Seeing Your Face Again Read Online Free Page B

for a long moment. “I wish I knew, Saloma. That’s always the question we ask as a ministry, and I’m afraid we don’t always find the answer. Alvin was the last person I would have expected to pull something like this.”
    Debbie’s ears buzzed as the family’s conversation continued around her. She heard the questions and speculations through a haze. Even her arms were numb from shock. How could this have happened? Alvin had left for her world? One of the Knepps—the family known for never breaking the Ordnung— was going Englisha ? He’d never shown the slightest inclination of such a choice…or had she missed something?
    What about his interest in her? Did that mean nothing? Why hadn’t she made an effort sooner to contact Alvin through Verna? She should have after all the silence these past months. Had Alvin interpreted her intentions incorrectly? Maybe he thought she wanted him to stay away. But how could he think that after the plain words she’d spoken to him at Verna’s wedding?
    Lois’s words cut through Debbie’s fog. “It sounds like a broken heart to me. That’s the only thing that might cause a Knepp to stir himself to such effort. And to break the Ordnung on top of it.”
    â€œLois!” Mamm scolded, but Debbie knew they were all looking at her, no doubt thinking she was the cause of this.
    â€œBut…I…” More words wouldn’t come so Debbie lowered her gaze and stared at the table.
    She could feel everyone staring at her.
    The bishop spoke. His voice was kind, but the words cut to her heart. “Have you been toying with Alvin’s heart, Debbie?”
    Debbie shook her head. She didn’t trust her voice at the moment. How could they think this of her? She wanted to spill out words in her defense, to tell them of the efforts Verna and she had made at the wedding. How they’d invited Alvin to be a table waiter with her.How she’d spoken to Alvin afterward and tried to assure him that Paul Wagler meant nothing to her.
    â€œPlease, Daett .” Saloma placed her hand on her husband’s arm again. “Debbie isn’t to blame for whatever Alvin is up to.”
    The bishop pressed on. “I could declare I heard someone say that Paul Wagler said something about…” Bishop Beiler paused.
    Debbie waited a second before prompting, “Paul said what?”
    Bishop Beiler took a quick glance around the supper table. “It might be best not to speak of such things here.”
    Lois snorted. “Come on, Daett . What you have to say can’t be worse than what Paul says in public for all to hear.”
    â€œ Yah , I suppose,” Bishop Beiler allowed. “None of the Waglers can keep their mouths shut for the most part. And Paul is the worst. Word has it that he let on to Alvin that he wouldn’t stand a chance with Debbie.”
    â€œHe was speaking this around?” Saloma appeared horrified. “Debbie had nothing to do with this, I’m sure.”
    They all looked at her again. Debbie’s mind spun. She was still an Englisha girl to them, and she couldn’t blame the Beilers for being uncertain about her. What should she say? If Verna were only here, she’d know. But right now her silence convinced no one, so she blurted out, “I care for Alvin Knepp, and I wouldn’t have turned down his interest. In fact, I would have welcomed it! I have no interest in Paul, and he is only saying such things to mess things up between Alvin and me.”
    â€œAre you sure about this, Debbie?” Bishop Beiler regarded her steadily. “It sounds to me like two of our boys are fighting over the Englisha girl among us. Is this at the bottom of Alvin fleeing the community?”
    Debbie was sure she’d pass out any second. Bishop Beiler had never referred to her as “the Englisha girl” before. She’d always felt welcome in his home, even if