“That’s for sure and for certain.”
“Tell me about it. I can’t believe you have a boppli now.”
“Sometimes I don’t believe it yet myself.” Rosanna laughed. Emma Kurtz had been one of her closest freinden all during their growing-up years. “I’m sure you heard all the details from the grapevine.”
“Jah, word does get around. The Englisch girl just vanished and left you with her little one?”
Rosanna nodded.
“How odd. I don’t know how any woman could give up her newborn.”
“She was more of a girl than a woman. She said she wasn’t able to properly care for an infant. At least she didn’t leave her boppli in a basket on a stranger’s doorstep.”
“It sounds like she chose you even before she gave birth. That’s what I heard anyway.”
“You heard right. It was a total shock, but how could I refuse? I was there at her birth. I couldn’t let Mollie go to strangers, especially since Jane specifically chose me, though I’m not sure why.”
“You are a kind, compassionate, caring person. Jane must have picked up on that.”
Rosanna shrugged. Her eyes flicked over the young people milling about. Was that Henry disappearing around the corner of the barn with some other fellows? All the guys wore black pants, coats, and hats, so it was a little difficult to be absolutely certain from this distance. Her gut told her Henry was one of those fellows, though.
“Where are you, Rosanna?” Emma nudged her, bringing her back to their conversation.
“Huh?”
“I asked if you were planning to attend the singing tonight. It will be here at the Bylers.”
“I-I’m not sure. I have Mollie to care for now.”
“Surely your mamm would watch her for a few hours, ain’t so?”
“Probably, but I hate to ask her. Mollie is my responsibility. I can’t just pass her off when I want to go out and have fun.”
“But this is the time for you to do exactly that.” Frannie Hostetler horned in on the conversation. A stray strand of light brown hair flew across her face. She grabbed at it as she pushed her silver wire-rimmed glasses up her nose. “How are you going to get a fellow to court you if you don’t make yourself available?”
“I suppose if someone really wanted to court me, he’d do it even if I didn’t attend singings.” Rosanna couldn’t seem to infuse her words with a whole lot of conviction. At one time, she had thought Henry might have done that, but now he always seemed to be running the opposite way from her. She had difficulty imagining him tossing pebbles at her window late one night, since they hadn’t already been riding home together after singings. He could surprise her, though, couldn’t he?
“I don’t know, Rosanna. You may have doomed yourself to being an old maedel when you took on the little one.” Again Frannie fiddled with the glasses that made her small brown eyes appear even smaller. “I think I’ll go see if there were any cookies left.” She patted Rosanna’s arm as if in pity before taking off toward the house.
“If she keeps eating cookies and growing plumper, she’ll be the old maedel,” Emma muttered.
Rosanna giggled. “Emma Kurtz! I can’t believe you said that.”
“Well, it’s true. I haven’t seen the fellows stumbling over each other to ask her to ride home.”
Rosanna laughed again. She looked at her tall, willowy freind with a mock stern look but burst out laughing again at the smirk on Emma’s face.
“Ach! You’re right, Rosanna. I’m being mean. The fellows haven’t exactly been flocking around me, either. I guess they don’t want either a beanpole or a plump girl.”
“You are just fine. You can’t help it that you’re tall and thin. You have the loveliest blonde hair and blue eyes.”
“You say that because you’re my freind.”
“I say it because it’s true.”
“Maybe I should go hunt down some cookies.”
Rosanna chuckled. “At least you can eat as many of them as you want, and they won’t make you fat.”
“Gut point.”
Rosanna turned thoughtful. “Frannie might have been right about me ending up an old maedel. If that happens, then so be it. Mollie is worth it. I might be willing to leave her with Mamm sometime, but not yet.”
“You do what’s best for you. I want you to kumm to the singings, but I understand your feelings. We’ll get together to do other things, like frolics and such, ain’t so?”
“Sure.”
Emma squeezed Rosanna’s arm. “And you’re right. If a fellow is interested, he’ll seek you out.”
“Maybe,” Rosanna whispered.
