“It’s nice to be back.”
Chapter 21
Joy wasn’t ready for sleep. “I’ve put your bags in my room, so we can talk all night.”
Mercy pushed the door open. “It’s my room, don’t forget that.”
“Not anymore. I’ve taken it over. It might’ve been yours once.”
“We’ll call it our room.” Mercy flopped onto the bed and lay down.
“Nee. It’s my room and you can stay here as my guest.”
Mercy rolled her eyes and sat up. “You haven’t changed. You’re still as precise as ever.”
“Denke.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“If it wasn’t, it should’ve been. We can talk until morning.”
“Not all night. I need to sleep for the boppli.” She patted her tummy. “I want to catch up on everything, but I’m a bit tired from all the traveling.” She looked down at her stomach. “I suppose he can sleep any time.”
“He?”
“I’m sure he’s a boy.”
“That’s exciting. Let me feel your stomach.” She put a hand out to feel Mercy’s stomach and Mercy batted her hand away. “Stop it.”
“I’m just trying to see how fat you are.”
“I’m not fat at all, yet. It’s too early for that.”
Joy changed into her nightdress. “You’re fatter in the face.”
“I don’t know why. I’ve lost weight with all the morning sickness.”
“Morning sickness?” Joy screeched. “You’re not gonna be sick all over me in the morning, are you?”
“Not if you wake up early and bring me tea and toast.”
Joy rolled her eyes. “Okay, I will. What time do I have to do that?”
“As soon as I tell you to do it.”
Joy shook her head and then took off her prayer kapp.
“I’m going to enjoy being home.” Mercy removed hers, too, and lay down on the bed once more.
“Do you make Stephen look after you with toast and tea and all that?”
“I don’t make Stephen do anything. He wants to do things for me.”
“I hope my husband will be like that.” Joy took hold of the bags that she had brought upstairs earlier and pulled out a night dress for Mercy. “Are you going to be staying long enough to unpack, or are you just here for a day or two?”
“Leave all that, I’ll do it tomorrow. I’m here for a couple of days.”
“Okay.”
When both girls were in their nightclothes, Joy brushed Mercy’s hair. It was just like the old days before Mercy got married and moved away.
“Is it crowded at the Wilkes’s home?” Joy asked.
“We moved out of Stephen’s parents’ home.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I don’t tell you everything.”
“I know that. There’s lots of things you haven’t told me.”
Mercy giggled. “I’ll catch you up with everything before I leave.”
“Please do. Now it’s your turn to do my hair.” She passed the brush over and the girls swapped places. “Where are you living now?” Joy asked.
“We’re renting a little house not far away from Stephen’s folks. It got pretty crowded once Honor and Jonathon came to live there.”
“And how do you like the community there?”
“It’s okay, but it’s not home.”
“It’s been over a year since you married and you told us you’d only be there about a year.”
“Plans change, people change, ideas change.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we might not be back for a while.”
“Obviously, because it’s been about two years already.”
“I know. I will have to tell Mamm tomorrow. I think she thinks that we’ll be moving here before the boppli’s born. I didn’t want to have to tell her outright. I wanted her to guess before I had to tell her.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“I’m going to ask Florence if I can take one of the buggies. I’m going to visit all my friends. You can come with me.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got something else planned.” Joy couldn’t think of anything worse than visiting Mercy’s friends. If Mercy was taking one buggy, she’d ask if she could take the other. Her plans involved finding out if Isaac was planning a future with her. Who better to find out from than Christina, his sister?
Chapter 22
The next day, Joy stood on Christina’s doorstep and knocked on her door. Christina opened the door and stared at her. “Are you here by yourself?”
“I am. Mercy has come home with some exciting news. She’s pregnant.”
When Christina’s eyes popped open in surprise, Joy realized that Mercy should’ve been the one telling Christina and Mark. After all, Mark was their half-brother. Now she’d ruined it. “Whoops. I should’ve let her tell you and Mark.”
“Did you come over especially to tell me, or did you want to talk to Mark? Mark’s at the store.”
“I came to see you, but not about that.”
“Should be interesting. Come on inside.” She opened the door wide. “You won’t mind if I keep working, will you? I’ve got an order for fifteen of these kapps and I need them finished for tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got six to go.”
“Do you need some help?”
“I’ve seen your sewing, so, no.”
Joy was startled by her comment, but still, she wanted to like Christina because she loved Isaac. “I like your honesty.”
Christina led the way back to a sewing machine in the middle of the living room and Joy sat on a chair behind her. This was going to be awkward. Joy had been hoping to get information out of Christina in a conversational way but that was obviously never going to happen. Not while she was sitting behind her. It was weird. “Mercy’s baby will be your niece or nephew.” Christina grunted and Joy thought she hadn’t heard, so she said, “Are you excited about being an aunt, Christina?”
Christina spun around and glared at her. “Do I look like I’m excited?”
