The Divine Secrets of the Whoopie Pie Sisters: The Complete Trilogy

by Sarah Price

  Part Two

  Where love has entered in,

  It does drive out fear.

  For fear has torment, and also misery

  Cannot abide with love,

  For God’s love has no torment.

  Wherever it is

  There is great joy, at all times

  It turns sorrow into joy.

  Ausbund, Song 87 Verse 15

  Love is patient and kind;

  love does not envy or boast;

  it is not arrogant or rude.

  It does not insist on its own way;

  it is not irritable or resentful;

  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

  but rejoices with the truth.

  Love bears all things, believes all things,

  hopes all things, endures all things.

  Love never ends.

  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

  The Bakery

  It was quiet at the bakery. Leah stood at the front door, staring at the sign she had taped onto the glass pane so many hours ago: CLOSED FOR THE DAY. The shelves of baked goods were thin, the inventory not having been replenished from the prior day. She wondered how many customers had stopped by the store, surprised to see the sign in the window and wondering what could possibly have made Whoopie Pie Place shut down for the day.

  It had been a long day at that. After morning chores, Leah had rounded up all of her siblings and herded them into Michelle’s large van. Then, they had driven over to collect Susie and Lydia from their homes. Despite the grumbles of Jacob and Lydia, everyone had willingly participated in the day’s excursion to the hospital in order to be tested as a possible donor for Tobias.

  After the hospital appointments, Sadie had joined her to help ready up Susie’s house for church Sunday. Lydia had begged off, claiming that her head felt feverish from the stress of having been tested at the hospital. All that medical poking and prodding had clearly unnerved her. At least that was what Lydia had claimed. With the store shut, it hadn’t mattered that she went home. In Leah’s tired mind, it had been one less bother to deal with at Susie’s house. In hindsight, she was sure that the good Lord had been watching over them when Lydia pulled that stunt.

  The door creaked and Leah looked over her shoulder. She wasn’t surprised to see Sadie slip through the door, her face pale and her eyes cast down upon the floor. It had been a hard day for both of them and Leah wished she could wrap her arms around her youngest schwester and cry on her shoulder. It was too much to deal with: Tobias, Susie, Lydia, and that ever stressful order for the convention that was due in just another couple of weeks .

  “You are well?” Sadie asked softly, avoiding Leah’s eyes.

  Leah laughed but it was mirthless. “Oh ja, well indeed!” she scoffed but with no ill-intent toward Sadie. “I just needed a few minutes alone to think before I went home, I reckon.”

  Sadie nodded but did not speak.

  “I’ve prayed to the Lord for His guidance and support,” Leah confessed. “I know Mamm would not want us to bemoan our situation but I must say that my shoulders are not strong enough to bear this burden.”

  Once again, Sadie nodded. “I agree that it is a lot.” Both women knew that the events of the day at Susie’s were best not spoken aloud for now.

  With a sigh, Leah glanced at the clock; almost four-thirty. The kinner would be helping Jacob and Thomas with evening chores. It was time to return home and prepare the supper meal. Then, she would need to pray on what to tell Thomas. When he would ask how her day had been, what would she do, she wondered. Divulge the truth or continue to keep hoarding these secrets from her husband in order to protect him from the same stress that she was feeling?

  “Best get going,” she said as she reluctantly began to walk toward the door. “Chores await and bellies need to be fed, -?”

  As she passed Sadie, she felt a soft touch on her arm. Surprised at the gesture, Leah turned around. No sooner had she done so than Sadie flung herself into her arms, resting her head on Leah’s shoulder and sobbing softly into the soft burgundy fabric of her dress. Uncertain how to react at first, Leah merely patted her sister on the back, trying to soothe her with a gentle touch.

  “Now, now,” she comforted. “Everything will be all right. You’ll see.”

