The HOPE of SPRING (5 page)

Jonah nodded. “I’m Jonah Miller, and I’m here to see Meredith.”

The boy squinted his blue eyes as he stared up at Jonah. “So you’re the buggy maker’s
son, huh?”

“That’s right, and I’m also a buggy maker.”

The boy nodded. “My
naame
is Stanley.”

Jonah held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Stanley. I’m guessing you’re Meredith’s
little bruder.”

Stanley squared his shoulders and stretched to his full height. “I ain’t her
little
brother. Owen’s the little one. He’s three, but I’m twelve.”

Jonah bit back a chuckle. “When your sister and I were teenagers, she mentioned you
in one of her letters, but you were her only little bruder back then.”

Stanley flicked a blob of white cat hair off his trousers and grinned. “Guess that
was true enough.”

“So is it okay if I come in?” Jonah asked, hoping he’d won the boy over. “I’d like
to see how Meredith’s doing.”

Stanley shook his head. “She ain’t here.”

“She ain’t? I mean, she’s not?”

“Huh-uh. Meredith went back to her own house this mornin’ ’cause the little ones were
gettin’ on her nerves.” Stanley snickered. “Oh, and Dad’s snorin’ was keepin’ her
awake at night, too.”

Jonah smiled. “So I assume if she went home that she must be feeling better?”

Stanley shrugged. “Don’t know for sure, but I do know that our sister Laurie went
with her, ’cause Mom said she had to.”

Before Jonah could comment, Meredith’s mother stuck her head through the open doorway.
“Wie geht’s?” she asked, smiling at Jonah.

“I’m doing fine. I came by to see how Meredith’s doing, but Stanley said she went
home.”

“That’s right, and Laurie will be staying with her most of the time. When Laurie’s
working at the farmers’ market, Alma Beechy will be with Meredith.” Deep wrinkles
formed across Luann’s forehead. “I’d be a nervous wreck if Meredith was home by herself
right now. She came close to losing the boppli, and might have, too, if you hadn’t
been there to call for help.” Her face relaxed some. “I believe the Lord must have
sent you to my daughter’s house that day.”

“I think you might be right about that.” Jonah shuffled his feet a few times. “Do
you think Meredith would mind if I stopped over to see her right now? I want to make
sure she’s doing all right and see if there’s anything she might need.”

Luann smiled. “That’s nice of you, and since you’re going that way, would you mind
taking something to Meredith for me? I was going to send it with her this morning,
but things got hectic around here and I forgot.”

“I don’t mind at all. What have you got?” Jonah asked.

“A bunch of posies,” Stanley spoke up, motioning to the two pots of primroses sitting
on one end of the porch. “Meredith likes
blumme.
”

“I’d be happy to take the flowers to her,” Jonah said. “There’s more than enough room
in the back of my buggy.”

Luann glanced across the yard. “How’s Luke’s horse doing for you? Has he given you
any trouble?”

Jonah wasn’t about to admit that Socks had acted up on the way over because he didn’t
want Meredith to hear about it and feel guilty for selling him the horse.

“Socks and I are still getting to know each other,” he said, carefully choosing his
words. “And I’m sure after a while we’ll get along just fine.”

Stanley frowned. “I don’t like that gaul. He tried to bite me once when I was hitchin’
him to the rail for Luke.”

Jonah didn’t like the sound of that. If Socks had been unruly even when his master
was around, maybe he’d never get him trained. Well, he’d just have to keep trying.

“Stanley, why don’t you help Jonah by carrying one of those pots out to his buggy?”
Luann said. “Just be sure you stay away from the horse.”

“Okay, Mom.” The boy bent down, picked up a pot, and tromped off across the yard.

“Is there anything else you’d like me to take Meredith?” Jonah asked as he picked
up the second pot of flowers.

Luann nodded. “As a matter of fact, there is. My mamm made some of Meredith’s favorite
ginger
kichlin
this morning, and I’m sure she’d enjoy having some.”

