The Beloved Hope Chest

by Amy Clipston

  “Excuse me, sir.” A woman clad in jean shorts and a pink T-shirt featuring a drawing of a tabby cat tapped his arm. “Would you please help me figure out which size collar I should buy for my cat?”

  “Ya, I’ll do my best.” Leroy rubbed the beard sprouting in his chin to keep from laughing. What did he know about cat neck sizes? “Let’s look at the collar display. How old is your cat?”

  “Well, my sweet little tabby, Lily, is about seven years old.” She made a circle with her fingers. “I think her neck is about this big.”

  “Okay. Let’s see what might work.” Leroy helped the woman choose a collar and then asked a few more customers if they needed help.

  Once he finished helping customers, he glanced over to where Mattie sat on a stool at the counter, sipping a bottle of water as Tillie helped a customer who was examining a leather satchel. Hank stood nearby, talking to a neighbor who had stopped by to see the store.

  Leroy weaved through the knot of customers and came around the counter to stand next to Mattie. “How are you feeling?” She’d looked close to passing out yesterday. He wouldn’t allow her to overdo it again today.

  “I’m fine. The stool was a great idea. I can relax between customers.” She leaned closer to him, and he inhaled the scent of her shampoo, which was nearly intoxicating to him. “We’ve been busy nonstop since opening. I think it’s going to be a very profitable day.”

  Leroy leaned down on the counter beside her and folded his hands in front of him. “I know. Danki for helping.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “It’s my job to help you.”

  “You could’ve insisted on staying home today to cook or clean.”

  Her pink lips formed a thin line. “I couldn’t do that to you. I know how much this store means to you. And it means a lot to me too. I’m excited to be here with you, Tillie, and Hank.” She set the bottle of water on the counter and then rested her hands on her protruding belly.

  “Is he kicking?” Leroy was anxious to feel the child’s movement.

  “He?” Mattie gave him a coy smile. “What makes you so certain the boppli is a he? The boppli could very well be a she, you know.”

  Leroy was speechless for a moment as his chest squeezed. Mattie was teasing him! He loved when she allowed her sense of humor to come out. He had to keep this playful conversation going.

  “It’s just a feeling I have.” He turned to face her. “There’s only one way to find out for certain that it’s a bu.”

  Mattie grinned. “I know. That would be by ultrasound, but I told the technician I didn’t want to know.”

  “Okay.” He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “So that means there are two ways to find out.”

  “What’s the second way?” Her blue eyes challenged him.

  “If the boppli has a strong kick, then it’s a bu.”

  Mattie laughed. “You do realize that’s not true, right? Both buwe and maed have strong kicks.”

  “Not always.”

  “All right then. You tell me if you think this is a bu.” She grabbed his hand and placed it flat on her abdomen.

  Leroy’s skin tingled at her touch. He sucked in a breath as she placed her hand over his and he felt the Bump! Bump! He gaped at her as his emotions swirled with love, adoration, and exhilaration for her child that he would soon meet and raise as his own. He was going to have a real family.

  Mattie giggled. “Doesn’t it feel funny?”

  Oh, how he loved the sound of her sweet giggle.

  “Oh, how sweet. Is this your first?”

  Leroy glanced to the other side of the counter at the woman wearing the cat T-shirt. He quickly stood erect and cleared his throat.

  “Ya, it is.” Mattie rubbed her belly.

  The woman pointed to Leroy. “This is your husband?”

  Mattie’s cheeks blushed bright pink. “Ya.”

  The woman leaned toward Leroy. “I have four kids.” She winked at him before turning back to Mattie. “How many children do you want?”

  Mattie shrugged before turning toward Leroy. “We haven’t really talked about it. Right, Leroy?”

  “Right. We’ll just wait to see how God chooses to bless our family.”

  “Oh.” The woman frowned before placing two pet collars and four cat key chains on the counter.

  Mattie rang up the items, and the woman paid while Leroy put them into a bag. After the woman walked away, Leroy turned toward Mattie. “Let me know if you need a break.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. He was grateful she didn’t jump at his touch like she had when she dropped the mug. “You can go to the haus and rest if you need to.”

