Rosanna's Gift

by Susan Lantz Simpson

  “I can understand that.” Sarah patted the shoulder.

  “I only hope everyone sees that we are what is best for Mollie.” Rosanna dropped a stick of butter into an aluminum pan and set it on the stove to soften before measuring sugar and oats.

  “Didn’t you just bake cookies?”

  “Those were chocolate chip. Besides, nothing lasts for long in this house.”

  “Nothing sweet, anyway.” Sarah chuckled.

  * * *

  Rosanna was lifting the last batch of cookies from the baking sheets to the waiting cooling racks when she heard Mollie cooing in the cradle in the living room. How blessed she was to have a little one who always awoke in a pleasant mood. She remembered Sadie had not always done that. If she’d slept an extra-long time, she awoke quite cranky until her little tummy got full.

  Rosanna set her pan in the sink, wiped her hands on a dish towel, and hurried into the living room to coo back at Mollie. Soon her boppli would be too big for the cradle. She was growing so fast. Please, Lord, let me be the one to watch her crawl and walk and to hear her first words.

  She reached down to tickle the little girl before lifting her from the cradle. She hugged her close and kissed her. “I love you, Mollie. Let’s get you changed so you are comfortable enough to eat.” Rosanna talked to Mollie as she climbed the stairs and changed her. If she didn’t know better, she would say the infant understood every single word. She certainly listened intently and studied each of Rosanna’s facial expressions. Such a smart one!

  Near the bottom of the stairs, Rosanna’s ears picked up the sound of voices in the kitchen. Unless Mamm was talking to and answering herself, a visitor had arrived. Rosanna’s chatter to Mollie had completely blocked out any other sound. Who could be visiting so near supper time? Rosanna hurried to the kitchen. She could sit Mollie in her infant swing and start supper so Mamm could visit with her guest. She hadn’t quite reached the kitchen doorway when Mamm called out to her.

  “Rosanna, look who has kumm to visit you.”

  Me? Someone came to see me? Maybe Emma had dropped by hoping to see Tobias and used Rosanna as an excuse. She smiled. She was all set to tease Emma but stopped short right inside the kitchen.

  “Hi, Rosanna. And hi to you, too, Mollie.”

  “Hi, Paul.” Rosanna threw a questioning glance at Sarah, who shrugged her shoulders but offered a sly smile.

  “I’m sorry to stop by so close to supper time, but I was on my way home and wanted to find out how things went today.” Paul closed the gap between himself and Rosanna and reached out to tickle Mollie’s chin. He was instantly rewarded with a smile.

  “Why don’t you have a seat in the living room, Rosanna? I can get supper just fine.”

  “Okay.” Rosanna headed from the room with Paul right behind her.

  “May I hold Mollie? I think I brushed all the sawdust from the furniture shop off of me before I came in the house.”

  Rosanna stopped abruptly, causing Paul to nearly crash into her. She could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck. He grasped her shoulder to steady them both, sending a surprising electric jolt through her body. “I’m sure you’re fine.” She turned to hand Mollie to Paul and immediately missed the warmth of his hands when he reached out for the boppli.

  “My, you’re growing, little one.”

  Rosanna opened the woodstove in the living room to throw in a chunk of wood. She needed to do something with her hands to keep from picking at her nails. Why did she suddenly feel jittery? It must be her frayed nerves from the morning’s activities.

  “It’s nice and warm in here, ain’t so, Mollie?” Paul jostled the infant a bit. “Be glad you aren’t outside. I think the temperature has dropped ten degrees or more since this afternoon.”

  “Really? It was cold this morning, but not bad when we went to town. Kumm sit near the stove.” Rosanna sat in the old rocking chair, leaving the comfortable armchair for Paul and Mollie.

  Paul sat and rearranged Mollie on his lap. He chuckled. “I might get so comfortable I won’t want to go back outside. Were you able to see the lawyer today and get some answers?”

  “Jah. He said my papers are all in order and we’ll have to wait and see if Kandi files any petitions. If she does, they might have to determine which would be the best home for Mollie. I’m not really sure how it all works. I only know I can’t lose my little girl.” Tears sprang into Rosanna’s eyes.

