Hannah's Joy by Marta Perry

Author:Marta Perry
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religion, Inspirational
ISBN: 9780425246948
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2012-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

From where she sat in the churchhouse, Hannah could see Aunt Paula seated on the left, closer to the front. There was logic, as well as tradition, in the seating arrangements in the plain, simple churchhouse. Older men sat on the right front, facing the ministers’ bench, while older women sat on the left. The rest of the community filled in the benches in the center, women and girls on one side, men and boys on the other.

Hannah sat with other young mothers, and they were quick to help each other. Warm smiles and comforting pats soothed fretful little ones, and for the most part, the babies and toddlers were quiet throughout the two-hour service.

Hannah snuggled Jamie against her. He was nearly asleep, and she watched his eyes drift shut.

The bishop was giving the long sermon today, and she focused on his face, weathered and kindly. At first she’d come to worship because Aunt Paula just assumed that she would. She’d gradually grown to value the peace she found in this plain, simple space, to find herself turning to God more and more often, like a child turned to a parent. Unfortunately that peace she usually felt was eluding her today.

Concentrate on the sermon, she ordered herself. Shut out other thoughts and worries—things like Robert’s attitude, Megan’s betrayal, William’s kiss. Her breath caught, and she prayed her cheeks weren’t red at the very thought of it.

It didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t. William was attracted to her, maybe, and maybe she felt the same. He was strong and kind and she’d selfishly leaned on that strength in a weak moment when she felt bombarded on all sides.

But it wouldn’t be fair to William to let him imagine there could be a romantic relationship between them. Somehow, she’d have to find a way of being sure he understood that.

The bishop’s wise, reasoned sermon on the love of God drew to a close. Two other ministers spoke briefly from their seats on the ministers’ bench, endorsing the bishop’s views. And then they all slid from the benches to their knees for a prayer.

As if realizing Hannah might not be as practiced at kneeling while holding a sleeping toddler, the woman next to her took her elbow and helped her. Hannah gave her a smile of thanks as they bowed their heads.

A few minutes later, they were all on their way out of the churchhouse, cheerful voices raised in greeting and conversation. Hannah had the feeling that no one would think to leave until they’d greeted everyone, even a relative outsider like herself.

Jamie, of course, woke up the minute she’d walked outside, and he clamored to get down. She set him on the grass but kept a careful grip on his hand as she scanned the crowd for Aunt Paula.

“Ach, this little boy wants to run off some energy, ain’t so?”

The bishop, Ephraim Zimmerman, bent to ruffle Jamie’s hair. As he straightened, he beckoned to several teenage girls who were talking, heads together,

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