She didn’t. There was no hint of a smile around her pinched face. “Nee, you don’t.”
“How long has she been married?”
“Well over a year. Two maybe.”
“And how long have I been married?”
“You?”
“Jah, how long have Mark and I been married?”
“Um, must be more than three years by now.”
“You should know, you were there.”
There it was again, Christina’s prickly personality. “I know it was over three years because you got married not long after Dat died.”
“You’re right."
“I’m sorry I don’t remember exactly when, Christina. I’ve got a dreadful memory sometimes. Don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry at you.” She shook her head. “I’m just annoyed. She gets pregnant almost immediately and I’m still waiting. I’m not happy.”
Joy found it hard to understand her attitude but tried to see things from her point of view. It would’ve been frustrating to be trying and failing to get pregnant, but couldn’t she be joyful for someone else and share in their pleasure?
When Joy could find no words to comment, Christina said, “I know you think I’m awful, but I don’t care. I’m upset. I wanted to get married so I would have a family and where is that family now? All I’ve got is a husband and a bruder living with me. Where are my bopplis? My faith is wavering, Joy, it’s wavering. If Gott is kind and loving, can’t He see my pain?”
“He won’t disappoint you. He will come through. He came through for Sara and Abraham.”
“From the Bible?”
“Jah.” Joy smiled trying her best to be encouraging.
“Oh good, I’ll be a mudder when I’m over eighty.”
“Um, that was just an example. There are also lots of places in the Bible where it tells you just to have faith. Have faith like a grain of
mustard seed and that faith will grow big like an oak tree.” Joy had been caught unawares. Normally, she had the Scriptures at the tip of her tongue but today, Christina was making her extremely nervous.
“Did you come to preach at me? The Amish don’t allow women to preach, so … You think you’re doing something right, but you’re not.”
Joy rubbed her forehead. “I wasn’t preaching.”
“It certainly sounded like it to me and you’re also showing off. You’re trying to show me that you know the Bible better.”
“Well, I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I was meaning.”
“Joy, tell me something.”
“Sure.”
“Exactly why are you here?”
“Because we are family and …”
“That’s right, you thought I’d be overjoyed about your schweschder having a boppli when I’m sitting here barren sewing these stupid prayer kapps.” She stood up and ripped the material out of the sewing machine and threw it onto the floor. Then she took the scissors and started cutting into the finished kapps that were lined up on the sewing table.
Joy bounded to her feet. “Stop! Stop, Christina!” She grabbed Christina’s arm and Christina started to cry. While she was sobbing, Joy managed to work the scissors safely out of her hands and placed them back down on the table.
Christina sat there and wept into her hands. Joy leaned over and put her arms around her and then Christina sobbed some more. There were no words Joy could speak in case she set Christina off again, so she remained silent and allowed Christina to cry.
Then she remembered her father told her that sometimes the best way to communicate with someone was to say nothing at all. This, she thought, was one of those times. Unless her father had said that merely to stop her from talking.
After a few moments, Christina’s sobs got fewer. She sniffed and pulled away from Joy. “I’m sorry. I can only imagine what you think of me now.” Christina dried her face with the end of her apron.
“I don’t think anything of you, apart from you being my schweschder-in-law who keeps my bruder happy.” That wasn’t what she thought of Christina, but if she said those things in faith, it might come true.
“I hope I do.”
“Of course you do. He’s wonderfully in love with you.”
That brought a small smile to Christina’s lips. “I try to be a gut fraa, and a gut schweschder to Isaac.”
“And you are. Isaac is so grateful that you allow him to live here and have given him a job at the store.”
“He’s a good worker, otherwise, we wouldn’t keep him on.” She managed more of a smile. “Even though he’s a relative.”
Joy took a handkerchief out of her sleeve and handed it to her. “It’s clean.”
“Denke.” Christina unfolded the handkerchief and wiped her eyes. “Now I’ve ruined this kapp.” She picked up the tatters of what was once a head covering. “And all the others.”
“How about I help you? I’m not too good on the machine, but I’m a pretty good hand sewer.”
“Are you?”
Joy nodded. “Jah.”
“How good?”
“Pretty good.”
“Then I’d appreciate your help if you could stay here for the next couple of hours and help me out.”
“Sure, I can do that.”
“How about you start by making us a couple of sandwiches?”
“Sure.” Joy stood up. “I’ve never had a real job before.”
Christina stared at her. “You won’t be paid for this.”
Joy giggled. “I don’t want to be paid.”
“Good.”
“Two sandwiches coming up.”
“There’s leftover roast beef.”
Joy headed to the kitchen, found the meat in the gas-powered fridge, and made the sandwiches. Now that she was staying there longer, she’d have a good opportunity to find out more about Isaac.
After they’d finished their sandwiches, Christina gave Joy some sewing to do. She watched Joy for a few minutes. “You’re not too bad, Joy.”
