Dancing on Dew Read Online Free PDF Page A

one knew about us—that you’d made promises to me.”
    “What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry?” He threw his hands in the air. “Then I’m sorry. I’m sorry that life throws us twists and rips our plans to shreds. I’m sorry I made promises to you that I couldn’t keep and I’m sorry I hurt you, but I don’t regret the life I chose.”
    She backed away from him, her face pale and taut. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have come. Truly, I only wanted to welcome you, not relive old wounds.” Turning, she headed in the direction of her carriage.
    Without thinking, his hand shot out to stop her, and he gently gripped her shoulder. “Thank you for coming.”
    “It wasn’t the life I wanted, but I’ve had a good life since you left. Take care, Joseph.” Not turning around, she shrugged away from him and left.
    Her dismissal had the air of a final goodbye. He watched her ride away until she became a speck of evaporated dust in the distance. Seeing Sissy was the last thing he’d been prepared for and the visit wrenched his gut.
    Thirty minutes ago, he’d been grateful for the silence and time alone, After Sissy’s visit, he couldn’t wait for his family’s return. Being alone with his thoughts was the last thing he wished for—he was afraid of where they might lead.
    He didn’t want to remember how much he’d loved Sissy and how badly it hurt to leave her, despite knowing it was the right thing to do. He couldn’t think about what their life might have been like had he stayed, or wonder if he could have been spared the heartache of losing Clara if he’d waited for Sissy.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Cicely stood at the schoolhouse steps and stared at the building in which she’d spent so much of her life. First as a student, then as a teacher, but she wouldn’t step inside the building again for seven weeks. From mid-June to August, there’d be no school, and she was free of all employment obligations, except the Independence Day parade. The last day of school always left her with an empty feeling as she wondered how she’d fill the days of summer break.
    Regardless of that feeling, there was reason to celebrate. She’d successfully completed her second year of teaching. Satisfaction and fulfillment boosted her spirits, and she decided to stop by the mercantile on her way home, purchase several yards of fabric. The summer would bring celebrations and picnics, occasions for a new dress.
    In her newfound enthusiasm for the summer, she nearly skipped across the small plot of grass separating the schoolhouse from town. She passed Doc Foster’s house and waved to Myrtle and Lettie McCade, who were visiting on the porch.
    Myrtle waved back. “Can you spare a few minutes to join us?”
    “Is that cold lemonade I see?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Myrtle smiled and winked. “Freshly squeezed this morning.”
    “How can I say no to that?” Cicely opened the newly installed gate.
    Danny and Naomi, Lettie’s three-year-old twins, came running to her.
    “Hi, Miss Sis.”
    Naomi’s shortened version of her name brought a smile to Cicely’s face. Neither twin could pronounce her full name and had called her Miss Sis for as long she could remember. “Hello Naomi. Good afternoon Danny.”
    “Ma bought us licorice from the store before we came.” Danny beamed and pulled another piece from his pocket.
    “Make sure you’re sharing with your sister,” Lettie called from the porch.
    Cicely wove between the twins and climbed the few steps to the porch. “He gets bigger every time I see him,” she said, nodding to Rand Jr., Lettie’s youngest child who sat on the porch besides Lettie and played with a wood block carved into the shape of a dog.
    “I can’t keep up making clothes for him. Thankfully, I saved most of Danny’s outfits as he outgrew them.” Lettie reached down and patted Rand Jr’s head. “But he’s such a sweet child. He almost seems too easy after having twins the first time.”
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