A Life of Joy (20 page)

Rebecca smiled when she heard Lindsay say “home.” She was thankful Lindsay still considered Lancaster County her home.

“Tonight I made your famous meatloaf for supper,” Lindsay continued, “and Uncle Frank and Aunt Trisha loved it. I had to improvise a little bit, but it turned out well. Aunt Trisha and Uncle Frank were both impressed. You taught me well.” Lindsay gave a little laugh again. “Aunt Trisha is doing okay. She has some discomfort, but it seems manageable with the pain pills.”

Lindsay paused, and Rebecca fiddled with the phone cord, absently wrapping it around her finger while she waited for her to continue.

“I miss you,” Lindsay said. “I’m praying that you’re feeling well. You can give me a call anytime. We have a phone in the house, of course. If I’m not here, please leave me a message and I’ll call you right back.” She rattled off the phone number, and Rebecca wrote it down on the notepad she kept by the phone. “I love you,” Lindsay said. “Bye.”

The line went dead and Rebecca sucked in a breath, hoping she wouldn’t cry. Her eyes welled with tears, and she felt
silly. She knew her niece was doing well and was safe. Rebecca also realized that she was overly emotional these days due to the pregnancy. She ripped off the piece of paper with Trisha’s phone number and stuck it in her apron pocket.

The clip-clop of approaching hooves drew her attention to the rock driveway. Rebecca sniffed and touched her prayer covering, making sure she was presentable before stepping out into the setting sun.

A buggy stopped in front of the barn, and the door opened, revealing Katie climbing from the driver seat and Lizzie Anne exiting the passenger side.

“Wie geht’s
,” Katie called with a wave. “We thought we’d stop by to see you.”

“It’s so
gut
to see you.” Rebecca gestured for them to follow her into the kitchen. “
Kumm
. We’ll sit and talk.”

The girls followed Rebecca into the kitchen, where she brought out a plate of cookies, a pitcher of meadow tea, and three glasses.

“Where are my little cousins?” Katie asked as she poured a glass of tea.

“They were cranky and went to bed early,” Rebecca said, sinking down into a chair across from her. “What are you two doing out so late?”

Lizzie Anne and Katie exchanged looks.

“The truth is,” Lizzie Anne began with a frown, “we’ve been worried about Lindsay. I was so upset that she didn’t come by and say good-bye to me, and I’ve been wondering how she is.”

“Have you heard from her?” Katie interjected.

Rebecca poured herself a glass of tea. “She’s left me a couple of messages …”

“And …?” Lizzie Anne asked.

“She said she’s doing fine, but she misses home.” Rebecca suppressed a smile as she said the word out loud. “She left her phone number and asked that I call her.”

Lizzie Anne’s expression brightened. “Can we call her?”

“Now?” Rebecca asked.

“Ya,” Lizzie Anne said with a nod. “I’d love to tell her that I missed saying good-bye to her.”

Rebecca shook her head. “I wanted to give her a few days to get settled in. I’d hate for her to cry because she’s homesick, you know?”

Katie’s lips formed a thin line. “I agree. She seemed sad about leaving, and it would be terrible to make her feel worse.”

Lizzie Anne sighed. “You’re right, but I miss her so much.”

“I do too.” Rebecca pushed back her chair and crossed to the counter, where she pulled her address book from a drawer. “I don’t see any problem with writing letters to her.” She returned to the table with her address book, a notepad, and a pen. “I’ll give you her address and phone number, and you can contact her. I don’t think we should call her for a few days, though. No need to upset her.” She wrote out the address and phone number twice and then handed the pieces of paper to the girls.

“Danki
,” Lizzie Anne said, looking at the address.

Katie seemed to study Rebecca. “Are you doing all right?”

Rebecca sipped her tea and then lifted a cookie from the plate. “I’m doing pretty well. The
kinner
and I miss her, but we’re getting by.”

“If you ever need any help,” Katie began, “I can always come over and lend a hand.”

“You’re sweet,” Rebecca said. “But I know your
mammi
needs you at the bakery. I wouldn’t want to steal you away.”

