The Cherished Quilt

by Amy Clipston

  Emily crossed her arms over her apron and was suddenly aware that someone was watching her. She turned to see it was Christopher. When her gaze met his, he quickly looked down at John, who was telling him a story. Christopher leaned down and nodded. He looked as if he was hanging on to every word the little boy said. Emily was grateful John had latched onto Christopher. Perhaps that sweet little boy could melt Christopher’s cold exterior.

  “Well, let’s all go back to mei haus,” Dat announced. “The men can visit on the porch, and the women can have the kitchen to themselves.”

  “I have a couple of apple pies to share,” Mamm chimed in.

  John took Christopher’s hand. “Can I ride with you?”

  “Sure. I’m riding with my aenti and onkel, and we have plenty of room.” Christopher looked over at Emily, and she smiled. He gave her a curt nod before climbing into Hank’s buggy.

  Emily hoped someday soon Christopher would converse with her as easily as he spoke to John.

  CHAPTER 4

  EMILY CARRIED THE COFFEEPOT TO THE KITCHEN TABLE AS Rachel sliced an apple pie. The low hum of the conversation from the porch filtered in through the windows, and she hoped Christopher was enjoying visiting with the men.

  Emily filled the cups on the table and then sat down next to Tillie. She gave her sisters, seated across the table from her, an accusing look. “What’s going on with you two today?”

  Veronica raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re both acting peculiar.” Emily pointed at Rachel. “You’ve been giddy all day.” Then she pointed at Veronica. “And you just seem different. I can’t explain how, but you are.”

  “Emily.” Mamm gave her a warning glance. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “They’re keeping secrets from me.” Emily cradled her coffee cup in her hands. “I can feel it.”

  Veronica and Rachel exchanged glances, and then both started talking at once.

  “Wait.” Veronica held up her hand toward Rachel. “You go first.”

  “Okay.” Rachel took a deep breath and then blurted, “Mike asked me to marry him last night.”

  “What?” Emily screeched.

  “Oh my goodness!” Veronica flung her arms around Rachel and pulled her in for a hug.

  “This is wunderbaar news,” Mamm said, already wiping her eyes. “I had a feeling it was coming soon. You and Mike both seem so froh.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me last night?” Emily demanded.

  “Have you picked a date?” Tillie asked.

  “Whoa.” Rachel held up her hand. “I’ll answer one question at a time.” She met Emily’s gaze. “I wanted to tell you and Mamm right away.” She looked at Mamm. “I did, really, but I wanted to tell Veronica and Tillie too. I was hoping we could all get together today after church.” She looked back at Emily. “I’m not keeping secrets from you, okay? I just didn’t want to leave Veronica out.”

  “Danki.” Veronica took Rachel’s hand in hers. “I’m so thrilled for you. Mike is wonderful, and you will be so froh together.”

  “Danki,” Rachel said, her eyes wet.

  Emily frowned as guilt climbed up her shoulders. She should’ve known Rachel wanted to include Veronica.

  “So what about a date?” Tillie asked.

  “The first Thursday in November.” Rachel’s face contorted as if awaiting an explosion.

  “What?” Mamm said. “Next week is October! How are we supposed to get everything ready in time?”

  Rachel leveled her gaze on Emily. “We can do it, right, Em?”

  Emily gaped. Was her sister crazy? “Well, I don’t know. We’ll have only about a month to get it all together.”

  “Of course we can do it,” Veronica said. “I’ll come over and help you sew the dresses. Emily and Mamm are fantastic with menus. It will all come together.”

  “I’ll help too,” Tillie offered.

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” Mamm asked. “Why not wait until December or even in the spring, like Veronica did?”

  “I just can’t wait.” Rachel beamed. “I know Mike and I have been officially dating for only about five months, but everything feels right. And he already has a haus, and we’re just so froh. I don’t see any reason to wait. Mike and I want to start our new life together as soon as possible. I just adore him and John. We’re already a family, you know?”

  Mamm’s eyes gleamed with tears. “I understand.” She reached across the table and squeezed Rachel’s hand. “I’m overjoyed for you, mei liewe.”

