A Cousin's Prayer Page 11

  Ada nodded. “That, and we came to the conclusion that it’s time for us to leave you and Wayne alone to enjoy each other and raise your family without us in the way.”

  “You’re not in the way,” Loraine said with a shake of her head.

  “That’s nice of you to say, but we feel that moving into the rental will be best for all.” Ada pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. “How’d your doctor’s appointment go? Did you find out why you’ve been feeling sick to your stomach so often lately?”

  Loraine’s face flamed. “You know about that?”

  Ada chuckled. “You can’t hide things like that from a woman who’s had a boppli herself.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  “So what’d the doctor say?”

  “I’d like wait and talk to Wayne about my appointment before I say anything to you and Crist,” Loraine said.

  “I understand. Sorry for putting you on the spot like that. Sometimes I shoot off my big mouth before I think about what I should say.”

  Loraine smiled. Wayne’s mother had changed in the last several months. There was a day when Ada wouldn’t have admitted to any of her shortcomings. She wouldn’t have spoken so kindly to Loraine before, either.

  “How’s Crist adjusting to his new hearing aid?” Loraine asked. “I haven’t had the chance to ask him about it.”

  “He’s hearing much better these days, although there are times when I think he turns it off so he won’t have to listen to me.”

  Loraine chuckled. Ada had even developed a sense of humor that she hadn’t had before.

  She took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. “Do you think Crist will move the taxidermy shop to one of the buildings on your property when your new house is finally finished?”

  Ada shrugged. “I don’t think so. Crist mentioned keeping the shop here because it’s closer for Wayne. After all, he’ll be taking it over someday.”

  “Did Wayne tell you that?”

  “Tell me what?” Wayne asked as he stepped into the kitchen.

  “We were just talking about the taxidermy business,” Loraine said. “Your mamm mentioned you’ll be taking it over someday.”

  “Maybe so, but there’s still a lot I don’t know about the business, and I hope Pop will be working with me for a long time.” Wayne joined Loraine in front of the sink. “How’d your doctor’s appointment go? Did you find out why you’ve been feeling so tired and queasy?”

  Loraine glanced over at Ada, hoping she wouldn’t say anything about what she suspected.

  “Think I’ll leave you two alone while I take something cold to drink out to your daed.” Ada opened the refrigerator and removed a container of lemonade. Then she grabbed two paper cups and scurried out the door.

  Loraine motioned to the table. “Let’s have a seat, and I’ll tell you what the doctor said.”

  Wayne pulled out a chair for Loraine, and after she sat down, he seated himself in the chair beside her. “You look so solemn. Please don’t tell me there’s something seriously wrong.”

  She shook her head. “No, no, I’m fine.” She placed both hands on her stomach. “I’m in a family way, that’s all.”

  Wayne’s eyebrows met between the bridge of his nose, and he stared at her with a look of disbelief.

  Loraine wondered if he was unhappy about becoming a father. She remembered how reluctant he had been to marry her after he’d lost his leg. Maybe he was afraid his disability would keep him from being the kind of father he felt he needed to be.

  “Are you disappointed?” Her question came out as a squeak.

  Wayne shook his head. “Of course not; I’m just surprised. We’ve only been married a few months, and I didn’t think we’d be starting our family so soon.” He sat motionless for several seconds, then reached for her hand. “I’m glad you’re with child. I can’t wait to be a father.”

  She leaned her head on his shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief. Now they could tell the rest of their family.

  ***

  As Freeman sat on the Bylers’ back porch with Eunice’s twelve-year-old brother, he couldn’t help but smile. The boy was a regular chatterbox, and he couldn’t sit still for more than a few minutes. Freeman remembered Fern mentioning that she’d had trouble dealing with Richard in class. Watching the way the boy carried on, Freeman could understand why. He didn’t envy Fern her job as Richard’s teacher.