  “Surely they will take Jane’s wishes into consideration.”

  “The lawyer said they would. I’m trying not to worry.”

  “But you still do. That’s natural, Rosanna. I don’t know Kandi, but what I’ve heard makes me absolutely sure your home would be a far better place for Mollie. You’re here with her all the time. You have your family to lend their support. They would have to decide in your favor.”

  “I sure hope so, but Kandi is a blood relative and that may carry some weight.”

  Paul stretched to pat Rosanna’s arm. “Think positive thoughts and keep praying.”

  “I’ve been praying. That’s for sure and for certain.”

  “And the positive thoughts?”

  “I’m working on that one.”

  Mollie’s gurgle drew their attention from such a serious subject. They both laughed at the little bubbles she blew and her obvious pleasure at her accomplishment.

  “She’s a charmer, ain’t so?” Paul tickled her again to elicit another giggle.

  “She certainly is.” Rosanna marveled at Paul’s ease with and genuine interest in Mollie.

  “Paul, would you like to stay for supper?” Sarah stood in the doorway drying her hands on a blue-checked dish towel. Her lips twitched as if she wanted to laugh or had some juicy secret.

  “Ach! I didn’t know it had gotten so late. I’d better be getting home, but I appreciate the offer.”

  Rosanna jumped up from her chair, threw her mudder a stern look, and reached down to lift Mollie from Paul’s arms. “It was nice of you to stop by, Paul.”

  “I wanted to make sure everything went all right today.” He glanced quickly toward the doorway, now empty, and back to Rosanna. “I care, you know.”

  His voice had dropped so low, Rosanna had to strain to hear his words. The scarlet tint on his handsome face told her she had heard him correctly. Heat inched its way up her own neck and face. Thank goodness Mamm had disappeared from the doorway. Rosanna hoped she had moved far enough away that she didn’t hear Paul’s comment. If she had heard it, the questions and comments would fly, and Rosanna had no desire to face that at the moment.

  A gentle touch on her arm brought her gaze up and up to meet Paul’s lovely hazel eyes.

  “I’ll be praying for you, Rosanna.”

  “I appreciate that, Paul.”

  “Will you attend the next singing? It would do you gut to get out.”

  “I-I’m not sure. You know, I-I don’t want to appear a bad mudder who leaves her boppli with others so she can have fun.”

  “You could never be a bad mudder. I understand, though, if you decide not to attend.” His momentary dejected look was replaced with hope. “Maybe I could visit you, then?”

  “Sure.” Rosanna tried to look away, but Paul’s eyes held her captive. “Uh, would you like some cookies for the ride home? I just baked oatmeal ones.”

  Paul’s face split into a wide smile. “That would be great. Oatmeal cookies are my favorite.”

  “I thought chocolate chip cookies were your favorite.”

  “True, but oatmeal cookies are my next favorite.”

  Rosanna burst out laughing and led the way to the kitchen.

  * * *

  The smile refused to slide from his face as Paul ambled to his gray buggy swinging a small paper bag full of oatmeal raisin cookies. Rosanna’s laughter rang in his ears like his favorite hymn from the Ausbund. She had answered favorably, sort of, his question about visiting. She’d said, “Sure,” so he’d take that as a positive response.

 
He’d carefully worded his request as a casual visit so he didn’t scare her off. If he’ d asked about a late-night appearance outside her window, she would have backed so far away from him she’d be standing in the next county. Wouldn’t she?

  Paul hopped into his buggy and shook the reins to get his horse clip-clopping toward home. Chores were waiting, and some were overdue. He hadn’t planned to stay so long at the Masts’ house. He’d simply lost all track of time. He always tended to do that in Rosanna’s presence. And Mollie’s, too. Paul hadn’t paid a lot of attention to little ones before, but Mollie captivated him. Sure, he played with various kinner at gatherings and after Sunday church services, but Mollie was totally different. Totally special.

  Paul had told Rosanna he would pray for her. And he would. He had been. He prayed Rosanna would not have to relinquish Mollie to the care of a woman who might not even be a fit parent. He asked the Lord Gott to keep Rosanna and Mollie safe and healthy. He asked the Lord Gott to remove Rosanna’s worry and to give her peace. And maybe it was selfish, but he prayed Rosanna’s heart would turn to him.