  If only she could believe those words herself…

  Earlier That Day

  Whoopie Pie Place

  Leah was a nervous wreck. She had never shut down Whoopie Pie Place during the week and hated having to write that sign. With a thick black marker on a sheet of white paper, she neatly wrote the words “CLOSED FOR THE DAY”. She felt as though she should post an explanation, let people know what was happening in their family, but she knew better. Family issues were not meant to be aired to the public. The bishop would inform the g’may when the time was appropriate and, most likely, that would also be a time when donations would be raised to help pay for Tobias’ medical bills.

  She taped the sign to the door, the blank side facing in. With a big sigh, she stood back and looked at it. Closed. A very lonely word. She didn’t like the sound of it and knew that many customers would come today, seeking their baked goods, only to turn away, disappointed. It just couldn’t be helped.

  Still, the guilt weighed heavy on her shoulders.

  True, Thomas had offered to spend time at the store but Leah had declined, merely shaking her head as she thanked him for the offer. She knew that he needed to cut the hay in the backfield while Jacob was working the front pasture. The hay needed to dry while the sun was shining before they would bale it in a few days. Plus, the far field of tobacco was almost ready to be cut, the thick leaves stripped and hung in the upper rafters of the barn, the sideboards opened just slightly to let enough air circulate through and expedite the air-curing process. Autumn was a time of preparation for the winter and she knew better than to interfere with the schedule of a farmer.

  Leah walked back into her office, a small quaint square room situated between the front lobby and the kitchen. She noticed the pile of papers she had left laying on her desk. “I’m sorry my little pile, you will have to wait till tomorrow to get any attention from me,” Leah spoke as she sighed. Why did she take on those orders? Especially the large one for the convention center? It seemed like a good opportunity at the time. Now, she was no longer so sure.

  In her defense, she had not known that Tobias was going to require medical attention. He had been fine for so long, except for a few late night vomiting spells and an occasional weakness. But that could happen to anyone. Even Sadie had been sick a bit recently. No, Leah knew that she could not blame herself for taking on that order just before Tobias was hospitalized. She just hadn’t known.

  Or did she?

  It bothered her, the fact that she had missed so many important signs. She kept asking herself the same question, over and over again: Did I know it in the pit of my stomach and turned a blind eye against it? Should I have spotted it earlier? Would it have mattered with his diagnosis? There were so many self-incriminating questions swirling in Leah’s mind. Oh how she wished there was a switch that she could turn off and on. She needed an escape from her thoughts, an escape from the knowledge that she couldn’t turn back the hands of a clock and, especially, an escape from the guilt..

  Closing the door to her office, she walked into the kitchen area. The absence of the normal hustle and bustle of the daily activities of her sisters in the kitchen and the tourists packed in the front store spoke in loud volumes to her this morning. Not since the death of her parents had they closed the bakery on a normal business day. Although that was only two years ago, it seemed much longer since that horrible day, a day that had changed the lives of their whole family. Their passing had left a hole at the center of her core being, a hole that Leah was constantly trying to fill. A senseless accident that took two of the most important people in her world.

  Walking over to a pitcher of water sitting on a tray on the counter, she poured herself a drink. She look
ed at that crystal clear glass of water. For a moment, she couldn’t help but ponder about how, in God’s creation, everything was so perfect. Whoever believes in me, the scripture said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

  “Lord, please send your flowing waters over me to give me strength,” Leah whispered.

  The past few days were difficult. She had spent far too much time talking with her siblings…two of them, anyway. Jacob and Lydia had been most resistant to Leah’s pleas to get tested in order to see if either of them were a match for Tobias. Jacob didn’t want to be bothered and truly tested Leah’s patience with his constant grumbling about Tobias taking after Lydia, with her fake illnesses and constant yearning for attention. It had taken a few soft words from Esther to convince Jacob to give up part of his day in order to accompany the others to the medical center.

  Lydia, however, had been far too adamant that she was ill and, even if she were a match, her blood was too sickly to be used for saving Tobias. Sadie had stepped into the conversation, begging Lydia to help their bruder. To Leah’s surprise, Lydia had snapped at Sadie with a strange comment: “Doubt you’ll be any better off than me for donating!”

