A Miracle of Hope (The Amish Wonders Series) (29 page)

Warmth spread through Josiah’s core. Lindie offered Hannah exactly what she needed—a mother’s embrace—a gift of love that couldn’t be bought or made.

Hannah returned to her spot on the floor, stroking her baby doll. Then she set the doll down, picked up a brown paper bag, and handed it to Lindie.

“
Ach
, what’s this?” She opened the bag and pulled out the framed picture. “It’s beautiful.” She held it up for Josiah to see. “Look, it’s a picture of hands. All different sizes.” Lindie studied the picture closer. The hands all rested on a pregnant belly.

Josiah pointed to the wall. “I thought we could hang it over the desk.”

“I’d like that.” Lindie pointed to the largest set of hands in the drawing. “Who is this?” she signed.

Hannah signed and Josiah answered, “God.”

The second-largest hands, she pointed to her father. The next
were Lindie’s, then Hannah pointed to another set and then at herself. But one set of hands—a tiny set—remained.

Josiah leaned closer to get a better view of the picture. When he measured the paper to make the frame and even while he was framing it, he hadn’t noticed the extra set of hands.

Hannah cradled her arms and swung them.

The baby? It made no sense. Obviously, the rounded belly in the picture meant Lindie was pregnant. It was a perfect gift nonetheless. “I’ll hang it.” Josiah took the picture. He already had the hammer and nail waiting on the desk.

Lindie gave Hannah a hug and thanked her for the picture. She blotted the corners of her eyes with her dress sleeve.

“You do beautiful drawings,” Simon told Hannah as she handed him a gift. “For me?”

Hannah nodded.

Simon opened his and showed everyone the picture of the deer. “I love it.” Even his eyes turned glassy.

Josiah’s gift from Hannah was a picture of the old draft horse, Moose. “I’ll make a frame for it tomorrow,” he said, thanking his daughter.

“He will get up,” Hannah signed.

Josiah wasn’t following. He asked her to repeat the hand gestures. She repeated the same message. He nodded, though still confused. Maybe she meant hang it up.

Simon handed each of them a bag. A saw for Josiah and matching dresses for Lindie and Hannah. “I had Rebecca make the dresses. She suggested the bright-blue color.”

“Denki.”
Lindie held hers up. “I’m going to wear this to the sleigh ride tomorrow
nacht
.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Simon said. Josiah’s father-in-law smiled, which he didn’t often do.

Hannah resumed playing with the doll.

Lindie motioned to the gifts she’d given Josiah and Simon. “Are you two going to open the ones from me?”

“Absolutely.” Josiah peeled the packaging away. “When did you have time to do this?”

“Lying in bed all day.”

Josiah unfolded the colorful scarf and several hankies fell out. Her thoughtfulness left him speechless. He swung the scarf around his neck. “
Denki
, I won’t get
kalt
this winter.”

Simon unwrapped his package and smiled. “People won’t be able to tell us apart, Josiah.”

They all laughed.

“I’m sorry they’re not all one color,” Lindie said.

“They’re perfect.” He would have stood and hugged her as Hannah had if Simon wasn’t in the room.

Josiah reached into the box that held the presents. He pulled out another gift for Hannah and then handed one package to Lindie and one to Simon. He wasn’t so interested in Hannah’s response to the bag of saltwater taffy, and he assumed Simon would be pleased with his new straw hat and suspenders, but what he was really anxious to see was Lindie’s reaction when she opened her paint set.

Lindie’s eyes widened. She looked at him, then Hannah, then at him again. She shifted in her chair, cleared her throat, then stood. “I’m going to make some
kaffi
.”

He thought for sure with the way she eyed the brushes in the art store that she would have liked the gift. Now he wasn’t so certain he had bought her the right thing. “I think I’ll check on the
kaffi
too,” he told Hannah and Simon.

Steam hissed from the kettle spout on the stove. Lindie stood at the window, her face hidden in her hands.

