The Quilter's Daughter (16 page)

O
h, Matthew, these are perfect,” Abby exclaimed.

Matthew beamed as he placed several wooden hangers on the table in Fannie’s quilt shop. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get ’em done.”

She waved her hand. “It’s only been a few months since you agreed to make them for me, and I know you’ve been busy assisting Caleb in the store, not to mention helping out on the farm whenever you can.”

“That’s true. I’ll be glad when things slow down a bit.”

“I doubt if they will ever slow down once Mom has the bopplin.”

Matthew chuckled. “Things will probably never be the same around our place after those little ones enter the world.” His brown eyes seemed darker than usual, and a muscle on the side of his cheek quivered slightly. “I remember when Zach was born and everything seemed to be centered on him. He was such a cute little fellow, and even after all this time I still find myself missin’ him.”

Abby could only imagine how painful it must have been for the Fishers to lose their mamm in a terrible accident, and then have their boppli kidnapped just a year later. It had been hard enough for her and Mom to deal with things after Dad’s heart attack. She winced as a stab of regret sliced through her. “The trials in life are never easy, but God gives us the strength to bear them.”

He nodded. “Jah, and as time goes on, the pain lessens.”

Feeling the need to change the subject, Abby motioned to the wall across from them. “Would you have time to put some quilts on the hangers you made and get them set in place?”

Matthew’s eyes brightened. “For you, sister Abby, I’ll make the time.”

She smiled. It was nice to have another brother. Especially one that was so willing to help whenever it was needed.

Abby thought about her brother, Harold, and wondered how he and Lena were doing. It had been several weeks since she’d sent them a letter, and nearly that long since she had written to Lester. She’d received a couple of lectures from Mom about working too hard and was asked when the last time was she’d written to her intended. Her mamm had even suggested they might need to hire someone else to help at the quilt shop, but Abby had assured her that she was doing just fine.

“I’m going to try and get a couple of letters written, since there are no customers at the moment. So let me know if you need anything,” she called to Matthew.

“Sure will.”

Matthew headed to the storage closet to get a ladder, and Abby scurried over to her desk. She found Lester’s most recent letter in the drawer and decided to read it again, so she could answer any questions he might have.

Dear Abby,

The news of your mother carryin’ twins was sure a surprise. Mom’s been talking about all the things she wants to make in duplicate. Guess it won’t be long until those bopplin are born.

How are things at the quilt shop? Did Matthew ever make the hangers you mentioned in your last letter? If they work out well, maybe he could make some for your quilt shop here.

Speaking of your shop. . .Mom said to tell you that she and my aunt Clara are managing fine. There are still lots of tourists coming in every day, and the quilting ladies have continued to meet at the store once a week.

Please write soon. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Always yours,
Lester              

Abby reached for her pen. Lester had probably been watching the mail every day, hoping for a letter. He might think she’d forgotten him by now or didn’t care. She’d heard from her friend Rachel last week, too, and that letter would also need to be answered. In response to Abby’s invitation to come to Lancaster County for a visit, Rachel had declined, saying she had no vacation time yet, since she hadn’t been working at the restaurant in Berlin long enough.

If it’s meant for Rachel and Matthew to meet, then God will work things out,
Abby mused.
I’ve done the inviting. Now the rest is in His hands.

She lifted her pen to begin Lester’s letter, but had only written a few words when Jake rushed into the quilt shop, all red-faced and sweaty. “Fannie’s gone into labor! Papa got one of our English neighbors to drive ’em to the hospital in Lancaster, and they left Nancy in charge of things at home.”

Unable to respond, Abby just sat there, letting Jake’s words sink in.
Mom has gone into labor. They were on their way to the hospital. Nancy was at home, overseeing the two younger ones.

She glanced at the calendar on her desk. Mom wasn’t due for another three weeks. The doctor had said that at thirty-seven weeks the babies would be fully developed. Everything should be okay.

Matthew scrambled down the ladder and rushed to Abby’s side. “Want me to run over to the gift shop and see if someone can give you a lift to the hospital?”

“What about you? Don’t you want to go?”

“I’d like to, but it wouldn’t be fair to leave Caleb alone to run the general store and the quilt shop.”

“Maybe I can put the C
LOSED
sign on the quilt shop door, and then he’d only have one store to watch.”

“Say, why not let me stay here and help out?” Jake suggested.
“We’re done in the fields for the day now that Papa’s taken off.”

Matthew ran a hand over his clean-shaven face. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all.”

“All right then.” Matthew reached for Abby’s hand. “Let’s go find us a ride!”

Abby paced the length of the waiting room, anxious to know how things were going in the delivery room. Mom had been taken in shortly before Abby and Matthew arrived at the hospital, and they hadn’t heard anything since.

“You’re gonna wear a hole in the carpet if you don’t sit down,” Matthew said.

She turned to face him. “I’m feeling kind of fidgety.”

He patted the chair beside him. “You’ve got every right to be, but you really should try to calm yourself.”

With a sigh of resignation, Abby sank to a chair and picked up a magazine, although she didn’t know why. All she could think about was Mom. Was she doing okay? Would the babies be born healthy? Would they weigh enough so they could go home when their mamm did? And what were the bopplin—boys or girls? They could have found out the sex of the babies when Mom had the ultrasound done, but she’d been adamant about not wanting to know until the babies were born.

“Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” Matthew said in a reassuring tone.

