The Quilter's Daughter

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Sharon reminded me that if I hadn’t come to visit you, I wouldn’t have been at the lake Saturday afternoon to save her son.” Abby brushed her tears away. “God showed me some other things, too.”

  “Such as?”

  “All this time I’ve been feeling guilty for not returning to Ohio sooner, and thinking I could have spared Lester’s life, when I should have been trusting God and allowing Him to heal my pain.” She paused and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Peter’s mother was right. If the fire hadn’t happened at my quilt shop, I never would have come to Montana. I realize now that even if I had been there when my shop caught fire, I might not have been able to talk Lester out of going in. It was an accident—one I wish hadn’t happened, but it did, and—” Abby couldn’t go on and her voice broke on a sob.

  “God used you in a mighty way when you saved that boy from drowning. I’m happy you’ve decided to trust Him again, and I know He is, too.” Elizabeth plucked a tissue from the small box on the nearby table and blew her nose. “I know Edna and your mamm will be glad to hear this good news, too.”

  “Do they know about my accident?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “When I heard what had happened, I used a friend’s phone to call your stepsister’s store in Paradise. Naomi said she would get word to your mamm and the rest of the family.”

  “I’m ready to go home to Pennsylvania, Elizabeth. I mean, as soon as I’m able to travel.”

  “I figured you might be.”

  “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I want to do something worthwhile—something that will help others and let them know God cares for them.”

  Elizabeth reached into her purse. “I wonder if you might be interested in this.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s some information I recently received from a friend who lives in Indiana. Some of the women in her community are making quilts to send to people in Haiti, where there’s a need for warm blankets.”

  Abby thought about what Elizabeth had shared. Until Saturday afternoon she’d given up on the idea of quilting again. But now she was being offered the opportunity to make quilts and give them to others who had so little. She was certain it was what God wanted her to do.

  “What do you mean, you’re going to Montana?”

  “You heard me. I’m going there as soon as Abby gets out of the hospital and feels up to traveling.” Matthew looked at Naomi like she’d taken leave of her senses, but she thought it was him who was talking crazy.

  “Shouldn’t it be someone else’s responsibility to go after Abby?” she questioned.

  He leaned across the counter until his face was a few inches from hers. “Think about it Naomi. Fannie can’t go; she has the twins to care for. Abraham, Norman, Jake, and Samuel are in the middle of plantin’ the fields. And you—well, you’re in no condition to go anywhere now that you’re in the family way again. Besides, you’ve got two little girls and a store to look after. I’m the only one with the time to go.”

  Naomi smiled. “So I’ve been right all this time, jah?”

  “Right about what?”

  “You’re in love with Abby, and don’t deny it, because I see the light shinin’ in your eyes.”

  “What light’s that?”

  “The light of love.”

  Matthew’s ears turned pink, and the color spread quickly over his face. “I’ve told you before, Abby thinks of me only as her big brother.”

  Naomi shrugged. “That could change.”

  He grunted and took a step back. “We’d best wait and see how it goes.”

  “You’re still willing to go after her, even though you don’t know if there’s a future for the two of you?”

  “Jah. She needs me.”

  Naomi skirted around the counter. “Matthew Fisher, you’re a wunderbaar man.”

  Jim stared into his cup of coffee and tried to focus his thoughts on the paint job his crew was scheduled to do this morning. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep his mind on work. Linda’s hurtful expression and slumped shoulders when he’d come home Friday night had made him feel like a heel. She’s upset because I didn’t go with her when she had the biopsy done. She thinks I don’t care.

  He pushed his chair away from the kitchen table and stood. I do care. I just couldn’t go, and it wasn’t my job keeping me away, like I told her. I can’t let Linda know how scared I am that she might have cancer. What would Jimmy and I do if she were to die?

  Jim glanced at the clock above the stove. It was almost six thirty, and he needed to get on the road. The paint job they’d be doing today was in Renton, a good hour away if traffic was heavy on the freeway. He’d thought about waking Linda before he left and apologizing to her. But she and Jimmy usually slept in now that he was out of school for the summer, and he didn’t want to disturb her. I should have apologized this weekend, but I couldn’t seem to get the words out. Maybe I’ll leave her a note.

