Amish Cooking Class--The Blessing Read online

  Watching cartoons wasn’t exactly Allie’s favorite thing to do, but it was always nice to spend time with her family.

  Dover

  Lisa sat at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea while trying to relax. Two weeks until Heidi’s next class seemed like a long way off, and she was eager to go again, hoping next time Heidi would share a more exciting recipe. Not that the baked oatmeal was bad; it just wasn’t anything she’d be likely to use in her catering business, unless someone hired her to fix a breakfast meal for a special event.

  Blaring music caused Lisa to jump. Ever since she’d gotten home from the cooking class, her nerves had been on edge. The renters in the unit attached to her duplex had the volume on their TV up so loud it could be heard through the wall separating her half of the duplex from theirs. When Lisa agreed to let the Browns rent the unit, she’d never expected them to be so noisy. But the loud music was better than listening to Bob and Gail argue—something else Lisa couldn’t help overhearing whenever they went at it.

  She poked her tongue into her cheek and inhaled a long breath. The young couple had only been married a year, but they had some marital problems that seemed to be getting worse as time went on. She’d been praying for Bob and Gail. Even invited them to attend church with her, but they showed no interest.

  A few weeks ago, Gail had asked Lisa if they could get a dog. Nothing was in the contract they’d signed about pets, so Lisa felt she couldn’t deny them one of their own. She liked dogs, too, and thought at first having one might ease the strain between the couple. Unfortunately, it was wishful thinking. So far, their puppy had done nothing but frustrate Lisa.

  When her neighbors were at work, the little thing whined and howled all the time. The poor pup was lonely, and Lisa couldn’t help feeling sorry for it—especially when those sorrowful yowls went on and on. It was heartbreaking to hear.

  As if that wasn’t bad enough, there were times when Lisa noticed her flowerbeds had been messed up. Flowers and stems got broken, and one time she’d seen the remains of a flower lying in the yard on the Brown’s side of the duplex. Lisa worried if she approached them about these issues, it would create tension between them as neighbors. They’d always paid their rent on time and spoken politely to Lisa, so she was uncertain what to do.

  Lisa loved working in her flowerbeds. Getting her hands into the soil was a source of solace. The colorful mums and marigolds had been blooming so beautifully, until the pup did its damage. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with, and her patience was waning. Maybe it would be better to do some hanging baskets with flowers instead of having them in the flowerbeds. At least the neighbor’s new pet couldn’t bother those. She would need to figure out how many baskets would work out front, and where they could be hung so no one would run into them. Perhaps she would stop by the hardware store soon to see what was available. Since her renters were obviously not going to get rid of the puppy, she would have to do whatever was necessary to protect her property from damage.

  Lisa was reminded of the sermon her pastor had preached last Sunday on how believers should let their light shine so others would see Jesus. She closed her eyes and prayed: Lord, please help me to set an example so people, like my neighbors, will come to know You personally.

  Chapter 7

  Walnut Creek

  Isn’t this beautiful, Lyle?” Heidi looked down at her aunt’s quilt, which she had spread out on their bed the night before after returning from their anniversary meal at Der Dutchman restaurant. Smiling, Lyle nodded. “There’s no doubt about it—your aunt Emma is a gifted quilter. She makes good cookies, too.”

  “Jah. Her thoughtful gift surely added a bright spot to our anniversary.” Heidi blinked, hoping no tears would come. “It’s hard to admit, but after hearing that Kendra had her baby yesterday, I began to feel sorry for myself again.”

  Lyle pulled Heidi into his arms, gently rubbing her back. “Would you like me to contact the adoption lawyer again and see if he can find another baby for us to adopt?”

  Heidi found comfort in her husband’s arms, and even more so in his willingness to adopt. For so long he hadn’t even considered it an option for them. She leaned her head against his chest, feeling comfort in his strong arms. “I still want a boppli, but I’m not sure I could handle another disappointment.”

  “Not every mother who agrees to put her baby up for adoption changes her mind at the last minute, Heidi. We have to trust God to give us the right child.”

