The Quilter's Daughter (4 page)

Silence.

Abby peered into the kitchen.

The room was empty.

Her next stop was the living room, but Lena wasn’t there, either.
Where could she be? Surely not still in bed. Why would the horse and buggy be out front if she were sleeping?

Abby climbed the stairs to the bedrooms. “Lena!”

“I’m in here” came a muffled reply.

Abby hurried to Lena and Harold’s room. The door was ajar, so she felt it would be okay to step inside. She found Lena fully dressed, lying on top of the bed. Her face looked pale, and dark circles shadowed her pale blue eyes.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” Abby rushed to the bed and placed her hand on Lena’s forehead. She felt relief to discover that it was cool.

Lena moaned. “I’ve been throwing up all morning.”

“You must have the flu, although I’m sure you don’t have a fever. Want me to get a cup of mint tea to settle your stomach?”

Lena shook her head. “It’s not the flu.”

“It couldn’t be food poisoning. You, me, and Harold all had the same thing for supper last night, and I feel fine.”

Lena pushed herself to a sitting position, leaning her head against the pillows that were propped against the headboard. “I—I think I’m in a family way. I missed my monthly, and for the last week I’ve felt awfully nauseous.” She slowly shook her head. “Although today’s been the worst.”

Abby’s mouth dropped open. She lived under the same roof with Harold and Lena and hadn’t suspected a thing. How could she be so unobservant? Maybe those terrible nightmares she’d been having were making it hard for her to focus.

She sank to the edge of the bed, too numb to say a word. It didn’t seem possible that Naomi, Mom, and now Lena were all expecting
bopplin
so close together.

“I thought the queasiness would pass, and that I’d be able to come into work. But soon after I got the horse hitched to the buggy, I had another round of vomiting.” Lena gripped her stomach and drew in a deep breath.

Abby stood. “I’ll go downstairs and fix you some mint tea. Maybe some saltine crackers would help, too.”

“Danki.”
Lena offered Abby a weak smile. “I’m planning to see the doctor next week, but I’m almost certain I’m pregnant.”

“Guess I’ll have to get busy and sew some little blankets,” Abby said. “Between you, Mom, and Naomi, there will surely be a need for many baby things.”

“Harold and I have been married a little over five years, and we were about to give up hope of ever having any kinner.” Lena smiled. “This is such a happy surprise, and it seems like God is really blessing our family these days.”

“Jah, I believe He is.” Abby left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen, but a shadow of fear crept into her soul; the same one she’d been fighting since she got the news of her mother’s pregnancy. Now she had the worry of her sister-in-law, too.

The scripture verse found in Psalm 55:22 filled Abby’s thoughts.
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
She drew in a deep
breath. “I will not worry, but will trust God in all things.”

When Abby returned to her shop some time later, things were really busy. The women who had come to help with the quilt had already eaten their lunch and were hard at work in front of the quilting frame, exchanging stories and comparing thimbles. Abby noticed that some of the women’s fingers had turned green from their skin interacting with the metal of the thimble. Mary Kaulp had a hole in her thimble and said it had worn through from so much use. “Sometimes the needle sticks through it, and that’s sure a big surprise,” Mary quipped.

Abby flinched as she thought of how many times she had pricked her finger while working on a quilt. Still, she wouldn’t trade the work for anything. She glanced over at Lester’s mamm, Deborah. The dark-haired woman sat in front of one of the treadle sewing machines, pumping her legs up and down as she folded over the lining of the quilt she was working on in order to stitch down the binding. Everyone kept busy, and there were several customers milling around the store. Three English women stood in line behind the counter, waiting for their purchases to be rung up. Rachel’s cheeks were bright red, and her forehead glistened with perspiration.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she whispered when Abby slipped behind the counter. “Things have been kind of hectic.”

“Sorry for taking so long, but I found Lena at home, and she wasn’t feeling well.” Abby helped her friend fold the Rose of Sharon quilt that an English customer had purchased. “I’ll tell you more about it later.”

“Jah, okay.”

For the next hour, Abby and Rachel waited on customers, and in between they worked with the women on the Dahlia pattern quilt. At two o’clock Lester entered the store.

“I came by earlier hopin’ to take you to lunch,” he told Abby, “but Rachel said you’d gone lookin’ for Lena because she didn’t show up for work this morning.”

Abby nodded. “I was getting worried about her.”

“Did ya find her? Is she okay?” Lester’s deep-set blue eyes revealed concern.

“She was still at home, not feeling well.” Abby didn’t think it would be right to tell Lester that Lena suspected she was pregnant when it hadn’t been confirmed yet.

“Sorry to hear that. Is she gonna be okay?”

“Jah, I’m sure she will.”

“Glad to hear it’s nothing serious.” Lester removed his straw hat and raked a hand through his wavy blond hair. “Have you eaten yet?”

She shook her head.

“Then why don’t we go over to the Subway place?”

“What about your blacksmith shop? Shouldn’t you be there right now?”

“My helper is takin’ care of things, and we’re pretty well caught up.” Lester snickered. “Besides, I’m the boss. I can take off whenever I want, now that I’ve got Seth workin’ for me.”

Abby smiled then glanced around the store. There were only a few customers now, and the quilters were doing fine on their own. Even so, she didn’t feel right about imposing further on Rachel.

As if she could read Abby’s thoughts, her friend spoke up. “Things are slower now. I’ll be happy to stay and wait on customers if you’d like to have lunch with Lester.”

Abby tipped her head, as she considered the offer.

