“What’s the matter, Rosanna?”
Although his voice was whisper soft, it pulled her mind from the dark path it wandered down. “What?”
“You looked so sad for a moment. Am I doing something wrong?” He looked down at Mollie, who was happily swallowing the formula, and back up at Rosanna.
“You’re doing everything exactly right.” Too right.
“Then why the sad expression?”
Rosanna didn’t intend to air her concerns, but they slipped out on their own. “I’m so afraid of losing Mollie.”
“Why would that happen?”
“Her aenti did show up for a visit.”
“What?” Mollie startled, stopped sucking, and puckered up her little face. “It’s okay, little one. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Do you want to finish?” He wiggled the bottle against her mouth until she latched onto it again. “What did the woman want?”
Before Rosanna could stop herself, she poured out the whole story. “If Kandi gets a lawyer and tries to take Mollie, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Mollie’s mudder chose you to take Mollie. She must have known her schweschder wouldn’t be the right person for the job. You have legal papers.”
“I do, and the adoption should be final soon.”
“Then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
“But Kandi is family. That might make a difference.”
“Do you have someone you can talk to who understands all the legal matters?”
“Mamm and I are going to try to see the lawyer tomorrow.”
“If you need me to tell them what a great mamm you are and how content Mollie is with you, I’d be more than happy to do that.”
“I appreciate that, Paul. Please pray I don’t lose my boppli.” Rosanna’s voice wobbled. She chewed her bottom lip and blinked hard to fight back tears.
“I will definitely pray.” Paul reached a hand over to give Rosanna’s arm a quick pat. “Everything will be all right. I know it. Mollie is yours. The Lord Gott gave her to you.”
Rosanna sniffed and nodded. She didn’t trust her voice at the moment.
“We can pray right now, if you like.”
Rosanna nodded again.
Paul set the now-empty bottle on the table and again laid a hand on Rosanna’s arm. His other arm still firmly held Mollie. “Dear Lord Gott, we ask for Your help here. Little Mollie is such a special gift You gave to Rosanna. Please work everything out so she can stay here in this loving family. We trust You to guide Rosanna and to give her peace. Amen.”
“Amen.” Rosanna instantly felt better. She didn’t know how things would end up, but she believed the Lord Gott had a plan that would work out for gut. “Danki, Paul.”
Paul sat Mollie up a bit to gently pat her back. “Is this right?”
A burp made him and Rosanna laugh.
“Mollie says it was just right.” Rosanna’s fingers absently played with the puzzle on the table. She plucked out the sheep piece and studied it. The detail was exquisite. Little wavy lines gave the appearance of curly wool. The eyes were, well, sheeplike. They looked real enough to blink. Rosanna expected the little wooden piece to baa at her any second.
She glanced up to find Mollie watching her move the sheep around. “I think she likes it, Paul. She’s watching it so intently.” Rosanna held the sheep closer and smiled when Mollie reached for it.
“Maybe sheep will be her favorite farm animal,” Paul said.
“We might have to get a few for her.” Rosanna held up the other puzzle pieces one by one. Mollie looked at each one, but her gaze kept returning to the sheep.
“She’s a rather amazing boppli, ain’t so?” Paul’s smile lit his entire face.
“I certainly think so. She definitely likes these wunderbaar wooden animals. What kinner wouldn’t? I might have to hide the puzzle from Katie and Sadie.”
“I think they are a little old for such simple puzzles.”
“But they like animals and play with stuffed ones. Don’t underestimate your talent.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Rosanna didn’t want to embarrass Paul, but she didn’t want him to belittle his ability. “Maybe this is one of your Gott-given gifts. You are able to create useful yet beautiful things from wood.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I only know I like working with wood and paint.”
“You could make a whole bunch of puzzles, toys, recipe boxes, and anything else and sell every single one of them next Christmas.”
“That’s something to think about.”
“Just don’t make another recipe box quite like mine. It’s special.” Rosanna’s cheeks heated.