“Lindie?” He moved closer. “If you don’t like the paint set, you can return it.”

She shook her head.

He lowered her hands, and her eyes glistened. “What’s wrong?”

“You gave me the cradle. Why the paint set? You said you were buying Hannah a set. Did you change your mind because of
mei
comment about spoiling her?”

He smiled. “I said I wanted to spoil
mei maydel
—you. When we went into the store to buy colored pencils, I watched you study those brushes. I thought you liked painting.”

She lowered her head. “I do, but you didn’t have to buy me such an elaborate present.”

He tipped her chin. “You’re important to me.”

Her eyes budded with fresh tears. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away the other
nacht
. I’m sorry. I . . . I know a
fraa
is supposed to be—”

“It’s Christmas. Let’s
nett
talk about it
nau
.” He hadn’t intended to sound stern, but his frustration had come through. He wanted more from her than a dutiful wife. Yet falling in love was his doing, not hers. She hadn’t forsaken the rules—he had.

The kettle whistled and she removed it from the stove. “Do you want
kaffi
?”

“Nay.”

“Me either. Should I pour one for Simon?”

“Later.” He reached for her hand. “There’s another gift for Hannah to open from both of us.” He shrugged one shoulder. “So I wanted to spoil both of
mei maydels
.”

“You bought her a paint set too?”

He nodded. “I couldn’t resist.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

T
he sudden snowstorm made it treacherous to follow the other sleighs in the house-to-house caravan. Earlier in the evening a soft glow of lamplight flickered on the snow-covered landscape as the families traveled in a group across the open fields. However, the whiteout changed that. Suddenly any trace of lantern lights from the other sleighs had vanished.

Lindie scanned the area. “I don’t see anyone’s lights.”

“
Jah
, I wish we had more moonlight to guide us.” Josiah looked down at Hannah leaning against Lindie. “Is she asleep?”

“Jah.”
Lindie marveled at how the child could sleep during a blizzard. Lindie had wrung her hands so much during the last hour that she had worn a small hole in her knitted mittens. If she had even a portion of Hannah’s peace, Lindie would be grateful.

“We should all have agreed to postpone the last half of the visitation,” Josiah said.

The only homes left were the Troyers’ and theirs. Did he have another reason for wanting to postpone the visit? Perhaps even traveling the fields was too dangerous. It didn’t lessen her disappointment.

Traveling through the woods and across the fields, she hadn’t recognized the Troyers’ barns until Josiah veered the buggy to the left and maneuvered Molly between the two buildings. He stopped at the hitching post next to the house where the others had parked.

Lindie nudged Hannah.

The child stirred, then yawned and stretched out her arms.

“All this fresh air should help her sleep
gut
tonight,” Josiah said. “What about you, are you tired?”

“
Nay
, I’m wide-awake.” Yet the moment Lindie stepped into the house, the heat from the woodstove zapped her energy. She removed her boots at the door and helped Hannah take off her cape. The child was still groggy. Hannah turned to Josiah and lifted her arms for him to pick her up.

Rebecca motioned to the dark hallway. “You can lay her down in the back bedroom if you want. Just take one of the lamps from the sitting room for light.”

Lindie grabbed the lamp and led the way.

“She’s really worn out,” Josiah whispered as he lowered Hannah onto the queen-sized mattress. “I’m wondering
nau
if we should have skipped this and gone home.”

“There’s still another stop on this outing.”

Hannah rolled onto her side.

Josiah guided Lindie out of the room. “I hope you won’t be upset if I cancel.” He eased the door closed. “No one expected it to snow this much tonight.”

“I understand.” She followed him down the hall to the sitting room and the sound of chatter.

The weather had delayed the caravan. Several of the women mentioned how late it was. Ada’s family had cut their evening short after the second house on the loop, saying the temperature
had dipped too low for the children. It made sense with Ada so close to her due date.

“I made soup and sandwiches,” Rebecca announced. She waved Lindie to follow her into the kitchen. “What time did Simon’s bus leave today?”

