The Divided Family Read Online Free PDF Page B

siblings and their spouses, things became heated. Other times, his tension and sense of being out of place dissipated.
    “How have you been, Joel?” Aunt Verna asked.
    “I’m gettin’ by.”
But things would be better if I had more money.
    “Did you say you’re going to buy something?”
    “No, I said I’m getting by.”
    She smiled at him. “Glad to hear it. How’s that pretty young woman who was with you at my
bruder’s
funeral? Kristi—isn’t that her name?”
    Joel winced at the mention of Kristi. “We broke up,” he mumbled, hoping to keep his composure.
    “What was that?” Aunt Verna cupped one hand around her ear.
    “He said they broke up.” Doris turned to Joel and frowned. “You seem to have a knack for messing things up with the people you’re supposed to love.”
    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, a sharp pain hit Joel in the chest. His sister was right. There was no denying it. This whole time he’d been attempting to get Kristi back because he was lonely without her. He’d ruined the chance of marrying the woman he loved, all for the sake of having money. It was likely he would never hold Kristi in his arms again, and that pained him the most.
    Doris gasped. “I–I’m sorry, Joel. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    Shrugging, he stared at his shoes. “You only spoke what you feel is true. I don’t have a good track record with women. Apparently you felt the need to remind me of that.”
    “Maybe we need to change the subject,” Brian interjected.
    “Or maybe it would be best if I go.” Joel stood and looked at Doris. “I hope your leg heals as it should and that you’ll feel better soon.” He said a quick goodbye and hurried out the door.
    “Probably shouldn’t have come here,” he muttered, while opening his car door.
I’m glad Doris is doing okay, but I’m tired of her putting me down for my mistakes. I never seem to say or do the right thing when I’m around any of my family. Don’t know why I bother to try. Even after all this time, Doris is obviously still upset with me for breaking up with Anna.
    As Joel drove down the driveway, he met an Amish buggy heading toward him. He moved the car over as far as he could to let it pass. As the buggy went by, he recognized the driver. It was Anna.
What are the odds?
Joel’s toes curled inside his shoes. Not knowing what else to do, he gave a wave and continued out onto the road.
    As he traveled on, Joel thought about Anna and all the Sunday afternoons they’d spent together when they were courting. A lot of history lay between them, and every time he saw her, scenes from the past would rush through his head. They’d had some fun times back then, even after Joel became dissatisfied with his life. Before he left the Amish faith, he thought he could convince Anna to go English, too. They could have started a new life together. Anna’s experience with children might have helped her get a job as a nanny or working at a daycare center. But Joel now recognized that she would never have agreed to leave. She was committed to the old ways.
    He gripped the steering wheel and gritted his teeth.
I shouldn’t be thinking about this right now. I’m not Amish anymore, and it’s over between me and Anna. There’s no going back.

C HAPTER 5
Charm, Ohio
    T he following day, when Elsie arrived at Dad’s house to do more sorting, she was surprised to see Arlene’s buggy parked by the barn. It was the first time since Doris’s accident that they’d been able to continue searching for the will. Thanks to Aunt Verna showing up and offering to care for Doris, Elsie and Arlene felt free to spend time here again. They could only be at Dad’s a few days a week, however. With Christmas drawing closer, there was much to be done at home in preparation for the big day.
    After Elsie put her horse away in the corral, she grabbed the basket of food she’d brought and went into the house. Arlene sat in the living room, going through a stack