by Amy Clipston
He unhitched Molly, led her to the barn, and then stowed the buggy. He was locking up the barn when the back door swung open, revealing Sarah leaning in the doorway and squinting toward the barn.
Luke ambled toward the house, and when he stepped into the light from the kerosene lamp flooding the steps, she returned a cautious smile.
“Wie geht’s?” He pushed his hat back on his head and rested his right foot on the bottom step.
“Gut.” She stepped onto the porch and gingerly closed the door. “You?”
“Gut.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his bent knee.
She gestured toward the swing. “Do you have a minute to visit before you head in for the night?”
“Of course.” His boots clomped up the steps before he sank onto the swing next to her.
She cleared her throat and brushed a few stray golden strands under her prayer kapp. “Did you enjoy the service today?”
“Ya.” He nodded. “It was lovely.”
“Gut.” She stared off across the dark field, and he wished he could read her mind.
“I was disappointed we didn’t get to talk after the service,” he said.
She looked at him, confusion clouding her pretty face. “You were?”
“Ya. I had every intention of visiting with you after the noon meal, but Naomi King had other plans for me.”
“How was your ride with her?” Her expression gave no hint as to her thoughts.
He blinked, surprised that she’d seen him leave with Naomi. “It was nice. She gave me a tour of the area, pointing out Amish businesses and farms. She gave me a bit of a history lesson too.” He shrugged. “I’m sure she was just trying to welcome me to the area.”
“Were you gone all afternoon?” she asked.
“Ya.” He brushed a piece of lint from his trousers. “Did you stay at the Eshes’ late?”
She nodded. “Norman invited me to join him and his family for supper, but I was too tired. The zwillingbopplin are wearing me out sooner these days.”
No sooner had she said that than a small yelp escaped from her rosy lips, and she hugged her middle.
“Sarah?” He leaned over and touched her arm. “Are you all right?”
Meeting his gaze, her crystal-blue eyes beamed with pure elation. “That was the hardest kick yet. Want to feel?” Taking his hand, she laid it on her belly.
What he felt next sent his soul soaring with a rush of joy he’d never experienced in his life. Beneath his hand, a tiny bump-bump vibrated. Gasping, he looked up at her.
“The zwillingbopplin,” she whispered. “They’re awake. Sometimes I wonder if they’re wearing boots.” She gave a little laugh.
His eyes misted. How blessed he was to be sharing this moment with Sarah. Love for her twins, his brother’s children, swelled in his soul, deeper than the ocean.
“I say a prayer of thanks every time they kick,” she whispered. “Kinner are a gift from the Lord.”
Luke wanted to agree, but his voice was stuck in his throat.
They sat in silence for several moments while he felt the twins kick and tumble. He wished this moment could last forever.
When the screen door banged open, Luke and Sarah both jumped back, startled. He rested his hands in his lap feeling as if he’d been caught doing something inappropriate.
“Wie geht’s, Luke,” Elizabeth said, her expression curious as her eyes darted from him to Sarah.
“Hello, Elizabeth,” Luke said.
“Sarah Rose,” she said. “It’s late.”
Luke stood and straightened his hat. “I hadn’t had a chance to speak with Sarah after service this afternoon, so I stopped by after putting Molly in the barn. I was just leaving.”
Elizabeth nodded and turned her eyes to her daughter. “You remember what the doctor said. You need your rest now more than ever. You really should be in bed.”
Sighing, Sarah rolled her eyes. “I know, Mamm.”
“Ya, but I can’t help but worry.” Elizabeth glanced at Luke. “Gut nacht.” She disappeared through the door.
“I’d best go.” Luke took Sarah’s hand and helped her to her feet.
“You’d think I was five, the way they treat me,” she said, huffing as she stood. “I’m so sick of being treated like a child. I can make my own decisions. I’m going to be a mutter, for goodness’ sake.”
“It’s just because they care about you,” he said. “I can’t blame them.”
Her expression softened. “Danki for stopping by.”
“I enjoyed it,” he said. “Gut nacht.”
“Gut nacht.” She released his hand.
