A Miracle of Hope (The Amish Wonders Series) (17 page)

She mumbled something under her breath, indecipherable over the snap of hot grease.

He grabbed the lid from under the cabinet and covered the frying pan.

“You can’t put a lid on everything,” she muttered.

He looked at her, then the pork chops, and then back to her. “What are you talking about?”

“That doesn’t stop the pork chops from burning.” She pulled off the lid, jammed a fork into the pork, and flipped it over.

Her being upset had nothing to do with the meal. Then again, Caroline had never wanted him underfoot while she was trying to cook either. “If you need something . . .”

“I’ll call you if I do.” She opened the upper cabinet, removed a plate, and set it on the counter.

He leaned against the door frame and watched her slice the loaf of bread.

She furrowed her brows at him. “Am I making the slices too thin?”

“Nay.”

“Too thick?”

He shook his head.

“Why are you still staring at me, then?” She finished the final slice and set the bread on the plate.

“When you reached for the plate, I guess I expected you to say something about me moving the dishes.”

She faced him, knife in hand. “I looked like a fool
nett
knowing where anything was.”

“I’m sorry.” He watched the tip of the knife blade wag and
knew enough not to step any closer. “I shouldn’t have told you to move the dishes back. This is your kitchen.”

“I felt like it was Ellen’s. She pointed out how you don’t drink tea—
after
I searched the pantry. I looked foolish offering them a cup of tea, and more so when I had to hunt for where you kept your cups.”

He’d been the foolish one not realizing how important a kitchen was to a woman. He never should have objected to her reorganizing things. “What else are you upset about?”

She tossed the knife on the counter and planted her fisted hands on her hips. “I saw your expression when you thought the women had found out about the
boppli
.”

“I’m sorry. I panicked.” Josiah crossed the distance between them. “Forgive me.” He’d never meant to hurt her. He only wished to save her some heartache from people questioning the circumstances prior to their marriage.

She forced a smile. “I returned Ellen’s apple crisp dish. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Why should I mind?”

She shrugged. Her mouth quivered and she turned toward the sink. “You made a point to return her last one,” she said calmly.

“I did so I could tell her I no longer needed her to do laundry or clean. She sent that apple crisp over to
wilkom
you. I guess I forgot to tell you.” He eased closer to Lindie. “Ellen helped me after Caroline died. I paid her to do the laundry and clean the
haus
. I couldn’t keep a business running if I had to do everything. Did you think there was something between Ellen and me?”

She half shrugged with one shoulder and bowed her head.

“There wasn’t. Nor would there have ever been.” Nothing
he said changed Lindie’s expression. “Did Ellen say something that indicated otherwise?”

She didn’t respond.

His hands turned clammy and he wiped them along the seam of his pants. “Ellen has made some comments in the past about us both losing our spouses and that maybe we should think about . . . Well, she more or less hinted about marriage.” He looked down at the floor. “I never considered it. I told her I—”

“Could give her your name, but not your heart?” Her sharp tone tore at his heart.

“
Nay
,” he said. “I told her I didn’t want to remarry. That was the truth.”

Her jaw twitched as she concentrated on putting the butter and a jar of chutney on the table. “
Mei bruder
convinced you to marry me.”

“Partly.”

She paused and turned a careful eye on him.

He shrugged. “There was something about your answer the day at the bus station when I asked you if you wanted to go home. You sounded . . . hopeless.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he lifted his finger to stop her. “I was too.”

He might never become the same husband he was to Caroline. But how could he make things up to Lindie? Talking about Ellen or their marriage agreement wasn’t going to help matters.

He cleared his throat. “I found Hannah’s drawing pad. You were right. Her picture looked identical to the birch trees out back.”

Lindie’s eyes brightened a little. “I think the deer in the drawing was the injured one she laid her hand on.”

Lindie had mentioned Hannah healing the deer before, but he hadn’t wanted to talk about it. He also wasn’t sure how useful
artwork was to an Amish girl’s future. Even so, he would rather talk about art than marriage.

“You asked what would make me happy,
jah
?”

“
Jah
,” he said cautiously. He’d seen that twinkle in Caroline’s eyes the time when she wanted a wringer washer.

“I want to buy her some colored pencils, if they aren’t too expensive.”

“Why? She has crayons.” He had wanted to give Lindie something that would make
her
feel special. Hannah already spent so much time drawing that she had practically withdrawn from everything else.

Her shoulders slumped.

“Okay.” He smiled. “If it’ll make the pretty
maydel
happy.”

Her eyes lit up and drew him like a magnet. Beautiful. He liked how a few strands of her copper-colored hair had sneaked out from under her
kapp
and framed her face.

“
Denki
. Hannah will be happy.”

He leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing the side of her cheek. “I was talking about you.”

A soft pink glow spread over her face. Even her earlobe was dusted in blush. Who would’ve thought colored pencils would make her this happy? He would drive to the store tonight if it were open.

The back door opened and a moment later Simon poked his head into the kitchen.

She sidestepped Josiah. “I better check the meat.”

“I, uh . . .” He swiped the newspaper off the counter. “Simon and I will get out of
your
kitchen and go read the paper.” He hoped he could find something to read that would take his mind off her.

