A Life of Joy (24 page)

He gave one-word answers and nodded frequently while she prattled on about the weather and upcoming church service. Soon she heard the crunch of tires in the driveway, and Daniel jumped up from the table.

“Mike is early,” he said, wiping his beard. He stood and kissed Emma’s cheek. “Be
gut
for your
mamm
today.”

Emma giggled in response.

He then patted Junior on his head. “You too.”

Junior smiled up at him. “Have a
gut
day, Dat.”

Rebecca crossed to the counter, grabbed Daniel’s lunch pail, and handed it to him as he headed for the door. “I hope you have a
gut
day.”

“Danki.”
He kissed her cheek, his whiskers tickling her skin.

“Ich liebe dich.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close.

He looked concerned. “
Was iss letz, mei lieb
?”

Rebecca glanced back toward the children and found them eating breakfast and making faces at each other across the table.
Emma squealed while Junior crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue.

“I miss Lindsay, and I worry about her all the time,” she whispered. “I keep thinking that she’s going to come through the door or down the stairs from her bedroom. She’s on my mind all the time, Daniel. I hope she comes back to us soon.”

“I know you’re worried about her, and I think of her too,” he said, his expression softening. “But you have to trust her to make the right decision about her future. You also have to trust God. He knows what’s best for her, and He’ll help her make the right choice.”

“I know,” she said, straightening his shirt. “But I can’t stop my thoughts, and I can’t shake the feeling that she belongs here with us.”

“All you can do is let go and let God guide her,” he said. “You can be her strength when she calls and writes, but you have to leave it to God.”

A horn tooted out in the driveway, and Daniel touched her cheek. “I have to go. We’ll talk later, ya?”

“I’ll see you tonight,” she said as he disappeared out the door.

Rebecca hugged her arms to her stomach as a wave of nausea gripped her. Instead of finishing her breakfast, she cleaned up the dishes while the children ate the rest of their meal. She talked with the children about their upcoming day in order to steer her thoughts away from her sick stomach.

Once breakfast was finished, she took the children into the family room and brought out their toys, and then she returned to the kitchen. While keeping an eye on the children, she swept the floor and straightened the counters. When a wave of nausea overtook her, she ran to the bathroom.

Stepping back into the kitchen, she ran cold water over a paper towel, sat at the kitchen table, and dabbed her forehead. She broke out into a cold sweat, and she breathed deeply to stop her racing heart. She prayed that this horrible sick feeling
would dissipate soon. However, after nearly twenty minutes, she still felt ill.

The clip-clop of a horse drew Rebecca’s attention to the back door. She wondered who was coming to visit. She wasn’t expecting anyone today.

Slowly, Rebecca rose and started for the back door, trying in vain to ignore the dizzy feeling washing over her. Pulling the door open, she found Elizabeth and Katie standing on the porch, studying her with concerned eyes.

“Elizabeth,” Rebecca said, leaning on the door. “Katie. What are you doing here?”

“How are you?” Elizabeth asked.

Rebecca swiped her hand over her clammy forehead. “I’m fine,
danki
.”

Reaching out, Katie touched Rebecca’s arm. “You don’t look okay,
Aenti
.”

Elizabeth gestured toward the kitchen. “Why don’t we go sit down and talk?”

Rebecca led them into the kitchen and moved toward the refrigerator. “Would you like a drink?”

Katie appeared behind her. “Sit. I’ll get the drinks.”

Rebecca gave a sigh of defeat and moved to the table.

Squealing sounded from the doorway as Emma and Junior appeared and climbed onto each of Elizabeth’s knees. The children hugged and kissed Elizabeth while she laughed.

Rebecca smiled as she watched her mother-in-law talk to the children and then listen intently while they responded to her questions.

Katie brought three glasses of tea to the table for the adults and then two plastic cups of water for the children.

“
Kinner
, why don’t you draw me a picture?” Elizabeth suggested, glancing at Katie. “You could draw while I talk to your
mamm
.”

The children became excited at the suggestion, and Katie
brought them paper and crayons from the drawer at the end of the counter. Katie lifted Emma into her high chair and gave her paper and one crayon. Junior hopped into his chair and began scribbling on the paper.

“Danki,”
Rebecca told her niece.

Katie sat next to Rebecca.
“Gern gschehne.”

Rebecca sipped her drink. Her stomach sickness eased and she felt her shoulders relax. She glanced at her children and smiled and then looked at her mother-in-law. “Did Daniel send you to check on me?”

Elizabeth gave a knowing smile since Rebecca had shared her secret in confidence when they visited last Saturday. Elizabeth was elated but promised to keep it a secret. “He called me at the bakery and mentioned that you seemed out of sorts this morning.”

Rebecca raised an eyebrow at the statement. “Out of sorts?”

“Are you feeling okay?” Katie asked. “You look as if you’re sick to your stomach.”

Rebecca was always impressed by how observant her niece was. “I think I may have a bit of a stomach bug, but I’m feeling better now.”

“You look a little green,” Katie added. “Did you eat something unusual last night?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I’m certain it was just a fluke.” She hoped the Lord would forgive her white lie to her niece, but it was Amish tradition to keep pregnancies a secret in order to surprise family members and friends, and also to avoid heartache and disappointment if something went wrong early.

“Have you heard from Lindsay?” Katie asked, her eyes hopeful.

Rebecca nodded. “I did get a letter from her yesterday, but I haven’t talked to her on the phone in a few days. I was planning to call her later today. I’m sure she’s just busy.”

“Please tell her I said hello when you talk to her,” Katie said.
“I got a short letter from her, and she sounded like she was having a good time.”