When he climbed into bed later that evening, he grinned as he remembered the vibration of the twins’ kicks against his palm. Yes, children were a blessing from the Lord, and Sarah’s friendship was a blessing as well.
Closing his eyes, he silently recited his evening prayers, adding a few extra for Sarah and her twins.
11
Sarah sat on a stool and sipped a glass of ice water, observing while Lindsay rolled out another batch of peanut butter cookies. Her thoughts wandered to last night and Luke’s reaction to the feel of the babies’ kicks. He appeared to be consumed by the twins, and she could’ve sworn she’d seen tears in his eyes. Did he truly care for the children?
Of course he did. Peter was his cousin, and the twins were his relatives.
“How’s this?” Lindsay’s question interrupted her musings.
“What’s that?” Sarah asked, wiping the condensation on the glass.
“Is this size all right?” She gestured toward the circular cookie cutouts on the counter.
“Ya. Perfect.” Sarah ran the cold glass over her flaming cheeks. “It’s hot in here.”
“It’s not that hot in here.” Lindsay’s eyes filled with alarm. “Can I walk you outside?”
“No.” Sarah shook her head. “I’ll be all right.”
Lindsay tilted her head, unconvinced. “You sure, Aenti Sarah?”
Sarah nodded and smiled at the girl’s concern. “I’m fine.”
Lindsay frowned in disbelief, but turned back to the cookies, loading them onto a sheet.
Biting her lower lip, Sarah contemplated asking Lindsay about the tour Naomi had given Luke yesterday. Would asking about it give Lindsay the wrong idea? But what was the wrong idea anyway? After all, Sarah was just curious. “Lindsay?”
“Hmm?” the girl asked, her stare focused on a stubborn cookie stuck to the cutting board.
“How was the ride yesterday with Naomi, Lizzie Anne, and Luke?”
“Oh, it was fun,” Lindsay said. The knife freed the cookie, and she tossed it onto the sheet before facing Sarah and wiping her hands on her apron. “We rode all around the county, and Naomi pointed out different landmarks. She showed him the farmer’s market where she sells her quilts, and where her family farm is. It was a lot of fun.”
“Oh.” Sarah took another long drink and then placed the glass on the counter beside her. She wanted to know more about the tour but struggled with what to ask. It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask her niece if she thought Naomi and Luke were courting. “Did Luke enjoy the tour?”
“Oh, yeah.” Lindsay smiled. “He seemed to have a great time. He and Naomi talked a lot.” She turned back to the task at hand, flipping more cookies onto the metal sheet.
Sarah nodded. Naomi was so young and pretty; of course Luke had had a good time. Why should Sarah be surprised?
“I think Naomi likes Luke.” Lindsay placed the last cookie on the sheet, then rolled out the remaining dough and began cutting more. “After we dropped him off, she told Lizzie Anne and me that she thought he was handsome. Then she said she was going to bring him lunch at work this week since her quilt store at the farmer’s market is right across the street from the furniture store. I think she has a crush.”
Sarah told herself it wasn’t her concern. It was Luke’s business whom he courted.
And why should she care anyway?<
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“Lizzie Anne said Naomi doesn’t give up when she sets her mind to something.” Lindsay cut out the last circle and proceeded to place the cookies onto the next sheet. “But I asked if she was sure he was even going to stay in town. Seems like she may be setting herself up to get hurt if she puts so much effort into trying to get him to court her and then he moves back home to Ohio.”
“Good point,” Sarah said, her voice brittle with something that felt an awful lot like jealousy.
“Done!” Lindsay smiled as she loaded the two full cookie sheets into the oven. She set the timer, hopped up on the stool next to Sarah, and grabbed her glass of ice water. After taking a long sip, she gave Sarah another concerned look. “You don’t look so good. I think you should let me walk you outside or back to the house for a nap.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sarah said, swiping the glass across her forehead.
“Lindsay’s right, Sarah Rose,” Mamm said behind her. “You should walk outside with me.”
“Fine,” Sarah muttered, lowering herself to the floor and schlepping outside behind Mamm. Her legs and feet ached, and her shoes were tight. She wished she could sleep for a week and awaken refreshed without any aches, pains, or swelling in her legs and feet.
