Hannah watched him leave, heard his heavy footsteps on the wood floor, and the front door open and close. Max was right. She needed this rest. But “rest” was hardly a word in her vocabulary. It never had been. She had been a working girl when she met and married Bill Parrish; keeping house for him and their daughters had been tense, anxiety producing, and anything but restful. And then, after she had found the strength to leave him, she had worked hard and long to support her daughters.

What would she do if she didn’t work, especially now? She loved every minute of her time at Bella’s Park. She could hardly call it work. It was sheer pleasure.

Hannah threw back the covers, eased her legs over the side, and prepared to stand. Hooked over the headboard was a wooden cane Amelia had presented to her when she came home from surgery. Hannah reached for it. Easing herself to her feet, she walked slowly to the kitchen. It was lunchtime, and she was hungry.

Grace had left a pot of stew simmering on the stove and a pretty china bowl and silverware sat on a bright yellow place mat on the kitchen table. Hannah smiled and helped herself to stew. She had just placed the empty soup bowl in the sink when the phone rang. It was Tyler, asking if Grace were there.

“No, I’m afraid not. She’ll be back in about an hour, I would imagine. Want to call back, or shall I ask her to phone you?”

“I’ll give her a ring,” Tyler said, then asked, “Hannah, how you feeling?”

“Pretty good. Bored sitting around by myself all day.”

“If you’re up to it, I could come over. We’re having a kite-flying contest over on the school grounds next week, and I plan to enter and win. Would you like to help me build my kite? It’s something special.”

“A kite-flying contest?” She thought about that. “Well, why not, Tyler? Come on over and let’s see what we can do to get that kite ready for your contest.”

“See you in a bit, then.”