The Amish Baby Finds a Home

by Barbara Cameron

  “Well, we’re here,” she heard Eli say as she just sat there, making absolutely no move to get out of the buggy.

  John stirred, then woke. He let out an irritable cry.

  “It’s okay, sweetie. We’re here to see your grossmudder and Gideon,” she said as she got out and leaned in to get him out of his seat. She picked him up, touched her lips to his forehead, and let out a sigh of relief when it felt cool.

  “No fever,” she told Eli as she grabbed the diaper bag and looped it over her left arm.

  “Gut.”

  Emma felt her spirits rise as she walked with John toward the kitchen door at the back of the house. John swiveled his head from left to right as he stared wide-eyed at his surroundings.

  The kitchen door opened and Leah stepped out onto the porch. “Emma! Wilkuum!”

  Emma climbed the steps and watched Leah’s eyes widen as she caught sight of John.

  Leah gasped and pressed a hand to her mouth. “Look at him! Oh you sweet kind!! You look just like Eli did when he was a boppli!”

  John responded to the delight he heard in her voice and reached out his arms to her. Leah took him and pressed her cheek against his. Then she turned and walked into the house. “I got your dat’s highchair from the attic and cleaned it up for you to sit in,” she told him. “But I just want to hold you for a while.”

  “Hi, Eli, how are you?” Eli asked sardonically. “‘Gut to see you.’”

  “Tell me about it,” Gideon said from his seat at the kitchen table.

  Leah laughed as she sat and settled John on her lap. “There’s nothing more special than a kinskind.” She slipped John’s hooded sweater off and handed it to Eli. Then she looked at Emma. “Eli said John went to the doctor yesterday for an ear infection. I remember both my sohns getting them a few times. Miserable things.”

  “John’s always a happy boppli.” Emma set the diaper bag on a bench near the door and took off her jacket and bonnet. She was surprised when Eli took them from her and hung them on pegs over the bench. “That’s why he cried so much yesterday. Then he began tugging at his ear.”

  “Dead giveaway,” Leah said with a nod. “Have a seat. Supper’s almost ready.”

  Emma pulled out a chair and sat, relieved at how welcoming Leah was being. While she’d always been pleasant to her when she’d been invited to supper in the past, Emma couldn’t be blamed for being worried over Leah’s reaction to suddenly being presented with a grosssohn. But she couldn’t help feeling a little on edge wondering if Leah would ask if she and Eli intended to get married.

  The oven timer went off, startling John. Leah made a game of it, laughing and bouncing John when his lips trembled. “Eli, turn that off, please. Well, John, looks like I have to let you go.” She rose and put him in the highchair, nodding with satisfaction when he began banging the plastic spoon she gave him.

  “Can I help with anything?” Emma asked, watching as Gideon filled glasses with iced tea and set them on the table.

  “Nee, you just sit and get some rest,” Leah said, grabbing oven mitts and pulling out a roasting pan from the oven. “Eli, get the butter from the fridge.”

  Emma’s mouth watered as the scent of the golden brown chicken wafted toward her. Breakfast had been a quick bowl of cereal; lunch a quickly slapped-together sandwich of cold cuts and cheese she kept in the mini-fridge. She’d had Leah’s baked chicken before and it was worth whatever discomfort she might experience having supper tonight. She was hungry for a good homemade meal.

  Leah transferred the chicken to a platter and brought it to the table. She added a bowl of mashed potatoes and one of green beans. A basket of biscuits wrapped in a napkin to keep them warm completed the meal.

  Gideon sat at the head of the table and said the blessing and then carved the chicken with obvious experience. Eli sat at one side of John and tried to engage him but John had his eyes on Emma’s plate. She scooped a little mashed potato on a spoon and offered it to him and he eagerly took it and rolled it around in his mouth while he made the funny little noise he always did when he liked a food.

  “I can get him a little plastic bowl,” Leah said.