  “Danki, Mamm.” Rachel looked back and forth between Emily and Veronica. “What do you think about purple dresses? Since Veronica wore blue, I was thinking I should have something different.”

  Veronica nodded. “Ya, purple is perfect. We can go look at material sometime this week.”

  “Wait.” Rachel held up her hand and looked at Veronica. “What’s your secret?”

  Veronica’s cheeks flushed and she touched her abdomen.

  It was Mamm’s turn to screech. “You’re expecting?”

  Veronica started to laugh, her blue eyes misting over. “Ya, I saw my doctor last week. I can’t believe it.”

  “Oh, Veronica!” Rachel hugged her older sister.

  Mamm hopped up and joined them in a group hug.

  “This is so wonderful!” Emily clapped and then turned to Tillie, who was wiping tears off her cheeks.

  “I can’t tell you how excited Jason and I are,” Veronica said. “It seems like we’ve been trying for a while, and I was starting to worry we couldn’t have—” She stopped speaking, embarrassment overtaking her face, and looked at Tillie. “I’m sorry, Tillie. I didn’t mean to be insensitive to you and Hank.”

  “It’s okay,” Tillie said. “I understand. I’m so thrilled for you. You will be a wunderbaar mamm.”

  At the mention of the word mamm, Rachel started squealing, and Emily laughed.

  “WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE?” LEROY ASKED AS THE WOMEN yelled in the kitchen.

  Chris looked up from where he sat on the bench next to John at the far end of the porch. He’d been quietly sipping a cup of water while listening to the men discuss work and politics.

  The women continued to yell, and Leroy popped up from the porch swing. “Let’s go see what’s going on.” He headed into the house with Hank, Jason, and Mike trailing closely behind.

  John stood and gestured for Chris to follow him. “Come on, Chris.”

  Chris stilled, holding on to the edge of the bench. He felt awkward about joining them, and he wanted to stay on the porch. After all, this wasn’t his family. He was only a visitor. A stranger, really.

  But he reluctantly followed John into the house through the mudroom, stopping in the doorway to the kitchen. He leaned one shoulder against the doorframe as Mattie, Leroy’s wife, hugged Veronica and Rachel. Emily stood and came around the table to join them. Emily was much shorter than her mother and sisters, but she was easily the most beautiful of the four. Her face glowed with her dazzling smile. When her gaze met his, Chris yearned to look away, but he couldn’t bring himself to break the connection.

  “What’s all the commotion?” Leroy asked with a grin.

  “Oh, Leroy,” Mattie gushed. “We have wunderbaar news! Veronica and Jason are expecting, and Mike and Rachel are getting married!”

  Leroy clapped his hands together before hugging his wife. Then he embraced Veronica and whispered something in her ear before moving on to hug Rachel. Jason approached Veronica and held her hand, and Mike moved over to stand by Rachel.

  “That means you need to quit teaching,” Leroy told Rachel.

  “Ya.” Rachel sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I’m going to request a meeting with the school board next week. We want to get married the first Thursday in November.”

  Mike looked at John. “You’re going to stand up for me in the wedding, right, Johnny?”

  John scrunched his nose, his brow wrinkling. “What does that mean?”

 
As Mike explained the wedding service to John, another memory assaulted Chris. He and Gabriel were Paul’s attendants when Paul married Rosanna five years ago. It had been a great honor. Now he and Paul barely talked; he was so busy with his family and farm. And Gabriel was gone. Grief clutched his chest.

  Chris rubbed the stubble on his chin as the conversation moved to Veronica and Jason’s baby. Someone asked when she was due, and Veronica announced May. The crowd broke out in more cheers and gasps. Chris felt like an outsider, an intruder invading this private family discussion. He was relieved when John sidled up next to him, and an idea struck him.

  “Hey, John.” Chris tapped his shoulder. “Do you like to play catch?”

  “Ya!” John jammed a thumb toward the door. “We have a ball in the buggy. Let me go ask Mike if I can play.” He trotted off toward his brother.

  “Great.” Chris looked across the kitchen at Emily. She was watching him. Her pink lips turned up in a pretty smile, and he nodded a greeting at her.

