She laughed as he pulled up the brake on the buggy and hopped down. “Will, it’s a good thing we have each other. If we didn’t, each of us would be making mountains out of molehills right and left.”
Walking around to help her down, he kissed her on the cheek. “You are right about that. It’s a gut thing we have each other, indeed.”
As he pulled Jemima into his arms and E.A. took hold of Roy, Will almost believed that everything was going to be just fine. That the children would adjust to both the baby and them and settle into their lives as if they’d always been there. That the adoption would go through without a hitch and that their baby would soon be born without any complications. That he and E.A. would be able to weather all these changes without getting too stressed or worried or fearful.
That everything in their future was going to be just fine.
But try as he might, he couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that things weren’t going to be that easy.
He really hoped he was wrong.
Chapter 12
The day before Christmas
Six hours after they left the clinic, the news still shook him to the core. They’d left the doctor in a state of shock, eaten their lunch at Josephine’s in almost complete silence, and had to remind each other to look more relaxed and happy when they stopped by his parents’ house to pick up the kids.
Jemima and Roy might not have noticed, but Will’s mother sure did. She kept giving him worried glances while they were loading the children in the buggy.
Somehow, someway, after they’d gotten home, he and E.A. had gone about their usual routine of having supper, supervising baths, and reading a bedtime story.
Now, at long last, they were sitting together on the couch in front of the fireplace. It was finally the right time to focus on their news—it was just too bad that he still didn’t have the right words.
“I don’t understand how this could be,” Will said for the third time. “Do you have twins in your family that I didn’t know about?”
“Nee,” E.A. replied, “but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.” After another moment, she added, “My parents called while you were reading the kinner their story. I told them the news.”
E.A. had grown up Mennonite. Since they were living as New Order Amish, they now had a phone in the kitchen. They didn’t use it much—only for emergencies and special occasions.
Will guessed that their “sonogram day” counted as that.
“What did they say?”
She chuckled softly. “Will, they sounded as shocked as we are. Mamm said she’ll come over tomorrow to chat.”
“Just be sure Jemima and Roy don’t hear you talking about it.” When they were alone in the buggy, they’d decided to wait until after Christmas to tell the kids.
“Don’t worry. I don’t want to share the news until we’ve gotten our own heads wrapped around it.”
“Eventually, I guess we’ll have to decide the right way to tell them.”
“Jah, but ‘eventually’ is the key word. The poor things are still trying to get used to the idea of my pregnancy.” She frowned. “They seem okay, though neither of them seems to want to talk about it.” She blinked. “Do you think we should worry about that?”
“Nee. They’ve accepted it already, E.A. Couples have babies all the time.” Sitting beside her, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We’re just going to have two babes at once.”
“Talk about an instant family. We’re going from zero kinner to four in less than a year.”
“You never did do anything halfway.”
“Ha, ha. This is on both of us.”
Will looked smug. “This is pretty special, ain’t so? We’re blessed.”
“We are blessed.” She smiled at him. “Next Christmas is going to be mighty special. We’re going to have kinner everywhere.”
“Two of them will likely be in our arms and the other two running around. The year after? Whoa. It is sure to be mighty busy. The twins will be crawling.”
She couldn’t believe he was so, so calm about all the changes taking place in their lives. Just as she was about to chide him, she gasped. “Will, where are we going to put everyone?”
He looked at her strangely. “In here with us.”
“No, I’m talking about bedrooms. Where are we going to put everyone?”
“We have three bedrooms. We’ll take one; the babes will be in another. And Jemima and Roy will have the third.”
“That won’t do.”
“What won’t?”
“Jemima and Roy can’t share a room, Will. They like having their own rooms. No, they need their own rooms. Jemima, especially, needs a place of her own.”
“I understand that, but they’ll just have to adjust. And they will.”
Her mind was spinning. It was already going to be hard on the siblings to have to deal with the new babes. “I think we’re gonna need to move.”
“Elizabeth Anne, we cannot.”
“I know you don’t want to, but it might be necessary.”
“It isn’t. Not right now it isn’t.”
“Will, lower your voice. They’ll hear you.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you are thinking clearly.”
“I’m pregnant with twins, but my brain is working just fine.”
“You are one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. But right now, you aren’t sounding smart at all. We can’t up and move so easily. We just got here.”
They were living on his family’s property. Will had saved a long time in order to be able to buy all the materials for their house. That was followed by weeks of him and his friends working on the house, then paying plumbers and other tradespeople to finish out their lovely home.
She supposed he did have a point. “All right, fine. Maybe we can simply add another bedroom. And perhaps we can make the kitchen and breakfast room bigger. What do you think?”
“I think that is not going to happen. Not anytime soon.”
Oh, but she hated when he got all full of himself! “Will, don’t say no without thinking it through.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Please, just think about it.”