  Jim opened the rolltop desk in one corner of the kitchen and pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen. He hurriedly scrawled an apology, said he would bring home pizza for dinner tonight, and left the note on the kitchen table. At least now he could go to work without feeling so guilty.

  Linda hung up the phone and sank to the couch as shock waves spiraled through her body like a spinning top. The pathology report wasn’t good. The doctor said there was a cancerous mass in her left breast, and he wanted to schedule Linda for a mastectomy as soon as possible.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, Lord, help me deal with this. Give me strength in the days ahead, and no matter what happens, please help my faith to grow stronger.”

  “Mommy, why are you crying?”

  Linda’s eyes snapped open. She didn’t know Jimmy had come into the living room. For the last hour, he’d been upstairs playing. She sniffed and swiped her hand across her damp face. “Come sit beside me so we can talk.”

  Jimmy did as she asked and snuggled against her side. “Are you mad at Daddy? Did he yell at you again?”

  “No, Jimmy.” How could she tell her boy the truth without frightening him? And shouldn’t she let Jim know what the doctor said before she told Jimmy anything about her going to the hospital?

  “Why were you crying, Mommy?”

  She kissed the top of his head. “I’ll explain things after your daddy gets home.”

  “Okay.”

  Jimmy scooted away, but she reached out to him. “Don’t go yet. I’d like to ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “It’s about Sunday school.”

  He grinned. “I like my teacher, and Allen and I always have fun during playtime.”

  “I’m glad.” Linda fingered the edge of her Bible lying on the table to her right. “Will you promise to keep going to church, even if Mommy can’t go?”

  Jimmy’s eyes were wide. “How would I get there if you didn’t take me?”

  She swallowed hard, afraid she might break down in front of him. “I’m sure Allen’s mother would be happy to pick you up.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “Why can’t you keep takin’ me to Sunday school?”

  “I—I will, Jimmy, for as long as I’m able.” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I just meant that if Mommy got sick and couldn’t take you, I’d want you to go anyway.”

  Jimmy nodded soberly. “You’re not sick, are you, Mommy?”

  Linda drew a deep breath, praying for the right words. “Why don’t the two of us go into the kitchen and see about having some lunch? We can talk about this later. How’s that sound?”

  “Can I have chicken noodle soup?”

  “Yes, of course.” Linda leaned over and kissed Jimmy’s cheek. Oh, Lord, please give me many more years with this precious boy.

  “Are you excited to get home?” Matthew asked Abby as they rode in the backseat of their English driver’s van, heading for Abraham and Fannie’s place.

  “Jah, I sur
ely am. I never could have made the trip alone, and I appreciate your comin’ to get me.”

  “I’m glad I could do it.” He grinned at Abby, and her eyes flitted from his firm, full mouth to his serious brown eyes. The thick, dark hair covering his ears gleamed in the sunlight, and for the first time since she’d met Matthew, Abby realized how handsome he was.

  “You’ve been kind to me the whole way here,” she said, taking the apple Matthew had just handed her.

  “It’s easy to be kind to someone as sweet as you.” Matthew looked straight ahead, but Abby noticed that his ears had turned slightly red. He embarrassed easily. She’d discovered that soon after moving to Pennsylvania.

  She hesitated before responding to his last statement, not sure how she should interpret the words. Could it be that Matthew saw her as more than a little sister? If so, why hadn’t he said anything to let her know? He was probably just speaking kindly in a brotherly way, the same as he always had. Still, if there was a chance that. . .

  “On the train we talked about lots of things,” Abby said hesitantly, “but there’s one thing I didn’t tell you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Even though I will always have memories of Lester with me, I’m ready to move on with my life.”

  Matthew’s eyebrows shot up so high they disappeared under the brim of his straw hat. “Oh?”

  She nodded. “I know that when the time is right, someone will come into my life who will love me as much as Lester did, and I shall love him in return.”

