Read Online Hannah's Joy by Marta Perry - Free Book Online Page A

family around to help.”
    “Living on an army base was almost like having family.” Hannah suspected she sounded a bit defensive. “People did look out for each other.”
    “I’m glad.” Paula’s face clouded. “If your mammi had been alive . . .” She let that trail off, shaking her head.
    Hannah tried to dismiss a flicker of irritation. Paula was still remembering the little sister she loved, and maybe forgetting the woman she’d turned into.
    Hannah poured milk in Jamie’s sippy cup, gave it to him, and lifted him in her arms. “Nap time, sweetheart.”
    He leaned his head against her shoulder.
    Some of Hannah’s excitement over Megan’s visit had slipped away, and she tried to regain it. “Megan had some good news for me,” she said. “She’s making arrangements to come for a visit.”
    “Here?” Aunt Paula’s voice was sharp.
    Hannah looked at her in surprise. “Yes. Not right away. She’ll have to work out a time when her husband can be with the children. It’ll take some doing, but when Megan is determined, no one can hold out against her.” She smiled, remembering.
    Aunt Paula turned toward the sink, rinsing a plate with concentrated care. “If she comes, when would that be?”
    If?
    “Not right away. As I said, she’ll have to make arrangements. Are you concerned that it will be a busy time for us? Megan is very adaptable. She won’t get in the way.”
    “Well, but . . . where would we put her? I don’t have another bedroom.”
    “She can share with me. She won’t mind.” Hannah wanted to see her aunt’s face, but Paula kept it averted. Uneasiness sent a ripple down her spine. “Is something wrong?”
    Her aunt shrugged. “I chust think that someone like her won’t be used to our way of living. She won’t like it here.”
    “Megan is coming to see me. She won’t care—” The message in her aunt’s stiff figure got through to her. “You don’t want her to come, do you?” Obviously she should have asked, not simply announced it.
    “It’s not that.” Aunt Paula’s tone was unconvincing. “But how would an outsider fit in here?”
    Hannah’s breath caught. The fear and uncertainty that hadn’t gone far since Travis died swept over her, and the floor was uncertain beneath her feet.
    “Haven’t I fit in here?”
    “That’s different. You are not an outsider. You are my niece, coming back where you belong.” Aunt Paula shook her head, the lines of her face seeming to deepen. “I thought . . . I hoped . . . you were content here.”
    “I am. But that doesn’t mean I have to forget my friends, does it?” The words came out strangled. Jamie seemed to sense her tension and stirred against her, making a fretful sound that was not quite a cry.
    Aunt Paula shook her head. “I suppose not. But I can’t help thinking you’d be better off without reminders of that other life.” She shrugged, turning away again and busying herself at the sink. “But your friend will be welcome if she comes.”
    Hannah could only stand there, holding Jamie, feeling as if the few feet between her and her aunt had stretched to a mile, leaving her startled and surprised. And alone.
    *   *   *
    William had been watching for Hannah from the window of the workshop, trying not to be obvious about it. Caleb probably noticed, but he didn’t say anything.
    Unless it was raining, Hannah took Jamie for a walk in the stroller before his afternoon nap. Sometimes she went to the right out of the bakery, headed for the post office or the drugstore on an errand. More often she turned to the left, walking to the small playground that overlooked the stream.
    He wanted to catch her for a talk, and he’d rather do it where neither his relatives nor hers were around to overhear. Easier said than done, he knew.
    Caleb looked up from his work, stretching, and then nodded at the quilt rack William had been working on. “That new design is ser gut. We’ve sold two in the last week. Too bad