A Life of Joy (36 page)

Lindsay held up the envelope from the pocket of her jumper and explained how she’d translated a letter for Mrs. Fisher.

Andrea listened to the story with her eyes wide with surprise. “Lindsay, that is so amazing that you were able to help her. You have a gift.”

Lindsay blanched. “You think so?”

“Are you kidding?” Andrea leaned forward. “You changed Mrs. Fisher’s life. You not only helped this woman communicate with the rest of the nurses, but you also helped her reconcile with her daughter after years of regret and sorrow. You’re like a hero!”

Lindsay blushed. “Don’t pin a medal on me yet. We’re not sure how her daughter will react to the letter.”

“If she wants to do the right thing, she’ll forgive her mother and come visit. Maybe she’ll even move her out to California so Mrs. Fisher can be a part of her children’s life.”

Lindsay held up the bottle of water as if to toast the idea. “I’ll definitely say a prayer for that.”

“Me too.” Andrea smiled. “You’re amazing.”

“Thank you,” Lindsay said softly.

Later that evening, Lindsay found an envelope addressed to her sitting on her bed. Her heart thumped in her chest when she spotted the return address from Matthew Glick. Her fingers shook with excitement as she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Dear Lindsay
,

I was froh to receive your letter. I apologize for taking so much time to respond. Although I’ve sat down several times to write this letter, each time I’ve struggled to form the right words. I suppose I’m not much of a letter writer and I never know what to say
.

That’s wunderbaar you’re enjoying your time in Virginia. I’m glad to hear that your aenti is doing better. I would imagine that the woman you’re helping at the nursing home is very thankful to have you there. It’s surprising that your knowledge of Dietsch has been helpful in Virginia
.

I’m staying busy at the furniture store. It seems we can never get caught up on our projects, but we’re happy that the Lord has blessed us with an abundance of work
.

Youth gatherings aren’t the same without you. Katie has most likely told you that Samuel and Lizzie Anne are spending a lot of time together. I knew that they would eventually start courting, but I didn’t think Samuel would act this soon since Lizzie Anne isn’t baptized yet
.

Katie shared with me that she’s been helping Rebecca and Daniel. Rebecca hasn’t been feeling well, but I haven’t heard what the doctor has said about her illness. I hope that she’s doing better
.

I’ve been working on a project at night in my barn. If you ever feel like calling and talking, you can find me out there in the evenings. I’ll include the number to my barn phone at the bottom of this page
.

I look forward to having more of your whoopie pies when you get home. My sister attempted to make them the other night, but they were nowhere near as good as yours
.

Please respond and let me know when you’ll be back in Bird-in-Hand
.

Most sincerely,
Matthew

P.S. I’ve included a little gift for you. I hope it brings you happy memories and smiles when you open it
.

Lindsay looked back in the envelope and found a smaller envelope stuffed inside. She ripped it open and pulled out a small necklace made of daisies. She laughed and put the chain over her head. Closing her eyes, she hoped that Matthew wouldn’t think about making a flowery necklace for another girl. With a grin on a face and her cheeks heating with excitement, she pulled out a notepad and began to reply to him.

21

R
ebecca sat at the kitchen table Tuesday morning while her children and husband ate. She couldn’t even think of eating after the night she’d spent in the bathroom with an upset stomach. When a sudden overwhelming sick feeling rained down on her, she rose and rushed to the bathroom.

“
Was iss letz?
” Daniel called after her.

Entering the bathroom, Rebecca slammed the door behind her. She lowered herself to the floor in front of the commode and was sick. She then stood and washed her face with a cool washcloth. She wished she could escape this horrible sick feeling that continued to haunt her all day and night.

She then lowered herself onto the commode. After she was finished, she looked down and found blood.

“Oh no,” she whispered, her heart racing. “No, no, no!” She cracked the door open. “Daniel! You must get me to the doctor.
Dummle
!”

Rebecca wiped her eyes while sitting next to Daniel in the van later that morning.

“Dr. Fitzgerald said everything will be okay,” Daniel said softly, taking her hands in his. “You just have to stay on complete bed rest. You can’t lift a finger. Katie and I will take care
of everything. I’ll talk to my
mamm
and she’ll help us too. We just may have to let the community know that you’re having complications so that everyone can pitch in and help us. You and the
boppli
will be fine.”

Rebecca nodded, holding her breath in an attempt not to cry.

He lifted her chin with the tip of his finger, angling her face so that she looked into his blue eyes.
“Mei liewe, ich liebe dich,”
he whispered. “We’ll be just fine. Hold on to your faith.”

She nodded again, unable to speak due to the lump swelling in her throat.

“Let’s go inside and tell Katie that you’re all right,” he said. “She was very worried when we rushed out the door.”

Rebecca followed Daniel into the kitchen, where Katie sat at the table with the children, who were eating a snack.