“No problem. I’d be happy to take the cookies to Meredith.”
Is it too much to hope that Meredith might offer me a few of those cookies?
Jonah thought as his stomach rumbled.

“What would you like for lunch today?” Laurie asked Meredith as they sat on the sofa
in the living room, drinking hot chocolate while they visited.

Meredith shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter. But you don’t have to wait on me, because
I can fix my own lunch.”

“If I don’t take good care of you, I’ll never hear the end of it,” Laurie said. “In
case you didn’t know, Mom’s really worried about you.”

“I realize that, but she doesn’t need to worry. I’m feeling fine right now.”
Except for missing Luke
, she thought.
I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from that.

Laurie patted Meredith’s arm, the way Mom often did. “That’s great, and we want to
keep you feeling fine.”

Meredith smiled. Laurie reminded her in many ways of their mother. She had the same
blond hair and pale blue eyes. She even had Mom’s light complexion and oval face.
Meredith figured the way Laurie looked right now was probably how Mom must have looked
when she was nineteen.

“Sure wish I could get the boppli’s room painted,” Meredith said, redirecting her
thoughts. “There’s so much left that needs to be done before the baby comes.”

“I know, but with the help of your friends and family, it’ll get done.”

Meredith sighed. “I hate asking for help all the time, but now I feel like I have
no other choice.”

Laurie set her cup of hot chocolate on the coffee table, and turned to face Meredith.
“You need to let others help. Remember, as Grandma Smucker always says: ‘Next to the
gift of Jesus Christ, the greatest gifts in life are family and friends.’”

Laurie was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept help. Meredith was
about to suggest that they go to the kitchen to see about fixing their lunch, when
she heard the
clip-clop
of horse’s hooves coming up the driveway.

“Someone’s here,” Laurie said, jumping up from her chair. “Maybe it’s Mom or Dad.”

Meredith watched as her sister went to the door. Several minutes later, Laurie returned
to the living room with Jonah at her side. He smiled and held a paper sack out to
Meredith. “Your mamm asked me to bring these ginger cookies to you, and there are
some primroses on the porch.”

“Oh, you saw Mom today?”

He nodded. “I stopped by your folks’ house to see how you were doing, and your mamm
said you were here.”

“That’s right, and I’m happy to say that I’m doing much better now and was more than
ready to come home.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but you need to take it easy and not try to do too much,”
he warned.

Meredith stiffened. First Mom, then Laurie, and now Jonah? Why did everyone think
they needed to tell her what to do?

“Would you like me to plant the flowers for you?” Jonah asked. “Today’s my day off,
and I have nothing better to do.”

“We’d appreciate that,” Laurie said before Meredith could respond. “And when you’re
done, you can join us for lunch, and we’ll have the ginger kichlin for dessert.” She
glanced quickly at Meredith. “Isn’t that right, Sister?”

Meredith nodded. What else could she do? With Jonah offering to plant the flowers,
she couldn’t very well say no to him joining them for lunch.

“That sounds good,” Jonah said with a grin. “But don’t go to any trouble on my account.”

“It’ll just be soup and sandwiches, and I’ll start fixing our lunch right now.” Laurie
flashed Jonah a wide smile and hurried from the room.

Meredith didn’t know why, but she felt kind of awkward and shy around Jonah. She was
relieved when he said he was going to plant the flowers and went out the door.

Rising from the sofa, she headed for the kitchen to see what she could do to help
Laurie with lunch.

“What are you doing in here?” Laurie asked, turning from the stove, where she was
stirring a kettle of leftover vegetable soup.

“I came to help.”

Laurie shook her head. “I can manage just fine. Besides, you’re supposed to be resting.”

Meredith’s fingers dug into the palms of her hands. “I’m not an invalid, Laurie, but
if it would make you feel better, I’ll sit at the table while I make the sandwiches.”