  Emma shook her head. “He won’t want much more. I fed him before we left.”

  John grinned with his mouth full. Emma knew she should tell him to close his mouth but he just made her laugh especially after worrying about him since he started acting sick.

  Leah kept the conversation going through supper, asking Emma questions about John and her life in Ohio. Emma noticed that Gideon didn’t say much. He got up before Eli did to clear the table—ever the responsible older bruder, she supposed—and after he ate dessert he excused himself to see to some paperwork.

  Was he leaving so that Leah could ask Emma and Eli what they planned to do? Emma wondered. She felt her stomach turn over.

  As Gideon walked past John’s highchair he made a funny face and John let out a high-pitched giggle and grinned.

  Leah’s fork clattered to her plate. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Look at him, Eli! He has that same dimple in his left cheek that your dat did! That you do!”

  She burst into tears, startling everyone in the room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gideon descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen. He inhaled the scents of coffee and bacon and eggs. What a nice surprise to find that his mudder had already gotten up and fixed breakfast. But she was nowhere in sight.

  Banging came from behind the door to the dawdi haus. He opened the door and found her pushing a sofa across the living room inside the small apartment.

  “What are you doing?” he cried, moving quickly to help her. “You’ll hurt yourself doing this.”

  They settled the sofa against one wall, and she stood back and surveyed it. “Looks better here. And it wasn’t that heavy.”

  He looked at her. She wore her oldest dress and a kerchief covered her hair. Dust spotted her apron.

  “What’s going on? Why are you cleaning in here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked, using a cloth to wipe down the coffee table in front of the sofa. “I’m going to be moving my things in here.”

  “Now?”

  She nodded.

  “There’s no reason for you to leave your bedroom upstairs,” he said, puzzled. “This is still your house. Eli and I told you that. Daed left us the farm but the house will always be yours to live in.”

  “That was two years ago, after your dat died,” she reminded him as she looked around. “Things have changed.”

  “What’s changed?”

  She tossed the cloth down on the coffee table and started for the kitchen. “I think I’ll take a break and have a cup of coffee before I do more work in here.”

  “Mamm, what’s changed?”

  She washed her hands and poured them both a cup of coffee. “Gideon, one or both of you will be getting married soon. It’s time for me to move into the dawdi haus. Eldres always move into the dawdi haus at some point when the grown kinner marry and take over the farm. You know that.”

  “Is Eli marrying Emma? Did they tell you that last night?”

  With a sigh she settled into a chair and took a sip of coffee. “I didn’t ask them. When I first came home Eli told me he intends to marry Emma, but he said she needs some time to trust him. So I didn’t say anything to her last night.”

  He took the covered plate sitting at the back of the stove and carried it to the table. When he lifted the cover he found bacon, two dippy eggs, and a couple of biscuits. “I schur have missed your cooking.”

  “Danki. And what about you?”

  “What about me?” he asked as he took a bite of eggs.

  “How are things with you and Hannah?”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine? That doesn’t sound gut.”

  He set his fork down. “John changed things.”

  “Go on.”

  “Daed left Eli and I the farm but we knew that whoever married first would live in the house,”
he said. “Obviously Eli will be marrying first, before Hannah and me.” He frowned. “If Hannah and I even get married now.”

  “Explain. Has something happened between the two of you?”

  Gideon shook his head. “I had it all planned out. I was going to marry Hannah and live in the farmhouse. But like I said, John changed everything. Now Eli and Emma will need the house. And so I don’t have anything to offer Hannah.”

  “You have yourself.”

  He pushed aside his plate, his appetite gone. “I wanted us to have our own home. And it doesn’t seem fair to stay here when Eli and Emma are newly married.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Neither of them would hear of you not doing so,” she said bluntly. “Now eat your breakfast and no more of such silly talk.”

  “It’s not silly talk.” He picked up his fork and resumed eating. “Do you think three women can live in one house and not have a problem with who runs it?”