“That’s
gut
,” Rebecca said. “How is the bakery? Very busy,
ya
?”

“Ya.”
Elizabeth gripped her glass. “It’s very busy with nonstop customers, but we’ve hired some more help.”

“Oh?” Rebecca asked with surprise.

“
Ya
, a few more women from the community have joined us for the season,” Elizabeth explained. “Kathryn and Beth Anne are enjoying training them.”

“That’s
wunderbaar,”
Rebecca said.

They discussed recipes and the most popular dishes at the bakery and then Elizabeth asked the children to tell her about their drawings. Rebecca glanced at the clock and noticed that Katie and Elizabeth had visited for more than an hour.

“I guess you need to get back?” Rebecca asked. “I’m sure the ladies at the bakery miss you.”

Katie stood and gathered up the glasses. “We have a little bit of time.” She moved to the sink and washed the glasses.

“Katie,” Rebecca said. “I can take care of those.”

“Don’t be
gegisch, Aenti
,” Katie said without turning around. “I’m taking care of it for you.”

Rebecca glanced at Elizabeth who shrugged.

“She’s just like her
dat
, I guess,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle.

Rebecca laughed. “I guess so. Stubbornness runs in the Kauffman family.”

Katie placed the clean glasses on the drain and faced them. “Do you know when Lindsay will be back?”

Rebecca shook her head. “No, but I assume it will be a few weeks. Trisha has a bad break and won’t be able to get around for a while.”

“How are you going to cope without her?” Katie folded her arms across her chest.

“I’ll be just fine,
danki
.” Rebecca leaned down and picked
up a crayon that Emma had dropped onto the floor. “We miss Lindsay, but we’ll get by.”

“I think I should come help you,” Katie said, stepping over to the table. “Since
Mammi
has the bakery under control, I can fill in for Lindsay here.”

Rebecca shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I don’t want to take you away from the business. Besides, Lindsay worked at the bakery and didn’t stay home and help me. Why should you leave your job to help me when I’ve never had help before?”

Elizabeth touched Rebecca’s shoulder. “Because you seem like you have your hands full here. Daniel is concerned about you.”

Rebecca was surprised to hear that Daniel had shared his feelings with his mother, since he wasn’t one to open up very often, and rarely to anyone other than Rebecca. “He said that?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “He didn’t say it with words, but he said it with his tone. You know your husband—he isn’t good at expressing his feelings. But I’m his mother, and I can tell by his voice when he’s upset or concerned.”

Katie’s eyes pleaded with Rebecca. “I would love to come and help you,
Aenti
. Please say that I can.”

Rebecca considered it for a moment, weighing the options. “What would your mother think of this arrangement?”

Katie shrugged. “I think she’d be okay with it.”

Rebecca patted her hand. “Why don’t you discuss it with your parents, and I’ll talk to Daniel tonight.”

“Okay.” Katie smiled. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Rebecca nodded.
“Gut.”

Elizabeth stood. “We’d better get going now.” She kissed each of the children and then gave Rebecca a gentle hug. “You take
gut
care of yourself.”

“Of course I will,” Rebecca said.

Katie hugged and kissed the children and then followed Elizabeth to the door. “Good-bye. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“
Danki
for checking on me,” Rebecca called after them.

As the kitchen door clicked shut behind them, Rebecca smiled. She was thankful for her wonderful family.

Later that evening, Katie dried the dishes while her sister Nancy washed, and her mother swept the floor.

“Mamm,”
Katie began, “would it be okay if I went over to help Rebecca during the day instead of working at the bakery? I think she needs help while Lindsay’s in Virginia.
Mammi
and I talked about it, and she thinks it’s a
gut
idea.”

Sadie stopped sweeping and looked surprised. “Doesn’t your
grossmammi
need help in the bakery?”

Katie wiped her hands on a towel. “
Mammi
hired a few more bakers, and we’re all set for the summer. She suggested I start helping Rebecca right away.”

Nancy placed a pot on the towel lying on the counter. “Like Monday?”

“Ya,”
Katie said.

Sadie looked curious. “Lindsay worked in the bakery when she was here. Why does Rebecca suddenly need help?”

“She hasn’t been feeling very well.” Katie shrugged. “Maybe it’s because she and the
kinner
miss Lindsay so much. I can watch after them while she gets rest.”

“Lindsay’s coming back,
ya
?” Nancy asked. “She’s not staying in Virginia forever, no?”

“She’s coming back,” Katie said. “At least, I hope so.” She glanced at her mother. “What do you think,
Mamm
? May I work for Rebecca since
Mammi
says it’s okay? It would be fun to care for little ones for a while.”

Sadie paused and tapped the broom handle while considering the question. “I think you should ask your
dat
. He should agree to it, but you know how your
dat
can be. Go on out to the barn and ask him. Nancy and I can finish up the kitchen.”

“Danki.”
Katie rushed out the back door and found her father, Robert, and her oldest brother, Samuel, sitting in the barn with the cows.
“Dat,”
she said as she approached. “
Mamm
told me to ask your permission about something.”

Samuel looked on with interest while adjusting his straw hat on his head.

Robert leaned against the wall. “What is it?”

Katie explained that she wanted to work for Rebecca, detailing the reasons why it was so important to her.

Robert rubbed his beard and frowned. “If it’s okay with your
mammi
, then it’s okay with me.”

“Danki
!” She hugged her father and then started toward the house.

“Wait up,” Samuel called after her. He fell into step with her as they approached the porch. “What’s wrong with Rebecca?”

“I’m not certain,” Katie said. “I think she has a stomach flu.
Onkel
Daniel and
Mammi
are worried about her.”

“Have you heard from Lindsay?” he asked.