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

by Sarah Price

  “Looks like things are going well,” she said. “And you thank your mamm for me, Merv. That was right kind of her.”

  “Will do.” He smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets. Susie nudged him with her arm, as if encouraging him to say something else. He cleared his throat and glanced up to look at Leah. “I…I was talking with Susie and, vell, we looked over at the store before coming in here. I was thinking that I might be able to get started on some repairs to it.”

  Repairs? It would take a lot more than just repairs, Leah thought. Still, she knew that Merv was offering more than just help to repair Whoopie Pie Place.

  “And I saw you already have all that lumber sitting there.”

  “What do you have in mind, then?”

  He rubbed at his beard. “Round up a few fellows, knock down the inside and demolish that rear kitchen wall. Expand it a bit and give you women a bit more room in there.”

  Leah laughed. “That’s a whole lot more than repairs, Merv.”

  “Show her your plans,” Susie urged.

  Withdrawing his hand from his pocket, he held a folded piece of paper. “Ja vell,” he mumbled as he unfolded it. “Look here, Leah. I drew this last night. Just a sketch, you see. If we can keep the front wall, it won’t look any different from the road.” He flattened the paper on the tabletop and leaned over, pointing to it with his finger. “But see here? Look how different this is.”

  Susie leaned against his shoulder. “And all that extra room! Why, we can certainly reopen and have even more product than before! We’ll be bigger and better, showcasing even more goods from our neighbors and friends. Show Laverne that nobody messes with the Miller sisters!”

  It was a lot of extra room, both in the front of the store and in the kitchen. What Merv outlined on that piece of paper gave her hope, an exciting glimmer of optimism that things just might turn out all right. “You merged the pantry into the kitchen, I see,” she said, letting her finger rest on his drawing. “So really, you’re just adding a new room on the back for supplies.”

  He nodded. “Ja, true. But we’re also moving that inside wall back a ways. Gives you almost two hundred more square feet of space in the storefront.”

  It wasn’t a bad idea. Leah stared at the drawing, trying to envision it in her mind. How long would it take? Would they be able to open for the autumn tourist season? “And you think you can do this, Merv? You up to this pressure?” From what Susie shared with her just the other day, Merv was trying. Really trying. The last thing Leah wanted to do was add unnecessary stress onto him.

  “I sure can and I sure am,” he said confidently. “What is it they say about idle hands?”

  When he bent back down, explaining how much extra lumber he estimated they needed to buy, Leah looked over his head and met Susie’s gaze. The glow in Susie’s eyes spoke louder than words. And it warmed Leah’s heart. She didn’t know when the last time was when she had seen Susie so happy, a happiness that came from deep within her. It was a happiness that Leah wished that she, too, could feel.

  Leah

  The hospital floor was quiet. Leah wasn’t used to visiting Tobias in the early afternoon. Typically she managed to visit in the early morning or early evening. Both of those times tended to be busier with parents, friends, or family stopping by to say hello on their way to or from work.

  Today, however, with the Glick order being fulfilled and everything in place for completing the next order in two weeks, Leah found the time to come earlier to the hospital.

  She needed to see Tobias.

  It had never mattered to her whether Tobias was her bruder or her nephew. From the day that she found out about Tobias’ parents, his biological parents, Leah never once thought about it again. At least, she reminded herself, until no one in the family was a match for the bone marrow transplant.

  “You sleeping?” she asked as she peeked around the corner into the room. With the lights off and the blinds drawn, the room was dark. She heard the rustle of the sheet as she stepped through the door.

  “So sleepy,” he whispered.

  Leah reached into the bathroom and clicked on the light switch, making certain to keep the door shut so that only a little bit of light disturbed the darkness. Then, stepping to the bed, she reached out a hand to touch his forehead. No fever. That was a good sign.

  “Ja vell, the doctor said you might get sleepy after the chemotherapy, didn’t he?”

  She felt him nod his head under her hand. His eyes were shut and she could hear the steady noise of his breathing. In, out, in out. She smiled to herself, knowing that his sleep was more important than their visit.

  With a happy heart, she sank to her knees and rested her folded hands on the side of his bed. She shut her eyes and lifted her heart in prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to you and humbly seek you. You alone are my only strength. Please watch over your Tobias and restore him to that perfect health which is yours alone to give. Watch over the Doctors and medical staff, giving them the skills and wisdom they need to take care of our precious boy. Give him good health and raise him up to a life of service to you Lord. We ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

  For the next hour, she sat in the chair by his bed, resting her cheek against her hand. She almost fell asleep, too, but forced herself to stay awake. Her body felt drained, completely exhausted. She couldn’t remember what it was like to just sit for a moment and do nothing.

  Over the past few weeks, so much happened that Leah took that time to pause and reflect. God had sheltered her family through the tornado, but He sure had thrown some other strong winds in their direction: Tobias’ illness, Merv’s addiction, Lydia’s shunning, Jacob’s past, and now Sadie’s cancer. If only things would settle down now, she sighed to herself. She wasn’t certain if she could handle much more.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” a voice said from the doorway.

