Why was Lydianne so skittish around him?
Was she becoming more interested in Detweiler?
Was she intimidated because Jeremiah was the
district’s bishop, or because he’d been married before?

 

Jeremiah smiled, hoping his voice didn’t hitch like a teenager’s. “I, um, was wondering if you’d come to the Shetler reunion with me on Sunday the fifteenth—”

“No! I—I can’t do that!”

Startled by the fierce finality of her reply, Jeremiah blurted his response before he thought about it. “Why not? Are you seeing Detweiler?”

Lydianne’s eyes widened as she gripped the edge of her desk. “Absolutely not! It’s not a gut idea to get involved with—this isn’t the right time to—”

The deep disappointment on his face must’ve alerted her to his feelings. “I’m sorry, Jeremiah,” she whispered. “Please don’t ask me to explain. And please don’t ask me again.”