  “I do. Probably get along better than the two of you men who still seem to be butting heads. I heard the two of you when I came home, remember?”

  He winced. “I just want Eli to do the right thing.”

  “I think he will. Gideon, there’s always another alternative. You and Hannah could stay at her house with her eldres.”

  “I know. But I hope—” Gideon broke off as Eli walked in.

  He watched his bruder take off his jacket and hat and go to the sink to wash his hands.

  “Ned’s leg looks fine this morning,” he told Gideon as he dried his hands on a dish towel. He poured himself a mug of coffee.

  “Gut.”

  Eli sat at the table. “What were the two of you talking about when I came in?”

  “Nothing important,” Gideon said quickly.

  “What is it you hope?” Eli persisted.

  “Your bruder said the two of you decided the first one that married would get the house. He seems to think if you and Emma get married you wouldn’t be comfortable with him and Hannah living here after they married until they got their own house.”

  “That’s crazy,” Eli said immediately. “What makes you think Emma and I will get married before you and Hannah?”

  Gideon just stared at him. “You have to marry Emma as soon as possible. You don’t want people from the church talking about her, shunning her.”

  Looking frustrated, Eli shoved a hand through his hair. “I can’t force her.”

  “Use that famous charm of yours,” Gideon said as he rose and carried his empty plate to the sink.

  “What about you?” Eli returned. “I swear, you move slower than molasses on a cold winter morning.”

  Gideon turned to his bruder. “John changes everything. Even in our community you know what people will say about him being born outside marriage. He deserves better. Emma deserves better. You need to marry her quickly and take responsibility for John.”

  He grabbed his jacket and hat. “I’m going to wait on the front porch for my ride.” He kissed his mudder’s cheek and left the room.

  Eli came out a few minutes later. “You forgot this.” He set Gideon’s lunch tote on the table between the two rocking chairs.

  “Danki.” Gideon stared out at the field to the side of the house.

  “A bit chilly out here.”

  “You don’t need to keep me company,” he said shortly.

  “I know John changes everything. I’m working on Emma.”

  The van pulled up in front of the house. Gideon rose, grabbed his lunch tote, then turned to Eli. “Work faster.”

  * * *

  Hannah could sense something was wrong with Gideon the moment she got into the van.

  “Good morning,” he said to her as he buckled his seat belt.

  It was his usual friendly greeting, but she knew him. She could tell something was bothering him, but she didn’t dare say anything.

  Instead, she smiled and made small talk as they rode toward town. There would be plenty of time to ask how things had gone the night before when Liz and the passengers she was picking up weren’t around.

  She managed to contain her curiosity until the van dropped them off at Gideon’s shop. She waited for him to unlock the door, and then followed him inside.

  “So how did it go last night?”

  “Hmm?” he asked as they moved to the back of the shop. He set his lunch tote in the refrigerator and moved to the sink to fill the percolator with water.

  Hannah put her purse and lunch tote on the table and took a seat.

  “Emma and John went to your house for supper last night, didn’t they? Your mudder met John for the first time, right?”

  “They did.”

  Was it her imagination that he seemed distracted? she wondered as she went behind him and turned the flame on under the percolator.

  “What happened?” She touched his arm and made him look at her. “What did your mudder think of John?”

  He smiled. “She loved him from the moment she saw him. But who doesn’t?”

  “That’s gut. And?”

  “And she fussed over him and we ate supper.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Gideon! This is like pulling teeth! Tell me what happened.”

  The percolator began burbling as he frowned and looked thoughtful. “It went well. Emma seemed comfortable. Mamm didn’t pressure her and Eli to get married, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Nee, I didn’t expect that. But there was no awkwardness? It couldn’t have been easy for your mudder to find out she had a grosssohn or for Emma to introduce him to her.”

  “You’re right. But Mamm welcomed Emma just like she always has. And then she took one look at John and had to hold him. It was love at first sight.” He leaned against the sink. “Who could resist John?”

