Nila's Hope Read Online Free

and Dave would probably appreciate it if we didn’t. That wedding put him a little behind on his sermon. What would you like to do?”
    Nila flipped the braid back over her shoulder and lifted her chin. “I want to get my hair cut.”
    “Really?” Lydia raised her eyebrows.
    “Yes. It’s time for a change. This long hair is a nuisance, and I’m tired of it.”
    Lydia smiled and nodded. “Good for you. Have you made an appointment?”
    “No, I didn’t think of that.” A grimace twisted her mouth. “Good hairdressers are probably booked solid, aren’t they?”
    Lydia pulled out her cellphone. “We won’t know unless we try. Let me give mine a call.”
    Moments later, she closed the phone with a smile. “How about that? Misty had a cancellation and can fit you in at two thirty.” She glanced at her watch. “That’s an hour from now. Her shop isn’t far from here, so we should even have time for an extra cup or two of coffee.”
    Nila released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “That’s great. Thank you.”
    Their plates were nearly empty when a movement caught Nila’s eye. Coming toward them was a stylish, younger woman she’d seen at church, and she was waving.
    “Hey, Mrs. Harris. And you’re Nila, right?” Her chirpy voice seemed too loud. Nila glanced around. No one paid any attention.
    She scooted in beside Nila and propped her elbows on the table. “I’m glad I saw you here. I’m meeting some friends from university, but they can wait. I need to talk to you.”
    “Hello, Hayley,” Lydia said. “How’s school?”
    “Super. I’m having a great time.” She smoothed her long, auburn hair before turning to face Nila. “I heard you work with that yummy Will Jamison, and you guys remodel houses. Is that right?”
    Nila scooted a little further toward the wall. “Yes, we’re apprenticing under Daniel Martens.”
    Hayley clapped her slender, manicured hands. “Perfect! I’ll bet he’s fun to work with. Will, I mean.” She nudged Nila. “Anyway, Daddy said I could fix up the house he bought me for school. And I’d like Will—um, and you—to do it. OK?”
    Nila looked at Lydia for help, but her friend’s head was bowed.
    Nila turned toward the younger woman, chin high, and chose her words with care. “Daniel is the boss. He arranges all our jobs, and he’s the one you need to call. What do you have in mind?”
    “My closet isn’t nearly big enough, and I don’t even have a real master bathroom. So I want to turn the bedroom next to it into a walk-in closet and master bath. I have all kinds of ideas. And if it could be done before Christmas, I’d be the happiest girl in Saskatoon.”
    Nila shook her head. “Sorry, that won’t work. It would be next month at the earliest. Daniel’s on his honeymoon and won’t return until the weekend before Christmas.”
    “Oh.” Hayley’s face fell, and her expression looked exactly like little Jessica’s when she didn’t get her way.
    Nila clamped her mouth shut to keep from smiling.
    Hayley shrugged, still pouting. “Well, that’s too bad. I had my heart set on a quick fix.” She brightened. “But give me your phone number. I’ll text you after Christmas. And maybe I’ll see you at church tomorrow.”
    She scooted out of the booth and, with another quick wave, headed toward her friends.
    “Are you OK?” Lydia asked softly. “That was rather awkward, but you seemed to handle her well.”
    “I’m fine, thanks. You were praying, weren’t you?”
    “Of course.”
     
    ****
     
    Will looked up when the front door opened. “Hey, Jason, you’re just in time. What do you think? Is it worth the hassle of loading Dad’s recliner onto the truck just to drive across the street? Or should we man up and carry it over?”
    “How heavy is it?”
    Will gripped the back of the chair and strained. “Pretty heavy. Dad liked his furniture solid. And the road’s a mess. Let’s put it in the truck.”
    Together they hefted