  “I’m fine. I want to stay and help.”

  “Excuse me.” A man in a western hat approached the counter. “Would you please help me with a saddle?”

  “Absolutely,” Leroy said. “Which one would you like to see?”

  As Leroy followed the customer to the saddle display, he looked forward to more teasing and playful banter with Mattie.

  CHAPTER 8

  “PLEASE COME BACK TO SEE US SOON,” MATTIE TOLD A CUSTOMER as she handed him his bag. She looked toward the door and spotted her parents, Lizanne, and Lizanne’s husband, Al, walking through the door. “You made it!”

  Mattie rushed around the counter and hugged her mother and then her sister.

  “Of course we made it,” Mamm said with a chuckle. “We wanted to be here earlier, but your dat wasn’t in a hurrying mood this morning.”

  Dat chuckled. “I was going as quickly as I could. It just takes me a little longer to get ready now that I’m getting older.” He looked around the store. “This looks wunderbaar. I’m going to see how I can help Leroy and Hank.” He walked off toward the far end of the store where Hank and Leroy were both helping customers.

  “What can I do to help?” Lizanne rubbed her hands together. “Do you need a break?”

  “Ya, that would be fantastic.” Mattie kneaded her fingers into her lower back. “I thought I could make it out in the store all day, but I would like to go home and put my feet up for a while. Would you mind helping Tillie at the register?”

  “Absolutely. That sounds like fun. Go on.” Lizanne waved her toward the door. “Take your time. Tillie can train me, and we’ll handle it.”

  “Danki, Lizzie.” Mattie gave her a quick hug before following her mother out the door and up the rock path to the house. They climbed the back porch steps and entered the kitchen through the mudroom.

  “May I make you some tea?” Mamm placed a bag on the counter.

  “That sounds gut.” Mattie started toward the counter. “I have a jar of kichlin over here I can—”

  “Sit, Martha Jane,” Mamm instructed.

  Mattie bristled at her full name. Mamm used that only when she was very serious. “Okay.”

  “I’ll bring them to you. I made a casserole for tonight.” Mamm set the kettle on the stove. Then she put the casserole in the refrigerator and carried her bag and the jar of cookies over to the table. “I also brought you a gift.”

  “You did? Why?”

  “Your dat and I haven’t given you and Leroy a housewarming gift.” Mamm pulled a purple gift bag out of her canvas tote bag and handed it to her.

  “Danki. You didn’t have to get me anything.” Mattie fished through the sea of white tissue paper and pulled out a cross-stitch pattern in a loop. The design had a colorful butterfly bathed in purple, blue, and pink, and she read the words underneath it.

  Happiness is like a butterfly:

  The more you chase it, the more it will elude you,

  but if you turn your attention to other things,

  it will come and sit quietly on your shoulder.

  Mattie studied the words, taking in their meaning, and tears filled her eyes. She flipped over the cross-stitch and found a note written in neat cursive writing: “Mattie, may this warm your new home and your heart. All my love, Mamm.”

  Mattie covered her mouth with her h
and. “This is so schee. I love it.”

  “I saw it at the fabric store and thought of you. I hoped it might bring you some happiness and help to brighten your day.”

  She looked up at her mother. “Danki.”

  “Gern gschehne.” She touched Mattie’s hand. “This is more than merely a housewarming gift. You looked so bedauerlich the day of your wedding and then you seemed unhappy when I saw you at church with Leroy. I wanted to give you something that would cheer you up.”

  “I looked bedauerlich at church? I don’t remember being sad that day.”

  Mamm touched her hand to Mattie’s cheek as if she were a child. “I know mei dochdern. I can tell how you or Lizzie are feeling by just looking at your face or listening to your voice. You can talk to me, mei liewe. Tell me what’s bothering you. Are you and Leroy having trouble adjusting to your new life together?”

  Mattie opened her mouth to speak, but no words could escape past the knot of confusing emotion tightening her chest. She wasn’t exactly unhappy, but she wasn’t overjoyed either. She was just existing, trying her best to make things work with Leroy.