  “Mike said yes!” John announced, rushing over to Chris. “Let’s go play.”

  Chris followed John outside, and after John retrieved a softball from Mike’s buggy, they walked over to an empty patch of grass beyond the Fishers’ garden. John tossed Chris the ball, and Chris tossed it back. Chris was grateful for his new little friend and their comfortable game of catch.

  “Mike is going to marry Rachel,” John said before throwing the ball again.

  “I heard that.” Chris tossed it back to him. “Are you froh about that?”

  “Oh ya. Rachel makes Mike froh, and that makes me froh too. Mike is mei bruder, but he’s sort of like mei dat.” John tossed the ball back and forth in his hands as he spoke. “Mike is actually my half bruder because we had different mamms. His mamm died a long time ago, and then mei mamm died when she was having me. Our dat died last spring. He was on dialysis and needed a kidney transplant, but he was really sick.”

  Chris’s response was trapped in his throat as he contemplated what the little boy had just shared. Suddenly Mike and John’s close relationship came into clear focus. They had only each other.

  “I’m so sorry,” Chris finally said, his words thin.

  “It’s okay.” John tossed the ball to Chris. “I can’t wait until Mike and Rachel are married. Rachel is going to move in with us. And if they have any kinner, I’ll be the onkel.”

  “That’s right.” Chris smiled as he tossed the ball back to John. He really liked this little boy.

  “Are you an onkel?”

  “Ya.” Chris’s happiness faded as he thought of his two little nieces. He missed them. “My older bruder has two dochdern.”

  “What are their names?” John threw the ball back to Chris.

  “Mamie and Betsy.”

  “Do you play ball with them?” John wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

  “No, they’re a bit too young for that, but maybe someday I will.” He threw the ball back to John. He hoped he’d see his nieces again someday, instead of being cut off from his family for the rest of his life after leaving them. What if he never saw them again?

  A wave of distress hurtled through him, leaving him feeling hollow inside.

  AS CHRISTOPHER TRAILED JOHN OUT THROUGH THE MUDROOM, Emily squelched the desire to follow them. The friendship blossoming between them tugged at her heartstrings, and she longed to know more about Christopher. What had that look he’d given her earlier meant? The intensity in his eyes had sent her senses spinning like a tornado.

  Emily glanced across the kitchen to where Tillie stood beside Mamm as Rachel talked on and on about her wedding plans. Perhaps Tillie would answer some of her questions about Christopher.

  Emily walked over and touched Tillie’s shoulder. “Could I speak to you for a moment?” she whispered.

  “Ya, of course.”

  Emily followed Tillie over to the far window, where they peered out and spotted Christopher and John playing catch just beyond her mother’s garden. Christopher grinned at something John said before tossing the ball back to him. The scene warmed her heart, and just as she had suspected, Christopher had a beautiful smile that complemented his handsome face.

  “What’s on your mind?” Tillie stepped closer to Emily. “You look like you’re trying to figure out a complicated puzzle.”

  “Actually, that’s really accurate. I’ve been wondering about Christopher,” Emily began, careful to keep her voice soft. “He seems very . . .” She searched for the correct word. “Well, he seems complicated. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he doesn’t really respond. I also asked him to join me for lunch, and he turned me down. I’ve wondered if I’ve somehow offended him or if he just doesn’t like me or . . .” She hated the tremble in her voice, but she couldn’t hide the fact that Christopher’s reactions had hurt.

  Tillie shook her head and touched her arm. “Emily, it’s nothing you’ve done, and I’m sure Christopher doesn’t dislike you.” She frowned and turned back to the window. “He’s dealing with a lot of emotions right now, and I think he’s a little lost.”

  Emily held her breath, sure there was more.

  Tillie turned toward Emily again, and her eyes glinted with tears. “His younger brother died in an accident in June. Christopher found him, but it was too late to save him.”

  Emily gasped and tears stung her eyes. Now it all made sense. Christopher was grieving. And then she remembered that Hank and Tillie had traveled to Ohio in June to attend a funeral for one of Hank’s nephews. Since Hank had two sisters who lived in Ohio with their families, Emily hadn’t made the connection.

