“If you’re running a fever, son, we’ll have to go home,” Linda said, reaching out to touch his forehead.
“I ain’t sick,” he insisted with a shake of his head.
She pulled her hand back, relieved to discover that his sweaty forehead was actually cool.
“I think the boys are just overheated from playing,” Beth assured her.
Allen nodded. “We always have playtime after the Bible story and snacks.”
“Are you ready for church?” Beth asked, turning to Linda. “Pastor Deming’s sermon and the music during morning worship are always so uplifting.”
Linda nodded, feeling almost hungry for spiritual things. The notion startled her. If Jim were a better husband, I might not need anything else. But maybe I’ll find what I’m looking for here at this church.
Abby rubbed her eyes, trying to relieve the gritty, burning sensation. She had worn herself out trying to run the quilt shop and help Mom as much as she could. Since Naomi had given birth to the baby, whom they’d named Susan, Nancy went over to Caleb and Naomi’s place to help out whenever Caleb’s mother wasn’t available.
Cousin Edna dropped by to help Mom as often as she could, and Mary Ann would be around until school started in a few weeks. Even so, Abby felt compelled to pitch in whenever she could. The doctor had cautioned Mom again to stay off her feet as much as possible. But Abby knew how stubborn her mother could be, and she couldn’t help but worry about her and the bopplin she carried. Abby continued to have more of those bad dreams and wasn’t sleeping well, either, which only added to her exhaustion.
“You look tired,” Matthew said, stepping into the quilt shop. “Maybe you should close the place up for the rest of the day and go home so you can get some rest.”
Abby shook her head. “We’re in the middle of tourist season, and there’s much to be done.”
He tipped his head, and a lock of dark brown hair fell over one eye. “Know what I think, Abby Miller?”
“What’s that?”
“You work too hard, worry too much, and concentrate on everyone else’s needs but your own.”
Abby made no comment as she reached for a bolt of material on the shelf overhead. Matthew didn’t understand how important it was for her to keep Mom’s shop running smoothly.
“When was the last time you did something fun—just for you?” he questioned.
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 mor
e 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.”
Abby stood in the middle of her mother’s quilt shop, studying it from all angles. Thanks to several Amish and Mennonite ladies in their community, she had a lot more quilts to sell. That was good, since so many tourists flocked to Lancaster County and visited Fannie’s Quilt Shop in Paradise. There was only one problem. Abby had run out of room to display all the quilts. “I would hate to start turning quilters away,” she mumbled.
“Why would you have to do that?”
Abby spun around at the sound of Matthew’s deep, yet mellow voice. “I have no more space to display quilts,” she said, motioning to the crowded shelves along the walls and several racks in the middle of the room.
He stepped up beside her. “How did you display things at your shop in Berlin?”
“I had several wooden quilt racks scattered around, and some were draped across a bed we had set up in the middle of the room.” Abby sighed. “Of course my shop there is much larger than this one.”
“Seems to me what you need are some large hangers you could put on that bare wall with quilts draped over them.” Matthew nodded toward the wall facing the adjoining general store.
“The only trouble with that is I have no such hangers.”
“I saw some in a quilt shop over in Strasburg a few weeks ago. I like to fiddle with wood when I have the time, and I’m thinkin’ I might be able to make you some hangers.”
“That would be wunderbaar,” she said with a burst of enthusiasm. “I’ll pay you for them, of course.”
He grinned at her, and the dimple in his chin became more pronounced. “How about in exchange for me making the quilt hangers, you take a day off and do something for yourself?”
She frowned. “I can’t do that. Mom needs my help here and at home.”
“But she’s gonna need you a lot more once the twins are born.” Matthew leaned on the table closest to him and stared at
her. “If you know you’ll be workin’ harder in a few months, that’s all the more reason you should take time to rest or do something fun now.”
Abby drew in a deep breath. Matthew was right, as usual, although she hated to admit it. “Okay, I’ll take a longer lunch break this afternoon and try to get caught up on my letter writing.”
He chuckled while shaking his head. “Abby Miller, you’re too much.”
She plucked a bolt of material off the table. “I’d best get back to work now, and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve got some customers in the store needing help, too.”
Matthew groaned, but there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Work, work, work. That’s all you ever think about.”
She poked him playfully on the arm. “See you later, big brother.”
“Yep.” He turned and sauntered out of the room.
Linda stood at the kitchen window, watching her son play in the backyard. She had given Jimmy a jar of bubbles after they finished eating breakfast, and for the last half hour he’d been keeping himself well entertained.
He’s such a sweet, even-tempered boy, she mused. The woman in charge of child care at the fitness center had told Linda that Jimmy was an absolute pleasure to be around. He’d played well with the other children there and hadn’t given the woman a bit of trouble.
Linda smiled and waved as Jimmy pranced across the lawn in front of the window, wielding his wand and leaving a trail of rainbow-colored bubbles floating behind.
My fears about leaving him with strangers while Beth and I exercised were unfounded, and I’m sure the young woman at the front desk wasn’t a threat, either.
“What are you staring at?”
Linda whirled around. “Jim! I thought you’d left for work already.”
“I did, but I forgot something and had to come back for it.”
“What’d you forget?”
“The little book I write my paint jobs in. Can’t get any work done without that.” Jim stepped up to the window. “I see our boy’s getting his exercise for the day.”
She nodded. “I got some yesterday, too.”
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