“Oh? What’d you do, jog to the park and back?”
“Beth and I went to that newly remodeled fitness center you painted. They had an open house and offered free workouts.”
Jim grabbed a glass from the cupboard and turned on the faucet at the sink. “You planning to go back?”
“Beth said she’d like to, but the membership fee is pretty expensive. I’m not sure she can afford it.”
“Well, we can, so if you want to join, you have my blessings.”
Linda shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’d want to go alone.”
He gulped down the water and set the glass in the sink. “Don’t get any dumb ideas about me going with you. I don’t have the time.”
She clenched her teeth. “I know that, Jim. You never have time for anything I want to do.”
“That’s not true. I took you to the grocery store last night, didn’t I?”
“That was for necessities, not for the fun of doing something together.”
“You think working out on some stupid rowing machine and getting all sweaty would be fun?”
“It could be, if we did it together.”
“And what would we do with Jimmy if we ran off to the health club to get healthy and fit?” he asked in a sarcastic tone. “We have no babysitter, as you may recall, because you don’t like to leave Jimmy with strangers.”
Linda moved away from the window and dropped into a chair at the table. “Beth was wondering if we could get together with her family for a barbecue sometime soon,” she said, hoping the change of subject might relieve some of the tension between them.
“I don’t have time to socialize right now. Need to get my outside painting jobs done while we’ve still got good weather.”
“But, I thought—”
“I said no!” Jim stomped across the room and jerked open the refrigerator. “Have we got any beer? I told you to pick up a case last night.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, I forgot.” I wish you wouldn’t drink, Jim. It only fuels your agitation.
He slammed the refrigerator door, causing the vase on top to tumble to the floor. It was plastic and didn’t shatter, but Linda felt irritation that her husband could lose his temper so easily. Jim hadn’t always been this testy, but in the last few years, he often exploded over the littlest thing.
“You could have gone into the store with me instead of waiting in the car,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, right, and haul Jimmy in there so he could whine and beg for everything that caught his eye?”
“Jimmy doesn’t do that whenever I take him to the store. He’s very well behaved. In fact, the lady who watched him at the fitness center commented on what a nice boy he is.”
Jim’s features softened some as he bent to pick up the vase. “Jimmy’s a good kid.”
“And cute, too,” she added with a smile. “The young woman at the front desk said Jimmy reminded her of a little Amish boy she used to know.”
“What?”
“She said Jimmy had the same color hair and eyes as the little boy.”
“What else did the woman say?”
“That’s about all.” Linda’s forehead wrinkled. “I’ll have to admit, it did make me kind of nervous the way she kept staring at Jimmy.”
Jim’s hand shook, and the vase crashed to the floor again.
“Jim, what’s wrong? You’re trembling like we’ve just had an earthquake.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I—I’m tired and need to get to work.” He bent to pick up the vase for the second time and placed it back on the refrigerator.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine!”
Her spine went rigid, and she recoiled.
“I think it’d be best if you don’t sign up at the fitness center right now.”
Jim’s wrinkled forehead and eyebrows drawn together let Linda know that he was uptight, but she didn’t understand why. “A few minutes ago you said we could afford for me to go there.”
“I’ve changed my mind!”
“You don’t have to get so angry.”
“I’m not angry.” Jim glanced at his watch. “But I am late, so this discussion is over.” He turned and rushed out the door.
Linda swallowed around the lump in her throat. Would things ever be right between her and Jim again? Maybe a few minutes in the fresh air with Jimmy would help calm her.
Naomi sat in the rocking chair holding baby Susan. Sarah knelt on the living room floor, playing with the wooden blocks her uncle Matthew had made for her second birthday. There was a knock at the front door, and rather than disturb the baby, Naomi called, “Come in.”
A few seconds later, Abby stepped into the room, carrying a large paper sack.
“It’s nice to see you,” Naomi said with a smile.
“I thought I’d drop by on my way home from work and see how everyone’s doing.”
