A Time to Heal(32)

"I had a flashback," he said finally. "It's like—"

She held up her hand. "Like Matthew told me Jenny had when she first came here?"

Nodding, he went back to picking up things from the tray.

"Does everyone who sees war get it?"

"I hope not," he said fervently. "Some do. I don't know how many. Sometimes people who've been victims of a crime or something traumatic get them. It isn't just from war."

When he continued to look away from her, she put her hand on his. "It makes you feel ashamed. Why?"

His hand tightened to a fist under hers, then relaxed when she refused to let his go.

"A man doesn't like to lose control."

"Ever?"

He stared at her. In her eyes he saw something . . . the same something he'd glimpsed that day in the loft when he caught her before she fell . . . an awareness of him as a man.

"Don't tease," he said and heard the roughness in his voice.He picked up the plate and began piling slices of pumpkin bread on it.

"Don't worry about that," she said. "No one can eat it now."

He popped a piece in his mouth and she waved her hands."They're dirty!"

"You don't know what we had to eat in the field," he said."There was this time they couldn't get any rations to us and we saw this rat—"

Her stomach turned. "Oh, stop!"

"I was just joking."

He stood and lifted the tray, then held out his hand and helped her to her feet. She was sorry when he let it go.

"I guess it's good you can joke now."

She watched his eyes darken as he looked at her. "There was nothing funny about what happened. I'm sorry I scared you."

"You apologized. You're forgiven."

"Already?" He smiled slightly. "I guess you're known for that, huh?"

"My community, you mean? Matthew will tell you I've never forgiven him for putting a big ugly toad in my bed one night."

His laughter was rich. "Typical boy."

"Yes, Matthew was definitely that when he was younger."She met her brother's eyes as she walked up the steps of the porch where he and Jenny stood talking.

"I was what when I was younger?"

"A brother who teased me unmercifully," she said tartly as Chris opened the door and waited for her to walk inside.

"What? How'd that come up?" he called after her, sounding indignant. "You were talking about me?"

Hannah turned and took the tray from Chris. "Of course.Thanks, Chris."

"What was she saying?" Matthew demanded, sounding indignant as Hannah started toward the kitchen. "Did she tell you what she did to me when she was twelve?"





8





If Chris had any thought of slipping away, matters were taken out of his hands.

Mary came over a few minutes after Hannah left. "Mamm says I'm to get your laundry."

"Laundry?"

Mary nodded. "She says she's doing laundry tomorrow and it's no trouble to do yours."

"I—"

She held out the basket. "If you put it in here, I'll take it to her. She says I'm to make sure I get it." The way she looked directly at him reminded him of her Aunt Hannah a little. "I know you've got dirty clothes. You've been helping Daedi in the fields."

"But—"

"And Mamm says supper's in half an hour and don't be late."

Chris blinked.

"It's a special occasion," she said, holding out the basket."She just got back today, you know."

"Yes—"

"And she says she wants to talk to you."

Chris glanced at the backpack near the door. He shouldn't have. Her eyes followed his and then she looked at him, her eyes wide. "You aren't going anywhere, are you? I thought you were helping Daedi with the harvest since John's having surgery."

Yes, she definitely reminded him of her aunt with her directness, and it wasn't just because she'd used an adult's first name.He knew there was an attitude of complete equality here, that everyone called each other by their first names.

"No—"

"Gut. Now, can I have your clothes? I need to help Mamm in the kitchen."

Resigned, Chris unzipped the backpack and pulled out the plastic bag of dirty clothes he'd tucked inside just a short time ago. He wadded them up and placed them in the basket.It didn't seem right that Jenny should be doing his clothes.Surely she had enough of them to do.

"Danki. Remember, supper's in half an hour."

After she left, he took a shower and folded up the clothes he had been wearing and set them by the front door. Since laundry wasn't being done until tomorrow perhaps he could add them to those he'd given to Mary.

Midway through getting dressed, he stopped and frowned.