“Six this morning. Josiah said his bus should have arrived by
nau
so at least he missed the storm.” Lindie ran her hand over the arm of her dress. “By the way, you did a nice job sewing
mei
dress. I was very surprised when Simon gave it to me.”

“He’s had a difficult time. First he lost his
dochder
, then his wife a few months later. But I think you’ll find he’s making an effort to accept Josiah and Hannah’s new life.” Rebecca nodded to the men in the other room. “Is Josiah feeling all right?”

“I think so. Why do you ask?”

“Doesn’t he look a little pale to you?”

Lindie leaned to see into the other room. She caught a glimpse of him seated across the room. Either the lamplight was reflecting an unnatural shade over him, or Rebecca was right and he looked sickly. Lindie should have noticed earlier. He turned away from the men and coughed, then touched his neck. Was he checking his temperature? No wonder he suggested ending the evening.

Naomi entered the kitchen, carrying a sleeping toddler in her arms. “Lindie, I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t think we’re going to make it to your place tonight.”

Sarah rounded the corner behind Naomi. “Us too. Abe is talking about leaving
nau
before it snows any more.” She patted Lindie’s arm. “I am sorry. I hope we can get together again soon.”

“I hope so too.” Noticing Josiah sitting quietly, it was obvious they needed to head home.

Rebecca reached out her arms toward Naomi. “I’ll hold David while you put your cape on.”

“I shouldn’t keep Abe waiting,” Sarah said, leaving the kitchen.

Lindie peeked into the sitting room half expecting to see Josiah signal that it was time to leave. He didn’t.

“The ham and cheese are on the counter if you want to fix sandwiches for yourself and Josiah.” Rebecca continued to rock the child in her arms.

Lindie had eaten something at each house they’d visited tonight and wasn’t hungry, but she prepared a sandwich for Josiah. The bishop was asking about Simon as Lindie entered the sitting room.

“His bus should have arrived in Centerville sometime after four. It’s
gut
he left before the storm or he might have been snow-bound,” Josiah said.

Bishop Troyer nodded. “
Jah
, I know he wanted to see his
bruder
.”

Lindie handed Josiah the plate with the sandwich.

“Denki.”
He smiled.

Dark shadows circled his eyes. If she could speak with him alone, she would suggest they leave. Instead, she asked if he wanted a cup of coffee.

“Maybe a glass of water.” His voice sounded hoarse. “Please.”

She hurried back into the kitchen, filled a glass with water, and brought it to him. The bishop and Rebecca were both distracted with good-byes.

“Are you having fun?” Josiah took a drink.

“
Jah
, but anytime you’re ready to leave is okay with me.” Guilt gnawed at her. Had he participated in the visitation only for her benefit? She wanted to visit with the women, but not at the cost of his health.

“I haven’t said anything yet about canceling our stop.” He took a bite of the sandwich.

“I mentioned it to the women in the kitchen. They all agreed the weather has gotten worse.”

After standing by the door as the visitors left, Rebecca brushed her hands against her arms. “This might be one of our worst winters yet.” She turned to her husband. “Don’t you think they should stay here tonight?”

The bishop nodded.

Lindie forced a smile, waiting to hear Josiah’s response.

Mischief twinkled in his eyes when his gaze connected with hers. “
Denki
,” he said, turning back to the bishop. “I think we’ll be all right to travel home.”

She eased out a long breath.

Josiah finished the sandwich and handed Lindie the empty plate. “We shouldn’t wait too much longer. I’ll go get Hannah.”

Lindie tucked Hannah into bed before going to the kitchen to
redd-up
. She opened the cabinet and was returning the stack of clean plates as Josiah entered.

“It should warm up soon. I loaded the woodstove.” He snatched a cookie off the plate as she picked it up. “I’m sorry the get-together ended early. You went to a lot of fuss making so many cookies.”

“Hannah and I had fun.” She removed the lid to the cookie jar. “Did you want more before I put them away?”