Charlene groaned when some of the liquid in her bowl spilled out and onto the table. Her shoulders hunched as she looked up at Heidi with furrowed brows. “Oops. Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t spill much.” Heidi handed Charlene a clean sponge to wipe up the mess.
When Charlene rubbed the area, her sponge caught the bowl of egg-and-milk mixture, sending it spattering onto Heidi’s clean floor. “Oh, no!” Gasping, Charlene slapped her forehead. “Now look what I’ve done.”
“Don’t panic. It could have happened to any of us.” Heidi went to the utility room to get the mop.
When she returned, Charlene jumped up and took it from her. “Since I’m the one who made the mess, I’ll clean it up.” A blotch of red erupted on both of her cheeks.
“If ya give me a sponge I’ll wipe off the table where some of the egg mixture landed,” Eli offered.
Loretta took the bowl and whisk and then put them in the sink to wash, while Kendra dried the pieces.
This is not going as planned, Heidi thought with regret. But everyone seemed to be taking it in stride and helping to clean up the mess. Everyone but Ron. He stood with arms folded, gazing around the kitchen.
Heidi got another egg, along with more milk, and handed them to Charlene.
“Let me see if I can attempt this again.” Charlene cracked the egg and gently whipped it with the whisk. Slowly, she poured in the milk. This time she did it perfectly, and blushed when everyone clapped. “Thank you. Thank you very much.” Giggling, she stood and took a bow.
Maybe this incident wasn’t such a bad thing. Heidi licked her lips with cautious hope. Everyone seemed to be more relaxed, and it was nice to see them working together and encouraging Charlene. Even Ron’s attention seemed to have returned to the matter at hand.
Next, Heidi asked her students to pour the milk-and-egg mixture over the layered items in the baking dish. When finished, she covered the dish with a piece of foil and placed it in the refrigerator to set overnight.
“Does anyone have any questions?”
Kendra, whose face had grown pale all of a sudden, raised her hand. “Where’s your bathroom? Think I’m gonna be sick.”
Heidi pointed. “Down the hall, last door on the left.”
Covering her mouth, Kendra dashed out of the room.
Chapter 8
Sure hope that little gal doesn’t have the flu.” Ron’s face tightened as he plucked at his shirt collar. “The last thing any of us needs is to get sick because of her. If she wasn’t feelin’ good, she should’ve stayed home today.”
“There’s a virus going around at the school where I teach, but so far I’ve managed to escape it.” Charlene crossed her fingers. “I hate taking sick leave. It confuses my young students when they have a substitute teacher.”
“What grade do you teach?” Loretta asked. She felt it was time for a little conversation.
“Kindergarten at an elementary school in Dover. To some of the children I’m like a surrogate mother; they become dependent on me.”
Loretta smiled. “My daughter will start kindergarten in the fall. She’s excited about going to school.”
“How many children do you have?” This question came from Heidi.
“I’ve been blessed with two—Conner, who’s three, and Abby, who recently turned five. Do you have children, Heidi?”
Heidi’s shoulders drooped a bit as she slowly shook her head. “The Lord has not seen fit to bless my husband and me with children, but we find plenty to do here to fill our days.” She glanced toward the hall door. “I’d better check on Kendra. Loretta, if the timer goes off, will you please take the baking dish out of the oven?”
“Certainly.”
After Heidi left the room, Loretta’s attention turned to Eli. Even though he smiled occasionally, she detected a sense of gloom in his brown eyes—the same look of sadness she felt whenever she thought about her deceased husband. It was hard to hide one’s pain when it felt so raw. Loretta did her best to keep a cheerful attitude—especially around her children. When she was alone in her room at night, however, she let her guard down. During those times, Loretta gave into her grief and allowed the tears to flow. Weeping was part of the healing process, just as her acceptance of what could not be changed. When some people lost a loved one, they became bitter and angry at God, but Loretta’s faith remained strong through it all. Instead of turning against God during her time of grief, she leaned heavily upon Him for strength and guidance.
