Lydia's Hope by Marta Perry Page A

sixteen. He’d sneaked glances at Lydia, sitting on the
     opposite side of the long table, and wondered if she would ever look his way. And
     when they’d taken a break for refreshments, he’d had to force his feet to move toward
     her, rehearsing in his mind the words he’d use when he asked if he could take her
     home.
    But he’d taken so long getting up the courage that he’d reached Lydia just in time
     to hear Seth asking the same thing, and Lydia saying yes to Seth, not to him. The
     image of Seth helping her up into his buggy was one he’d never gotten out of his head.
    “Adam, you’re home early.” Lydia reached him, smiling.
    “Ja, the boss gave us our money and said there was no point starting something else.”
     He jerked his head in the direction of the Miller place. “What was
he
doing here?”
    Lydia’s smile faded, replaced by a wary expression. “Seth? He came over with a message
     from his mother, asking if she can do anything.” Fine lines marred Lydia’s smooth
     forehead. “Everybody knows, I guess. They’re all talking.” Her lips trembled, and
     she pressed them together.
    Adam ought to be ashamed, letting himself think of that old jealousy when Lydia was
     hurting. He touched her arm, wanting to ease the pain. “They mean it kindly, even
     when they do talk. And Emma Miller is a gut woman.”
    “Ja, ja, she is. I should go over and see her. I haven’t been there in days.”
    That was his Lydia, always thinking of others. “Emma would like a visit from you,
     that’s for sure.” He pushed himself to bring up the subject he’d rather she forgot.
     “I guess she could talk to you about when you were little. Emma would have been your
     mamm’s closest neighbor, ain’t so?”
    Lydia nodded. “That’s true.” She seemed to make an effort to smile. “Well, enough
     about me. How was your last day?”
    Now it was his turn to make the effort to look pleasant, no matter how he felt. “Not
     bad. Mr. Owens was real sorry he had to let us go, and he came around and talked to
     each one. He said if the orders pick up again, he’ll be wanting to call us back to
     work.”
    “That’s gut news, ain’t so?” Lydia linked her arm with his as they walked toward the
     house. “Maybe he’ll be calling you back soon.”
    He smiled and nodded, because he didn’t want Lydia to worry. But it seemed unlikely
     that Mr. Owens would get up to a full crew anytime in the foreseeable future. When
     money was tight, folks didn’t buy vacation trailers. That only made sense.
    There were fewer jobs all over, something he hadn’t expected even a couple of years
     ago. He’d been asking around, and no one seemed to know of anyone who was hiring.
    Lydia was staring at him, her eyes questioning. “What is it, Adam? Are you worried
     about finding something else?”
    “No, no, I’m not thinking that at all,” he said hastily.
    The trouble with hiding your feelings from Lydia was that she always seemed to sense
     them without your telling her. He’d need to divert her attention.
    “You didn’t tell me about your trip to Oyersburg. How was it? Did you see Susanna?”
     He probably should say
your sister
but the words still seemed odd to him.
    “Ja, I saw her.” Her face softened, and she seemed to be gazing someplace far away.
     “Ach, Adam, I knew the minute I saw her that she’s my sister. She has such a sweet
     face and a gentle way about her.” Lydia’s expression clouded. “She limps, though,
     and I was afraid her leg was paining her. It’s never been right since the accident.
     I wanted so much . . .”
    She let that thought trail off, but he knew where it had been headed.
    “You wanted to tell her.” He clasped her arm firmly. “Lydia, you didn’t, did you?”
    Lydia shook her head, a tear spilling over onto her cheek. “I longed to. But she had
     to hurry off to check on her mother. When she’d gone, I talked with her partner in
     the shop. She told me how sick