  She pulled away and looked up at him, stroking his bearded face. “You’re right; I’m just not ready right now. Maybe we can talk about it again after the first of the year.” She pointed at the clock on the small table beside their bed. “Right now we need to finish getting ready for church. I’m eager to hear what our ministers have to share.”

  Millersburg

  Nicole stepped into the living room, where her dad sat reading the Sunday paper, while Heather and Tony watched TV. “If you don’t need me for anything, Dad, I’m going outside for a while.”

  He looked up and gave a quick shake of his head. “Go right ahead. The three of us are well-entertained.”

  “Are you comin’ back to fix our lunch?” Tony looked over his shoulder.

  Nicole grunted. “Is food all you ever think about?”

  Heather snickered and bumped her brother’s arm. “Before Mom left, she used to say Tony had a hole in his leg ’cause he was always hungry.”

  Nicole balled her hands into fists. “Of course he was hungry. Tonya neglected all three of her children.”

  “I’ve told you before, Nicole—you shouldn’t refer to your mother by her first name.” Dad reached up and massaged the back of his neck. “It’s disrespectful.”

  Nicole folded her arms, remembering how her mother had shown up at her sixteenth birthday party—drunk as a skunk, and flashing her new engagement ring. “Humph! She was disrespectful to all of us—you most of all, Dad. I can’t believe you’re defending her.”

  “I am not defending her. What she did was wrong, but she’s still your mother, and—”

  “I’m goin’ outside now, but I’ll be back in time to fix lunch.” Nicole whirled around and dashed out of the room.

  I don’t get Dad. Why doesn’t he understand? After all the horrible things Tonya did, he should be angrier than I am. Nicole grabbed her drawing tablet and colored pencils, before going out the back door. When she stepped out, she nearly tripped over her brother’s dog, Bowser. The critter lay on the porch in front of the door. She had to admit Bowser was kind of cute. He was part beagle, half mutt, and full of nothing but trouble. Nicole hated it when he got into a barking mode, though. Bowser didn’t seem to know the meaning of the command, “Be quiet!” I suppose I should be grateful the mutt’s sleeping. Just wish he’d find some place to nap other than by the door. She couldn’t count all the times she’d tripped over the dog when he was dozing on the welcome mat.

  “You lazy pooch. Go find someplace else to snooze.” Nicole nudged him with the toe of her sneaker.

  Bowser merely grunted, then rolled over onto his side. Nicole stepped around him and sprinted toward the back of their property, where their yard met the woods. She didn’t get much time alone these days, so it would be nice to be by herself for a while.

  She took a seat on a log and placed the drawing tablet in her lap. They’d had a cold snap a few mornings this past week, and some of the leaves were starting to turn. Nicole liked this time of year, when the cooler weather set in. She remembered when she was a child, crunching through the leaves on her way to school during autumn mornings. Now that Nicole was in high school, she caught the bus. The only time she got to frolic in the leaves was after school and on weekends when she had time to be outside, which was rare. It was too bad the leaves didn’t stay pretty longer, for it wouldn’t be many weeks before the trees would all be bare.

  Opening the box of colored pencils, she began sketching a squirrel sitting on a tree branch several feet aw
ay. She hoped the little critter would sit still long enough for her to get its outline done. Squirrels could be pretty skittish, so she had to sketch quickly.

  Woof! Woof! Woof!

  The squirrel leaped to another branch as Bowser came running and nearly slammed into the tree.

  “Oh great! So much for a little peace and quiet.” Nicole set her drawing aside and clapped her hands. “Go home, Bowser! You’re nothing but a pest.” She’d never get the drawing of the squirrel down now.

  Looking up at the tiny critter, the mutt kept yapping. The squirrel found a different branch, and finally jumped into another tree. Of course it didn’t discourage the dog. Nicole covered her ears as the barking continued.

