A Life of Joy (11 page)

“Sure.” She dropped onto the seat next to him and pondered his words. What did Matthew Glick resent? Could it be his father?

He held the second whoopie pie. “Would you like half?”

She shook her head. “No, but
danki
.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat.”

She blanched. “I eat. In fact, I eat a lot.”

He grinned. “I doubt that from the looks of you.”

She placed her hand on her chest with feigned offense. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m only teasing you.” He bit into the whoopie pie. “You couldn’t have made these. They’re not nearly as
gut
as the ones I had at your house the other day.”

“I didn’t make them, but I won’t tell the baker that they’re not up to your standards.” She studied him while contemplating his smiles and jokes. This was not the same Matthew Glick she’d met two years ago. “You’re different. What made you change?”

His smile faded. “What do you mean?”

“When you first came here, you would hardly speak to me. Now you joke with me as if we’re old friends.” She held her breath, hoping she hadn’t said too much to him. However, lately the truth seemed to flow easily from her lips when he was around.

“Aren’t we friends?” He raised an eyebrow and then licked the remaining icing off his fingers.

“Ya.”
Her cheeks heated. “But I didn’t think you liked me when I first met you. At least, it seemed like you didn’t like anyone.”

“I wasn’t very friendly, was I?” He shifted his weight on the bench. “I had a lot of things to work out when I first came here. I was trying to figure out where I belonged in the community since I was living in my sister’s house, but I wasn’t the man of the house. I also had some issues with
mei daed
to work out.”

“Was that the resentment you mentioned earlier?”

He nodded. “I’m glad you were able to talk to your
schweschder
. Family problems can wear on you.”

“Ya
, they can.” Lindsay studied his eyes and wished he would open up more. However, she was thankful to have his friendship, no matter how little information he shared with her. “What do you want, Matthew?”

He looked surprised. “What do you mean?”

“What do you want for your life, for your future?”

He blew out a breath and stretched his arm out behind her on the back of the bench. “I guess I want what any one of us wants — a home, maybe even a family. I’ve been saving money so I can build my own place at the back of my sister’s land.” He pointed toward the adjacent farm. “She said I can build back there and have my own privacy. Daniel, Luke, and Timothy said they’d help me construct a little house when I’m ready. I may be close to starting it soon. My
mamm
left some money for
mei schweschder
and me. I’m anxious to be on my own for real.”

“You’re close to Daniel, ya?” she asked.

He nodded. “I guess the Kauffmans sort of adopted me. Daniel’s easy to talk to.”

“I know. I’m very thankful and feel very blessed to be a part of the family after losing my parents. The Kauffmans are wonderful people.”

“And what about you, Lindsay?” he asked. “What do you want out of your life?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I know I want to be near family and I want to be
froh
.”

“Don’t we all?”

“Ya.”
She leaned back on the bench and felt her body relax. For the first time since her sister’s visit, Lindsay felt content. They sat in silence for several minutes while the sun began to set before them. Lindsay smiled, enjoying Matthew’s company along with the golden hues of the setting sun.

“God paints with the most beautiful watercolors, ya?” Matthew asked.

“Ya,”
she agreed. “He does.”

“Lindsay!” a voice called behind them. “Lindsay!”

“Yes?” Lindsay asked. Turning, she spotted Katie coming up the path toward the bench. She bit her lip, wishing Katie would keep walking so that she could continue her time alone with Matthew.

“Samuel said he’ll take you home if you’re ready to go,” Katie said. “Lizzie Anne has to get home, so Sam told me to come and get you. He can drop you on the way.”

“Oh.” Lindsay glanced at Matthew, wishing that he would offer to take her home. However, she quickly pushed that thought aside, knowing the repercussions if he took her home. Getting a ride home from a boy would imply that they were dating. While Lindsay liked Matthew and wanted to get to know him better, she wasn’t certain she wanted to date him or any other boy for that matter.

“I can take you home.” Matthew gestured toward the neighboring farm. “I can go hitch up my buggy and get back here in a few minutes.”

“That’s okay. I’ll just ride with Samuel and Lizzie Anne.” Lindsay stood. “I enjoyed talking with you.”

“Me too.” He smiled. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“
Ya
. You too.” Her cheeks burned as she hurried up the path toward Katie. She thought of several things she should’ve said to Matthew that would’ve sounded more intelligent than “You too,” but it was too late to say them now.

Katie grinned at her. “I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut and told Samuel you had a ride.”

“That’s okay.” Lindsay touched her friend’s arm. “Matthew and I were only talking, and I wouldn’t have wanted him to feel obligated to take me home and give people the impression that we’re more than friends.”

“Is that what you tell yourself?” Katie laughed while giving Lindsay a playful punch on her arm.

Lindsay smiled. She was so glad that she’d told Jessica she didn’t want to go to New York City. She had all the joy she needed right here in Lancaster County.

