Groom by Design. Christine Johnson

will solemnly promise to do all in our power to help each other win our chosen husband,” Jen said. “We’ll promote her to him. We’ll find ways to bring the two together. We’ll do whatever it takes. Agreed?”

      Jen and Minnie shook on it and looked to Ruth. This promise had so many holes that it was bound to fail, but Ruth had to agree to it. If Jen were the right woman for Sam, as Ruth suspected, then the only chance she had of bringing them together was this plan. Once they discovered how suited they were to each other and fell in love, marriage would follow. And Jen was right. That marriage could solve all their problems. Sam had already demonstrated a measure of generosity and compassion. With Jen’s tireless prompting, Sam would surely help Daddy get the treatment he needed.

      So Ruth placed her hand atop theirs to seal the pact.

      * * *

      Sam didn’t bother to sit at his desk. He picked up the telephone receiver and listened as his father got straight to the point. “I want you to look into a property that’s coming on the market. It’ll be offered at a good price—an excellent price.” Sam held the receiver a few inches away from his ear. Father’s booming voice carried across the room. Harry always joked that they didn’t need telephones and telegraphs. Father could be heard for miles without technological assistance. “If this deal works out, it’ll go a long way toward paying for your mistake.”

      As usual, Father jabbed at Sam’s decision to open a store in Pearlman. In Father’s eyes, the store had already failed, and when the opening proved his point, he’d hold it over Sam for the rest of his life. No matter what it took, Sam would ensure this store not only opened strong but also thrived for years to come. That meant getting every detail right, including one broken display case. Maybe this crazy property purchase could buy him a little time.

      When his father paused for a breath, Sam pulled the mouthpiece close and cut short the directive. “When am I supposed to do this? I’m spending every waking hour getting the store ready. If you send me out of town, we’ll have to delay the grand opening.”

      Father cackled. “I’m not sending you anywhere, boy. You won’t have to leave your precious town to look it over. The property’s right next door.”

      “Next door.” Sam got a sinking feeling as he calculated whose property that must be. Since the store was located on a corner, that could mean only two locations, and one was a house across the alley.

      “Right next door.” Static crackled the line but it didn’t obliterate Father’s words. “Why didn’t you tell me we’re opening up next to a dress shop?”

      Chapter Four

      Sunday dawned still and sunny, one of those lazy summer days that inspired picnics, fishing and rowing on the pond. The latter was out, since Ruth’s family owned no rowboat, but, if Sam accepted their invitation to a picnic, she might be able to persuade him to dip a line in the river. Jen loved to fish. It was the perfect opportunity for romance to flower.

      But first Sam had to show up for the church service so she could invite him.

      “How long do we have to wait?” Minnie fussed with her hair in the dress-shop window. “The service is going to start soon.”

      “I know.” Ruth bit her lip and glanced left and right to see if Sam were coming. “I told him to meet us here.”

      Jen grinned. “You like him.”

      “He’s simply a nice gentleman.”

      The church bells rang. A rooster might as well have crowed, for like the apostle Peter, Ruth had denied the undeniable. She did like Sam. Seeing him with another woman had hurt more than it should.

      “A nice gentleman,” Jen mimicked, and then both she and Minnie burst into giggles.

      “Hush!” Ruth hissed as she glanced left and right again.

      He wasn’t coming. All those nerves had been spent on nothing.

      “We’d better go.” She blinked back the disappointment.

      Jen hugged Ruth around the shoulders. “I’m sorry. Something must have come up. We can still have a picnic. I’ll pack the basket.”

      That promise would be forgotten as soon as they returned home, but Ruth accepted the offer with a squeeze of gratitude. “Let’s hurry. The bells have stopped.”

      “Wait!” Jen pulled her to a stop. “Here he comes. Ruthie, he’s perfect for you. So tall and distinguished, like a congressman or company president. Look at that suit! It must have cost a fortune.”

      Sure enough, Sam had rounded the corner and was headed their way, his fedora at a jaunty angle and an ease in his step that made Ruth’s stomach flutter. No moving-picture actor could look finer or cause such a rush of emotion. He’d hounded her thoughts since they met. She hoped he couldn’t see it in her eyes. She ducked her head and pressed a gloved hand to her abdomen to still her nerves.

      “And the way he’s smiling at you,” Jen continued, apparently unaware how far her voice carried. “If you ask me, he’s already in love.”

      “Jen!” Ruth twisted the handle of her bag in consternation.

      Surely he’d heard Jen and was just as mortified as Ruth. Yet his gait never slowed and his smile never wavered.

      “Fine morning, ladies.” He tipped his hat.

      Ruth couldn’t breathe, least of all say anything. Maybe he hadn’t heard Jen after all.

      “Yes, it is, Mister...” Jen paused dramatically. “I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

      Ruth wanted to shrink into the boxwood shrub between the dress shop and the old carriage factory, but there was no escaping this encounter, especially since she was the one who’d suggested it.

      “Sam,” she hissed at Jen. “I told you his name is Sam.” She mustered a weak smile for him. “Forgive my sister’s poor manners.”

      Sam grinned at each of them in turn, ending with Jen. “Nothing to forgive. We haven’t met yet. Mr. Roth, but you can call me Sam.”

      Roth. Nearly the same as Ruth. Ruth Roth. It sounded ridiculous. On the other hand, Jen Roth had a nice ring to it, confirming those two were meant for each other. Even Jen’s despised full name, Genevieve, sounded good.

      Sam extended a hand, which Jen pumped vigorously. Considering the way he winced, she’d probably gripped him with her usual enthusiasm.

      “I’m Jen, and you already met Ruth. That’s our little sister, Minnie.”

      Minnie grimaced. “Jen makes me sound like a baby. I graduated from high school last month.”

      If Sam’s head was spinning at being surrounded by three women, he never let on. He congratulated Minnie on the accomplishment and turned to Ruth. “Am I late? I heard church bells.”

      Jen shot Ruth a look that translated “church bells” into “wedding bells.”

      Ruth tried to ignore her sister. “If we hurry, we’ll arrive before the opening hymn.”

      He extended an arm to her, and a little thrill bubbled up Ruth’s throat. Even though she wanted him for Jen, she warmed to the fact that he’d chosen to escort her over her younger sisters. It must be because she was the oldest. Of course. Good manners dictated he escort the oldest sister. That was all. If she hadn’t been here, he could have escorted Jen. That could be a problem at the picnic. She hoped Sam liked to fish so she could send the two of them off together.

      “Well,” Jen said, “we don’t have all day. Let’s get going.” She grabbed Minnie’s arm and the pair took off in the lead.

      Ruth hesitated. She didn’t want him to think she held any affection for him when he needed to fall in love with Jen. So she kept her hands on her bag and began walking after her sisters. “So