  The rich scent of coffee filled the small space. When the percolator stopped, he turned the flame off and poured two mugs.

  She jumped, startled, when the shop phone rang. Gideon rushed to the front to answer it. Hannah picked up the two mugs and followed him.

  It was easy to tell who he was talking to when she set his mug on the front shop counter. He said, “Ya, Mamm” repeatedly and rolled his eyes when he saw Hannah watching him.

  Hannah pulled over a stool and sat, sipping her coffee.

  “She’s right here, Mamm. Maybe you’d like to talk to her yourself.” He handed the phone to her and picked up his mug.

  Wary, Hannah took the receiver from him. “Guder mariye, Leah.”

  “Guder mariye, Hannah. I just wanted to ask you if you could come to supper tonight.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Ya. If you’re not busy.”

  “Nee, I’m not busy.”

  “That’s wunderbaar. It’ll be nice to see you again. Have a gut day!”

  Before she could return the sentiment the line went dead. Hannah handed Gideon the phone. “Why is she inviting me to supper?”

  “I have no idea. What did she say?”

  “That it would be nice to see me again.”

  He nodded. “I don’t think it’s anything more than that. She asked me about you last night. Said she’d missed you while she was gone.”

  “I missed her, too. I like your mudder. Always have.”

  Gideon stared into his coffee, then looked at her. “Hannah, do you think I’m slow?”

  “Slow?” Puzzled, she stared at him.

  “I don’t mean like I’m dumb.” He frowned. “Eli said I move slow as molasses on a cold winter morning.”

  “That’s not true.” She studied him, sensing that it wasn’t a simple question. That his bruder’s words had hurt. “You’re a planner. You think ahead. That’s a gut thing, not a bad one.”

  He appeared to think it over, then leaned forward to take her hand. Just as he opened his mouth there was a sharp rap on the shop door.

  “It’s Officer Tate.” Hannah jumped up and went to the door to open it. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, Hannah, Gideon. I thought I
might find you here, Hannah.”

  “Can I get you some coffee?” Gideon asked her.

  “No, thanks, I’ve had two cups already this morning.” She turned to Hannah. “I have some good news for you.”

  “You do?”

  The officer nodded. “Are you opening your shop soon?”

  “Yes. I was just having some coffee with Gideon but I can come now.” She walked over to the counter and picked up her purse and lunch tote. “I’ll see you later, Gideon.”

  They left the shop and Hannah started to ask what the good news was but then she looked ahead and saw the teenager who she’d suspected had stolen her bank deposit envelope. He sprawled on the bench in front of her shop with his legs stretched out casually. An older woman stood next to him, her arms crossed over her chest, frowning and saying something to him Hannah couldn’t hear.

  Hannah stopped and looked at Officer Tate, who grinned. “Someone has something he wants to tell you. I think you’ll be happy to hear what he has to say.”

  Hannah began walking again, and as she drew closer she saw the teenager glance in her direction and look sulky.

  “You remember what I said,” his mother said sharply.

  He straightened and the sulky expression vanished.

  “Ms. Troyer, this is Jamie Mattson and his mother, Ms. Mattson.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she said politely. “Please, come inside.” Hannah unlocked the door, held it open, then turned on the lights. She walked over to the counter and set her things down.

  “I’m sorry I took your money,” Jamie said as he handed over an envelope.

  Surprised, Hannah took it. “Thank you for returning it.”

  “You might want to count it to make sure it’s all there,” his mother said, giving him a stern look.

  “There’s no need for that,” she assured the woman. “I’m sure it is.” She looked at the boy. “Thank you for returning it, Jamie.”

  “I would suggest that he come in and help you with some chores around the store like sweeping, but I can’t imagine that you would be able to trust him,” Ms. Mattson said.

  “It’s enough that he returned it,” Hannah told her quietly. “And he’s said he’s sorry.”