by Marta Perry
“Nothing.” Hannah bent, the action hiding her face for a moment, and lifted Jamie from the stroller. He was relaxed and drowsy, a precious, heavy armload now at twenty months. “I’m fine.”
She didn’t want Aunt Paula worrying about her. It was enough that her aunt had made a home here for her and Jamie.
But Hannah couldn’t stop herself from glancing at the window. The family, faces animated with love, moved toward a car.
Aunt Paula followed her gaze. “Ach, I see.” Her voice was soft. “I know. After your uncle passed, I’d see a man with wavy hair like his, or his way of walking, and my heart would stop, as if it reacted faster than my brain did.”
“It’s been almost a year and a half.” Hannah cradled Jamie close, and he snuggled his face into her shoulder, his soft breath against her neck. “I’m better. But sometimes—”
“Ja. Sometimes.” Aunt Paula patted her. “I know.”
The bell jingled on the bakery door, and Aunt Paula turned to greet the man in Amish garb. Hannah had nearly forgotten, in all the years since she’d lived here as a child, the peculiar mix of Amish, horse-and-buggy Mennonite, black-bumper Mennonite, and Englisch that made Pleasant Valley so unique.
William Brand was Amish, and he worked with his cousin Caleb in the cabinetry shop down the street. Hannah had learned that much from him, but it had taken persistence. William stuttered, and like many stutterers, he took refuge in silence much of the time.
Banishing thoughts of the past, Hannah moved to the counter, smiling. William was silent enough already. She didn’t want him to think she was avoiding speaking to him.
“Good morning.”
He ducked his head in a nod. Tall for an Amish man, and broad-shouldered, he wore the traditional Amish black broad-fall trousers with a blue shirt and suspenders, the usual straw hat on his head. In his midtwenties, William was probably a year or two younger than she was, but his fresh color and the shyness in his blue eyes made him seem even younger. Next to him, she felt ancient.
And what did he make of her, with her denim skirt, pink lipstick, and curling ponytail? Did he find it odd that Paula Schatz had such a modern niece?
“H-H-Hannah,” he managed, as if determined to say her name.
Then he looked at her son, and his face softened. He held out a work-roughened hand, and Jamie latched onto it, saying something that might have been an attempt at William’s name.
“S-sleepy time, Jamie?”
Jamie shook his head vigorously, but the movement was interrupted by a huge yawn that showed every one of his baby teeth, and they both laughed.
Funny, how William’s stutter seemed to ease when he spoke to Jamie. Once, a lifetime ago, Hannah had planned to become a speech therapist, and her interest stirred at the observation.
“He just doesn’t want to admit he’s tired. I thought he was going to fall asleep in the stroller,” she said, reminding herself to speak naturally to William. Talking with a stutterer required more patience than many people had.
“H-h-he’s a-afraid he’ll m-m-miss something.”
“That’s for sure.” She tickled Jamie’s belly, loving the way he chuckled, eyes crinkling.
Aunt Paula returned to the counter, carrying two coffees in foam cups and a white bag. “There you are, William, your usual coffee, just the way you and Caleb like it. And a couple of crullers to tide you over to lunch.”
“D-d-denke.”
He handed her the money. With another smile for Jamie, he went quickly out, perhaps relieved not to have to engage in any further conversation. His straw hat shielded his face from Hannah’s view as he passed the window.
She stood watching his tall figure....
Other Pleasant Valley novels by Marta Perry
LEAH’S CHOICE
RACHEL’S GARDEN
ANNA’S RETURN
SARAH’S GIFT