“The game must be over.” Emma nodded toward the volleyball players, who were cheering and clapping.
“I guess.” Rosanna hadn’t been paying much attention. When she hadn’t been looking at Emma, her gaze had wandered to the barn where Henry had disappeared earlier.
“Let me guess. My mamm has Mollie.”
The deep voice wrapped around a laugh snapped Rosanna’s attention to the very tall fellow who’d trotted over to where she and Emma stood. “You guessed right. Mary couldn’t wait to hold her.”
“Mamm sure loves the little ones. You may have to pry your boppli out of her arms.”
Rosanna laughed. “I didn’t want to leave her, but Mary convinced me to take a break and let her dote on Mollie for a while.”
“I’m sure she’s doing exactly that.”
“Oops! I’ve got to run. I’ll see you two.” Emma sprinted off to join a group of girls who’d been playing volleyball.
“Wait!” Rosanna swallowed the rest of her comment. Emma was already out of earshot. Now, why on earth did Emma leave her alone with Paul Hertzler? Not that he wasn’t kind and terribly gut-looking, but she had never given the slightest indication that she was interested in him as anything other than a freind.
“Rosanna!”
“Huh?”
“I asked how Mollie is doing.”
“She’s fine. She’s a little mixed-up on the night and day still, but that’s pretty normal.”
“How are you doing?”
Rosanna laughed. “I’m sure the dark circles under my eyes prove I haven’t slept much, but that’s also normal when there’s a new boppli in the house.” How many fellows would think to ask about her or even inquire about an infant? Would Henry?
“You look fine, Rosanna.”
A red stain crept up Paul’s neck and onto his cheeks. Rosanna thought it was cute. She also believed it matched the color that most likely tinted her own face. Somehow she managed to croak out a danki. She grappled to find a neutral topic of conversation to put them both at ease. “How was the volleyball game?”
“Invigorating. It’s always gut to work off a little energy—and some of the cookies I scarfed down.”
“I saw what you did.”
“You saw me eat a handful of cookies?”
“Nee, silly. I saw you let the younger bu make that play. That was so, uh, nice of you.” Rosanna caught her tongue right before the word “sweet” rolled off it. It would never do for her to tell Paul she thought he was sweet.
“I wanted him to have a chance. I’m so much taller that I could have swatted every ball. That wouldn’t have been fair.”
“It was a thoughtful thing to do.” If it was possible, Paul’s cheeks glowed even brighter. In an instant they went from rosy red to scarlet. Even the tips of his ears blushed. Rosanna smiled.
“I think it was pretty wunderbaar for you to take on a boppli single-handedly.”
Now Rosanna’s face was about to burst into flames. “My family is around for support.”
“True, but not every girl would be so bold or so compassionate.”
“I couldn’t let that innocent little girl be taken away. Somehow I seemed to bond with her from the beginning.”
“It must have been Gott’s will that the Englisch girl picked you and showed up at your house for the birth.”
“I think so,
too, Paul.”
“You know my mudder will babysit whenever you want.”
Rosanna smiled. “So she told me. I guess I should relieve her now and check on Mollie.”
“I’m sure Mamm is enjoying every minute of holding her. You chose a gut name for her. She looks like a Mollie.”
“You only saw her briefly.”
“Jah, but I have a great memory.” Paul tapped his head with an index finger.
Rosanna laughed.
“You think I’m kidding. The boppli has hair the color of honey and big blue eyes.”
“Most newborns have blue eyes, so that would be an easy guess.”
“But I’m right about the hair, ain’t so?”
“You are.”
“See. I told you.” Paul’s smile lit up his entire face.
“Maybe you just made a lucky guess.” Why couldn’t it be Henry who bantered with her? Rosanna glanced toward the barn again. No sign of Henry. He and those other fellows must have been swallowed up by the earth. Maybe her childhood crush should be left in the past. Smiling at her when they were scholars and helping her when she got hurt on the playground did not necessarily mean he was interested in her. It was entirely possible she misread, or worse yet, invented the cues she had gotten from the grown-up Henry. She slid her eyes back to Paul’s smiling face and couldn’t help but grin herself. “I’d better check on Mollie.”
