Last Bride, The (Home to Hickory Hollow Book #5) (20 page)

Mamma nodded slowly. “And compassion.”

“Ach, I already love my little son or daughter so very much.”

Mamma fixed her eyes on Tessie. “Mothers write love on the hearts of their children before they’re born, no matter how they come to us. I see how careful you are, dear. ’Tis so admirable.”

“I’m doin’ all I can, with our heavenly Father’s help. And I’ll know more after my appointment.”

“We’re called to bear each other’s burdens,” Mamma reminded her.

Tessie agreed, believing it might just be God’s calling for her to care for a disabled child.

Mamma mentioned the convenience of having a summertime baby, and Tessie agreed. Her mother’s expression was a blend of concern and confusion, but Tessie felt it best not to talk about the confession she was sure her parents, along with the bishop, wanted from her.

Much later, after the kitchen was clean and everything put away, Tessie mentioned the possibility that Levi might drop by that afternoon. “If I’m in the house, I’d prefer not to see him.”

“Prefer not or absolutely not?”

“Both.”

“You could come with us to visit Mandy and Sylvan, then,” suggested Mamma. “How’s that?”

Tessie wasn’t sure it was such a good thing for her to see Mandy today, not when her sister was so longing for a child of her own.
Don’t
want to be a reminder . . .
“Well, but Dat’s over there right now, ain’t so?”

Mamma seemed to sense her hesitancy. “Well, ain’t the same as all of us sitting down together and havin’ a nice long visit, though.”

Tessie nodded. “Still, I’d really like to go over and see Molly’s little Michael Abram. Haven’t even held my nephew yet.”

Mamma smiled. “He’s growin’ like a bean sprout, I’ll say.”

Tessie would not ask again to visit Ben and Molly instead of Sylvan and Mandy—it wasn’t her place to suggest where her parents headed on a Sunday afternoon. Somehow or other, she would manage to steer clear of Levi Smucker today.

M
andy served up some warm sticky buns and hot coffee to her husband and father as the two men sat at her table. It seemed curious there was this much talk going on, especially when they worked together most of the week.

She never interrupted them—did not even speak—when Sylvan and her father were in discussion. And they certainly were not discussing business on the Lord’s Day. She happened to overhear snippets of their conversation as she moved back and forth between the table and the counter, topping off their coffee and offering fruit and sweets.

It was a dance of sorts, and the longer they sat and talked without including her, the more she felt she ought to just keep taking food over there. After all, Dat and Sylvan were eating everything she set before them.
Didn’t Mamma feed Dat before he
came?

Her ears perked up at the mention of Levi Smucker.

“Levi Smucker’s back in town,” Sylvan was telling Dat.
He blew on his coffee before taking a sip. “He’s interested in Tessie, is what I hear.”

“Well, someone’s gotta be, else her child will have no father,” Dat stated with an edge to his voice. “And Tessie Ann
needs
a husband in order to form a fitting family, under God.”

“Still, it’s hard to figure why Levi’d want to take that on.”

Mandy felt awkward—it wasn’t easy being right there and hearing things pertaining to Tessie Ann. Even so, she stayed put.

“Is anyone urgin’ Levi to reach out to Tessie?” asked Dat.

“It’s all his doing, according to his father.” Sylvan scratched his chin through his beard. “Reuben is mighty perplexed, as are Levi’s brothers.”

“Not any more than we are over Tessie.” Dat glanced now at Mandy, who was leaning against the sink, wringing her hands.

At this point, Mandy stepped out of the kitchen, but she could still hear much of what they were saying.

“Heard Levi came back quick-like from Florida because he heard Tessie is with child,” Sylvan said. “Interesting, ain’t?”

“Sure is. Levi’s always been a mighty
gut
fella. ’Tween you and me, I never thought Tessie Ann would give him a chance, so caught up with Marcus King, she was.”

“How do ya know she will . . . even now?”

“That’s just it; who’s to know?”

“And Tessie’s goin’ to have her first beau’s baby. That’s surely a stumbling block to any man.”

“Levi’s not just any man,” Dat replied. “Let me tell ya.”

Mandy had to smile at that and wondered if, just maybe, her father was up to his old matchmaking tricks.

