by Brunstetter, Wanda E. ; Brunstetter, Jean; Brunstetter, Richelle
“I’ll take some instant coffee.” Seth smiled at Karen. “I’ve had it when I didn’t want to fuss with making a whole pot.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Make that two cups. I’ll give it a try.”
“I’ll have to leave for work right after breakfast. I’m working on a big masonry job, and my foreman will be here soon.” Seth slid his chair closer to the table.
“At least we can enjoy another meal together before we have to part ways.” Dad sipped his apple juice.
Karen came back with cups of cocoa for her and Mom. Then she sat down and waited for her mom to join them.
“I would have liked to have had the time off while you both stayed with us. But I’ve been trying to save up some vacation days for this summer.” Seth looked over at Karen and grinned.
“Don’t give it another thought. We understand,” Karen’s dad said.
“Here’s your coffee. I think it’s time we eat before things get cold.” Mom sat next to Karen.
All heads bowed for silent prayer, and then the food was passed around. Karen couldn’t imagine anything more important than enjoying these last moments of her parents’ visit. She’d soak in all the love and joy in hopes that these memories would comfort her when she felt so alone after they left.
Late that morning before lunch, Karen’s daughters colored at the kitchen table. Nancy Anne lay in her playpen napping. Her folks had left awhile ago, and Karen felt lost. Maybe going into the guest room they had used would help her feel closer to them. Closing the door behind her, Karen wrapped herself in the Christmas quilt and sat on the bed. I wish Daed and Mamm could have stayed longer. It’s hard not to be jealous of my friends like Rachelle who have most of their family around.
Wrapping the quilt closer around her body, Karen gazed about the room until her eyes blurred with tears. This house seems less busy already, and so void of my parents’ love. I value their wisdom, and the girls blossom when their grandparents are around. Is it too much to ask that we be closer to them?
Karen began to weep, burying her face in her mother’s beloved Christmas quilt so that the girls wouldn’t hear their mother bawling like a baby. Releasing her pent-up emotions seemed to lessen her pain, and gradually the tears stopped.
Karen looked at the verse so carefully embroidered on the quilt backing: “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” The words lodged deep within her soul.
Reluctantly, Karen put the quilt back in place, dried her eyes with her apron, and decided to pray. Lord, please give me the strength to get through this day, and help ease the pain I’m still feeling. Amen.
A moment later, she was interrupted by a cooing sound drifting in from under the door. Getting up from the bed, Karen looked at herself in the mirror until satisfied that her tears were gone, then headed out toward Nancy Anne.
The baby let out a few more melodic coos.
“You sound happy, Nancy Anne.” Karen leaned over, smiling down at her precious infant.
“She sure does, Mom,” Roseanna called from the kitchen. “Where were you?”
“I was in Grandpa and Grandma’s room to see if they’d forgotten anything.” She didn’t want her girls to know what had taken place behind that door.
“That’s a new sound you are making for us.” Karen gently scooped up her sweet baby. “It would’ve been neat if everyone could have heard you this morning.” Karen cradled Nancy Anne while she stepped over by the girls to watch them color.
“How do you like my picture, Mom?” Roseanna slid her book close to Karen.
“It’s looking good.”
“Mamm, look.” Mary pushed her book over and hopped down to come stand close to her.
“Yours is nice, as well.” Karen repositioned Nancy Anne in her arms. “Someday your baby sister will want to color, too.”
Her daughters giggled, and Mary picked up her coloring book, taking her seat again.
“What would you like for lunch? Maybe peanut butter with chocolate nut spread?” Karen got up with Nancy Anne.
“Mmm, that sounds good.” Roseanna’s eyes twinkled as she looked at Mary and grinned.
When Mary repeated what Roseanna had just said, the girls looked at each other and giggled.
“Let me take care of your baby sister first. Then I’ll start making our lunch.” Karen left for the nursery.