  Nicole’s lips pressed together, her irritation increasing by the minute. In exasperation, she reached inside the log, where she kept another notebook. This one wasn’t for sketching, though. It was a tablet full of letters to her mother. Not nice letters, either, but ones Nicole kept to herself. They were condemning, scolding letters; Nicole’s way of getting back at her mother for all the hurt and shame she’d caused their whole family. Nicole had no plans of giving the letters to Tonya, but it made her feel better to write them. She saw it as a way to vent, but without telling anyone her troubles.

  From pen to paper, Nicole finished pouring more of her emotions out. After the squirrel escaped through the trees, Bowser came over to where Nicole sat and stood staring up at her. She stared right back at him. Stupid mutt.

  The dog tipped his head as though he’d heard something. She watched the nutty hound, who now seemed fixated on a nearby hole. Bowser growled and started digging like there was no tomorrow. The mutt appeared frantic as dirt tossed up and onto Nicole’s lap. “Hey! Stop doing that, you goofball!” Nicole gritted her teeth.

  Bowser, in his doggie state of mind, continued his endeavor until a poor ground mole was withdrawn from its burrow and carted off from sight. The pathetic prey squeaked for its life.

  Still holding her writing tablet, Nicole jumped up, chasing after Bowser. “You let that poor critter go!” She waved the notebook several times, and even swatted the dog’s behind. Sheepishly, Bowser finally gave in and dropped the mole. It scurried away and back down its hole.

  Nicole looked at her tablet, noticing that the binding had given way, and frowned. The papers fluttered to the ground. “Bowser, this is all your fault!” She knelt and picked up the fallen sheets of paper. “Guess I should have let the sleeping dog lie,” Nicole muttered.

  After she’d claimed everything, Nicole tucked the papers together as best she could and put them back into the log. Then she picked up her drawing tablet and colored pencils. “Come on, mutt, let’s go!” Maybe sitting on the back porch to do some sketching would be her best chance for peace and quiet.

  When Nicole stepped onto the porch, she discovered Heather’s cat, Domino, flaked out on the wooden bench.

  “Go on, scat, dumb cat!” She picked up the feline and placed him out on the grass. “Go chase a mouse or find someplace else to sleep. Sure don’t need you getting hair all over me.”

  It might not be right to take her frustrations out on her siblings’ pets, but Nicole got tired of the messes they made, not to mention being unable to do anything just for herself. She thought about the cooking classes Dad had signed her up to take. Apparently he believed it was something she would enjoy, but the first class had been boring. And the fact that the Amish woman had written a Bible verse on the back of the recipe card she’d given Nicole only fueled her frustration. She was still angry at God for ignoring her pleas concerning her mother’s drinking problem and horrid behavior. All the prayers Nicole had said went unanswered. If there really was a God, He should have done something about the situation.

  Nicole looked up at the sky, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun peeking through the clouds. At the very least, You could open my mom’s eyes to the truth; she needs help and should go somewhere to get it.

  Speaking this way to God, even in her mind, did nothing to make Nicole feel better. If You are real, God, then why don’t You answer my prayers?

  Canton

  Releasing a noisy yawn, Todd grabbed the Sunday morning newspaper and flopped into his favorite brown, leather easy chair. He’d stayed up late last night, writing down his thoughts about the cooking class. Todd planned to write an article about taking lessons from the Amish woman, but not until he’d finished the last class. By then he’d have a lot more information, and could even include a recipe or two. It would generate interest and maybe take the sting out if he wrote anything negative about the Amish way of life or the types of meals Amish women served.

  Laying the paper across his chest, Todd closed his eyes, to better reflect on what had happened during the first class. A mixed group of people had come to Heidi Troyer’s to learn how to cook some traditional Amish dishes. Todd hoped whatever they made in the next class, which wouldn’t be for another two weeks, would be a bit tastier than the baked oatmeal Heidi had taught the class how to make. It was probably okay for someone who enjoyed eating oatmeal, but he’d never liked it, even as a kid when his mother doctored it up with plenty of brown sugar and raisins. Truth was, when Todd got home yesterday, he’d thrown the baked oatmeal in the trash. He could only imagine what his mother would say if she’d seen him do such a thing. “Todd Collins, did I not teach you better than that? Tossing out perfectly good food is wasteful. Why, do you know how many people are starving around the world and would give anything to have eaten the food you saw as nothing but garbage?”

