The Amish Midwife's Courtship

by Cheryl Williford

  Theda rushed to the foot of the bed, assisting as best she could.

  Pale and damp with sweat, Sarah’s mouth formed a wobbling smile. “Oh, danke, Gott, danke.” She fell back against the pillows, weeping softly.

  Molly wiped away a tear and waited while Theda tied off the cord in two places, her fingers working nimbly. The surgical knife quickly sliced through the cord, and then Theda swaddled the baby into a soft receiving blanket and placed it into Sarah’s waiting arms. “She’s a tiny little thing, but her coloring is good,” Theda reassured the happy mother. “Keep her against your chest. She needs to stay warm. Molly will call for an ambulance to take you and the bobbels to the hospital.”

  Molly nodded as she wiped off her hands and rushed to the greatroom, her legs flying.

  Mose and Isaac looked up as she entered, their excited expressions turning to shock as she babbled, “We’ll need an ambulance right away. Sarah’s had another baby—a girl—but she’s small and needs to be checked out by a doctor.”

  “But...” Mose stammered, grabbing for his work phone and punching in 911. He glanced over at Isaac and then to his son, cradled in his daed’s arms. “Twins? How could she have been pregnant with two and none of us know?”

  “Sometimes the smaller baby is behind its larger sibling and its heartbeat isn’t heard. The doctor will explain it all soon. I need to get back to Sarah. Hurry, Mose. She and the babies should get to the hospital as soon as possible.”

  Mose rushed toward the bedroom with Molly as he spoke into the phone, barking the emergency circumstances and his address in Pinecraft.

  Isaac stood, his feet rooted to the floor. Molly gave him a grin and patted his cheek before rushing off toward the bedroom.

  * * *

  Locking up the shop, Isaac waved good-night to his new part-time salesman, then turned toward the café, his stomach rumbling. Twinkling Christmas lights beckoned to him from across the dark street.

  He dashed between two slow-moving cars and paused at the café door, admiring the beautifully painted nativity scene on the big glass window. Baby Jesus lay in a straw-filled manger, a contented smile on His face...contentment Isaac now shared. He knew life was precious, and Molly saving Mose and Sarah’s baby daughter tonight made life seem even more precious. Isaac was proud of her abilities as a midwife, and found himself still smiling as he walked through the café door and searched for an empty spot among noisy Englisch and Amish customers.

  He glanced around as he shimmied into an empty bench seat, recognizing several familiar families from church. Tomorrow everyone there would know about his engagement to Molly. He sighed, wishing Molly shared the excitement building in him. They were to be married soon, but he knew she still wasn’t okay with the plans Otto had laid out for them. He placed his black hat on the café table and ran his hand through his hair.

  “What can I get you, Isaac?” Willa Mae appeared next to him, her hands pressed in just above her apron, where her waistline used to be.

  He smiled his greeting. “I’ve never known you to take table orders. Short-staffed tonight?”

  Pen poised above a square tablet, Willa Mae grinned a surly smile, showing off her gold-capped front tooth. “Been short-staffed all day. Nothing new in Pinecraft. Employees drop out of sight and don’t bother to call in sick. It’s the sea. Something strange happens to people when they live close to it. You’ll see. Being a shop owner so close to the beach is a hardship.” Willa Mae laughed, the sound reverberating through the room, reminding Isaac of the red-suited Englischer Santa. “What can I get you?”

  “A bowl of your delicious beef stew, if you have any left,” Isaac muttered, adding, “with a corn muffin and lots of butter.”

  “Good choice. The stew’s been simmering all day.” She scribbled, and her dark eyes glanced at him. “Anything to drink?”

  “Kaffi, black and strong.”

  “Kinda late for coffee. You have a bad day?”

  He grinned. “Not bad, really, just different. Molly delivered twins, and I was around to see her in action. She’s a take-charge kind of woman when it comes to delivering babies.”

  “That girl’s strong-willed and bullheaded, just like her mama.”

  Isaac frowned, his brow arched in disbelief. “I’m surprised you’d say she’s like her mamm. I thought you liked Molly.”