“I’ll walk with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Are you looking for more cookies?”
“I was going to help you wrest your little one out of Mamm’s arms, but if there happen to be any lonely cookies lying around waiting for someone to claim them, I’ll be happy to oblige.”
Rosanna laughed at Paul’s impish expression. My little one. She sure did like the sound of those words.
As suspected, Rosanna found Mary in the same position as before with the infant snug in her arms. Her body gently swayed to and fro. An expression of pure contentment shone on her face like the sun’s reflection on the Kurtzes’ pond.
“What did I tell you?” Paul whispered behind Rosanna. “She’s just as happy as a hound dog with a new bone.”
Rosanna crossed the room to stand beside Mary. To her surprise, Paul stayed on her heels. She had thought sure he’d detour to search for cookies.
“Not a peep out of her.” Mary smiled. “She’s such a gut boppli.”
“I’m afraid you have to give her back, Mamm.”
“I’m well aware of that, son, but I certainly have enjoyed holding her.” Mary lightly ran her finger along Mollie’s cheek. “Such a precious little one.”
“Danki, Mamm.”
Rosanna burst out laughing.
Mary swatted at her son. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Do you mean I’m not precious?” Paul poked out his lower lip in a pretend pout.
“Of course you are. You’ll always be my boppli no matter how old or big you get.” Mary re-tucked the blanket and lifted Mollie up for Rosanna to take. “What brings you in the house, Paul?”
“Cookies, I think,” Rosanna answered for him. “Apparently a vigorous volleyball game made him hungry all over again.” She cuddled the infant in her arms.
“I thought I saw you grab several handfuls of cookies earlier.” Mary wagged a finger at the young man who towered over both women.
“Not several, Mamm. It was only one handful. And I really don’t need more cookies, at least not right now. I was teasing. But I might need a little snack for the ride home when you’re ready to leave. I came in to peek at Rosanna’s boppli.”
Paul’s warm breath tickled the little hairs on the back of Rosanna’s neck as he bent to peer over her shoulder. It was not at all an unpleasant sensation.
“See?” he said. “Honey-colored hair. I knew my memory hadn’t failed me.”
Mary stood. “Is your daed ready to leave?”
Paul took a step backward. “I’m not sure, Mamm.”
A chill like an icy blast of cold air assaulted Rosanna when Paul backed away from her. She had a sudden urge to rub her arms to restore warmth.
“I can go check on Daed, if you like.”
“That’s okay. I need to stretch a bit. I’ll round up your daed and bruders.” Mary gave Rosanna’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate your letting me hold your little one. Remember, I’m available anytime to help you out. I know you have Sarah, but if you both get called out to a birth, send Tobias or Joseph to fetch me.”
“It’s so kind of you to offer to help, Mary. I’ll surely keep that in mind.”
Mollie wiggled ever so slightly and blinked her eyes.
“See? They’re blue. Told you so!”
“And I told you most infants are born with blue eyes. Often they change colors later.”
“Did your eyes start out blue?”
“Mamm said they did.”
“That’s interesting.” Paul bent slightly to stare into Rosanna’s eyes. “There’s absolutely nee trace of blue now. Your eyes are huge and dark like two big chocolate drops.”
Rosanna’s breath hitched under Paul’s scrutiny. His face was so close to her own. She pulled back slightly and gave a nervous little laugh. “I don’t think anyone has ever compared my eyes to chocolate drops. Maybe your hunger is making you see food everywhere.”
“I’m actually not that hungry. And I meant what I said in a gut way. I think your eyes are beautiful. I meant they are as dark as chocolate. I mean . . .” Paul rubbed a hand over his face, obviously flustered.
Rosanna smiled to put him at ease. “I know what you meant. Danki.”
“I’d better help Mamm round up my bruders. Will you be at the singing this evening?”
“Probably not.” Rosanna glanced down at the infant, who’d closed her eyes and returned to her slumber.
“That’s too bad. You’ll be missed. You can still attend, you know.”
