“Are you all right?” Rosanna reached across the table to take the mug from his hands before cocoa rained down on them and the table.
“It went down the wrong way.” Paul thumped his chest and coughed a few more times.
“Would you like a glass of water?”
“Nee,” he croaked. “I’ll try another sip of cocoa.”
His fingers brushed hers as he took the mug she still held for safekeeping. A tingle shot up her arm and ran straight to her heart.
“I’m better.” Paul took one more sip before setting the mug down. “I hope I didn’t wake Mollie.”
Rosanna patted his hand that rested on the table. “If she can sleep through Katie’s and Sadie’s squealing, she can sleep through a little coughing.”
“Is she trying to crawl yet?”
Rosanna smiled. “It’s a bit too early for that, but she managed to roll over, and she pushes up when she has tummy time on the floor. She looks like a little turtle emerging from its shell.”
Paul chuckled. “Tell me more.”
Rosanna relaxed again as she regaled Paul with Mollie’s feats. He continued asking questions, seeming genuinely interested. Any other fellow would have mumbled a polite question or two and then maneuvered the conversation to another topic. Not Paul. He smiled, nodded, and encouraged Rosanna to keep sharing. When she glanced down, she discovered she’d eaten her entire cookie at some point.
“I’m going to tuck Mollie in and head to bed myself.” Sarah spoke from the doorway.
Ach! How late had it gotten? How long had Sarah been close by? Rosanna had completely forgotten her mamm had been sitting in the next room. Her eyes flicked to the battery-operated kitchen wall clock. Two hours! She and Paul had been sitting at the kitchen table for two hours! Had Sarah been waiting for Rosanna to relieve her?
“I’m sorry for keeping you up, Mamm. I can take Mollie upstairs.”
“You didn’t keep me up. I dozed off in the chair. I’ve never figured out if it’s a blessing or a curse to be able to fall asleep anywhere. I guess it’s a trait of all midwives.” Sarah’s smile morphed into a yawn.
“Danki, Mamm. Get some sleep.”
“It was gut to see you, Sarah.” Paul pushed off the chair and crossed to the doorway in several long strides. “And you, too, Mollie.” He touched one large index finger to the infant’s cheek.
“You, too, Paul. Say hello to your mudder for me.”
Rosanna tiptoed over to stand beside Paul and Sarah. She bent to kiss Mollie’s cheek. “I’ll be up soon.”
“Take your time, Dochder. This little one should sleep a while longer yet. She ate like a little piggy at her last feeding.”
Was Mamm encouraging her to stay here with Paul? Did Mamm think there was something going on between them? She’d have to set her straight in the morning. Rosanna watched her mamm’s retreat until she and Mollie rounded the corner and were completely out of sight.
“Mollie looked like a little angel sleeping in your mudder’s arms.”
Paul’s voice brought Rosanna out of her reverie. “I think of her as my little angel, but all kinner are a gift from the Lord Gott, ain’t so?”
“For sure, but there is something extra special about this one.” Paul gently squeezed Rosanna’s arm.
“I’m blessed He chose me to raise her.”
“That you are.”
Rosanna smiled up at Paul. “Let’s finish our snack.”
“If you want to get some sleep while Mollie is sleeping, I can leave now.”
“Finish your cocoa first.” What was she saying? Paul had given her the perfect opportunity to end this little gathering, and she didn’t pounce on it. She didn’t have any choice now but to return to the kitchen and her hostess duties. Somehow the idea appealed to her rather than annoyed her. “Would you like more cocoa? That mug has probably grown cold now.”
“This will be fine. I even like cold cocoa.”
Rosanna slid onto the chair she’d vacated as Paul settled across from her. “Help yourself to more cookies.”
“I believe my stomach is finally full. I’ll just finish my cocoa.”
Rosanna raised her mug and took a sip. “You’re right. Cold cocoa isn’t bad.”
They talked a bit longer until Rosanna struggled to suppress a yawn. She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin to hide it.
Paul laughed. “That didn’t work, Rosanna.”
“Oops! I’m sorry. I tried to stifle it.”
“I know you must be tired.”
“It really isn’t that late.” Her eyes wandered to the clock.
