Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) (8 page)

“Joe’s here!” Debbie tried to quell her excitement. This was exactly what they needed to distract themselves from all their troubles.

Ida set the empty popcorn popper on the stove with a bang. Her hands flew to her apron strings, and she jerked them open. Without a word, she dashed up the stairs.

Debbie grabbed the popcorn bowl and went to the living room doorway.

“What’s gotten into the girl?” Saloma asked. Apparently she hadn’t noticed the buggy drive in.

“Joe’s here!” Debbie told them. “Verna’s baby must be on the way!”

Saloma’s face lit up and the section of the
Budget
she’d been reading flew across the floor.

“Don’t do that,” Bishop Beiler chided. “You’ll be tearing the pages so I can’t read them.”

“Verna’s baby!” Saloma gushed.

“It’s happened before,” the bishop said with twinkles in his eyes.

Saloma ignored him and made her way to the living room window just as Joe came up the front steps. Saloma jerked open the door. “Is it time, Joe?”

He took his hat off, a worried look on his face. “
Yah
. Verna had me pick up the midwife an hour ago, and then she sent me here for Ida.”

“Cheer up!” Bishop Beiler boomed from his rocker. “Babies are born all the time.”

Saloma waved her hand at her husband. “Don’t pay any attention to him, Joe. Of course you’re worried. It’s a big undertaking. I’ll see if Ida’s ready.”

Before Saloma could take a step toward the stairs, Ida bustled down with her night satchel. She’d changed into her chore clothing. She didn’t say a word as Joe led the way outside.

Saloma stared after them. “
Da Hah
gives, and
Da Hah
takes away. Blessed be His name!” she called.

“Amen!” Bishop Beiler said loudly from his rocker.

Debbie fled back into the kitchen. She was blessed to be a part of this family in their sorrows and in their joys. Someday, if the Lord willed it, she and Alvin would experience this very thing. She would do everything in her power to make that happen—even with Crystal Meyers and Mildred Schrock around.

Seven

J
oe urged his driving horse, Isaiah, onward as Ida clung to the buggy front and tried to remain calm. After all, there really was no rush. She would help with the birth where she could, but the full responsibility for that lay in the capable hands of the old midwife Sadie Graber. By the means of her considerable skills, half the Amish babies around Lewistown had been brought into the world. Ida’s job was to help take care of the
boppli
once he or she was born.

“Sadie knows what she’s doing,” Ida said reassuringly as she clutched tightly to the side of the buggy when Joe took a corner at good speed.

Joe’s face twitched. “I know, but I’m awfully worried.”

“
Da Hah
will do what He wishes,” Ida said.

“That’s what’s got me afraid.” Joe made no pretense of hiding his doubts about the matter.

Ida tried to hide her smile. One’s first child must be the worst for causing fears, but in the end Joe would submit as they all did to the inevitable revelation of
Da Hah
’s will. But that didn’t mean one didn’t pray sorrows wouldn’t come or that the birth would be as easy and as safe as possible.

Joe’s lips moved in whispered prayer. “Dear
Hah
, You know I love Verna and the
boppli
that’s coming. If it’s not against Your will, please keep them both safe. How could I live without Verna? And how could either of us go on if the child is lost?”

Ida reached over and squeezed Joe’s arm.

He smiled in gratitude, but his face was still tense. Joe regarded her for a moment. “You’ve had your share of sorrows, Ida.” Joe turned his attention to the road as he navigated another sharp corner.

“
Da Hah
has seen me through all of them,” Ida said. “And He will be with you and Verna.”

Joe nodded but kept Isaiah moving at high speed.
Yah
, he trusted
Da Hah
, but he still wanted to get back home. He slowed the horse as they neared home. “I must admit that I’m feeling tense and have a headache. But it’s nothing compared to Verna’s pains.”

Ida leaned forward to pick up her satchel she’d set on the buggy floor. She rummaged through it and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. Ida shook two into her hand and held them out to Joe. “Take these. It’s going to be some long hours, I’m thinking.”

Joe snorted. “I’m not a baby.” But he took them, tossed the pills into his mouth dry, and swallowed.

“Now relax!” Ida commanded.

Joe smiled. He pulled into the driveway and stopped alongside the midwife’s horse and buggy at the hitching post.

Ida helped Joe unhitch Isaiah and headed for the house. Halfway across the lawn, she paused. Did Joe know enough about how long birthing might take to think of unhitching Sadie’s horse?
Nee
, likely not. She ran back to the barn door and hollered, “Joe, you do know that Sadie might be here all night?”

“I’ll see to her horse then,” Joe hollered back. “Thank you.”

Ida chuckled. Joe hadn’t admitted his not realizing these things, but that’s how men were. They didn’t like confessing their lack of knowledge. Just as Minister Kanagy hadn’t wanted to admit this afternoon
to his total ignorance on how to proceed with courting her. The poor man. She couldn’t blame him though. This was an awkward situation for both of them, made all the worse by the man’s sorrow over his
frau
’s recent death. She hadn’t told anyone about the exchange. She deliberately blocked it out of her mind on the drive home with Debbie and Emery. But now she let the memories rush back.

For once Minister Kanagy’s nervous twitches and fumbles had seemed completely appropriate. He’d motioned her out on the back porch when she walked by after the services. She’d obeyed, praying that no one would interrupt them in the midst of their talk. Not that they were doing anything wrong, but still…

Was this going to be a new start for her as Minister Kanagy’s
frau
? It certainly seemed so. But Minister Kanagy was just standing there, totally at a loss for words once he had her attention. He’d appeared confident enough earlier when he’d watched her during the services, but that was gone now.

