Sarasota Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

busy as always. Between visits from the Mennonites and Amish from the Pinecraft community and the tourists, Penner’s Restaurant did quite well. Grandma’s pies were especially popular. Folks from other parts of the country had heard of her peanut butter, pumpkin custard, banana cream, and key lime pies, and once they tried them, they spread the word even more.
    Around two thirty, Shelley pointed to the clock. “A half hour to go. Do you need to freshen up? If you do, I’ll cover for you.”
    “No, I’m fine.” Mary thought about how disheveled she must look after serving the busy lunch crowd. “It’s just Abe.”
    “Abe is a very nice-looking man.”
    “You think so?” Mary asked. “Then why don’t you go for him?”
    Shelley let out a low growling sound. “You’re impossible, Mary. You know I already have a man.”
    “But you’re not married or engaged.”
    “Not yet,” Shelley conceded. “But I have a feeling it won’t be long.” She tilted her head and batted her eyelashes. “And now it’s your turn to find love.”
    “I think not. There is no one around here who would even consider getting engaged to me.” Shelley was one of the few people who’d given her the time of day since they first met, so she’d understand. “People can’t seem to separate me from my mother.”
    “That’s not true. I think you’re the one who can’t let go of what happened. A man who has a heart for God understands what a good woman you are and what an excellent wife you will make. If I’m reading him correctly, Abe wants to court you.”
    “Maybe you need stronger glasses, Shelley.” She wiped her hands on the dishrag and tossed it onto the counter. “I think I will go check my kapp. I wouldn’t want any loose hair flying around.”
    “Oh no, you wouldn’t want that,” Shelley teased. “Heaven forbid Abe would see your hair down.”
    “Quite frankly,” Mary admitted, “I don’t care one way or another, but Grandma and Grandpa do care, and I’m not about to get them mad.”
    A minute later, Mary stood in front of the restroom mirror, kapp in hand, studying her hair. Her mother had always said it was her best feature, but according to Conservative Mennonite custom, she wasn’t allowed to show it off. Or at least not all of it.
    She removed the clip, raked her fingers through her waist-length hair, then wound it back up in a bun and refastened it. She tucked in her kapp on the sides to expose a little more of her hair before pinning it back into place. Her makeup-free face was pale from being indoors all day, so she pinched her cheeks to give them a little color. Not that she cared what Abe thought. She just wanted to freshen up a bit.
    Once she was satisfied with how she looked, she tried to scoot out of the restaurant but stopped when she heard her name. “Mary, it’s not three o’clock yet. Where are you going?”
    Mary turned around to face Grandpa, who stood there with a knowing smile. “Um … I don’t want to be late.”
    “Eager to see Abe, are we?” He was obviously working hard to hold back his laughter. “Never mind. I’m sure he’s just as excited to see you.”
    “I am not eager or excited to see Abe.”
    “Of course you’re not.” He flicked his hand toward the door. “Go on, get out of here. You and Abe have some fun, okay? Tell him I said so.”
    “I will, Grandpa.” Mary left without arguing. Grandpa was too old to understand anything on her mind, so there was no purpose in telling him.

    Abe had arrived a few minutes early. In his haste to be on time, he had David pick him up at two o’clock.
    “Got a date?” David said.
    “In a way, I suppose it is. Why?”
    “Twice to town in one day. I’m getting used to daily, but there’s definitely something going on.”
    “Nothing going on but getting to know a smart-mouthed woman who makes me laugh.”
    David tilted his head back and guffawed. “That’s the best kind. You’ll never be bored if she can make you