  As the buggy bumped along the dirt driveway toward his family’s big two-story home, a sudden inspiration struck him like a bolt of lightning zigzagging earthward from a black storm cloud. What if he and Rosanna were married? They’d have a stable home, complete with a mamm and daed. Rosanna wouldn’t be a single mudder. The officials would have to look favorably on that, wouldn’t they? Convincing Rosanna to cooperate with this half-baked plan might be a problem, though.

  Paul knew beyond the shadow of a doubt Rosanna would do anything for Mollie—maybe even agree to marriage. But he wanted Rosanna to marry him because she wanted to spend her life with him, not merely to present a perfect family image. He wanted her to love him as he loved her.

  Whew! Paul smacked his own forehead. That thought crept up on him out of nowhere. But, jah, he did love Rosanna Mast, and he desired, more than anything, to make her his fraa and Mollie his dochder.

  The horse had stopped beside the barn and was waiting for Paul to unhitch him. Paul hadn’t even noticed. He sat gasping and unable to force his legs to propel him from the buggy. That realization had rendered him breathless and motionless. Dear Gott, is it too much to ask that Rosanna see me as more than a freind?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Anybody home?”

  Rosanna heard the voice from where she sat in the rocking chair next to the living room stove with Mamm’s mending basket at her feet. Mollie had drifted off into her afternoon nap in the nearby cradle. Rosanna dropped the pair of James’ pants she’d been repairing and hurried toward the back door.

  “Emma! It’s gut to see you.”

  “Brrr! I’ll be glad when spring gets here.”

  “I’m afraid you’ll have a bit of a wait.” Rosanna wrapped her hand around Emma’s arm and tugged her freind closer to the big black woodstove. “Tobias is still at work, you know.” Rosanna couldn’t prevent a sly smile from curving her lips.

  “Ha! Ha! You’re so funny. For your information, I came to see you and that adorable little girl.”

  “Only Mollie is adorable? Not me?”

  “At the moment, nee. You’re mischievous.”

  Rosanna slapped a hand across her chest and gasped. “You wound me.”

  Emma giggled. “You’re certainly silly today. By the way, where is that adorable little girl?”

  “She’s taking a nap in the living room.”

  “Oops! I should be quieter, then.” Emma dropped her voice to a whisper.

  Rosanna chuckled. “It is very rarely quiet around here. Mollie is used to sleeping with all sorts of things going on in the background.”

  “If you say so.”

  “If you’ve warmed up, take off your cloak and sit a spell. Would you like some tea?”

  “A cup of hot tea would be great.” Emma untied her black bonnet.

  “Regular or herb tea?” Rosanna picked up the kettle and shook it to make sure it still contained enough water.

  “What kind of herb tea do you have?”

  Rosanna sorted through the boxes on a shelf. “Raspberry, mint, or orange. Unless you want chamomile so you can take a nap with Mollie.”

  “Raspberry will be fine.”

  Rosanna plopped a raspberry tea bag in one mug and a regular tea bag in another. “There are oatmeal cookies in the cookie jar, too. Help yourself.”

  “Did you make them?”

  “Jah.”

  “You always make the best cookies—a little soft, yet a little crispy. I don’t know how you do that.”

  Rosanna shrugged. “I don’t do anything special.” She poured steaming water into the mugs. “We can sit in here or in the living room.”

  “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Emma grabbed a handful of cookies before plunking down at the kitchen table.

  “Nothing that can’t wait. Mamm has gone to check on Becky and the twins, so I decided to start on the mending. I was just beginning to let out the hems on James’ pants. That bu is growing faster than a weed in the summer vegetable garden.”

  “I don’t want to keep you from your work.” Emma spoke around the huge bite of cookie in her mouth.

  “Trust me, I’d rather sit and talk to you.” Rosanna stirred a spoonful of sugar into her mug. “Do I owe this visit to anything special?”

  “Can’t I visit my best freind without a special reason?”

