A Hopeful Heart (3 page)

Linda shook her head. “I don’t think I can do that. I always get tongue-tied when
I’m around men.”

“I don’t.” Carolyn lifted her cup of water. “I always seem to find something to say.”

Hannah chuckled. “
Ya
, you do have the gift to gab.”

“I can’t wait to get married. I would love to have a big family.”
Carolyn beamed. “I think twelve
kinner
like my parents had is just right.”

Hannah shook her head. “Your parents were blessed.”

“
Ya.
” Ruth laughed. “They were blessed with patience too.”

While Carolyn talked about her family, Hannah wondered if she would see Trey Peterson
again.

Trey steered his BMW down a winding Lancaster County road. He glanced out the window
at the patchwork of lush farmland dotted with large white farm homes and thought of
Corrine. His wife loved vacationing in Amish country and visiting the shops. She had
dreamt of selling their house in New Jersey and living in Lancaster County. She’d
talked of owning a bed and breakfast so she could help other visitors enjoy the area.
He smiled as he remembered a map she’d once sketched, almost entirely by memory, pointing
out the best stores to visit for the most authentic Amish trinkets and foods.

Corrine had constantly begged Trey to stop working so much and traveling so often.
Although he made a generous salary, his frenetic career path was to the detriment
of their time spent together as a family. He missed out on many of Samantha’s school
events because of his demanding schedule. Corrine wanted him home more, and opening
a bed and breakfast was the compromise they’d reached. Once the business was open,
Trey would find a less demanding job near their new home, enabling him to work less
and enjoy more time with his wife. Samantha was getting ready to go off to college,
making it the perfect time to sell their house and start over in Pennsylvania.

As Trey thought of his wife, he smiled. He’d loved Corrine since the day they’d met
in college, and he wanted to keep her memory alive through those unrequited plans.
Once he’d lost Corrine and Samantha, he couldn’t bring himself to return to his high-powered
corporate job in New York City. He blamed his obsession with the job for the reason
he wasn’t home the night they’d died. He had to leave his old life and start anew.
He took the early retirement and headed toward the place Corrine had loved the most.
Coming back to Lancaster was the best way for him to hold on to Corrine and some of
their best memories as a family.

If he could only find the perfect site for Corrine’s dream to come true … He kept
her hand-drawn map secure in his briefcase, and he looked forward to the day he’d
copy it and hand it to his first bed and breakfast guest.

Trey had contacted a local realtor last week, but this morning he decided to go out
looking for property alone. He knew the area well after all of the dozens of visits
he’d made with Corrine over the years, and lately conversations with strangers were
uncomfortable at best and usually stymied. Once Trey shared that he’d lost his family,
an awkward silence hovered like an ominous dark cloud. Trey frequently found himself
trying to fill the deep chasm of silence with meaningless comments about the weather
or sports scores he’d spotted in the morning paper. So instead of enduring another
painful conversation, he’d canceled his appointment with the realtor. Being alone
was what he needed today.

Trey steered around a bend in the road and spotted a vast farm. He noticed the plain
green window shades, which was the first clue for Corrine when she was looking out
for
Amish homes, and his thoughts turned to Hannah Glick. He’d expected sympathetic platitudes
followed by an awkward silence after he’d told Hannah about his loss, but instead
she’d surprised him.

In fact, Hannah was nothing like he’d expected when he’d first met her Monday. He
thought she’d be friendly but demure like the other Amish women he’d met during his
vacations in the area. Instead, she was funny and more outspoken than he’d expected.
But what had shocked him the most was that she understood his grief more than anyone
he’d ever spoken to and even shared a glimpse of her own struggles after losing her
husband. She was the first person who’d offered him more than the promise of prayers
since he’d lost Corrine and Samantha.

Trey went around another bend and spotted a large, three-story home with a “for sale”
sign in the front yard. He studied the whitewashed home, taking in the white split-rail
fence surrounding a small pasture. A row of red barns sat behind the house. Would
this be the location Corrine would’ve chosen to build her dream? Warmth filled his
soul, and the answer to the question seemed to be a resounding
Yes!
as he wrenched open the car door. He walked toward the front porch steps and felt
as if he were walking toward his new life.

H
annah sat on the hard wooden bench at the bus stop a half block from the Lancaster
Grand Hotel the following Wednesday afternoon. The driving rain pounded the top of
the partial glass enclosure, and the wind whipped her dress like a flag fluttering
from a pole. She shivered and smoothed her apron over her legs while peering down
the street in hopes of spotting the bus that would take her to the warmth of her home.

She’d planned to leave work on time, but after Linda called in sick, Hannah finished
her required housekeeping duties and then pitched in to help Carolyn complete Linda’s
rooms. Hannah had called her daily driver, Phyllis Houser, hoping she could schedule
a ride later in the day, but Phyllis was booked with another family and then planned
to leave to go out of town. Since she had no other choice, Hannah trekked through
the raindrops to the bus stop at the end of the day.

