by Beth Wiseman
Chace crossed the room to a large black stove in the kitchen. He placed the lantern on top and began examining it.
Mia balanced Kaitlyn with one of her arms and ran her free hand over the wall. “Where are the light switches?”
Chace chuckled and shook his head. Normally, the warm sound of his laugh would make her smile, but tonight she frowned.
“What’s so funny?” Her sense of humor waned with every passing moment.
“I’ve told you Isaac and his family are Amish, Mee.” He leaned back on the kitchen counter behind him and held up his arms as if to gesture around the cabin. “There’s no electricity.”
“What?” Mia snapped, louder than she’d meant to.
Kaitlyn gasped and then began to cry again, her wails echoing throughout the cabin.
“There’s no electricity?” Mia crossed the small room and stood in front of Chace. She ignored Kaitlyn’s screaming as she gaped at him.
“What did you expect me to find with our income and credit?” His eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m sorry it’s not the Hilton.”
Mia ground her teeth as fury boiled through her veins, exacerbated by the combination of Kaitlyn’s unrelenting screams and her husband’s caustic remark. She opened her mouth to deliver a biting retort just as someone knocked on the front door and called out. “Chace?”
When Chace opened the door, a tall man with dark brown hair and a matching beard that fell past his chin stood in the doorway. He was dressed in black broadfall trousers, a plain black coat, and a black hat. He looked to be in his midforties. “Chace! You made it.”
“Isaac.” Chace’s face brightened as he greeted the man and invited him in with a nod. A woman and four children, two girls and two boys, filed into the cabin behind him. The woman and girls wore long, solid-color dresses and black coats, and their heads were covered with black bonnets. The woman, who looked to be in her early forties, had an amicable smile.
“This is my family.” Isaac pointed to each one as he introduced them. “My wife, Vera, and our children, Rhoda, Susannah, Adam, and Joel.” All the children had dark hair and eyes, like their parents.
Chace shook Isaac’s hand and then Vera’s. He gestured toward Mia and then raised his voice over Kaitlyn’s howling. “This is my wife, Mia, and my daughter, Kaitlyn.”
The couple both spoke, but Kaitlyn’s keening drowned out their words. Mia bounced the baby in her arms as a migraine brewed behind her eyes. Could Kaitlyn sense her frustration? Mia moved Kaitlyn’s fine blond hair to one side and kissed her little head. Kaitlyn continued to sob as large tears streamed from her bright blue eyes and down her pink cheeks.
“May I hold her?”
Mia looked up at who she thought must be the eldest Allgyer daughter. She had stepped closer and was smiling. Since she had already removed her black coat and bonnet, Mia could see her purple dress was plain and that a white, gauzy cap covered her hair. Her face was free of any makeup, but she had a natural beauty with flawless ivory skin.
“I’m Rhoda. I don’t mean to sound prideful, but I’m gut with babies.”
“Ya, she is.” Her sister appeared at her side. “I’m Susannah.” She was a couple of inches shorter than Rhoda, but she could nearly pass for her twin. She wore a green dress made in the same plain pattern as her sister’s, and she also had a white cap over her hair.
“All right.” Mia handed the baby to Rhoda, and her aching arms were grateful for the rest.
“Kaitlyn is a pretty name.” Rhoda adjusted the baby in her arms.
“Thank you,” Mia said.
Kaitlyn took a deep breath and then yawned before resting her cheek on Rhoda’s shoulder and placing her thumb in her mouth. Her expression transformed from agitated to content in less than a minute. Mia gasped.
“I told you.” Susannah grinned. “My sister is great with babies.”
Rhoda pointed to the diaper bag hanging over Mia’s shoulder. “Would you like me to see if she needs a change?”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Rhoda and Susannah headed toward one of the doorways beyond the family room. Mia followed them to a small bedroom. Inside were a double bed, two nightstands, a lamp, and a small bureau. Mia lingered in the doorway as Susannah flipped on the lamp on one of the nightstands, and Rhoda spread the baby blanket on the bare mattress before setting Kaitlyn down on it. Kaitlyn sputtered noises at the girls, and they laughed as Rhoda checked her diaper.