Lindie gathered her sewing bag and the dessert she made for the frolic when Rebecca’s buggy pulled into the yard. Not wanting to keep her waiting, she motioned to the cape on the wall, but Hannah only stared. Without Josiah close by, Lindie wasn’t sure if Hannah would mind her today, and for a second, she considered canceling. But Hannah needed to get out of the house and be with other children, and Lindie was desperate to form new friendships. She set the dish and sewing bag down, grabbed the cape, and helped Hannah into it. Climbing into Rebecca’s buggy, Lindie whispered a prayer that things would go well.

“I’m so happy you could join us today,” Rebecca said.

“
Jah
, I am too.” She motioned to the dish. “I made a pumpkin spice cake.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to try it.” Rebecca turned the horse out of the driveway. “Ada doesn’t live too far.” She elbowed Hannah seated between them. “Lucy will be there.”

Hannah smiled.

“Lucy is
mei
youngest niece,” she told Lindie. “She’s just getting over the chicken pox. That’s why she and
mei
little sister, Martha, were
nett
able to make the service last Sunday.”

“That’s
gut
she will have someone to play with.”

“There will be more children, but Hannah and Lucy are especially close since they are near the same age.” Rebecca spoke to Hannah. “You and Lucy have fun together, isn’t that right?”

Hannah nodded.

Lindie was pleased since she rarely received anything but a blank stare when she spoke to Hannah. Obviously, the girl had no problems reading lips.

It wasn’t long before they pulled up to a two-story farmhouse. The white clapboard house had dark-green shutters and empty flower boxes under the windows. Lindie pictured how
beautiful the house would look in the summertime with flowers in bloom. She looked forward to spring and putting in a garden. Maybe she would plant pansies along the walkway. Lindie had always liked the deep violet ones that Margaret had planted in her own flower bed.

“Lindie, so
gut
to see you,” Ada said, ushering them into her house.

Lindie set the cake on the kitchen counter with the other goodies as the children welcomed Hannah and coaxed her into another room to play. Although the gathering was small compared to the ones in Middlefield, maybe fifteen including the children, it looked as though all the women in the district were in attendance.

Ada led Rebecca and Lindie into the sitting room where several other women were already busy with their hoops and needles. Lindie found a chair and pulled out her sewing supplies.

For most of the afternoon, the conversation centered on the pending snowstorm headed their way. Lindie learned to have extra water ready just in case the pipes froze. She was certain that Josiah would know these things, but she took mental notes. As the day continued, the talk shifted to food.

“We like to make homemade ice cream this time of year,” one woman said. “The fact that it doesn’t melt immediately is the only thing I like about winter.”

“I leave mine out on the porch,” another woman said.

“I leave my meat in the pan on the back porch long enough for the fat to float to the top and harden so I can scrape it off,” Martha said. “Of course I don’t do that unless the bears are hibernating.”

A few of the women shared their experiences with bears. They all laughed, but Lindie found nothing funny about the
possibility of a bear on her front porch. “You’ve made me hungry
nau
,” Ada said, setting her sewing hoop aside. “I think it’s time we eat.” She motioned to Lindie. “Would you like to help me get things ready?”

“I’d be happy to.” Lindie hooked her needle into the material and stood.

“I hope you’re having fun,” Ada said as they walked into the kitchen. “We don’t always have the chance to get together in the winter. But
kumm
spring, we will have more frolics.”

“I’m having a
wunderbaar
time.” Lindie opened the different containers as Ada poured the coffee. She hadn’t felt sick all day, but the combination of egg salad and tuna dishes had her stomach unsettled. She placed her hand on her belly.

“Are you feeling okay?” Ada asked.

Lindie jerked her hand away. “
Jah
, I’m fine.” Josiah had underestimated women if he thought they wouldn’t figure out she was pregnant. Her dress was large enough to camouflage her condition for several more months, but she wouldn’t be able to hide giving birth or having a newborn in the house.

“Who isn’t feeling
gut
?” Ellen asked, entering the kitchen. Her eyes stopped on Lindie. “You’re probably
nett
used to this
kalt
weather.”

“Or maybe it’s more.” Ada giggled and patted her own pregnant belly. “Certain foods bothered me too in the beginning.”

Lindie’s face heated. If they asked directly, she wouldn’t lie. But what would Josiah say about them finding out?

The children rushed into the kitchen along with several more women. Lindie concentrated on preparing a plate for Hannah.

Ada nudged Lindie’s side. “How do you think Hannah will respond to a
bruder
or sister?”

Lindie gasped. Had Ada forgotten that Hannah could read
lips? She placed a spoonful of potato salad on the plate and guided Hannah away from the others. “Please be careful not to spill anything.”

Hannah took the plate.

Lindie breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was for Hannah to relay the news to Josiah and then ask him about it.

Josiah couldn’t concentrate on building pallets with Lindie and Hannah gone. He hoped everything was going well and that Hannah wasn’t disobeying. If he received a bad report, he wouldn’t let Lindie talk him out of punishing the child.

Josiah set the hammer on the worktable. “It’s already past noon. What do you say we go inside and find us something to eat?”

“Sounds
gut
to me.” Simon pounded the nail into place and stood the pallet on end.

As they plodded to the house, the postman pulled up to the mailbox.