A Sister's Test (21 page)

Cleon took a seat on the sofa next to Grace and studied his son’s precious face. The baby had just finished nursing and looked relaxed and sleepy.

“He’s a good baby, jah?” Cleon looked over at Grace and smiled.

She nodded. “Anna was a good boppli, too.”

“I wouldn’t know about that since I wasn’t around to see her as a baby.”

She flinched as if she’d been slapped. “As you know, I missed most of my daughter’s babyhood.”

“Then how do you know she was a good baby?”

“I was with Anna for her first six months. During that time, she hardly ever cried unless she was hungry or needed her windle changed.”

Cleon stroked the baby’s soft cheek with his thumb. “The Lord was good to give us this boppli to raise. Maybe it’ll help make up for the years you lost when Anna’s English grandparents took her away.”

Grace shook her head. “I’m glad we have Daniel, but it doesn’t bring back the years I missed with Anna.”

“No, I don’t suppose, but—” Cleon halted his words, realizing it would do no good to rehash the past. It couldn’t be changed. They had a future to look forward to now. Reaching his arms toward the baby, he said, “How about I hold the little fellow for a while?”

She lifted the baby over her shoulder and patted him on the back. “He needs to burp first.”

“Jah, okay.”

The minutes ticked away on the battery-operated clock across the room.

“What’s wrong with him? Why hasn’t he let loose with a burp?” Cleon asked, feeling a sense of impatience.

“He will when he’s ready.”

Several more minutes went by, and finally Daniel released a loud burp.

Cleon held out his arms again, but then Daniel started hiccupping.

Grace continued to pat the little fellow’s back, and Cleon’s impatience grew stronger.

“Can’t you do something to make him stop?”

She compressed her lips and glared at him. “I’m doing the best I can. Can’t you learn to have more patience?”

“You don’t have to be so snappish. I just want to hold my son.”

“He’s my son, too, and right now he needs his mother.” She continued to pat the baby’s back, rubbing her fingers up and down his spine between each little thump.

“Want me to try?”

She shook her head.

“Maybe you’re not firm enough with your touch.”

With an exasperated sigh, Grace handed the baby to Cleon and stood.

“Where are you going?”

“Out to the kitchen to fix him a bottle of warm water. That always stopped Anna’s hiccups.”

Grace left the room, and Cleon continued with the pat-rub-pat-rub method she had begun, but Daniel’s hiccups seemed to increase. By the time Grace returned to the living room, Cleon was ready to turn the baby over to her again.

She took a seat in the rocking chair, and Cleon placed the baby in her lap. After a few ounces of water, the hiccupping subsided.

Cleon was about to ask if he could hold Daniel again, but Grace spoke first.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to speak with you about, Cleon.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s about Anna and the way things are between you.”

His forehead wrinkled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Strained, like they were before when you were upset with me for not telling you about my past.”

“I forgave you for that,” Cleon said, feeling his defenses rise. “And I asked you and Anna to forgive me for the way I’d treated you both.”

She nodded. “I know you did, and you were an attentive father to Anna until Daniel was born. Now you’ve started giving him all your attention and treating her like she doesn’t matter.”

“I haven’t done that.”

“Jah, you have. It’s obvious to me that Anna’s feeling your rejection, which might cause her to resent her little brother.”

Cleon grunted. “I think you’re making more out of this than there is.”

“No, I’m not. I really believe that—”

He jumped up and started for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t feel like arguing with you, Grace. I think I’ll go over to your folks’ and see if they need help with anything.”

Cleon heard the rocking chair squeak and figured she had started rocking the baby, but he didn’t turn around. So much for a quiet, pleasant evening with just the three of them.

I’
m so
uffgschafft
,” Ruth said a couple of days later as she followed Martin into their little rental house.

Martin set the box he’d been carrying onto the kitchen counter and grinned. “I’m real excited, too.”

“I like it here.” Her nose twitched. “Even if it does smell like
schtinkich
paint.”

“Jah,” he agreed, “but it won’t take long for the smelly odor to settle down.”

“I’m looking forward to setting out my hope chest items, as well as all the wedding gifts we received.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. “You make me feel so happy. I’m thankful God brought us together.”

Ruth nestled against his chest and sighed. “I hope He gives us many good years together.”

He nuzzled her cheek with the tip of his nose. “Many good years and lots of kinner to love.”

“Jah.”