  Leah squinted in the light realizing that she had dozed off. Sitting up straight, she recognized the woman as a nurse. “That’s all right,” she said. “You checking in on Tobias, then?”

  The woman slipped through the door, making certain to shut it behind herself in such a way that the noise would not disturb the patient. She paused to open the bathroom door, just enough so that a sliver of light fell across the bed and she could see to whom she was speaking.

  “I’m checking on him, yes,” the woman said.

  Leah squinted in the light, trying to place the woman. She recognized her, only Leah couldn’t figure out from where. “Did you help my schwester the other day? Lydia Esh? The Amish woman injured in the tornado?”

  The woman took a deep breath before answering. She seemed hesitant and that was all Leah needed to put the pieces together.

  “Are you Cheryl Weaver, then?” Leah whispered.

  “Walsh,” the woman responded. “Cheryl Walsh. I’m married now.”

  With all of the chaos surrounding their lives, Leah had not considered that she might run into Tobias’ mother at the hospital. Now, seeing the woman before her, Leah felt as if she should say something. Unfortunately, she found that words escaped her.

  She was not necessarily tall but she was pretty. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into a fancy braid that hung between her shoulders. Even in her hospital uniform, Cheryl was fancy looking. For the first time in her life, Leah felt old and frumpy, her clothes too plain and her hair graying and wiry.

  “I…I can’t thank you enough,” Leah finally said. “What you’ve done…”

  Cheryl nodded her head. “I’m just glad that everything will work out for him.” Her eyes traveled to the bed and she gazed down upon her son. “Tobias.” She said the name as if trying to get used to the sound.

  “We aren’t going to tell him…” Leah stopped mid-sentence, not certain whether or not Tobias was able to hear them.

  Cheryl smiled at her. “I understand. Probably for the better, anyway.” She reached out her hand as if to brush the hair from his forehead, but, as if on second though
t, she pulled her hand back and stepped away from the bed. “Well, I’ll let you two visit a while. Have my own rounds to make.” When Leah looked up at her, Cheryl shrugged her shoulders, a sheepish look on her face. “I’m on break. I like checking up on him when I have a few spare moments.”

  For some reason, her words touched Leah.

  She watched as the nurse reached out and gently patted Tobias’ leg before turning toward the door. She reached for the doorknob and paused. “I always wondered…” she whispered, her head dipped down and her back facing Leah. “I’m glad I know,” she added before disappearing from the room.

  Leah sat there, her eyes staring at the closed door long after Cheryl Weaver Walsh left the room. It took even longer for the image of the woman with the manicured fingernails patting Tobias’ leg to leave her memory.

  Susie

  “That’s the last bag of flour,” Merv said as he set it down on the floor.

  Susie smiled at him. “Danke, Merv.”

  He stood for a moment and assessed the supplies that were scattered throughout the kitchen. He had run errands that morning, picking up the different goods that were needed in order to help Susie sort and organize the supplies for next week’s distribution to the women of the g’may. Susie had insisted that everything be distributed early so that the women could practice, just in case there were any problems.

  “What kind of problems you think they might run into, anyway?” he asked, removing his hat and wiping at his forehead with the back of his arm.

  Susie laughed. “Hopefully none!”

  He frowned and looked at her, hiding his smile. But he couldn’t. Instead, he reached out for her hand and, with a quick glance over her shoulder to make certain no one was in the kitchen and could see them, he pulled her into his arms.

  “Oh!” she gasped.

  “It’s right gut to hear you laugh,” he said.

  Susie blushed.

  He tilted her chin so that she was forced to look in his eyes. “I forgot how pretty your laugh sounds. I want to hear it more often, Susie.”

  She closed her eyes as he leaned forward to brush his lips against hers. When was the last time he kissed her? She looked away when he pulled back, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “I…I guess I just have more to laugh about these days.”

  He pressed his forehead against hers and sighed. “I need to apologize, Susie. I need to know that you forgive me for all of the years of disappointment.”

  She didn’t know what to say or how to respond. She couldn’t deny the truth: there had been disappointment. She also didn’t want to believe that everything would be a smooth road. The destination was clear but the journey to get there was definitely not over.

  “Life is full of disappointments, Merv,” she managed to say. “But life is also full of fulfillment.” She leaned her head so that it pressed against his hand. “Did you ever think that God gets us through the lows so that we can appreciate the highs?”

  He seemed to ponder what she said, his brow wrinkled as he thought on her words. Then, in a moment of clarity, he brightened. “I reckon that’s what the Bible means in Ecclesiastes when it says ‘When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember: God gives good time and hard times, and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.’”

  His words struck her as particularly poignant. After all, just a month ago, she never would have thought such a change in Merv was possible. She knew that she needed to remember the hard times, even though she wanted to forget them. His harsh words and constant criticism stung her heart whenever she remembered. Nee, she thought. It’s best to forget some hard times in order to move onto tomorrow.

  Looking up at Merv and his glowing face, she smiled. “Ja, that’s exactly what the Bible means. But I must confess that I sure do like the good times better than the hard.” Ignoring his laugh, she let him pull her into a gentle embrace once again. With a sigh, she rested her head upon his shoulder as she added in a soft whisper, “And I, for one, am looking forward to what tomorrow brings. Finally.”

