The Betrayed Fiancée Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyway.”
    â€œHow about another cup of coffee or a piece of zucchini bread?” Doris motioned to the desserts sitting out on the table. “Feel free to help yourself to anything you like. It looks like there will be lots of leftover chocolate-chip cookies. I’ll get some for you to take home so you and Joel can share.” Doris opened the container on the counter.
    Kristi watched her put a paper plate into the bag before placing the treats inside. She’d already sampled one of the soft, chewy cookies and found them to be quite tasty. She was on the verge of pouring a cup of coffee when Joel stepped into the room. “Kristi and I should go, but first I need to ask you a question, Elsie.”
    â€œWhat is it, Joel?” She looked at him curiously.
    â€œWhere’s Dad’s will? We need to find out how much he left us.”
    Kristi couldn’t believe Joel would bring up this topic on the day of his father’s funeral when the pain of losing him was so raw. She felt embarrassed. The last thing Joel should be concerned with right now was his father’s will. And why had he been avoiding his family? What was wrong with him, anyway?
    â€œListen, Joel.” Elsie’s chin quivered as she looked at him with watery eyes. “This is not the time to be discussing Dad’s will. We can talk about it in a week or so, once things have settled down for all of us.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Arlene agreed.
    Joel’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “We don’t have to discuss the will right now. I just want to know where it is.”
    â€œWe don’t want to discuss this today.” Doris spoke up.
    â€œWell, I do!” Joel shouted.
    â€œI couldn’t help overhearing you talking from the other room, and there’s no need for knowing right now,” Elsie’s husband, John, intervened as he entered the kitchen.
    Kristi held her breath, watching Joel’s ears turn pink and waiting to hear his response.
    Joel strode across the room until he was mere inches from John. The men were about the same height, so they were eye-to-eye and practically nose-to-nose. Kristi feared Joel might be about to punch Elsie’s husband. “Listen to me, John, this is between me and my sisters, so I’d appreciate it if you’d just stay out of it and mind your own business.”
    John’s face colored, too, and his brown eyes narrowed through his glasses. “Whatever involves my fraa is my business, plain and simple. Furthermore, if you were truly interested in a relationship with your family, you’d come around more often, and without always asking for money. It seems now you are concerned about money again, or you wouldn’t be worried about Eustace’s will.”
    â€œI’m not worried. I’d just like to know—”
    John held up his hand. “We don’t want any trouble here today. Our family is under enough sorrow and strain.”
    The room got deathly quiet. Kristi was sure if a feather floated from the sky, she would hear it drop. These last few minutes, watching her fiancé’s expression and listening to the anger in his voice, gave a pretty clear picture of why he hadn’t previously told her about his Amish family. He obviously did not get along with them, and for good reason. From what she’d heard here in this kitchen, the man she loved and hoped to marry cared more about money than he did his own family. Didn’t Joel feel remorse that his father had been killed less than a week ago? Wasn’t he grieving like his siblings were? She clenched her teeth.
Maybe I don’t know Joel as well as I thought
.
    Joel whirled around, his dark brown eyes blazing as he looked at Kristi. “You’d better gather up your things. We’re leaving!” He turned and pointed his finger at Elsie. “I’ll call you in a few days to talk about Dad’s will.”

C HAPTER 5
    T he first