“We’ll make it through this, dear one, never fear,” Betty whispered.
Leah nodded, afraid to say anything that might trigger the tears. She’d awakened during the night from a dream where she was lost and crying, only to find that her cheeks and pillow were wet. “José did a wonderful job with his speech.”
“They both did. I was so proud of them.” Betty’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “What can I do to help?”
Leah motioned to the chattering and busy group. They arranged the food on the table and made room for more salads as they arrived.
When Kirsten and José came in, all those gathered made sure they greeted them with compliments flowing freely. Lindsey and some of the other teenagers arrived, and Marcus repeated over and over where the soft drinks were, motioned to the coffeepot, and invited people to help themselves to the beverage of their choice.
A basket on a card table filled with cards and gifts was watched over carefully by two little boys who kept asking who the presents were for and when would they open them. Leah smiled at their mother, who was trying to explain that this wasn’t a birthday party so the gifts would be opened later.
“After the cake?” the older one asked.
“We’re having pie for dessert,” Leah said.
“Pie?” The two little guys stared at each other and at her. “But you can’t put candles in pies.”
“Come on, you two.” Their mother steered them away. “Let’s go wash your hands.”
“Can we eat right away so those driving the truck can leave?” Kirsten asked, refusing to meet José’s eyes.
“Of course. Go find your father so he can say grace.”
Marcus clapped for attention. “Let’s have grace and then please come and help yourselves.” He waited for some semblance of silence. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this celebration day, for bringing our young people through school and opening doors ahead for them. Thank you for the banquet so lovingly prepared and Lord God, protect our truck and those who will take the supplies south. Show us how we can best serve. In Jesus’ name we pray.” Everyone joined him with the amen.
“José, Brandon, Bjorn, you all go to the head of the line.”
When everyone was served and had found a place to sit, Leah moved from group to group, making sure they all had what they needed, visiting and catching up on the news. Kirsten and José did the same, thanking people for coming. José answered questions about the coming trip, and when someone asked about the missions trip in June, he stopped to chat about that.
Leah watched as Kirsten moved on without him. The missions trip. That had gone completely out of her mind. Surely Kirsten would have to back out. Or did she? Kirsten might be showing a little by then, but barely. The danger would be from the food and water.
“What’s up?” Keira stopped beside her.
“Just thinking of the changes that will be coming.” At least Keira was speaking to her, that was something to be grateful for.
“You always say live in the moment, not the future.”
“Easy to say and sometimes hard to do.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Three kids in college, which could break the bank for sure.” Leah turned when someone called her name. “Yes.”
“Where is your mop?”
Leah headed for the laundry room and the mop while Keira went for the paper towels. They had set up a children’s table in the kitchen with the tile floor. The mother of the two little boys was comforting her son, whose lip stuck out far enough for a bird to perch on it.
“Hey, it’s no big deal. We’ll get you some more.” Keira got the ice cubes and Leah wielded the mop. “See, all gone.”
“You two weren’t roughhousing, were you?” their mother asked, but both boys shook their heads.
“Cake now?”
“Why yes.” Leah patted his shoulder. “Someone brought a cake after all. They must have been thinking of you.”
“With candles?”
“Honey, if you want a candle, you most certainly can have a candle.”
Keira went into the pantry and brought a package of birthday candles back. “I’ll take care of this.”
“Make the pieces small, please?” the mother pleaded, beginning to look somewhat frazzled.
“I will.” Keira returned with three plates so the little girl could join in the fun. She stuck a candle in each, and Leah lit them and stepped back.
“Now when I count three, you blow them out.”
“Going to sing happy birthday?”
The women looked at each other, rolling their eyes and trying to keep from laughing.
“Okay.” Leah dragged the word out. “But instead we will sing ‘happy grad day.’ Just one moment.” She went to the kitchen doorway and waved her hand. “José and Kirsten, come here quickly.” As soon as the two came into the room, Leah started. “Happy grad day to you.” The others joined in and the song swelled.
The three little ones blew hard. One had to blow again, but the candles went out and the kiddies had their cake. The rest of them laughed and applauded.
Bjorn turned to José. “We better get going. Say your good-byes.”
José spoke to his grandmother, said a general good-bye and thanks for coming, and returned to the kitchen. He hugged his grandmother and whispered something to Kirsten, who nodded.
“You have everything?” Keira asked her husband.
“I’m sure. You packed enough food for days.”
“I know, but there won’t be supplies when you get closer.” She hugged him. “Call me.”
Leah hugged him too and the two women followed the travelers to the back door.
“We’ll be praying for you,” Marcus said.
Kirsten walked as far as the gate, hugged José and her uncle, and watched them head for the car up the block. When she returned to the porch, Leah put an arm about her waist and they watched as the three men got in the car and drove off to where the truck was parked.
“I think Marcus wants to go too,” Keira said as she turned back to the open door.
