A Gathering of Memories (4 page)

Amy was ready to ask if there was anything Mandy needed when her new houseguest turned to her with an unreadable look on her face.

“Who else stays in here?” Her voice and face did nothing to betray her tenseness, but her stance was almost that of one who expected a blow.

“No one. The room is yours.”

“What about you, I mean, I didn’t notice a fourth bedroom up here.”

“We’re downstairs, the door near the foot of the stairs. Mandy, is there something wrong, I mean with the room, that you’re not comfortable?”

“No, I just wasn’t expecting, I mean, a room all to myself is a new experience.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy it and please, like I told your sisters and brothers, don’t hesitate to ask if you need something. I’ll go now and let you get settled.”

Amy started for the door but then came back and put her hands on Mandy’s arms. “I want you to know how sorry I am about your mother. I won’t keep bringing it up because I know how painful it is, but if you ever want to talk, I’m a good listener.” Amy drew Mandy into her arms and hugged her before exiting and closing the door behind her.

Amy wondered as she descended the stairs if her legs were going to give out under her. She found Silas in the kitchen and walked straight into his arms. He felt her tremble and held her tightly against his chest.

“Did you see their faces?” Amy finally asked.

“Yes.” Silas was thankful as he answered that Amy had not seen where they lived.

“I hugged Mandy, and Silas, there is nothing to her. We seem to be the same height but she must be 20 pounds lighter.”

“You can begin changing that tonight at our table.” He sounded very confident and indeed he was. He had been sure of God’s leading, even though everything had moved so swiftly, especially going for the children. The more time he spent with them the more he believed that he and Amy had been given a special job from the Lord. A job that would definitely change the quiet way they lived and could very well break their hearts. But it was what God called them to do at this time and they would do it.

The five objects of Silas and Amy’s thoughts were all gathering in Mandy’s room. Mandy had sunk down to the floor and leaned against the wall after Amy left. She was lost in her thoughts when the door opened quietly and Rebecca came in. Mandy held out her arms and Rebecca went into her big sister’s lap. The boys came next, sitting down in front of her so their legs touched hers through her skirt. Carrie came last and put Mandy’s few things on the bed before taking a spot against the wall, her shoulder against Mandy’s.

“Did you get your things put away?” The question was directed to Levi.

“Yeah. There’s hooks in the closet and we hung stuff in there.”

“How about you, Becca?”

“Carrie did it.”

“Where’s their bedroom?” Carrie asked.

“Downstairs—and
their
names are Silas and Amy.”

“Do we call them Silas and Amy?” Levi sounded incredulous.

“I think so. It’s the way they’ve introduced themselves, but maybe we should say Mr. and Mrs. Cameron until we have permission.”

“I think Mrs. Cameron is pretty.”

“Oh, Carrie, you’re so dumb!”

“Yeah, dumb, Carrie.”

“Levi and Clovis, you stop that right now! We are guests in this house and you will mind your manners or I promise you a licking you won’t soon forget. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.” They answered quietly. Mandy rarely scolded them, but when she did she meant it.

“Where do you think Pa is?”

“I don’t know, Clovis. This is the longest he’s ever been away. The Reverend Nolan, I mean Pastor Chad, said the sheriff is trying to find him.”

“Is that why the—you know—isn’t ’til Tuesday?”

“Yes, and it’s called a funeral.” The word seemed to have a quieting effect on all of them, and even though the day was warm they sat without speaking, huddled together, for a long time.

Amy’s first reaction to having these children at their supper table for the first time was to put out an elaborate spread. But
she refrained from such an action and stayed with her normal Sunday evening routine of sandwiches with meats and cheeses along with whatever fruit was in season and cookies for dessert.

As she stood over the breadboard with a knife, she said a prayer of thanks that she’d baked bread yesterday, even though it wasn’t her usual day. Not that she couldn’t skip over to Christine’s, whose house was a stone’s throw away, and borrow a loaf, but it was just nice to know she could take care of these five charges, whom she felt were on loan from God.