“I guess that would be okay. Sorry if I seem so bossy.” Laurie handed Meredith the
sandwich fixings, along with some plates and a knife. “I’m just trying to do as Mom
asked and take care of things so you can rest.”

Meredith took a seat and relaxed against her chair. “I appreciate that, and I promise
not to do anything strenuous.”

“That’s good to hear.” Laurie stepped away from the stove and glanced out the window.
“Looks like Jonah has gotten one bunch of primroses planted already. He sure is a
nice man. Makes me wonder why he’s not married.”

Meredith shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess he hasn’t found the right woman yet.”

“Jah, maybe so.” Laurie remained at the window a few more seconds, then returned to
her job at the stove.

I wonder if my sister is interested in Jonah,
Meredith thought.
I suppose the two of them might get together someday, but Laurie doesn’t really seem
like Jonah’s type.
Meredith opened the bread wrapper and took out several slices.
But then, I guess that’s really none of my business. I just need to concentrate on
getting ready for the birth of my baby.

T
his is sure a
gut middaagesse.
Danki for inviting me to stay for the meal,” Jonah said after he’d eaten a few spoonfuls
of soup.

Laurie smiled at him from across the table. “I’m glad you think the lunch is good.
With the weather warming more every day, it won’t be long before we’ll want something
cold to eat.”

“That’s probably true for most,” Jonah agreed, “but I like soup just about any time
of the year. It’s a hearty meal that sticks with you. Least it does for me. And by
the way, don’t let this weather fool you. Winter can remind us that it’s not letting
go just yet. I know the wind isn’t slowing up any.”

Meredith sat quietly eating as her sister and Jonah continued chatting.

“Do you ever get tired of working on buggies?” Laurie asked, placing a sandwich on
her plate, while looking at Jonah with an eager expression.

Jonah shook his head. “I like what I do, and since I’ve also started making other
types of buggies that aren’t for the Amish, it’s created some new and interesting
challenges for me.”

Meredith stared at her half-eaten bowl of soup, barely listening to the conversation
going on around her. She felt tired all of a sudden and really had no appetite. However,
for the baby’s sake, she needed to eat regular meals, so she forced herself to finish
the soup and eat half a sandwich.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Jonah said, lightly touching Meredith’s arm. “Am I boring
you with all this talk about my job?”

Meredith jumped at his unexpected touch. “Uh, no. Guess I just don’t have much to
say.” She quickly reached for a napkin and blotted her lips. “I’m feeling kind of
tired, so if you two don’t mind, I think I’ll go back to the living room and rest
awhile.”

“Go right ahead,” Laurie was quick to say. “Plenty of rest is what you need right
now.”

Wordlessly, Meredith cleared her dishes and placed them in the sink. She was almost
to the kitchen door, when Jonah called, “Meredith, is there anything else you might
need me to do?”

She turned, and was about to say no, when Laurie spoke up. “Actually, there is something.
Meredith is planning to use one of the spare bedrooms upstairs for the boppli’s room,
and it needs to be painted.”

Meredith’s face heated as her lips tightened.
How could Laurie embarrass me like this?
She looked at Jonah and forced a smile. “I’m sorry my sister brought that up. I certainly
don’t expect you to do any painting. My daed will get it done whenever he finds the
time. And if he can’t do it, then …”

Jonah held up his hand. “I don’t mind painting. In fact, I’d be happy to do it, and
I have the time right now.”

“That’d be great.” Laurie smiled at Jonah. “Why don’t we go upstairs, and I’ll show
you which room? The paint’s sitting out, and the ladder’s up there already, so everything’s
all set to go.”

Jonah looked at Meredith, as though seeking her approval.

“It’s fine with me, if you’re sure,” she said quietly. It was hard enough to accept
help from her family and close friends, and it made her feel funny to have Jonah,
whom she really didn’t know that well anymore, here at the house doing chores for
her—chores she’d once planned to do herself.

Jonah gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m definitely ready to begin.”

“Before I forget,” Meredith added, “danki for planting those flowers for me.”