He pulled away slowly. “As nice as this feels, we have some work to do if we’re going to make it over to my folks’ for supper by six o’clock.”

“Your mamm said she was planning to fix your favorite meal—stuffed cabbage rolls.” She poked him playfully in the ribs. “And I wouldn’t want to make you late for that.”

He chuckled and gave her another hug.

“We won’t get any work done that way.”

He surveyed the small kitchen, and his face sobered. “Both of
our families were a big help in getting our things moved over here yesterday, and then your daed brought us that load of wood for our stove last night. I think we ought to have them all over for a meal sometime after the first of the year.”

“Since I’m no longer working at the bakeshop, I’ll be home all day and will have time to cook up a storm.” Ruth smiled. “I think it would be good if we had Abe and his family over soon, too. It would be a nice break for Sue.”

Martin drew her into his arms again. “You’re such a thoughtful fraa. Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Only about a hundred times since our wedding.”

He snickered. “But that was two days ago. I’m going to need to say it at least a hundred more times before this day is out.”

“And I’ll never tire of hearing it,” she murmured.

“Are you busy, Dad?” Martha asked as she stepped into her father’s woodworking shop. “I’d like to ask you a question.”

He looked up from the cabinet he was sanding and smiled. “I’ve got work to do, but I’m never too busy for you.”

She moved quickly across the room, stopping briefly to say hello to Cleon, who was staining a rocking chair.

“What would you like to ask me?” Dad gave the cabinet door a few good swipes with the sandpaper he held.

“It’s about my dog business.”

He chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Guess I do talk about my dogs quite a lot.”

“That’s okay. I know how important they are to you.”

She showed him the newspaper in her hand. “I spotted an ad for a pair of cocker spaniels in the paper this morning. Now that I’ve made some money working for Cleon’s mamm, I thought I might buy them. Just wondered what you thought of the idea.”

Dad shrugged. “Guess it would be all right, but remember, your other dogs haven’t made you any money.”

She nodded. “I know, and I’m thinking of selling Flo or trading her at one of the dog auctions.”

“Suit yourself. She’s your dog.”

Martha stared at the newspaper as she contemplated how to bring up her other idea.

“You got something else on your mind?”

“Jah.”

“Then raus mit—out with it.”

“I was wondering if you’ve thought about the idea of me boarding some dogs. That might give me a steady income.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Boarding dogs would mean building more kennels, and that would be a lot of work.”

“I know, but I’ll help in whatever way I can.”

“I’d be willing to build the extra kennels she’ll need,” Cleon put in.

Dad shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that. You’ve already got too much going, what with working for me, your beekeeping business, and helping Grace with those two young ones of yours.”

“I could ask Martin about helping,” Martha said.

“He’s newly married and has a job working for Abe,” Dad said.

“How about Luke? He’s good with wood, and—”

“Absolutely not!” Dad’s face turned red, and a muscle on the side of his cheek began to pulsate. “I don’t want that troublesome fellow anywhere near you.”

“But, Dad—”

He waved the piece of sandpaper in front of her face. “Do not ask Luke Friesen for anything; you hear?”

She nodded as a lump formed in her throat. There’d been no proof that Luke was responsible for any of the things that had happened to them. In fact, everything had been quiet around their place for some time.

“I don’t think you need to board any dogs right now,” Dad said. “Maybe in a few months, I’ll reconsider. By then, I might have the time to build some extra kennels.”

Martha opened her mouth to say something more but decided against it. Instead, she whirled around and rushed out the door.

“That was a great meal, Mom.” Martin leaned back in his chair and
thumped his stomach. “Danki for fixing my favorite dish.”

Mom nodded and looked over at Ruth, who sat in the chair beside her. “If you want to keep my son happy, you’ll need to fix stuffed cabbage rolls at least once a week.”

“Or more,” Martin said with a chuckle.

“I’ll be happy to fix cabbage rolls anytime Martin wants, but I doubt I can make them as tasty as yours,” Ruth said. “Do you have a special recipe, and if so, would you be willing to share it with me?”

“Jah, sure, only I don’t have the recipe written down. It’s right here.” Mom tapped the side of her head and smiled.

Martin’s dad nodded. “My wife’s a good cook. Most everything she makes comes from memory.”

“Maybe someday I’ll have all of Martin’s favorite recipes memorized.” Ruth looked over at Martin and gave him one of her prettiest smiles.

Martin grinned, thumped his stomach again, and looked over at his mother. “So, Mom, what’s for dessert?”