“I am, and I’m thinking that you’ll be home taking care of four children and I’m going to be working to make sure everyone has shoes.”
Has shoes? Goodness, but her husband could be dramatic at times! “But—”
“E.A., you’re simply going to have to resign yourself to be patient. I know you want to protect Jemima and Roy from harm, but a bigger haus isn’t what they need,” he said in a new, gentle tone of voice. “I promise ya, all those children are going to need is our love and a safe, loving home. We are already giving them that.”
His words made sense, but just because they did, it didn’t mean that all her worries were going to disappear. “I don’t want them to regret moving in with us, Will. I don’t want them to think they were getting one thing, but the reality is a whole lot different.”
“Ah. Now I understand. So, do you regret meeting Jemima and Roy and bringing them home?”
“No. Of course not.” She was shocked that he would even ask such a thing. “I love them.”
“I love them, too, E.A. Now, if we already love them and consider them ours, why would you think they would feel different?”
Ooh. She hated it when he was so right. “I see your point.”
“Gut. I promise, they took the news about one baby well, and they’ll do the same when they hear about two.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. I promise. Life is full of changes and they’ll adjust again. Moving around might be hard for them at first, but then it will all be fine. It has to be, right? I mean, they won’t have any other choice.”
“I hope they won’t be too upset.”
“If they are, I’ll deal with it. Not you. I won’t let them worry you. The doctor said that you need to put the babies’ needs first. Remember?”
Just as she was about to respond, she heard a squeak. “Will, did you hear that?” she whispered.
He paused, tilting his head, as if he was listening hard. “I didn’t hear anything. Now, can we simply just sit here and enjoy the fire and our news?”
She snuggled next to him, folding one of her hands over her belly. She was going to have twins! She was going to be a mother of four.
They were blessed, indeed.
Chapter 13
Jemima closed her eyes and counted to five. Breathed in and out, just as Will had suggested Roy do when he and Jemima had first heard about E.A. expecting a baby.
Since taking a deep breath felt as if it kind of helped, she did it again. It felt a bit silly, but she was willing to do whatever it took to get control of herself.
She had to.
But, boy, was it hard to do, because all the words she’d overheard kept zipping around in her head. They’ll adjust. I won’t let them worry you. They won’t have any other choice.
You need to put the babies’ needs first.
The babies were what they wanted, not two foster kids who weren’t really theirs.
The babies were what was important.
They’d been lying to her. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were even worse than Dan and Shirl, because they’d only been pretending to want Jemima and Roy. At least Dan and Shirl had never acted like anything was special about them besides the checks that Social Services sent.
Sneaking back down the hall, Jemima swiped her eyes and tried to be glad that she’d wanted a glass of water. If she hadn’t gotten thirsty, she would have never eavesdropped and heard what Mr. Kurtz had said about them.
He was sure she and her brother were going to adjust just fine the day after Christmas when they told her and Roy the news.
Her lungs felt heavy, and she didn’t think she was ever going to be able to take a deep breath again. Standing outside Roy’s room, she debated about whether to tell him the news or not.
Though it was going to be terrible to tell him, she knew she had no choice. There was no way she was going to be able to watch him be happy on Christmas morning when she knew what was going to happen on December 26. That was just too mean.
Slowly she opened his door and walked inside. Roy had a battery-operated night-light in the shape of a dog near his bed. It was a silly thing, but he loved it and it helped him get to sleep every night. As she watched him sleep, Jemima’s heart felt as if it was breaking as she realized just how many things were about to change. Just like the other homes, they were going to have to leave their special belongings behind when the social worker came.
Once again, they’d be in someone else’s hands, and be expected to get along, not complain, and pretend that starting all over again wasn’t terrible.
But it really was.
Roy shifted in his sleep, opened his eyes, then flinched when he noticed her standing next to his bed.
“Jemima, whatcha doing?” he asked, both his expression and voice groggy with sleep.
“I just overhead Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz talking, but I’ve been standing here trying to figure out if I should tell you or not.”
Rubbing his eyes, he sat up. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s not good news.”
He frowned. “Am I not gonna get a new coat for Christmas?”
She sat down on his bed. “I don’t know if you are or you aren’t.” She took a breath, then continued. “I heard them talking about what they are going to do the day after Christmas.”
He smiled. “What?”
Jemima bit her lip. She didn’t know whether to spoil his night or not. All she did know was that she didn’t think she could keep the news to herself for the next day. She really didn’t think she could face Roy when he discovered that she’d been keeping secrets from him.
“Roy, I don’t want to tell you this, but I don’t think it would be right to keep it from you.”
“I’m not a baby. We do everything together, jah?”
He was right. “Fine.” After peeking at the door again to make sure it was closed, she said, “I learned that E.A. is going to have twins.”
Roy’s eyes lit up. “Wow! We’re going to have two babies around here. It’s gonna be loud.”