“This is a one-of-a-kind box for a one-of-a-kind girl.”
The fire in Rosanna’s cheeks blazed hotter. Paul’s cheeks flushed a tomato red, too. They talked awhile longer, until Katie shuffled into the kitchen.
“I’m bored.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh.
“Poor dear. I’m sure you’ll be glad to get back to school tomorrow.” Rosanna struggled to conceal a smile.
“Maybe I’m not that bored. Hey, what’s this?” Katie picked up the wooden pig and cow and fit them into the appropriate slots on the puzzle board.
“It’s a puzzle Paul made for Mollie.”
“It’s great. Can you make me one, Paul?”
“Don’t you think you’re a little old for a puzzle like this?” Rosanna handed Katie another puzzle piece to put into place.
Katie shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s really nice. I like the animals. Maybe Paul could just make some little wooden animals.”
“There’s another idea for you, Paul,” Rosanna said. “By next Christmas you could have a whole line of products to sell. You could have your own shop.”
Paul rubbed a hand across his jaw. “I don’t know about a shop, but Eli might let me have a corner of his furniture store to display things. As long as I keep up with the furniture assignments he has for me, he’d probably go for it.”
“Why not? It would definitely bring more business into his shop.”
“Rosanna, you’ve given me some great ideas to think about.”
“What about me?” Katie stomped one foot in indignation.
“You, too, for sure, Katie.”
Paul and Rosanna smiled at each other over Katie’s head. Rosanna’s heart felt lighter. Her worries had been lifted, at least temporarily. Paul’s visit had been exactly what she needed.
“I’d better catch up with my family before they send out someone to search for me. I’ve enjoyed visiting with all of you.” Although he said “all,” he looked straight into Rosanna’s eyes.
“Jah, it has been a nice visit.” Rosanna lifted Mollie from Paul’s arms. “And we surely thank you for the gifts.” Suddenly she wished she had a gift for him as well. Maybe another time. Ach! What was she thinking?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rosanna breathed slightly easier walking down the steps outside the lawyer’s office than she had walking up them ninety minutes earlier. She held Mollie tightly in her arms. “You do think I’ll get to keep her, don’t you, Mamm?”
“The lawyer said all your paperwork was in order.”
“But if Kandi tries to fight the adoption . . .”
“She can try, but I think Jane’s wishes count for a lot.”
“And if it kumms down to choosing, they’ll have to check which home would be more stable, ain’t so?”
“I believe that’s what the lawyer said, if I understood correctly.”
“We have a stable home. Even though I’m a single mudder, I have lots of family around for support. That should count for a lot, jah? I mean, our home has to be better than Kandi’s. She works nights and would have to get babysitters. She doesn’t have family around.” Rosanna paused to gulp in a breath. “I don’t mean to say anything bad about her, but . . .”
“Calm yourself, Dochder. We’ve done all we can.”
“Have we? There
must be something else.” Rosanna paced back and forth on the sidewalk as they waited for Amy, their Englisch driver, to pick them up.
“I can’t think of anything else. You need to trust the Lord Gott.”
“I-I’m trying.” Rosanna laid her head on top of the bundled-up infant.
“Don’t you think He is big enough or strong enough to handle all your worries and fears?”
“I know He is. It’s just that I’m so scared.”
Sarah caught Rosanna in mid-stride and wrapped an arm around her and Mollie. “I know, dear. The Lord knows, too. And He knows what is best. Trust him.”
Rosanna swallowed hard but couldn’t dislodge the massive lump in her throat. She nodded instead and shivered even though the sun was shining and the wind was practically nonexistent. She had to get a handle on her fears. She had to trust, like Mamm said.
“There’s Amy making the turn. Just in time before we freeze to death.”
“I’m not really that cold, Mamm.”
“The shivers must be from nerves, then.”
“I guess.”
“Everything works out for gut. That’s what the Bible says.”
“I know.”
