Free Hometown Promise by Merrillee Whren Page A

earphones for the hearing impaired.” Juliane glanced at her mom. “They even have someone who teaches sign language, if he’s interested in learning. The ladies’circle started that ministry a couple of years ago, didn’t they, Mom?”
    “Yes, they did. We have several seniors who use the earphones. They say it really helps them.” Barbara glanced at the chairs behind them. “Should we sit down?”
    “Good idea.” Ray settled on one of the chairs covered in a brown tweed material. “Lukas, how are things going at the plant?”
    “Everything’s right on schedule, but I’m taking off work until I can get my grandfather settled into the nursing home back in Kellerville.” Sighing, Lukas shook his head. “He doesn’t understand why he can’t go home.”
    Barbara nodded. “It’s always hard when an older person has to go to a nursing home. How long will he have to stay?”
    “Probably not more than a week. I want to make sure he can take care of himself.” Lukas glanced down the hall andwondered whether he should go check on his grandfather again. After all, Grandpa was the one they’d really come to see. “I’d like him to live with me, but he wants to be on his own. He won’t consider it.”
    “It’s hard for older folks to give up their independence. Ray and I have both dealt with that kind of thing with our parents.” Barbara patted Juliane’s arm. “Juliane here has been such a help to us. She ran the store while we were taking care of Ray’s parents. We’re so glad she decided to return to Kellerville after she graduated from college.”
    Lukas took in the praise Barbara heaped on her daughter. He envied Juliane’s relationship with her parents. He barely had contact with his father these days. So taking care of his grandfather was on the top of his list. He hoped he was doing the right things to preserve that relationship.
    Lukas also wondered about Juliane’s sister and how she fit into their family, since she’d been away for so long. The more he learned about Juliane the more she intrigued him. But he couldn’t act on his interest. He had other things—a job and his grandfather—to take care of now. Besides, even if she could forgive him for his past, she’d never want to be with someone like him.
    Lukas stood. “I’m going to check on my grandfather. Do you want to wait here?”
    “I think that would be best,” Barbara replied.
    “If he’s awake, I’ll come back and get you.” Lukas pulled his BlackBerry from his pocket and glanced at it. “How long before you have to leave for your dinner engagement?”
    Ray looked at his watch. “We have about an hour.”
    “Good.” Lukas started down the hall. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Lukas wondered what Juliane and her parents would talk about while he was gone. Would they talk about him? Quitthinking about yourself. Stopping for a moment, he took a deep breath. He was tying himself in knots for no good reason. Lord, help me to put this all in Your hands. I’m not doing so well on my own.
    As Lukas arrived at his grandfather’s room, a nurse was leaving. She smiled. “I just checked on your grandfather. He’s doing great. In a little while, we’ll get him up for a walk.”
    “So he’s awake?”
    “He is.” The nurse bustled away, chart in hand.
    Lukas stuck his head around the door frame. “Hi, Grandpa. You have visitors. Do you feel like entertaining company?”
    The older man nodded. “I could use some new scenery. All I see is you and those nurses.”
    Chuckling, Lukas hurried back down the hallway toward the waiting area. Juliane smiled as he approached, and his heart seemed to jump around like the lines on his grandfather’s heart monitor. Trying to tamp down the reaction, he took a calming breath. She shouldn’t make him feel this way. Who was he trying to kid? She’d had his attention from the moment he’d seen her at choir practice. She had his emotions jumping through hoops.
    He forced himself to