“I know he does, but he didn’t have time to get a guest preacher in. Probably better if he keeps doing the organizational work. I think he must have a raw spot on his ear from being on the phone so much.”
By the time the guests had left, some of the women had cleaned up the kitchen and all the food was put away. A pie had only one piece eaten, so Leah looked from Betty to Keira. “I say we brew tea or coffee and have this ourselves.” She raised her voice. “Kirsten, we’re having pie and if you and your dad want to join us, there’s plenty.”
“Okay,” she answered from the living room.
“I thought maybe you could open your gifts too.”
Keira’s mouth dropped open. “I have to run home and get her present. I forgot it.”
“No problem. We’ll get things set up.” She grinned at Betty as Keira beat it out the door. “Coffee or tea?”
“Tea sounds nice. Should I start putting the pie on plates?”
“Fine. And you know I have vanilla ice cream in the freezer.”
“Apple pie à la mode.” Betty heaved a sigh. “I’ve not had that for ages.” She took plates out of the cupboard and set them on the counter. “How are things going here?”
“I take it you are referring to the bomb dropped on us the other night?” Leah filled the teakettle and set it on the burner.
“Yes.”
“We decided to not bring it up until after today. Marcus is still in a state of shock, and I’m not much farther beyond that. I just can’t seem to get my mind around all the ramifications, but I didn’t want to ruin today. Those two are under plenty of pressure already.”
Leah could hear Kirsten coming so she shook her head. “Let’s set this up on the dining room table. Enjoy the flowers some more.”
“Mom, maybe we should wait with opening presents until José comes back.”
“If you like.”
“Well, we already sang ha
ppy grad day. Those two little boys were so funny. Wish Curt and Gwen could have been here.”
“It would have been nice. But hopefully everyone will get home for the reunion. Finals will be over and school will be out by then.” She poured the boiling water into the teapot and set a cozy over it before carrying it into the dining room.
“Dad coming?”
“He said he had to finish a conversation first.”
Keira came through the back door carrying a beautifully wrapped, flat package. “Here you go, K-girl.” She set it in front of Kirsten.
“But I thought we were waiting for José.”
“You can open this one.” Leah dug the scoop into the ice cream and plopped it on a piece of pie. “Here, Betty, this one is for you. You want more?”
“Goodness no, this is wonderful.”
When they were all served, Marcus wandered into the room, still looking at his notes. “Ice cream for me too.” So Leah dished out the last and took the ice cream back to the freezer. She poured the tea into china cups with saucers and passed them on around.
“Thank you, Lord, for getting us through this day.”
Betty said amen and they dug into the dessert.
“Aunt Keira, you make the best apple pie anywhere. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“You are welcome. I was going to make a chocolate cream pie too, but we gathered up the supplies for the truck instead.” She glanced at her watch. “They must be south of Savage by now.”
“They are and all is well.” Marcus wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Keira, I second what Kirsten said. Your pies are every bit as good as Mother’s, and that is the highest compliment I can give.”
“She taught me how. Hear anything regarding using our house?”
Leah looked at her, questions all over her face. “But I thought…”
“I know I got angry and said no, but the more I thought about it, the more sensible I figured it was.” She turned to her brother. “So?”
“Not yet, but John said surely they would have takers. He’ll get back to us. That really was a good idea.”
“Thanks to your wife.” Keira turned to Betty. “We offered to have them bring a family, or people anyway, back with the truck and they can use Mother’s house as long as they need to.”
Betty nodded with a big smile. “What a marvelous idea. As soon as we know about them, we can start gathering clothes and groceries. If there are children they could finish school here too, if need be.”
“We’ll have a lot to do getting it ready.”
“Maybe I and some of the others can help with that.”
Kirsten touched the gift paper. “I can open this one then, even if I choose to wait with the others?” She looked to Keira.
“It’s from your mom and dad. I just did the wrapping.”
Kirsten slit the taped places with a fingernail and eased back the paper. “Oh, how beautiful.” She looked up at her mother. “How did you manage this?”
“It wasn’t easy. Keira had to take it home to frame it because I finished the last stitch yesterday afternoon.”
“Pansies. I love pansies.” She turned the picture so the others could see. She leaned over and hugged her mother. “Thank you.”
Kirsten glanced at her father as he quietly scraped the last bite of pie from his plate.
“It’s from both your father and me,” Leah said. “Though he never was much for needlework, he cheered me on.”
“Thank you, Dad. And I—you always help grow the pansies.”
He nodded, his mouth full of pie.
They did a review of the day until Betty said she needed to be getting home to feed her dog. She rose and carried her plate into the kitchen. “Thank you for a lovely afternoon. Let me know what you hear from the travelers and I’ll do the same.” She kissed Kirsten on the cheek and exchanged hugs with the others. Leah walked her out to the car.
“Driving José’s car, eh?”
“Yes, since he has mine. You should have seen how tightly they had it packed. We’ll talk soon and you know I’m always here if you need me.”
