A Hopeful Heart Read Free Page B

and Andrew is too small to do the heavy work.” Amanda
     cupped her hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn. Exhaustion gripped her after a day
     on her feet at the deli.
    “
Ya
, but she belongs at home,” Lillian continued. “Even
Mammi
said that to me after service Sunday.”
    “
Mammi
should understand that
Onkel
Josh and
Mamm
made the decision together. Besides, I think it’s
gut
for
Mamm
to get out of the
haus
and away from the memories. I’ve caught her crying when she thinks she’s alone, and
     it breaks my heart. Maybe the Lord led her to the hotel so she could find some joy
     again. Everything happens for a reason.”
    “I don’t know.” Lillian paused. “Andrew wasn’t
froh
today when I made him help me fold the laundry. I needed someone to help because
     I was falling behind and had to start supper. He helped me, but you should’ve seen
     his face.”
    Amanda smiled. “I can imagine. He’d much rather be out in the barn with
Onkel
Josh.”
    “Do you think Andrew might take over the horse business someday?”
    “He might.” Amanda yawned again. “But you never know what the Lord has in store for
     him.” She felt herself drifting off to sleep, but her sister’s voice wrenched her
     awake again.
    “Do you think
Onkel
Josh loves
Mamm
?”
    “What?” Amanda tried to decipher the implication of her sister’s words. “What do you
     mean?”
    “You heard me. Do you think
Onkel
Josh is in love with
Mamm
?”
    “You mean like how
Dat
loved her?” Amanda couldn’t help her grimace. The idea was preposterous.
    “
Ya
, that’s exactly what I mean.”
    “I don’t know.” Amanda rolled over and faced her sister through the dark. “Why would
     you even think that?”
    “I’m not sure. It’s a feeling I get sometimes. He stares at her like he’s watching
     a miracle happen before his eyes.”
    Amanda snorted. “That sounded poetic, Lily. When did you start writing poetry?”
    “I’m being serious.” Lillian’s voice held no hint of a joke.
    “I don’t know. I guess anything’s possible, right? Maybe
Onkel
Josh cares for her.”
    “Haven’t you ever wondered why he never married?”
    “Not really.
Mamm’s aenti
Fannie never married either. Some people don’t meet the right person, I guess.” Amanda
     rolled back toward the wall. “It’s late. You need your sleep.”
    “I miss
Dat.
” Lillian’s voice was soft, like an unsure child.
    “I do too. But God will take care of us and guide our path. He always does. Now, go
     to sleep, Lillian. You have to help teach tomorrow.” Amanda drifted off to sleep while
     contemplating her sister’s question about their uncle.

THREE
    W ednesday morning the elevator dinged and the door opened to the third floor with a
     hum. Hannah pushed the supply cart and vacuum cleaner around the corner toward the
     first hallway of rooms. When she spotted the man whose room she’d barged into on Monday,
     her stomach dropped. He was patting his pockets and his mouth formed a thin line.
    Hannah turned the cart around in an attempt to slip away to the other end of the hall
     and avoid all contact with him. She failed to escape, however, because she was stopped
     mid-stride by a voice behind her.
    “Excuse me. Could you possibly help me?”
    When she faced him, his lips turned up in a tentative smile.
    Hannah studied the man and wondered why she hadn’t switched floors with Linda today
     to escape more uncomfortable contact with him. “
Ya
, I can help you. What do you need?”
    “I’ve lost my room key.” He shook his head. “My wife always said I’d lose my head
     if it wasn’t attached, and she was right.” He chuckled and his eyes sparkled with
     humor.
    Hannah smiled, even though embarrassment filled her. He was clad in a collared shirt
     and dress slacks, but her impurethoughts kept creeping back to the sight of him without a shirt. How would she ever
     erase that from her memory?
    “Of course.” Hannah crossed to the hotel room while