“Just a sandwich or two.” He ladled the steaming soup into a bowl. “And you did the dishes!”
“This house needs a woman’s touch.” Jane lifted the bouncy seat on the table and laid Mercy in it. “There, liebling, now you can watch as we eat.”
“Was she good this morning?”
“Like gold. She’s such a sweet baby.”
Levy closed his eyes for a silent prayer, then swallowed a spoonful. “It was Gott’s will you got stranded at that train station. Already I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
For just a moment, Jane’s heart gave a thump. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t let herself become attracted to Levy. She wouldn’t. “I’m grateful for the job.” Her remark was deliberate, to remind Levy she worked for him and nothing else.
“Mercy seems happy too.” He toyed with the baby’s feet, encased in thin flannel socks. “Maybe she knows she’s no longer subject to a fumbling bachelor’s care. How late can you work?” he added.
“What time do you normally finish working outside?”
“Dinnertime, though I often do an hour or two of accounting afterward.”
“Maybe I should put it this way—what time do you feel up to taking over Mercy’s care?”
He rubbed his chin, a look of frustration darkening his blue eyes. “To be honest, I don’t feel up to it at all, but I know that’s not a realistic attitude. I can’t keep you here around the clock.”
“I wasn’t joking about offering baby lessons, if you really want them.”
“I don’t have a choice at this point, especially since I plan to keep her.”
“But for the time being, how about I stay until after dinner? I don’t mind cooking.”
“Danke. Since you didn’t sign up for cooking meals, I can pay you a bit extra.”
“Can you afford it?” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “That was rude. I’m sorry. Your finances are none of my business.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll manage.”
“Then ja, danke. And in addition to cooking, I can do housekeeping—laundry and dishes and tidying up.”
“I think we’ll get along together well. I’m grateful, Jane.”
“Forget the gratitude and just show me where you keep your washing machine. I’ll do a load of laundry this afternoon.”
The swing-handled nonelectric washing machine was stored in a shed off the back porch. After Levy went back to work, Jane fed Mercy, changed her diaper then strapped the baby back in her bouncy seat on the porch. Jane sang as she washed a load of diapers, more for Mercy’s sake than her own. Then she washed some of Levy’s clothes and hung them to dry on the clothesline.
“Come on, liebling, let’s go look at your uncle’s garden and see what we can find to make dinner.” She lifted the baby over her shoulder, picked up a large basket and walked out to the gated space filled with vegetables.
However messy Levy’s house had been, his garden was a thing of beauty, tidy and weeded. Jane spied the prolific zucchini and decided to make zucchini casserole for dinner. She filled her basket with four of the green squashes, then dug up a couple of onions and some garlic. Back in the house, she had the casserole assembled within a few minutes and popped it into the oven to bake.
Mercy started to fuss, so Jane eased the baby onto her shoulder and sat down in the rocking chair, humming lullabies and rocking the child. The afternoon was warm and Jane was tired. Her humming grew slower and softer.
Next thing she knew, she blinked her eyes open to see Levy standing nearby.
“Oh.” She felt her face grow warm. “I must have fallen asleep.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“The casserole...!” The infant gave a small start at Jane’s small cry of alarm but didn’t wake up.
“It’s out of the oven and on the warming rack.”
She settled back into the chair and shook her head. “I can’t imagine why I did that, falling asleep on the job, I’m so sorry...”
“Jane, I can see how much work you’ve done this afternoon. Don’t apologize.” He grinned. “It was actually rather a sweet sight, coming in to find you both asleep.”
Her face flushed warmer. “Ja, well, I’ll just go put Mercy in her crib.”
She stood up and kept the infant cradled on her shoulder, but the moment she stepped foot in the kitchen, she stopped in her tracks. “What on earth...”
“I’m not a total klutz in the kitchen.” Levy chuckled.
The table was neatly set for two, and the casserole was covered and on the stove’s warming rack.
“You didn’t have to do this...” she began.
“Why not? Stop feeling guilty, Jane. It didn’t take me long.”
She nodded and disappeared into the bedroom to lay Mercy in her crib. She took a few deep breaths before leaving the room. Falling asleep her first day on the job—how embarrassing.
When she reemerged, Levy dished up the food and filled the plates. Jane bowed her head for grace, then reached for her fork. “Your garden is beautiful. After seeing the state of your house, I didn’t expect it to be so nice.”
“Ja, I’m more of an outdoorsman than an indoor one. I can weed all day, but I don’t see anything that needs doing inside.”
“Which is why everything was so thick with dust.” Jane swallowed a bite. “But it will be easier to keep up now that I cleaned everything.”
“Oh, did you clean everything?”
She chuckled. “Typical man who doesn’t see dust bunnies until they’re big enough to bite. Don’t worry, I took care of them.”
“And you did laundry too. And made lunch and dinner. And took care of Mercy.”
“And you worked in the fields all day. We both have our jobs, then.”
“Still, you seem like a very organized person.”
Jane’s smile faded. “I’ve been told I’m a very useful person.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
“Nein... Nein, I guess not.” Unless it came from the man she loved. She shoved the thought of Isaac behind her. “So I guess I’ll accept being useful.”