“I know.” Leah crossed her arms across her chest. “Turned brisk again, but at least the rain let up for the afternoon.” I’m such a coward. She waved Betty on her way and turned back to the house. But no discussions tonight, Lord, please. We are all too tired. She found Keira in the kitchen loading the dishwasher. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know.”
“Where are the others?”
“Kirsten went up to her room after thanking me again and I’m assuming Marcus is in his study. You need anything more?”
“Nope. Not that I can think of. Thanks.” She glanced at the clock. “I think I’m going up to bed to read for a while. You want me to walk you home first?”
“No, I got over being afraid of the dark a long time ago. Besides, I left the lights on inside the house.” Keira hugged her. “I’m sorry I reacted like that earlier. Just caught me by surprise and all I could think was, ‘How will I find any more information then?’ ”
“We’ll rip that house apart in the next couple of days. The odds are slim anyone would come on such short notice anyway.” Leah paused. “You know I am going to have to tell Marcus; I can’t stand keeping secrets like this.”
“I was going to tell him but then I kept thinking about everything else he’s already dealing with. I hate to dump another shock on him, and it’s been a secret for such a long time already…”
“Still, the sooner the better, for all concerned.”
“All right. Tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“Get some rest, you look done in.”
Ah, my dear, if you only knew. Maybe tonight she’d be able to get some real rest without all the nightmares and tears.
Chapter Thirteen
When she got home Keira sat down at the computer. Good a time as any to do a more thorough search of old records, especially wedding licenses. What she really needed to do was go out to the home place and get up in the attic. That reminded her of the plastic box of old photos she found the other day. She shut down the computer and went searching for the storage container Bjorn had brought into the house.
Whatever was it doing in his office, the last place she would have thought to look? She hauled it into the family room and set it on the ottoman near her chair. With a craft table set up to sort pictures, she opened the lid. Many of the pictures she remembered from the times she and her mother looked for something special. But now she put those aside, keeping out ones she thought Leah might want, and dug through the rest. This had to be taken from several boxes, so her mother must have been through them shortly before she died.
She looked at every picture and paper in the box but found nothing about a man in St. Cloud. Her birth certificate confirmed she was born there. When had her parents moved away from there? Marcus was born in Munsford, so it was sometime between their births. Strange that there were no pictures of a different town, only of Munsford. She stared at the sorted piles. There had to be another box.
Unless her mother had destroyed them.
The thought knocked Keira back in her chair. She stared, unseeing, at the stacks of photos. Blinking, she rubbed her eyes. One a.m. It had been a long day. She left the mess the way it was and, turning out the lights, made her way upstairs. At times like this she wished she had a dog. Interesting how big the house seemed when she was the only one in it, especially at night.
Think like Mother. She must have gone through the pictures right before she died or they would still be in the other boxes. Surely if there had been other photos or papers she would not have destroyed them. So there had to be more. Keira undressed, thinking on the day.
And what about bringing a family in to live at the home place for a time? Sure, she had finally agreed because it sounded like a helpful and giving idea, but what if they had small children who might break things in the house? Perhaps they should put the precious things in one room and lock th
e door, like people did when they rented their houses out as vacation rentals. Maybe she should drive into St. Cloud to buy enough sheets and blankets for all the beds.
The best thing to do was put the treasures in her mother’s sewing room and put a lock on that door. Leah should have talked the idea over more with her before blurting it out to the rest of them. That thought made her feel grumpy all over again. The home place needed to be used, yes, but there should be some guidelines. Talk about torn. She heaved a sigh. As usual there were no easy answers, but the people in Kansas had lost everything. Back and forth. Make up your mind, woman. All right. We open the house to strangers and take what precautions we can. That decided, she crawled into bed and took out her devotional book. She read the page for the day and looked up the Bible verses. Since one of the verses referred to the lilies of the field, her mind jumped to the bag of lily bulbs she’d ordered from the seed catalog. Surely it was time to put them in the ground. “Sorry, Father, my mind is like a frog tonight. Thank you for the beauty of lilies and the reminder to not worry.” I haven’t heard from Bjorn. She picked up the phone and dialed his cell, but it went directly to voice mail.
He was most likely out of reception range. She left a message for him to call in the morning because she was going to sleep now. “Lord God, protect them, please. Put angels around that truck and car and make a way for them, like you said.” The song “God Can Make a Way” floated through her mind. She clicked out the light and snuggled down under the sheet and comforter. Had she turned down the thermostat? Or had she even turned it on yesterday morning? I am not getting up to check on it. One night won’t overload the heating bill.
But while she could identify every sound, she still managed to be awake far too long. A branch scraping on the side of the house. Creaking like tired joints as the house settled for the night. The humming of the refrigerator. More tree scrapes, the wind must have picked up. Her mind went gallivanting off, trying to figure out where the travelers were. Had they stopped for a break? Were they switching drivers so no one got too tired? Would the person not driving be able to sleep?
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