  “Christopher asked to stay with us to get a new start.” Tillie sniffed and looked out the window. “I don’t think he means to turn you away. He’s a gut bu and has a gut heart. He just, well . . .”

  “He just needs a freind,” Emily whispered, and Tillie nodded.

  Emily silently vowed to be Christopher’s friend and to find a way to help him.

  CHAPTER 5

  CHRIS LEANED BACK AGAINST ONE OF THE SUPPORT POSTS ON Leroy’s back porch later that evening. He was stuffed after Mattie had served pork chops, applesauce, and green beans before offering another apple pie. Chris had sat across from Emily at the table during supper, and out of the corner of his eye had caught her looking at him again. Part of him wanted to run from her steady gaze, but another part of him wanted to bask in the attention.

  His emotions were seriously confused when it came to that maedel.

  After supper, the men had returned to the porch for another round of talking shop and guessing when the first snow would fall on Lancaster County. Chris just observed, taking in the camaraderie. What would it be like to be part of this family?

  The screen door opened and then clicked shut as Veronica and Jason stepped onto the porch with Mattie and Rachel in tow.

  “We’d better get going,” Jason said. “Work comes early in the morning, and Veronica is getting tired. She’s too stubborn to admit it, but I caught her yawning earlier.”

  She gave him a feigned look of annoyance before hugging her mother. “Tell Emily I said good-bye. I know she’s busy doing the dishes, but I don’t want her to think I forgot her.”

  “I will,” Mattie promised. “Be safe going home, and I want to go with you to your next appointment, okay? I want to be a part of this.”

  The women started discussing the baby again, and Chris stared down at the porch floor. Should he walk away to give them their privacy?

  “Chris.” Jason reached out and shook Chris’s hand. “It was nice meeting you.”

  “You too. Congratulations,” he added awkwardly, wondering if that was the appropriate thing to say.

  “Danki.” Jason radiated with pride, reminding Chris of when Paul announced that Rosanna was expecting their first child.

  Chris looked toward the pasture as the family continued to say their good-byes and congratulations to Veronica and Jason. Soon Jason and Veronica were on their way, and Chris longed to
head back to the sanctuary of his little bedroom next door.

  “Have a root beer.” Leroy pushed a cold bottle into Chris’s hand. “I brew it every summer. This is just about the last of it.”

  “Danki.” Chris took a sip and relished the feel of the cool carbonation on his dry throat. “It’s fantastic.”

  “Danki.” Leroy lowered himself onto the swing and patted the bench next to him. “Have a seat, son. The night is young.”

  Son? Chris stared at Leroy, stunned by the affection in his tone.

  Chris sat down, then glanced out toward the barn and spotted Mike and Rachel talking as Mike hitched the buggy to the horse. John stood nearby, watching his brother and trying to help.

  When the horse and buggy were ready, John bounced up on the porch and stuck his hand in front of Chris. Chris raised an eyebrow with confusion.

  John scrunched his nose. “Don’t you know how to give a high five?”

  Chris chuckled. “Of course I do.” He gave John a high five.

  “Danki for playing ball with me. Can we do it again sometime?” John’s eyes were bright with hope.

  “Absolutely.” Chris grinned as John gave him another high five.

  “See you soon!” John waved and then said good-bye to the rest of the family before hurrying down the porch steps to climb into the buggy.

  “Chris,” Mike called. “Thanks for playing with John today.”

  “Anytime,” Chris said.

  Mike said good-bye to the rest of the family and then climbed into the buggy. He and John both waved as the horse and buggy moved down the driveway. Chris looked over at Hank. He was talking to Leroy. Could he just climb down off the porch and head unnoticed toward Hank’s house? He craved some quiet time alone with his thoughts.

  Rachel, Mattie, and Tillie climbed up on the porch and sat down together on a bench beside Chris’s.

  “So,” Mattie began, “you’re thinking of purple dresses for the wedding?”

  “Ya,” Rachel replied with enthusiasm.

  “We’ll need to get started on them right away,” Mattie said. “We don’t have much time. November will be here before we know it.”