Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard Read Free Book Online Page A

edge of a wooden rocking chair. To say the situation was awkward was a pitiful attempt to describe it, but Lorie could tell that even Luke was a bit uncomfortable. Neither one of them had expected to find a long-lost grandmother tucked away in an Englisch retirement home. Yet here they were.
    Luke came farther into the room and took up a place in the stuffed armchair, while Amber hovered by the door. She seemed as if she didn’t know whether she should stay or go. Lorie supposed it wasn’t every day she found herself in this place, related strangers meeting for the first time. Or maybe her presence was to protect Miss Betty. The thought warmed her. Her father might have left his mother here, but he had placed her with people who obviously cared a great deal about the people in their care.
    â€œYou can take off your hat, dear,” Miss Betty said with a quick nod toward Lorie’s prayer kapp.
    Lorie’s hand flew to her head to protect the sacred garment. “Oh, no.” She shook her head.
    A small frown puckered Miss Betty’s brow, then she smoothed it away with a smile. “I don’t get many visitors,” she said. “Would you like some cookies? I don’t know where that Pearl has gotten off to.” The frown returned. “Really, dear, it’s not very ladylike to wear a hat inside.”
    Lorie looked to Luke who shrugged. Had this woman ever seen an Amish person? Or maybe this was one of those memory problems Amber had told them about. “It’s a prayer kapp, ” Lorie explained. “Not a hat and I’m not allowed to take it off until I go to bed at night.” That wasn’t entirely true, but explaining the many rules that directed how to wear a kapp and when, Lorie figured this was as good an explanation as any.
    â€œWell, I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Two bright spots of pink rose to her wrinkled cheeks.
    â€œI’m Amish, you see.” It was a terrible explanation but it was the only one she could give.
    â€œAmish?” Miss Betty frowned again. “How can this be? Pearl didn’t say anything about that.” She turned accusing eyes toward the doorway where Amber still stood. “There you are, Pearl. Why didn’t you tell me this girl here is Amish?”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Amber gave her an indulgent smile. “It must have slipped my mind.”
    â€œWe can’t have this,” Miss Betty fretted. “This will never do.” Then tears filled her eyes. “How can you be Amish? How?”
    â€œOkay, visit over.” Amber motioned them to get out of the room.
    Lorie gladly stood and hurried on stiff legs toward the hallway. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Betty.” But she wasn’t sure the woman could hear her, sobbing as she was.
    Luke followed her out into the hall.
    â€œShe’s not always this bad. In fact, most days are pretty good for her. I’m sorry.”
    Luke muttered something that sounded like, “That’s all right.”
    â€œCan you find your way back to the front desk?” Amber asked.
    They nodded.
    Amber smiled, then ducked back into the room. As they turned to leave, Lorie heard her soothing voice promising that everything was going to be all right.
    Lorie stopped and leaned against the wall. The entire situation was bizarre, heartbreaking, and she was having trouble taking it all in. She had just met her grandmother, a woman she hadn’t known existed before today. Did Betty Mathis know about her? How would she ever know? Her head thunked against the wall.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    She closed her eyes. “It’s just a lot, you know?”
    â€œYeah.” She felt him draw nearer, then his warm hand on her shoulder.
    What would her father say to her now? Time to buck up, baby girl. Life goes on. Meet each day ready for the wonders it holds. Except she hadn’t been ready for this. Not at all.
    She took a deep breath,