The timer dinged. Since Heidi wasn’t back yet, Loretta opened the oven door, took out the baking dish, and placed a pot holder under it on the counter. She inhaled deeply as the delicious aroma flooded her senses. Apparently, it had affected the others, too, for they all lifted their heads and sniffed the air.
“The casserole smells like somethin’ my wife used to make.” Eli looked longingly at the dish.
“Used to make? Doesn’t she make it for you anymore?” Ron asked.
Eli lowered his gaze. “Mavis died a year ago. She was hit by a vehicle while riding her bicycle.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Charlene’s quiet tone was sincere.
“Life ain’t fair,” Ron muttered. “In fact, if you ask me, most of the time it stinks.”
“I lost my husband a year ago, too. It’s been hard for me and the children, but I won’t allow bitterness or despair to set in.” Loretta returned to the table, and as she spoke, she looked at Ron. “Life isn’t always fair, but we all have much to be thankful for, even if it’s something little. So it’s best to focus on the positive.”
Kendra’s legs trembled as she stood at the sink and rinsed her mouth with a paper cup she’d found on the vanity. She hated making a spectacle of herself and dreaded going back to the kitchen where she’d have to face those people. Did they suspect she was pregnant? How much longer could she keep it hidden? The tops Kendra liked to wear when she wasn’t pregnant would soon be unable to hide the baby bump, revealing her condition.
Kendra thought about her parents and how they’d asked her not to tell anyone about her predicament. Of course, it wasn’t for her sake they didn’t want the word to get out. Dad’s only concern seemed to be about how he would look to the people at church if they found out one of their board members had a daughter who’d really messed up. He was so self-righteous.
It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, she told herself. Since I’m not attending church anymore, I don’t have to face those people. Kendra pulled her shoulders back. I don’t know the people who are here taking Heidi’s class, and until today, they weren’t acquainted with me. So it shouldn’t matter whether I tell them or not. Some might look down their noses at me, but maybe a few won’t think I’m a bad person. After all, everyone’s made a few mistakes at some time in their life.
Tap. Tap. Tap. “Are you all right, Kendra? Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, I’m okay. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Kendra appreciated the Amish woman’s concern, but she wasn’t about to let Heidi come into the bathroom and see her looking like this.
After splashing cold water on her face and pushing damp hair behind her ears, Kendra drew a deep breath and opened the door. It surprised her to see Heidi standing in the hallway. She figured the teacher would have returned to the kitchen.
“Your face is awfully pale, and you appear to be shaken.” Heidi gently touched Kendra’s arm. “I’m concerned about you.”
“No need to worry. I feel better since I emptied my stomach.”
“Maybe it would be best if you went home and rested. I can send some of the breakfast casserole with you to eat when you’re feeling better.”
Kendra shook her head. “No, I’m okay. I’m sure I can make it through the rest of the class without getting sick again. In fact, my stomach is growling from smelling your casserole. Oh, and I also brought some mint tea and saltine crackers. They usually help settle my stomach.”
Without a word of argument, He
idi slipped her arm around Kendra’s waist and walked with her back to the kitchen. The comforting gesture brought tears to Kendra’s eyes, and she blinked to keep them from falling onto her cheeks. Now was not the time to give in to her up-and-down emotions.
Still shaken and drained, Kendra took a seat at the table. “Sorry for the interruption. My stomach started doing flip-flops all of a sudden.”
“Maybe you’ve come down with the flu,” Ron suggested. “It might be better if you went home so none of us gets exposed to it any more than we’ve already been.”
“I’ve had the bug many times over the course of my twenty-two years, and it’s not what’s troubling me.” Kendra’s jaw clenched. “Believe me. What I have is not the flu.”
“What do you have?” Charlene asked.
Kendra placed both hands on her stomach. “I’m expecting a baby, and for the last several weeks, I’ve been dealing with morning sickness.”
