Falling in Love With Her Husband by Ruth Ann Nordin Read Free Book Online

to. I
    forced myself to look at her and smile. “Then I wil take
    you.”

    I pretended to be intensely interested in the roast
    beef dinner after that. If the dinner could have gotten worse,
    I didn"t know how. In three weeks, this would all be a
    memory. It was the only consolation I had.

    Once dinner was over, I decided it was time to tell
    her what was on my mind. I didn"t want her to spend the
    next couple of days worried about whether or not I would
    ask to court her after the dance. The situation was awkward
    enough as it was. Since she was ready to run off with
    Agnes, I had to yell her name across the room in order to
    get her attention.

    She and Agnes stopped. Turning around, she
    politely asked, “Yes?”

    I hated being put on the spot. Everyone was staring
    us, and it irritated me. I would have to speak with her in
    private. I walked up to her before I spoke. “Could I speak
    with you on the veranda?”

    I knew our parents would be fine with this since they
    could see us from the window.

    She nodded and followed me out.

    Now that she was in front of me, I forgot my well-
    rehearsed speech. She sat on the bench and patiently
    waited for me to talk. I shifted uneasily from one foot to the
    other. I was going to tell her and that would be it. “What I
    have to say isn"t easy for me,” I slowly began, staring at the
    ground. I couldn"t make eye contact. I feared she would
    laugh at me. Taking a deep breath, I quickly said, “I love
    you.”
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    It wasn"t the way I had envisioned telling her a year
    ago. Back then, I planned to hold her in my arms and tell
    her before I kissed her. This wasn"t anything like that. I felt
    like a fool who was out of place. Hoping to avoid any further
    awkwardness, I continued to talk.

    “I know you don"t love me,” I admitted.

    Before she could interrupt, I requested that she let
    me continue. She simply nodded and waited.

    I sat next to her, making sure there was adequate
    distance between us so I didn"t spook her. “I wanted you to
    know how I felt about you before I left. I don"t want to work
    at my father"s bank. I know it"s what my family expects of
    me, but I"m not going to do it. I want to be a farmer. I know
    it sounds sil y but I believe it"s God"s purpose for my life. I
    have a friend who knows a man out west who wants to sell
    his farm and house so he can be close to his grown
    children. I"m going to purchase his property.”

    “You"re leaving? When?” She was obviously
    stunned. No one but Alex knew my plans up to this point, so
    I wasn"t surprised by her reaction.

    “I"l leave the day after we graduate.”

    “Where are you going?”

    “North Dakota.”

    “That far? But what about your parents and sisters?”

    “My sisters wil get used to it. I think it might even
    show them that they need to pursue their dreams so they
    can live the lives they want. My parents will mostly likely
    disown me.”

    “Oh, they wouldn"t do something so drastic. Sure,
    they wil be upset but they"l accept it.”

    “No, they won"t. Trust me, Ann. I know them better
    than you do.”

    She closed her mouth and nodded.

    “I know how you feel about Kent and I"ve accepted
    that,” I went on. “It"s not my intention to make you
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    Falling In Love With Her Husband
    uncomfortable. Now you don"t have to dread going to the
    dance with me.”

    Her mother tapped on the window. “We need to go,”
    she yelled.

    Ann turned back to me and smiled. “I"l miss you
    when you leave. I won"t tell anyone your plans. And I"m
    sorry I never gave you a chance. You are very nice.”

    “Thank you.” I stood up with her. “I hope this wil
    make going to the dance with me easier for you.”

    “I don"t want to go to the dance because Kent and
    Rebecca will be there, but it will be less of a burden since
    you"l be with me.”

    That was the first time she seemed to glad to be in
    my presence. I took her picture out of the trash can when