“Being useful has its advantages.”
“And it’s what I’m good at. I try not to be bitter about it.” She hadn’t meant to be so open with Levy.
He raised his eyebrows. “Bitter? Why would you be bitter about something like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Does this reference have to do with your mysterious past that we talked about yesterday on the way home from the train station?”
“Maybe.” She rose, trying not to feel flustered. “Are you finished? I’ll wash up before I head home.”
“You’re changing the subject, but that’s okay. I’ll take advantage of the baby sleeping and start my accounting work.”
As Jane washed and rinsed bowls and cutlery, she found herself grateful for Levy’s restraint. He clearly wanted to know about her past, but didn’t probe. Levy was the last person she wanted to learn about her background.
With just two people to feed, dishes took only a few minutes. Jane peeked in at the baby and found her still sleeping. She frowned and wondered if such solid napping this late in the afternoon meant Levy might be in for a long night with a wide-awake infant. She’d have to work harder to get little Mercy on a better sleep schedule.
“I’ll head home now,” she announced to Levy. Late-evening sunshine poured into his office window.
He looked up from a scattering of papers, pen in hand. “Vielen Dank for everything you did today, Jane.”
“I’ll be here around seven o’clock tomorrow morning. But since tomorrow is Friday, I should let you know I was invited to attend a barbeque tomorrow evening. It would be a good chance for me to get to know some of the young people around here.”
He frowned. “Fridays are b
usy for me, since that’s the day I prepare for the farmer’s market.”
“Well, I’ll be here all day. I’ll just be leaving a bit early, is all.”
He looked doubtful. “All right, then. Good night.”
Why would Levy seem unhappy that she had a social event planned? Jane wondered at his odd reaction. She walked back to her aunt and uncle’s house and found them relaxing with hot cocoa and the Budget newspapers on the front porch.
“How did your first full day of work go?” asked Catherine.
“Fine.” Jane plopped down in a spare rocking chair and sighed. “And I got a raise, so to speak. Levy’s house was a mess, so he offered me extra pay to add cooking and housekeeping duties in addition to watching the baby.”
Catherine chuckled. “He’s had his hands full, no doubt.”
“Why isn’t anyone else helping him?”
“I think it just hadn’t gotten to that point yet,” her aunt replied. “He was obviously going to need help the moment Eliza sent the baby to him, but I think he had a crazy idea he could do it all himself. Now he’s finding he can’t, and that’s just when you arrived.”
“I think Levy doesn’t believe me when I say she’s easy to care for, though my arms got a little tired with carrying her so much.”
“Would you like a baby sling?” Catherine asked. “I still have one tucked away.”
“Ja, I’d forgotten about those! That would be wonderful.”
Catherine disappeared for a few minutes, then came back out to the porch carrying a soft cotton garment. “You remember how to wear this, right?”
“I think so.” Jane slipped the sling over her shoulder and mimed cradling an infant in it. “I’m surprised you still have this.”
“It’s been a while since I used it, but with three grandchildren so far, I still use it occasionally. Remember, until she’s old enough to sit up, you carry the baby either like this, or like this.” Catherine demonstrated infant positions.
Jane nodded and copied her actions. “This will help a lot, since it means I can carry Mercy while working around the house. Levy did tell me I was free to bring her here, or go anywhere I want with her too.”
“Then that sling will be useful everywhere.”
Jane winced at the term useful but didn’t say anything. Instead, she looked over the peaceful lawn illuminated by late-evening sun and sighed. Overall she was glad to be here in Grand Creek. But was this the best place for her? Only time would tell.
* * *
When she arrived at Levy’s the next morning, she found him outside near the barn constructing something. Mercy was strapped into her bouncy seat nearby.
“Guder mariye.” Without asking, Jane removed the infant from the seat and lifted her into her arms.
“Guder mariye.” Levy stopped working and fished out a red bandanna to wipe a trickle of sweat from beneath his straw hat. “Ach, it’s going to be a hot day. Already the sun is warm.”
“What are you building?”
“Remember those boxes I picked up at the train station? It’s a new booth for the farmer’s market.” He pocketed the bandanna. “Just confirming, you said you can work on Saturdays, ja?”
His eyes had dark circles around them, and Jane wondered how many times he’d gotten up with the baby. But she frowned. Just how much time was this job going to entail? Would she ever have a day off?
“I can work Saturday,” she assured him. “And perhaps in exchange I can take a day off during the week.” She paused as he looked unhappy. “Levy, I can’t work here every day, all day. I have a life too.”
“Ja, I know.” The strain increased on his face. “Though I work every day, and I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”
“You may have to hire someone else for the days I take off.”
“Maybe.” He didn’t look happy as he glanced upward at his construction project. “This is almost finished. I’ll spend the rest of the day picking and crating up the produce I’ll sell tomorrow.”
“What will you sell?”
“Corn, onions, garlic, some late strawberries, raspberries—lots of raspberries, they’re peaking now—tomatoes, lettuce, spinach...” he continued, ticking down the list of foods.
“Definitely sounds like you have a full day ahead of you.” Jane glanced at the baby. “Will it be convenient for me to leave by six o’clock tonight so I can make it to the barbecue?”
