Abram's Daughters 03 The Sacrifice (30 page)

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IVlary Ruth insisted on helping Robert's mother sci ill table for the evening meal. "You mustn't treat me like m_ guest," she told Lorraine as they moved about the table, pLu ing linen napkins and silverware in their proper places.

"Since you're Robert's steady girlfriend, you're nearly lain ily," Lorraine replied, smiling across the table.

Robert strolled into the dining room. "What's this wIiLm pering I hear?" Mary Ruth caught his flirtatious wink. \

Dr. Schwartz came in and stood behind his chair ai iIiih head of the table. "Are we ready for supper, dear?" 1

Lorraine's rosy cheeks seemed brighter than usual. "PK-iwe j be seated . . . and you, too, Mary Ruth. I can manage jusH fine." 1

Mary Ruth sat on one side of the table with RoluTSf directly across from her. Having enjoyed one other fine spiniifj at this grand old house, Mary Ruth knew what to expect. The ! lovely lace tablecloth reminded her once again that six.1 hml turned fancy rather quickly following Elias's death so lonn ago now it seemed. Never had she questioned her chosen

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(filing profession, even though she knew it aggrieved her ' ulici no end; that, and the fact she'd abandoned the People.

mpiisingly the tension had lessened somewhat over the

in:., and for this she was grateful. She could come and go as

i ir pk-ased at the Ebersol Cottage, thanks in part to Leah and

iiui Lizzie. Maybe seeing Lydiann and Abe grow up, having

In iIr ones around again, had prompted Dat to be more flexi-

I li Maybe, too, God was at work in his heart. This, she

1'iiiycil lor daily.

"I lore we are," Lorraine said, carrying a tray of roasted

Iih ken surrounded by an array of cooked vegetables ..mi. his, cauliflower, broccoli, and new potatoes. She disapl" in-il again and returned with a Waldorf salad and homein Ir applesauce sprinkled generously with cinnamon.

' 'nee his wife was seated, Henry looked to Robert for the I.I.:.MI4J. "Son?"

Robert bowed his head, as did the others. "Thank you,

I .nil, for these bountiful blessings laid out here before us. l''less the hands that prepared the food, and make us ever iiiiiulliil of your lq^e and grace, and your suffering and death

mi ilie cross for our sins. In Jesus' precious name. Amen." "Thank you, Robert," Lorraine said, looking at her son

' nil obvious affection. Then she directed Henry to pass the

l-ni;i- platter to Mary Ruth.

The matching silver candlesticks with twinkling white

i. 11 k> rs graced the meal, as well as the evening, and by the time

I1 if dessert was served, Mary Ruth felt almost too full, but I'lau-liil for this time spent with Robert's parents.

Sadly Henry and Lorraine had slim hope of having good li-llowship with their younger son. Robert had shared that

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they scarcely ever heard from Derek. Mary Ruth found rhir, n > be distressing, especially because it was clear how fond RoU u was of his parents. Just then she wondered if the opporlunii v would ever present itself for her to tell Robert what she knew of Derek his illicit relationship with Sadie. Too soon yet, slut decided. a

When it came time to say their good-byes, Robert oflvr^jH to walk with her over to the Notts' house. On the way, HI asked, "What do you plan to do with yourself all summer/" M

"Oh, I have a few ideas." She told him how she had Ix'civ lending a hand in Leah's vegetable garden. "And on washdiiy, I help her heat up the water and whatnot. Of course, I du enjoy my little sister and brother, as well, so spending lime with them means Leah can rest once in a while."

"I like the sound of this," he said, reaching for her hum I "Have yourself a good time with Leah . . . dear sister of youis,"

"Do you pity her, Robert?"

"I didn't say that."

"I just thought . . . well, maybe I heard it in your voice,"

He paused. "Your sister's an example for us all. A mensnic of a person's character is what's done in run-of-the-mill dnily life, when no one is watching."

"Sounds like you could write that into one of your sci mons."

"I just might."

She was aware of the sound of their shoes on the road I mi said no more.

At last Robert spoke again. "In your opinion, how did n happen that Jonas Mast left Leah behind, jewel that she is.'"

"He was a fool, that's how." The words flew from her li|v.,

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^HlMn . . ." She caught herself. I mustn't say such things. It's ^HHteeoming of me, she thought. "I guess when it comes to my I' i.'in and Abe, I have to say I have a tendency to be out!-! !<,e*n. I'm very sorry."

1 It wasn't until later, after she'd said good night and was j

I Icr biggest struggle was thinking ahead to how things miirhi work out if Robert kept looking at her the way he tlli I , . . if he happened to ask her to marry him someday. Just Iimw would such a thing affect her relationship with her family' Would they turn their backs on her, the way they had Shi Ik'? She knew they would never shun her, but she was iihnust sure the wedge between her and Dat would grow.

<. )n top of that, sometimes she had second thoughts about I1''licit because of his younger brother, Derek, and what she I- iirw of his loo$e morals. What kind of boy would do such a

111 ii ijj; to an innocent girl that is, if Sadie had been innocent. ' 'uly the Lord knew such things. Even so, the more time she i"-nr with Robert and the Schwartz family, the more Mary I' 111 li found herself pondering these things.

