Sisters of the Quilt

by Cindy Woodsmall

  “Faye, is something wrong?”

  Faye didn’t even look at her as she opened the backseat to her car and unbuckled Lissa. Kevin climbed out behind his sister.

  “I … I have class tonight, but you know we planned for Kevin and Lissa to come here on Saturday after my rotation and to stay until Monday evening.”

  “No!” She slammed the car door.

  Hannah started toward her. “Faye?”

  Faye set Lissa’s feet on the ground and nudged her away. “Go,” she snapped at both children. Kevin and Lissa joined hands, staring at their mother.

  Hannah stepped between Faye and her children. Hannah reached for her, but she jumped back and glared. Icy fingers of anxiety wrapped around Hannah’s throat, making it difficult to breathe. This was no tantrum or bad mood. Faye’s pupils were dilated. She was using again.

  “What have you done?” Hannah whispered through clenched teeth.

  Faye pushed her backward. “I can’t do this anymore. I just can’t.”

  Hannah easily regained her footing and ignored the physical shove. “You have to be able to do it. We’ll call Martin. He’ll go with you, talk to the counselor with you.”

  “I’m done, Hannah.”

  “Done? You can’t mean that!” She silently counted to three, trying to control her anger. “I know your life has been unfair and filled with a ton of grief. Our lives are a lot alike in that. But you’ve gotta keep fighting. I’ll help you more. My schooling will be over soon.” Hannah managed a smile, wondering how much of what she had said was getting through the drug-induced fog.

  Faye backed away from her. “You know nothing about my life! You waltz in here and become Zabeth’s hero. I’m the one who stole her dearest friend!”

  “I … I …” Stunned at this viewpoint, Hannah struggled to find some words. “Faye, this isn’t about me or Zabeth or Martin or even your mom. You’ve got to fight for your life, the one God gave you, regardless of anyone else—including your own past. I landed here and—”

  Faye covered her eyes. “And you lived happily ever after.” The hopelessness in Faye’s voice sounded painfully familiar.

  Hannah took Faye’s trembling hand and looked into her eyes. “Oh, come on, Faye. You know where we met and how I changed my last name. Half the time I just manage to cope.”

  Faye’s steely eyes looked a little softer for a moment. “That’s all?”

  Hannah sighed. “It’s enough.” She rubbed her throbbing head. “My drug of choice is absolute determination.”

  Faye shook her head, hostility returning to her expression as she opened the trunk of the car. She took out two large boxes filled with crumpled clothes and toys, tossed them on the ground, and shut the trunk. “Take care of my babies.” Faye climbed back into the car.

  “What?” Hannah glanced around, looking for something that made sense. “Wait. When are you coming back?”

  She slammed the door and slung pebbles and debris as she sped off.

  Hannah wanted to scream and run after her, but instead she smiled at Kevin and Lissa. “Hi, guys.” She knelt in front of them. “Why don’t you go get some eggs out of the refrigerator and some mixing bowls to make mud pies with?”

  Kevin wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulders, as if to ease the weight of their mother’s departure. “Sure.” He turned his back on Hannah. “Come on, Lissa. You can cook those pies using some muffins tins, just like Aunt Zabeth showed us.”

  Hannah pulled her phone from her pocket and called Martin.

  Martin laid the set of plans in front of the developer. “Your problem began when your graders read the stakes wrong. The field books and survey-crew equipment verify that we staked the curb accurately. We’re not paying for your mistake, but what I can help you do is adjust the elevation of the building’s foundation to match the existing curb. It won’t be a super easy adjustment, but …” He felt his phone vibrate. “We won’t charge for restaking the building. The engineering fees to rework the plans will be your responsibility.”

  The man stared at the plans, clearly needing a few minutes to digest the bad news.

  Martin ignored the buzz of the phone hooked to his belt. The last four calls had been from Faye. He’d read the screen and continued with his business meeting. He’d call her later. Maybe in a day or two. He’d spent the last three days dealing with issues on this job site, and he wanted to stay on track so he could get out of Columbus by midnight.