That evening Seth held Nancy Anne in the rocking chair and stroked her silky blond hair. He thought how quickly his little ones were growing. It wouldn’t be long before Roseanna started school, and Karen had said the other day that she needed to let down some hems on the girls’ dresses. Seth hummed to Nancy Anne. When he’d gotten home from work, he’d checked the phone messages. One was from Karen’s folks. Her father said the ride home went fine and that they had enjoyed their stay. Atlee also said they couldn’t wait for them to come to Paradise this summer. Seth had passed the message on to Karen when she called him for supper.
His wife had seemed quiet since he’d gotten home. He’d let her know of the message from her father, and Karen had perked up a bit. She’d filled him in on the girls’ day while they ate dinner, but her blue eyes held no sparkle. He wondered if taking Karen out for a meal with the girls, or just the two of them, would help her feel better.
Karen came into the room with the girls trailing in behind her, wearing their pajamas. “Good job getting ready for bed. Have you two brushed your teeth yet?” Seth asked.
“Jah.” They both spoke at once.
Nancy Anne began fussing in Seth’s arms. “I think someone needs her diaper changed.” He wrinkled his nose.
The girls giggled. “Daddy, you’re silly.” Roseanna giggled some more.
Seth stood up and walked over to his wife. “Okay, girls, give your mom hugs before you head up for bed.”
Karen hugged the girls then held out her arms for the baby. “Now it’s time to hug your father good night.”
Mary hopped next to him giggling, while clutching Big Ears. “Gut nacht, Daed.”
Roseanna took her turn, and they headed up the stairs for bed.
“Well, I need to go get Nancy Anne fixed up with a fresh diaper and see if she’s hungry.”
“When you’re finished with Nancy Anne, we could sit and have something to drink. Would you want anything?” Seth asked.
“Umm, sure, some sweet tea would be good, and we could have some cheese with crackers, if that appeals.” She smiled.
“Sounds good.” Seth watched his wife leave, noticing the slump of her slender shoulders. He hoped to bring her some happiness, but would his efforts be enough?
CHAPTER 3
In the weeks that followed, Karen grew more depressed. By the first Monday of May, the weather had been warming up nicely. Lykens was surrounded by evergreens and hills bursting with spring color. But nothing seemed to reach her heart.
Seth’s folks were arriving that evening to visit for a week or so, but they wouldn’t be staying as long as she’d like. Although she wasn’t as close to Seth’s mom as her own, Karen was hungry to see any family members—those people who had known her all her life and could understand her in a way friends she’d known for only two years could not.
Karen worked around the house, making sure the place was clean and ready for company. She watched the sheets blowing in the wind, while stirring a pot of soup warming on the propane burner. Making up the guest bed was one of the last details requiring her attention, but she couldn’t do that until those sheets had completely dried.
Karen stirred the soup a few more minutes until it bubbled in the pot, and then turned off the heat.
“Okay, girls, go wash up for lunch. We’ll be eating soon.” She lifted the steaming soup off the stove and headed for the table.
“I’m hungry. Do we have crackers, too?” Roseanna called, as she went to wash her hands.
“We do. You can choose from a couple different types.” Karen carefully ladled the soup and filled each bowl
.
Setting the empty container in the sink and running water into it, her thoughts detoured. How can I talk Seth into moving back? Doesn’t he see how much I need family to depend on, and how I miss all the familiar surroundings I grew up in?
“Mom, the water’s running.” Roseanna’s voice intruded her thoughts.
“Oh dear, I was thinking about the home I grew up in.” Karen shut off the faucet and joined her daughters at the table. “I’ll tell you about it, if you’d like sometime. Let’s go ahead and pray.”
They bowed their heads in the quietness of the afternoon. Even with the wind getting rambunctious outside, things were peaceful and quaint within their cozy home.
When prayer was over, Karen noticed the wind was playing havoc with the clothes drying on the line. “I better go out and get the clothes off the line, before the wind does it for me.” Karen pushed her chair back and sprang up. “Don’t forget to blow on that hot soup,” she reminded her daughters before bounding out the door with the basket to survey the damage.
