Free An Unbroken Heart by Kathleen Fuller Page B

Abigail.” Before the accident she had seen the two
of them together, mostly after church services and during singings. They made a striking
couple. He was tall, blond, and fair, while Abigail was petite and had dark hair
and an olive complexion.
    â€œI think he does.” Uncertainty crept into her expression, then she shook her head,
her brown eyes regaining their prior sparkle. “Never mind about me and Joel. We were
talking about you. We have a wedding to plan, a dress to make, people to invite,
food to prepare . . .”
    As Abigail continued to tick off what seemed to be a never-ending list of things
to do for the nuptials, Joanna silently prayed. I’ve finally gotten mei heart’s desire,
God. But I never expected it to happen like this.
    â€œYou’re going to have a beautiful wedding,” Abigail said. “These next two weeks are
going
to
fly by. Before you know it, you’ll be Mrs. Andrew Beiler.”
    Joanna turned and embraced her sister, trying not to cling to her as if she were
a life raft. Lord, what have I done?

    Irene Beiler hung up the last pair of Andrew’s pants on the line. Her brother went
through clothes at twice the rate she and Mamm did, but that was to be expected because
of his job. Once his pants were hung, she stepped back and let the fall breeze fan
her face. The clothes fluttered like colorful flags on the line. Her dresses, her
mother’s dresses, and her brother’s shirts and pants would be dry in a short time
if the cool dry air continued throughout the day.
    She turned away from the clothesline, but instead of picking up the plastic basket,
she turned it over and sat down, using the basket as a stool. It was too nice to
go inside and start lunch. She wanted to spend a few moments in the fresh air, alone
with her thoughts and the twittering sounds of the birds that were taking turns at
the three feeders she’d filled up yesterday. She loved to watch the different species—chickadees,
swallows, finches, and her favorite, brown creepers. Those little birds were adorable.
    After a few moments she stood, picked up the laundry basket, and began to head inside.
As she turned she saw a man walking up the driveway. She frowned. She wasn’t expecting
anyone. As he neared her jaw dropped. “Asa?”
    Her brother’s childhood friend waved as he strode toward her. He smiled, stopping
in front of her and shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants.
    Irene kept gaping. She hadn’t seen Asa for five years, since he left Birch Creek
for a job opportunity in Indiana. His family had followed him soon after. Asa had
been sixteen, and even then he had been the most gorgeous boy she’d ever seen. She
wasn’t the only one who thought so—every one of her friends had a crush on him at
one time or another. But he wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a man. A stunningly beautiful
one, with black wavy hair, thick eyebrows, and pale gray eyes surrounded by so many
dark, long eyelashes it wasn’t fair. Still, she’d never felt an attraction to him
and had always considered him part of their family, at least until he had moved away.
At twenty, he was two years younger than she was, and she’d always seen him as her
little brother. There was nothing little about him now.
    â€œHey, Irene,” Asa said, his voice deeper than she remembered, his gaze flickering
off
to
the side. That part of him hadn’t changed. He’d always tended to be quiet
and
a
little shy. Now he also seemed unsure around her. Odd, considering how close
they’d
been
growing up.
    She had to break this strange ice between them. Grinning, she went to him. “Is that
any way to greet me?” she asked, throwing her arms around him and squeezing tight.
He hugged her back, harder than she’d expected. His embrace was almost desperate.
When she pulled away, the curve of his smile was a little bigger, reminding her of
the kid she used to