  Matthew shifted in his seat. “Uh—Abby—I hope I’m not speakin’ out of turn, but I was wonderin’—”

  She reached over and touched his arm. “What were you wondering?”

  He glanced at her, then looked quickly away. “Do you— uh—think you could ever be interested in someone like me?”

  The rhythm of Abby’s heartbeat picked up, and she shifted on the seat beside him. “Jah, I believe I could.”

  Matthew’s face broke into a wide smile, and he reached for her hand, sending unexpected warm tingles up her arm. “I won’t rush you into anything, because I know you’ve still got a lot of healin’ to do, but I would like the chance to court you whenever you’re ready.”

  She nodded. “I’d like that, too.”

  The van pulled into the Fishers’ graveled driveway, and Matthew jumped out. He came around to help Abby down, then handed the crutches to her.

  Abby’s heart swelled with emotion. “I’m so excited to see everyone.” She nodded at her suitcase, which their driver, Walt Peterson, had taken from the backseat. “I’ve got something to give Naomi for that boppli she’s carrying.”

  Matthew chuckled. “Caleb’s hopin’ for a boy this time. Guess he feels a bit outnumbered with only girls around their place.”

  Walt set their suitcases on the front porch and said good-bye.

  Matthew helped Abby up the steps, and they were almost to the front door when it swung open and a chorus of voices shouted, “Welcome home!”

  “And I’m ever so glad to be here,” Abby said in return.

  Mom, Abraham, Mary Ann, Nancy, Jake, Samuel, Norman, and his wife, Ruth, all crowded around, but Mom was the first to hug Abby. “Come inside and have a seat. You must be exhausted.”

  Abby nodded. “It was a long trip, and my leg’s beginning to throb.”

  Abraham took Abby’s crutches and helped her over to the couch. After she was seated, Matthew pulled up a footstool and slid it under her leg.

  “How much longer will ya have to wear that thing? It looks mighty heavy,” Mary Ann said, leaning over to study Abby’s cast.

  “Three more weeks.” Abby reached for her mother’s hand as Mom took a seat beside her. “Where are the twins? I’m anxious to see how much they’ve grown.”

  “They’re upstairs taking their afternoon naps, but it’s nearly time for them to wake up,” Mom replied.

  “Mary Ann and I will go fetch them.” Nancy grabbed her younger sister’s hand, and they raced out of the room.

  “Will Naomi and her family be over soon?” Abby asked.

  Mom nodded. “They plan to stop by after they close the store for the day. I invited them to have supper with us.”

  “I’m glad. It will be nice to have the whole family together again.”

  Abby spent the next half hour answering questions and offering explanations about Montana, the Amish auction, how she had saved the little boy from drowning, and her bicycle accident. “I’m happy to say that soon after my cast comes off, I’ll be ready to take over your quilt shop.” She smiled at her mother. “That is, if you still want me to.”

  Mom’s eyes shimmered with tears, and she sniffed a couple of times. “I’d like that very much. It’s truly an answer to prayer.”

  “I’m hoping to enlist the help of several women in our community to make quilts that will be sent to needy people in Haiti. Elizabeth told me about the special project,” Abby said.

  “That sounds like something a group of women are doing over near Strasburg, where Edna lives.” Mom pursed her lips. “Only I believe they’re sendin’ their quilts to Africa.”

  Mary Ann and Nancy entered the room carrying Titus and Timothy. But Abby didn’t mind the interruption to the conversation. She was happy to see her little brothers, who had grown so much in her absence. “Bring those precious boys here so I can love on them a bit,” she said, motioning for the girls to come over to the couch.

  “Be careful now,” Abraham said with a chuckle. “Titus and Timothy have more energy than five boys their age, and we don’t want ’em bumpin’ that leg of yours.”

  Mom waved her hand. “Oh, husband, how you exaggerate.” She reached for Titus and plunked him in Abby’s lap, then took Timothy and seated him between her and Abby.

