Free A Home for Hannah by Patricia Davids Page A

husband.
    Katie had gone out into the world and returned to the Amish several years ago. She was happily married now with two small children. She understood the challenges of both worlds.
    “Elam is out in the barn with Jonathan talking horses. Jonathan was just saying the other day that he hadn’t seen you in weeks. He was wondering if you’d forgotten where he lived.”
    Nick laughed aloud. Hannah, who had quieted in Miriam’s arms, started crying again. He cupped her head softly. “I’m sorry, sweet one, did I scare you?”
    The baby quieted briefly, then began protesting in earnest. Miriam said, “I think she’s just getting hungry. Who is Jonathan?”
    Nick recounted the story. “The Christmas before last, Jonathan Dressler was found, beaten and suffering from amnesia on Eli Imhoff’s farm. I investigated the case and eventually solved it, but not until after Jonathan recovered his memory.”
    “And fell in love with Eli’s daughter Karen,” Katie added. “He is Englisch, but he will be baptized into our faith soon and then everyone expects a wedding will follow. Quickly.”
    “Not quick enough for Jonathan.” Nick knew his friend was counting down the days until he could marry the woman who saved his life.
    Miriam had taken a bottle of formula from her purse. Nick held out his hand. “Let me take it up to the house and see if the bishop’s wife can warm it up for her.”
    “Thanks.” She held it up for him.
    Her fingers brushed against his as he took the bottle. Her touch sent a jolt through his body and sucked the air from his lungs.
    * * *
     
    Miriam gaze flew to Nick’s face. She saw his eyes widen. Just as quickly, his jaw hardened and he looked away. He said, “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
    When Nick was out of sight, she drew a shaky breath. How was it possible that the chemistry still simmered between them?
    The answer was simple. Because it had never died.
    Katie said, “We like Nick Bradley. He is a good man. He cares about the Amish. His cousin Amber delivered both my babies. Are you going to her wedding?”
    Miriam was delighted to talk about anything except Nick. “I didn’t know she was getting married. When is it?”
    “This coming Saturday. She is marrying Dr. White’s grandson, Phillip. He is a doctor, too. When they first met, no one imagined they would end up together. He had the whole community in an uproar when he put a stop to Amber doing home deliveries.”
    Since the vast majority of Amish babies were born at home with the help of midwives, a doctor trying to stop home deliveries would not be a popular. “If they are getting married, they must’ve come to terms somehow. Is she still delivering babies at home?”
    “Oh, yes. I think it took a lot of soul-searching and compromising on both their parts. Isn’t it wondrous how God sends love into our lives? Not when we are expecting it, even when we think we don’t want it or deserve it. He has His own time for everything if only we open our hearts to His will.”
    Miriam had closed her heart to love after Mark died. She had filled her life with caring for others. In spite of the good works she did, and she knew they were good works, there was still a measure of emptiness inside her. Opening her heart to love would mean forgiving herself. Was she ready to do that? She studied the baby in her arms. It would be so easy to fall in love with this child. What if she opened her heart to love Hannah and had to give her away? Wasn’t it better not to love than to feel the pain of another loss?
    “Elam and I are going to Amber’s wedding. You could come with us.”
    “I don’t know.”
    Nick came walking back with a mug in one hand. The formula bottle sat warming in it. In his other hand he carried a bundled napkin. He sat down and placed the mug carefully between them. He held the napkin out to Miriam. “Your mother put together something for you to eat.”
    “I can’t believe she thinks I need to be fed.