A Baby for Hannah (23 page)

“I’ll ask Jake, but I don’t think he’ll care either way.”

“Then it’s up to you,” Dr. Lisa said, “which is how it should be. Are all your Amish men so agreeable?”

“Mostly,” Hannah said, smiling. “But Jake is special, of course.”

“I’m sure he is,” Dr. Lisa said. “So will it be a boy or a girl? I can put you on the ultrasound and find out.”

“No,” Hannah said quickly. “I don’t want to know.”

“Really?”

“
Jah
, I want the birth to be a surprise like it used to be for my mom.”

“Okay, whatever you want, but if there are complications, I’ll need to look. I guess I don’t have to tell you though.”

“That’s fine. Are there complications?” Hannah asked, her eyes searching Dr. Lisa’s face.

“None that I can find. I’ll take a look at the blood test and be back in a minute. You can go ahead and get dressed.”

Hannah stared at the closed door. It was so
gut
to feel the peace flooding her heart. That must be the grace of God because Dr. Lisa had said there could be complications even though there were none obvious at the moment. She took a deep breath. Her
bobli
would be okay. He was in the hands of
Da Hah.
What to do about the midwife could be decided later. Dr. Lisa would show her the birthing room when it was time. Hannah sat upright on the examining table. It would take time to notify the midwife, if that was what Jake and she decided. And the midwife might have a very busy schedule. She stepped down from the table and quickly got dressed.

The door opened again, admitting a calm-faced Dr. Lisa.

“Everything’s fine, Hannah,” Dr. Lisa said. “And I see no reason why it shouldn’t stay so.”

“What about a due date?” Hannah asked. “I was thinking the end of November or so.”

“I think you’re about right,” Dr. Lisa said. “But I don’t need to tell you that babies have minds of their own. We understand that and will work accordingly.”

“Then I’d better have you show me the birthing room,” Hannah said. “I think I need to make up my mind about the midwife.”

“Sure,” Dr. Lisa said. “The nurse can take you to the back of the clinic. I hope you like what you see. We try to take good care of our patients and the babies they bring into the world.”

“I’m sure you do,” Hannah said, standing and following Dr. Lisa into the hallway.

“Wait a minute here,” Dr. Lisa said, disappearing around the corner. She was back quickly with Sally in tow.

“Here I am again,” Sally said. “Dr. Lisa tells me you want to see the birthing room.”

“If it’s not too much bother.”

“Not in the least. Come, I’ll show you.”

“You take care now,” Dr. Lisa said, patting Hannah on the shoulder.

“Thank you,” Hannah said before following Sally down the long hallway. Toward the back, Sally held open a door, motioning for Hannah to go first. Stepping into a spacious open room, Hannah paused to look around.

“It’s quite homey,” Sally said, standing beside her. “Dr. Lisa wanted an outdoor atmosphere, so she went all out with the shrubs and small trees. I told her she’d soon have a forest growing in here. All we lack is a little river.”

“And wild animals,” Hannah said with a laugh. “No bears?”

“Bears. Now that’s funny. No, there certainly aren’t any bears in here—unless you count the husbands. They can get a little bearish at times, but we have a room for them if they get out of hand.”

“Oh,” Hannah laughed. “Do you really?”

“No, actually I was teasing. We want the husbands to stay with their wives and supply all the support they can. There is a Lamaze class most of the couples take, and they arrive well-prepared, believe me.”

“What’s a Lamaze class?”

“It’s where an instructor walks the couples through the pregnancy and birthing time, teaching breathing and relaxation methods they can use when their time comes.”

“I can’t imagine Jake doing that.”

“Oh, most husbands get used to the idea, although it’s not for everyone, I suppose. And over there are the post delivery rooms, two of them at present on either side of the birthing room. We want you to feel comfortable during and after the birth.”

“I see,” Hannah said, glancing into the rooms. Plants were placed in each corner of the room, with smaller ones in front.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Sally said moments later, leading the way back to the front of the building.

“It’s very outdoorsy,” Hannah said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll have to think about this.”

“Take your time,” Sally said, motioning with her hand toward the front desk. “The receptionist will have your bill, Mrs. Byler, and make your next appointment.”

“Thanks,” Hannah said, walking to the front and waiting until the receptionist glanced up.

“That will be one hundred seventy-five dollars for your first visit,” she said.

“Okay,” Hannah said, writing out the check. Thankfully there was plenty of money in the checking account, but this was still a lot. Jake wouldn’t object, and neither would she. Any money they spent on their children would be well worth it and then some.

“Thank you,” the receptionist said, taking the check. “And your next appointment will be in six weeks. Same time?”

“
Jah
,” Hannah said. “That will be just fine.”

Twenty-Four

Hannah listened for the sound of Jake’s buggy wheels in the driveway, glancing frequently out the kitchen window. The line of canned peaches stood on the counter, cooling in the late-day breeze. Jake wasn’t usually late, but there were plenty of reasons he could have been detained. A customer might have come in at the last minute, or he might have needed to go over the work schedule with Mr. Brunson. With the way work was picking up, either option was possible. But Jake would be home soon.

Placing the potatoes and meat back into the oven, Hannah added a piece of wood to the stove and closed the vents a little. Walking into the living room, she glanced out the front window as Mr. Brunson’s pickup truck rattled past in a small cloud of dust. He glanced toward the house but didn’t wave.
So Jake’s delay isn’t Mr. Brunson,
Hannah thought.

Walking back to the desk, she sat down and picked up the mail. She laid the copy of
The Budget
aside, her eyes drawn to the letter addressed to Jake. It had to be from his mother, but why hadn’t she addressed it to Jake
and
Hannah Byler?
Jah, Jake is her son, but I’m his wife.

