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

by Sarah Price

  “I just can’t believe it,” she said feigning sorrow in her voice. “Such a terrible disappointment. I’m sure Leah and Susie are just devastated!”

  Abe looked in the small mirror hanging over the dresser, his eyes watching her. “You haven’t asked much about Tobias,” he said. “Aren’t you even curious about your bruder?”

  Inwardly, she cringed. Was his question a reprimand? Or was he merely testing her? “I presumed he was all right. Someone would have told me otherwise, ja?”

  “They found a donor,” Abe said. The tone of his voice cut through her. He stared at her, a serious look upon his face. “A one in a million chance! Right there in the hospital, too!”

  This didn’t make sense. Only family could be a donor. Hadn’t Leah explained that to them? “That’s impossible!”

  “Apparently not.”

  He wasn’t happy. That much was clear. Lydia just couldn’t understand why. She was trying, wasn’t she? Trying to be the wife that he wanted, despite wanting so much to complain about the throbbing in her head. Why, he hadn’t even come to visit her in the hospital. Instead, he showed up an hour before her discharge. Didn’t he care at all about her?

  “Abe,” she said, softening her voice. “I told you that I’d try, that I’d see that doctor you and the bishop wanted me to see.”

  He leveled his gaze at her but remained silent.

  “I’m willing to try,” she continued. “Just let me get better from this…” She gestured with her hand toward her head. “It hurts. Still hurts so much.” She winced as she touched her forehead. “Can you do that Abe? Let me recover from this awful accident? Why, I could have been killed Abe.”

  His eyes narrowed and he shook his head.

  “You don’t believe me?” she asked incredulously. “Abe! I’m telling you the truth. Honest I am.”

  “Nee, Lydia,” he said as he turned to walk out the door. “I fear that you don’t know what the truth is anymore. And you certainly don’t know how to be a godly woman or caring fraa.”

  Alone in the room, Lydia crossed her arms over her chest and scowled, fuming at his harsh tone with her. Accusing her of lying? How dare he? She remembered that she had promised to speak to the doctor, if only to appease the bishop. Still, Abe should show her mercy at such a time. Escaping death in the eye of a tornado should elicit some emotion on his part. Instead, her new injuries evoked even more anger from him.

  Tossing the covers back, Lydia fought the pain that seared through her head and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. Struggling, she managed to stand, the dizziness in her head forcing her to lean a hand against the nightstand to steady herself. Truth? She took a deep breath, fighting her rage. He wanted a caring fraa? She’d show him. She’d be a caring fraa by showing him just how wrong he was!

  After changing from her nightgown into a dress, slipping the straight pin into the side to reinforce the seam, she forced herself to leave the sanctuary of her bedroom and, on bare feet, shuffled into the kitchen. Seated at the table, Abe looked up in surprise. He watched her, curious as to why she was out of bed, but did not speak.

  “I know how to be a fraa,” she snapped at him. “I won’t be accused of that!”

  She opened the refrigerator and began pulling food out, slamming it onto the counter. She glared over her shoulder at her husband. He appeared completely unaffected by her irrational behavior.

  “Oh you think the bishop won’t hear about this?” she added. “You run to him with your complaints? Ja, vell, he’ll hear about this, that’s for sure and certain.”

  Abe shook his head and returned his attention to the newspaper that he had been reading. His silence further infuriated her.

  “Forcing a sick woman to work! Showing her no sympathy!” She scoffed. “Oh the bishop will have something to say about that!”

  “You used up all my sympathy, Lydia,” he mumbled. “A lifetime of sympathy, in the past two years.”

  Hearing those words, she felt as though someone had flipped a switch inside Lydia’s emotions chamber. Could this be true? Had Abe lost all of his caring and love for her? She panicked, her eyes wide and her pulse quickening.

  She turned back to the food before her on the counter. Her hands shook and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as she wondered what Abe’s words meant. Divorce was not a possibility among the Amish. But if Abe had given up on their marriage, given up on them as a couple, where would that leave her? What type of future did they have if Abe wasn’t willing to give her time to change?

