A Hope for Hannah (11 page)

Perhaps, though, that could change—with a move back to Indiana. Now that her mother was here, Hannah’s face lit up with delight and the prospect of a change in their circumstances.

Twelve

“A log cabin,” Kathy said, looking around the kitchen and—Hannah was sure—at all the dust and maybe even a few pieces of food from the cooker explosion she had missed. Now that her mother was here, things she had never noticed before or had missed in cleaning, seemed to become evident and demand attention.

“The explosion didn’t do too much damage,” her mother said by way of reassurance.

“It’s a log cabin. Things do get dirty quickly,” Hannah muttered, figuring the obvious might as well be stated. No use pretending she had a spotless Indiana Amish house.

“I didn’t notice,” Kathy said. “I was just looking at the logs. They seem tight enough. It’s cozy.”

“We like it,” Hannah said, relaxing a bit.

“I suppose you do. It fits the country and the mountains, which are almost right outside your doorstep.”

“That and bears,” Hannah said.

“Bears?
Really?”
Kathy said, shocked.

“Yes. It’s a grizzly too.” Hannah made it sound as bad as she could.

“Did you hear that, Roy?” Kathy stuck her head excitedly back into the living room. “They have a pet grizzly.”

Roy chuckled, “Jake was telling me it had tried to get into the springhouse.”

“What are you doing about it?” Kathy’s eyes were wide. “What about when the baby comes?”

“The game warden thinks it won’t be back,” Hannah said. “I guess it’s holed up for the winter now—or at least headed for the mountains. It got Mr. Brunson’s pig too.”

“Mr. Brunson?” Kathy asked.

“He’s our neighbor who lives just up the road. I invited him for Friday night supper. I think he could use the company because I never see anyone visiting him.”

“It will be nice to meet him, then.” To Hannah’s surprise, her mother asked the very question she had hoped to hear. “So when are you coming to visit us in Indiana?”

“We can’t. We’re too poor,” Hannah said and then took her opportunity. “We might move back, though.”

“Really?”

“Jake lost his job. Bishop Nisley gave him some work last week, but this week he’s had nothing.”

“Just like that—moving? I thought Jake’s job was long-term?”

“We’re in trouble.” Hannah felt as though she should justify herself, though Jake probably wouldn’t have. “We have a mortgage to pay, you know.”

“Most people do,” Kathy said and then glanced around the kitchen. “Are you cutting your expenses? I see all kinds of food around.”

“Mom,” Hannah said as explanation, “you don’t come visit every day. I’m not cutting expenses while you’re here.”

“But you should,” Kathy said. “Your dad and I understand. We know how to live without money. We had our hard times too.”

“I never noticed,” Hannah said.

“It was while you children were young,” Kathy said, “but you should be talking about this to Jake, not me. Is he agreeing to this move?”

“No,” Hannah admitted, “but I think if Dad talked to him about it, he might. Dad might even be able to find him a job.”

“We’ll let Jake look into that,” Kathy said, disapproval in her voice. It stung a little, but Hannah felt desperate. Something simply would have to be done—and soon.

With her mother’s help, supper was soon on the table. Jake, all smiles tonight, asked Roy to say the prayer. It was good to hear her father’s voice again as he said the simple German words of petition to God. Not that Jake couldn’t pray, but he just didn’t have the gravity of tone or the years of experience in his voice.

“So,” Kathy said when Roy was done, “you two are going to make us grandparents. That’s a first for us. Does it make you feel old, Roy?”

“
Real
old,” Roy said, pretending deep regret for his future status.

“Do your parents already have grandchildren?” Kathy asked Jake.

“A few.” Jake’s face wasn’t quite as red as earlier. “Eight, I think, and another one on the way, courtesy of my oldest sister.”

“So you’ve lost track already?” Roy chuckled.

“It’s hard,” Jake said. “I have older brothers and sisters. I can’t keep up with them all”

“Just like a man,” Kathy said. “Don’t even try.”

“You’re going to enjoy being a father,” Roy said.

Jake was silent for moment and then said, “I hope so. It’s going to be a bit hard for a while. I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but I lost my job.”

“That’s what Hannah said,” Kathy said.

“She’s already told you?” Jake shrugged his shoulders.

Kathy said quickly, “I guess women get concerned sooner.”

That seemed to satisfy Jake. “I think the hardware store may have some work soon, now that the snow is falling. At least that’s what the man said.”

“Jake, have you ever thought of starting your own business?” Roy asked. Hannah’s heart sank. If her father gave Jake encouragement, it might be exactly the wrong thing. A move back to Indiana seemed a much better idea to her than a risky venture into self-employment.

Jake’s smile broadened. Apparently he didn’t notice Hannah’s sudden frown. But Kathy did, and under the table, she gave her daughter a squeeze on the arm and then smiled sympathetically at her. Hannah knew her mother well. What she was telling her in her own way was that things work best if the man leads the way. It was a lesson Hannah had grown up with, but this was different, wasn’t it? Her mother’s eyes said no.

“I was thinking of making furniture—” Jake said, “log cabin things and that sort of line. I think they would sell well here and maybe even across the country.”