  Lydia

  By the time the bishop showed up, Lydia knew exactly what she was going to say. She had spent enough time thinking about it, especially since sleep eluded her the previous night. All night, she tossed and turned, kicking the sheet off and clutching at her pillow as she rehearsed telling the bishop without making it sound like gossip.

  In the morning, Abe declined to eat the breakfast she made once again. His cold demeanor and refusal to eat with her frightened her. Immediately, she thought that her plight was hopeless. He had prayed on it, no doubt. But had he received an answer? until, on his way to the barn to tend to his chores, he paused and said, “I’ll fetch the bishop later to hear your confession.”

  She knew what that meant: Abe was willing to give her another chance. Despite his bravado, he still cared enough to give her that much.

  True to his word, she heard him leave about an hour later. The buggy disappeared down the road and Lydia hurried to clean the kitchen. She wanted everything to look spic and span for the bishop’s visit. Not like the last time, she thought bitterly. She didn’t like surprises and he had certainly caught her off-guard. Today would be different: She would be the one with the surprises.

  “Lydia,” the bishop said as he entered the room. He removed his hat and stood respectfully at the door, refusing to enter the room. “What is this that Abe has told me? You are ready to confess your sins already?”

  “I am,” she replied solemnly, her hands folded before her and her head bowed down. She saw the end of her prayer kapp ribbon hanging over her shoulder. It was perfectly ironed, not one wrinkle or crease in her kapp or dress.

  “That is most unusual,” he said, tugging at his beard.

  She knew what he meant. The Meidung normally lasted longer than just a few days. “I think the situation is most unusual,” she said. “After all, I had suffered from an injury to my head. I didn’t know what I was saying.”

  The bishop lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes. “That does not sound like remorse.”

  “I told Abe that I would see a doctor…talk to someone like you wanted. There are things that I need to discuss with someone,” she said. “Secrets that have come to the surface and have triggered memories that haunt me.” She glanced at him through her lowered eyelids. He crossed his arms over his chest as he stood there, watching her. Over his shoulder, Abe waited in the other room, listening to the conversation.

  “Secrets, you say?”

  She nodded her head, lowering her eyes once again. “I am having a hard time accepting the news about Tobias not being my bruder but, in truth, my nephew by Jacob.” She paused, hoping that the hesitation gave the bishop time to digest the information. “It all happened so suddenly, learning this information. I…I think I’m still in shock.”

  The bishop took a sharp breath and straightened his shoulders. “I see.”

  She almost smiled, the relief like a weight off of her shoulders. But, just as quickly, she reminded herself to remain somber and penitent.

  Clearing his throat, the bishop slid his hat back onto his head. He turned to Abe and simply said, “I’ll be leaving now.”

  “What?” Lydia dropped the facade and looked up at the bishop. “You’re leaving?”

  The bishop looked at her, his eyes empty and devoid of any emotion. “There is nothing else I wish to hear from you,” he said sharply.

  “But what I just told you…!”

  He held up his hand. “Enough!”

  She blinked, stunned that he had just shouted at her.

  “I’ve heard enough, Lydia. Your lies are more than enough. I can listen to no more!”

  A lie? He thought she was lying? “But I’m telling you the truth!”

  The bishop frowned, disgust written on his face. “I don’t think you know the difference between truth and lies, Lydia. Your mind is gone.”

  “Ask Leah! She’s the one I heard telling Jacob!”

  “Then she is th
e one that should be telling me, not you! You tell me this to try to win favor. But, in fact, you have just done the opposite.” As she watched, the bishop turned to Abe and shook his head. “I will pray for you, Abe,” he said. “And I will pray that your fraa gets that help to understand the magnitude of her sins.”

  To her amazement, Abe followed the bishop outside, the two men walking shoulder-to-shoulder as they conversed, most likely about her.

  A wave of disappointment washed over her. It infuriated her. Lydia clenched her teeth and squeezed her hands into fists. Was the bishop just going to walk away? Not believe her about Jacob being Tobias’ biological daed? Clearly, he wasn’t going to lift the Meidung. She was still shunned. And, based on the look that he had given her, the look of disbelief and disgust, the bishop didn’t seem like he’d lift it anytime soon. He thought she was lying. The one time when she knew that she was telling the truth, no one would believe her, especially if the bishop didn’t.

  And then, she realized the truth: she was alone, truly alone in the world, until the bishop lifted the ban. If he didn’t believe her now about Jacob and Tobias, she could never mention it again. And if she mentioned it to anyone else, she would be accused of gossiping.

  She sank to her knees, fury from her disappointment suddenly giving way to despair as she realized that there was no one who would help her now.

  Sadie

  She heard the rock hit the pane of glass in her bedroom window. Not once but twice. Groaning, she tried to sit up in bed. At first, she thought it was a bird pecking at the window. Then, when the noise happened a third time, she knew exactly what it was. Or, rather, who it was.

  Trying to ignore the shooting pain in her chest as she forced herself to sit up. She took her time to swing her legs over the side of the bed and, with a shaking hand, pulled herself to her feet. She shuffled across the floor and, when she reached the window, she leaned against the sill.