  Willa Mae squeezed into the empty bench seat across from him, her smile gone as she held his gaze. “Look, I’ve got no use for Ulla, and never have had, but she’s not all bad. Sure she has a mind of her own, but so does Molly.” Willa Mae’s hands went palms up. “For as long as I’ve known that little girl, she’s been kind and loving, but she has an independent streak as wide as they come. Molly won’t admit it—” a smile lit up her face as she spoke Molly’s name “—but she’s got all her mama’s good traits and a few of her bad ones, too. The strong-spirited part she got from Ulla. It’s got her in and out of trouble all her life.”

  Isaac scratched the heavy grizzle on his chin. “She is headstrong, but she’s not mean-spirited. Not like Ulla.”

  She touched him on the arm, her tone quiet. “My old mama taught me not to go judging people. We don’t know what motivates that streak of mean in Ulla. Could be she’s miserable on the inside, like some old dog with fleas. Misery does strange things to a body. You just be glad Molly doesn’t have that mean-spirited part of Ulla’s personality.” Willa Mae laughed again. “Listen to me spouting off the mouth, taking that old woman’s side when she wouldn’t give me the time of day. I’ll get that stew.” Willa Mae cackled as she rose and moved toward the back of the café, greeting her customers and wishing them Merry Christmas as she went.

  Thoughts of his run-ins with Molly ran through Isaac’s mind. She was headstrong like her mamm and determined to stay single. He didn’t exactly know what motivated her hesitancy, but perhaps he’d have to rethink his approach toward their upcoming marriage, or lose the independent woman he’d grown to care about. She wouldn’t be pushed and might run when she found out about his past.

  * * *

  Racing to get out of the sudden downpour, Molly scrambled through the café’s employee entrance, patting rain off her face with the hem of her dress.

  Willa Mae poked her head out of the kitchen and laughed at Molly’s disheveled appearance. “I told you it was going to rain. My ole joints are never wrong.”

  “Wish your joints would have told you the rain was coming with high winds and hail the size of olives. I would have gotten a ride home.” Her kapp slipping to the side, Molly pulled out several pins and repositioned it as she laughed at the silly face Willa Mae pulled.

  “Your mama’s not right about much, but she’s right about one thing. You do have a smart mouth, child.”

  “I’m sorry. I was just teasing,” Molly said with a smile. She prowled the hall wall, searching for the next week’s shift list and found it scribbled on the back of a white envelope haphazardly stuck to the wall with a red thumbtack next to several Christmas cards from longtime customers.

  Gut, she had Sunday off, but she didn’t look forward to church. Otto would be announcing her and Isaac’s engagement. She drew in a deep breath, wishing she could be happy about the occasion. She had strong feelings for Isaac, but the idea of trapping him into a marriage he didn’t want brought her no joy.

  “You have a busy day off?” Willa Mae asked, wiping her damp hands on a dish towel.

  “Not really busy, but definitely exciting.”

  “Here, too.” Willa Mae snapped her hairnet back over her ears and washed her hands. “That new girl I hired never showed up for her shift. I been waiting tables like I’ve got good legs, and you know that’s not the case.” Willa Mae leaned back and twisted, her spine cracking.

  Molly grabbed a clean apron and threw it over her wrinkled dress. “I’ll finish her shift and help you cle
an up at closing.”

  “You sure? You look beat.”

  Molly washed her hands next to her boss, her thoughts on what had transpired during the day. “I’m fine, just a little tired from delivering the Fischer babies today.”

  “Yeah, I heard the good news from Isaac.” Willa Mae flipped two sizzling hamburger patties and placed a slice of cheese on both.

  “The multiple birth came as a real surprise to us all, but everyone’s doing fine now.”

  “That Fischer woman’s gonna have her hands full.”

  “I know, but she’s up to it.” Molly quickly rinsed her hands and grabbed a handful of paper towels. “What can I help you with first?”

  Willa Mae poked her head out the service window, looked around and then pulled it back in. “Table three needs menus and looks like table five’s ready for their second slice of my mama’s red velvet cake.”

