too much time to think about Luke and how much she missed him. Her mind drifted
back to the day they’d said goodbye and the sincere expression she’d seen on his face.
If she had known it would be the last time she’d ever see her beloved husband, she
would have said so many things.
Tears welled in Meredith’s eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
Oh, Luke, I love you so much.
The thought that she would never see his handsome, smiling face again was almost
too much to comprehend.
Forcing herself to think about something else, Meredith began to fret because she
couldn’t be at home doing the things she’d planned in preparation for the baby. If
only there was something she could do while she rested—anything that would keep her
mind off the troubles she faced and help her focus on something else. She’d always
been the type to keep her hands busy, and doing nothing was so frustrating.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Meredith’s grandmother asked as she entered the living
room with a tray in her hands.
Meredith nodded appreciatively. “That’d be nice.”
Grandma Smucker set the tray on the coffee table, poured each of them a cup of tea,
and took a seat in the rocker across from Meredith. “How are you feeling, dear one?”
Meredith managed a weak smile. “Better than yesterday. I overdid it, and because of
my stupidity, I almost lost the boppli.”
Grandma slowly shook her head. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Meredith. We all make
mistakes.”
“I guess I’m full of
hochmut
, or I would have asked for help painting the baby’s room.”
“You should never be too proud to ask. That’s what families are for, you know.” Grandma
took a sip of tea and winked at Meredith. “You’re a lot like me, though. It was hard
to move in with your folks after your grandpa died, and I still feel bad about them
having to support me. But I know they’re doing it because they love me, and for that,
I’m grateful.” She sighed as she set her cup on the coffee table. “It’s sad to say,
but some folks, like Alma Beechy, don’t have any family around to help.”
“I appreciate my family and friends,” Meredith said, taking a sip of tea and savoring
the delicious flavor of ginger, which soothed her upset stomach almost immediately.
“My friend Dorine Yoder suggested that I make head coverings to sell. I was planning
to start doing that right away, but now I guess it’ll have to wait awhile.”
“I’ve made a few coverings in my day,” Grandma said, “so I’d be happy to help when
you’re feeling up to doing some sewing.”
“
Danki
, I would like that.”
“How are you doing?” Dad asked as he and Mom entered the room.
“I’m okay. Just tired of lying around doing nothing but worrying about things—including
my finances,” she answered honestly.
“First things, first. I have a surprise for you.” Dad grinned at Meredith and went
out to the back porch. When he returned, he had Fritz. The dog spied Meredith and
raced over to her, resting his head gently on her lap as though sensing that he needed
to take it easy with her. His stub of a tail, however, flopped back and forth on the
floor, beating a rhythm of happiness. Meredith laughed at how funny he looked. It
felt good to find something to laugh about.
“Hey, pup,” she said, patting the top of his head. “How are you doin’, boy?”
Fritz slurped Meredith’s hand in response.
“I bet you were lonely last night, weren’t you, pup? I’m sorry I had to leave you
alone in your kennel all night.” Meredith felt her nerves begin to relax as she continued
to pet Fritz, and he alternated between licking and nuzzling her hand.
“I think I may have an answer that could help you. At least, it will help out with
your finances,” Dad said.
“Oh, what’s that?” Meredith asked as she pampered Fritz with soothing murmurs.
“I ran into Jonah Miller at your place today, and
back to the day they’d said goodbye and the sincere expression she’d seen on his face.
If she had known it would be the last time she’d ever see her beloved husband, she
would have said so many things.
Tears welled in Meredith’s eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
Oh, Luke, I love you so much.
The thought that she would never see his handsome, smiling face again was almost
too much to comprehend.
Forcing herself to think about something else, Meredith began to fret because she
couldn’t be at home doing the things she’d planned in preparation for the baby. If
only there was something she could do while she rested—anything that would keep her
mind off the troubles she faced and help her focus on something else. She’d always
been the type to keep her hands busy, and doing nothing was so frustrating.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Meredith’s grandmother asked as she entered the living
room with a tray in her hands.
Meredith nodded appreciatively. “That’d be nice.”
Grandma Smucker set the tray on the coffee table, poured each of them a cup of tea,
and took a seat in the rocker across from Meredith. “How are you feeling, dear one?”
Meredith managed a weak smile. “Better than yesterday. I overdid it, and because of
my stupidity, I almost lost the boppli.”
Grandma slowly shook her head. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Meredith. We all make
mistakes.”
“I guess I’m full of
hochmut
, or I would have asked for help painting the baby’s room.”
“You should never be too proud to ask. That’s what families are for, you know.” Grandma
took a sip of tea and winked at Meredith. “You’re a lot like me, though. It was hard
to move in with your folks after your grandpa died, and I still feel bad about them
having to support me. But I know they’re doing it because they love me, and for that,
I’m grateful.” She sighed as she set her cup on the coffee table. “It’s sad to say,
but some folks, like Alma Beechy, don’t have any family around to help.”
“I appreciate my family and friends,” Meredith said, taking a sip of tea and savoring
the delicious flavor of ginger, which soothed her upset stomach almost immediately.
“My friend Dorine Yoder suggested that I make head coverings to sell. I was planning
to start doing that right away, but now I guess it’ll have to wait awhile.”
“I’ve made a few coverings in my day,” Grandma said, “so I’d be happy to help when
you’re feeling up to doing some sewing.”
“
Danki
, I would like that.”
“How are you doing?” Dad asked as he and Mom entered the room.
“I’m okay. Just tired of lying around doing nothing but worrying about things—including
my finances,” she answered honestly.
“First things, first. I have a surprise for you.” Dad grinned at Meredith and went
out to the back porch. When he returned, he had Fritz. The dog spied Meredith and
raced over to her, resting his head gently on her lap as though sensing that he needed
to take it easy with her. His stub of a tail, however, flopped back and forth on the
floor, beating a rhythm of happiness. Meredith laughed at how funny he looked. It
felt good to find something to laugh about.
“Hey, pup,” she said, patting the top of his head. “How are you doin’, boy?”
Fritz slurped Meredith’s hand in response.
“I bet you were lonely last night, weren’t you, pup? I’m sorry I had to leave you
alone in your kennel all night.” Meredith felt her nerves begin to relax as she continued
to pet Fritz, and he alternated between licking and nuzzling her hand.
“I think I may have an answer that could help you. At least, it will help out with
your finances,” Dad said.
“Oh, what’s that?” Meredith asked as she pampered Fritz with soothing murmurs.
“I ran into Jonah Miller at your place today, and
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