  “You say the construction crew read the survey stakes wrong?”

  “Yes, that’s what the surveyor and I showed you earlier on the job site. The elevations on the stakes do not match the curb that was poured, but—” Without removing it from his belt, he shifted the phone to hit the Reject button and caught a glimpse of the screen.

  Hannah.

  She’d called him a total of four times since arriving in Ohio—the first three were when Zabeth needed to be hospitalized, the fourth was the night Zabeth stopped breathing. He grabbed the phone and pulled it to his ear. “Hey, what’s up?”

  The developer smacked the papers. “How much money are we talking about?”

  Martin held up his hand, signaling for the man to give him a minute.

  “She dropped off the kids with large boxes of their stuff and told me to be good to her babies. Martin, I … I don’t think she’s coming back.”

  “What?”

  The developer rattled the paper. “Can we get back to this, please?”

  Martin didn’t miss the man’s ill-tempered tone, but he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. He glanced at his watch. “Call Nina and take the kids there. I know it’s a school night and all, but this is sort of an emergency deal. Her parents will understand. Then you go to class. Tell her to put them down in sleeping bags in the living room and someone will pick them up in the morning.”

  “No.” She elongated the word. “I can’t. They know what’s going on. They watched Faye leave them, and I’m not going to hurt them worse by dropping them elsewhere.”

  “Hannah, just do it. Attendance is ninety percent mandatory at all times. You can’t afford to—”

  “I didn’t call for you to give me a list of orders, Martin.”

  The dull headache he’d had all day increased, sending a twisting pain down his neck. “I’m trying to keep you on track. That’s all, Hannah. I can’t just drop everything, and neither should you. Let me try to reach Faye, and I’ll call you back later.”

  She didn’t answer him.

  “Hannah?”

  “Yeah, I heard you. Bye.”

  Disconnecting the phone, he realized that whatever she’d hoped for when she called him, he’d let her down. He didn’t understand certain aspects of Hannah yet, but this much he got: she hadn’t wanted him giving directions like he was her boss or her parent.

  He walked back into the room. “Dale, I have to go.”

  “You can’t leave now.”

  He began rolling up the plans. “There’s a family emergency, and I need to go.”

  The man pulled a leather billfold thick with cash from inside his suit coat, visually sending a reminder of his strength. “I believe in the Golden Rule. The man with the gold rules. Stay, and we work this out. Go, and I’ll find someone else.”

  “A very smart woman once asked me, ‘Do you think money is the answer to everything?’ I have a family issue, and I’m going home.” He slid the prints into the cylinder container. “I’m sure I’ll be available next week. If that’s not good enough, we’ll send all the information we have to whoever you hire.”

  Martin walked across the parking lot wondering what Faye would have done with Kevin and Lissa if Hannah hadn’t been home. He piled the plans and his laptop into his car. He wouldn’t arrive in Winding Creek for nearly three hours, but it was the best he could do. He tried to reach Faye, and he tried calling Hannah back. Neither woman answered her cell. He called Dr. Smith to see if she’d heard from Faye or knew where she was headed. The doctor ta
lked to him for over an hour, sharing pieces of encouragement. It all sounded nice, but the reality was bleak and heavy.

  It had long been night by the time he pulled into Zabeth’s drive. His frustration had grown with each passing hour. As the car lights hit the front porch, he saw Hannah sitting on the steps. He parked the car, wishing he’d come across as less of a jerk and more of a friend when she’d called him. Hannah stood, and he walked to her.

  He smiled. “You okay?”

  She shook her head. “I was so sure we could make a difference.” She closed the distance between them. “I’m sorry.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t need to apologize.”

  She laid her head against his chest.

  “We did our part, Hannah. That’s all anybody can do.” He laid his cheek on the top of her head. “How about we get you moved into the cottage so it’ll make life easier while we get this mess sorted out?”

  Without answering, she pulled away and turned toward the cabin. He saw a rustic cabin, a relic, and not something to regret leaving, but he doubted that Hannah viewed it the same way.