Some casualties already lay on the ground. Heavier items were hanging by mere chance, as the wind twirled and waved them about. In short order, Karen collected what was left of the clothes on the line.
“Oh no.” Karen spotted a couple of small towels that had ended up in the muddy flower bed. “Those will need to go right back into the wash,” she pouted, carrying all the clothes back into the house.
Once indoors, she set the heaped basket off to one side of the back door and put the dirty things in a bag to deal with later.
“Hi, Mamm.” Mary looked up at her.
“You have all the clothes.” Roseanna’s voice was sweet and cheerful.
“Jah, I brought them all in.” Karen began to re-pin some hair that had come free from her head covering in the wind. “How’s your homemade soup taste with the crackers?” She washed her hands before returning to the table.
“I like the taste, Mom, and the crackers are good, too.” Roseanna smacked her lips.
“Me, too! Me, too!” Mary sounded excited, taking a bite of one of her crackers.
Karen sipped her drink. “This evening your grandparents will be arriving for a nice visit.” She grabbed some crackers and broke them over her soup. Karen watched the smiles grow on her daughters’ faces. “Are you guys excited to see them?”
“I can’t wait until Grandpa and Grandma Allgyer are here,” Roseanna almost shouted.
“Yippee! Grossdaadi und Grossmudder!” Mary popped down from her seat and hopped about.
“Nancy Anne’s awake in her playpen,” Roseanna reported, after peering around the corner.
Karen took another spoon of soup before retrieving her baby girl. “Did you get enough nap time?” She lifted a yawning Nancy Anne into her arms. “I’m sorry we got so noisy, but we’re just happy that’s all. Your other grandparents are coming very soon to see all of us. Won’t that be nice?” Karen cuddled close to her littlest one.
Nancy Anne offered a sweet smile. At her last visit, the pediatrician had told Karen such smiles were a sign of recognition and affection that she should expect to see, and Karen was happy to be able to check off another item that marked her baby as developing normally.
That evening, Karen had a roast with all the trimmings keeping warm while they waited for Seth to get home from work and his folks to arrive from Bird-in-Hand. The girls went upstairs to play and popped down a time or two to see if their grandparents were there yet.
Soon Karen heard the familiar rumbling of Mike’s truck. One of Seth’s coworkers, Mike, drove him to and from work.
“Hello, I’m home.” Seth carried his lunch box into the kitchen, setting it on the counter.
“Hi, Seth. Did you have a good day?” Karen gave her husband a big hug.
He held her in his arms for several seconds. “It was good. I got enough done so tomorrow should go even better.” Seth released her, stepping back and taking a seat.
Karen went through his lunch, taking out the used containers and throwing away the garbage. “You were pretty hungry. I gave you an extra sandwich and added more chips like you’d hinted about yesterday.”
“Thank you for doing that.” He stretched his arms over his head and let out a long yawn. “I’m tired this evening, and I have a koppweh.”
About then, Roseanna and Mary bounded into the room with welcoming hugs for Dad.
“We were playing when we heard you come in, Daddy. Mary and I are waiting for Grandpa and Grandma.” Roseanna’s cheeks were flushed.
Karen looked over at her husband. “I hope you feel better soon.” She wiped out his lunch box and set it aside.
“What’s wrong with Daddy?” Roseanna’s brows furrowed.
Mary came and sat on his lap with a doll tucked in her arms.
“Your father has a headache.”
Karen stopped by the playpen to check on Nancy Anne. “She’s growing so well. I’m happy her appointment the other day went well and she’s right up there for her weight and length.”
Seth bounced Mary on his knee then picked her up and set her on the floor. “You shouldn’t worry about Nancy Anne. She looks and acts pretty healthy. I knew the doctor would say she is doing just fine.” He grinned.
“I know. I’m like a veteran because Nancy Anne is my third baby, but I just don’t want to get too self-confident and miss something.” Karen’s forehead wrinkled.
“You’re doing a great job with our children.” Seth untied his work shoes and slipped them off.