“I… uh… sometimes… Ida… um… I don’t really know… You’ll have to forgive my clumsiness, Ida. T–t–this is very h–h–hard,” he stuttered.

What came over her, Ida had no idea. Maybe it was
Da Hah
giving her boldness and a willing heart because, truth to tell, she wasn’t attracted to the man. Not like she’d been to his brother, Melvin, and, before that, to Paul Wagler. Paul didn’t really count though. And as for Melvin, love had come slowly into her heart. There was no reason it wouldn’t do that for his brother. With time, she told herself.

Ida reached out and took Minister Kanagy’s hand. She used his first name. “Ben, I understand. And I’m so sorry about Barbara’s passing. I really am.”

He gulped hard even though his fingers lingered in hers. “You understand then? About the children? And my inability to take care of them well enough? And that the wedding season will soon be over?”

She’d smiled. “I understand all that.”

He’d stood there dazed.

Before long someone would walk past, so she’d prompted him. “Are you asking me to be your
frau
, Ben?”

Relief had flooded his face. “
Yah
, Ida.
Yah
!” I know I’m not that
gut
a husband for you, but I’m pressed greatly in my soul. And you are a godly woman.”

Ida had smiled. The man had a poetic side to him. She hadn’t expected that. “
Da Hah
will help us, I’m thinking. And
yah,
I’m willing.”

His eyes had widened. “You move my heart to great depths, Ida.”

Ida had pulled her hand from his. She could appreciate that he was grateful for the easy conquest, but even now footsteps sounded near the porch door.

Minister Kanagy rushed out, “I will come by your home then? This week sometime? For making the plans?” He hadn’t even waited for her nod before he fled.

Debbie had glanced strangely at Ida when she arrived back at the kitchen. Thankfully Debbie had apparently attributed Ida’s distracted condition to the trauma associated with Lois’s wedding the day before.

Ida had struggled for more than thirty minutes to compose herself. She was thrilled to gather her shawl around her shoulders in the washroom when it was time to leave. She’d allowed Debbie to lead the way outside to Emery’s buggy. Thankfully she’d been able to turn her thoughts and the conversation elsewhere for the ride home. The conversation about the strange girl in church, who turned out to be Crystal Meyers, had served as a convenient distraction.

She would soon be Minister Kanagy’s
frau
! Ida pushed open Verna and Joe’s front door. No thrills ran up and down her spine, but neither was that a requirement. She was happy with what
Da Hah
had apparently planned. And she would get to care for Melvin’s children. That would be one of the first things she’d speak with
Minister Kanagy about. He would have to agree to bring them all into his house if he wanted to wed her.

Pausing to listen, Ida heard soft sounds coming from the downstairs bedroom. She headed that way.

Sadie met her at the door with a smile. “I thought I heard someone drive in. Is Joe still beside himself?”

Ida grinned. “I gave him two aspirins. He’ll be in after he’s put your horse up.”

Sadie laughed. “I’m not surprised he’s in such a state.”

Ida joined in the laughter. “Can I do anything to help?”

“See your sister for a moment.” Sadie waved toward the bedroom door. “Then keep the water warm in the kitchen. I’m going that way now. We’re going to need lots of it for coffee… hot chocolate… towels.” Sadie laughed again. “
Bopplis
don’t ask us when to arrive.”

That they don’t
, Ida agreed as Sadie disappeared toward the kitchen. The front door slammed, and Joe said something to Sadie. The midwife murmured something back. Ida eased herself into the bedroom. Verna was propped up in bed with pillows, her face red and sweaty. Ida rushed forward. “You poor thing! Is it that bad?”

“Keep Joe out of here!” Verna gasped. “I have enough to take care of right now.”

Ida hid a smile. How she was going to accomplish that, she had no idea.

Verna caught her breath and whispered, “Why did Eve ever eat that apple in the garden?”

“We’re not such saints ourselves, you know.” Ida reached for Verna’s hand. “They always say the first
boppli
’s birth is the worst.”

“And they’re right,” Verna said, taking another deep breath. “Did
Mamm
say anything about coming?”

“Nee.” Ida squeezed Verna’s hand. “We didn’t know you wanted her here.”

“Neither did I.” Verna grimaced. “
Mamm
’s comforting presence would be nice right now.”

“Shall I send Joe for her?” Ida let go of Verna’s hand to turn toward the door.

Vern grabbed for it again. “
Nee
, let’s stick with the plan. You’re here! What more could I want?”

“I’m not sure I can do much,” Ida said as Sadie came back into the room with wet washcloths.

Sadie waved her hand toward the bedroom doorway. “Ida, you can keep Joe out of here. That’s your job right now. I told him he’s to come no closer than the living room. He’s an emotional wreck, that man is. You’d think the husbands were having the
boppli
sometimes.” Sadie placed a cool washcloth on Verna’s forehead.

A grateful look crossed Verna’s face. She relaxed into the pillows. “How long will it be now, Sadie?”

“Only
Da Hah
knows that, dear heart,” Sadie said. “The
boppli
is turned right, which you can be thankful for. So we wait until it’s time, and we pray.”

“
Yah
,” Verna whispered. “We must pray.”

Sadie closed her eyes. “Dear
Hah
, we ask for Your peace tonight as we gather for the miracle of birth. Bless Verna and Joe. Calm their troubled hearts. Help Verna through the pain by making it bearable. I will do what I can in the hours ahead, but You know that’s precious little without Your wisdom and guidance and strength. Amen.”