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

the tourist season will end soon. We’d sell a lot more, for sure, if we had the customers coming in.”
    William nodded, distracted from the window. “If y-you w-won’t need me s-so much then—”
    “Ach, no, that’s not what I meant,” Caleb said quickly. “I’d like it fine if you were here full-time. I just wish we had more of an outlet for our business.”
    Caleb was right. Business would slow down for the shop as the weather grew colder. Stores in the bigger towns around probably weren’t so affected. An idea stirred in William’s mind, but then it skittered away as he glanced out the window.
    There was Hannah, pushing the stroller, headed for the playground. Good. It would most likely be deserted this time of day.
    He waited a few minutes just in case Caleb had seen her, too. Then he took a step back from the workbench, stretching as he moved out of the patch of sunlight that poured through the window.
    “Think I’ll t-t-take a b-break.”
    “Sure thing.” Caleb didn’t look up from the chair he was working on. “I’m going to do the same, once I set this glue to dry.”
    William went quickly down the stairs, smiling at his cousin Becky, who was minding the shop. “B-b-back soon.”
    Once he was out on the street, he had to force himself to slow down. Might as well give Hannah a chance to get settled, first.
    Nothing wrong with giving himself a chance to think about what he was doing, either.
    Still, he’d made up his mind, hadn’t he? Hannah had offered him a chance that might never come again.
    He passed two more shops and came to the grassy stretch that sloped gently down toward the creek, which was shallow at this time of year. The playground was small . . . a swing set, two slides, monkey bars, and a sandbox. But that was enough to keep a child occupied.
    Jamie was already in the sandbox. Hannah had said once that it was his favorite. She sat on the edge, where the wooden frame formed a narrow seat, bending forward to talk to Jamie, or maybe encourage his play.
    William walked across the grass toward them, trying to plan what he would say. That made it easier, when he could think things out and find the fewest words to use.
    Hannah’s voice reached him. “. . . I’ll figure it out, sweetheart. Mommy will take care of you.”
    He stopped, realizing she didn’t know he was there. Realizing, too, that she probably wouldn’t want anyone to hear that.
    He stood for a moment, not sure what to do. Jamie pushed a small tractor in the sand, making noises meant to sound like a motor. Hannah had fallen silent, her elbow on her knee, hand cradling her cheek.
    He moved again. His shadow must have fallen across her line of vision, and she jerked back, turning her head.
    “William. I didn’t hear you.” She was smiling, but it seemed to him that he could see fresh lines of strain in her face.
    He blinked. “Y-you are w-w-wearing a k-kapp.”
    Nodding, she patted the rough wooden bench. “Join us. Jamie is always glad to see you. Look, Jamie, it’s William.”
    Jamie threw his hands up, spraying sand in all directions. Laughing at him made it easier for William to sit down, keeping a careful space between himself and Hannah.
    Hannah gave him a sideways glance. “You’re surprised by the kapp, aren’t you?”
    “A l-little.” Actually, a lot. Hannah dressed simply enough, but for sure not Plain. Still, all the different groups of Mennonites had their own traditions.
    “I thought . . .” She let that trail off. “I remember my mother telling me about the kapp when I was little. About how it made sure our heads were covered when we wanted to pray.” Her lips curved a little, as if that was a nice memory.
    “Ja. I r-remember m-my mamm s-saying that t-t-to one of my s-sisters.” So much for his planning what he was going to say. This talk had gone in a different direction before he’d even gotten started. “S-so that’s why?” He indicated the kapp, white against the rich brown of