Breakdown (42 page)
Visible relief softened the visitor’s face. He looked down at the ground for a moment, put his hands on his hips, took a deep breath. He looked back up at Chris. “Who are you?” he asked.
Chris gazed at him, and something about him dispelled any suspicion.
“I’m Pauline’s husband,” Chris said, pulling off his work gloves.
A small smile changed the man’s face as he stood there on the other side of the wall, and Chris suddenly knew why he looked familiar. He recognized the smile.
“Who are you, then?” Chris asked, though he already knew the answer, and smiled in return.
The man smiled more. “I’m Pauline’s brother,” he said. “I’m Jim.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
M
uch love to my dear husband, who put up with all of this for so long and works so hard. Hugs to my mother for all her help and support. Special thanks to Laura Symons, the first person to convince me of my potential, and my steady cheerleader. Many thanks to my critique partner, Cindy Borgne, for all her hard work. Kudos to my dad for proofreading.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © Mark Hanna, 2012
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Katherine Amt Hanna studied costuming and creative writing at Lynchburg College in Virginia, spent thirteen years working for Kodak, and operates a home-based business selling medieval, Roman, biblical, and other historical costumes. She presently lives in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two sons.
Breakdown
is her first novel.
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