  “Sure is hot out tonight.” Richard swiped at the sweat rolling down the side of his face. “Makes me wish I could go swimmin’ in our pond.” He frowned. “I’ll probably have to spend my whole summer workin’ for Papa in the fields. Probably won’t get to do much swimmin’ at all.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get some time off so you can have a little fun.” Freeman leaned back in his chair, put both hands behind his head, and rested his head in his palms. He knew how important it was for a young boy to have some time to himself. Even though Freeman had enjoyed working in his uncle’s bike shop when he was a teenager, he’d anxiously awaited his days off so he could fool around and have some fun.

  Freeman reached into his pocket and pulled out a long, slender yellow balloon. Andrew had come by the bike shop a few days ago and taught Freeman how to make a few simple animal balloons, like a giraffe and a weiner dog.

  Richard tipped his head. “Whatcha doin’ with that balloon?”

  “I’m gonna blow it up and make a giraffe for you.”

  “Oh, ya mean like Andrew Yoder does?”

  Freeman nodded and stretched the balloon. “It takes a lot of air to blow one of these up, but it helps if the balloon’s stretched well first.”

  “I’ll bet I could blow the balloon up without stretchin’ it.”

  “You think so?”

  Richard bobbed his head. “Sure do.”

  “All right then.” Freeman pulled another balloon from his pocket and handed it to Richard. “Here you go.”

  Freeman quickly blew up his balloon; then he sat back and waited to see what the boy would do.

  Richard put the end of the balloon between his lips and blew. Nothing happened. He blew again and again until his face turned red. Finally, he stretched the balloon a few times and tried once more. The balloon still didn’t inflate.

  Freeman chuckled. “Looks a lot easier than it is, doesn’t it?”

  With a look of sheer determination, Richard blew again. Finally, the balloon inflated.

  “Now watch what I do with my balloon and then try to do the same with yours.” Freeman twisted a bubble for the giraffe’s head. When that was done, he twisted several more bubbles, until the balloon looked like a giraffe.

  “Whew! That was hard work,” Richard said once his giraffe had been formed. “Sure hope Mama and Eunice have supper ready soon, ’cause I’m more hungry now than I was before!”

  Freeman laughed as he nodded his head. “Me, too. I’m lookin’ forward to trying out some of your sister’s cooking.”

  “Sie is en gudi koch,” Richard said.

  “I’m sure she is a good cook. I had some of her strawberry-rhubarb pie last week, and it was wunderbaar.”

  “Sure hope Mama don’t fix her green bean casserole.” Richard wrinkled his nose. “I don’t like green beans!”

  Freeman leaned closer to the boy and lowered his voice. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Sure can, but if you’ve got a secret, then you’d better not tell Eunice, ’cause she blabs everything she hears.”

  “I do not!”

  Richard’s face blanched, and Freeman whirled around at the sound of Eunice’s shrill voice. He’d been so engrossed in his conversation with her brother that he hadn’t heard her come out to the porch. He’d never heard her shout like that, either. It made him wonder what kind of a mother she would make.

  Eunice gave her brother a nasty look then quickly covered it with a smile in Freeman’s direction. “What was the secret you wanted to tell my little bruder?”

  “It’s not really a se
cret,” Freeman said. “I was just going to say that I don’t care much for green beans.”

  A look of relief spread across Eunice’s face. “No problem. There will be no green beans on the table this evening.”

  Richard clapped his hands. “That’s a relief!”

  “I came out here to tell you that supper’s almost ready.” Eunice looked over at Richard. “Run out to the barn and tell Papa that we’ll be ready to eat in five minutes.”

  The boy frowned. “Can’t ya just ring the dinner bell? Freeman’s been showin’ me how to make an animal balloon.” He held up the giraffe. “And we’ve also been busy gabbin’.”

  Eunice shot him another look. “Do as I asked or I’ll tell Mama that you’re being uncooperative again! You know how she feels about kinner who don’t listen. If you’re not careful you might get a bletsching.”

  “Don’t want no whippin’, so I’ll be goin’ right away!” Richard jumped out of his chair, leaped off the porch, and raced for the barn.