“Then I’ll just stop by every so often to check on you,” Katie said between bites of a cookie.

“I’ll come too,” Lizzie Anne chimed in.

“Danki.”
Rebecca smiled, thankful for her niece and her friend. They discussed the warm weather and then the girls talked about their families. Soon it was starting to get dark out,
and Rebecca encouraged them to get on the road before it became too dangerous to travel on the roads in the dark.

Standing outside in the driveway, Rebecca hugged the girls and then waved as the buggy started down the driveway. As they drove off, Rebecca thought again of Lindsay and decided that she couldn’t wait a few days to call her. She would give her a call tomorrow afternoon while the children were napping.

11

L
indsay sat at the kitchen table clad in a new jumper and made a shopping list while a stew cooking in the crockpot on the counter filled the kitchen with a delicious aroma the following afternoon. She’d scrounged around the kitchen to pull together something for supper, and the only idea she had was making a stew. Although she’d considered using an old-fashioned pot, Trisha suggested a crockpot. The concept of the crockpot seemed a little odd, but she decided to try it and made a mental note to tell Rebecca about it. Since the cabinets and freezer were bare, despite snack foods and a few frozen dinners, she didn’t have any ideas for what she could prepare tomorrow.

Flipping through Rebecca’s cookbook, she chewed on the end of her pencil and wondered how things were back in Lancaster County. She hoped Rebecca had remembered to check the voicemail last night and had received her message.

When the phone began to ring, she jumped up and grabbed it from the wall on the second ring without checking the caller ID, in hopes of not waking Trisha, who napped in the den.

“Hello?” Lindsay asked.

“Lindsay?” Rebecca’s voice asked. “Is that you?”

“
Aenti
Rebecca!” Lindsay nearly shouted. She then cupped her hand over her mouth, realizing she was too loud. “How are you?”

“Gut,”
Rebecca said. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Lindsay twirled the pencil in her hand as she spoke. “How are the
kinner
?”

“Gut, gut,”
Rebecca said. “They miss you. Junior says you’re better at reading the nighttime story to him than I am.”

Lindsay smiled while thinking of her two little cousins. “I miss reading to him, but I don’t think I’m a better reader than you.”

“He thinks so,” Rebecca said. “Lizzie Anne and Katie came to visit me last night.”

“Oh?” Lindsay asked. “How are they?”

“Doing fine,” Rebecca said. “They wanted to know how you’re doing. Lizzie Anne was disappointed that you didn’t say good-bye to her in person.”

Lindsay grimaced. “I should’ve invited her to come to the bus station, but I didn’t think she could’ve come.”

“It’s okay,” Rebecca said. “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. They just miss you. I gave them your address and phone number, so don’t be surprised if you hear from them.”

“Danki,”
Lindsay said. “It would be nice to hear from them. How’s
Onkel
Daniel?”

“Gut,”
Rebecca said.

“Has he talked to Matthew?” Lindsay asked before she could stop the words from leaving her lips.

“He didn’t tell me if he did,” Rebecca began. The smile in her voice emanated through the phone. “But you know how reticent your
onkel
can be. I’m certain Matthew asked about you, and Daniel probably said he’d heard you were fine.”

Lindsay felt her cheeks heat at the thought of Matthew talking about her with her uncle. She changed the subject to the weather, and they talked about the long warm days and how much the children loved playing outside in the pasture.

“Are you making supper now?” Rebecca asked.

“
Ya
, I threw together a stew.” Lindsay crossed the kitchen and stood by the crockpot, inhaling the aroma. “I’m using a crockpot.”

“I’ve heard that they’re really
gut
for stews,” Rebecca said.

“I don’t know how it will taste, but it smells awfully good.”

Rebecca chuckled. “I’m certain it will be
appeditlich
. You’re a good cook.”

“How about you? What are you making tonight?”

“I made a chicken potpie,” Rebecca said.

“Oh.” Lindsay licked her lips. “That’s my favorite.”

“I know,” Rebecca said.