  Molly took a quick glance, as well, then pulled back in surprise. Isaac sat in the corner booth, a warm smile lighting up his face as a young girl dressed in a simple pink blouse and jeans leaned across the table and grabbed for an extra napkin. Molly’s jaw went slack. “How long has Isaac been talking to her?” Molly whispered, her voice low.

  “Not long. Why?”

  Molly licked her dry lips. Could this be the girl who had been writing to Isaac? He hadn’t said much about his family back in Missouri, but the girl had the same hair coloring and piercing green eyes as Isaac. She could easily be his sister or cousin they looked so much alike.

  “He seems to know her pretty good,” Willa Mae said, her brow lifting.

  “Ya,” Molly responded. The young girl spoke, leaning in close. Isaac laughed.

  Eyes narrowed, Molly watched as the young brunette brushed back long strands of hair falling across one shoulder. Her youthful giggle floated on the air toward the kitchen.

  “Got any idea who she is?” Willa Mae shifted over so Molly could get a better view of what was going on.

  “I think so.” It was time to find out if this was Rose.

  Molly hurried out of the kitchen. She grabbed the coffeepot and headed toward the occupied tables. Two feet from Isaac’s booth, she paused and took a deep breath, then casually walked past, her attention on a middle-aged Englischer woman with an empty mug.

  Three empty mugs later, she headed back toward Isaac and caught him watching her.

  “I thought you were off all day,” he said in greeting.

  She set the coffeepot on an empty table and strolled close. “I was, but Willa Mae needed a hand closing.” She looked at the girl across from Isaac and smiled. “Hello, my name’s Molly.”

  “I thought as much. You look just like Isaac described you.”

  “Molly, this is my little schweschders, Rose. She started her rumspringa last week and decided to come down on the bus for a quick visit to Pinecraft.”

  “It’s good to meet you,” Molly said with a smile, and tugged on her prayer kapp. “Seems like you’re enjoying your momentary freedom.”

  “Ya. Daed isn’t so happy with me traveling alone all this way, but I like to put his teeth on edge. Mamm understands my decision to take some time away, so I can decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

  Molly smiled, thinking of her own rumspringa and her daed’s reaction to her not wearing her prayer kapp. “Daeds are that way. Always protective of their kinner from the Englischer world.”

  Her green eyes sparkling bright, Rose grabbed Molly’s hand. “Isaac tells me your banns will be read tomorrow. I’m so happy he’s found someone like you after what he went through after Thomas’s death.”

  Molly cut her eyes toward Isaac. Who was Thomas?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Frazzled after organizing breakfast and dressing Sarah and Mose’s three lively, uncooperative children, Molly answered the door.

  Theda stood on the porch in the bright sunshine, her reddish hair a riot of uncontrollable curls under her kapp. “You look worse for wear, mein liebling.” She set a plate of iced cupcakes covered in plastic wrap on the small table near the door and put out her arms.

  Molly gratefully turned a crying Levi over to his doting grossmammi, then picked up the plate of cupcakes. The women headed toward the kitchen.

  “Ya, I am tired,” Molly assured her and then added, “Thank you for bringing these. They’ll be a great distraction for Beatrice and Mercy. They keep asking for their mamm and new siblings.”

  Both girls ran to meet their grossmammi, accepting kisses and pats on the head with bright smiles.

  “I’m sorry to leave you with such a mess in the kitchen,” Molly said, the hair around her face and neck damp with sweat. She’d felt so confident when Mose left early that morning for a church meeting. She’d been in charge of the kinner before, but today they were uncontrollable. “There just wasn’t time to clean up and get the kinner dressed, too. I don’t know how Sarah manages.”

  The older woman promptly grabbed a tissue from her pocket, gave Levi’s runny nose a swipe, making the bobbel fuss even more. She held him on her shoulder and began a soothing back rub. “It’s a process, liebling.” She raised her voice to be heard over Levi’s protests. “Organization is something a mother acquires as she goes along, building her family, one by one. You’ll get the hang of it. I promise you.”