Tessie and her parents were eating leftover pumpkin pie for dessert when her father brought up the family charts that Tessie had inadvertently discovered. “I struggled some years ago with being faithful to God’s sovereign will . . . wanted to confess this to you both,” he said, looking mighty serious. “Thought you should know, daughter, that it went against the grain to just stand by and watch you—and Mandy, before Sylvan—get involved with young men from families where genetic disorders are all too common.”

Tessie sat quietly, surprised he was being so blunt.

“The will of almighty God comes first round here,” he said. “Sadly, I failed to trust in that, secretly keepin’ my family charts for all my daughters, not wanting uninformed choice to dictate who ya ended up with for a mate.”

Tessie listened, wondering why he was sharing this now.
Too late.
Yet, knowing her own strong will—and her love for Marcus—would she have heeded Dat’s warning in the long run?

Mamma spoke up softly. “What’s done is done, Ammon.”

“Still, there’s the matter of a particular confession next Sunday.” He directed his gaze to Tessie once again. “I’ve already made mine to the bishop, and to God, for disobeying ’bout the lists.”

That was all well and good for her father, Tessie thought. And while she’d felt tenderhearted toward him for opening up like this, she didn’t want to speak again about what was expected of
her
after that same service. She questioned now whether it was wise to go visiting with them today. Why
set herself up for more confrontation, a sitting duck in her parents’ buggy?

Anymore, Mamma’s life seemed to be ruled by the many work frolics planned by the womenfolk. And when they stopped over to see Molly and family—supposedly for Tessie and her father to hold the new baby—the upcoming gatherings were nearly all Molly and Mamma wanted to talk about as everyone sat in a circle in the kitchen. Tessie tuned Molly and Mamma out as they jabbered contentedly.

The ring of chairs included Molly’s husband, Ben, and their two little girls, Mae and Marian, who perched on their own chairs without fidgeting while the adults conversed leisurely, all of them wearing their clean church clothes. Tessie wasn’t aware of the topic of conversation between Ben and her father, who this minute appeared to be making over tiny blanketed Michael Abram, sound asleep in his strong arms.

Tessie found momentary joy in the precious sight of her father with his new grandson. It was hard to imagine Dat holding her own tiny infant son or daughter.
Will he even want to, the way
he is pushing for my confession?

Dat had never looked as comfortable as now, she thought, finding it a lovely yet strange thing to behold. Had he ever held his baby granddaughters so lovingly like this?

“Go on over and have your turn,” Molly said, leaning around Mamma to encourage Tessie Ann. “That one’s the most relaxed of my three,” she said with a bob of her head toward
Dat and the baby. “He’s already tryin’ to sleep through the night, if ya can believe that.”

“My, my, aren’t you fortunate,” said Mamma, all smiles.

Uncertain if she wanted to scoop the infant away from Dat’s embrace, Tessie sat there a few minutes longer, and Molly began to talk now about Mary Beiler’s cousins from Apple Creek, Ohio, who were coming in for a visit soon. Nate and Rhoda Kurtz had relatives on their way, as well, from near Harmony, Minnesota. Tessie kept her ears peeled for talk of Levi Smucker, but no one said a word—no doubt Mamma was careful not to mention him in this setting, lest it embarrass Tessie. She wondered if she’d made a mistake by escaping from the house with her parents to avoid Levi.
If I’d
stayed home today, I could’ve nipped the whole thing
in the bud.

About the time she rose to get the baby from her father, four-year-old Mae slid down from her chair and walked over to take her by the hand, leading her over to the kitchen table. “Can ya sit with me and color awhile, Aendi?” she asked, eyes bright.

“All right,” Tessie said. Just then, Dat handed the baby to Molly, who carried him straight to Tessie and placed him, still sleeping, in her arms.
Does
she think I need practice?
Tessie mused, looking into the tiny face, long eyelashes lining his eyelids like minuscule feathers against his fair face. “Do you like to help Mamma with your baby
Bruder
?” she asked Mae.

“
Alsemol—
sometimes.” Petite Mae explained that she really liked when Mammi May came over to help. “Then I can color more . . . like now.” She disappeared to go over to one of the drawers close to the floor, pulled it out, and rummaged through several coloring books before finding one she preferred, along
with a plastic container of crayons, all the while babbling to herself in Deitsch.

