A Wish for Home--An Uplifting Amish Romance by Jo Ann Brown

Author:Jo Ann Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-01-25T16:30:13+00:00

* * *

Lauren saw hope erupt on Adam’s face as he asked, “Is there a problem with the casino being built?”

“You don’t have to sound so hopeful at someone else’s expense.” She softened her scolding words with a smile. “Nothing has changed. Right from the beginning, it’s been clear the casino might not be built in Bliss Valley.”

His eyes widened. “I thought they’d decided to build it on Lehman’s Road.”

“That’s one of the two possible locations being considered now. There were even more earlier.”

“What’s the other location?”

“North of Lititz, twenty miles from here. That’s why I was planning to meet the development companies in Lancaster. It’s about halfway between here and Lititz. Of course, the final decision of the casino’s location will be made by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. No matter which site is chosen, assuming one is chosen because the gaming control board could decide not to select either site, there are going to be unhappy people. The developers want to avoid letting NIMBYs get out in front of the story, so that’s why they’re considering hiring us.”

“What’s a NIMBYs?”

“A NIMBY. N-I-M-B-Y. It means ‘not in my backyard.’ It’s what people say when they want something built, but they don’t want it near their home.”

He grimaced. “Are you using English or some other language?”

“Every job has its own unique language. I’m sure when you’re in Frank’s garage if you started talking about carburetors and spark plugs and distributor caps, I’d be lost.”

“You already are.” His lips twitched.

“What do you mean?”

“Most cars don’t have distributors anymore.” A laugh burst from him. “I guess you’re further behind the times than an Amish man, Lauren.”

Something fluttered in Lauren’s center as Adam’s laugh rumbled through her, tickling her clear to the bone with his genuine humor. She almost gasped out loud. She recognized that quiver, though she hadn’t experienced it in more than fifteen years, but she remembered the first time it’d happened as if everything had happened only moments ago.

The whole school had been at recess one fall day when she and Adam were about thirteen, and the scholars had been playing softball. She’d been playing first base, and one of the boys, far bigger than she was, although he was a couple of years younger, had run into her at full speed in an effort to beat the ball to the base. She’d been knocked off her feet. Hard. So hard her head spun, and she’d thought she was going to lose consciousness as everything fell into blackness.

Beyond the buzz in her ears and the cacophony of the players calling out in dismay, she’d heard a gentle voice say, Open your eyes, Laurene. Open your eyes and look at me. A large hand cradled her head, and another clasped her hand as the voice kept urging her not to move until she was steady.

That day, she’d looked up into Adam’s dark brown eyes. They’d held an expression she’d never seen in them before or afterward. Instead of being crinkled with mirth at some prank he’d pulled on her and her friends, they offered compassion and care.

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