Mother For His Children, A by Jan Drexler Page A

saw what was inside the chest.
    And yet, shouldn’t the girls have reminders of their mother?
    She rose from her bed, hurriedly splashing water to wash away the blotchy redness she knew the family would see when she went back to the kitchen. Drying her hands and face on the towel, she shivered. It certainly seemed colder than it had been this morning.
    A knock sounded on the Dawdi Haus door as she adjusted the pinnings on her dress. The girls must need her help.
    â€œ Ja, I’m coming.” She opened the door while holding her skirt in place with one hand, pins in her mouth and kapp askew, but instead of one of the girls, Levi Zook stood in the doorway, his hands in his pockets.
    She hurriedly fastened the last of the pins into her waistband and straightened her kapp the best she could while he watched.
    â€œI’m sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to talk to you while the children were busy.”
    â€œ Ja, ja, ja, come in, please.”
    The man looked huge and out of place in the little Dawdi Haus. He looked around the room as he stepped in.
    â€œIt’s cold in here.”
    â€œThe fire is banked.” Her words sounded foolish. Why was he here?
    â€œI need to apologize to you.” His face was tired, but all traces of his earlier anguish were gone.
    â€œ Ach, ne, Levi Zook. I’m the one who should apologize. I let the girls go much too far when they went into your room. It was unforgivable.”
    He had moved to look at her books on the side table, but turned at her comment.
    â€œUnforgivable? Nothing is unforgivable.”
    Ruthy looked down and smoothed her skirt with her hands. “Some things are. Betrayal is unforgivable.” Her voice shook. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud.
    Raising her eyes to Levi Zook’s, she saw something there. Pity. Concern. Sadness.
    â€œNothing is unforgivable, Ruth. Our heavenly Father is ready and waiting to hear our repentance. We only need to turn to him.”
    Ruthy’s heart felt cold and hard in her chest. He misunderstood, thinking she had been the one who sinned. But she had been the victim of Elam and Laurette’s betrayal. How could she forgive what they did to her?
    She tried to apologize again. “I am sorry for letting the girls intrude into your bedroom. If...if you think I shouldn’t be working for you, I would understand.”
    He reached out to grasp her hand in his. “I was angry, and I shouldn’t have been. I was afraid of what you’d think...what the girls would think... Is it wrong to save Salome’s dresses and things? They’re all I have to remember her.”
    Ruthy looked into his face. His eyes were shadowed, the anguish had returned.
    â€œNot all, Levi Zook. You have her children.”
    Levi’s eyes flashed open and he squeezed her hand.
    â€œYou’re right. I could never forget her while I have the children, could I?”
    Ruthy pulled her hand away and turned to the chair, where she had dropped her apron.
    â€œDinner is ready. You must be cold and hungry.”
    He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “One thing, first. I want you to take Salome’s dresses from the chest and fit them for Waneta. I’ve laid them on the chair in the front room.”
    â€œBut...”
    Levi Zook continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’ll take her other things up to the attic. The girls will want to have them someday, when they’re older.”
    Ruthy nodded. It was the right thing to do.
    Sounds intruded from the kitchen. The boys had come in from the barn, bringing noise and laughter with them.
    Levi dropped his hand from her arm. “I think it’s time for dinner.”
    Ruthy looked into his eyes as she passed by him on the way to the kitchen. They were shadowed and red-rimmed, but held a peace she hadn’t seen since she had met him.
    Â 

Chapter Eight
    T he storm Levi Zook had predicted blew in that afternoon, with a sharp