Read An Unforgivable Secret (Amish Secrets - Book 1) Page 15

Chapter 12

  Samuel had been contemplating what to do for some time now and he felt like he'd finally received his answer. Ever since Carolanne passed on several months ago, he'd been lonely. Lonely for his family back home in Pennsylvania, and he sorely missed Christian's companionship.

  Although Christian had sent him a couple of letters over the past few years, he'd never felt the timing was right for a visit. Especially after he'd found out about Carolanne's illness and her impending death. He'd wanted to spend every possible moment with his wife while she was alive and had even worked as little as possible to make it happen. But now that she was gone, nothing was keeping him bound to Ohio.

  Samuel had thought about Hannah, and figured that enough time had gone by since he'd left. Surely Hannah was happy and secure in her marriage by now and seeing him shouldn't be a problem.

  As Samuel held his brother's letter in his hand, he reread the part about Christian and Hannah. They had recently lost a second child to miscarriage and the grief had begun to take a toll on them. Samuel wasn't an expert, but he felt he could offer Christian comfort in his time of need. Losing Carolanne had been difficult, but he could see now how he'd grown through the experience. Perhaps he could bear some of Christian's burden and encourage him to trust the Lord's will.

  Yes, that is what he would do. He wouldn't send a letter to announce his coming, he would just show up out of the blue and surprise everyone.

  “All right, Hannah. You've been cooped up in this house way too long. It's time you got out and had a little fun,” Deborah said.

  “Deb, you know I don't feel like going anywhere.”

  Deborah sighed. “Hannah, I know you're upset about losing the boppli. I'm really sorry. But I hate to see my sister so sad all the time. Please just come to town with me, will you? I talked to Chloe and she said there's no reason you can't go out. Peter is watching our kinner and Christian doesn't have any objections, so now it's up to you. What do you say?”

  “Well, I guess it would be nice to go for a drive,” Hannah said agreeably.

  “So, does that mean you'll go?” Deb asked with hopefulness.

  Hannah shrugged unenthusiastically. “I guess it wouldn't hurt.”

  “Okay, Hannah. I want you to close your eyes until we get there,” Deborah said.

  Hannah sighed. “Deb, you know I don't like surprises.”

  “You'll like this one. Now stop being a boppli and close your eyes.”

  Hannah huffed then rolled her eyes. “Okay, I'll close my eyes just to make mei schweschder happy.”

  Deborah maneuvered the buggy down several unnecessary roads to throw Hannah off track so she wouldn't guess where she was taking her. When they finally arrived at their destination, Deborah instructed Hannah to open her eyes.

  Hannah squinted in the sun, adjusting her eyes to the light after having them closed for too long. When she finally realized where they were, she gasped. “Deborah, we can't afford to go here,” Hannah said looking up at the large Sight and Sound Theatre building.

  “You don't have to afford it, Hannah. It's my treat. I've always wanted to see a play here. And I know you have too.”

  “But Deb –”

  “There are no buts. Now get out of the buggy or you're walking home,” Deborah insisted.

  Hannah frowned disapprovingly at her younger sister.

  “Hannah, don't you remember when we were younger and we used to pretend we were Bible characters?”

  “Jah, I think I still have the bump on my head from the rock you threw at me when you recruited me to play Stephen.”

  Deborah laughed. “I can't believe you still haven't forgiven me for that. And in all fairness, you volunteered for Stephen.”

  “That was before you informed me that I was going to be stoned,” Hannah said.

  “I guess it pays sometimes to know the Bible.” Deborah shrugged. She looked up and noticed people entering the theater. “Come on, Hannah. We'd better go in before we're late.”

  Hannah nodded and gave a slight smile. “Okay, I'll go. And by the way, I have forgiven you for the rock.”

  Deborah smiled and sent up a silent prayer for her sister. She really hoped this day would be a blessing to her and allow her to take her mind off her troubles.

  “Ach, Hannah. I'm really glad you came with me today. I hope you liked it,” Deborah said pulling her buggy into Hannah and Christian's country lane.

  “Jah, I had a gut time. Denki, Deb. I really do appreciate you taking me,” Hannah said.

  Deborah looked ahead and noticed a buggy near the barn. “Looks like you and Christian have company.”

  “I wonder who it could be. It doesn't look like Mamm's carriage,” Hannah said. “Will you stay and have some tea?”

  “Maybe another time. I've got to get home and relieve Peter of the kinner. I'm sure little Becky's hungry by now.”

  “All right. I'll see ya at meeting on Sunday.” Hannah waved as Deborah turned the buggy around in the yard and headed for home.

  With a smile, she stepped in to the kitchen through the back door. Now that she was home, she could tell Christian all about the gut time she and Deborah had at the Sight and Sound Theatre. She was thankful Deborah had talked her into going. It did indeed take her mind off her troubles.

  Christian walked in to the kitchen and kissed Hannah. “Kumm, you have to see who's here.” Christian happily pulled Hannah along to the living room where their guest stood up from the rocker and turned around to face them.

  Hannah didn't recognize him at first because she'd never seen him with a beard, but as soon as she looked into his eyes his identity was undeniable. Hannah swallowed hard and her smile quickly faded into a frown. “Samuel.”