  “Of course you can. I only wondered if you had anything in particular you wanted to discuss while we had some time to ourselves.”

  Emma swallowed another bite of cookie and raised her mug to her lips. She quickly lowered it. “Oooh, that’s hot!”

  “Maybe that’s why it’s called hot tea.”

  Emma wrinkled up her nose. “I didn’t drop by to discuss anything in particular. I simply wanted to visit a bit.”

  “Okay. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “To save you from hemming James’ pants?”

  Rosanna laughed. “Well, that, too.”

  While the girls talked and laughed and munched cookies, Rosanna’s worries faded into the background. She couldn’t help but think how much fun it would be if Tobias and Emma ended up together. There wasn’t anyone else she’d like better for a schweschder-in-law. She couldn’t resist a little probing. “So, Emma, are you and Tobias, uh, interested in each other?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” The rosy spots that danced on Emma’s cheeks belied her words. “What about you and Paul Hertzler?”

  Now Rosanna squirmed. “Paul has been a great freind.”

  “Really? I think there’s more to it than that. I hear he’s even fond of Mollie.”

  “Where do you get such information?”

  “A little birdie told me.”

  “Well, don’t believe every little tweet you hear.”

  “I think Paul would be a perfect match for you.”

  “And I think Tobias would be a perfect match for you.”

  “Let’s call a truce.” Emma reached for the last cookie on her napkin. “I’ll finish my cookie, and then I’d better get home to help Mamm with supper.”

  “You’ll be too full of cookies to have any supper.”

  “I did eat quite a few of them, didn’t I?” Emma pushed a wisp of baby-fine, pale blonde hair off her cheek. “This hair of mine won’t stay where it belongs. I have a notion to cut off this misbehaving strand.”

  Rosanna laughed. “Then it would look all lopsided when you took it down.”

  “I’m the only one who would see it.”

  “For now. One day your husband will see your hair.”

  “It will have grown another foot by then.” Emma poked the last bite of cookie in her mouth before glancing up. “I’d better go. It’s too bad Mollie didn’t wake up. I would have liked to hold her.” Emma scooted her chair back from the table and stood. “Are you expecting company?”

  “Nee. Why?”

  Emma nodded toward the window directly acr
oss from her. “A car is driving up your driveway.”

  “A car?” Rosanna’s heart pounded like a jackhammer inside her chest. “A green car?”

  “Jah. An odd shade of green.” Emma turned away from the window to look at her freind. “Rosanna, what’s wrong? Your face is as white as freshly fallen snow.”

  “Kandi. It must be Mollie’s aenti.”

  “Maybe I should slip out the back door and cut through the woods.”

  “Stay. Please stay, Emma.”

  “Are you afraid of her?”

  “Not of her, but I am afraid to hear what she might say.” Rosanna jumped to her feet and glanced out the window. She didn’t need another look to be sure. “It’s her all right.”

  “I’ll stay, if you want.” Emma scooted next to Rosanna and squeezed her hand. “Ach! Your hand is like a block of ice. Didn’t the tea warm you up?”

  “It did, but my nerves just shot ice throughout my whole body.”

  “Everything will be all right.”

  “I hope so. That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I pray they are right. I wonder why she’s back again so soon.” If Rosanna’s heart beat any faster, she wouldn’t be able to catch her breath. She willed herself to calm down.

  “I guess we’ll find out what she wants in a minute.” Emma cast another glance toward the window. “She’s getting out of the car.” She looked back at Rosanna. “Breathe!”

  “I’m trying.” Rosanna lunged forward, dragging Emma with her.

  “What are you doing?” Emma stumbled behind Rosanna.

  “I want to catch her before she knocks on the front door. I’d rather she came in back here instead of where Mollie is napping.”

  “Okay. What kind of name is Kandi Kottyn?”

  “It’s probably her performing name or whatever they call it.”

  “Oh.” Emma raised up on tiptoe to peer out the window over Rosanna’s head. “Her hair kind of looks like cotton candy, ain’t so? It’s bushy and an unusual color.”

  Rosanna stifled a giggle. “I don’t think it’s her natural color. Hush, now. I’m going to let her in.”

  “This should be interesting.”