Looking down at the sweet baby in her arms, Tessie Ann thanked the Good Lord for giving her sisters healthy children, thus far.
Will mine be the
first special child in the family, besides Mamma’s lost
babes?
She glanced over at her mother and caught her eye, feeling shy. Had she and Molly been talking about her? By now, Tessie should be used to Mamma’s furtive glances. It was unquestionably difficult for Mamma to see her youngest daughter in such a state, unaware that Tessie’s baby was not a product of sin but of legitimate, sanctioned love.
Just not by the church.

There was a slight commotion at the back door, and when Tessie turned to look, she saw Sylvan and Mandy removing their coats. Mandy spotted Tessie holding the baby and looked away right then.

Oh, this isn’t such a
gut
idea.
Tessie wished now she’d stayed home for sure!

T
essie missed Marcus. For one thing, Marcus would’ve known what to do when Mandy sat in the circle of chairs, her eyes sad and hardly talking except in one-word responses. Meanwhile, Sylvan had planted himself on the other side of Dat, and he, Ben, and her father were already having themselves a fine time conversing and chuckling.

Concerned for her sister, Tessie continued coloring with little Mae, and now Marian, too, one page after another. Baby Michael scarcely moved in her lap. Such a darling little one he was—she could hardly keep her eyes off him.

At young Marian’s request, Tessie helped finish one of her scribbled pages, and goodness, but Tessie felt Mandy’s solemn eyes on her all the while.

No wonder
she’s hurting, surrounded by all the children as I
am.

Later, when Molly, wearing her prettiest blue Sunday dress and matching apron, brought out the plump angel food cake
she’d baked yesterday, along with coffee for everyone, Tessie offered to put the baby down in a cradle around the corner from the kitchen. There was also a comfortable rocker and an upholstered chair nestled in the cozy smaller room. A nearby magazine rack was filled with periodicals, including
Die Botschaft
and
The Diary,
and the lovely four-color
Ladies Journal
. The little girls followed Tessie Ann into the separate room and helped by holding the crib quilt and hovering near while Tessie placed the baby in the cradle.

Going to sit in the large, upholstered chair, a matching pillow in the crook of its wide arm, Tessie decided to relax a bit. Her little eyes twinkling, Marian climbed onto her lap and leaned her head against Tessie’s shoulder, resting her small hand on the bump on Tessie’s middle.

“Our baby grew inside Mamma’s tummy, too,” said Mae, sitting wide-eyed on the rocking chair, pretty in her rose-colored dress and white organdy apron. She leaned forward to make the chair rock ever so gently.

Tessie was at a loss for words—
what
to say?

She pointed toward the cradle, smiling. “Just lookee there at your baby brother. See how tired he is?”

“Mamma says new babies need to sleep a lot,” Mae announced, sounding very much the big sister. Mae got down from the rocker and knelt beside the cradle, her dimpled hands resting on its wooden railing.

As she sat there observing, Tessie soon realized that cuddly Marian had fallen asleep right there in her lap—she’d just have to stay put awhile, dessert or no. And when Mae sang a quiet hymn in Deitsch to the sleeping infant, it was all Tessie Ann could do to stay awake herself.

———

Mandy had half hoped they would go and visit Miriam or Marta this afternoon. She’d had an inkling her parents and Tessie Ann might be over here at Molly’s, taking turns holding the baby, since she was fairly sure her father hadn’t yet seen his new grandson. And even though the tension with Tessie had greatly diminished, Mandy had wanted to shy away from expectant sisters and new babies.

But Sylvan had settled on Ben and Molly’s place, and now there sat Mandy, trying not to stew at his evident lack of consideration, not hungry while the rest of the adults enjoyed dessert and coffee. She wondered if Tessie Ann realized she’d gathered the children to herself, of all things.

Does she think that
will make things easier on me, maybe?
More than anything, Mandy yearned right now to hold Molly’s new baby, but Tessie Ann and the children were still around the corner. So Mandy waited awhile longer, giving her youngest sister plenty of time with their baby nephew and sweet little nieces. When Mandy could stand it no longer, she excused herself from the table and made her way to the smaller space behind the kitchen.

When she peered around the corner, what she saw took her breath away. It was the sweetest scene—her pregnant sister sound asleep while holding Marian, who was all curled up in her arms. Mae was leaning her little head on the cradle, droopy eyed, and one of the baby’s tiny pink fists had managed to find its way out of the blanket and was moving, his pale blue eyes blinking open just now.