  Eunice shook her head as she lowered herself into the chair he’d been sitting on. “That ornery bruder of mine has a mind of his own.”

  “I think most boys his age do,” Freeman said.

  “Maybe so, but he’s more headstrong than most boys his age.” Eunice gave Freeman a heart-melting smile. “I’m glad you were able to come for supper this evening.”

  He returned her smile. “I hear you’re a good cook, so I’m sure it was well worth the wait.”

  ***

  “Are you sure you won’t change your mind and come with us to Ohio for my cousin’s funeral?” Mom asked when she stepped into the garden where Katie had been weeding.

  Katie shook her head. “You and Dad will be gone several days, and someone needs to be here to run the stamp shop.”

  Mom’s eyebrows furrowed. “We can close the shop if you’d like to come along. It’s not like we’re running a business that requires someone to be here all the time.”

  “No, that’s okay; I’d rather stay here and keep working.”

  Mom squatted beside Katie. “I’m worried about you staying here by yourself.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to some quiet time on my own.” Katie hoped Mom believed her. She needed her folks to think she was doing okay, and she was determined to put on a brave front. Besides the fact that Katie couldn’t deal with the thought of going to another funeral, she really did look forward to being alone for a few days. It would be a welcome relief not to have Mom fussing over her all the time, asking how she felt, and suggesting that she see a doctor or take some herbs.

  Katie brushed the dirt from her hands and stood. “You and Dad go on to Ohio and stay as long as you need to. I’ll be fine on my own while you’re gone.”

  As Katie thought about spending the next several nights alone, a ripple of apprehension shot up her spine. At least I hope I’ll be fine.

  CHAPTER 18

  Breathing the damp aroma of the moist soil where she’d been pulling weeds, Katie let her fingers trail along the stem of a flower. She lifted her head and watched as the puffy clouds shifted across the sky. Simple pleasures, she knew, were the most satisfying, and working in the garden was a simple pleasure.

  An oppressive hot wind whipped against Katie’s face, but she kept pulling weeds. She wanted to get this done before it was time to fix supper, and she hoped, if there was enough time before it got dark, she could take a walk out back to the pond.

  The clip-clop of horse’s hooves drew Katie’s attention to the road. When a horse and buggy started up their driveway, Katie slapped her hands together to remove the dirt and stood. She figured it was someone coming to the stamp shop, and she’d need to tell them that the shop was closed for the day.

  Katie was surprised when the buggy pulled up to the barn and Loraine and Ella got out.

  “We heard your folks had gone to Ohio and that you’d stayed here by yourself,” Ella said when Katie stepped up to Loraine’s buggy.

  Katie nodded. “They left this morning after breakfast.”

  “Ella and I decided to come by and see if there was anything you needed,” Loraine said.

  “That’s nice of you,” Katie replied, “but I’m getting along fine on my own.”

  Ella handed Katie a small paper sack. “I brought you some of my friendship bread. Should we go inside and have a piece?”

  Katie hesitated but finally nodded. “Jah, sure. It’ll be good to get out of this heat for a while.”

  They hurried into the house, and while Loraine and Ella took seats at the table, Katie washed her hands and then poured them each a glass of iced tea and cut Ella’s bread.

  They sat across from each other, talking about ordinary things like the hot, humid weather and Ella’s job doing the books at her dad’s wind chime business.

  “There’s another reason we came by,” Ella said.

  “What’s that?” Katie asked.

  Ella looked over at Loraine. “You’d better tell her. After all, it’s your surprise.”

  Loraine’s cheeks turned pink as she placed both hands against her stomach. “Wayne and I are expecting a boppli.”

  “A baby? When?”

  “It’s not due until the end of February, but we can hardly wait.”

  “I’m looking forward to being a second cousin.” Ella reached for another piece of bread. “I think it’ll be fun to have a sweet little boppli we can all fuss over.”