“Maybe not, but your sleep is always interrupted, and I’m keeping you up when you should be stealing a nap before Mollie wakes up again.”
“You’re very understanding.”
“I’m thinking how I’d feel if I had to wake up every few hours. I’m not so sure I’d be as pleasant to be around as you are.”
Rosanna laughed. “I can’t imagine you as being anything except pleasant.”
Paul stood and picked up his mug and empty pie plate.
“I can take care of those.”
“Let me help you clean up. Then I’ll leave so you can go to bed.”
What a nice fellow! How many times had that thought crossed her mind recently? Had she ever had such a thought about Henry Zook? Rosanna gathered up her own mug and the cookie jar. She ran a little water in the sink to wash the few dishes they’d dirtied. Paul dried them and returned them to the cabinets.
“Danki for inviting me in for the treats, Rosanna.” Paul pulled on his black jacket.
“Danki for bringing me home.”
“It was fun talking to you and great to see Mollie again.”
“It was fun.” Surprisingly, Rosanna meant those words. She had enjoyed talking to Paul. The time had flown by, instead of dragging, as she had feared it would.
“Will you attend the next singing?”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“I hope you do.”
Rosanna followed Paul to the door. “I’ll think about it but won’t promise I’ll go.”
“I understand, but I’d sure miss you if you didn’t attend. You’re a special person, Rosanna. Gut nacht.”
Paul touched her cheek and then slipped outside while Rosanna tried to devise a reply. Her cheek tingled and a warm feeling flooded her heart. “Gut nacht, Paul.” She hoped he heard her. She also hoped he didn’t encounter Tobias on the driveway. She’d never live down her bruder’s teasing, and she’d never convince Tobias that nothing was going on between her and Paul. It was bad enough she had to set Mamm straight first thing in the morning. She didn’t need to add her bruder to the list.
She decided to leave a battery-operated lamp burning for Tobias instead of a kerosene one. He certainly was late. Maybe he took Emma for a ride. Wouldn’t that be something? Her bruder and her best freind. She smiled and almost giggled out loud when she thought of ways she could persuade Emma or Tobias to tell her about their evening.
Weariness threatened to overtake Rosanna as she trudged up the stairs. She quickly prepared for bed and peeked into Mollie’s crib. She sure hoped Mamm was right and Mollie would sleep awhile longer. She knelt beside her bed to say her prayers and whispered a hasty “amen” when her head thumped down on the bed. A few blessed hours of sleep would be wunderbaar. Even her eyelashes were tired, if that was possible. Her entire body throbbed with fatigue. Only her brain remained wide awake. It wanted to rehash the entire evening.
Rosanna punched her pillow and turned onto her side. She squeezed her eyes tight, as if that could block out the images parading through her mind. Amazingly the pain of seeing Henry and Frannie together had subsided. Not even a dull ache remained. Paul’s kind words and concern had provided a balm to her heart.
She flopped onto her back and, as in the past, tried the technique she always encouraged with laboring women. She tensed each muscle group and then released them to encourage them to relax. She started with h
er feet and worked her way up her body. By the time she reached her shoulders, sleep claimed her.
* * *
Paul tossed and turned. Tomorrow would be a busy workday at the furniture shop. He needed to get at least a little sleep. His body was certainly willing, but his mind had its own agenda. It wanted to replay every moment with Rosanna. Had he said the right things? Should he not have told her she was special or as beautiful as Mollie? Or should he have said more? It was much too soon to confess his true feelings. Rosanna didn’t even consider the evening anything other than two freinden sharing a snack. Would she ever think of him as more than a freind?
The more he tried to shut his brain down, the more images it wanted to display: Rosanna’s shiny, dark hair and big chocolate eyes; Rosanna’s smile that lit her entire face; Rosanna’s laughter that sounded like the music of angels; little Mollie’s long lashes against her soft cheeks. You’ve got it bad! How did he get rid of “it” if Rosanna could never consider a relationship with him? He yanked the pillow out from under him and covered his head. Maybe he could smother the images and get some sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
The rooster’s shrill crow pulled Rosanna from the dream she’d fallen into what seemed like mere moments earlier. Usually she awakened before him, but today he won. She rubbed her eyes and threw off her covers. Thankfully, Mollie had only awakened once and had gone right back to sleep after swigging down her bottle. She had been sleeping for longer stretches, which was a blessing indeed.