She dared not speak lest she awaken them, and she tiptoed over to look down into the gleaming wooden cradle, touching
the baby’s soft cheek with the back of her fingers. “
Biebche
,” she whispered. Just that quick, Mae’s head popped up, making the cradle rock. Mandy stilled it and reached down to pick up the darling bundle, then sat down in the empty rocking chair, sighing with deepest pleasure.

On the ride back to the house, Dat and Mamma talked about their grandchildren, primarily the new baby, whom they seemed to agree equally resembled both Ben and Molly. “Tiny Michael has Ben’s eyes and the shape of Molly’s mouth,” Mamma said, and Dat chuckled with a fond glance at Mamma.

Tessie Ann sat behind them, observing her parents, anxious to get warm again at home. The late-afternoon sun made brilliant dots on the terrain as they passed first the deacon’s house and then David and Mattie’s enormous expanse of land . . . then finally Ella Mae’s Dawdi Haus attached on the far end of David and Mattie’s old farmhouse.

Dat and Mamma continued their steady banter about the upcoming hog butchering this Wednesday and the colder weather, and Mamma mentioned a number of work frolics she was planning to attend, including a quilting bee at Mary Beiler’s.

Tessie Ann paid little mind, still cherishing her time with Molly’s little ones. She could hardly wait to hold her own wee one and was thinking ahead now to tomorrow’s doctor appointment.
How will things go?
she mused.

“Well, lookee there,” her father said, slowing the horse. “Just see who’s comin’ this way.”

“You missed havin’ a visitor, Tessie, dear.” Mamma smiled over her shoulder.

Not having to wait even a minute to guess, Tessie heard Levi’s voice. “Hullo, Ammon. Wie bischt?” he said, like they were old friends. Tessie was glad she was well hidden toward the back of the buggy.

One of the horses neighed; Tessie couldn’t tell which.

“I was just over at your place,” Levi told Dat.

“Well, why don’t ya turn around . . . follow us home,” Dat suggested.

“Is Tessie with ya, then?”

“Jah, in the back here,” her father was quick to say.

Tessie groaned quietly, and Mamma turned again to look at her, though not any too kindly this time.

“Well, only if it’s all right with Tessie Ann” came Levi’s gracious reply.

Mamma craned her neck at Tessie again, eyebrows raised high.

It wasn’t like her to be impolite. Besides, hearing Levi’s voice and realizing he’d gone out of his way to see her today, perhaps even shortened his time with his grandparents in Florida for her, Tessie suddenly believed she owed him this visit.

“All right, then,” she said quietly, glad her father hadn’t been the one to turn around and inquire of her. “Tell Levi it’s okay.”

Mandy’s husband walked alongside her to their enclosed carriage after they bid farewell to Molly and family. Sylvan
waited silently till she was settled, then helped pull the heavy lap robe over her before walking around to the driver’s side and hopping in. This was one of the rare times he’d done this since they’d married, and the thoughtful gesture was not lost on Mandy.

After the mare pulled out of the long driveway and they were heading down Hickory Lane, Sylvan asked, “Ya didn’t have such a
gut
time at first, did you?”

She was surprised he’d noticed. “’Twas a challenge, I guess.”

“Thought so.” Sylvan glanced at her and offered a quick smile.

“Tessie Ann just attracts children, is all. Like bees to honey.”

He was silent.

“I was glad I eventually got to hold the new baby,” she said. But he’d known that, having found her all tucked away in the small room near the kitchen, baby Michael’s head resting innocently on her shoulder and little Mae at her feet. So very caring of him to come searching, she’d decided at the time.

They talked of other things for a while, making more conversation than usual.
Another nice change,
she thought. Then, after waving at some folks in a carriage as they passed, Sylvan mentioned he’d heard from Norm Byler, who was thinking of returning to Indiana. “He wants to try and win Glenice’s heart again.”

She listened, not sure it was right to reveal the poor woman’s impromptu visit to see her.

“Just thought you should know.” Sylvan kept his hands on the reins, his eyes on the road ahead.

“How soon will he be goin’?”

“He’s sorting through his things presently, is what he told me. Said this Sunday would be his last at church.”

“Tessie’s confession day . . . if she decides to tell all.”

“Hard to know ’bout that sister, jah?” Sylvan said.

Mandy nodded, curious about her husband’s willingness to share his thoughts today, and his little asides. “I just keep remembering her in my prayers,” she said.

“
Gscheit—
wise.”

And she agreed.