Likely it meant nothing, as Jake had written to his mom, and there was no need to imagine things on top of whatever feelings might already be between Jake and his parents. It could be anything. Farmers got busy with their work, and Jake came from a large family. Considering he’d asked his parents if there was some kind of problem between their families, perhaps this letter would shed light on the subject.

Why not open the letter and see what Jake’s mom wrote?
Hannah debated the idea.
Would Jake care? Hardly—and he will share the letter with me anyway
. Hannah picked up the letter and then laid it back down again. There was nothing to gain from reading it now. She glanced back into the kitchen and then over at the living room clock. If Jake didn’t come soon, something would have to be done about the food.

Hannah paused, listened again, and raced back to the window.
Jah,
it was Jake coming up the lane, pushing his horse hard. She ran out on the porch and then toward the barn as he pulled up there.

“Well,” Jake said, as Hannah greeted him with a hug, “what a welcome. I take it there’s good news?”

“Really good news. Everything is going well with the baby.”

“That
is
good news!” Jake said with a big smile. “Soon you’ll be a mother—and a wonderful one at that.”

“And you a wonderful dad.”

“I’m sorry about being late,” Jake said, unhitching Joel. “I couldn’t resist and stopped to talk with Ben Stoll at the meeting site. They were just done setting the tent up.”

“I saw them working on it,” she said, leading the horse out of the shafts. “So what happened? Did talking to him do any good?”

“No, but I had to try.”

“Did he say anything to change your mind about excommunication?”

“Well, I’m even more convinced now that they shouldn’t be,” Jake said, taking the reins from her hands.

“New reasons that Bishop John will understand?”

“I hope so, but I’ll explain when I get through putting Joel in his stall and feeding both horses.”

Hannah watched Jake disappear into the barn, his shoulders slumping. He probably didn’t even realize it, as dedicated as he was to his duty. Oh why did this have to fall on his head? Yet if
Da Hah
willed this, He must also be willing to give grace. And Jake needed a wife who was strong, not one who complained. A complainer would only make things worse.

Walking quickly back to the cabin, Hannah went into the kitchen and began setting the food on the table. Thankfully it was still warm. Closing the oven door, she sat down at the table and waited. Jake came in through the kitchen doorway, giving her a warm smile before going to the wash basin. She listened to the soft splashes of water, allowing the sound to flow over her. How
gut
it was to have a man in the house, and a man like Jake. The sounds ceased for long moments before his slow steps came toward the table.

“Supper looks wonderful,” Jake said, pulling out his chair and sitting down.

“I tried to keep the food warm, as you deserve a hot supper.”

“I’m the one who didn’t come home on time, and I’ll gladly eat your food, hot or cold.”

He bowed his head, and she did likewise. When Hannah opened her eyes, Jake still had his head down, faint lines of weariness on his face. She watched him until he looked up and smiled sheepishly.

“I’m just tired, I guess,” he said, reaching for the food.

“There’s a letter from your mother on the desk.”

“Oh!” His face brightened. “What does it say?”

“I didn’t open it.”

“But you could have.”

“Perhaps, but I think you’d better. It was addressed to you only.”

“Do you think Mom has something bad to say?”

“Not really. I just wasn’t comfortable opening a letter not addressed to me. I don’t want to cause problems.”

“You don’t cause problems. You know that. Mom and Dad probably just have a lot on their minds. I don’t think there’s anything going on beyond that.”

“I hope that’s all,” Hannah replied.

“I’m sure it is,” Jake said, taking large bites of food. “Do you want to hear about my talk with Ben Stoll?”

“Of course. Tell me.”

“Ben’s not backing down one bit. He still claims that the meetings are not really about the Amish, that they are about reaching the lost and dying in the world.”

“So why is he having them
here
? He must know that our community might be tempted to come hear him. Especially since so many people know him.”

“That’s what I asked him again, and he said that was actually the reason they’re beginning here. He said this is his home, and the Bible says we should start preaching in Jerusalem.”

“What does that mean?”

“I guess the disciples began preaching in their home area of Jerusalem, and Ben is applying the same principle. Or so he thinks.”

“And what do you think?”

“That he’s after us.”

“So do I.”

“He asked us to attend again, Hannah. Ben said that if we don’t, it will be a sign to him that we’re close-minded and unwilling to entertain any ideas other than Amish ones.”

“But I don’t think it’s close-minded to say we’re happy being Amish and don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t either.”

“With how you preach, Jake, even Bishop John said the Mennonite churches would snap you right up if you showed any interest.”

“Well, not quite in those words,” Jake said, laughing. “But you don’t have to worry. We’re not leaving the Amish.”

“Then we’re not going to the tent meetings, are we?”

Jake chewed slowly, his eyes on his plate.

When he didn’t answer, Hannah said, “We can’t, Jake. First, what would Bishop John say? And what about me? How could I stand going to a Mennonite tent meeting? I’ve never been to such a thing in my life. What if they deceive us just by getting us to walk in the tent door?”

Jake smiled. “I don’t think they’re
that
deceiving. And I really don’t know if we should go. I’m still thinking about it. It’s just that Ben got under my skin.”

“Then you shouldn’t talk to him anymore. You don’t have to prove anything to Ben or Sylvia. You know what you believe, and so do I.”

“I know, but now you see why I don’t think an excommunication would help. It would just make Ben even more sure that we’re acting out of fear. He might even get bolder than what he is now.”

“I sure hope Bishop John agrees with you.”

“So do I,” Jake said. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“I still think you’re right,” she said, stroking his hand.

When they had finished eating, Jake rose, leaned over to kiss Hannah on the forehead, and then carried his plate to the counter.