The day after her evening with the Schwartzes, Mary 'nth was delighted to see Hannah standing at the front door I i he Nolts' house. Before her sister could knock, Mary Ruth

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scurried to the screen door and opened it wide. "Aw, where are the little ones?" she asked, faintly disappointed Hnminli hadn't brought her children.

Hannah smiled a bit wearily and stepped inside. "I I (ink Aunt Lizzie up on her offer to stay with the girls awhile."

"Some grown-up talk should help some." Mary Rueh understood the amount of energy it took keeping up with youngsters. "It's draining being round children all day, although I must say I enjoy being a teacher as much as I thought I would."

Hannah smiled as they sat at Dottie's kitchen table. "Yon look awful gut, sister. I didn't want to come over too six hi, not with school just out 'n' all. Thought you might nerd ill week or so to catch your breath, prob'ly." I

"That's considerate of you, but I'm always glad to see you, "I

Mary Ruth poured lemonade for them both and setilnjl into their contented chitchat. "How's Lizzie's cottage in ih | woods working out for the four of you?" she asked. I

"Just fine for now, but" and here Hannah paused l "there's gonna be five of us in a little while."

"Another baby to love! How wonderful."

Hannah's face clouded over. "Come December," she sniil, "My next baby's due at Christmas, same as young Abe's billh I day."

Mary Ruth reached over and squeezed her hand. "Now, you mustn't worry. You're many years younger than Mai in mi was with Abe, and the circumstances of his birth were highly unusual."

"Poor Mamma," Hannah whispered, sniffling. "She lovcil Abe ever so much." .: .

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H "She loved us all." Mary Ruth observed Hannah, wonderHg if this was the right time to say more. They fell silent for

moment, and then she said, "And . .. Mamma loved the Hinl Jesus, too. She opened her heart wide to His love and Bt'j.;iveness."

I Waiting to continue, she hoped Hannah might not turn Hviiy. Thankfully this time she did not get up and leave the Hihle as she often did when Mary Ruth spoke either of jHmma's or her own spiritual perspective. "The decision to Hulk with Jesus is not so much a mental one as it is a yielding Hf ihe heart ... to God's plan for our lives." She thought she Hll^ht break down with emotion, so strongly she felt aboutits.

Hannah bobbed her head and fought her own tears. "I Bl h to goodness I'd asked Mamma certain things before she tfd," she admitted. "I waited much too long."

I Mary Ruth's heart was tender toward her. "I had a private ilk with Mamma not too long before she died . . . after Dat Hicked me out of the house. She said she, too, was a believer, fiough a silent oi^e, following Jesus and living out her days as Best she could, considering the Ordnung . . . and Dat." W "Mamma?"

! "Jah, and it's easy to see, too, isn't it? She had such a long'uffcring, joyful way 'bout her, ya know. Mamma could forgive ,ii the drop of a hat; a sure sign of her deep faith, I'd have to.ny."

"I miss her terribly." Hannah looked across the table and ICiiil the window beyond. For the longest time she sat there in ill as could be; then she whispered, "I've always been frightlined of death. ... Always."

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"Oh, sister. Truly, there's no need to be." She rose :iml hurried to Hannah's side. Stroking her back, she said, "When she was nearing the end, Mamma wasn't afraid to pass owi Jordan's banks to Glory. Leah said as much."

"Jah, I remember hearing that." Hannah sighed. "Bui when Mammi Ebersol died and we were just thirteen, hon estly that was 'bout all I could think of day in, day out. Such a worry wart I was then."

"And not now?"

Hannah smiled through tears, hugging her hard. "Sun-, I worry too much. Gid, bless his heart; he's tryin' to help mr with that."

"Smithy Gid's a fine man. I see it clearly in his eyes when | he looks at you and your girls." I

Hannah nodded in agreement. "You just don't know limv wonderful-gut he is to me. Being his wife, I've experience I ;i lightness, an odd sort of peace."

"Then we're both happy, seems to me."

"Very happy," Hannah echoed.

"Who would have guessed I'd end up being courted by a Mennonite preacher a doctor's son, at that."

"Your eyes sparkle with this path you've chosen, M;uy Ruth. Truly, I'd always hoped you'd come back and be Amish with me, but it seems you've found something more befitt in' you."

She smiled, thinking how dear it was of Hannah to s;iy such a thing; despite their very different lives, her twin's hc;n i was still warm toward her. "It's a good thing I didn't join church with you and then left, or we wouldn't be enjoying

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!i close fellowship today." She got up and poured more miuide for them.

I "I \) you ever think of our big sister?" Hannah asked. I "11h, every day."

"Honestly, I worry 'bout Leah, having lost her close-in-age i u?r tor life."

Mary Ruth sipped her lemonade. "I can't imagine us grow-

M| old and not knowing something about her. It's painful to hsidcr."

"I wonder if she has more than the one child we'd heard

I"- was expecting . . . back years ago."

Mary Ruth often wondered the same. "Let's hope she has houseful by now. For our sister's sake Jonas's too being in oil from family as they are."

h "Speakin' of wee ones, I best be thinkin' of returning Blur here perty soon. Lizzie's got her hands full." I "So does Leah," Mary Ruth said. "I'm going to help her as

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