A pickup truck sped past the bus stop and splashed through a large puddle, causing
cold water to rain over Hannah, soaking her dress and feet.

“
Ach!
Where’s that bus?” She brushed her hands over her wet dress and hoped the bus would
arrive soon without throwing more rainwater her way.

“Hannah?” a voice called.

She looked up and found Trey Peterson calling to her from inside a dark-colored sedan.
She rested her tote bag on her lap in an effort to shield her wet dress. She hoped
she didn’t look as bedraggled as she felt. She wondered when she would stop finding
herself in embarrassing situations with the
Englisher.
“Hi, Mr. Peterson.”

“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

“Oh.” Hannah cleared her throat and considered accepting a ride from him. She knew
members of her community would frown on her if they saw her alone with a man, especially
one who wasn’t Amish. But she wanted to get out of the rain and home to her family.
She worried that her children were concerned about her since she should’ve been home
two hours ago. She’d left a voicemail message for the twins on the phone in one of
their barns, but she had no way of knowing if they had checked for messages.

Mr. Peterson frowned. “I’m sorry. Apparently I’ve asked you something that isn’t appropriate.”

Hannah made a quick decision, stood, and heaved her bag onto her shoulder. “I’d appreciate
a ride home.”

“Hop in.” Mr. Peterson leaned across to the passenger side and pushed the door open.

She climbed into the car and placed her bag on the floor before buckling the seat
belt. “Thank you for stopping.”

“You’re welcome.” He merged into traffic. “Today isn’t the best day to get caught
in the rain.” She shivered, and he nodded toward the door. “You can turn on the seat
heater. It’s that button by the window opener.”

“Your car has a seat heater?” Hannah pushed the button.
“How fancy.” She glanced around the vehicle, noticing the sweet-smelling leather interior
and a dashboard full of gauges. The inside of the car seemed much more expensive and
complicated than Phyllis’s plain van. She assumed Mr. Peterson must be well off financially
if he owned such a luxurious vehicle. “This is a nice car.”

“Thank you. It was Corrine’s favorite. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it.”
He smiled over at her. “Where are we headed?”

She told him her address and explained the easiest way to get there. The rhythmic
whoosh of the windshield wipers filled the silence as Mr. Peterson steered through
another intersection.

Hannah enjoyed the comforting heat radiating through the seat and tried to ignore
the feeling of her soggy dress clinging to her legs. She settled into the seat and
allowed her body to relax. “This is much better than waiting for the bus on that wooden
bench.”

“I was driving by and saw you sitting there in the cold rain and felt bad for you.
No true gentleman would’ve left you there.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Do you
always take the bus?”

“No, I normally get a ride home, but I had to stay late because my coworker called
in sick. I helped another coworker finish her work.”

“Is your coworker okay?”

Hannah nodded. “
Ya
, she’s fine. I think she has stomach flu.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Stomach flu isn’t fun.”

Hannah looked over at Mr. Peterson and marveled at his thoughtfulness.

“I haven’t bumped into you since last week. It’s a good thing I haven’t lost my key
again because I’d have to go to the front desk to get my room unlocked.” Mr. Peterson
smiled. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been fine. Just busy at work and at home. How about you?”

He shrugged. “I’m okay. I’ve been out looking around.”

She wondered why he was visiting Lancaster County, but she knew it wasn’t her business.
He merged onto a side road and zoomed past farmland Hannah knew like the back of her
hand. Without missing a beat, he turned onto another road heading toward her farm.

She pushed back the ribbons on her prayer covering. “You seem to know your way around.”

“You could say that.” Mr. Peterson kept his eyes on the road. “I’ve made many trips
here over the years. This was Corrine’s favorite vacation spot, and I have to admit
it’s one of mine too.”

“Really?” Hannah angled her body toward him. “So, you’re a seasoned tourist? Where
are you from?”

“New Jersey. Corrine started coming here as a child and fell in love with the area
and the Amish culture.” He glanced at Hannah and then looked toward the road again.
“It was our dream to move here and open a bed and breakfast. We’d talked about doing
it for a long time. I was going to retire early so I could spend more time at home
and less time working and traveling. She wanted to share her love of Lancaster with
others. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out as you plan, but I have to make
that dream come true even though she’s gone. It’s the best way I can think of to keep
her memory alive.”

“That is wonderful.” Hannah studied his profile. It was obvious he loved his wife
deeply. “That’s a beautiful way to remember your wife.”

“Thanks. I spent all day searching for the perfect place. I found one I like last
week. I just had a feeling about it when I saw
it. My realtor says I need to keep my options open and not jump on the first one,
but I keep thinking that’s the one.” He told her where the property was located, and
Hannah nodded.

“I know where that is. It’s a little bit of a buggy ride from my farm, but it would
be a quick trip in a car. I know the area. It’s very nice.”