They were both silent for a moment, and Lindsay longed to tell Rebecca how homesick she was and how much she wanted to come back home. Instead, she bit her bottom lip to stop the words that she feared would upset her aunt.

“How are you feeling?” Lindsay asked. “Are you getting enough rest?”

“Oh, I’m just fine,” Rebecca said. “But I can never get enough sleep.”

“Maybe someone can come over and help you so that you don’t work too hard,” Lindsay said, moving to the windows and gazing out over the beach below. “Nancy or Katie could come and stay with you so you don’t overdo it. I know you. You won’t slow down even though the doctor tells you to.”

“I’ll ask for help if I need it,” Rebecca said. “Well, I need to see if the
kinner
are still asleep. I better go.”

“It was good hearing your voice,” Lindsay said.

“
Ya
, it was
gut
hearing yours too,” Rebecca said.

“I’ll call you soon,” Lindsay promised.

Hanging up the phone, Lindsay sucked in a deep breath and willed herself not to get emotional. Yes, she missed her family back in Lancaster County, but she had to be strong and mature. She wasn’t a kid anymore, and Trisha needed her.

She set the table and checked the stew before stepping into the den where Trisha was staring at the television.

“Who was on the phone?” Trisha asked as she turned down the volume on the evening news.

“Aunt Rebecca,” Lindsay said, sitting on the arm of the sofa. “She wanted to see how everything was going here.”

“I bet she misses you.”

Lindsay nodded. “I’m sure she does, but the family will take good care of her.”

Trisha adjusted herself in the chair, wincing as she moved her leg.

“Do you need some medicine?” Lindsay asked, moving over to her chair.

“No, no.” Trisha waved off Lindsay’s outstretched arm. “I’m fine. That stew smells so good. I’m glad you used the crockpot.”

“Yeah,” Lindsay said, leaning back on the sofa arm. “We’re out of meat now. I really need to go to the grocery store. Do you think Frank could take me tonight after supper if you’re feeling okay?”

“I’m sure he will. He should be home any moment.” Trisha gestured toward the sofa. “Take a load off and sit with me while we wait for him. I heard you cleaning the upstairs earlier. You work too hard.”

Lindsay sank into the sofa and stared at the television, wondering how Rebecca’s potpie tasted.

“You want me to take half of the list?” Frank asked Lindsay while they crossed the parking lot of the Bloom grocery store later that evening. “Grocery shopping isn’t my thing, but I can handle finding the easy stuff.”

Lindsay examined her list. “How about you get the milk, bread, and eggs, and I’ll meet you at the checkout?”

He gave a mock salute. “Sounds like a plan, Lindsay-girl.”

The entrance doors opened with a whoosh, and they each grabbed a shopping cart and took off in opposite directions. Lindsay marched through the aisles on a mission, filling the cart with meat, poultry, spices, vegetables, pasta, and produce. She
steered toward the checkout and scanned the knot of customers for Frank.

Voices swirled around her, and for a brief moment, Lindsay thought she heard her name ring out among the chatter. She scanned the sea of faces, searching for Frank and wondering how long it could possibly take him to find milk, bread, and eggs while she’d nearly filled her cart with a variety of items.

“Lindsay Bedford?” a feminine voice called. “Lindsay Bedford? Is that you?”

Lindsay spun and nearly knocked over a young woman. Lindsay studied the girl, trying to place her face. The woman was clad in short denim shorts and a gray tank top with bright pink bathing suit straps tied in a bow at the nape of her neck beneath her platinum blonde ponytail.

“Lindsay?” the woman asked again. Her smile transformed to a frown. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me. We survived crazy Mr. Richardson’s English class together.”

Lindsay gasped. “Vicki?”

“Yeah!” Vicki opened her arms. “It’s so good to see you.”

Lindsay stepped into her old friend’s hug and laughed. “You look so different.”

Vicki snickered. “You like the platinum blonde?” She pointed to her scalp. “I need to get my sister to take care of the roots. It’s been about a month since my last touch up.” Her gaze raked over Lindsay. “You look so different. Isn’t it a bit hot for a denim jumper? Besides, you’re at the beach. You should be in shorts and tank tops.”