  “I know you miss Isaiah, but you’re not alone. Leroy will take gut care of you and your boppli.”

  “I know.” She cleared her throat. “It just feels so strange to build a life with Leroy when I thought I would grow old with Isaiah.”

  The kettle began to whistle, and Mamm jumped up from the table. She returned with two mugs of tea and placed one in front of Mattie. Then Mamm opened the cookie jar and handed a chocolate chip cookie to Mattie before taking one for herself.

  “Your relationship will grow over time.”

  “I hope so.” Mattie bit into the cookie.

  Mamm took a sip of tea. “It will. Leroy has been by your side ever since Isaiah died.” She placed her mug on the table and leaned forward. “Leroy is a gut man.”

  “I know that,” Mattie said. “We’re making strides as a couple. I just hope we can build a real marriage.”

  “You have a real marriage. Leroy’s feelings for you are genuine. When you were teenagers, I remember telling your dat Leroy would someday be your husband.”

  Mattie blinked. “You actually said that to Dat?”

  Mamm took a sip from her mug. “Ya, I did. Your dat once remarked at how Leroy has always been so devoted to you.”

  Mattie sniffed as tears flooded her eyes. “I feel so inadequate.” She laughed and wiped her tears. “Maybe it’s hormones. I’m so emotional.”

  “You’ll do fine. Leroy understands what you’ve been through. He will make you froh if you give your heart a chance to heal, but you have to give him a chance to show you.”

  “I will.” She suddenly smiled. “Leroy and I started working on the nursery. It looks so gut. You’ll have to go up and see it.”

  “I’d love to. The boppli will be here before you know it.”

  “I know. I’m going to set up a sewing room upstairs too. I want to make some things I can sell.” She shared her idea about hosting dinners to make some extra money too. “Leroy thinks that would be a great idea.”

  “I do too. You and Leroy will build a gut life together. You’ll make a gut team, and that’s very important for building a solid marriage.”

  Mattie looked down at the cross-stitch and ran her finger over the words. Her mother was right. She needed to make the best of her new marriage and work hard to help create a solid base on which to build their life together. She picked up the cross-stitch and pointed toward the far end of kitchen. “I’m going to hang this over by the door. That way I can see it every day.”

  “I’m froh you like it.” Mamm reached across the table and touched her hand. “Everything will be fine. Just give yourself time.” She lifted another cookie. “After we finish our tea, you can show me the boppli’s room. Then we can get ready for the party tonight. It will be fun. I’m so froh you invited us to share the grand opening celebration.”

  Mattie squeezed her mother’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here too.” Spending time with her mother always helped Mattie feel better.

  “The shop is staying busy,” Mose said as he sidled up to Leroy at the back of the store. “I don’t think it’s slowed down since I got here.”

  “Ya, it is.” Leroy blew out a deep sigh. “I’m so thankful that people actually showed up on our opening day. I hope they keep coming back.”

  “They will. I have confidence you will stay busy. All these customers will tell their freinden and family members about this store.”

  “I hope so.” Leroy recognized that thread of worry in his voice. “Did your furniture store start off busy and then stay busy when you and your bruders first opened?”

  Mose stared off toward the front of the store as if reaching into the depths of his memory. “It started off busy.”

  “So you had a slow time?”

  A smile tugged at the corners of Mose’s lips. “We had some short periods that were slow, but then business picked up. I have faith that this store will be successful. Don’t worry about that today, okay? Just enjoy the grand opening.” He glanced around the store again. “You and Hank have done a phenomenal job here. I’m proud of you.”

  “Danki.” Leroy’s smile widened. How he’d wanted to hear his biological father say he was proud of him. He was grateful to hear Mose say it. Mose was the father he’d always longed for.

  Leroy reached into the cooler and pulled out two bottles of water. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Ya. Danki.” Mose took the bottle and opened it.

  Al suddenly appeared beside Leroy. “You’re giving out drinks? I’m parched.”