“Mia,” Vera said as she sidled up to her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hi.” Mia shook her hand and noted that Vera was a few inches taller than she was, possibly close to five-eight. “Thank you so much for renting us the cabin.”
“You’re welcome.” Vera looked toward her daughters and smiled. “They enjoy taking care of babies.”
“They’re experts.” Mia removed her damp coat and hung it on a hook by the door before coming to stand with Vera once again. “I’m thankful for the help. I wasn’t sure what to do for Katie since I had breastfed just before we headed over here. I thought maybe it was the cold, but I guess she wanted to spend some time with someone else.”
“Isaac checked the stove, and it should warm up soon.”
“Who used to live here? Other renters?”
“No, Isaac’s parents. This is what’s called the daadihaus, which means the grandfather’s house. His parents lived here until they both passed away. My father-in-law has been gone for two years.” She gestured for Mia to follow her. “Let me show you around. The bathroom is right here.”
Mia followed her to the next doorway and opened it. The bathroom was small but functional, with an ordinary sink, a vanity, a commode, and a bathtub with shower. Although the fixtures showed their age, the bathroom was clean. A small window provided the only light in the room.
“Did you see the propane lamps?” Vera asked as they walked to the kitchen area.
Mia shook her head. “I saw the Coleman.”
Vera stopped in the family room and turned on the lamp on the table beside the wing chair. The lamp came to life, sending a bright glow throughout the cabin. “It will get warm, so it’s another way to heat the cabin. The lamp in the bedroom is propane too. Do you know how to use a coal stove?”
“No. The only heating system I’ve ever known how to use had a thermostat.”
“Let me show you.” Vera gestured for Mia to follow her.
The front door opened and closed as Chace, Isaac, and Isaac’s sons lugged Chace and Mia’s belongings into the house. A pile of suitcases and black trash bags already clogged the small family room. Vera’s youngest son dragged in a heavy bag with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. He dropped the bag with a loud thunk before rushing back outside and into the rain for another.
Mia turned toward Vera. “Your sons are hard workers.”
Vera shrugged. “It’s our culture.”
“How old are your children?” Mia leaned against the kitchen counter.
Vera nodded in the direction of the bedroom. “Rhoda is eighteen and Susannah is seventeen. Adam is twelve and Joel is ten. Are you from a large family?”
“No, I’m an only child.” Mia traced her finger over the worn Formica. “I’d always longed for siblings, but my mother felt children were too much of an inconvenience. She was more interested in meeting her friends at the country club.”
Vera tilted her head and frowned.
“Never mind.” Mia pointed to the black potbelly stove in a corner of the kitchen. “Is that the coal stove?”
“Ya, it is. Isaac came over earlier today and started it.” Vera pointed to a bucket full of coal beside it. “You have to check it twice every day, and you’ll soon figure out how much coal you need to keep it warm overnight. If we had known you were coming yesterday, we could have started it for you then. But I understand this was a last-minute situation.”
Mia’s throat dried as she recalled their landlord appearing at their furnished apartment earlier that day. He had pre
viously issued a Notice to Quit, which started the clock ticking on a ten-day deadline for Mia and Chace to pay their overdue rent before they would be evicted. Ten days, however, was not enough time for Chace to gather up the money, and the deadline arrived at lightning speed. When Mr. Newman knocked on their door that morning with an eviction notice in hand, Chace begged him for an extension. But their cantankerous landlord refused, insisting they pack their things and get out by nightfall.
Mia had never felt so distraught and humiliated. She’d dissolved in tears as Chace read the eviction notice aloud to her. He promised he would take care of them. Mia was thankful that when Chace called his boss to ask for help, Isaac offered the cabin as a quick solution.
“There’s a coal bin in the mudroom back here behind the kitchen.” Vera pointed toward the doorway beside them. “That’s also where the wringer washer is.”
“Wringer washer?” Mia’s eyes widened.