“I suppose.”
“Sure you can. You’re young and single. But I understand. Maybe you can attend the next one.”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll see you and little Mollie later.”
Rosanna smiled at Paul’s rather endearing awkwardness. He looked like he wanted to touch Mollie but didn’t know if he should. “See you, Paul. Don’t forget your cookies for the trip home.”
Paul winked before turning away. The simple little gesture made Rosanna’s knees go all rubbery. Had Henry ever winked at her? She couldn’t recall that he had. And Paul’s deliberate inclusion of Mollie in his comments warmed her heart. With fatigue threatening to engulf her, Rosanna concluded the Hertzlers had the right idea. She hoped her family was ready to head home, too. If she could convince Katie and Sadie to leave, maybe Mamm would fetch Daed and the buwe. She’d check to make sure the girls weren’t playing inside before poking her head outside to holler for them. Voices in the living room stopped her in the doorway.
“I thought she liked Henry, and there was Paul trotting behind her like an eager little puppy.”
“Shhh, Frannie! Keep your voice down.”
“Well, maybe that will free Henry up for someone else.” Frannie’s voice didn’t drop in volume, despite Emma’s admonition.
“For someone like you?” Emma asked.
“You never can tell.”
Neither girl spied Rosanna in the doorway, but she could plainly see the smug look on Frannie’s face. Should she clear her throat or somehow make her presence known? Before she could make a sound or a move, Frannie spoke again.
“I guess she won’t be attending any more singings anyway, since she has a boppli.”
“She can still go if she wants. She isn’t married, the same as ever.”
“Not quite the same as ever. She can’t exactly bring a boppli to the singings. Besides, can you think of a single fellow who’d want to court a girl with an infant? Even Paul probably wouldn’t want a ready-made family.”
Rosanna saw a frown cross Emma’s face as if she was thinking hard. “I’m
sure the right bu wouldn’t care one bit. Rosanna is the same girl. If a fellow cared about her, he’d care about her boppli, the same as if she was a widow.”
Danki, Emma! Leave it to her best freind to defend her. She only hoped Emma was right.
“You certainly don’t think Henry Zook would want a ready-made family, do you?” Frannie wiggled her glasses back into place.
“I can’t speak for Henry, but he isn’t the only available fellow, you know.”
“But he’s the one Rosanna has had her eye on for ages, ain’t so?”
“I wouldn’t know. Those things are private,” Emma replied.
“Hmpf! If I could see that as plain as day, then I’m sure you could.”
Rosanna couldn’t stand being the subject of gossip any longer, but she couldn’t charge into the room with steam pouring from her ears. She must have jostled Mollie enough to disturb her slumber, because she let out a little squeak.
“Ach, Rosanna. I didn’t know you were there.” Frannie’s face turned at least three shades of red.
Obviously. “I-I was looking for Katie and Sadie.”
“Well, they aren’t in here,” Frannie snapped.
“I can see that. I’ll talk to you later, Emma.” To Rosanna’s horror, tears sprang into her eyes. She would not let Frannie see her cry. She spun away from the other two young women and crooned to Mollie.
“Wait, Rosanna!” Emma called after her.
“It’s okay, Emma.” Rosanna couldn’t get any more words out, but she did hear Emma’s comment as she fled from the room.
“Are you happy, Frannie? I’m sure Rosanna heard every word you said!”
Chapter Six
Sarah had offered to watch Mollie so Rosanna could attend the singing, but Rosanna declined the offer. Part of her wanted to go to prove Frannie was wrong, but a tiny part of her feared Frannie was right. She might not belong there anymore. Mostly, though, she didn’t want to leave Mollie.
Rosanna bathed and fed the infant before tucking her into the cradle beside her own bed. She felt ready to drop into a dead sleep herself. She had struggled to stay awake as Daed read aloud from the Bible and nearly nodded off during prayers. A newborn’s constant needs could sure wear a person out. She quickly exchanged her clothes for a nightgown and crawled beneath the covers to try to snatch a couple of hours of sleep before Mollie’s next feeding.
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