  But Leah didn’t have the time to ponder what Lydia had meant by that statement. She did, however, notice the color drain from Sadie’s face as she quickly excused herself from their presence, disappearing outside before anyone could apologize or ask questions.

  It had taken the better part of half an hour for Lydia to finally agree. Yet, her words were half-hearted and Leah knew that, despite her promise to ride along to the medical center, Lydia’s fight was not yet over. But fight Leah would! She had made a promise to her mamm and daed two years ago, when visiting the cemetery and she wasn’t about to let grumpy Jacob and selfish Lydia get in her way of fulfilling it.

  Setting her glass down, Leah went looking for her purse. “Might as well get this over with. Look out siblings, here I come,” she mumbled as she closed the bakery door behind her and marched across the driveway, toward the house.

  Leah

  “Jacob!” Leah yelled from the fence, cupping her hands around her mouth.

  Jacob was clearing some brush in the field adjacent to the barn, ignoring her arm waving and shouts in the air. He seemed to be too intent on the task at hand, one that included paying no mind to what she was yelling.

  “It’s time we go! The driver will be here shortly.”

  Short of climbing the fence and racing across the field, there wasn’t much left for Leah to do. However, she needed to catch his attention. With a hefty sigh, she pulled herself over the fence, hoping that the top board wouldn’t crack under her weight. She forced herself to walk across the field, angry that it had come to this, especially since she had talked to Jacob just this very morning.

  “Jacob!” she yelled as she approached. “It’s time!”

  “Hmmph!” His displeasure was more than apparent and, for a moment, Leah wanted to grab him by the ear, the same way she used to reprimand him behind her mamm’s back when he was a child. “Is this really necessary?”

  “Jacob!” His question tore through her and she glared at him. “This is Tobias we are talking about! It could save his life!” Taking a deep breath, she counted to ten quickly. When dealing with Jacob, a different approach had to be taken. “You know Dr. Bodine called yesterday and said it’s necessary for all Tobias’ bruders and schwesters to be tested. Please come and stop being a stubborn mule,” Leah pleaded.

  “Stubborn mule.” Jacob scoffed under his breath as he strolled toward the barn alongside her. “Give me a few minutes,” he mumbled. “I’ll wash up and be right there.”

  “Hurry Jacob, the driver will be here at any moment. The test only takes a minute when we get there and then you can return to your chores.”

  He didn’t seem to pay any attention to her as he disappeared into the barn. With a sigh, Leah thanked the good Lord for having given her enough patience. Without it, she was afraid she might have not one but two brothers in the hospital to visit.

  When she heard the approaching vehicle, Leah turned and headed toward the house to find Sadie. She didn’t have to go far for, as she neared it, the door opened and her youngest sister emerged.

  “I should have known I didn’t need to worry about you being prompt,” Leah said to Sadie as her sister hurried down the porch steps to join Leah on the front yard.

  “Ja, I heard Michelle coming up the driveway. I figured you could use at least one sister today who didn’t give you any trouble!”

  Sadie smiled as she said it, but there was a dim light in her eyes. Leah watched her youngest sister, concerned with the worry in her expression. Putting her arm around her as they walked to the van, Leah spoke.“Ja, that would be ever so welcome, sweet Sadie. But hopefully you’re wrong.”

  Ten minutes later, the van approached Lydia’s home. Despite beeping the horn twice, Leah noticed that Lydia was nowhere in sight. Not like Susie who had been waiting on the porch of her house, prompt and willing without any fuss.

  After waiting for five minutes, Leah shook her head and got out of the van. “I should have expected this from Lydia. Why does it not surprise me?”

  Receiving no answer after knocking on the back door, Leah went inside. “Lydia? Lydia, it’s Leah,” she called as she walked into the house. The kitchen was empty and Leah felt her blood pressure begin to boil. She crossed the floor to the master bedroom that was on the first floor. Hesitating just a moment, she pushed the door open, cringing at the sound of the hinge squeaking in the silence and peeked inside. “Lydia, are you ready?”