  The image of a tiny boy with Isaac’s green eyes and her hair flashed through her mind. She dismissed the thought as foolish. She’d never have children with Isaac. Pretending to be courting the dark-haired man had left her addle-brained and wishing for things she couldn’t have. “I hope you’re right. I’m sorry to leave you on your own, but I have to hurry.” She slipped her shoes on. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Are you sure you’ll be able to manage these three alone?”

  Theda smiled at the two little girls at her feet. “Oh, yes. Beatrice and I have an understanding, don’t we, sweet one?” She patted Beatrice on the face. “As long as she behaves, I reward her for good behavior.”

  Beatrice nodded and smiled at her grossmammi and then turned toward the plate of cupcakes on the kitchen table. “I’ll be gut, but Mercy might be naughty.”

  They both laughed at Beatrice’s statement, but Molly remembered the time and hurried off to change her dress.

  Ten minutes later she scurried out of the house, her pink dress flapping behind her as she ran the few blocks to the church. She would be late now, and she’d wanted to be early. She needed to talk with Isaac before services began. They hadn’t been able to talk privately the night before with his sister there, but she knew one of them had to talk sense into Otto Fischer soon or their banns would be announced and serious damage done.

  Overwarm and out of breath a few minutes later, Molly stood at the end of the line of young women entering the church’s side door.

  “You’re about to lose your kapp,” Rachel Lapp, an old school friend and bride-to-be, whispered in Molly’s ear. Molly had always envied Rachel. The girl had a sweet, encouraging mamm, emotions she had always longed for from Ulla.

  Rachel and Ralf Yoder had been an item for years. No one was surprised when they’d announced their wedding plans just before singing practice last October.

  Molly scrambled to pull out pins and reposition her prayer kapp, her fingers trembling, making the process difficult.

  Rachel smiled back at her. “Rumor has it you and Isaac will be announcing your intentions today.”

  Before she could think, she blurted out, “Who told you?”

  With a wink, Rachel smiled. “No one. I just was guessing.”

  Molly’s shoulders fell. She had leaked out her own secret. “Ya, well.” What could she say to dispel the lie? Nothing, because the lie was fast becoming the truth whether she liked it or not.

  Rachel pushed a pin into Molly’s kapp for her and fussed
with her hair for a moment. “We can’t have Isaac seeing you look a mess.”

  “Danke.” She ran her trembling fingers down her prayer kapp’s ribbons.

  “You seem really nervous, Molly. Maybe you haven’t taken enough time to think this engagement through. You’ve only known Isaac a little while, and courting is such a huge step.” Dimples appeared in the girl’s cheeks. “Ralf and I dated for two years, but now we can hardly wait to be wed. We’ve bought a house and started looking at furniture.”

  Ready to choke on the knot forming in her throat, Molly smiled, hoping her face expressed joy and not the horror she was feeling. “Oh, we’re sure. We’ve done nothing but talk about this courtship.” Announcing a wedding date, making promises to wed in front of her church family was an important step, and she and Isaac were making a mockery of it. This promise to Gott that was meant to be sacred. She had to stop all this somehow.

  * * *

  Isaac glanced around and searched for Molly in the line of worshippers entering the church. He got a fleeting glimpse of Chicken John and Ulla seated several chairs down from him. What were they doing in the engaged-couples row? Molly had mentioned her mother would be getting married, but he’d assumed it was just one of Ulla’s stories, something said to upset Molly, who had been close to her father.

  Where was Molly? She should have been there by now. He forced himself to sit still and then relaxed as he noticed her standing in a pool of early-morning sunlight just inside the church’s side door. She stepped into the building with several other somber-faced young women, a line of school-aged girls following close behind.

  Mose waited a few feet away and made a move in Molly’s direction. Isaac watched him take her elbow and speak quietly in her ear. She said something to her brother-in-law, her brown eyes animated and sparking fire. She shook her head emphatically. She glanced in Isaac’s direction. Her expression told him what he needed to know. She didn’t want to join him in the engaged-couples row. Whatever Mose was saying, she was having none of it.