Rosanna reached inside the van to secure Mollie in the car seat before climbing in to sit beside her. Sarah entered the opposite side of the van and fastened her own seat belt. Once the doors slid closed, Rosanna could welcome the heat blasting from the side vents.
“You all let me know if you get too warm and I’ll cut the heat down. I thought you might have gotten chilled standing outside.” Amy looked at each of them in the rearview mirror.
“It feels fine.” Rosanna’s shivering had lessened considerably.
“How did everything go?” Amy peered at them again before pulling out into traffic.
“About like you said yesterday when I stopped by your house,” Sarah replied. “Our paperwork is in order. We’ll have to wait and see if anything else happens.”
Wait! The hardest thing on earth to do. Rosanna patted Mollie with one hand as Sarah squeezed her other one.
* * *
“Say, are you okay with stopping at the dollar store for a few minutes? I won’t be long. I only need to pick up a few things.”
Sarah looked at Rosanna, who shrugged. “Sure, Amy. I can pick up some batteries and see if they have that cereal Samuel likes. It should be cheaper here than at the grocery store.”
Amy swung into the parking lot and parked near the front door. “Good,” she said. “It doesn’t look too busy.”
Rosanna considered waiting in the van but feared Mollie might get too cold without the heat blowing. Knowing Mamm and Amy, they’d get distracted looking around and a few minutes would turn into an hour. She opened the van’s sliding door and jumped out. She reached back inside to unbuckle Mollie from the rear-facing infant seat. “Let’s go look around, sweetie.” She threw the pink and white blanket she had crocheted over the little girl for extra warmth before trailing behind the other two women.
Since Rosanna didn’t need to purchase anything, she wandered around the store aimlessly as Mamm and Amy shopped. She stopped a moment to look at Valentine trinkets and picked up a little stuffed red bear. Its eyes could probably be easily plucked out by little fingers, so it wouldn’t be a safe toy for Mollie. She set it back on the shelf and backed up right onto the toes of someone she hadn’t heard approach. “Oh, excuse me.” She turned around to make sure the other person was all right. “I’m so sorry—Henry!”
“Hello, Rosanna.”
“I didn’t hear anyone walk up. I hope I didn’t crush your toes.” She shifted Mollie in her arms.
“I’m fine.” His face turned pickled beet red when Rosanna’s eyes traveled to the oversized Valentine card in his hand. He cleared his throat. “You still have the boppli, I see.”
“Of course. She’s my boppli.” Rosanna turned to scan the store. Maybe she’d see Mamm and Amy heading to the checkout area.
“You know, I might have been looking at a card for you if you didn’t have it.”
Rosanna whirled around in time to see Henry nod at Mollie. “It is a she. And you never gave any indication you were truly interested in me.”
“We talked after singings.”
“Mainly I talked. And if you cared about me, you’d care about my boppli, too.”
“Who wants a boppli around when they’re courting?”
“Don’t you like kinner, Henry?”
“They’re okay if they belong to someone else. I guess having my own someday would be all right.”
“But not an adopted one? That’s a pretty selfish attitude, Henry. I guess it’s a gut thing you decided to take up with Frannie, ain’t so?” Rosanna spun on her heel and raced away as fast as she could with a drowsy infant in her arms.
“She’ll do for now.”
Rosanna stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder. “Henry Zook, that’s an awful thing to say! I hope Frannie knows how you feel.” With that, she zoomed around the corner of the aisle. And to think she’d spent all that time talking to Henry and hoping he’d ask to take her home from a singing. Was she ever wrong!
She concentrated on not causing a scene. She would not stomp her feet or mutter aloud even if she did feel like doing both. How could Henry not feel kinner were a blessing regardless of the circumstances of their birth? Mollie was an extra special blessing, a gift. Rosanna hadn’t asked for a boppli or even thought about having one anytime soon, but when Mollie had appeared, she loved her from the start. In fact, she couldn’t love her more if she’d given birth to her.