“Denke …I think. Does that mean we’re friends?”
“Not yet.”
Chapter 23
Joy couldn’t find out any information from Christina. She arrived home with sewing that she’d agreed to do for Christina. There was too much work for one person, so Mamm and Florence offered to help after dinner.
That night, Isaac came for dinner again and after dinner, Joy seized the opportunity to work out where she stood with him. More than anything, she wanted their relationship to last and needed to hear he wanted the same.
She’d led him out to the porch and she sat on a chair while he leaned against the railing in front of her.
“Wouldn’t it be the best thing in the world to be having a child?”
“You’ve got that right. I suppose it’s okay for some but the person would have to be ready for it though.”
“Who wouldn’t be ready for it once they were married?”
“A couple who weren’t married.”
“Oh, that’s silly,” Joy said. “That goes without saying.”
“Does it?”
“I think it would just be the most wonderful thing in the world. I hope it happens to me one day.” She looked up at him from under her lashes.
“Me too.”
“Really?”
“Jah, I hope it happens for you too, if that’s what you want.”
This wasn’t going how she’d pictured it. “It’s Gott’s plan for everyone.”
“Well, not for everyone because there are people who don’t get married.”
“Most people in the community get married.”
“That’s right and I’m not talking about those who do.”
She did her best to hide her frustration. Didn’t he see what she needed from him? “But don’t you want to get married someday?”
“I do. When everything is right and everything is ready.”
“What things?”
He left the railing he’d been leaning against and sat down beside her. “Just everything. Everything has to be right and in the right time, in the right place.”
She had no idea what he was talking about; didn’t he think that she was the right person? Was that the problem?
She didn’t ask anything further through fear he’d tell her what she didn’t want to hear. That night they hadn’t held hands and now Joy was so upset she didn’t want to. “I guess we should be going inside now. It’s getting cold.”
“Sure, I’m right behind you.” He jumped up, and held out his hands to pull her from the chair. When she stood, he pulled her toward him for a hug, but she stepped aside and walked into the house.
He left soon after and Joy knew he was unaware she was upset.
* * *
When all the girls had gone to bed that night, Mamm and Florence were still working on the hand-sewing for Christina’s prayer kapps while sitting opposite one another. “I’m sorry for the other day, Florence.”
“That’s okay. We both said we were sorry last night, remember?”
“I do, but there’s one thing I can’t figure out.”
“What’s that?”
“Why were you reading my schweschder’s letter?”
In shock, Florence jabbed the needle into her thumb. She quickly checked, glad there wasn't any blood. “Nee, it was my mudder’s letter.”
“Nee, it wasn’t. It was from the horrible man who got my schweschder pregnant.”
Florence put her fingertips to her forehead as she thought back to the contents of the letter. There had been no Christian name mentioned. The only name was from the sender. “Are you sure? I thought, when I read it, someone wanted Mamm to run away with him.”
“My schweschder was going to marry a man from our community and was all set to do so, but then she got pregnant and left us. I don’t know where she went and I don’t know what happened to that dreadful man. She couldn’t have gone back to him because I�
�m sure she was destitute that time she knocked on my door.” Mamm shook her head and looked down. The memories were obviously painful.
“Wait, that letter wasn’t to my mudder?”
“Nee. Your mudder and vadder married when they were quite young. They never had eyes for anybody else.”
“They were in love.” The words tumbled out of Florence’s mouth without her thinking first, like they so often did.
“Did you think otherwise?”
She looked up at Wilma. “When I saw that letter, I had my doubts. I mean it seemed like that man who wrote that letter was very much in love. He wrote it like he was loved back, but the woman had decisions to make.”
After a quiet moment, Wilma said, “That’s why you were so upset with me? You thought I was throwing away your mudder’s letter.”
“That’s right I did. Why was your schweschder’s letter with my mudder’s things?”
“It’s not only your mudder and vadder’s things stored in the attic. I have a few boxes of her things up there, too. When she left, she left everything. And when I moved here, I brought them with me. Dat said to put them up in the attic. I suppose I should’ve told you that, but I didn’t know you were up there.”
“This is certainly a shock.” Florence closed her eyes and rubbed them. It was a lot to take in. “Hold on a minute. She got pregnant by a man with the last name of Braithwaite?”
“That’s right. I can’t say for certain, but that’s my best guess. What of it?”
Her stepmother didn’t know their neighbor’s last name. “Nothing. It’s just an unusual name, that’s all.”
“I’ve never heard it before either.”
“Do you know anything about this man?” Florence asked.
“Just that he was a dreadful, dreadful man.”
“Why was he so bad?”
“Because of what happened. He talked her into doing dreadful things. Things like that should only be done when people are married.”
“Well, that’s the ideal, but sometimes it doesn’t happen like that.”
“Does that mean you think I’m awful for turning her away the day she came to the haus?”
Amish Joy (The Amish Bonnet Sisters Book 4) Page 8