“Thank you.” Karen opened the oven door to check on the roast. “So how’s your appetite? Is the pain from your headache bothering your stomach?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve worked hard today, and I’m always ready for your tasty cookin’.” He smiled, getting up and putting his work shoes by the kitchen door.
While Karen poked the roast with a fork, Seth disappeared and then returned holding Nancy Anne. “Have you been a good little girl today?” He spoke in a playful tone.
“Daddy, babies can’t be bad.” Roseanna giggled.
“They can’t be bad?” Seth paused. “You’re right, Roseanna, babies are good and a blessing to their family. Just like you and Mary have been and will continue to be.”
All heads turned at the sound of a vehicle pulling up near the house. “Is it the folks?” Seth got up with Nancy Anne and peered out the kitchen window.
Karen joined him. “Jah, they are here! Let’s go welcome them.”
“I’ll put the baby in her crib and be right out.” He left the room.
Karen led the way out the front door, the wind blowing against her dress. A white passenger van sat in the driveway, and Seth’s folks got out, their faces beaming.
Karen hugged Paul and Emma, and the male driver helped unload their things. Like pinecones on a fir tree, the girls hung on to their grandparents.
Paul looked at Emma. “You have the money for our driver.”
“I do. Let me get it out of my purse.” Emma pulled out the cash. “Thank you so much, Bill, for driving us here today.”
“Jah, thank you very much.” Paul’s usual rosy cheeks deepened as his booming voice cut right through the heavy breeze.
“Give me a call when you’re ready for me to come back and pick you up,” Bill reminded them.
“We’ll do that, and thanks again.” Emma waved to him and was about to pick up her suitcase when Seth rushed out of the house.
“Mom! Dad! It’s so good to see you.” He hugged them both then picked up her luggage, while Dad carried his own.
Everyone headed into the house, and Seth showed them to the guest room.
“You’ve done a nice job decorating this room, Karen.” Emma’s brown eyes twinkled.
“Jah, des iss die gut schtubb.” Roseanna placed her hand on the beautiful quilt draped on the bed.
“Danki, I’ve been working on making this ‘the good room’ for our guests.” Karen’s face heated. She hoped they didn’t think she was prideful.
>
“Let’s go see Nancy Anne,” Grandpa Paul suggested, and they filed into Nancy Anne’s room.
“She’s a good baby,” Seth whispered.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Seth’s mom went up to Nancy Anne’s crib and tilted her graying head, watching her newest granddaughter rest.
“She’s trying to sleep.” Seth’s dad stood by his wife, grinning.
“Shh… We should step out until Nancy Anne is awake.” Emma motioned to her husband. “I smell something good coming from the kitchen.”
Karen closed the door to the nursery once everyone had made their way out. “We have roast tonight, and there should be plenty to eat, so don’t be shy.”
“I’m pretty hungry.” Seth rubbed his midsection. “We poured a large patio at a residence today, and I’m hoping the customers will be pleased with it tomorrow.”
“That’s good, Son.” Paul patted Seth’s shoulder. “Your mamm is after me to make her patio larger to hold more chairs.” He sighed. “I can see that our family is expanding and it would be a welcome addition.”
“There’s fresh coffee in the kitchen. Would anyone like some?” Karen asked.
The men both lit up to the idea and nodded. Seth and his dad walked to the living room.
“I’ll bring you both some.” Karen turned and hugged her mother-in-law. “It’s so nice to have you both here. How about you, would you like some coffee, too?”
“That sounds good.” Emma followed Karen into the kitchen.
“Do you need help with anything?” Emma fussed with her sleeve.
“I haven’t set the table, and the potatoes are waiting to be mashed.” Karen grabbed a cup from the cupboard, filled it with coffee, and passed it to Emma.
“I’ll set the table; just point me to the plates and glasses.” She took a sip of her coffee and placed it on the nearby counter. “Mmm… that’s good.”
Karen showed Emma where everything was and began mashing the potatoes. Her daughters followed their grandmother to the big table. “Grandma, what’s in your bag on the floor, there?” Roseanna pointed at it.