“We’re doin’ well.” Naomi motioned to the sofa. “Have a seat. You look done in.”
Abby flopped down and leaned against the throw pillows with a yawn. “It’s been a busy day, and I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Sorry to hear that. Maybe you should see about hiring a helper at the quilt shop.”
“I’ve thought about it, but sooner or later Mom will take the place back over, and I’m sure I can keep things running smoothly until that time.”
Naomi lifted the baby onto her shoulder and patted her gently on the back. “You really think Fannie will be up to running the quilt shop after she gives birth to twins?”
Abby shrugged. “She says she will.”
“I thought I’d be going back to help at the store soon after Susan was born, but as you can see, I’ve got my hands full right here. If I tried to take my two little ones to work with me every day, I doubt I’d get much done.” Naomi sighed. “Caleb would probably still need to hire someone, and the girls and I would just be in the way.”
Abby lifted her brows. “Are you saying you’re not going back to work at all?”
“I will when the boppli is a little older, but for now Caleb and I have decided that my place is at home.
“Guess that makes sense.” Abby reached her hand out to Sarah. “What have you got there, hatzli—sweetheart?”
The little girl held up two wooden blocks and grinned. “Ich schpiele gern.”
“I know you like to play, Sarah.” Abby smiled at Naomi. “She’s learning to speak so clearly already.”
Naomi chuckled. “Jah. Caleb thinks she gets her smarts from him. I don’t have the heart to tell him that I started talking clearly before I was two. At least that’s what Papa says.”
Abby reached into the paper sack she’d brought along. “I made something for the boppli.” She removed the baby quilt and handed it to Naomi.
“Oh, it’s beautiful, Abby. Danki.”
“You’re welcome.”
Naomi fingered the pink and white patchwork quilt done in the Lancaster Rose pattern. Then she draped it across her knees and placed her infant daughter in the center of it.
“I hope you like it.”
“It’s real nice, Abby, and it will surely be put to good use.” Naomi brushed at the tears splattering her cheeks.
“I’m sorry if I made you cry,” Abby apologized.
Naomi shook her head. “I love the quilt, and I know Susan will, too, when she’s older. Guess I’m just goin’ through a bit of postpartum depression right now, and everything makes me feel weepy.”
Abby offered Naomi a look of sympathy. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Just stop by once in a while for a visit when you have the time.”
“I always enjoy being with you, and I’ll come over as often as I can.”
Naomi reached for a tissue from the box on the table beside her chair. “I don’t know what we’d all do without you, Abby.”
Oh, Matthew, these are perfect,” Abby exclaimed.
Matthew beamed as he placed several wood
en hangers on the table in Fannie’s quilt shop. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get ’em done.”
She waved her hand. “It’s only been a few months since you agreed to make them for me, and I know you’ve been busy assisting Caleb in the store, not to mention helping out on the farm whenever you can.”
“That’s true. I’ll be glad when things slow down a bit.”
“I doubt if they will ever slow down once Mom has the bopplin.”
Matthew chuckled. “Things will probably never be the same around our place after those little ones enter the world.” His brown eyes seemed darker than usual, and a muscle on the side of his cheek quivered slightly. “I remember when Zach was born and everything seemed to be centered on him. He was such a cute little fellow, and even after all this time I still find myself missin’ him.”
Abby could only imagine how painful it must have been for the Fishers to lose their mamm in a terrible accident, and then have their boppli kidnapped just a year later. It had been hard enough for her and Mom to deal with things after Dad’s heart attack. She winced as a stab of regret sliced through her. “The trials in life are never easy, but God gives us the strength to bear them.”
He nodded. “Jah, and as time goes on, the pain lessens.”
Feeling the need to change the subject, Abby motioned to the wall across from them. “Would you have time to put some quilts on the hangers you made and get them set in place?”
Matthew’s eyes brightened. “For you, sister Abby, I’ll make the time.”
