The Quilter's Daughter (15 page)

A
bby stood in the middle of her mother’s quilt shop, studying it from all angles. Thanks to several Amish and Mennonite ladies in their community, she had a lot more quilts to sell. That was good, since so many tourists flocked to Lancaster County and visited Fannie’s Quilt Shop in Paradise. There was only one problem. Abby had run out of room to display all the quilts. “I would hate to start turning quilters away,” she mumbled.

“Why would you have to do that?”

Abby spun around at the sound of Matthew’s deep, yet mellow voice. “I have no more space to display quilts,” she said, motioning to the crowded shelves along the walls and several racks in the middle of the room.

He stepped up beside her. “How did you display things at your shop in Berlin?”

“I had several wooden quilt racks scattered around, and some were draped across a bed we had set up in the middle of the room.” Abby sighed. “Of course my shop there is much larger than this one.”

“Seems to me what you need are some large hangers you could put on that bare wall with quilts draped over them.” Matthew nodded toward the wall facing the adjoining general store.

“The only trouble with that is I have no such hangers.”

“I saw some in a quilt shop over in Strasburg a few weeks ago. I like to fiddle with wood when I have the time, and I’m thinkin’ I might be able to make you some hangers.”

“That would be wunderbaar,” she said with a burst of enthusiasm. “I’ll pay you for them, of course.”

He grinned at her, and the dimple in his chin became more pronounced. “How about in exchange for me making the quilt hangers, you take a day off and do something for yourself?”

She frowned. “I can’t do that. Mom needs my help here and at home.”

“But she’s gonna need you a lot more once the twins are born.” Matthew leaned on the table closest to him and stared at her. “If you know you’ll be workin’ harder in a few months, that’s all the more reason you should take time to rest or do something fun now.”

Abby drew in a deep breath. Matthew was right, as usual, although she hated to admit it. “Okay, I’ll take a longer lunch break this afternoon and try to get caught up on my letter writing.”

He chuckled while shaking his head. “Abby Miller, you’re too much.”

She plucked a bolt of material off the table. “I’d best get back to work now, and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve got some customers in the store needing help, too.”

Matthew groaned, but there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Work, work, work. That’s all you ever think about.”

She poked him playfully on the arm. “See you later, big brother.”

“Yep.” He turned and sauntered out of the room.

Linda stood at the kitchen window, watching her son play in the backyard. She had given Jimmy a jar of bubbles after they finished eating breakfast, and for the last half hour he’d been keeping himself well entertained.

He’s such a sweet, even-tempered boy,
she mused. The woman in charge of child care at the fitness center had told Linda that Jimmy was an absolute pleasure to be around. He’d played well with the other children there and hadn’t given the woman a bit of trouble.

Linda smiled and waved as Jimmy pranced across the lawn
in front of the window, wielding his wand and leaving a trail of rainbow-colored bubbles floating behind.

My fears about leaving him with strangers while Beth and I exercised were unfounded, and I’m sure the young woman at the front desk wasn’t a threat, either.

“What are you staring at?”

Linda whirled around. “Jim! I thought you’d left for work already.”

“I did, but I forgot something and had to come back for it.”

“What’d you forget?”

“The little book I write my paint jobs in. Can’t get any work done without that.” Jim stepped up to the window. “I see our boy’s getting his exercise for the day.”

She nodded. “I got some yesterday, too.”

“Oh? What’d you do, jog to the park and back?”

“Beth and I went to that newly remodeled fitness center you painted. They had an open house and offered free workouts.”

Jim grabbed a glass from the cupboard and turned on the faucet at the sink. “You planning to go back?”

“Beth said she’d like to, but the membership fee is pretty expensive. I’m not sure she can afford it.”

“Well, we can, so if you want to join, you have my blessings.”

Linda shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’d want to go alone.”

He gulped down the water and set the glass in the sink. “Don’t get any dumb ideas about me going with you. I don’t have the time.”

She clenched her teeth. “I know that, Jim. You never have time for anything I want to do.”

“That’s not true. I took you to the grocery store last night, didn’t I?”

“That was for necessities, not for the fun of doing something together.”

“You think working out on some stupid rowing machine and getting all sweaty would be fun?”

“It could be, if we did it together.”

“And what would we do with Jimmy if we ran off to the
health club to get healthy and fit?” he asked in a sarcastic tone. “We have no babysitter, as you may recall, because you don’t like to leave Jimmy with strangers.”

Linda moved away from the window and dropped into a chair at the table. “Beth was wondering if we could get together with her family for a barbecue sometime soon,” she said, hoping the change of subject might relieve some of the tension between them.

“I don’t have time to socialize right now. Need to get my outside painting jobs done while we’ve still got good weather.”

“But, I thought—”

“I said no!” Jim stomped across the room and jerked open the refrigerator. “Have we got any beer? I told you to pick up a case last night.”

She shook her head. “Sorry, I forgot.”
I wish you wouldn’t drink, Jim. It only fuels your agitation.

