Grace's Forgiveness (26 page)

Hands to her cheeks, Grace rushed to her friend. “This is thrilling! Levi must be overjoyed.”

Sarah yawned. “We are thrilled, but I’ve been overly tired. The doctor wants me off my feet as much as possible. Levi went with me to the doctor. He insists we hire someone to take my place. I’m tired all the time and my back and legs ache. I would guess I’m around three and a half to four months.”

“I’m not aware of anyone seeking a job. Let’s ask around. I can handle the shop for a while by myself. The extra work will keep my mind occupied.” She shook off her sadness. “I’m elated for you and Levi. I wonder if you’ll have a maedel or a boy.”

“Levi and I would like to have a maedel first, but we’ll be thrilled to have a boy. I hope our child has his curly red hair and deep brown eyes.”

Grace chuckled. “Maybe you’ll have twins or triplets.”

Gasping, Sarah put a hand to her chest. “You, my mamm, and yours would have to move in!”

They laughed. It warmed Grace’s heart to laugh. She’d missed being happy. A pang of guilt nagged at her. She’d sulked about her unhappiness and not paid attention to her friend. She would make a conscious effort to change her attitude. “I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

“My parents are thrilled. Mamm is probably cooking enough for an army as we speak. She’ll kumme to my haus every day to cook, clean, and make sure I don’t overdo anything. Levi loves her, but this may be too much family time for him.”

Sarah patted her stomach. “Enough chatter about this little one. The black circles under your eyes tell me you’re not getting a good night’s sleep. I’m so sorry you’re going through this sad time in your life. Have you spoken to Mark?”

“No. We agreed to honor Daed’s request. I’m confident he’ll approach Daed again and try to reason with him, but it can’t be soon enough for me. I miss him something terrible.”

Sarah covered Grace’s hand. “Practicing patience isn’t easy for either of us, but you must try and enjoy your life in the meantime. Sulking won’t benefit you.”

“Let’s drop this subject. I’m ecstatic for you. You have boosted my mood. You should go home and get off your feet.”

“Mamm’s doting on me, and so is Levi. I like the attention.”

Grace turned Sarah toward the door. “Tell your mamm I said hello. Go home and relax.” She watched Sarah until her friend was out of sight. Staring at the connecting door, she crossed the room. Putting her hand on the doorknob, she withdrew it.

Mark’s shop had been dark when she arrived this morning. Had he kumme in? It would’ve been a joy to share Sarah’s announcement with him. Not long ago, she’d thought she’d be having kinner with Mark shortly after they were married.

The shop door swung open and jerked her out of her thoughts. She recognized Madeline Plank’s dochder from church. Grace noticed her hazel eyes, brown hair, and slender frame. She was beautiful.

“How may I help you? Are you shopping for anything in particular?”

The young woman she guessed to be about seventeen wrung her hands and stared at her with a worried face. “I’m Anna Plank. I’m in need of a job. Do you have anything available?”

Putting a hand to her chest, Grace gasped. “Yes. My partner and friend, Sarah Helmuth, is with child and needs to stay off her feet. I need someone to take her place until she decides if she wants to return and bring her boppli to work with her. I had planned to put a notice in the post office and General Store.” Grace was certain God had seen their need and sent Anna.

Anna’s pleading eyes held hers. “My daed died right after we moved here. I have two younger schweschders and Mamm’s wages at the bakery aren’t enough to provide for our needs.”

Grace liked the young woman on sight. To help someone right now would be the best medicine to lift her mood. Why not give Anna a chance? Circling the counter, Grace clasped Anna’s hands. “You’re hired. We open at eight and close at five. I can pay you five dollars a week.” It was twenty-five cents more than she should pay her, but she couldn’t resist offering Anna more money. Her faded gray dress and white apron had been stitched in places where torn, but they were clean. Up close, her frame appeared too thin. This family must be struggling to fend for themselves. “When would you like to begin work?”

“May I stay and work today? I stitch quilts. I’m familiar with most of the patterns you have displayed.”

“I’d love to have you stay and work today.” Grace explained the purpose of the pocket on the keepsake pocket quilts.

Two Englisch women walked in dressed in calico dresses and big hats with ribbons. Their black boots shined, and their pretty hair was pinned in curls. The older woman approached them. “Can you show us your wedding quilts?”