“Do you think it would be a good location for a bed and breakfast?”

Hannah nodded. “
Ya.
I think it would work well.”

“I just keep wondering if I’m making the right decision. I’m doing this in memory
of Corrine and Samantha. I’ve done a lot of research but I still have a lot to learn
about running a bed and breakfast. I can cook, but I’m no chef. I’ve worked in finance
for years, but I’ve never run a business like this. I’ll have to hire someone to help
me. I know I can’t do it all on my own.” He shook his head. “My sister thinks I’m
crazy, but it feels right in my heart.”

“Have you prayed about it?”

“Oh, yes. Like I told you before, God is probably tired of hearing me mull things
over and worry about all of this. But everything fell into place when I made the decision.
My house sold quickly, and I was able to retire with full benefits since I’d started
at the bank right out of college. It all just felt meant to be.”

“It must be God’s plan then.” She pointed toward the next intersection. “Turn here.”
The rain dissipated to a light drizzle as the car bumped through a pothole.

“But what if I’m making a huge mistake? How can I be certain it’s God’s plan?”

Hannah studied him. His chocolate brown eyes were locked on the road ahead, but his
lips formed a thin line, as if he were
pondering her words. She wondered why he put so much stock in what she had to say.
What did she know about God’s plan? Her life was nothing like she’d expected when
she’d vowed to cherish Gideon and stand at his side as his helpmate for the rest of
her life. She’d never imagined she’d become a widow at the age of thirty-four. She’d
survived, however, with the help of her community and her strong faith.

She found him looking at her and knew he expected an answer. “I think if you’re praying
and feeling peaceful about your choices after the prayer, then it’s God’s plan. Have
you spoken to your minister about it?”

Mr. Peterson nodded. “He told me to pray and follow my heart.”

“It sounds like your minister is very wise. You need to have faith in your choices.”
Hannah pointed. “Turn here. My farm is on the right.”

Mr. Peterson steered the car down the road, and Hannah directed him into her long
rock driveway. He parked near the first barn and then turned to her. “You must think
I’m crazy for asking your thoughts on my choices. You don’t even know me.”

Hannah shook her head. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I’ve been there myself many times.
Just taking the job at the hotel was a difficult decision. I know in my heart that
Gideon wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was working outside the home, but I had to learn
to make choices I believed were right for my family because Gid was gone.”

He nodded slowly. “I know what you mean. Losing your spouse forces you to make decisions
you never thought you’d make, such as retiring at forty-five and moving to Amish country
alone.”

“
Ya
, that’s true.” Hannah lifted her bag. “Thank you again for the ride.” She pushed
the door open.

“
Mamm!
” Amanda trotted toward the car, the ribbons on her prayer covering bobbing off her
shoulders. “You’re home.” She took Hannah’s bag and smiled at Mr. Peterson. “Hi. I’m
Amanda.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He smiled at her.

“Mr. Peterson is a guest at the hotel. He found me soaked at the bus stop and offered
me a ride.” Hannah climbed out of the car. “I’m thankful he came along when he did.”

“
Ya.
It was a heavy shower, but passed quickly.” Amanda pointed toward the house. “Why
don’t you stay for supper?”

“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” Mr. Peterson shrugged. “I’m just happy I could help
your mother out. She helped me out last week when I locked myself out of my room.”

“You’re not imposing, right,
Mamm
?” Amanda raised her eyebrows. “Lily and I made Dutch Country meat loaf. I got your
message, and we planned everything so it would be ready for you.”

“
Danki.
” Hannah looked toward the barn and spotted Joshua’s buggy. It wouldn’t be proper
for Mr. Peterson to stay if he was the only man, but having her brother-in-law there
would make it appropriate. “
Ya
, that’s a
gut
idea, Amanda.” Hannah turned to Mr. Peterson. “Please stay and meet my family.”

“What sane man would pass up Dutch Country meat loaf?” He climbed out of the car and
rubbed his hands together. Mr. Peterson’s smile was wide. “I’d love to stay and meet
your family.”

“
Wunderbaar.
” Amanda hoisted Hannah’s bag up on her shoulder and started toward the house. “I’ll
set another place at the table.”

Mr. Peterson motioned toward Amanda. “She’s lovely.”

“Thank you.” Hannah smiled. “I’m blessed. Amanda and Lillian have been my strength
since I lost Gid. I couldn’t manage it all without them.”

“How old is she?”

“Sixteen.” Hannah started up the porch steps and opened the door.

“How old is Lillian?”

“Sixteen.” When Mr. Peterson raised his eyebrows in confusion, Hannah smiled. “Twins.”

“Oh!” He laughed. “I see.”

“Please come in.” Hannah made a sweeping gesture as they stepped into the mudroom.
She looked up at Mr. Peterson and realized this would be the first time she’d had
an
Englisher
over for supper since Gideon passed away.