stifled a groan. Trina would probably be expected to help serve at her own table. Henry and Marie Braun had twins a little over two years old, so Marie would be taking care of the toddlers and wouldn’t be much help.
    “Why do you ask?”
    Graham quirked his lips into a grin. “Mom said you could join us, if you were free.”
    Trina’s mouth formed a perfect O. “I’d like that! Let me ask Mama.” She scampered off.
    Graham visited with Andrew while he waited for Trina to return, but he didn’t hold out much hope for a positive answer. In all his months of courting Trina, she had only been allowed to come to his home without her parents one time, and that was on his twenty-first birthday. When Trina returned, however, she wore a huge smile that sent his heart to thumping.
    “Mama says that’s fine. Thank you for the invitation.”
    “She said yes ?”
    Trina’s grin turned impish. “She probably wants me out of the way so she and Dad can talk freely.” She turned to look at Andrew. “I talked to Mama and Dad last night, and Dad said they’d discuss it.”
    Andrew reached out and squeezed Trina’s shoulder. “Good. I’ll be praying for God’s will.”
    “Thank you.”
    Graham watched the exchange with interest. “Something important going on?”
    Trina peeked at him, her smile secretive. “I hope so.”
    “Will you tell me about it?”
    “Later.” She slipped her hand through his elbow, creating a mighty caroming in his chest. “We’d better go before your mother thinks we’re not coming.”
    Graham escorted Trina across the grassy yard to his vehicle, opened the door for her, then ran around to his side. He sighed with satisfaction. Just having her in his car, sitting primly on the opposite side of the bench seat, felt wonderful. How much better it would be when they were published and she could slide into the middle of the seat.
    Lunch seemed to