“We won’t be gone long,” Lester coaxed. He glanced across the room. “My mamm’s here, and I’m sure she’d pitch in to help Rachel if it was needed.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s right. I can ask any of the ladies if I get real busy, so go on now, and take your time.”

“All right then.” Abby stepped out from behind the counter, and Lester steered her toward the front door.

“I’ll have her back within the hour,” he called over his shoulder.

A short time later, Abby and Lester were seated at a booth inside the Subway place, sharing a turkey hoagie that had been made on a foot-long roll.

Leaning against the seatback, Abby began to relax. It was the first time all day that she’d really felt calm, but then she knew why. She always felt good whenever she was with Lester. She had known since their first date that she could spend the rest of her life with him. He was kind, gentle, and hard-working, the way her daed had been when he was alive.

Lester reached across the table and took her hand. “Your eyes are sure pretty, ya know that? I always did like the color of sweet, dark chocolate.”

Abby smiled, despite the blush she felt cascade over her cheeks. Lester always knew the right thing to say. “Danki,” she murmured.

“Is your family still plannin’ to come to our wedding in November?” he asked, taking their conversation in a new direction.

She nodded. “I hope so. But it will depend on how well Mom’s doin’ by then.”

Lester stared at her strangely. “What’s wrong with your mamm?”

“I got a note from her the other day, saying she’s expecting a boppli near the end of October.”

Lester’s jaw dropped. “Really?”

“It would seem that God has given Mom and Abraham a second chance.”

He let out a low whistle. “That is great news. If the baby’s due in October and we’re not gettin’ married ’til late November, then there shouldn’t be a problem with them comin’ to Ohio for the wedding, do ya think?”

“I’m sure there won’t be.” Abby toyed with her napkin. “I am concerned about Mom, though.”

“How come?”

“She’s not so young anymore. A lot could happen.” She took a small bite of her sandwich, chewed, and swallowed. “When the time gets closer to Mom’s delivery, I’ll need to go to Pennsylvania to help out. Then I’ll have to stay until after the boppli comes and I’m sure Mom can handle things on her own.”

Lester grabbed his cup of iced tea and gulped some down.
“We’ve waited a long time to get married, Abby. I sure hope you’re home in plenty of time for the big day.”

“Oh, I will be,” Abby assured him.

“Will Lena run the quilt shop in your absence, or do you think you’ll have to hire a second person to help out?”

Abby nibbled on the inside of her cheek. Should she tell Lester about Lena’s suspected pregnancy or wait until she knew for sure? “I’m hoping Lena can mind the store, but if that doesn’t work out, I’ll have to think about hiring someone else.”

Lester stared at Abby as he swirled his straw around the inside of his cup. “I can see by your solemn expression that you’re worried. Is it leavin’ Lena in charge of the store, or are you frettin’ over your mamm’s condition?”

“A little of both,” Abby admitted. “Mostly, I’m worried about Mom.”

“Is she doin’ okay so far?”

“Jah, but she’s having some morning sickness.”

“That’s pretty common.”

“True, but—”

Lester held up his hand. “Abby, please try not to worry. Women have been havin’ babies for thousands of years.”

She chuckled softly. “I know. Ever since Adam and Eve. But this is my mamm we’re talkin’ about.”

He nodded with a look understanding. “She’ll be fine; just pray.”

“I am and shall continue to do so.”

“Daddy, Daddy, guess what?”

Jim Scott set two paint buckets on the floor of his garage and turned to face his son. “What’s got you so excited, Jimmy?”

“Me and Mommy went to the park again today. I saw my friend Allen there.”

“Is Allen the little boy in the picture Mommy took last week?” Jim asked.

Jimmy’s dark eyes gleamed as he bobbed his head up and down. “Me and Allen had ice cream.”

“You did, huh?”

“Yep. Big chocolate cones.”

Jim ruffled his son’s chestnut-colored hair. “That’s nice. I’m glad you’ve made a new friend.”
And I’m happy my over-protective wife is finally giving you a bit of space to grow and learn.

“Mommy said we could go to the park again soon.”

Jim was about to comment when his cell phone rang. “I’ve got to get that, Jimmy. Find something to do until I’m off the phone.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Jim flipped the phone cover open. “Scott’s Painting and Decorating. Yeah, sure, Hank. What can I do for you?”

Absorbed in his conversation, Jim almost forgot about Jimmy until the boy wandered out of the storage closet holding a scrap of material. At first Jim thought it was a paint rag, but then he realized it was multicolored, not white.

“I’ve got to go, Hank. I’ll call you back.” Jim clicked off and turned to face his son. “What have you got there, Jimmy?”

When Jimmy opened the piece of fabric to its full length and held it out, Jim felt the blood drain from his face. It was a baby quilt—the same one Jimmy had been wrapped in the day Jim snatched him off the picnic table in an Amish family’s yard.

“Where’d you get this?” Jim’s hands trembled, but he tried to keep his voice calm as he moved toward his son.

Jimmy pointed to the storage closet at the back of the garage where Jim kept some of his painting supplies.

“You’d better let me have that.”

The child stood there, unmoving.

“Give it to me, now!”

Jim barely realized he’d shouted until Jimmy’s eyes filled with tears.

“Please, don’t start bawling.”

Jimmy sniffed and handed Jim the quilt.

I should have thrown this thing out years ago instead of stashing it away with my paint rags. If Linda ever sees the quilt, she’ll start asking questions, and then I’ll have some serious explaining to do.