Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman Page B

Hannah scowling. “I think it’s wonderful that Isaac is starting to date again. He’s spent so much time tending to his parents; he deserves someone special in his life.”
    â€œMamm . . .” Hannah folded her arms across her chest and struggled to keep the agitation from her voice. “First of all, Mary won’t be here very long. And did you know that Mary was the one who asked Isaac out?”
    Her mother didn’t pull her gaze away, but smiled. “I think that’s just fine.”
    Hannah shook her head. “I don’t know how you can say that. It’s not appropriate.” She moved away from the window, poured a cup of kaffi , and sat down at the kitchen table to read die Botschaft . She took a sip as she caught up on posts from relatives in Indiana. Anything to take her mind off of Mary and Isaac. After a few moments, her mother joined her.
    â€œHow are you and Mary getting along?” Hannah’s mother pulled out the chair across the table from Hannah, but instead of coffee, her mother was sipping on goat milk, not a beverage Hannah enjoyed by itself.
    Hannah marked her spot with her finger and shrugged. “We get along fine.” She recalled Mary’s comment about heaven. “She’s different. And I still don’t think a woman should ask a man out on a date. I know the Englisch do that sometimes, but that doesn’t make it right.”
    â€œHannah. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.”
    Hannah dropped her jaw. “ Mamm! That is not true. I am still grieving for Ethan. And besides, jealousy is a sin.”
    â€œAnd we all sin from time to time,” her mother said as she put a hand on Hannah’s. “I know how much you loved Ethan, but it’s been a year, Hannah. If you have an interest in Isaac, you need to talk to Mary about it since she is only here visiting.”
    Hannah started shaking her head as tears filled her eyes. Even all this time later, she felt guilty for considering the feelings she might have for Isaac.
    Her mother leaned against the back of the chair and took a long sip of milk. “Ethan would want you to be happy. He would not begrudge you going out with Isaac. We all know that Isaac is a wonderful man.”
    Hannah blinked her eyes a few times as guilt and sadness turned to anger, which was possibly brought on by jealousy, making her mother right. But Hannah was not about to admit it. “No matter the situation, Isaac and Mary are going out tomorrow, and I think we owe it to both of them to see if they might have a chance together.” She heard the words leap through her lips and knew it was the truth, but they left a bad taste in her mouth.
    â€œThe Lord might have put Mary in your life for a reason, Hannah. You’ve withdrawn so much since Ethan’s death, and I think sometimes people avoid you because they don’t know what to say.”
    Hannah knew this to be true. Even her closest friends kept their distance these days. “Maybe.”
    â€œI would like Mary to stay longer. I mentioned it to her in passing, but the subject hasn’t come up again. She’s already been here a week. It seems like she just got here yesterday. You know, her great-aunt and uncle aren’t living anymore. And she doesn’t have anyone courting her.” Mamm took a sip of the thick milk, and it left a white mustache. Hannah smiled and pointed to her own upper lip. Mamm chuckled as she dabbed at the spot. “How would you feel about that?”
    â€œI’m sure she has people in Texas to return to, but it’s up to her.” Sometimes Hannah could feel a friendship forming, and maybe with more time, she’d grow even closer to Mary. Or would her cousin only grow close to Isaac?
    Mamm sat taller, put her palms on the table, and smiled. “I will talk to her later.” She nodded toward the window. “Maybe more than a friendship can grow and