She sank onto the bench outside of the play area. Mamm dropped down beside her and relieved Beth Anne from babysitting duty. They silently watched the children swinging and shrieking with delight.
After a few moments, Mamm turned her gaze to Sarah. “You look exhausted, Sarah Rose. You should go home and get some rest.”
“No,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “The house is too quiet, and it gives me too much time to miss Peter and think about the things Luke told me about his past. I’d rather stay here and keep busy. That way I can’t think too much.”
Sarah sank back on the bench and idly rubbed her belly. A rhythmic blip caused her to grin. “Mamm! Someone has the hiccups!” Grabbing her mother’s hand, Sarah placed it over the bump.
“Oh, Sarah Rose.” Tears filled Mamm’s eyes and spilled over her cheeks. “Oh, just wunderbaar.” A faraway look shone from her eyes. “I remember so clearly. Daniel had the hiccups the same time every morning like clockwork. You had them often too. I loved all of those little bumps and kicks.”
“Ya.” Sarah smiled. “Sometimes when they’re doing summersaults it feels like butterflies.”
Mamm gave a soft laugh. “That’s exactly how it felt.”
They sat in silence for several moments, tuned in to the hiccups from the unborn twins and oblivious to the laughs and screams of the children on the playground.
When the hiccups ceased, Mamm sat back on the bench and sighed. “Before you know it, those little ones will be out here swinging and hollering with all of their cousins on the playground.”
“Ya.” Sarah folded her arms over her stomach. “Time moves so quickly. It seems like only yesterday I found out I was pregnant.” She waited for her mother to speak. When Mamm didn’t continue, Sarah prodded her. “What’s really on your mind?”
Mamm patted her hand. “I think it’s time you stopped working. You’ve been so tired and hot all the time. I worry you’ll get ill before the kinner come. You heard what the doctor said. You need to save your strength. You’ve only got two months to go.”
Sarah knew her mamm was right. “I just can’t face being at the house alone all day. When I think too much, I feel myself falling back into a bottomless pit of grief and anger. But the good news is that the nightmares about the fire have stopped.”
“That’s wunderbaar, but you still need your rest.” Mamm squeezed her hand. “How about we have one of Robert’s girls stay with you and help you get the room ready? Your nieces would love to help you. Nancy is a very sweet girl. I bet she would love to spend her days with you. She could sew and clean for you.”
“You win.” Sarah sighed. “It’s a good plan.”
“Mamm!” a voice behind them boomed. “Dat’s on the phone!”
Mamm stood and patted Sarah’s leg. “I better go. Think about what I said. We can leave Sadie a message on her voicemail and ask her if Nancy would like to come stay with you. I know she would love it.”
Sarah nodded. “Sounds good.”
“Did you want to come in?” Mamm asked.
“No,” Sarah said, turning back to her nieces and nephews. “I’ll stay out here and watch the kinner. It’s nice and cool. I felt like I was going to pass out in the kitchen.”
While Mamm ambled back into the bakery, Sarah watched her niece leap from the swing, landing in the mulch and collapsing in giggles. She imagined her children on the swings, laughing and singing with their nieces and nephews. Were her twins boys or girls or one of each? Soon she would know. A skitter of excitement coursed through her.
Her thoughts turned to Luke, and she absently wondered if Luke would sit with her someday, watching the children play. Would he stay in Bird-in-Hand long enough to see that? If so, would he perhaps be watching children play with Naomi instead?
Sarah settled back on the bench and focused on her niece dancing before her.
“That’s great work.” Daniel slapped Luke’s shoulder as he studied the finished triple dresser. “You and Jake make a gut team.”
Luke wiped the sweat from his brow. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he found it was nearing noon. He wondered if he could hitch a ride with an English customer and sneak over to the bakery to ask Sarah to lunch. He had awakened this morning remembering the feel of the twins kicking his hand last night. It was a sensation he’d never experienced; it was heavenly.