  Sadie

  The bishop stood on the porch, his hat in his hand as he waited for someone to answer the door. That someone was Sadie.

  She caught her breath when she saw him and, with downcast eyes, she took a step back, holding the door open. Despite Esther’s shock and silence, she must have confided in someone, sharing the heartbreaking news of Jacob’s indiscretion and the subsequent years of lies that followed in regards to Tobias’ genetic parents. She knew better than to be surprised. Once revealed, such secrets could not be contained.

  “Reckon I know what this is about,” she whispered, wishing that Leah hadn’t gone for that walk with Thomas. She would need Leah’s strength to speak to the bishop about what she knew regarding Jacob and Tobias.

  “Might I speak with you for a spell?”

  His voice sounded forced and conflicted. He, too, averted his eyes, having trouble looking at her. Sadie blushed, knowing all too well that the g’may would soon hear about this news that would forever stain the Miller family’s good name.

  Outside, the kinner giggled and played, the noise carrying on the wind through the open windows. She knew it was best that they’d remained outside. To them, Tobias would always be their onkel, regardless of what happened today.

  “Sadie,” the bishop began, clearing his throat and shifting his weight as he sat on the hard chair at the kitchen table. “Some accusations have been made and I fear it is time we discussed them.”

  Looking at the Bishop with tear-filled eyes, Sadie nodded her head. Oh Jacob, she thought. If only he had told us before now. “I understand. I just wish Leah was here.”

  “It’s best that we talk alone, Sadie,” he replied.

  While she didn’t understand that, she wasn’t about to disagree with him. Contradicting the bishop would not help the situation.

  “There has been word spreading throughout the g’may, Sadie, about a pregnancy…an out-of-wedlock pregnancy,” he said solemnly, forcing himself to stare at her. “This is a most disgraceful situation.”

  She nodded her head. “Ja, I agree,” she whispered. “We were all rather surprised when we found out.”

  “I need not remind you that intimacy is reserved for husband and wife. As a baptized member of the church, you are well aware of that, Sadie. Such relations…” He paused, searching for the right words. “Such relations go against the Ordnung and, when the rules are broken, there are consequences.”

  She frowned. Was he speaking about the Meidung? The shunning? She had suspected that Jacob would have some consequences for his actions, but to shun him for something that happened so many years ago? Something that had also been kept from him? “That seems rather unforgiving,” she said softly, surprised that she spoke up at all. But once said, she could not retract the words. Instead, she lifted her head and stared at the bishop, meeting his steely gaze. She’d deal with the consequences later. “It happened so long ago.”

  He seemed to ponder her words. “Was it a one-time thing, then?”

  She laughed, a short laugh and one without mirth, but a laugh nonetheless. “I’m sure I don’t know those details! You’d have to ask him. I only found out the other day. And I’ve asked no questions since.”

  While she might not have asked them, she certainly wondered about them. All she knew was that Jacob had confronted the mother and she had agreed to be tested to see if she was a viable donor. Sadie followed her own personal policy of asking no questions when informat
ion was not offered willingly. If someone had secrets, who was she to probe for answers?

  Her answer displeased him. That much was clear. A shadow passed over his eyes and he gave her a stern look. “You should take this quite serious, Sadie. You face a consequence that would change your life. No contact with your friends and family. Raising the boppli alone.”

  His words stung and she blinked twice, repeating the one word that caught her off guard. “Boppli?”

  “Ja,” he affirmed, his voice terse. “Your boppli.”

  The color drained from her cheeks and she felt her heart pound. What on earth was he talking about? She hated to question him, but felt that she had no choice. “I’m sorry, Bishop, but I’m lost. I don’t understand what you are saying.”

  He leaned forward, jabbing his fingers onto the tabletop, the noise echoing throughout the empty room. “Sadie Miller! Are you or are you not with child?”

