and used a fingertip to draw an X over their chests.
“Then, yes, I’m going to print it, and I’ll make sure you each get your very own copy.”
The giggle from Hannah, and the way she squeezed his arm as he stood up, filled him with more happiness than he might ever have known before.
Fiona and Brett walked around the building just then.
An unusual wave of disappointment washed over him as Hannah let go of his arm.
“Thank you for walking me home,” she said. “I hope you enjoy the pie.”
“I will,” Teddy answered, having totally forgotten about the pie. He graced Fiona with a smile before nodding at Brett.
When the women were several steps away Brett said, “I don’t know what she was etching, but she worked all day on it yesterday.”
Still watching her walk away, and knowing the boys were within hearing distance, Teddy replied, “It’s a secret. That’s all I can tell you.”
The boys giggled before they ran off, and a thought shot across Teddy’s mind. He wondered what Brett would say if he said he wanted to marry Hannah. It wasn’t the first time he’d had that thought, but he was still unsure if that was what his heart truly wanted, or if he was just worried about her like he had been about Becky.
“I wasn’t happy about letting Hannah do all this work for your paper in the beginning, but Fiona insisted it would be good for her,” Brett said. “I guess she was right.”
“She enjoys it,” Teddy replied. “And she is also very good at it.”
“Yes, she is,” Brett replied. “She’ll make some man a wonderful wife.”
Teddy buckled a bit inside. He’d thought he’d kept his thoughts buried too deep for anyone to see. Before he could say anything, Brett slapped his shoulder.
“I got a wagon wheel calling my name,” Brett said. “See you later.”
Teddy nodded, yet his eyes were once again on Hannah as she and Fiona disappeared into the house across the field. “See you later,” he said, after swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat at the idea of Hannah making someone a wonderful wife. And that someone not being him.
Hannah wasn’t exactly sure what had happened. She couldn’t give all the credit to how much Abigail had liked the etchings, or to the fact that Teddy was proud of her. The only person who’d ever said that they were proud of her was Pappy. A true sense of peace filled her as she and Fiona hung their bonnets and coats on the hooks in the kitchen.
“I’m assuming that went well,” Fiona said.
“Very well.” Smiling, Hannah said, “Looking at things in a different perspective isn’t as hard as I’d imagined. Thank you.”
Fiona frowned. “Why are you thanking me? What do you mean?”
Her contentment was so profound, Hannah sighed at how wonderful she felt. “The day before Thanksgiving you said were looking at life with a new perspective.” She grinned. “I decided I should do that, too.”
“So that’s why you made that etching for the newspaper.”
“Yes,” Hannah said. “And it was the right decision.” For the first time in months, her stomach growled. “Are there any biscuits left over? I’m hungry.” The craving for food increased. “And honey. I’d love some honey.”
“You haven’t been hungry since I met you,” Fiona said. “We’ve had to force you to eat.”
“I know.” Hannah rubbed her stomach. “Maybe I’m ready to make up for all those missed meals.” She was ready for other things, too. Rather than mulling over lists, she was going to focus on what she wanted, which was for Abigail to like her, because once that happened, maybe someday she’d feel comfortable enough to ask Teddy how he’d feel about becoming a father. She wouldn’t get her hopes up that it would happen by Christmas, nor would she dwell on it. Although a father for her baby would be the most wonderful Christmas miracle ever.
Actually, Teddy would be the most wonderful Christmas miracle. Not just because she wanted her baby to have a father, but because she wanted Teddy to be her husband. It seemed strange to admit that, but it was true. He was so caring and kind. Very unlike the men she’d known all her life. She couldn’t imagine him treating anyone in rude or hurtful ways. He was too full of goodness and grace, and that was what she wanted. A life like Gram and Pappy had. A life like Fiona and Brett had.
“Would you like tea with your biscuits and honey?” Fiona asked.
“Actually, I think I’ll have a glass of milk,” Hannah said. “A big one.”
Her appetite remained with her all day, as did the contentment. It seemed to have taken root inside her and that night she slept better than she had in a very long time. She was dressed and ready for church along with everyone else, but remained behind. Angus O’Leary, who was a dear old soul, had made it a habit to walk her to church on Sundays from the time she’d arrived in Oak Grove.
When the knock sounded on the back door, she slipped on her coat while walking across the room. Her heart skipped a beat at the same time the baby moved, which was also the same moment she opened the door and saw Teddy standing there.
Although happy to see him, she was also concerned. “Where’s Angus?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Teddy said. “Angus asked me to come escort you to church because his knee is acting up a bit.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “I hope it’s not too bad.”
“He’s escorting Abigail, so you’ll still see him.” He gestured toward the steps. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, yes I am, and thank you for escorting me, but I could have walked with Brett and Fiona and the boys.”
“You could have,” he said, pulling the door closed behind them. “But I’m extremely glad you didn’t.”
She was, too, but stopped herself from saying that. “You seem very happy today.”
“I am,” he said. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m escorting a beautiful woman to church, and that gives me much to be happy about.” Leaning closer he said, “And all three hundred copies of the Gazette are printed and folded.”
“Three hundred copies?”
“Yes. Abigail thought people might like to buy extras to mail to family members.”
“Oh, they might, for sure.”
“Want to know a secret?” he asked.
The teasing glimmer in his eyes had her biting her lip to keep her smile from growing too large. “What?”
“The children will receive their
