A Heart Once Broken by Jerry S. Eicher Page A

this, but I don’t want hard feelings.”
    â€œWhat is it?” Lydia probed.
    â€œSo there is something going on,” Sandra snapped. “I asked you about this earlier, remember?”
    â€œ Yah , I remember,” Rosemary said. Then she blurted out, “Okay! I’ll admit it. I’m trying to capture Ezra’s attentions. I can’t help myself even if I know it’s wrong—and impossible.”
    Lydia appeared dumbfounded. “You are trying to…Ezra?”
    â€œPlease don’t be angry with me,” Rosemary begged. “Both of you!I have to try or I can’t live with myself, and he’s not asking either of you home, even with all the work you’ve put into him.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be,” Lydia said. “Cast me over the barn roof.”
    â€œBut this isn’t possible.” Sandra clutched the edge of the table. “Lydia I can understand, but you ?”
    Rosemary appeared embarrassed. “I know. I’m way out of line, so please forgive me.”
    Lydia shrugged. “I guess you have a right to try. If Ezra can’t make up his mind, maybe this will help.”
    â€œBut…” Sandra stopped. She couldn’t express the desperation rising up inside of her.
    Surely Rosemary wouldn’t succeed. Ezra wouldn’t even notice her…would he? She wasn’t about to say such unkind words. Lydia’s example was the right one. Rosemary needed encouragement, not harsh emotions. Sandra took a deep breath and managed to say, “Well, I know what it feels like to give Ezra smiles and to have things go nowhere, so if that happens to you, too, don’t take it personally.”
    â€œThe Lord will surely guide us in this.” Rosemary’s voice trembled.
    Lydia reached over to give Rosemary a quick hug. “I never thought you would have enough nerve. But I’m proud of you.”
    Rosemary colored a little. “I didn’t either, and maybe I will only embarrass myself—in fact, I’m sure I will. And you can all laugh real hard when it happens. I wouldn’t be angry.”
    â€œWe won’t laugh,” Sandra assured Rosemary. This was no longer a laughing matter.
    â€œBut you won’t be angry with me?” Rosemary asked.
    Sandra forced herself to smile. “I’m not getting anywhere with the man, am I?” Then she glanced at Lydia, who shrugged.

Chapter Ten

    O n Wednesday morning Rosemary flopped down on the couch with the pile of mail in her hand. She had worked for hours already with Mamm and her younger sister Ann on bread and pies. This was her first chance to catch her breath.
    â€œAnything interesting?” Mamm called from the kitchen.
    â€œI haven’t looked yet,” Rosemary answered.
    She skimmed the letters first. Mostly there were bills for Daett , but one letter was addressed to her. Rosemary held the envelope up to the light. The return address was from the old community in Ohio, but there was no name. The handwriting was clumsy and crude.
    â€œThere’s a letter for me,” Rosemary announced.
    Mamm appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Did one of the relatives write?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Rosemary turned the envelope upside down. What if this was from a man? The thought left her weak. Perhaps someone had remembered her from the old community? Surely not.
    â€œLet me see,” Mamm demanded.
    Rosemary handed the letter to Mamm and held her breath. Mamm didn’t look too long before she said, “You’d better open this in your room, I’m thinking.”
    Rosemary let her breath out. “But Mamm , I had nothing to do with this.”
    â€œSuch things are in the Lord’s timing,” Mamm said. “You don’t have to be ashamed of a man’s attentions. Take a few minutes to read the letter, but upstairs please.”
    Rosemary felt the heat rise up her neck as she obeyed. Halfway up the