She smiled. It was nice to have another brother. Especially one that was so willing to help whenever it was needed.
Abby thought about her brother, Harold, and wondered how he and Lena were doing. It had been several weeks since she’d sent them a letter, and nearly that long since she had written to Lester. She’d received a couple of lectures from Mom about working too hard and was asked when the last time was she’d written to her intended. Her mamm had even suggested they might need to hire someone else to help at the quilt shop, but Abby had assured her that she was doing just fine.
“I’m going to try and get a couple of letters written, since there are no customers at the moment. So let me know if you need anything,” she called to Matthew.
“Sure will.”
Matthew headed to the storage closet to get a ladder, and Abby scurried over to her desk. She found Lester’s most recent letter in the drawer and decided to read it again, so she could answer any questions he might have.
Dear Abby,
The news of your mother carryin’ twins was sure a surprise. Mom’s been talking about all the things she wants to make in duplicate. Guess it won’t be long until those bopplin are born.
How are things at the quilt shop? Did Matthew ever make the hangers you mentioned in your last letter? If they work out well, maybe he could make some for your quilt shop here.
Speaking of your shop. . .Mom said to tell you that she and my aunt Clara are managing fine. There are still lots of tourists coming in every day, and the quilting ladies have continued to meet at the store once a week.
Please write soon. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Always yours,
Lester
Abby reached for her pen. Lester had probably been watching the mail every day, hoping for a letter. He might think she’d forgotten him by now or didn’t care. She’d heard from her friend Rachel last week, too, and that letter would also need to be answered. In response to Abby’s invitation to come to Lancaster County for a visit, Rachel had declined, saying she had no vacation time yet, since she hadn’t been working at the restaurant in Berlin long enough.
If it’s meant for Rachel and Matthew to meet, then God will work things out, Abby mused. I’ve done the inviting. Now the rest is in His hands.
She lifted her pen to begin Lester’s letter, but had only written a few words when Jake rushed into the quilt shop, all red-faced and sweaty. “Fannie’s gone into labor! Papa got one of our English neighbors to drive ’em to the hospital in Lancaster, and they left Nancy in charge of things at home.”
Unable to respond, Abby just sat there, letting Jake’s words sink in. Mom has gone into labor. They were on their way to the hospital. Nancy was at home, overseeing the two younger ones.
She glanced at the calendar on her desk. Mom wasn’t due for another three weeks. The doctor had said that at thirty-seven weeks the babies would be fully developed. Everything should be okay.
Matthew scrambled down the ladder and rushed to Abby’s side. “Want me to run over to the gift shop and see if someone can give you a lift to the hospital?”
“What about you? Don’t you want to go?”
“I’d like to, but it wouldn’t be fair to leave Caleb alone to run the general store and the quilt shop.”
“Maybe I can put the CLOSED sign on the quilt shop door, and then he’d only have one store to watch.”
“Say, why not let me stay here and help out?” Jake suggested. “We’re done in the fields for the day now that Papa’s taken off.”
Matthew ran a hand over his clean-shaven face. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all.”
“All right then.” Matthew reached for Abby’s hand. “Let’s go find us a ride!”
Abby paced the length of the waiting room, anxious to know how things were going in the delivery room. Mom had been taken in shortly before Abby and Matthew arrived at the hospital, and they hadn’t heard anything since.
“You’re gonna wear a hole in the carpet if you don’t sit down,” Matthew said.
She turned to face him. “I’m feeling kind of fidgety.”
He patted the chair beside him. “You’ve got every right to be, but you really should try to calm yourself.”
With a sigh of resignation, Abby sank to a chair and picked up a magazine, although she didn’t know why. All she could think about was Mom. Was she doing okay? Would the babies be born healthy? Would they weigh enough so they could go home when their mamm did? And what were the bopplin—boys or girls? They could have found out the sex of the babies when Mom had the ultrasound done, but she’d been adamant about not wanting to know until the babies were born.
“Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” Matthew said in a reassuring tone.
Abby smiled, despite the doubts tumbling around in her head. “I hope so.”
“God’s in control.”
“I know.”
“And your mamm is in good hands.”
Abby set the magazine aside. “You’re a special friend, Matthew, and I’m glad you were able to come to the hospital with me.”
“That’s what a big brother should do,” he said with a wink.
When a middle-aged nurse entered the room, Abby jumped to her feet. “Have you any news to give us on Fannie Fisher?”
The nurse nodded. “She just gave birth to a healthy set of twin boys. One weighs six pounds, and the other is six pounds two ounces.”
“Two buwe?” Abby’s heart swelled with joy.
“Wow! Papa and Fannie are doubly blessed,” Matthew said. “God took one son and gave my daed two.”
Abby wondered if Abraham would see it that way. Had God taken Zach from the Fishers? It seemed more like the sinful nature of the man who had kidnapped him than anything else.
“When can we see my mom and the twins?” Abby asked the nurse.
“As soon as your mother is back in her room and the babies have been cleaned up.”
“Are they identical?” Abby questioned.
“It would seem so, but there are still some tests to be done.”
“I need to notify Harold and Lena right away.” Abby started for the door but turned back around. “I’m going down the hall to phone Lester’s mom at the quilt shop in Berlin and ask her to get word to Harold and Lena—and, of course, Lester, too.” She grinned at Matthew. “What a joyous day!”
Naomi halted inside the living room of her father and Fannie’s house, awed by the
sight that greeted her. She and Caleb had brought the kinner over to visit their twin uncles, who had just come home from the hospital. But now she wondered if they should have waited awhile. Papa and Fannie sat on the sofa together, each holding a baby. Fannie looked tired but happy as she rubbed her chin slowly against one twin’s downy dark hair. Papa looked like a kinner with a new toy, rocking the other baby in his arms and crooning softly. It was a blissful scene. One Naomi felt deserved no intrusion.
“Bopplin! Bopplin!” Sarah hollered as she bounded across the room.
Papa lifted the baby to his chest. “Whoa, now! Don’t go climbin’ up here, little girl.”
Caleb, who held baby Susan, reached down with his free hand and grabbed Sarah’s arm. “Slow down once. You’ll get your chance to see the bopplin soon enough.”
“Come, let her sit beside me.” Fannie patted the cushion next to her.
Naomi joined Sarah on one end of the couch and leaned over to get a better look at the babies. “They’re beautiful, and they look exactly alike. How will you ever tell them apart?”
“They’ve still got their hospital bracelets on, so that’s helping for now,” Fannie replied. “We’ll figure something else out soon enough, I expect.”
“What have you named them?” Caleb asked, taking a seat in the rocking chair across the room and placing baby Susan across his knees.
“This one is Titus,” Fannie said, kissing the wee one on top of his head.
“And this here’s Timothy.” Papa held the baby up for everyone to see. “Did ya ever see any bopplin as cute as these two?”
Caleb cleared his throat. “Jah. Our Susan. She’s wunderbaar!”
“Of course she is,” Fannie was quick to say. “All babies are special, and ours don’t hold no title to bein’ cute.”
“Sure they do,” Papa said with a smirk. He cradled little Timothy in his arms and glanced over at his wife. “Fannie’s made me so happy, and our twin buwe are the best.”
“Es bescht,” Sarah said with a giggle.
“Jah,” Papa agreed. “The boys are the best.” He stared at Timothy with such a doting expression it made Naomi wonder about a few things. She was pretty sure her daed was only having fun with Sarah, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit put out because he showed so little interest in either one of her girls. Not only that, but Papa seemed more enthralled with his twin boys than he ever had with Zach. Maybe it was just the newness of things. A few weeks from now everything would most likely be back to normal, with Papa out in the fields again and Fannie shouldering most of the responsibility of raising their sons.
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