He shoved a crate. “Why are you going to that?”
She arched her eyebrows at the question. “That’s kind of rude. Why shouldn’t I go? I think it’s important to meet others in the community.”
He frowned. “Seems a very frivolous thing to do.”
“Fortunately, it’s not your place to dictate what I can and cannot do.” Jane’s voice was tart.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, but remained silent.
Jane knew he was tired. “I can work tomorrow, don’t worry.”
Levy just nodded and went back to his work.
She didn’t see him until lunchtime. She caught glimpses of him outside, picking corn or gathering tomatoes or plucking raspberries.
“Do you need help?” she asked, as he wolfed down the grilled cheese sandwiches she’d made for lunch. “It’s an awful lot of work for one man to do alone.”
“You’re helping enough, trust me.” He wiped his mouth and gulped the milk from his glass. He glanced at the clock. “Back to work.”
It was her first glimpse into the heavy schedule Levy set himself. All day long, he picked fruits and vegetables and hauled them back to the cool barn. The delicate raspberries he brought into the house, and Jane put them down in the basement. Levy didn’t complain about the workload, but Jane could tell he was stressed.
She did a load of laundry, gave the house a quick dusting and sweeping, made a hearty dinner, washed the dishes and made sure Mercy was bathed and diapered.
“Don’t forget,” she reminded him toward evening. “I’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”
“Oh that’s right.” He made a face of dismay. “That means I’m back to taking care of the baby.”
“I know you’re busy, but ultimately she’s your responsibility, not mine.” Jane tried not to let her temper rise. “I can’t work all the time.”
“Well, I work all the time.”
She lifted her chin. The martyr act wouldn’t work on her. “That’s your choice. Now, what time do you need me here tomorrow?”
“Early, if you can. The farmer’s market opens by nine o’clock, so I plan to leave here by seven at the latest. You’ll have to pack a diaper bag for her...”
“Diaper bag?” Jane raised her eyebrows. “You mean I’ll be working the market with you? I thought I’d just stay home with the baby. Wouldn’t that be easier?”
“Surprisingly, no. A second pair of hands is best, if for no other reason than the occasional break.” He offered a thin smile.
Quickly, she adjusted her thinking. Working at a farmer’s market actually sounded like fun. “I’ll be here by six thirty then. That way I can handle the baby while you pack the wagon.”
His nod was curt. “Danke.”
“Good night, Levy.” She handed him Mercy.
Her annoyance faded as she walked back toward her aunt and uncle’s. His apparent objections to her attending the barbecue seemed deeper than mere inconvenience regarding childcare or a busy schedule. Was there a problem with the youngies in town? Instinct told her it was something more. She wondered if she’d ever learn what it was.
* * *
As Levy watched Jane walk away, he couldn’t shake the eerie feeling he was watching his sister walk away to attend a youngie event. Eliza had always been keen to get away from him, from her home, from her responsibilities. For a fraction of an instant, he saw his sister’s retreating figure instead of Jane’s.
&
nbsp; Then he shook his head and snapped out of it. It was unfair to project his worries over Eliza’s fate on the woman who had kindly taken on the chore of caring for her baby. Jane was nothing like his sister. She was steady, levelheaded and incredibly efficient.
For once, Mercy lay quiet in his arms. He looked down at her tiny face, trying to see his sister in her features, wondering where Eliza was and if she missed her baby.
Then he looked up, but Jane had already disappeared down the road. He was glad she was coming to the farmer’s market with him tomorrow—for deeper reasons than merely caring for the baby.
He didn’t want to examine those deeper reasons. Not yet.
Chapter Four
That evening, as Jane got ready for the barbecue, she tried not to be annoyed at Levy. He was stressed, no question. Most Amish men worked hard, but it seemed to her Levy worked too hard. It was tough enough to operate a small farm solo. Throw in the complication of an abandoned baby, and it was a recipe for strain and pressure.
Her thoughts went to the barbecue and all the people she would meet.
“Are you nervous?” Catherine asked.
“Ja, maybe.” Jane washed her face and tidied her hair at the kitchen sink as her aunt lingered nearby. “Back home, I knew everyone. Here I don’t. It’s just something I have to face, getting used to a new crowd.”
“They’re a nice group.” Catherine handed Jane her kapp. “I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
“Except I’ll feel guilty all evening, leaving Levy in charge of Mercy. He wasn’t happy about it.” Jane pinned on her kapp and slipped a clean apron over her dress.
“He’s going to have to get used to caring for her, that’s all there is to it.” Her aunt gave her directions to the host farm. “Have fun at the barbecue, lieb.”
“Danke.” Jane kissed her aunt’s cheek and set off down the road.
The farm hosting the barbecue was a mile away. Catherine had told her the Yoder family, with four teenagers still at home, enjoyed hosting youngie events. Already dozens of people were gathered in the front yard under the shade trees. Jane thought she was looking forward to the event, but now that it was at hand, she wondered if she would fit in. It was one thing to grow up in a community and know everyone since birth. But she knew no one here. She shoved her glasses higher on her nose, took a deep breath and walked on.
Amish Baby Lessons Page 4