Rosanna traveled up and down aisles of the store without seeing a single item on the shelves. Even the displays on the endcaps did not reach out and pull her from her thoughts. She would not give in to the tears that had collected in her eyes. She couldn’t be sure if they were tears of anger or disappointment or sadness. Whatever their origin, Rosanna refused to let them slide down her face.
She blew out a sigh and glanced down at Mollie, who stared at her with wide-open blue eyes. Rosanna’s speed walking must have roused her from her dozing state. Instantly Rosanna’s brow smoothed, and her lips curved into a smile. Mollie could always put her in a gut mood. She thanked the Lord Gott every day for blessing her with her precious little girl.
She wished she could forget Henry’s hateful words. Strange that she never picked up on his true character before. Maybe their conversations had been too superficial, or maybe he was extra gut at deception. Ready to take her home! Huh! And then what? Would he ever have revealed his hidden feelings? Thank You, Lord Gott, for sparing me the disappointment and heartache that surely would have occurred if I’d spent more time with Henry Zook.
Poor Frannie. Did she know the real Henry Zook? Perhaps she shared his sentiments about kinner. They had surely talked a lot more than she and Henry had. It would be interesting to see how that relationship played out.
Rosanna rounded another corner. The store wasn’t that huge. Where in the world were Mamm and Amy? Maybe she could ask Amy for the keys to the van so she and Mollie could wait there. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about confronting Henry again.
Ah! There! Mamm was rolling a half-filled shopping cart toward the checkout area. So much for batteries and cereal. Rosanna headed in the same direction and was especially glad to see Amy bent over to extract items from underneath her full cart. Maybe, just maybe, they would be able to exit the store before Henry reappeared.
Rosanna slunk down in the seat after fastening Mollie into the infant seat, hoping the high headrests would hide her from view. As the van got rolling, the motion and the hum of the tires lulled Mollie to sleep. The conversation between Mamm and Amy passed right over her head. Her brain kept replaying the run-in with Henry. Should she try to warn Frannie? Henry made it sound like he would stick with her until someone better came along. What an attitude to have! But if she said anything to the girl, she would think Rosanna was meddling or, worse yet, jealous.
“What’s wrong?” Sarah leaned around the infant seat to look Rosanna in the eye.
“Nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really. Why?”
“You’re drumming so hard on that door I doubt Amy can hear the music blaring from the speaker right beside her.”
“I’m not drumming.” Rosanna looked down at her fingers in midair, poised to strike again. “Oh, I guess I have a few things on my mind.” She dropped her hands to her lap.
Sarah cocked an eyebrow.
“It’s nothing important.” Not anymore, anyway.
“Okay, if you say so. I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know, Mamm, danki.”
* * *
Rosanna flew around the house sweeping, dusting, and polishing when she wasn’t playing with or tending to Mollie. After tucking the infant in for an afternoon nap, she dragged out cookie sheets and mixing bowls. She removed canisters of flour, sugar, and oats. She opened the gas-powered refrigerator to rummage around for eggs and butter.
“Do you want to tell me what’s troubling you?”
Rosanna backed away from the refrigerator and threw a quick glance at Sarah in the kitchen doorway before turning back to her task. “What makes you think there’s anything wrong?”
Sarah chuckled. “I know you too well, my dear. When you race through the house like a speeding freight train, I know you have something on your mind.”
Rosanna shrugged. She couldn’t decide whether to tell her mamm about her encounter with Henry or not. She wished she could forget about it. She scooped flour into a glass measuring cup and then dumped it in the sifter. She cranked the handle and watched the fine, powdery substance filter into the mixing bowl. If only she could sift the concerns from her mind as easily as she sifted lumps from the flour.
“Are you still thinking about Kandi’s possible plan?” Sarah scooted across the room to lay a hand on Rosanna’s shoulder.
“I suppose that will always be in the back of my mind as long as the chance she might take Mollie exists.”
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