The younger woman pointed to a keepsake pocket quilt. “Tell me about this quilt.”

Grace leaned in to Anna. “You help her, and I’ll assist the other.”

She watched Anna out of the corner of her eye while her customers awed over a yellow and white keepsake pocket quilt with a heart stitched in the center. “Grandmother would love this quilt. Let’s get it for her.”

“Let’s wait until you’ve had a chance to view other quilts.” The older woman strolled away from the younger one and perused the shop’s other textiles.

The younger woman held out the blue wedding quilt. “Mother, I like this pattern. Meet Anna. She showed me the fine stitching around the edges. It’s lovely. I’d like to give it to Alfred for a wedding gift. He can cover his legs when he reads in the winter by the fire.”

The mamm joined her dochder and fingered the corner. “We’ll buy them both.” She slid a finger in the pocket. “What do you put in here?”

“You write a letter to the person who will receive the quilt. They can pull the letter out and read it anytime and think of you.”

“I’ll write a love letter to Alfred and tuck it inside. You and I can write letters to Grandmother and stash them in the heart quilt for her. She would be touched.”

The mamm cast an affectionate, endearing glance at her dochder. “The letters are a lovely idea. Let’s pay for the quilts.”

Grace crossed the room to the counter and grasped the cashbox and accepted the Mamm’s money. She recorded the sales in her journal. The wedding quilt stung her heart to touch it. She had one similar to give to Mark on their wedding day.

The two women thanked them, carried their quilts, and pulled the door shut behind them.

Anna put her hands to her cheeks. “The keepsake pocket quilt is a wonderful idea. I’m going to stitch a quilt for Mamm as soon as I can afford to buy the supplies.”

She dug in a box and held up a fistful of fabric pieces in assorted colors. “You can have this material for your quilt.”

Anna separated the swatches. “Danki. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re wilkom. Before another customer kummes in, let me show you the supply room.” Grace pointed to the shelves. “This is where we keep extra stock. We have women in town who stitch quilts for us and bring them in on a weekly basis.” She gestured to the cot. “I’m a midwife. Most of the Amish women in our community are aware I work here, and from time to time have shown up in need of my services.”

“I’d be happy to help you. I’m not squeamish about blood.”

“If I need assistance, it’s good to know you’re willing, but usually we have customers and I’ll need you in front to wait on them. I will ask you to heat pots of water on the stove for me if you’re not busy.” She cupped her ear. “Someone came in. We should return to the front.”

An Englisch woman approached them. She grimaced at Grace’s birthmark then directed her question to Anna. “I’m interested in a bed covering for my mother. Maybe a plain white quilt would do. Do you have any?”

Anna grabbed one from the shelf. “How does this one suit you?”

Her new helper was going to work out fine. She’d taken the rude woman off her hands.

Grace selected a quilt from the back and hung it on the wall to replace the Jacob’s ladder–patterned quilt purchased earlier. The harsh rap and deliberate click of the customer’s boots set her teeth on edge.

Anna explained the purpose of a keepsake pocket quilt. She ran her hand along a puffy white material. “If this eyelet one doesn’t suit you, we have more.”

The woman’s smile bloomed. “This is exactly what I had in mind. Thank you. How much is it?”

Anna unpinned the price note and handed it to the woman.

“I’ll buy it.” The woman followed Anna, carrying the quilt to the counter.

Grace opened the cashbox. The woman wouldn’t look at her. She pressed the exact number of coins in Anna’s hand and bid them farewell.

Frowning, Anna raised her eyebrows. “The woman was rude to you.”

“I’m used to it, at least most of the time. Danki for waiting on her. I’m pleased with how you handle customers. Do you have any questions?”

“No, I’m comfortable waiting on customers and collecting payment. I like working here. Danki for hiring me.”

The rest of the day, Grace studied Anna assisting customers. The attractive woman had a clear and pleasant voice and sold quilts and aprons as if she’d worked there for a long time. The young woman couldn’t be more perfect for the job. Sarah would be pleased she’d found such a capable Amish woman to take her place.

Grace put a hand to her head. Pain throbbed. Opening her bag, she searched for aspirin powder. She’d have to buy some.

Anna approached her. “You look tired, and your eyes are weary. Are you all right?”