  Her mouth fell open. Suddenly she understood. Suddenly, as though a rush of wind had knocked her over, the odd behavior of so many people over the past few days made sense. Manny had not stopped by since the tornado. His mamm avoided her earlier that day at the schoolhouse. In fact, everyone seemed to avoid her when the meeting adjourned. And Leah had wanted to talk to her about something the night after the tornado. Sadie had thought it was about her health issues, but now she knew otherwise. Leah, too, thought she was pregnant.

  “I’m speechless,” she finally whispered. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned back in the chair. With misty eyes, she stared at the wall behind the bishop’s head. She simply couldn’t look him the eyes. “I don’t understand how anyone could think such a thing.”

  The bishop frowned, his body relaxing just enough to indicate that he, too, was perplexed. “Are you saying it’s not true, then?”

  “Of course it’s not true!” Sadie snapped. With all of her strength, she glared at the bishop. “And I’m insulted that anyone would suspect something like that from me! The sin of gossip runs rampant in your g’may, it seems!”

  Her anger increased as she realized what had happened. Someone, somewhere had started this vicious rumor. Someone had thought so little of her that they sought to destroy her.

  “I’m not certain what to say. Your sister Lydia…” The bishop stopped talking mid-sentence and lowered his own eyes. It was his turn to feel humbled in front of Sadie.

  At the mention of her sister’s name, Sadie snapped to attention. Lydia? What did Lydia have to do with this? Her blood boiled inside of her veins. After all that Sadie had done to maintain calm during the years, even when Lydia struggled to create waves in the most placid of water. Lydia’s mouth had spoken these lies?

  “If my schwester indicated that I was in a family way,” she said in even, measured tones. “Then I suspect your discussion about the Ordnung and Meidung should be conducted with her, not me.” Standing up, Sadie lifted her chin. “If there is nothing else, Bishop,” she said defiantly. “I have chores to tend in order to prepare supper.”

  Without another word, she turned her back on the bishop, her hands trembling and her pulse throbbing at her temples. She stood at the counter, leaning against it for support as she shut her eyes, willing the bishop to leave the kitchen before she said something that she would regret later. The shaking in her hands trembled up her arms and she realized that tears were falling from her eyes.

  Lydia. Of all people in the world to start such a terrible, humiliating lie! And to think that people believed it?

  When she heard the door shut, she caught sight of the bishop walking down the stairs to the porch, his head hanging low as he headed for his buggy. She stopped pretending to work and let the tears fall freely down her cheeks.

  Forget supper, she thought bitterly. She dropped the pan she held in her hands, letting it fall to the floor, the noise loud in the silence. Wiping at the tears, she turned and walked to the stairs, each step heavy and purposeful. It was time to stop thinking about others, she told herself. How could they think this of her? Had she not always been nothing but upright?

  Running upstairs to her room, she quickly closed the door. Manny must hate her. If he thought she was in a family way then he must think that she had cheated on him for they had never done anything inappropriate and certainly nothing that would cause him to suspect she was an immoral woman.

  And then it dawned on her.

  Manny believed what he had heard! Suddenly, all the emotions of the last several days flowed from her body. The tears came rampantly and her body shook. For the next hour, Sadie felt nothing but the grief of what she had just learned. It wrecked havoc on her body and on her soul. Especially her soul. As she covered her face, quietly sobbing into her hands, all she could do was wonder why would God let any of this happen to her.

  Part Three

  Together before the Lord

  Each expressed their faith,

  The just and pure truth.

  They spoke with understanding,

  As much as was given to them,

  According to God’s good promises,

  Enabled through His Spirit,

  Through which one speaks.

  Ausbund Song 28, Verse 6

  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

  From whence cometh my help.

  My help cometh from the Lord,

  Which made heaven and earth

  Psalms 121:1-2

  The Recovery

  It didn’t matter that it was for only three nights. It felt like it was going to be longer; a lot longer. Leah stood on the porch, watching as the lights of the van gradually disappeared into the darkness.

  Rebecca opened the door and poked out her head. “Little ones in bed, Mamm,” she said, happy to have carried out her responsibilities

  “That’s right gut,” Leah sighed and smiled at her oldest daughter.

