As Grace settled herself against the cleaned sofa cushions, snuggling a tiny bundle of joy in her arms, she reflected on all that had transpired during the last twenty-four hours. She’d fully intended to have her baby at the Doughty View Midwifery Center. Instead, she’d ended up giving birth in the backseat of Donna Larson’s car, with Cleon acting as midwife. After Ruth went to the nearest phone shed to call for help, Grace and the baby had been taken by ambulance to the hospital in Millersburg to be checked over. Then Ruth had gone home to tell her folks and Martin’s family the news and to see that Anna was picked up from school. This morning, Cleon had called Ray Larson to pick them up at the hospital, and now Grace and the baby were home where they belonged.
“Come say hello to your little bruder,” Grace said, motioning for Anna to take a seat beside her.
The child hovered near the sofa, wearing an expectant look on her face, but she finally sat down. “He’s sure tiny and red in the face. What’s his name?” she asked, leaning close to the baby.
“Don’t put your face so near to his,” Cleon said as he took a seat on the other side of Grace. “You’ve had a cold, and I don’t want you giving it to the boppli.”
Anna scrunched up her nose. “That was last week, Papa. I’m feelin’ fine now.”
“Even so, I’d prefer you not breathe any germs on the baby.”
Grace pursed her lips. “Cleon, I don’t think—”
He held up his hand. “She can look at the boppli without putting her face right up to his.”
Grace figured Cleon was just being overprotective and would soon relax, so she decided it was best not to make an issue of it.
“What’s his name?” Anna asked again, looking up at Grace.
“Daniel,” Cleon said before Grace could respond. He reached over and touched the baby’s dark head. “Daniel Jacob Schrock.”
Anna’s forehead wrinkled. “Is he gonna cry all the time? Esta said her little sister, Molly, cried so much when she was a boppli that Esta had to stuff cotton in her ears so she could sleep.”
“Some babies do cry a lot, but hopefully Daniel won’t cry much at night,” Grace said.
“Can I hold him?”
“Yes.”
“No!”
Cleon and Grace had spoken at the same time, and Anna appeared confused.
“He’s too little for you to hold yet,” Cleon said.
Again, Grace fought the urge to dispute what he’d said. She didn’t want Anna to think she was usurping Cleon’s authority. Except for Carl Davis, Anna’s English grandfather, Cleon was the only father the child had ever known. They had developed a good relationship over the last several months, and Grace didn’t want anything to spoil it.
Grace patted Anna’s arm. “You can hold him when he’s a little bigger, okay?”
Anna nodded, but her eyes were downcast. She sat a few seconds, then hopped off the couch.
“Where are you going?” Grace called.
“To my room to play with my faceless doll. At least she’s not too little for me to hold.”
Grace turned to Cleon and was about to comment on his behavior toward Anna when Ruth stepped into the room, followed by Martha, Mom, and Dad.
Anxious to see her nephew, Ruth rushed into the room ahead of her family. “What a sweet little bundle of joy,” she exclaimed as she approached the sofa.
Grace smiled. “Danki. We think we’ll keep him.”
In a confused babble of voices, everyone asked Grace how she was doing, how much the baby weighed, and what name had been chosen for him.
“His name is Daniel Jacob,” Cleon said. “He weighs eight pounds, four ounces, and Grace is doing fine.”
“A nice, healthy size.” Mom extended her hands. “May I hold my first grandson?”
Grace looked over at Cleon as if waiting for his approval. When he nodded, she handed the baby to Mom.
“It feels so good to hold him,” Mom said as she took a seat in the rocking chair. “Makes me think of the days when you girls were bopplin.” She smiled at Ruth. “Isn’t he a fine-looking baby?”
“He certainly is,” Ruth replied. “And when you get tired of holding him, it’ll be my turn.”
“I’ll hold him after that.” Martha turned to Dad. “Guess you’ll have to go last.”
He hunkered down next to the rocking chair. “Makes no never mind to me. Whenever I hold a boppli, they usually start crying.”
Mom’s gaze went to the ceiling. “You know that’s not true, Roman. As I recall, our girls used to fall asleep as soon as you picked them up.”
“Humph! That’s not much better—saying I was so boring I put our girls to sleep.”
“That’s not what I meant, Roman.”
“Where’s Anna?” Ruth asked, changing the subject. “I figured she would be the first in line to hold her little bruder.”
“Anna’s upstairs in her room. She said she wanted to play with her faceless doll,” Grace was quick to say.
“She’s probably pretending she has her own boppli.” Mom placed the baby over her shoulder and patted his back. “I remember when Martha was born, Grace and Ruth played with their dolls and pretended they were little midder.“
Cleon reached for Grace’s hand. “Are you getting tired? Would you like to go to our room and rest awhile?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Ruth could see the weariness on her sister’s face, and she felt concern. “Maybe it would be best if we went home and let Grace and the baby get settled in,” she suggested. “The rest of us can hold the boppli tomorrow.”
“You’re right,” Mom said as she handed the baby to Ruth. “You can put this little guy back in his mamm’s arms, and we’ll be on our way.” She smiled. “I’ve got a big batch of stew simmering on the stove, so I’ll have Martha bring some over for your supper.”
“Danki, that’d be nice,” Grace replied with a yawn. “It’ll be a few days before I feel up to doing much cooking.”
“We’ll chip in to help wherever we’re needed.” Ruth stared down at baby Daniel, and a lump formed in her throat. Oh, how she longed to be a mother.
“Did you hear that Grace had her baby yesterday afternoon?” Martin asked Abe as he stepped into the harness shop and hung his hat on a wall peg near the door.
“Nope, I hadn’t heard that. What’d she have?”
“A boy, and he was born in the backseat of Donna Larson’s car.” Martin moved over to the desk, where Abe sat making a list of supplies he needed. “Ruth came over to my folks’ place last night and told us about it.”
Abe’s eyebrows lifted. “How’d that happen?”
“Donna was giving them a ride to the Doughty View Midwifery Center, and her car overheated. I guess Cleon was in the backseat with Grace when the boppli decided it couldn’t wait to be born.”
“Whew!” Abe let out a whistle. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Cleon to deliver his own son. I’d have been a nervous wreck.”
“Ruth was on her way home from work and spotted Donna’s car. When she stopped to see if there was a problem, she discovered Grace in the backseat about to give birth.” Martin leaned on Abe’s desk and smiled. “I can’t wait until Ruth and I are married and can start our own family.”
“You might change your mind about that when you have to change dirty windle and are kept up all night with a colicky baby.” Abe grunted. “Never liked either of those things, but then I—”
Abe’s oldest son, Gideon, entered the shop. “Aw, Papa, do you have to work today?” he grumbled. “It’s Saturday, and I was hopin’ we could go fishing.”
“Not today, son.” Abe motioned to the stack of papers on his desk. “I’ve got supplies to order and bills that need to be paid.”
Gideon kicked a scrap of leather lying on the floor and grunted. “If you’re not workin’, you’re sleepin’. If you’re not sleepin’, you’re workin’.”
“I’ve got to make a living,” Abe said. “Otherwise there’ll be no food on our table.”
Gideon shuffled out the door with his head down and shoulders slumped.
Abe looked up at Martin. “See what I mean? Being a daed isn’t all sugar and cream. Fact is, there are times when it’s more like vinegar and sauerkraut. ’Course, I wouldn’t trade my kinner for anything. On their good days, they can be a real blessing.”
Martin moved over to the cupboard where the dye was kept. One thing he knew: When he became a father, he would never be too busy to spend time with his kinner.