Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,24

host.”

“Wonderful. I shall look forward to it. Now, tell me, you mentioned siblings. How many of them do you have?”

And that was all Papa had to say on the matter. Connie was rather stunned. She focused on the meal at hand but couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d been deceptive with her mother and father. Of course, Aunt Phinny and Uncle Dean knew about Tom’s beliefs, so Connie had just supposed it was common knowledge. She was so used to the idea of Tom’s lack of faith that she rarely even thought about it. Perhaps she should have. She was, after all, a Christian, and a big part of being a Christian was sharing the faith. Yet Connie was fairly certain she’d rarely shared her beliefs with anyone. Guilt washed over her. There had been a time when she and Tom openly debated their beliefs, but when that ended, Connie had tried not to think about how different their views were. She hadn’t even prayed that he would find the truth about God for himself.

She took a biscuit and tried to put her attention on the food. Her mother’s lamb stew was every bit as good as Connie remembered. Her mother cooked in a very simple fashion, using fresh vegetables and meats. She didn’t bathe them in creams or sauces to disguise or change their flavors, and Connie found she had missed this plain fare. Even her mother’s biscuits, although heavier, were more flavorful.

“I’ve missed this so much.” She forced the words out and pushed ever harder to stuff back her guilt.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t find my cooking very satisfying after eating such fancy meals back East,” Mama replied. She took her seat after fetching a brown sugar cake. “I hope you still like this.” She cut a slice and put it on a small plate. “We don’t usually have cake for lunch, but I couldn’t resist.” She handed the plate to Tom. “This used to be Connie’s favorite.”

“I’m sure it still is,” Connie declared. “Especially if you made your brown sugar butter sauce to go with it.”

“Of course she did,” her father said, placing a small pitcher on the table. “What’s the cake without the sauce?”

“The very thought is indecent,” Isaac said.

Connie could almost taste it. What an unexpected delight. Her mother handed her a piece of the cake and then the pitcher of sauce. Connie poured the liquid all over the cake, and then handed the pitcher to Tom. “Make sure you use plenty. It soaks into the cake and is like nothing you’ve ever had.” She waited until he’d copied her actions, then picked up her fork. “Sometimes Mama makes whipped cream to go along with it, but I find it just perfect with the sauce alone.” She cut into the cake and popped a piece into her mouth.

The warm, buttery brown sugar hit her tongue in a burst of flavor that made her happy and homesick all at once. She’d never allowed herself to realize just how much she’d missed this place and her parents. Now, sitting here with her family and Tom, Connie thought she had never been happier.

Except for the fact that Tom didn’t believe in God.

Tears came unbidden.

“Goodness, I didn’t expect to make you cry,” her mother said, extending her handkerchief.

Connie took it and dabbed her eyes. She didn’t know whether she was crying for Tom or the fact that she’d missed her family. She would choose the latter for the sake of discussion. “I didn’t realize just how much I missed you all. I didn’t really allow myself to think about it while I was away. I knew I longed for each of you, but the depth of feeling that overwhelms me now was something I didn’t let come through. Otherwise I could never have stayed away so long.”

Her mother met her gaze and nodded. “I am the same way when thinking of my sisters. I dare not let myself miss them too much.”

“Well, I for one think we should eat our cake and be happy,” her father declared. He cut his own piece and plopped it unceremoniously on his plate. “Now, please pass me the sauce before Isaac gets a hold of it and uses it all up.”

Mama laughed. “There’s plenty more. I made sure of it.”

When they’d finished with lunch, Connie felt a deep longing for a nap. She was thoroughly spent and crawled atop her old bed without even bothering to undress. She would rest for just a