Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould Read Free Book Online Page A

container from the floor, I plunked the frog into it, and Billy secured the lid, full of good-sized holes.
    â€œGo set it free,” I said.
    Billy nodded, his face solemn.
    â€œNo,” Joe-Joe wailed.
    â€œDon’t you want it to live?” I asked.
    â€œJah. With me,” he answered, tears filling his eyes.
    I shook my head. “God didn’t make frogs to live in our Haus.”
    Billy headed toward the back door, and seemingly resigned, Joe-Joe wiped his hands across his face, painting his skin with sauce, and started to sit back on his chair.
    â€œOh, no you don’t,” I ordered. “Straight to the bathtub.”
    As he left the table, I looked around at the others. Timothy was still laughing, although quietly now. Aenti Nell nodded in approval. Phillip frowned, his forehead wrinkled under his dark hair.
    â€œIt’s usually not like this at mealtime. Is it, Addie.” Mutter glanced from Phillip to me.
    I shrugged. It usually was.
    Daed continued shoveling spaghetti into his mouth as if nothing had happened.
    Mother turned back toward Phillip. “Tell us about the farm you’re hoping to buy.”
    Timothy groaned and Danny asked to be excused as Phillipdirected his attention to my Mutter, beginning his description with the barn.
    I pushed back my chair.
    â€œI’ll do the dishes. You take care of Joe-Joe,” Aenti Nell said.
    â€œDenki.”
    As I headed down the hall, Phillip kept talking.
    A half hour later, when I returned with a pajama-clad Joe-Joe at my side, all my Bruders—and Phillip—were gone.
    Certain he was out talking to Daed, a wave of panic overtook me. Light-headed, I leaned against the table.
    â€œWhat is the matter?” Mutter asked from her place at the table.
    I stammered. “Where . . . where’s Phillip?”
    Aenti Nell turned from the sink.
    â€œHe said he’d see you tomorrow,” Mutter said. “He’s off to help his Daed move some hay before dark, so he didn’t have a chance to talk with your Daed either.”
    Relief washed over me as I exhaled slowly. “I need to talk with Daed tonight.”
    â€œWhatever for?”
    â€œI think maybe Phillip thinks I’ve agreed to something that I haven’t—not yet anyway. . . .” My words trailed off as the look of horror on Mutter’s face grew.
    â€œAdelaide Cramer,” Mutter barked, “don’t you even think of rejecting that nice young man. You will never, ever find a more suitable husband.”
    Aenti Nell stepped from the sink toward us, holding her wet hands in the air, and said, “Schwester . . .”
    â€œStay out of this,” Mutter snapped at her. “We don’t let you live here to meddle in our business.”
    Horrified, I called out, “Mutter!” Aenti Nell didn’t deserve such treatment.
    â€œDon’t you get sassy!”
    â€œAddie,” my Aenti whispered, “your mother’s right. It isn’t my business. I shouldn’t have—” She turned back toward the sink.
    Mutter shifted in her chair and asked me, “What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
    â€œI need more time is all . . .” The odd feeling beneath my heart expanded.
    â€œI know what you want. A husband. A home. Children. What every woman wants.”
    â€œJah,” I said. She was absolutely right. “I’m just not sure how to know for sure who that husband should be.”
    â€œI haven’t seen any other suitors coming around.” She spread her arms wide. “Have you?”
    I was only eighteen—well, nineteen in less than two weeks. And sure, I’d been anxious to marry and have a place of my own, but . . . what was the rush?
    My mother’s voice softened. “Addie, it’s normal to question these things. But that’s what making a commitment is all about. It’s a decision.” She