  Saying goodbye to Sadie had drained Leah’s emotions. Now, watching the van drive her schwester away drained her energy. Despite knowing that she’d see her the following day, Leah felt a hollow emptiness inside of her. She feared she would never be able to deal with putting the little ones to bed. Their energy and endless demands for stories would only grate her nerves. Rebecca’s offer to do it for her had been a timely gift of love.

  “Danke,” Leah said and reached out her hand. Rebecca smiled and took it, delighted with the invitation to join her mother.

  Leah slipped her arm around Rebecca’s shoulders, a rare embrace and display of emotion coming from an Amish mother to a daughter. But Leah needed to feel Rebecca next to her, even if only for a moment.

  “She’ll be all right, ja?”

  Leah looked down at Rebecca, surprised by the question. At twelve, actually closer to thirteen, Rebecca was becoming a fine young woman. Next year would be her last at school. Then, she would stay home and help her mamm at the bakery. In another two years, little Anna would be old enough to start attending school. In the meantime, it was high time that Esther snapped out of her blue funk, faced reality, and began helping with the kinner. Everyone needed to pull their own weight, even in times of duress.

  “Ja, Rebecca,” Leah smiled softly. “Mayhaps she’ll have some off days, but she’ll be right as rain in no time.”

  “People die from cancer,” Rebecca said. “She won’t die?”

  “Why Rebecca Mast! I’d no sooner try to guess God’s plan than I would take His name in vain!” Despite the reprimand, Leah kept her arm around her daughter’s shoulders and pulled her into another gentle embrace. “But I do know that the doctors will take right gut care of her. And God gave the medical people the knowledge of how to treat this cancer.”

  A small sigh of relief escaped from Rebecca. Leah hid her smile as she recognized that her dochder was a strong young woman with a large heart. All she needed was a little reassurance, Leah realized as she released Rebecca from her embrace.

  “Now, we have a lot of work to do tomorrow,” Leah said. “You best be going to bed now. And, with Sunday being a ch
urch day, we’re going to need all the hours in the day, that’s for sure and certain!”

  Rebecca bade her goodnight and, reluctantly, retreated into the house. Leah knew that she had wanted to stay outside longer, to share those rare moments of mother-daughter time without interruption from others. But Leah was worn out, tired and in need of her own alone time. In fact, she thought as she lifted her eyes up to the heavens, she needed some Father-daughter time.

  She shut her eyes and took a deep breath as she prayed: Father, as we prepare for the physical and spiritual storms that arise on life's journey, we look to you for hope. Your spirit, our faith, prayer and the loving support of our community will sustain us as we endure the painful storms. We remain joyful in hope, patient in rebuilding, and faithful in prayer. We will not give up but continue to move forward. We ask that you keep us safe, secure, and ever hopeful as we rest in your loving hands. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen

  The twinkling stars in the sky seemed to brighten and Leah knew that God heard her prayer. With a satisfied heart, she turned toward the house, heeding the very advice she gave Rebecca just moments before. The following day would be long and hard. With her body aching and her emotions stretched to the limit, Leah knew that she, too, needed a good night sleep to prepare for whatever life would throw at her in the morning.

  Earlier that Day

  The darkness of the kitchen hid Leah as she sat at the kitchen table, her fingers drumming silently against the arm of her chair. She listened to the gentle tick tock of the clock, waiting patiently for the creak of a door and the familiar squeak of the third step on the staircase. Thomas had never fixed it, despite her numerous requests. This morning, in the darkness of dawn, Leah found herself thankful that Thomas had been too busy to address that squeaky step.

  It was almost six o’clock when she heard it. When the door creaked, Leah sat up straight, her eyes peeled onto the staircase as she waited. Slowly, she counted. One, two, three…She glanced at the clock. Five minutes to six. Four, five, six…She heard a shuffle of bare feet on the floor above the staircase. Seven, eight, nine…Leah took a deep breath and placed her finger on the button of the battery-operated lantern that she had placed upon the table before her. Ten. The stair creaked and Leah stood up, carrying the lantern as she walked toward the staircase.