“I can show you how to use it another day.” Vera gestured toward the cookstove. “The stove and refrigerator run on propane. I started the refrigerator earlier today. I can help you unpack your food.”
Mia’s eyes stung with threatening tears. Hold it together, Mia. This woman probably has no interest in, or time for, your sob story. Besides, this is so humiliating.
Then again, she might as well be honest. Isaac had probably already told his wife everything Chace told him about their problems. “We don’t have much food.” She paused to clear her throat against a lump swelling there. “We put most of Chace’s paychecks this month toward our hospital bills from when Kaitlyn was born, which is why we couldn’t get caught up on the rent. And that’s why we wound up . . . homeless.” Her voice quavered and she sniffed.
Vera placed her hand on Mia’s arm and gave her a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay. Have you eaten tonight? Do you need some supper?”
“We’ve eaten,” Mia whispered before clearing her throat again. “Thank you.”
“I’ll have my sons bring over a basket of food before they go to school tomorrow morning.”
Mia fought the urge to gape at Vera. Why would she offer to feed Mia and her family when she’d only just met them?
“Mia,” Susannah said, walking out to the kitchen. “Do you have sheets? I’ll make the bed for you.”
Rhoda stood behind her with Kaitlyn happily balanced on her hip. “Do you want me to give her a bottle for you?”
Mia blinked. Were all Amish people this giving and helpful? She shook herself from her momentary stupor. “I breastfed her before we came, but thank you for offering.”
“Okay.” Rhoda sat down in the wing chair with Kaitlyn in her arms.
“Can I put linens out for you?” Susannah asked.
Mia nodded. “Oh. That would be great. Thank you.” She pointed to a nearby suitcase. “I think the linens are in there.”
“You’re welcome.” Susannah opened the suitcase and pulled out a set of mint-green sheets, along with a set of towels. “I’ll make your bed and then put the towels in the bathroom for you.” She walked back toward the bedroom.
“Do you have a crib?” Vera asked. “Isaac can help Chace set it up before we go home.”
Mia frowned. “We’ve never had enough money to buy a crib. We only had a used portable crib I bought at a consignment shop, but we lost it during the move today. We left some of our baby things in the truck while we were packing up the apartment, and when we came back, they were gone.”
Vera gasped. “Someone stole your things?”
Mia nodded. “They took our portable crib, baby seat, and baby swing.”
“Ach, that’s terrible.”
The door opened and closed and they turned to see Chace with Isaac, Adam, and Joel, all dripping wet.
“That’s everything.” Chace shucked his soaked sweatshirt. His damp hair was sticking up in all directions. When he pushed his hand through it, it continued to stand up, making him look younger, closer to eighteen than twenty-four. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“Isaac,” Vera said. “Is that boppli portable crib of your sister’s still in our attic?”
Mia raised her eyebrows with surprise. Was Vera offering her baby supplies along with food? This family seemed too good to be true.
Isaac rubbed his bearded chin and shrugged. “It should be. She asked us to keep all her boppli supplies up there for her.”
“Adam, Joel,” Vera began, “please go up into the attic and bring down the portable crib.” Then she turned to Mia. “We’ll bring you the crib that’s up there tomorrow.”
“Vera, you don’t need to do that.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s not doing anyone any gut up in our attic, is it?” Vera challenged before turning back to her sons. “Hurry over there so you can get to bed. You have to be up early for school tomorrow.”
Adam and Joel grabbed their lanterns and rushed out the door.
“Thank you.” Mia looked over at Chace to see his reaction to Vera’s generosity, but he was leaning over Kaitlyn as Rhoda held her. He whispered to her and tickled her chin, and she gurgled as she smiled up at him. Mia’s heart warmed at the sight. She relished watching Chace interact with their daughter.
“I made the bed and put the towels in the bathroom,” Susannah said as she reentered the family room. “Do you have a quilt or blanket? The bedroom is pretty cold.” She rubbed her arms over the sleeves of her green dress.
Chace stood, breaking free from the trance of staring at his baby. “Yeah, we have a couple of blankets.” He studied the sea of black trash bags. “They’re in one of these.”