  Martin stepped next to her. “I can help you pack. It’s not like you own much, mostly clothes and books, right? After we get the cars loaded, we’ll move Kevin and Lissa, hopefully without waking them. Then—”

  She placed her hand on the center of his chest. “But it’s my home.”

  He sighed and nodded. “I know, sweetheart. I do. But I don’t know how we can juggle everything with you way out here. It’s the school year, and their district doesn’t bus this road. And even when I leave early, I can barely get home from work in time for you to leave for your classes. I certainly can’t make it here.”

  Without a word she walked to the fence and patted Ol’ Gert. He followed her. She had a passion for certain things, and he loved that about her—even if it meant working through their different, equally headstrong opinions.

  He took her hand. “Talk to me, okay? Say what you’re thinking.”

  She tilted her chin, looking resolved. “There’s nothing else to talk about. Kevin and Lissa need a stable environment—for now that means living in a way that keeps them from being shuffled around like they’re a burden.”

  “I agree, but that’s just your decision, Hannah. I asked for your thoughts.”

  She shrugged. “Even without the Ordnung instructing me, I think desire comes second to doing what is right.”

  “You’re pretty amazing, you know it?”

  “I know you think so. Far be it from me to disagree.”

  Martin chuckled, running his fingers over her soft cheek. “I’m sorry for barking orders at you when you called.”

  “I know.” She kissed him. “What are we going to do about Faye?”

  “I’ve got meetings all day tomorrow, but then I’ll start looking for her while you keep Lissa and Kevin, okay?”

  She nodded. “Let’s start packing.”

  With Lissa in her lap and Kevin sitting beside her, Hannah finished the last page of a picture storybook of Heidi. She hadn’t sent them to school today. They were nervous about Hannah and Martin disappearing on them. She figured it was just one day, and they’d return on Monday.

  Hannah closed the book and patted Lissa’s pajama-covered legs. “Okay, bedtime.”

  Kevin jumped up. “I’m not going to sleep. I’m gonna turn out the lights and watch the stars glow that we put on the wall today. When Uncle Martin gets home, I’ll show him all the constellations we designed.”

  Hannah set the book on the coffee table. She figured if he stayed in bed watching the stars long enough, he’d go to sleep. “Okay by me.”

  He hurried toward his room. Lissa stood on the couch, wrapped her arms around Hannah’s neck, and held on tightly as Hannah walked upstairs. Lissa giggled the whole way.

  Hannah set her on the bed and waited while she scurried to her sleeping spot. She tucked the blankets around her, sat on the side of the bed, and kissed her tiny hands. How could Faye just walk out on her little girl?

  “Hannah.”

  “Hmm?”

  Lissa gazed up, her big dark eyes absorbing everything. “What’s buoyant mean?”

  Hannah stroked Lissa’s hair. “You want to run that by me again?”

  “But I’m in my p.j.’s. Where do you want me to run?”

  Hannah repositioned herself on the bed. “Nowhere, sweetie. That means I need you to repeat what you said.”

  Her face blossomed with wonder. “So you don’t know what buoyant is either?”

  A deep chuckle made Hannah turn toward the doorway. Martin leaned against the doorframe, looking as confident as ever.

  Lissa giggled. “Uncle Martin!”

  She started to get up, but Martin held out both hands in a stop-sign fashion. “Stay, Rover, stay.”

  She snuggled back under the covers. Hannah moved to the foot of the bed.

  Martin sat down beside Lissa and patted her head. “Good girl.”

  She broke into giggles. “He pretends I’m a puppy sometimes.”

  Hannah nodded. “I see.”

  She sat up, encircling him with her arms. “I love you, Uncle Martin.”

  Martin gave her a gentle hug. “Back at ya. Now snuggle down, and let’s say good night to God.” He lowered his head and said prayers with her.

  Suddenly Hannah was swept back to her own childhood. Her Daed used to tuck her in each night, lay his hand on her head, and say a silent prayer. In the silence she used to imagine he was begging God to make her be a good girl. She never quite managed goodness, but she missed the warmth of hearing his last words of the day as he tucked her in.

