Free The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall

of the effort it took to get his ideas across. He’d used every form of communication with her since they’d started work at four that morning—singing, signing, and stuttering.
    Mamm walked up to Annie, took the tub of dishes, and set them in the commercial-sized sink. “You’ve been wonderful help, Annie, but I think I should take you home. We’re good here tonight on our own.”
    Annie’s face reflected surprise for a moment. “Oh.” She glanced at Aden, hints of embarrassment reflecting in her delicate features.
    “Mamm. Don’t be r-rude.”
    “I didn’t mean to be.” Mamm seemed hurt, but she shook her head.
    Annie went to the sink and squirted hot water over the dirty dishes. “I was going to make shoofly pies for tomorrow. It’s on the menu, and I mixed the dry ingredients last night for the pie shells and for the crumbs to go in the filling and over the top of the pies.”
    Mamm seemed perplexed, and guilt nibbled at him. He didn’t need to see the fear in her face to know he and Annie were crossing boundaries. The Plain people, Amish or Mennonite, were very clear about those who broke their vow to God concerning the church; it was equal to divorce.
    Even Annie’s parents weren’t divorced. They didn’t live together,but they’d never divorce. Mamm opened her mouth to speak but said nothing. The phone rang, and she quickly headed out of the kitchen and toward the cash register, where it sat.
    Aden wanted to apologize to Annie and assure her that Mamm was only being protective of them, to tell her they were perfectly safe enjoying each other’s company while working … and during the walks they went on after work. But the words jammed inside him, and he didn’t even try to stutter his way through. Matching his silence, Annie loaded the plates and cups in the dishwasher.
    He put the brush down and wiped his hands on a towel before moving next to her. What he’d give to be able to say a sentence without stammering. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Sh-she’s worried.”
    “I noticed.”
    Her answer surprised him. “You did?” When she continued working, he put his fingers under the stream of clean water and flicked sprinkles at her.
    She barely flinched.
    “A-Annie?”
    “You and I both know it’s forbidden to get close to anyone of the opposite gender from another faith. I don’t know about you, but I knelt before God and the church and promised to remain loyal.”
    “A-a-and?”
    She wiped her forehead with her wrist, her hands dripping with water. “That’s all I know, Aden.” She sounded desperate to drop the topic.
    He nudged her with his shoulder and waited for her to look up.“M-me too.” His emotions were everywhere all at once—from friendship to obvious sparks of interest. But how could he really know what he felt after only a few days of getting reacquainted?
    He and Annie just needed a little time to figure things out.
    Or maybe that was the opposite of what they really needed, but it’s what he longed for. It’s what he’d dreamed of for years, but he’d never dared to cross that line. What did she want?
    Mamm walked into the kitchen. “You ready?”
    Annie pursed her lips. “Ya.”
    Aden grabbed the towel off his shoulder and passed it to her.
    She dried her hands and gave the towel back. “Bye, Aden.”
    He wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew if she walked out that door right now, nothing between them would be the same. Roman would return next week, and this time with her would be no more than a memory he’d cling to for the rest of his life.
    Annie followed his Mamm out of the kitchen. The swinging door swooshed back and forth. Water dripped in the sink. Drip.
Plop
. Drip.
Plop
. The refrigerator hummed. When he was an old man, water would still drip in sinks. Doors would still swoosh. Refrigerators would still run. And he’d still know that he’d let the only woman who ever mattered, ever would matter, walk out of his life. He’d done his best over