The Quilter's Daughter (14 page)

She whirled around, nearly dropping the cloth, but Matthew caught it before it hit the floor. “There’s no time for fun right now. That will come later, after I’m married.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course.”

His face contorted. “Right. And split pea soup is little brother Samuel’s favorite meal, too.”

Choosing to ignore his sarcasm, Abby replied, “Once Lester and I are together again, everything will be back to normal.”

Matthew cleared his throat. “Know what else I think?”

She shrugged. Why was Matthew going on and on about this? Was he intentionally trying to get under her skin?

“You’ve been self-sacrificing for so long, I don’t believe you know any other way.”

Abby opened her mouth to defend herself again, but Matthew cut her right off.

“I’ve seen how you rush around at home, always worried about your mamm and doin’ things that don’t really need to be done.” He handed her the fabric. “What about you, Abby? Don’t your needs count? Shouldn’t you be plannin’ your wedding instead of workin’ so hard to care for your mamm? There are others who can help out, you know.”

Abby stood there, too dumbfounded to say a word. What was wrong with her being self-sacrificing? Didn’t the Bible teach that she should love others and be helpful? Besides, she owed it to Mom to be there when she needed her.

The bell above the general store door jangled, and Matthew turned toward the door separating the two places of business. “I’d better see who came in, because Caleb’s not here at the moment.”

As soon as he left the room, Abby sank into a chair in front of one of the quilting frames, tears clogging her throat. Matthew was right about one thing. She did care more about Mom’s needs than her own. It was the only way she could keep her promise
to Dad. She dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief tucked in the band of her apron.
Things will go better once Mom’s bopplin are born. And soon after that, I’ll be on my way home.

Fannie bunched a small pillow under her head and stretched out on the sofa. It was only one in the afternoon, and she was already exhausted. Right after lunch, she’d realized that she needed a nap but felt too tired to climb the stairs to her bedroom, so she’d decided to rest here awhile.

Her eyes drifted shut, and she was almost asleep, when she heard the back door open and close again. She knew it couldn’t be Nancy, since she had gone to Naomi’s to help out today. Mary Ann was supposed to be downstairs in the cellar washing clothes, so she figured it might be her sneaky husband, who’d come in from the fields to pay her a surprise visit.

Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall, and she turned her head in that direction. “Abraham?”

“No, Fannie, it’s me.” Matthew stepped into the room and removed his straw hat.

“What are you doing home in the middle of the day? You’re not sick, I hope.”

He shook his head. “Norman’s back kinked up on him yesterday, and he’s at the chiropractor’s this afternoon, so Papa asked if I could help. Caleb said he could manage at the store without me this afternoon, so here I am.”

Matthew’s disgruntled look let Fannie know he would rather be anywhere other than on the farm right now. She thought he had seemed much happier since he’d begun working at the general store.

“Sorry your daed hasn’t found anyone else to help in the fields yet,” she said. “It seems like you’re needed in two places at once.”

He nodded and plunked down in the easy chair across from her, apparently in no hurry to get outside.

“I’m not the only one who’s tryin’ to cover all the bases these days,” Matthew said, turning his hat over in his hands.

“Are you thinking of Abby?”

“Jah. I saw her this morning, and she looked exhausted.”

“Abby always has been a hard worker.” Fannie pulled herself to a sitting position. “Is there something more bothering you, Matthew?”

“I—I’m concerned about her. A couple of times this week I found her nearly asleep at the quilting frame.”

Fannie shook her head as she exhaled deeply. “I didn’t realize she was that tired. Whenever I ask how she’s doing, she always says she’s right as rain. Seems more interested in how I’m doing these days.”

“Have you ever thought that your daughter might be too self-sacrificing?”

Matthew’s words jolted Fannie to the core. Too self-sacrificing? Was that possible for a Christian?

“Right before I left the store to come here, Abby mentioned that she’s been so busy she hasn’t written to her future husband for a couple of weeks.”

Fannie fiddled with the piping along the edge of the sofa, wondering why Matthew seemed so concerned about Abby’s welfare.
He is her stepbrother,
she reminded herself.
Guess that gives him the right to speak on her behalf.

“I’ll have a talk with my daughter,” Fannie promised. “If she’s so overworked that there’s no time for letter writing, then I’d best see if I can find someone else to help at the quilt shop or here at home.”

Matthew stood. “I hope you don’t think I’m buttin’ into business that ain’t mine, but I’m worried about Abby.”

“I’m glad you told me, because she surely wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“Okay then. Guess I’d best be gettin’ out to the fields. See you at suppertime, Fannie.”

She smiled and lifted her hand. “Have a good day.”

Linda relaxed against the seat in the passenger’s side of Beth’s compact car. The more time she spent with her new friend,
the more at ease she felt. And the more times she and Jimmy attended church, the more she desired for Jim to go.

Today she and Beth were on their way to visit the newly remodeled fitness center on the other side of town. When she’d mentioned the place to Jim this morning, he’d said that his shop had done the painting on the building and thought it was a good idea for Linda to go there because she needed some exercise.
Maybe if I firm up my flabby muscles, Jim will take an interest in me again.