  Martin whispered her name, drawing her out of her thoughts. The prayer was over, and he was standing next to her. He nodded toward the door.

  He turned out the light and pulled the door almost shut as they left.

  Hannah began descending the stairs. “Any signs of Faye?”

  “None.” He sounded tired. “I talked to every friend and acquaintance I could find. I visited homeless shelters, talked to Dr. Smith. I came up completely empty-handed.” Martin touched her shoulder, and she stopped in midstep. “She might not come back.”

  There was no sense in asking him what they were going to do if that happened. He didn’t know. And yet they both knew.

  They heard a door open, and Kevin appeared on the landing.

  Martin drew a deep breath. “Hey, sport, what’s up?”

  “Come look at what me and Hannah did to my room today.”

  Martin glanced at Hannah, not looking all that pleased that the guest bedroom was being transformed into a kid’s room. “I’m in the middle of—”

  Hannah tugged at his shirt sleeve and gave a slight nod toward Kevin.

  Martin’s body tensed with frustration. “I’ll be right there.”

  Kevin went back into his room, and Martin sighed. “Listen, we need help this go-round. I know you think it’s pawning the children off on someone who doesn’t love them, but I intend to find someone who can come into the home. You’ve taken on more hours at the clinic, and you have school most nights. I already have a good list of candidates to fill either a full- or part-time position as nanny. I want to begin interviewing.”

  “I could take a leave of absence. Kevin and Lissa need stability and lots of it. I just don’t think hired help is the answer.”

  “That’s because you think if you work at something hard enough, you can fix it. You can’t heal the damage Faye and Richard have done, and dropping everything in our lives to baby the kids isn’t the answer. I want you to go on with your life as much as possible. Hiring part-time or full-time help is the ans—”

  Hannah held up her hand, stopping him. “Maybe you’re right.”

  Martin moved in closer. “I know I am.”

  “Of course. So do you have someone on that list you’re already considering seriously?”

  “Depends.”

  “On what?”

  He t
ook her hand in his and caressed it. “On whether you’re going to get angry if the answer is yes.”

  “Are all men like this?”

  “No. Very few climb to this level of honesty.”

  She laughed. “How do you have a list already? She left yesterday.”

  He looked at the ceiling and whistled innocently until she smacked his shoulder. “I started looking for someone when Faye was in rehab, but a certain young woman I know wouldn’t even consider it.”

  “All right. You know my schedule. Just set up a time and date. Have whoever it is come here right after lunch one day. I’d like to see her in this environment, and she can have dinner with us.”

  “Uncle Martin.” Kevin sounded exasperated.

  Martin looked to the landing. “I’m coming. Go on back to your room.” They waited for the door to close. He turned back to her. “This is a good decision, Hannah. It’ll be just what we need so that Kevin and Lissa are taken care of but we get more time to date without kids in tow.”

  “Ah, so that’s the goal, huh?” She went to kiss his cheek, but he pulled her into a lip kiss. She inhaled sharply. “Your plan sounds promising.” She finished descending the steps. “See you sometime tomorrow.”

  “Hannah?”

  She stopped and turned. “Yeah?”

  “Is the cottage comfortable enough? Anything I can do or buy that would keep me from having to hear you complain about it later on?”

  “Yeah, earplugs. Good night, Martin.”

  “Good night.”

  With the aroma of new leather permeating the small shop, Luke sat behind the commercial-grade sewing machine, stitching a well-oiled piece of rawhide around the padding of a horse’s collar. The gas-powered motor that provided the strength for the heavy needle to do its job sat outside, right behind the wall where he was sitting. His thoughts seemed to move in rhythm with the steady flub-dub, flub-dub, flub-dub of the machine’s engine.

  Joining Matthew in business and renting his old harness shop out to an Amish couple was the best thing he could have done. It seemed if Matthew put his hand to something, it became a huge success. Why, with the rent money he was making and the income he was earning as Matthew’s partner, he and Mary would be able to build a home of their own soon.