“I’ll help you find them.” Mia joined him by the pile of bags and suitcases containing everything they owned in the world. She met his intense stare, and her heart pounded. Was he still angry with her for her negative comments about the cabin? Did he truly believe she would be willing to live only in a home with the luxury of the Hilton?
When a smile turned up the corner of his lips, she released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. They were still a team, still a family, despite all the hardship they’d endured since Mia had learned she was pregnant.
“I think the blankets are in this one.” Chace ripped open a bag, revealing a threadbare, blue-plaid comforter he had owned since before he and Mia met. “Here’s this.” He pulled it out and handed it to Mia before digging deeper in the bag. “And there’s a blanket too. And here’s one of Katie’s blankets.”
“I’ll take them to the bedroom.” Vera held out her hands. “Susannah and I will finish making the bed for you.”
“Thank you.” Mia handed off the blankets. Then she helped Chace search through a few more bags until they found two more blankets for Katie.
Soon Adam and Joel returned with the portable crib. Chace set it up in the bedroom as Mia and Vera located sheets for it.
“Thank you for everything,” Mia told the Allgyer family as they stood by the front door to leave. “I can’t thank you enough for your help and generosity.”
Vera squeezed Mia’s hand. “We’re happy to help you. I’ll send my boys over early tomorrow morning with that basket of food for you.”
“I’ll drive you to work tomorrow,” Chace told Isaac. “That way you don’t have to pay for a driver. I want to do something to thank you for the affordable rent.”
“I don’t expect a ride for free.” Isaac shook Chace’s hand.
Chace grinned. “Let’s argue about it in the morning, all right?”
“That sounds gut.” Isaac turned to Mia. “Gut night.”
“Good night, Isaac. Thank you again.”
As the family filed out through the front door, Rhoda and Susannah gave Mia a little wave. Then the door shut behind them.
Chace locked the door and turned off the propane lamp by the wing chair.
“I’m going to feed Katie and put her to bed.” Mia slipped into the bedroom and breastfed Katie before putting her down. Then she returned to the family room. “Katie went right to slee
p when I put her in the portable crib. I put her warmest pajamas on her and covered her with a few blankets.”
“That’s good.” Chace opened another trash bag and rifled through its contents before moving on to another. “I think my clothes are in here somewhere.”
Mia took in their pile of possessions and the stark cabin. She hugged her arms to her middle, shivering once more in the cold. Would the cabin ever warm up?
Suddenly, a memory hit Mia, nearly knocking her off balance. It was last February, and Mia sat in her parents’ family room, surrounded by their expensive furniture and her mother’s vast collection of priceless paintings and prized figurines. A roaring fire in the brick fireplace warmed her body under the pink cashmere sweater Mom had given her for her birthday a month earlier.
Mia’s hands shook and her stomach pitched. “I have something to tell you.” Her voice trembled with anxiety.
“What is it, dear?” Mom’s perfectly manicured, dark eyebrows careened toward her hairline.
“I’m pregnant.” Mia’s voice sounded strange to her—small and unsure, like a child’s.
“What?” Mom’s voice pitched higher than usual. “You’re pregnant? How could you let this happen? I thought you were smarter than that.”
“It wasn’t planned, but Chace loves me, and I love him. I’m going to drop out of school and marry him.”
Her parents studied her as their eyes widened. Her words seemed to hang in the air as the ticking of the antique mantel clock and the intermittent pop and hiss of the fire were the only noises echoing throughout the large room. Mia held her breath, awaiting her mother’s response. Her father, she knew, would let his wife speak for both of them. He always had. She folded her shaking hands in her lap.
“Mia, you can’t possibly be serious. You’ll be a horrible mother.” Mom’s face twisted into a deep scowl. “You’re too young to even consider becoming a mother. You have no idea what it takes to raise a child.”
“I’ll learn.” Mia sat a little taller in the chair. “I’ll work hard and be the best mother I can be.”
Mom clicked her tongue. “You have your entire future ahead of you. You don’t need an unplanned pregnancy to ruin your life.”