Eli looked at Kendra, remembering his wife’s pregnancies a few years back. Those started out as happy days, when all seemed perfect and right. The first time Mavis got pregnant, she had no morning sickness. The second time was quite the opposite. Almost from the start, when she suspected she was in a family way, nausea hit the poor thing every morning and sometimes lasted throughout the day. Mavis never complained about feeling sick. She’d put on a brave face and say, “This is the best kind of sickness. It means my pregnancy is normal.”
She loved every minute of being pregnant—until the first miscarriage. What a disappointment for both of them. They’d thought the second pregnancy was going well, until the unexpected happened.
Eli flinched, remembering the day as if it had just occurred. Mavis had been doing laundry. She’d made several trips up and down the basement stairs and then trudging outside to the clothesline. Eli had been cultivating an area in the backyard for a new flower bed his wife wanted. Leaning on his shovel, he’d stopped to watch Mavis come out with another load of clothes to hang. Her smile seemed like a permanent part of her face as she hummed a pleasant tune. It made Eli smile, too.
Since it was close to noon, Mavis suggested they have lunch on the porch. “You keep working on the flower bed, and I’ll bring some sandwiches out.” Whenever the weather cooperated, Eli and Mavis often took the opportunity to eat lunch on the porch. Sometimes they’d have a picnic under one of their lofty maple trees.
Eli had worked diligently, his appetite increasing, while he looked forward to taking a break with his wife. Time passed as he got the ground ready, and soon he began to wonder what was taking Mavis so long to make those sandwiches. Even now, chills ran up his spine as he thought about the soft whimpers he’d heard that day when he’d set the shovel down and gone into the house.
His heart thumped when he entered the kitchen and found his wife lying on the floor. He ran to Mavis, cradling her body, while she kept repeating, “It happened again, Eli. We’ve lost another boppli.”
Eli forced his thoughts back to the present. I hope Kendra’s pregnancy goes well for her.
Loretta glanced at Kendra’s left hand but saw no sign of a wedding ring. Perhaps she’s an unwed mother-to-be. Of course, it’s possible Kendra is married and either doesn’t have a ring or isn’t wearing it today. Either way, it is not my place to judge, and I certainly won’t ask the poor girl about her marital status.
“I can’t speak from experience, but it’s my understanding that morning sickness goes away after the first few months,” Charlene interjected.
Loretta nodded. “She’s right, but then everyone is different. I felt queasy all the way to my sixth month when I was expecting Abby. But with Conner I hardly had any morning sickness at all.”
Kendra gave a brief shrug before placing her elbows on the table.
Loretta motioned to the baking dish on the counter. “The timer went off while you were out of the room, Heidi, so I removed the casserole from the oven.”
Heidi smiled. “I appreciate it. By the time we get our fruit cut up, the breakfast casserole should be cool enough to eat.”
“Then let’s get to it!” Ron clapped his hands so loud Loretta nearly jumped out of her chair. “I’m starvin’, and the smell of that country breakfast is about to drive me crazy.”
By the time the casserole cooled sufficiently, Heidi’s students had finished cutting the fruit. Loretta and Charlene had peeled a few apples and cut them into bite-size pieces. Kendra sliced bananas while Ron and Eli peeled some tangerines and separated them into sections. Heidi expected Ron to eat a piece, but to her surprise, he put them all in the bowl she’d provided.
Once vanilla yogurt had been mixed in, Heidi took the bowl to the dining room and set it on the table. Since they’d used the kitchen table for putting the meal together, it would be nice if they ate in the other room, where she’d previously set the table.
When Heidi returned to the kitchen for the casserole, she invited everyone to take seats at the dining-room table.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Loretta stepped up to Heidi.
“There’s a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. You can take it to the dining room and pour some in everyone’s glass.”
Loretta did as Heidi asked then joined the others at the table.