“There was a write-up about the fitness center in last night’s paper,” Beth said, pulling Linda’s thoughts aside. “They have new owners now and are offering child care for those who bring their children along when they come to exercise.”

Linda glanced over her shoulder at Jimmy in the backseat. “I’m not sure I want to leave my son with strangers.”

“You could have left him at my mother’s, along with my three boys.”

“I—I feel better having him with me.” Even though Linda had been trying not to be so overprotective, she still wasn’t comfortable with the idea of leaving Jimmy with people she didn’t know.

Beth pulled into the parking lot and had barely turned off the engine when Jimmy unbuckled his seatbelt and clambered out of the backseat.

“Wait for me,” Linda called. “I don’t want you running across the parking lot. You might get hit by a car.”

Jimmy halted, and Linda grabbed his hand. The three of them headed for the main entrance, and once inside, they located the reception center. Beth stepped confidently up to the desk, but before she could ask any questions, the young auburn-haired woman behind the desk spoke up. “Hi, my name’s Ginny Nelson. Welcome to Puyallup’s newly remodeled fitness center. Here’s some information on our facilities.” She grinned and handed Beth a brochure. “Everything’s free today, and there’s fresh carrot and orange juice at the snack bar. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.”

Linda was tempted to mention that it was her husband
who’d done the painting on the building, but she decided to let Beth do the talking.

“I understand you have child care here,” Beth said. “It would be easier for my friend to try out some of your equipment if her boy had a safe place to play.”

“The children’s playroom is just down the hall.” Ginny leaned forward, her long hair fanning her face. “Cute boy. How old is he?”

“My son is six,” Linda replied.

Ginny squinted her jade green eyes and stared at Jimmy.

“Is—is there something wrong?” A sense of uneasiness crept up Linda’s spine, even though she knew it was silly of her to feel so paranoid.

Ginny shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that—well, I know this will probably sound goofy, but your boy is the spitting image of Samuel Fisher, one of the brothers of an Amish friend of mine back in Pennsylvania. Of course, I haven’t seen him for several years now and he would be much older than this little boy. Your boy is more the age of Naomi’s other brother, the baby who was. . .” Her voice trailed and her eyes grew round with wonder. “I mean, he looks the way I would imagine little Zach would look if I saw him now—same hair color and eyes. Even his smile reminds me of the Fisher boys.” Her face flushed. “Oh, never mind me. I am known as a motormouth around here. Talking is by far my favorite exercise.” She fidgeted with the phone cord on the reception desk. “Isn’t it funny how everybody reminds you of somebody else you know?”

“I guess we all have a double somewhere in the world.” Linda offered a weak smile, but she felt uneasy in this gal’s presence.

“Yes, I know what you mean. People always mistake me for a Karen or a Gayle,” Beth said, nudging Linda’s arm.

Linda pointed to the brochure Beth had been given. “Does this include a map of the center?” Linda asked. The fact that the young woman continued to stare at Jimmy made her feel more apprehensive, and she wanted to get away.

“Yeah, sure.” Ginny smiled and nodded at Linda.

Beth opened her brochure and studied it. “Look, the map shows the children’s center is right here.” She pointed to a spot on the paper, but it barely registered with Linda. She grabbed Jimmy’s hand and dashed down the hall.

“What’s the hurry?” Beth asked when she caught up to Linda and Jimmy.

“I just want to look at the facilities and go home.”

“I thought we were going to try out some of the equipment. We can drop Jimmy off, change into our exercise clothes, and see if we can work up a sweat.”

Linda shook her head. “I don’t feel like exercising. If you want to work up a sweat, go ahead. Jimmy and I can watch from the sidelines.”

“You seemed enthused about checking out the fitness center. What’s happened to change your mind?”

“I’m just not comfortable leaving Jimmy with strangers,” Linda mumbled.

“Is it what that young woman at the reception desk said?”

Linda nodded. “She showed too much interest in Jimmy, and comparing him to an Amish child was so ridiculous.”

“I’m sure she was just surprised that he reminded her of someone she used to know.”

“But she kept staring at him, and it made me nervous.” Linda shuddered. “Just the other day a child was kidnapped in the parking lot at the Tacoma Mall. There are too many nutty people in this world, and parents need to protect their kids.”

“I understand. I’m concerned for my boys’ welfare, too, but—”

“But you’re not unreasonably mistrusting like me? Is that what you’re saying?”

Beth blanched as though Linda had thrown cold water in her face. Linda knew her overprotective ways had driven a wedge between her and Jim, and she didn’t want anything to spoil her new friendship. She had to set her fears aside and try to relax. The woman at the front desk was probably trying to be friendly so people would sign up for a membership.

“I’m sorry for acting so ridiculous,” Linda apologized. “I’ll
put Jimmy in the children’s room and we can exercise awhile.”

“I think it will be fun.” Beth offered Linda a reassuring smile. “And I’m sure your little guy will be just fine.”