Read An Unforgivable Secret (Amish Secrets - Book 1) Page 37

  Chapter 34

  Hannah and Christian enjoyed Julia’s company immensely and they could hardly believe three and half months had already gone by. They were ecstatic about the boppli’s upcoming arrival, but they’d be sad to see Julia go. She seemed like part of their family now.

  “Oh!” Julia placed a palm behind her back.

  “Is it the boppli?” Christian set his Bible down and his eyebrows shot up.

  Julia exhaled, leaning back into the sofa. “I think it was just another pain. I don’t think I’m in labor. Chloe said aches and pains are normal this close to birth.”

  “Are you sure?” Hannah’s brow creased.

  “Jah. I think I’m fine. But if they keep coming I’ll let you know.” Julia sipped on her hot tea. “Hannah, I wanted to ask you about something.”

  “Jah?”

  “I was wondering if I could have your doll,” Julia asked.

  “My doll?” Hannah’s curiosity rose. What could she be talking about? “I don’t know which doll you speak of.”

  “Kumm,” Julia invited, walking toward the stairs. “I’ll show you.”

  Hannah shrugged to Christian and followed Julia up the stairs.

  When Julia entered the bedroom, she walked over to the nightstand and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled out a small hay doll. “This one,” she said, smiling. “It has your name on the back so I figured it was yours. I think it’s cute. I’ve never seen one like this before. Where is it from?”

  How did that get in here? Hannah’s eyes widened, and then filled with tears. “Samuel,” she whispered.

  “Samuel? Who is Samuel?”

  “He was the vatter of my first boppli,” Hannah stated.

  Julia’s mouth hung open. “What? Really? I didn’t know you were married to someone before Christian.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  “You mean…so…you were in the family way? What happened? I mean, why didn’t you marry Samuel? Was he Englisch too?”

  Hannah sighed. She hadn’t wanted to bring up anything negative while Julia was here. She really hadn’t planned to tell Julia about this, but apparently now it seemed inevitable. “Nee. Samuel did not know about our boppli. He moved to Ohio to marry someone else. I had an abortion.” Hannah hung her head.

  Julia’s eyes widened. “What? An abor – I don’t believe this.” Her face twisted with emotion. “I’m not giving my precious boppli to someone that has aborted their own child. How could…I – I need to go now.” She turned her back to Hannah and began quickly removing her things from the drawers and wall pegs. She sniffled. “Please tell Christian I need a ride to Bishop Hostettler’s.”

  Hannah stood dumbfounded. “But Julia, I –”

  “Please just go, Hannah. There’s no way you’re getting my boppli and nothing you say is going to make me change my mind,” she said angrily.

  Hannah rushed down the stairs and saw Christian standing near his chair.

  “I heard Julia raising her voice. What was that all about?”

  Hannah burst into tears and fell into Christian’s arms. “Oh Christian! She doesn’t want us to have the boppli anymore. I told her about Baby Sam.”

  “Shh…” Christian stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay, Hannah. We are trusting Der Herr, remember?”

  Hannah sobbed, unable to control her tears. “She wants to go to the Hostettlers’.”

  “I will take her,” Christian said. “Why don’t you go lay down? It’s been a long day, Lieb. Pray and trust Der Herr, Hannah. He knows best.”

  It had been a week now since Julia left the Glicks’ home. Hannah attempted to stay positive, especially in Christian’s presence, but she couldn’t help the tears that sometimes came. Trusting Gott should be easy by now, nevertheless, that wasn’t always the case. She’d been so hopeful when Julia first arrived. Perhaps it wasn’t God’s will for them to have a child after all. Hannah realized she would be okay with that, but it still hurt.

  A honking noise drew Hannah’s attention outside. She glanced out the window and noticed a large brown shipping truck. My book! Hannah smiled. Her book had finally arrived. She rushed outside, noticing Christian had also come in from the fields.

  Christian raised his eyebrows and smiled at Hannah. The delivery man carried a large box from the back of the truck and Christian quickly relieved him of his burden.

  “This is for Hannah Glick,” the man said.

  “Jah. That is me,” Hannah said.

  The man held out an electronic clipboard. “I’ll just need you to sign right here.”

  Hannah signed the digital document, then hastily followed Christian inside the house as the delivery truck drove away. Christian pulled out his pocket knife and carefully opened the box. Hannah reached in and pulled out one of the books. She slowly ran her fingers over the cover and smiled at Christian.

  “Hannah’s Hope.” She read the cover. “Can you believe it, Christian?”

  “Scarcely, but jah, I can believe it.” He put an arm around Hannah and kissed her cheek. “So, you want to go deliver some copies?”

  Hannah squealed. “Yes.”

  “Okay, Deb.” Hannah held her book behind her back excitedly. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

  “Hurry Hannah! You know I can’t stand waiting for surprises.” She closed her eyes and tapped her foot, her lips curved up in a smile.

  “Are your eyes closed all the way?” Hannah waved her hand in front of Deborah’s face to make sure.

  “Ach, Hannah. You know I don’t peek anymore.”

  “Hmm…I’m not so sure about that,” Hannah teased.

  “Just give it to me…whatever it is!” Deb laughed.

  “Okay, okay.” Hannah gingerly set the book in Deborah’s hands, gauging her reaction.

  Deborah’s eyes stayed shut as she realized what she was holding. She screamed. “Your book! It’s your book.” She opened her eyes to prove her assessment.

  Hannah smiled as she watched her sister’s eyes scrutinize every inch of the paperback.

  “Ach, Hannah, it’s schee. I love it.” She leaned over and firmly embraced her sister. “I’m so proud of you.”

  The sentiment brought tears to Hannah’s eyes. “It wasn’t easy.”

  “I know it wasn’t, Schweschder. That’s why I’m so proud of you.” She released her hold and surveyed her kitchen. She spotted a pen near the letter holder on the wall and quickly retrieved it. “All right, you need to sign it.”

  “Ach, but that’s hochmut.”

  “Oh, stop. It’s not prideful at all. As a matter of fact, I bet Bishop Hostettler will ask you to sign his too,” she teased.

  Hannah laughed. “He will not.”

  Hannah didn’t want to personally deliver Bishop Hostettler’s copy of her book for fear that Julia would not want to see her, so she waited in the buggy while Christian delivered it. Judah walked out to the buggy with Christian a short while after Hannah had seen her husband enter the bishop’s home. Judah’s face showed concern and he lifted a half-smile of encouragement. He held up the book. “This is a gut thing you have done, Hannah. I pray Der Herr will use this for His glory.”

  “Me, too, Bishop Hostettler,” she said meekly.

  His eyebrows lifted and his weathered face brightened. “Would you mind signing my book?”