He slammed the refrigerator door, causing the vase on top to tumble to the floor. It was plastic and didn’t shatter, but Linda felt irritation that her husband could lose his temper so easily. Jim hadn’t always been this testy, but in the last few years, he often exploded over the littlest thing.

“You could have gone into the store with me instead of waiting in the car,” she mumbled.

“Yeah, right, and haul Jimmy in there so he could whine and beg for everything that caught his eye?”

“Jimmy doesn’t do that whenever I take him to the store. He’s very well behaved. In fact, the lady who watched him at the fitness center commented on what a nice boy he is.”

Jim’s features softened some as he bent to pick up the vase. “Jimmy’s a good kid.”

“And cute, too,” she added with a smile. “The young woman at the front desk said Jimmy reminded her of a little Amish boy she used to know.”

“What?”

“She said Jimmy had the same color hair and eyes as the little boy.”

“What else did the woman say?”

“That’s about all.” Linda’s forehead wrinkled. “I’ll have to
admit, it did make me kind of nervous the way she kept staring at Jimmy.”

Jim’s hand shook, and the vase crashed to the floor again.

“Jim, what’s wrong? You’re trembling like we’ve just had an earthquake.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I—I’m tired and need to get to work.” He bent to pick up the vase for the second time and placed it back on the refrigerator.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine!”

Her spine went rigid, and she recoiled.

“I think it’d be best if you don’t sign up at the fitness center right now.”

Jim’s wrinkled forehead and eyebrows drawn together let Linda know that he was uptight, but she didn’t understand why. “A few minutes ago you said we could afford for me to go there.”

“I’ve changed my mind!”

“You don’t have to get so angry.”

“I’m not angry.” Jim glanced at his watch. “But I am late, so this discussion is over.” He turned and rushed out the door.

Linda swallowed around the lump in her throat. Would things ever be right between her and Jim again? Maybe a few minutes in the fresh air with Jimmy would help calm her.

Naomi sat in the rocking chair holding baby Susan. Sarah knelt on the living room floor, playing with the wooden blocks her uncle Matthew had made for her second birthday. There was a knock at the front door, and rather than disturb the baby, Naomi called, “Come in.”

A few seconds later, Abby stepped into the room, carrying a large paper sack.

“It’s nice to see you,” Naomi said with a smile.

“I thought I’d drop by on my way home from work and see how everyone’s doing.”

“We’re doin’ well.” Naomi motioned to the sofa. “Have a seat. You look done in.”

Abby flopped down and leaned against the throw pillows with a yawn. “It’s been a busy day, and I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Sorry to hear that. Maybe you should see about hiring a helper at the quilt shop.”

“I’ve thought about it, but sooner or later Mom will take the place back over, and I’m sure I can keep things running smoothly until that time.”

Naomi lifted the baby onto her shoulder and patted her gently on the back. “You really think Fannie will be up to running the quilt shop after she gives birth to twins?”

Abby shrugged. “She says she will.”

“I thought I’d be going back to help at the store soon after Susan was born, but as you can see, I’ve got my hands full right here. If I tried to take my two little ones to work with me every day, I doubt I’d get much done.” Naomi sighed. “Caleb would probably still need to hire someone, and the girls and I would just be in the way.”

Abby lifted her brows. “Are you saying you’re not going back to work at all?”

“I will when the boppli is a little older, but for now Caleb and I have decided that my place is at home.

“Guess that makes sense.” Abby reached her hand out to Sarah. “What have you got there,
hatzli
—sweetheart?”

The little girl held up two wooden blocks and grinned.
“Ich schpiele gern.”

“I know you like to play, Sarah.” Abby smiled at Naomi. “She’s learning to speak so clearly already.”

Naomi chuckled. “Jah. Caleb thinks she gets her smarts from him. I don’t have the heart to tell him that I started talking clearly before I was two. At least that’s what Papa says.”

Abby reached into the paper sack she’d brought along. “I made something for the boppli.” She removed the baby quilt and handed it to Naomi.

“Oh, it’s beautiful, Abby. Danki.”

“You’re welcome.”

Naomi fingered the pink and white patchwork quilt done in
the Lancaster Rose pattern. Then she draped it across her knees and placed her infant daughter in the center of it.

“I hope you like it.”

“It’s real nice, Abby, and it will surely be put to good use.” Naomi brushed at the tears splattering her cheeks.

“I’m sorry if I made you cry,” Abby apologized.

Naomi shook her head. “I love the quilt, and I know Susan will, too, when she’s older. Guess I’m just goin’ through a bit of postpartum depression right now, and everything makes me feel weepy.”

Abby offered Naomi a look of sympathy. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just stop by once in a while for a visit when you have the time.”

“I always enjoy being with you, and I’ll come over as often as I can.”

Naomi reached for a tissue from the box on the table beside her chair. “I don’t know what we’d all do without you, Abby.”