Rosanna clicked on a small battery-operated lamp and dressed in the semidarkness. She didn’t need much light to perform actions she’d done for so many years. She pinned her dress, cape, and apron and nimbly wound her hair into its customary bun. After pinning her kapp into place, she tiptoed over to the crib to lay a hand on Mollie. Her hand rose and fell with the boppli’s breaths. Rosanna had heard about sudden infant death syndrome and constantly reassured herself Mollie was okay. She smiled. How she loved this little one. She tiptoed from the room so she could start breakfast if Mamm hadn’t yet gotten up. She hoped she would have a few minutes alone with her mudder this morning to clarify any misconceptions about last night.
That plan was immediately thwarted. The aroma of kaffi assailed her before she made it halfway down the stairs, so she knew Mamm was already bustling about the room. Muffled voices alerted her that someone else was awake and would soon troop into the kitchen. Rosanna would have to hold off on her discussion until a time they would not be overheard by nosy siblings.
“Is Mollie still sleeping?” Sarah called over her shoulder as she stirred oatmeal bubbling on the back burner of the stove.
“Jah. She ate about an hour or so ago, so I expect she’ll sleep for a while. Do you want me to scramble or fry the eggs?”
Sarah tapped the wooden spoon against the side of the pan and laid it in the ceramic spoon rest. She gave Rosanna a quick glance and a little wink. “Scrambled will be easier. You look pretty tired.”
“I’m not any more tired than usual. Mollie only got up once. Maybe she’ll be sleeping through the night soon.” Rosanna opened the door of the propane-powered refrigerator and slid out a carton of eggs.
“Once we start introducing solids, her little tummy will probably stay full longer.”
“We can do that in another month or so, ain’t so? She’ll be six months old then.”
“Jah. She is growing so fast.”
“She sure is.” Rosanna cracked eggs into a large mixing bowl and added salt, pepper, and milk. “We aren’t frying bacon today?” Usually she scrambled eggs in the bacon grease, but the cast-iron skillet hadn’t been pulled from the cabinet.
“I don’t think there is enough bacon for everyone, so I didn’t bother with it. I’ll make some French toast now that the oatmeal is about done. That should fill everyone up. Did you notice if the kinner were awake?”
“I heard noises, but I didn’t see anyone. I assumed James was outside with Daed and Joseph.”
“He should be, but I didn’t hear them go outside.” Sarah gave her dochder a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t up very long before you appeared.”
“You certainly got kaffi and oatmeal going quickly.” Rosanna bit back a smile. The old rooster must have beaten Mamm, too.
Sarah patted Rosanna’s arm as she passed by. Rosanna heard her shuffle to the stairway to call Sadie and Katie. A moment later, she heard four feet hit the wood floor overhead. She pulled out two pans and dumped the egg mixture in one. She would use the other pan for the French toast. As tired as she was, she hoped she could cook both things at once without ruining either one.
* * *
Rosanna breathed a sigh of relief when the flurry of activity in the kitchen had abated and everyone had eaten and been sent on their way. Tobias had thrown odd looks at her across the table but hadn’t made any teasing remarks or asked any embarrassing questions. Once or twice he opened his mouth to speak, but Sadie’s spilled milk and Katie’s incessant chattering kept him from getting any words out. Now, finally, everyone was well on the way to work or school. She and Mamm were alone with a mountain of dirty, syrupy dishes.
Rosanna sighed again as she scooted toward the doorway for a moment to determine if Mollie was making any sounds of stirring from sleep. Satisfied all was well upstairs, she crossed the room to the sink and filled it with hot, soapy water.
“How was your evening?” Sarah dropped silverware into the dishwater before picking up the towel to dry the dishes stacked in the drainer.
Here we go! “Mamm, before you get any wrong ideas or crazy notions, you need to know that Paul and I are not seeing each other.” Rosanna scrubbed furiously until Sarah lifted the plate from her hands.
“I’ll take that before you destroy it . . .”
“Paul is just a freind. He offered to bring me home last night to spare me from sitting in the cold while waiting for Tobias.”