“I have a headache. Do you mind staying here while I go to the apothecary for some aspirin powder?”

Shaking her head, she rested her hand on Grace’s arm. “No, you stay. I’ll go. I’d like to pick up a small pan from the General Store.” Anna hoisted a plain blue bag over her shoulder. “I won’t be long.”

Grace bid her farewell and put a new patchwork keepsake quilt on empty hooks in place of the one Anna sold earlier.

The door opened and banged against the wall. Mark and Noah entered carrying Dusty. Blood dripped from the dog’s body.

Mark.
Gasping, Grace rushed to them. “What happened to Dusty?”

“He’s got a large cut on his side. He roams the woods in the early morning when I let him out to do his business. This morning he didn’t kumme back around his usual time. I found him like this. There was no one around. I got the bleeding to stop for a time, but he struggled to get up and it started again. I haven’t been able to stop it. I fear he needs stitches.”

“Follow me to the back room and lower Dusty on the cot.” She turned to Noah. “My bag is under the counter. Will you get it for me?”

Noah left but returned in moments, handing her the bag. “Can you tell how he hurt himself?”

Grace bent and gently wiped Dusty’s wound and examined him. “It looks as if he’s cut himself on wire or a sharp branch.” She threw open her bag and selected her stethoscope, bandages, saline solution, thread, and a needle. She grasped clean rags from a small stand.

Mark glanced at Noah. “Will you look in front of my shop? If there are customers, please go and wait on them. The cashbox and journal are under the counter.”

“Grace, do you have a rag I can wipe my hands on?”

She indicated the stack beside her. “Grab a cloth from there.”

Mark wiped his hands, dug his fingers in his pocket, and pulled out his keys. “Here’s the key to the box. I’ll be over in a few minutes. Danki.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Take care of Dusty.” Noah rushed out of the room.

Mark looked at her with worried eyes. “It’s so good to finally see you, but I shouldn’t be here. I’m sorry to bring him to you. What if your daed kummes in?”

“Let’s not worry about it. Chances are he won’t. Even so, I’m glad you’re here. We should still help each other in time of need. He would want me to care for Dusty, given the circumstances.” She was glad Dusty was such a good dog and didn’t give her any trouble while she cleaned the wound, stitched it, and applied a bandage. “He’ll be sore for a couple of days, but he’ll be fine.” She met Mark’s gaze.

He clasped her hand. “I miss you. I pray each night for God to change your daed’s mind about us. I’m so sorry about this, Grace.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek. The hurt in his face gripped her heart. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Abel had pushed his way into Mark’s life and thought only of himself. Not having siblings, she couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Mark to grow up sharing a close relationship with Abel only to have him leave then return and cause such heartbreak. “You are a good man. We have to have faith this will work out.”

Anna peeked inside. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Jerking his hand back, Mark stared at Dusty, hoping Anna hadn’t witnessed his gesture.

Grace stepped back from Mark. “Kumme in. Meet Mark King. He owns the store next to ours. He brought his dog, Dusty, in for treatment. Mark found him injured. Mark, Anna Plank.”

Putting a hand to her open mouth, she stepped in and studied the dog. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. King.”

“Call me Mark. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure we’ll run into each other now and then.”

“Your dog is beautiful. And please, call me Anna.” She turned to Grace. “Will Dusty be all right? Do you need any help?”

“No, Dusty will be fine. His wounds should heal in time.”

Anna handed Grace the aspirin powder pack. “I got you three packets.”

“I appreciate you getting them for me. If you don’t mind, will you go to the front and see if anyone has kumme in?”

“I’d be glad to.”

“Danki.” Waiting until her new friend was out of sight, she met Mark’s eyes. “My life changed for the better when I met you. I’ve never been happier. Abel ruined everything for us. I pray God will intervene and we can plan our future together.”

A door slammed, and they both jumped. “It sounds like several customers have entered. I should help Anna.”

“Where’s Sarah?”

“She’s going to have a boppli! I’m so happy for her and Levi. The doctor ordered her home to rest for an indefinite period of time.”

“Levi must be thrilled! I’m happy for them.”

“I need someone to take her place at the shop. I noticed Anna in church Sunday, and I asked Mamm about her family. She, her mamm, and her schweschders moved here from Lancaster. Her mamm is a widow.