Sarasota Dreams by Debby Mayne Page A

realized what she’d done and that she was pregnant, I couldn’t figure it out.”
    Mary wanted to hear more about the specifics of what happened on the day Mama left from Grandma’s perspective, but she didn’t want to push for answers. She didn’t want to create tension.
    “Mama missed you and Grandpa,” Mary said, her voice catching on emotion.
    “Did she tell you that?” The expectant look on Grandma’s face tempted Mary to lie, but she couldn’t.
    She shook her head. “No, she never actually came right out and said that, but I could tell. She was lonely.” And she cried when she didn’t think Mary could hear her.
    “So was I. Some days, every time I heard a sound outside, I ran to the door, hoping it was my Elizabeth.”
    Mary wanted to ask more questions—like what would have happened if she and her mother had shown up. But it seemed that questions caused Grandma to clam up. She was much more open when she spoke of her own volition.
    Grandma folded the towel and hung it from the drawer handle, then turned and looked Mary squarely in the eye. “I used to worry that when you turned sixteen, you would do what your Mama did.”
    Mary slowly shook her head. “No, I would never have done that. It wasn’t a good life.”
    They held gazes for almost a minute before Grandma closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around Mary. At first Mary was so stunned she froze. Then she slowly relaxed, melting into Grandma’s embrace and allowing the older woman’s warmth to provide the comfort she needed. They held on to each other until Grandma finally let go and gently held Mary at arm’s length.
    “You are a delightful young woman, with a lot to offer the right man.”
    Mary gulped. “I want to do what God calls me to do.” She dropped her gaze to the floor.
    “Yes, I know that now.” Grandma lifted Mary’s chin and looked her in the eye. “Do you ever think what it would be like to find a husband and have your own home?”

Chapter 6
    M ary lay in bed staring at the ceiling with the light from outside casting a faint glow through the thin curtains. Usually before she fell asleep, she reflected on the day and how far she’d come from her past. Tonight was different. She’d had some sort of emotional connection to Grandma that she never thought possible. Grandma’s question about whether or not she wanted a husband and home of her own played through her mind, and Abe’s image instantly appeared.
    She squeezed her eyes shut and asked the Lord to give her the wisdom she needed. Abe had already made his intentions clear, and Grandma seemed to think she should try to have a normal Mennonite life.
    Mary wanted a normal life, but it never seemed possible for her to have one. Her rough early years haunted her everywhere she went. When she’d first moved to Sarasota, she doubted everyone’s motives for talking to her, including Grandma and Grandpa’s. It hadn’t taken long to learn to trust Grandpa. Even though Mama had said men always wanted something, Mary sensed a strong relationship between Mama and Grandpa that her mother missed, or at least hadn’t told her about. Mama had complained about Grandpa being cold, but Mary didn’t see that in him. Grandma was a different story. According to Mama, Grandma was a vindictive old woman who didn’t understand what it was like to be young. At first, after coming to live with her grandparents, Mary agreed with Mama, but through the years, she occasionally saw a softening that escaped Grandma’s stern facade for a few minutes or seconds. Until recently.
    Now everything was different. After Grandma’s talk with her during their walk, her demeanor had gradually softened even more. Mary’s thoughts swirled around all the conversations she’d had with Abe and how her grandparents were encouraging her to be with him. As her swirling thoughts gradually slowed, Mary finally relaxed and allowed sleep to wash over her.
    She awakened the next morning with the