  Abby kissed and hugged on the boys awhile, then Ruth asked Mom if it was time to start supper. Mom agreed but was reluctant to leave Abby.

  “Ah, she’ll be fine by herself,” Jake said with a snicker. “Probably would enjoy bein’ away from all the noise for a while.”

  Abby shook her head. “I don’t mind the noise one bit.”

  “I’ll take the twins outside to sit on the porch swing.” Abraham gathered up his sons, while Mom, Ruth, and the girls headed for the kitchen.

  “I think the rest of us ought to go outside, too,” Matthew said, looking at Norman, then Jake, and finally down at young Samuel. “Abby needs some quiet time before the rest of the family arrives, don’t ya think?”

  “I’m okay, really,” Abby spoke up.

  “Even so, it would make me feel better if you rested awhile.”

  “Yes, Dr. Matthew,” she said with a smile.

  He grinned, like he was pleased with himself, and carefully lifted Abby’s injured leg, helping her to lie on the couch. “Close your eyes, and we’ll let you know when Naomi and her family arrive.”

  Abby settled against the pillows with a sigh. It was ever so nice to be home.

  “It’s good to see you again, Abby. You were surely missed,” Naomi said. Supper was over and the two of them had come to the living room for a visit.

  “I’m glad to be here.” Abby nodded at her suitcase, sitting near the woodstove. “Would you mind bringing that over to me? I’ve got something for you.”

  “You didn’t have to bring me anything.”

  Abby smiled. “Actually, it’s more for the boppli you’re carrying.”

  “I see.” Naomi placed the suitcase on one end of the couch, and Abby scooted closer to it. She snapped the lid open and lifted the baby quilt, holding it out to Naomi. Naomi stood there a few seconds, staring at the quilt with a puzzled expression. Finally, with shaky fingers, she reached out and took it, examining each little square and touching every corner. Tears streamed down Naomi’s cheeks, and she sank into a chair near the couch. When she lifted one end of the quilt and pressed it against her cheek, her whole body trembled.

  Abby felt concern and wondered if giving the baby covering t
o Naomi had been a bad idea. “I was hoping you would like the little quilt.”

  Tears coursed down Naomi’s cheeks. “Oh, I do, Abby. I just need to know where you got it.”

  “Elizabeth gave it to me. She said she’d found it at a thrift store when she and some other women from her community were on vacation.”

  “Where was it, Abby? Did she tell you where they had gone?”

  Abby sat there a few seconds, trying to recall what Elizabeth had said about the trip. “I—I think it was somewhere in the state of Washington. Why do you want to know, Naomi?”

  “Because this was my little brother’s quilt.”

  Abby leaned slightly forward, unsure of what her stepsister had said. “What was that?”

  “This quilt belonged to Zach. Our mother made it for him before she died.”

  “But—but how can you be sure it’s the same quilt?”

  Naomi held up the covering. “See here, there’s a small patch that doesn’t fit the Tumbling Block pattern. The quilt got caught in Zach’s crib rails one morning, and I was in such a hurry I didn’t do a good job patching it.” She slowly shook her head, and more tears fell. “I would recognize this anywhere. It’s Zach’s, I know it is.”

  Abby gasped. “Do you know what this means?”

  Naomi nodded. “It means my little brother must be living in the state of Washington somewhere.” She stood and began to pace in front of the woodstove. “I’ve got to tell Papa about this. He needs to know Zach is still alive.”

  Abby opened her mouth to protest, but she closed it again. Finding the quilt was no guarantee that Abraham’s son was still living. For that matter, the fact that Elizabeth had found the quilt in Washington didn’t mean Zach was there. Whoever had kidnapped the boy could have sold the quilt or thrown it out. It might have passed through many hands before it ended up in the thrift store. How do I say this to Naomi without upsetting her further? If I’d known this little covering was going to cause her such pain, I would have left it with Elizabeth. As the words flitted through her head, Abby quickly changed her mind. The quilt is a link to Naomi’s missing brother, maybe an important one. Who am I to dash away any hope Naomi has of seeing Zach again?