Chapter 15
“A nd what may I bring you?” a waiter asked Lydia, who checked Maureen’s expression to see if she had permission to order dessert. How could she order it when her employer was passing it up?
Maureen nodded as if reading Lydia’s question from her expression. “Go ahead and eat the dessert that I’m passing up.”
As Lydia perused the dessert menu, she recalled all the delicious desserts her mam prepared pies of every sort, puddings, and cakes. Her mouth watered at the thought of tasting them. But she would step outside her comfort zone and try something new. “The sticky toffee pudding for me too, please.” Lydia was determined to be adventuresome and stretch her palate while here. If she didn’t like it, she would finish it anyway. In her parents’ home, she was taught to waste nothing. She wondered if the food thrown away here was given to a pig farmer. On her parents’ farm, the pigs benefited from table scraps.
“I’ll be right back with your dessert orders.” The waiter departed into the kitchen.
As she waited, Lydia scanned the lavish dining room with its two dozen tables and was surprised to see only a few filled. Alec was apparently correct when he said the bus accident on the bridge was stopping traffic. She chuckled to herself. That tippy little ferry boat had brought them to the shore safely. She wished her friends and family could see her now. No, she didn’t wish that at all. If anything, she wanted to hide. No need to worry about any of them finding her here.
She reminded herself that she wasn’t the first girl in her church district to jump the fence, but she was the first in her family. When her parents found out, they would be disappointed and embarrassed. Part of the reason her father was chosen by lot to become a minister was that he was an upstanding member of the community, and his family was trustworthy. Not that God in heaven didn’t do the choosing.