“You’re missing the point, Roy. I heard them talk about our future.”
“So?”
“They don’t have a big enough house for four kinner.” She looked at him meaningfully.
Her brother screwed up his face. “What are we all going to do then?” He sucked in a breath. “Do you think we’re going to have to share a room with babies?”
“They’re not talking about moving us around. They’re talking about making room for two babies.”
“What does that mean for us, then?”
“What do you think, Roy? They’re going to send us away.”
He shook his head. “Nee. They love us.”
“They love the babies they’re gonna have. They don’t love us.”
“Nee.” His crushed expression matched how crushed she felt in her heart. “That’s not right.”
“Roy, I know what I heard.”
He kept shaking his head. “Nee. You must have heard wrong. They wouldn’t do that.”
“But they are.” She hated how tough she sounded; she hated that she had to be the one to tell Roy the bad news. But she had learned that it didn’t make any difference how a person heard bad things. Even hearing it in a nice way didn’t make it any easier.
“What are we going to do?”
“I don’t want to go back to Dan and Shirl.”
His bottom lip trembled. “We might go back there?”
She nodded. “They have to send us somewhere.”
“But I didn’t like them,” Roy blurted. “They were mean.”
Her brother was right. They were mean. Really mean. “I . . . I was thinking of running away.”
“Really? We can do that?”
“I know it’s scary, but maybe we could find someplace better than Dan and Shirl’s house. I don’t want Melanie to make us go back there right after Christmas.”
He swallowed hard. “I don’t want to be there ever again.”
“So, it’s decided?”
Roy gazed at her, suddenly looking much older. “Jah.”
“Jah? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I’ll get dressed and meet you down in the kitchen in a couple of minutes.”
“Okay, but remember, it’s snowy out, so we have to wear warm clothes. Lots of warm clothes.”
“I’ll put on the new socks E.A. knitted for me.”
She noticed him looking around his room. “Don’t forget, we can’t take much. You can’t take all your toys.”
“I’m only gonna take a couple of the animals and two of the train cars.”
“Put them in a pillowcase.”
“Okay.”
Even though he looked confused, she slipped out of Roy’s room and padded down the hall. She needed to get dressed in warm clothes and gather her things, too.
They were really going to do it. They were going to run away.
Though her eyes stung, she refused to cry. Crying wouldn’t do her any good.
Besides, she didn’t think God cared if she cried or not.
For some reason, He had decided to stop looking out for them.
It was up to her and Roy from now on.
Chapter 14
After they made their plans, E.A. had wished Will pleasant dreams, and then gone straight up to bed.
The fire was still burning, the snow was falling outside, and Will’s heart was full. Far too full to go to sleep.
He had also felt a need to give thanks. Just a few years ago, he’d been living with his family, going through the motions at his job, drifting through life. He’d felt as if something was missing, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had been lacking. Then Andy had taken his own life and everything had changed. That loss had made him start counting his bles
sings and looking around to decide what he needed—no, what he wanted—in his life.
He’d never so keenly felt the Lord at work in his life. One by one, the Lord had helped him establish his goals at work, deepen his friendships, strengthen the bonds with his family, and changed everything between him and E.A.
Now here he was, with two children snug in their beds and two tiny babes on the way. He was so blessed.
He got on his knees and stared at the dying embers in the fireplace as he poured out his heart. “Danke, Got,” he prayed quietly. “Here on Your son’s birthday, I feel as if I have been given all the gifts. I praise You and give thanks.”
Feeling His pleasure with the words, Will closed his eyes and continued his prayers, offering thanks for his friends and family, for the blessings of Christmas.
“Careful!” he heard Jemima whisper.
Startled, Will popped open his eyes. What in the world was she doing?
He heard the children scramble some more. It was obvious that they were now downstairs, but for what reason, he couldn’t begin to guess.
Growing concerned, he got to his feet.
Then, just as Will was about to join them, the children spoke again.
“I’m scared,” Roy said.
“I know, but we’ll be okay.”
“I wish I had the new coat that E.A. said I might get on Christmas morning. It’s cold out.”
“Your old coat will have to do.”
“I know, but—”
“Roy, I’ve got on my old coat, too,” Jemima said, sounding weary. “Stop complaining.”
“I will. But can we get a snack before we leave? I don’t want to be hungry.”
Leave? Will felt his heart start beating double time.
He stood quietly, listening to them talk to each other, curious as to why they were leaving and, truth be told, curious about what they were deciding to take with them.
When he heard Roy struggle to open the jar of peanut butter, Will had heard enough.
“Those jars can be tricky to open. Do you need a hand?”
The jar fell to the floor.
“Will!” Roy exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“I think we all know that I need to be asking you a more important question. What are you doing?” Will turned toward Jemima, who was standing by the refrigerator with a stunned expression on her face. “Jemima, do you want to help me out here?”
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