  “Here. Take mine.” Leroy handed Al his bottle and swiped another one from the cooler.

  “Danki.” Al opened the bottle and took a long draw.

  Leroy looked toward the cashier counter and panic seized his chest. “Where’s Mattie?”

  “She went inside to rest,” Mose said. “Ruth is with her.”

  “Oh. I hadn’t even noticed she left.” Leroy leaned against the wall as his shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad she’s resting. She’s been so stubborn lately and won’t rest like I ask her to.” He took a long drink from the water bottle.

  Mose pressed his lips together. “Those Byler women are stubborn.”

  “Ya, that is the truth.” Leroy rolled his eyes. “I thought Mattie was going to pass out from the heat yesterday. She refused to take a break. I had to instruct her to sit on a stool, and she still argued with me.”

  “It’s those pregnancy hormones too.” Mose smirked as he looked at Al, who was drinking from his water bottle. “You’ll know what that’s like someday soon, too, Al.”

  Al spit out a mouthful of water and gasped before coughing.

  Mose laughed a deep belly laugh, and Leroy joined in.

  “I’m sorry, son.” Mose clapped Al on the back. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Customers turned and eyed them with furrowed brows.

  Leroy fought back his laughter and then cleared his throat. “I’m going to go help some customers.” He was still grinning as he approached a customer standing by the display of horse blankets.

  “We made it through the first day!” Leroy flipped the harness shop sign from Open to Closed. “What do you think, Hank?”

  Hank clapped. “I think it was a great success.”

  “I’ll say.” Tillie laughed. “My feet are killing me.”

  “Danki for helping.” Hank kissed her cheek, and Tillie beamed.

  Leroy’s chest constricted. He couldn’t wait to see a day when Mattie reacted to his kiss with such delight. He peered out the front windows in search of Mattie.

  The shop door opened and Joel, Al, and Mose appeared carrying chairs. Ruth, Lizanne, and Mattie followed with trays of food.

  “Looks like they are ready to eat,” Leroy announced. “Let’s get the tables set up.” He turned to Tillie. “There’s a cooler on the floor in our mudroom. Would you mind going to get it? It shouldn�
��t be too heavy.”

  “No problem.” Tillie rushed out the door.

  Leroy and Hank set up folding tables in the center of the store while the other men set up chairs and the women made a couple of trips into the store with food and drinks. Once the tables and food were ready, they all moved to sit down.

  Mattie pulled up a chair beside Leroy and sat down beside him. When everyone was seated, he gazed around the table and was overwhelmed with appreciation for his family and friends.

  “I’d like to say something before we pray and eat.” Leroy folded his hands on the table. “Thank you all for being part of this grand opening.”

  He looked at Hank across the table. “As you all know, I never had a dat to teach me a trade, and it was Hank’s idea I work alongside him in his onkel Merv’s shop to learn leatherworking. I enjoyed the work, and I appreciated being able to work with my best freind. Hank and I came up with the narrisch idea of owning our own shop when we were twenty. There was a time when I wasn’t sure this would ever happen, but here we are today.”

  Tillie, Lizanne, Joel, and Dora clapped.

  Leroy turned toward Mattie. “This has been a busy couple of months, and I just want to say danki to all of you for supporting Hank and me. I think the store is off to a great start, and we couldn’t have made it without the love and support from our families.”

  Mattie touched Leroy’s hand, and heat rushed to the place her skin brushed.

  “I want to add I’m really grateful to have this opportunity,” Hank chimed in. “Not everyone gets to do what they love as their profession. I’m so honored and thankful to have this store and work with my best freind.” He smirked. “And after all these years, I’m still teaching him how to make leashes. I doubt he’ll ever learn how to stitch a straight line.”

  “That’s fine because you still can’t cut straight,” Leroy teased in response, and everyone laughed.

  “But seriously,” Hank said, “thank you all for being here to celebrate with us. Let’s pray and then enjoy this appeditlich meal.”

  They bowed their heads in silent prayer and then began filling their plates with the casseroles Dora, Ruth, and Lizanne had brought to share.