A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston Page B

definitely use this. I constantly misplace my spools.”
    He smiled. “I’m
froh
you can use it.”
    Hannah ran her fingers over the smooth prongs and wondered how much time it took him
     to craft the spool holder. “You must have put a lot of effort into this.”
    Josh shrugged. “I like doing woodworking. I probably would’ve been a carpenter if
     Gideon hadn’t convinced me to go into business with him.”
    “I’m so touched that you thought of me.” She smiled at him. “You’re very thoughtful.”
    His expression became intense. “I always think of you, Hannah. In fact, I think of
     you all the time.”
    Hannah’s breath caught as she stared into his eager eyes. For a brief moment she wondered
     if she truly belonged with someone like Joshua instead of Trey. Joshua was a good,
     loyal, hardworking, and honest Amish man. Wasn’t he the right choice for her? But
     then Hannah admitted to herself that she had been considering how Trey could give
     her something she’d always wanted—the ability to live her dream of owning a bed and
     breakfast. Just as quickly, Hannah thought about her children and the problems her
     relationship with Trey could cause for them, and she found herself confused again.
     Where did she belong?
    “Hannah?” Joshua tilted his head in question as he studied her. “Are you okay?”
    “
Ya.
” She forced a smile and then gestured toward the house. “I’m going to put this in
     the sewing room and organize my spools.
Danki
again for the lovely gift. I will put it to good use.” She started toward the house
     while wondering if she could ever sort through her confused feelings.

NINE
    M onday morning, Hannah studied her clipboard and marked off the room she’d just cleaned.
     She cupped her hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn. She’d spent most of the night staring
     at the ceiling and contemplating her jumbled feelings for Trey and Joshua. She was
     surprised and overwhelmed by the thoughtful gift Joshua had given her. He’d spent
     the rest of the afternoon visiting with Hannah and Andrew, and she found herself marveling
     at the sight of Andrew and Joshua together. She wondered again if she belonged with
     Joshua, the man who’d stood by her through her husband’s death. If she were with Joshua,
     she’d be able to stay in a life she knew and loved.
    However, Trey’s image crept into her thoughts throughout the night. She couldn’t forget
     the intensity of his touch when he’d held her hands while they shared a coffee break
     on Friday. She also thought about their walk around her farm on Saturday. Her feelings
     for Trey were palpable and his plans for the bed and breakfast filled her with excitement
     and longing for a new life, even though they pointed to an uncharted road.
    Yet she knew a relationship with Trey would be complicated and would cause many problems
     for her family. She needed toend the relationship now, even though the idea was breaking her heart.
    She looked down the hallway toward Trey’s room, and her stomach tightened. She’d considered
     asking to switch floors with Linda to avoid seeing him, but she knew that was the
     coward’s way out. She had to face him and tell him they could no longer be friends,
     and one way to see him was to clean the third floor and hope they ran into each other.
     She’d spent most of the ride to the hotel this morning planning what she’d say to
     Trey when she saw him. She prayed she could remember everything she wanted to tell
     him.
    Hannah approached another room, knocked, announced herself, and then unlocked it.
     After propping the door open, she moved into the bathroom and grabbed the used towels
     slung over the shower door and then headed toward the cart in the hallway to grab
     new ones. She stepped through the doorway and almost bumped into Trey.
    “
Ach!
” She dropped the towels into the bin on the cart. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you
     there.”
    “No, I’m the one who should be