Katie jumped up and ran over to them. “How are you?”

“She’s going to be just fine.” Daniel motioned toward the family room. “Let’s talk in here.”

Rebecca sat on the sofa while Katie and Daniel stood by the door.

“The doctor said that Rebecca needs to be on complete bed rest starting now,” he explained. “She shouldn’t get out of bed except to use the bathroom. I need to take her back to see him in a week.”

Her face full of worry, Katie looked at Rebecca. “You go up and stay in bed, and I’ll find a little bell you can ring whenever you need something. I’ll take care of everything. I can stay at night and cook and clean up the kitchen too. Maybe I should just move in and sleep in Lindsay’s room so that I can help at night if the
kinner
wake up.”

Daniel pulled on his beard, considering the suggestion. “That may be a
wunderbaar
idea. I’ll have to talk to your dat.”

Katie gave Rebecca a pleading look. “Don’t you agree that I should stay? I’m really worried about you.”

“
Ya
,” Rebecca whispered while fighting back her threatening tears. “Maybe you should.”

Katie stepped over to her and took her arm. “Let me help you upstairs.”

They climbed the stairs together, and Katie guided Rebecca into the master bedroom. She helped Rebecca change into her nightgown and then pulled back the covers for her.

“Danki,”
Rebecca said, snuggling under the sheet. “You’ve been a tremendous help.”

Katie patted Rebecca’s arm. “You just take it easy. Don’t get up at all. I’ll be here as soon as you call for me.”

Rebecca touched Katie’s ivory cheek. “You’re a
gut maedel
. Please do me one favor, ya?”

“What’s that,
aenti
?”

“Please don’t tell Lindsay that I’m not doing well. I don’t want her to worry.” Rebecca rolled onto her side. “I’m going to sleep now.”

“Okay,” Katie whispered.

Later that afternoon, Katie peeked into Emma’s room and found her snoring on her belly in her crib. She moved to Junior’s room and spotted him asleep on his side while sucking his thumb and hugging his favorite teddy bear. Tiptoeing down the hallway she looked in on Rebecca, who was also asleep.

She made her way down the stairs to the kitchen, where she poured herself a glass of tea and sat at the table. Flipping through an Amish furniture catalog, she pondered Rebecca. While she knew her brother had been right about keeping secrets and obeying their elders, Katie couldn’t stop feeling like Rebecca’s request to keep her pregnancy complications from Lindsay was wrong.

Katie knew Lindsay like she knew her sisters, and she believed with her whole heart that Lindsay would want to be here
to help Rebecca. She also believed that Lindsay would be upset and very hurt if she found out that this information had been deliberately kept from her.

Closing her eyes, Katie sent up a prayer asking God if she should disobey Rebecca and write a letter to Lindsay, telling her everything about Rebecca’s condition.

She opened her eyes, and the thought of writing the letter continued to poke at her. She moved to the counter and found a notepad and pen in a drawer.

Sitting down at the table, she took a deep breath.

“I hope Rebecca will forgive me someday,” she whispered as she opened to a blank page. Then she began to write.

Kleina Kaffee Kuchen
(Little Coffee Cakes)

½ cup shortening, half butter

3 cups flour, sifted

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

3 – ¼ Tbsp sugar

¾ cup cream

¼ cup milk

1 yeast cake

Dissolve yeast cake in ¼ cup of warm milk; add 2 Tbsp of flour and let stand in warm place to rise. Cream butter and sugar; add salt and eggs, beaten in one at a time. Add the sponge containing the yeast, the lukewarm cream, and sifted flour. Grease muffin pans with flour sifted over them. Fill pans to 2/3 full with batter. Set in warm place until dough rises to top of pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

22

F
riday night, Lindsay stood at the sink washing dishes from the fried chicken she’d made for supper. She couldn’t stop her smile. She’d answered Matthew’s letter last Saturday and already received another response from him this morning. This time, he didn’t wait a few weeks to respond; he must’ve written her reply the day he’d received the letter. She planned to respond to him as soon as she’d finished her chores.

Trisha walked over to the sink, her walking cast thumping on the floor with each step, and deposited dirty utensils into the soapy water.

“You really shouldn’t be helping me,” Lindsay scolded. “You need to keep taking it easy.”

“Are you kidding me?” Trisha said. “I’ve been taking it easy for too long. The doctor told me that I need to get up and walk with this cast, and I intend to do it. I’m just glad to get my rear out of the chair. In fact, you should take it easy. You’ve been my indentured servant for almost two months now. Go out with your friends tonight and have some fun.”

Lindsay paused, considering the suggestion. She had the urge to write Matthew, but perhaps she could respond to his letter when she got home.

“What?” Trisha asked, leaning against the counter and studying Lindsay’s expression. “What’s on your mind?”