“Luke!” Jake bellowed from up front. “You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?” Luke muttered, walking toward the front. Had Sarah beaten him to the punch and come to surprise him?
Stepping out into the showroom, he frowned as his eyes fell on Naomi standing by the counter. She was chatting with Eli while holding a picnic basket. He hoped she wasn’t the visitor Jake had mentioned, but he knew in his gut he was wrong.
Naomi glanced up at Luke, and a coy grin spread across her lips. “Hi!” She held up the basket. “I hope you don’t have plans for lunch.”
“Well, I—” Luke searched for an excuse to work through lunch. He gave Jake a pleading look, but the young man simply shrugged. He made a mental note to clue Jake in on his feelings for Naomi.
Stepping behind the counter, Eli smacked Luke’s shoulder. “Go on. Take a long lunch. You’ve been working hard, and you deserve it.” He winked as if he and Luke shared an inside joke about picnic lunches.
Luke swallowed hard as he met Naomi’s expectant stare. He was trapped yet again. How did he continue to find himself backed into a corner with this woman? She was pleasant and nice looking, but he didn’t want to court her. And yet here she stood holding out a picnic basket and her heart for Luke’s taking. How could he possibly hurt her feelings?
“I’ll go wash up,” Luke muttered, heading for the back room.
“Wunderbaar!” she called after him. “I’ll get the picnic table by the pasture behind the shop set up for our meal.”
“This is appeditlich,” Luke said before biting into his chicken salad sandwich.
“Danki.” Naomi lifted the bottle of iced tea and refilled his glass. “I thought today would be the perfect day for a picnic. It warmed up a bit.” She set the bottle down and brushed a stray crumb from the tablecloth. Her brown eyes sparkled with something resembling expectation, or maybe hope. “It’s wunderbaar that you’re working here. Maybe Eli will offer you a permanent job. I visited Robert and Sadie’s farm last night after supper, and Robert mentioned his dat was thinking of offering you a permanent job here at the shop.”
Luke wiped his chin with a napkin. “Maybe. I haven’t thought about that.”
“Oh, if so, then you must stay! Do you want to stay here permanently?” she asked, her smile wide and bright.
“Eli hasn’t offered me a job yet.” Luke lifted the cup of tea. “And I haven’t decided wh
at I want to do.”
Her eyes were wide, full of urgency. “Oh, you should stay, Luke. You said yourself you like it here.”
He sipped his tea. “That’s true. I do like it, but I like Ohio too. Ohio’s always been my home, and I’m not sure if I want to pick up and move, leaving everything behind.”
Naomi pushed the remaining crumbs of her sandwich around on her paper plate. “Is there someone special in Ohio?”
“You mean a maedel?” he asked.
Frowning, she nodded.
He almost chuckled. She couldn’t be more obvious if she wore a sign declaring “Court me, Luke Troyer.”
“No,” he said, trying not to grin. “There’s no girl.”
Her smile returned. “So, there’s nothing keeping you there.”
“Nothing but memories, I guess. And some good friends, a couple of cousins, aunts, and uncles.” He scooped another mound of homemade potato salad onto his plate. “How’s business at the quilt shop today?”
“Busy. I took six custom orders this morning, so our quilting group will have to get busy.” She retrieved a plate containing half of a vanilla crumb pie from the bottom of the basket. “I hope you have room for dessert.”
“Wow.” The scent of vanilla enveloped him. “That looks wunderbaar gut.”
She grinned. “It is.” After cutting two large slices, she slapped one onto his plate. “Enjoy.”
He forked a piece into his mouth and savored the smooth, moist decadence.
“I’m a gut cook,” Naomi announced, cutting up her piece. “I’m great at sewing and quilting, and I keep the house and farm in order. I take gut care of my eight siblings too.”
Luke kept his eyes trained on the hunk of pie on his plate. He couldn’t look her in the eye while she recited her résumé to him. He wasn’t interested in her domestic skills.
“Do you ever feel like the Lord is guiding you?” she asked. “I mean, do you ever feel His hand on your back leading you to the way He wants you to go?”
Luke nodded. “Ya. Absolutely. He led me here.”