  Instead of finding Lydia fixing her hair or getting her handbag, Leah found her still lying upon the bed. With a gasp, Leah put her hands on her hips and stared down at her sister. “Lydia! You’re not even out of bed yet?”

  Pretending to be startled from the pretense of sleep, Lydia jumped at the sound of Leah’s voice. “Leah! You didn’t have to yell. Can’t you see I am not well?”

  When are you well, Leah thought and quickly found herself counting to ten for the second time that morning. Like Jacob, when Lydia was in one of these moods, a different type of approach was needed. Softening her voice, Leah walked toward the side of the bed. “Lydia, you know we have an appointment this morning.”

  Shutting her eyes, Lydia sank deeper into the pillow. “I’m not feeling well,” she repeated. “I can’t go this time. Maybe next time.”

  Ten, nine, eight…Leah took a deep breath. Seven, six, five… She sat on the edge of the bed. Four, three, two… “What’s wrong now, Lydia?” The sympathetic approach always worked. It had become increasingly apparent to Leah that Lydia needed attention and, despite not wanting to cater to her childish thirst to be at the center of everything, she knew she had no time to play games today.

  Obviously, the sympathy hadn’t been thick enough. Lydia’s eyes popped open and she frowned. “What’s wrong now?” she snapped, emphasizing the word now. Leah cringed at the mistake that she had clearly made. Lydia’s next words confirmed it. “What do you mean by that. You make it sound as though I am making it up!”

  If Leah wanted to shout that everyone knew she was making up her illnesses and that everyone was tired of keeping track of which illness she claimed to have, she kept those thoughts to herself. Tobias was what was important today. And a confrontation right now would only make things worse. She could not risk being any later for their appointment than they already were going to be.

  Once again, Leah softened her tone. “I’m sorry Lydia if that sounded wrong. I’m just worried about Tobias. I’m also sorry that you are ill. Can I help you get ready? Is there something I can get you that will help you feel better so you can go with us?”

  This time, hearing the sympathy in Leah’s voice, Lydia brightened a bit. She sat up and took a deep breath. “I do feel weak, Leah. But, I’ll do this for Tobias, I reckon. Mayhaps you could help me dress? If you will watch over me this morning, I will go.”

  �
��Ja, I will help you, Lydia,” Leah agreed, all the while wishing that what she could really do was smack her dear attention-seeking, self-centered sister right in the side of her head. Smack some of the nonsense and selfishness right out of her. That will have to wait until after the test for Tobias, she told herself with a private glean of delight at the image in her mind of actually doing what she wished.

  After grabbing a drink of water, Lydia walked to the van, approaching it just as Leah was getting in the front seat.

  “Leah, I really need to be up front this morning. I’m not well, you know. It would help me. Could you hold the door open please and help me in?”

  Looking at Michelle, Leah saw her roll her eyes and shake her head at Lydia. Shrugging her shoulders, Leah helped Lydia into the front seat.

  Climbing into the back, Leah told Michelle they were ready. “Can you step on it, Michelle? We’re going to be late.”

  Jumping and turning in her seat, Lydia exclaimed, “I guess it’s all my fault that we’re going to be late?”

  “Nee, Lydia. “ Leah said. “Just 95% of it” she added under her breath.

  During the drive to the hospital, Leah tried to focus on everything but the reason they were traveling to the hospital. She thought about the upcoming orders, the weather, even the laundry that was piling up at home. But she kept returning to the phone call from Dr. Bodine the previous day. He had informed Leah that Tobias was resting well but the test results showed that a bone marrow transplant was an imminent necessity. She hadn’t liked the way he had mentioned sooner rather than later, expressing an urgency that had caused her a sleepless night. The minute that Leah had hung up the bakery phone, she knew that getting everyone to agree to be tested would not be an easy task. But it was definitely a necessary one.

  “We have an appointment,” Leah started to say to the woman who greeted her from behind a desk inside the testing facility. “The Miller family for Tobias Miller, ja?”