Free Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman Page A

Linda, who was staring at her. “I mean, I know you’re used to not having air, but I guess it’s just hard for me to imagine.”
    Linda finally pulled her gaze from Josie and looked straight ahead. “It’s not so bad.”
    A few awkward moments of silence ensued. “So, would you like to see my home?”
    Linda shrugged. “Sure.”
    “It has air-conditioning too,” Josie said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. Linda didn’t say anything and kept her eyes on the open road ahead of them. Josie turned off of Black Horse Road and turned left onto Lincoln Highway.
    “That’s Barbie Beiler’s place.” Linda pointed to a bed and breakfast on the right. “Do you know her?”
    “Uh, no. I haven’t met very many people since I’ve—since I’ve been back.” The questions were sure to come, and Josie hoped she could explain things in a way that Linda could understand. And forgive her.
    “She’s a gut friend. She gives us rides and helps us with things.” She turned toward Josie, twisted her mouth to one side, and then asked, “Are you married?”
    Wow. That came without much warning . “Uh, yes, I am.” Josie pushed a strand of hair from her face. “His name is Robert.”
    “Is he . . . ?”
    Josie turned her head to face Linda.
    “Is he . . . my father?”
    “No, oh no. He’s a wonderful man, but he isn’t your father. We’ve been married for twelve years.”
    “Do you have other . . .” Linda drew in a deep breath. “Do you have children?”
    “No, we weren’t able to have any. I mean, I wasn’t able to have any more children after you were born.”
    “I have a lot of questions.” Linda’s voice was soft as she spoke, void of much emotion, and Josie worried what must be going through her head.
    “And I will answer them all, as best I can.” She pulled into her driveway.

    Josephine’s house was a big brick mansion and looked a lot like Barbie’s bed and breakfast. “Just you and your husband live here?”
    “Yes.” Josephine turned off the car and opened her car door. Linda did the same, then walked alongside Josephine on the way up the sidewalk. She smelled good, sweet like honeysuckle. “Are you wearing perfume?”
    “Yes, I am. Do you like it?” Josie turned the key in the front door. Linda nodded and tried to see through the fancy glass, but Josephine pushed the door open before Linda could preview what she was walking into. A whoosh of cool air hit her in the face, and she could hear soft music playing. Josephine pushed the door wide, and motioned for Linda to walk in ahead of her.
    Linda was barely inside the door, but she knew for sure that this was the fanciest house she’d ever been in. Her eyes drifted upward to a light that hung high in the entryway with lots of twinkling bulbs and dangling crystals that shone onto a white tiled floor. Farther in front of her, she could see wooden floors spreading throughout a large den area, but these floors were glossy and bright, unlike those at home. Josephine’s furniture was rich-looking, and her blue couch spread in a half-circle around the room.
    “Come on into the kitchen, and I’ll pour us some tea.” Josephine walked ahead of her, and Linda followed, walking slow, taking it all in.
    When she entered the kitchen, she immediately felt more comfortable and was glad Josephine had suggested talking in here. The yellow walls and blue countertops made this room seem warmer, not so fancy. She saw familiar electric gadgets on the counter. Nothing out of the ordinary. She’d been in plenty of Englisch homes. Then her eyes rested on something new.
    “What’s that?” She pointed to a silver-shaped box with some sort of metal pipe coming out of it.
    Josephine was pouring two glasses of tea, but looked up. “Oh, that’s an espresso machine. Robert and I often have a cup of cappuccino at night.”
    Linda stepped closer to the appliance to have a better look. “Is it like kaffi ?”
    Josephine placed two glasses of tea on a