“Matthew offered to take you home?” Rebecca couldn’t stop her smile as she cut up an apple for Emma’s breakfast the following morning.

Lindsay gave a dramatic sigh and handed Junior a bowl of oatmeal. “We’re just
freinden
,
Aenti
.”

“Ya,”
Rebecca said. “For now you are.”

While placing a slice of apple on Emma’s tray, Rebecca remembered back to when she’d first met Daniel. They’d been friends for a long time, since they’d grown up in the same church district. However, one night at a singing he asked to take her home and something was different about him. She’d never noticed how blue his eyes were or how infectious his laugh was. It was as if she were seeing him with new eyes. She wondered if the same thing would happen to Lindsay someday —if Matthew was the one God intended for her niece to marry when the time was right.

A wave of painful exhaustion overtook her, and Rebecca
placed the apple in front of Emma before she yawned. “Excuse me,” she said. “I didn’t sleep at all last night. I just tossed and turned. I couldn’t seem to get comfortable.”

“Oh,” Lindsay said, looking concerned. “Do you think you need to see a doctor?”

Daniel stepped into the room. “
Was
iss letz?
Becky?” His eyes mirrored Lindsay’s concern.

“I’m okay,” Rebecca told him. “I’m fine. I was just telling Lindsay that I didn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t get comfortable.”

He frowned. “I’m going to call the doctor. This exhaustion has gone on too long. It’s time to find out what’s wrong.” He turned to Lindsay. “Would you stay here with the
kinner
while I take Rebecca to the doctor?”

“Ya.”
Lindsay gave a quick nod. “Of course.”

“Our ride for work should be here soon, and I’ll have him take us right way.” He headed for the back door. “I’ll go call the doctor and then let
mei mamm
know that Lindsay won’t be at the bakery today.”

“Daniel,” Rebecca called after him. “It’s not necessary.”

The slam of the back door told Rebecca that there would be no further discussion. She turned toward Lindsay’s worried expression. “I’m fine,” she said. “There’s no need to get upset.”

Lindsay turned back to Junior. Speaking softly in Pennsylvania Dutch, she discussed his breakfast with him.

Rebecca sent up a silent prayer that she was okay and that God would comfort her family while she and Daniel were at the doctor’s office.

Rebecca smoothed her hands over her dark purple dress while she sat on the examination table.

Across the small room, Daniel sat, turning his straw hat over and over again in his hands. It was a stance she’d seen many times during their marriage. Whenever Daniel was consumed by worry,
he’d shut down, absently twiddling his hat and not answering Rebecca when she tried to speak to him. She learned soon after they were married to let him handle his worries his own way, even though it made her crazy when he didn’t talk to her.

The door opened with a whoosh, and Dr. Moore stepped in, a clipboard in his hand and a pleasant expression on his face.

The doctor smiled, and instant relief flooded Rebecca. She released the breath she’d been holding for what felt like a long time.

“Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman,” Dr. Moore began, “I have good news.”

“I’m not sick?” Rebecca asked, clasping her hands together.

“No, ma’am. You’re not.” Dr. Moore took off his glasses and looked between them. “You are, however, expecting.”

Rebecca gasped, cupping her hands to her mouth. “We’re expecting?”

Daniel popped up from the chair and rushed over to her. “Another baby?” He gave a loud bark of laughter. “A third? God is so good!”

Tears filled Rebecca’s eyes. “It’s a miracle,” she whispered. “Truly a miracle.”

“When is she due?” Daniel asked.

The doctor looked down at the chart. “From my calculations, I would say early January — approximately January 11.”

Rebecca smiled. “I can’t believe it.”

“I’m going to refer you to a specialist, since you’re forty and considered a high risk,” the doctor said. “The pain you experienced the other night is caused by your uterus expanding. You should take any pain like that as a warning sign that you need to take it easy.”

Daniel stood beside her and rubbed her back while the doctor continued to talk.

Rebecca watched Dr. Moore’s lips move, but his words were only background noise to her raging thoughts.

Another baby
.

Three children
.

Yes, God is good!

Maybe Rebecca and Daniel would finally have the large family they’d always dreamt of. However, the doctor said that this would be a high-risk pregnancy. She would have to pray often for the baby’s health.

“Do you have any questions?” Dr. Moore asked, bringing Rebecca back to the present.

“No,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

“All right then.” Dr. Moore moved toward the door. “I’ll have Libby make an appointment for you with a specialist. Congratulations.”

Once the doctor disappeared through the door, Daniel pulled Rebecca to him, holding her tight. “Becky, can you believe it? Another baby? And we thought we’d never have one. Soon we’ll have three.”

“Three
kinner
,” she whispered. “It’s a miracle.” She let the news filter through her brain while she held onto Daniel.

Rebecca found Lindsay sitting on the family room floor with Emma and Junior. When Lindsay’s eyes met Rebecca, they filled with concern.