  Todd didn’t care; he’d just go by his favorite coffee shop in the morning and order a tempting creation to eat with his latte. What my mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her. He chuckled, still relaxing and enjoying himself in the overstuffed chair.

  Todd opened his eyes. He felt relief that his parents still lived in Portland, Oregon, where he’d been born. He only saw them a couple of times a year and was always glad when they went home. Dad was okay, but Mom got on his nerves with her constant nagging and asking twenty questions. The one thing she quizzed him about most was whether he’d found a nice girlfriend yet, and if so, was he ready to settle down? She wanted to know all the aspects of Todd’s life, and even called frequently to ask him questions. Mom was like a bloodhound, sniffing for any little evidence to gather and involve herself in Todd’s life.

  Todd’s parents had gotten married when they were in their early twenties, and here Todd was twenty-eight years old, with no serious girlfriend, much less any plans to be married. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a wife. He just hadn’t found the right woman yet. Of course, he admittedly was a bit picky. And with good reason, he thought. I chose wrong once and won’t make that mistake again.

  Pushing his thoughts aside, Todd focused on the newspaper and his column, where he’d given a negative critique of a restaurant in town. It wasn’t a fancy place—kind of a hole in the wall, really, but he’d hoped for some good food when he went there, since it had been advertised as “Just like Mom’s tasty home cooking.”

  “Tasty home cooking, my eye.” Todd gave a disgusted snort. “I’ve eaten a better burger at the fast-food restaurant down the street from my condo.”

  He folded the newspaper and tossed it on the end table close to his chair. If enough people read my thoughts about the new place, maybe the owners will sell out or vacate the building. I don’t know these people, so what does it matter? Then hopefully someone who knows what they’re doing will take over the restaurant.

  Todd grabbed hold of the armrests and lifted himself out of his chair. Think I’ll drive over to Akron and try out some other restaurant today. Good or bad, it’ll give me an opportunity to do another review.

  Chapter 8

  Berlin, Ohio

  On Monday, Heidi decided to do some shopping. She needed groceries, and with all the shops to choose from in Berlin, she could hopefully find something nice for Kendra’s baby, too. It had been a difficult decision, but Lyle had agreed
to hire a driver this coming Saturday so they could go to Akron and visit Kendra, rather than merely mailing the card and gift.

  I want to do the right thing, and if there’s a pocket-sized New Testament in one of the stores, I’ll buy it as well. The Bible can be for the baby when she’s older and is able to read, Heidi told herself as she headed down the baby aisle in one of the stores. Even though Kendra’s parents had invited her to move back home so they could help raise the baby, her relationship with God was weak. Whatever Heidi did or said could help strengthen the young woman’s faith, but if Kendra took it the wrong way, Heidi’s words might have the opposite effect. Heidi didn’t want to create an obstacle between Kendra and God.

  As Heidi approached the baby clothes, she spotted Loretta Donnelly coming from the opposite direction.

  “Hello, Heidi.” Loretta smiled. “It’s good to see you. Are you buying clothes for the new arrival?”

  Swallowing against the constriction in her throat, Heidi barely managed a brief nod. “Only it won’t be Lyle’s and my child wearing the baby outfit, because we will not be adopting Kendra Perkins’s child after all.”

  Loretta tipped her head. “But I thought …”

  Heidi explained about Kendra changing her mind and ended by saying Kendra had given birth to a baby girl last week.

  “Oh, she had the baby already?”

  “Yes. Apparently it came earlier than expected, but both mother and daughter are doing fine.” Heidi took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn’t break down in front of her friend.

  “I’m sorry to hear you won’t be raising the baby. I know how much you’d been looking forward to it. You and Lyle would make wonderful parents.” Loretta’s brows lowered. “How will Kendra take care of a child by herself?”

  “She’s moved back with her folks, so they will help with the baby.”