As Amy sliced, her mind dwelt on Mandy’s face and the way she prepared herself for disappointment at every turn. The other ones were easy, even Carrie at 14; they were just children. But Mandy was nearer her own age and if the truth be known, she scared Amy to death. She seemed the most vulnerable and the most in need of mothering. But there was no way with Amy being only 22 that Mandy was going to look at her as a mother figure. After all, Mandy was 18. That’s why it was so important that she do nothing to make Mandy feel young or patronized and that she do everything to show she wanted to be her friend.

She began to pray as she carried the bread platter to the table that God would give her an opportunity to share the loss of her own mother. Of course she’d had her dad, still had him for that matter, so she couldn’t completely understand. Maybe Mandy would throw that in her face…

“Oh, Lord,” she prayed as she went to call everyone to supper, “it’s all too much for me to take in. Please just use me.”

Silas helped Rebecca wash her hands and they were the last to sit at the dining room table. Amy had left the seating arrangement to Silas and after filling a pitcher with cold water,
joined them to find all the girls on one side and the boys on the other.

Silas sat at the head of the table with his back to the windows and Amy took the other end near the kitchen door. As soon as Amy was seated her eyes quickly scanned the table to see if anything was wanting before looking to Silas in expectation of the prayer. His prayer was simple and heartfelt as always, and Amy raised her head to smile at him.

But the smile died on her lips as her gaze took in Clovis and Levi and the looks on their young faces. Hungry children. No, not just hungry children—
starving
children.

Her gaze moved slowly to the other side of the table to find their sisters in the same state. All five of them stared at the platters of meat, bread, and cheese as though they’d never eaten. She saw Clovis’ tongue run over his lips, and it was almost her undoing.

Her eyes flew to Silas’ and his look told her he hadn’t missed any of their faces including her own, which had gone very pale and then flushed all in the space of a few seconds.

“Amy,” he said almost sternly to rescue them both. “Please fill the glasses as we start the platters around.”

“Oh, certainly,” she said a bit too gaily and jumped up with her cheeks red and her eyes a little dazed. But the children took no notice. Their eyes were on the food, such bounty as they’d never seen before.

Amy barely made it through the meal. She vacillated between horror at her own stupidity over not realizing how hungry they must have been when they arrived two hours ago, and worrying that they would make themselves sick by overeating. She wanted to assure them that there was plenty of food and that they need not store up, as she watched the boys swallowing almost without chewing, but she kept silent and just asked God to intervene on behalf of these little ones for more than just their physical appetites.

Mandy and Carrie pitched in with the dishes without being asked and cleanup was quick and easy. Silas played the piano and told the younger children a funny story. It was still early when he announced bedtime, but no one complained. Without too much confusion Amy helped settle Rebecca into bed; Silas took care of the boys and all were asleep within 15 minutes of the lamp being blown out.

After Silas’ final check on the younger ones, he went to his own room to find his wife lying across the bed trying to muffle her sobs against a pillow. He immediately lay down beside her and put his arm over her without moving her. Believing she needed to cry, he said nothing to coax her out of her tears, only wishing to comfort her with his presence.

She was physically and emotionally spent when the tears stopped and Silas, with gentle hands, helped her with her gown, took the pins from her hair, and put her under the covers.

Amy fell asleep with her head on his shoulder and Silas, a bit drained himself and knowing tomorrow would be just as busy as today, fell quickly asleep. His mind was on the kids meeting all the nieces and nephews and how much his grandmother was going to love these additions to the family.

Silas said nothing the next morning but he knew the exact moment Amy awakened. She shifted close to him, seeking the warmth she’d moved from in the night. Knowing he was always awake first, she immediately began to talk.

“Do you think they slept well?”

“Oh, sure.” The answer was much too casual.

“How many times were you up, Si?”

“Three.”

Amy was chagrined at not having known any of this, so heavy a sleeper was she. “You can’t do that every night. You’ll be exhausted.”

“I’m fine. You know how fast I fall asleep.”

That was quite true. Silas always fell asleep quickly but was a light sleeper. Amy, as a rule, took longer to fall asleep, but when she did, a steam train through the room could not disturb her.