“Okay.” Sarah picked up another plate. “You did invite him in, ain’t so? He didn’t force his way inside and steal cookies, jah?”
Rosanna cut her eyes to the right in time to see her mamm’s mouth twitching. The very idea of Paul forcing his way inside was hilarious. She couldn’t hold back a giggle. “Of course he didn’t.” She used an arm to wipe her eyes. “I had to be polite and offer him food since he left the singing before getting refreshments, didn’t I? That seemed to be the right thing to do.”
“It was the right thing to do, but it seems he stayed awhile.”
“I couldn’t hand him a cookie and push him out the door, could I?”
This time Sarah burst out laughing. “I see. You want me to mind my own business, ain’t so?”
“Truly, Mamm, there’s nothing between Paul and me.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow but kept silent.
“I know that look, Mamm. Paul and I talked while eating a snack, mainly about Mollie, not about us.”
“If you say so.”
“Mamm!” Rosanna stomped her foot on the little rag rug covering the section of the linoleum floor beneath the sink.
“Not many fellows would spend time discussing a boppli unless they were interested in the boppli’s mudder.” Sarah elbowed Rosanna, causing her to drop the mug she’d been washing. Soapsuds flew in all directions.
“Please, Mamm, don’t go spreading rumors or plan a celery patch or anything else. We won’t be needing any creamed celery or any other celery dishes for a wedding supper, not mine, anyway.”
“Calm down, Dochder.” Sarah flicked soap from her nose. “I’ll keep my mouth shut. But let it be known, I wouldn’t object one bit if Paul was your beau.”
“Mamm!”
“Okay. Okay.”
* * *
At least Sarah got off the subject of Paul Hertzler for the rest of the time they cleaned up the kitchen. Instead, they talked about Mollie or the work planned for the day. When the kitchen had been restored to order, Sarah headed for the baskets of laundry surrounding the old gas-powered wringer washer
.
“I’ll be back to help as soon as I tend to Mollie.” Rosanna galloped up the stairs two at a time. What a blessing to have a little one who woke up in a pleasant mood. She could hear Mollie cooing and gurgling to herself. Ever since she had become aware of her toes, Mollie talked to them or played with them when she awoke. Rosanna thought it was adorable. She slowed as she neared the top of the stairs so she could sneak to the doorway of her room. Sure enough, Mollie’s feet were in the air, and she was babbling to her toes.
Rosanna waited for Mollie to spy her before rushing to the crib and scooping the infant up into her arms. She twirled around and planted kisses on the little cheeks. “Let’s get you ready for the day and fed, my angel.” Rosanna tickled and talked to Mollie as she changed her diaper and dressed her. “Now we’ll go downstairs where it’s warmer for your bottle.”
Once she had settled into the rocking chair with Mollie happily slurping her bottle, Rosanna’s thoughts turned to Sarah’s words. If Sarah thought there had been more to last night than two freinden chatting and sharing a snack, did Paul get that same mistaken impression? She certainly didn’t want to lead him on or hurt him. She knew the pain of rejection and didn’t want to inflict that on anyone else.
Paul was a nice fellow, for sure and for certain, and always so interested in Mollie. Rosanna couldn’t recall Mamm ever saying she would approve of Henry as a beau. But, then again, Henry had never come to the house—not to see her, anyway—and Rosanna had been careful not to reveal her feelings or hopes. Had she ever been wrong about Henry! How could she have let her feelings run away with themselves? How had she not seen he didn’t have any interest in her? Had he always been interested in Frannie and simply bided his time until he received some sort of signal from her? How humiliating! How painful! Well, she wouldn’t make that mistake again. No matter how thoughtful Paul might be or how much her mamm liked him, they would never be more than freinden. She’d just as soon live out her days as a single mudder rather than risk her heart again. Somehow she would have to ensure Paul got that message.
“It’s only you and me, right, Mollie?” Rosanna set the empty bottle on the floor, lifted the infant to her shoulder, and patted her back. “Of course, you have aentis, onkles, a grossmammi, and a grossdaddi who love you, too. We’ll be fine.” Rosanna pulled the boppli back to look into her face. “I love you, you adorable girl.” She kissed a soft pink cheek. As much as she’d like to rock and cuddle Mollie all day, that huge pile of laundry awaited.
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