Abby smiled, despite the doubts tumbling around in her head. “I hope so.”

“God’s in control.”

“I know.”

“And your mamm is in good hands.”

Abby set the magazine aside. “You’re a special friend, Matthew, and I’m glad you were able to come to the hospital with me.”

“That’s what a big brother should do,” he said with a wink.

When a middle-aged nurse entered the room, Abby jumped to her feet. “Have you any news to give us on Fannie Fisher?”

The nurse nodded. “She just gave birth to a healthy set of twin boys. One weighs six pounds, and the other is six pounds two ounces.”

“Two
buwe
?” Abby’s heart swelled with joy.

“Wow! Papa and Fannie are doubly blessed,” Matthew said. “God took one son and gave my daed two.”

Abby wondered if Abraham would see it that way. Had God taken Zach from the Fishers? It seemed more like the sinful nature of the man who had kidnapped him than anything else.

“When can we see my mom and the twins?” Abby asked the nurse.

“As soon as your mother is back in her room and the babies have been cleaned up.”

“Are they identical?” Abby questioned.

“It would seem so, but there are still some tests to be done.”

“I need to notify Harold and Lena right away.” Abby started for the door but turned back around. “I’m going down the hall to phone Lester’s mom at the quilt shop in Berlin and ask her to get word to Harold and Lena—and, of course, Lester, too.” She grinned at Matthew. “What a joyous day!”

N
aomi halted inside the living room of her father and Fannie’s house, awed by the sight that greeted her. She and Caleb had brought the kinner over to visit their twin uncles, who had just come home from the hospital. But now she wondered if they should have waited awhile. Papa and Fannie sat on the sofa together, each holding a baby. Fannie looked tired but happy as she rubbed her chin slowly against one twin’s downy dark hair. Papa looked like a kinner with a new toy, rocking the other baby in his arms and crooning softly. It was a blissful scene. One Naomi felt deserved no intrusion.

“Bopplin! Bopplin!” Sarah hollered as she bounded across the room.

Papa lifted the baby to his chest. “Whoa, now! Don’t go climbin’ up here, little girl.”

Caleb, who held baby Susan, reached down with his free hand and grabbed Sarah’s arm. “Slow down once. You’ll get your chance to see the bopplin soon enough.”

“Come, let her sit beside me.” Fannie patted the cushion next to her.

Naomi joined Sarah on one end of the couch and leaned over to get a better look at the babies. “They’re beautiful, and they look exactly alike. How will you ever tell them apart?”

“They’ve still got their hospital bracelets on, so that’s helping for now,” Fannie replied. “We’ll figure something else out soon enough, I expect.”

“What have you named them?” Caleb asked, taking a seat in the rocking chair across the room and placing baby
Susan across his knees.

“This one is Titus,” Fannie said, kissing the wee one on top of his head.

“And this here’s Timothy.” Papa held the baby up for everyone to see. “Did ya ever see any bopplin as cute as these two?”

Caleb cleared his throat. “Jah. Our Susan. She’s wunderbaar!”

“Of course she is,” Fannie was quick to say. “All babies are special, and ours don’t hold no title to bein’ cute.”

“Sure they do,” Papa said with a smirk. He cradled little Timothy in his arms and glanced over at his wife. “Fannie’s made me so happy, and our twin buwe are the best.”

“Es bescht,”
Sarah said with a giggle.

“Jah,” Papa agreed. “The boys are the best.” He stared at Timothy with such a doting expression it made Naomi wonder about a few things. She was pretty sure her daed was only having fun with Sarah, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit put out because he showed so little interest in either one of her girls. Not only that, but Papa seemed more enthralled with his twin boys than he ever had with Zach. Maybe it was just the newness of things. A few weeks from now everything would most likely be back to normal, with Papa out in the fields again and Fannie shouldering most of the responsibility of raising their sons.

“Where’s the rest of the family?” Caleb asked. “I figured we’d find everyone crowded around the twins.”

“Abby’s out in the kitchen fixing supper,” Fannie said. “Mary Ann and Nancy are helping her.”

“Shortly after we got home, I sent Matthew out to the fields to check on Jake, Norman, and Samuel,” Papa spoke up. “They’ve been handling things on their own for the last couple of days, what with me traipsin’ back and forth to the hospital.”

“Are you managing okay at the store on your own?” Fannie asked, giving Caleb a look of concern.

He nodded. “Matthew’s still comin’ in, and he’s agreed to take care of things in the quilt shop so Abby can stay here to help you.”

Fannie sighed. “There’s so much to be done, what with me not able to do a lot yet. I wouldn’t know what to do without
Abby’s help, because caring for two bopplin means we’ll need every available pair of hands.”

“I understand,” Naomi said. “I’ve got my hands full from sunup to sunset trying to keep Sarah out of mischief while I care for little Susan.”

“We’re thankful for the days when Nancy can help us,” Caleb interjected, “but if she’s needed here, we can probably call on my mamm.”

“I think Abby’s got things under control,” Papa said. “She’s real organized and seems willing to do whatever needs done.”

A stab of remorse shot through Naomi. She felt as if Papa’s remark had been directed at her. Many times after Mama’s death, when Naomi had taken over household chores and helped at the store, Papa had accused her of not doing things right.

I’m just overly sensitive right now,
she reminded herself.
Have been ever since Susan was born. I need to keep my eyes on God and quit worrying about what others say and do.