We all have them, choices to make… Where we’re going to live, what career we’re going to pursue, who we’re going to marry… There’s always a myriad of choices that face us throughout our lives, and even on a daily basis. What movie are we going to watch tonight? What’s for dinner? In Return to New Parish, Hannah has many choices to make, some big, life changing ones, and some, all be it simple, still stressful ones.
Hope you’re enjoying her journey…
Excerpt from Return to New Parish:
Chapter 12 – Alex
“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that I have dinner with each of my wives on rotating evenings,” Alex grinned mischievously. “Tomorrow’s your turn.”
“What?” Hannah felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights. “I’m not a very good cook,” she admitted honestly.
“I can eat just about anything,” Alex shrugged. “It’s just to talk and visit, really. To cover some ground.”
“Okay,” Hannah sighed. “I make no promises on how dinner will turn out.”
Alex smiled warmly, “Can’t be any worse than some of the stuff I had to eat when I was on trail rides.” He gave her a quick hug, and said, “I have to get out to the stables.”
………..
Hannah sighed, hoping for good news and opened the email from Brenda.
“Hi Han,
Congratulations. Yes, I’ve heard, at
times, very loudly about your marriage. I’m
glad you’re finally getting into cooking and
have friends that have inspired and encouraged
you. I’m attaching several recipes that should get
you by.
I’ll send some more soonish.
Love you too,
Bren”
………..
Just as she placed the last pan in the drainer, there was a knock on the door. She ran over to the French doors and closed them, and took a long, slow deep breath before she opened her apartment door.
Alex was standing there with a curious, questioning look, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Hannah smiled, not really wanting to explain anything, “Avoidance is best,” she thought.
Alex cleared his throat and said, “These are for you.”
“Thanks, come on in,” Hannah smiled, breathing in the wonderful aroma of the flowers. She filled a vase with water, placing the flowers in it, then set it in the center of the dining table, which was just past where the food and plates were.
Alex pulled a chair out for Hannah and scooted it in for her when she sat. He sat at the head of the table and said a short prayer.
Hannah thought, “A prayer is definitely needed for this meal.”
“How was your day?” Alex asked, obviously trying not to laugh.
“Fine,” Hannah replied, determined not to talk about the disaster she’d made of cooking.
Alex smiled and dished up.
Hannah did the same, hoping it wouldn’t be as bad as she feared it would be.
“We have a new foal in stable three,” Alex informed her, taking a bite of Sheppard’s pie.
“Oh, wow,” Hannah said excitedly. “Can I go visit tomorrow?” She felt guilty hearing the crunching sounds as Alex chewed. She knew shepherd’s pie wasn’t supposed to be crunchy.
“Sure,” Alex nodded. “She’s not going anywhere. I have high hopes for that little girl.” Then he encouraged, “So, tell me what you did in school.”
“Programming, networking, if it had anything to do with computer tech, I was in on it,” Hannah replied, taking her first bite of shepherd’s pie. “It’s not too bad,” she thought, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m going to send Bren a, thank you, email tomorrow.”
“So when’s your last day on the job?” Alex asked with one eye squinted a bit.
Hannah smiled, she couldn’t help it, just about everything about him seemed charming to her now. “Next Tuesday,” she replied.
“Good,” Alex nodded. “I’ll start showing you how things work here next week.”
“Okay,” she said. Then a thought came to her, “How long have you been doing the girls trick riding team?”
“Oh, since Lexie got interested when she was about six,” Alex smiled. “She used to like to go watch me ride in the rodeo and she saw groups of girls doing trick riding and wanted to learn.”
“Wow, that’s really cool,” Hannah said with admiration.
“Once she got started, some of her cousins wanted in, and before long I had a whole team,” Alex chuckled. “Those girls were very determined.”
“The ones now are too!” Hannah smiled. “I love watching them.”
“Maybe you’ll like going to the rodeo then?” Alex winked. “There’s usually another team that does the same circuit we do. Sometimes they get a little competitive, but it keeps my girls on their toes.”
“Like a rival football team?” Hannah proffered.
“Yep,” Alex replied.
After they finished the salad and Sheppard’s pie Hannah retrieved the almost apple pie from the warmer. It was a little burnt around the edges, but the middle was all the way delicious. That made Hannah feel a little better.
Alex helped Hannah with the dishes and told her about the rodeo schedule for the summer. The customary good night hug was given and, as Hannah closed the door, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“It wasn’t a complete disaster,” she thought.
Find Return to New Parish, New Parish, and Brigham Tea Magazine on Amazon.com at the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Worthington/e/B00E6622QO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1569181539&sr=1-3