“You have talked to someone about this?” Roy asked.

“The hardware man,” Jake said.

Hannah looked at Jake in surprise. This was news to her.

So were his next words. “He said he could give me a place to work from and a web presence too—maybe my own website. He said I could make the furniture—maybe on the side to start with—and then fulltime if things took off. I’d pay him part of my profits, of course.”

“How much money would you need to start up?” Roy asked.

“None, I think.” Jake seemed to be running the thought through his head. “Mr. Howard, from the hardware store, would supply the working space. Supplies shouldn’t be that expensive. We’d just start out slow, selling the things after I make them.”

Hannah’s shock must have shown plain enough for even Jake to notice.

“I’m sorry,” Jake managed. “I guess I never told you.”

“I guess you didn’t,” Kathy said, for which Hannah was deeply grateful. At least someone other than Hannah was feeling a little irritated.

“They were just thoughts and bits of conversations,” Jake said, waving his hands around. “Nothing for sure. I was waiting until I knew more about it. I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.” He looked at Hannah.

“That’s understandable,” Roy said in obvious support of Jake.

“Is this Mr. Howard serious about this offer?” Kathy asked.

“I think so,” Jake said. “Mr. Howard has high hopes, but he’s still thinking about it.”

This also was news to Hannah, but she kept her composure. There would be time later to speak with Jake.

“The factories are hiring in Indiana,” Roy said, unknowing of Hannah’s desire to move East. “The economy is pretty good for that line of work.”

Jake showed no interest, his attention now on the casserole in front of him.

“So, Dad, do you think Jake might be able to get a job?” Hannah said, trying to turn the conversation in that direction.

“Hannah,” Kathy said, her voice mild in the rebuke.

“Oh, I know Hannah wants to move East,” Jake volunteered and didn’t seem upset. “We’ve talked about it. Sometimes I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh, really,” Roy said. “So you’re thinking of moving. I know it can be a toss-up at times—when you’re young, that is. Move here or move there. This job or that job. When you’re old like us, grandparents almost, it gets a little harder to think about moving.”

“We have to do something,” Hannah spoke up again. “I just think moving back East now, before the baby is born, is the smart thing. You might even help us find a place. You probably know of a house for rent right now.”

Her father nodded but said, “Simple choices can have long consequences. You’ll have to think about it.”

“Mary and Laverne are getting married this fall,” Kathy announced.

Hannah supposed her mother wanted to change the subject. The move was obviously something for her and Jake to discuss again later in private.

“Well it’s about time,” Hannah said, following her mother’s lead. “They’ve been sweet on each other since school.”

“Sometimes those take longer.” Kathy grinned. “I don’t know why.”

“They
all
take
time,” Roy agreed. “Some just take longer than others.”

“I’m sure Mary would have asked you to be one of her bridesmaids. You’re married, of course, now,” Kathy said. “She’ll probably use her cousins.”

“Do you think so?” Hannah felt honored even at the thought she might have been included. “I guess Mary and I were close.”

“Who are Mary and Laverne?” Jake asked.

“School friends,” Hannah said.

Jake nodded and then turned toward the front window, hearing a buggy in the driveway.

“It’s Betty,” Hannah said, excited and thrilled that her aunt and uncle would come over unannounced.

“My, my,” Kathy said, rising from the table. “I wonder if they’ve had supper.”

“Now, Mom, don’t you worry,” Hannah said quickly. “This is supposed to be my worry.”

“I suppose so,” Kathy said and sat back down, plainly still worried.

Jake opened the front door as Steve and Betty came in and exchanged warm greetings all around. Kathy and Betty got a little emotional as they gave each other a hug. They all found seats in the living room and launched into a conversation with Jake about the weather.

“Have you had supper?” Hannah asked as soon she could get a word in edgewise.

“Of course,” Betty assured her, wiping a stray tear off her cheek. “We just had to come over tonight. It gets lonely out here. It’s sure good to see family.”

“It’s good to see you too,” Kathy said quickly.

The evening passed much too quickly for Hannah. With Betty helping, the kitchen was cleaned up in no time, and the women rejoined the men in the living room. There were moments when she forgot the log walls of the cabin or the mountains outside with its grizzly threat. They were all just family again,
Indiana
family, safe and secure as they laughed and reveled in each other’s company.

This was the way it’s meant to be,
she told herself, glancing over at Jake more than once. He seemed to join in with no reservations, which thrilled her heart and fired her dreams. Jake was such a nice fit for her—and for her family. This was why they should all be together in Indiana. Of this she was certain.

Finally Steve insisted that Betty and he must leave so he could get some sleep for work tomorrow. As they drove away, Roy and Kathy showed signs of tiredness, and Hannah was ready for bed too. She wondered if there was something more she could say about her desire to move but decided that perhaps enough had been said already. Surely Jake could see for himself how things would work out best.

Besides, Hannah didn’t feel comfortable putting pressure on Jake. The matter was simply too important.

Thirteen

Hannah could tell Jake was irritated when the alarm went off earlier than normal, but she ignored him. She wanted to get up and into the kitchen before her mother awoke.