  Loraine chuckled. “Between Wayne’s mamm and my mamm, we might have to stand in line to hold the boppli.”

  Katie sipped her iced tea as she listened to her cousins talk about the baby. She was happy for Loraine but couldn’t help feeling a bit envious. She longed to be a wife and a mother, but that dream had been snatched away the day Timothy died. She’d have to spend the rest of her life enjoying other people’s babies.

  Loraine pushed her chair away from the table and stood. “I think we’d better go. It’ll be time to start supper soon, and I should be there to help Ada.”

  Ella nodded. “My mamm will be expecting my help, too.”

  Katie followed them to the door. “Danki for coming by. It was nice to take a break from what I was doing.”

  As they started down the porch steps, Loraine turned to Katie and said, “I forgot to mention that I attached one of my poems to the loaf of friendship bread Ella made. Did you see it on the wrapping paper when you opened the bread?”

  Katie nodded. “I didn’t take time to read it, but I left it on the counter, so I’ll read it later when I’m done with my weeding.”

  “Say, with your folks gone, maybe one evening this week we can do some stamping like we’d talked about,” Ella said.

  “I’ll have to see how it goes,” Katie replied. “If I’m real busy in the stamp shop, I may be too tired to do any stamping at the end of the day.”

  “Well, let us know,” Loraine said.

  “I will.”

  As Loraine and Ella headed for their buggy, Katie returned to her job in the garden. By the time she’d finished weeding, she was more than ready for a walk to the pond. She gathered up her gardening tools, put them in the shed, and headed across the field behind their house.

  Soon she saw the water from the pond glistening in the sunlight, offering her a welcome relief.

  Katie flopped onto the ground, leaned her head against the trunk of a tree, and closed her eyes. A cool breeze caressed her face, and she was soon asleep.

  ***

  Katie sat up with a start and looked around. It was almost dark. The sun had spread its palette of warm hues across the darkening sky, and one by one, the fireflies were beginning to appear.

  Katie’s stomach growled, and she realized that it was past time to fix supper. She scrambled to her feet and hurried across the field.

  By the time she reached the house, the sky had darkened. She paused on the porch and peered up at the twinkling stars, enjoying a sense of calm. She hadn’t felt this peaceful since she’d come home from Flor
ida. Maybe all she’d needed was a little time alone, away from Mom’s constant hovering.

  When Katie’s stomach rumbled again, she scurried into the kitchen and lit the gas lantern hanging above the table. She’d just put some leftover soup in a kettle and was about to set it on the stove when she spotted the poem Loraine had written. She picked it up and read it out loud:

  “Pleasant thoughts are being sent your way;

  I know that God is with you every day.

  Remember to thank Him for being by your side;

  No matter the circumstance, in Him you can abide.”

  The words blurred as Katie blinked against a film of tears. Oh, how she wanted to believe that God was by her side. She felt alone and frightened much of the time.

  Thump! Thump!

  Katie jerked her head.

  Thump! Thump! There it was again. It sounded like footsteps on the front porch.

  Dad’s dog howled from his dog run outside. Katie’s heart pounded, and her palms grew sweaty. She hadn’t heard a car or a horse and buggy come into the yard. Maybe someone had ridden in on a bike or come on foot.

  She left the kitchen and headed for the living room. Maybe it’s someone wanting something from the stamp shop.

  “Who’s there?” Katie called through the closed door.

  No response. Nothing but the whisper of the wind.

  She grasped the doorknob and slowly opened the door.

  Waaa! Waaa!

  Katie sucked in a startled breath and gasped. On the porch sat a wicker basket with a baby inside!

  When Katie bent down, she spotted a note attached to the baby’s blanket. She plucked it off and silently read it: I can’t take care of my baby, so I’m giving her to you. Her name is Susan. Please take good care of her.

  “It’s a miracle,” Katie murmured as she carried the baby into the house. “God’s given me the thing I long for the most.”

  She soon discovered that whoever had put the baby in the basket had included a few diapers, a baby bottle, and a can of formula.