“This is a simple yet tasty breakfast meal.” Heidi gestured to the baking dish. “The best thing about it is it can be made the night before and then popped in the oven the following morning.”
Ron smacked his lips noisily. “I can hardly wait to dig in.”
“We Amish always offer a silent prayer before our meals,” Heidi mentioned. “I hope each of you will thank God with me for the food we are about to eat.”
Ron’s brows drew inward. “I’m not much of a prayin’ man, but out of respect for you, I’ll bow my head.”
Heidi understood some of her students might not be Christians, but she saw no reason not to pray like always. And since no one had offered an objection, she bowed her head and closed her eyes. Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to share with these people some of my Amish recipes. After the short time of being with Ron, Eli, Loretta, Charlene, and Kendra today, I have come to realize You may have led them all to my home for more than cooking lessons. As You did for my aunt Emma, please give me the wisdom I need to conduct the next five classes.
Chapter 9
Sugarcreek
Loretta smiled as she watched her children playing in the yard. Soon after she’d returned from the cooking class, she’d come outside to till the soil in her garden and do some planting. Seeing Heidi’s garden plot had given Loretta the incentive to get a few of her vegetables seeds started. Being in the house all winter made her long to be outside in the warm sunshine. Spring brought forth a healing strength, rejuvenating deep within her soul. God had a way of helping a person mourn their loss, and Loretta found nature and the welcoming of the new season part of that process.
While she planted a row of peas, Abby and Conner played happily nearby. They enjoyed being outside and were full of energy. Her children got along well, although at times Abby could be a bit bossy. For now, at least, her little brother went along with whatever she wanted to do. No doubt there would come a time when Conner would want to be in charge and become his own person.
Humming as she went down the first row, dropping peas into the freshly cultivated soil, Loretta thought about how things had gone during the class today. Heidi had been so kind. Even when things got a little out of hand, she’d been patient. Heidi explained things well, too, always demonstrating before asking the students to do what she asked. What a shame she has no children. I’ll bet she’d make a good mother.
Loretta glanced at her kids again. I can’t imagine my life without them. She’d thought it so many times before, but it was the truth.
She could hardly wait to go back to Walnut Creek for another class in two weeks. The breakfast casserole they’d eaten before heading home turned out delicious and had been quite easy to prepare. Loretta planned to
fix it for breakfast soon, and hoped the children would enjoy it, too. She figured whatever they made at the next cooking class would also be a treat. Loretta also wondered if Heidi would give them another recipe card with scripture on the back, as she had today. It was a good idea, as everyone needed God’s Word to guide and direct them through life. Loretta especially appreciated the reminder to be still and focus on God. As busy as she kept these days, she didn’t feel complete until she opened her Bible and spent time alone with God.
Loretta’s thoughts went to the people she’d met today. Despite coming from different walks of life, Heidi’s students had one thing in common—they all wanted to learn how to make some traditional Amish dishes. Of course, for some it went beyond that. Charlene, Eli, and maybe even Ron needed to learn the basics of cooking. Loretta hoped that, as they took five more classes together, she would get to know the others more personally. After only one lesson, they felt like strangers to her. Of course, she mused, they might not want to talk about their personal lives.
Loretta wasn’t sure how much of her life she’d be willing to share, either. It was much easier to open up to people she knew well than discuss personal matters with strangers.
Spending time at Heidi’s house had made Loretta feel a bit connected with the Amish way of life. This was another reason she looked forward to going again. She hoped to learn more simple ways to incorporate in her life, as well as the children’s.
“Mommy, come quick! There’s a snake over here!” Abby’s shrill voice drove Loretta’s thoughts aside.
Jamming the seed packet into her pocket, she hurried over to where her daughter stood pointing. While Loretta had no fondness for snakes, for the sake of her children, she was determined to put on a brave front. Sure hope it’s not a big one, though.
“Look, Mommy … it’s right over there.” Abby moved close to Loretta and stood clutching her hand as she continued to point a shaky finger.
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