But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Once Aaron was outside, Courtney felt a whole lot more relaxed. She tiptoed to the kitchen window to see him preparing his wagon for the day ahead. Staying well back in case he happened to glance up and see her, she studied him. There was no doubt he was an attractive man. He looked across to the window and she stepped a bit further back with her heart pumping wildly. After a while, she stood at the kitchen sink as though she were washing the dishes, but by then he had gone. Thinking it strange she didn’t hear him leave, she moved into the bathroom and looked out into the fields. She saw his wagon moving away—a speck in the distance.
She moved back into the kitchen and saw Jared standing there wiping his eyes.
“Good morning, Jared.”
Jared nodded, looking as though he was barely awake.
“Are you ready for breakfast?”
Jared nodded again.
“Okay you sit down and I’ll make you some.” Normally she would’ve waited for all three children to be awake before cooking, but since they would have a new routine with her there she wanted to be flexible until the children adjusted. “Do the others wake as early as you?”
“Sometimes,” Jared said.
Since Ellen's death, Aaron had been getting the children up, fed, and dressed before taking them to Heather's for the workday.
“Your vadder’s only just left. How about as soon as I make you breakfast we go out and collect the eggs?”
“That’s Ben and Amy’s job.”
“Will they be upset if we do it?”
Jared nodded. “It used be my chore when I was little. Amy doesn’t have many chores. You should give her some more.”
“I certainly will; everybody should have their own special things that they do every day.” Courtney noticed a smile on Jared’s face at the thought of his younger sister getting more chores. She could tell Jared had a lot of mischief in him. She buttered two slices of bread and fried them in the pan. I think we might need to bake more bread today; maybe we’ll leave it for this afternoon when you get home from schul and then we can all help.”
“Boys don’t cook.”
“Your vadder cooks and has been doing so these past months. Everybody should learn to cook. It’s a skill just like any other.”
“Dat doesn’t cook.”
“It seems I arrived just in time.” Courtney laughed and sat down for a moment to allow everything time to cook. “Your vadder told me he’s been cooking for you for the last few months. He’s written everything down for me so I know his and your routine.” Now that he knew that, Jared might be less inclined to put anything over on her—she hoped.
Jared looked disappointed that she knew so much.
Courtney got up and flipped the toast over.
“Do you have a dat?” Jared asked unexpectedly.
Courtney picked up the wooden spoon and stirred the eggs. “I did have a vadder and he’s gone to be with Gott a long time ago, the same as my mudder. Did you mean to ask if I have a husband?”
“Jah, that’s what I meant.”
“I had one, but he’s also with Gott.”
Jared stared at her. “My mudder is with Gott too. A lot of people are with Gott now.”
“Jah, I did hear that. I'm sure you miss her, and I miss my husband, too, but Gott is taking good care of them and one day we'll see them again.” Courtney placed his eggs on a plate and then put the golden toasted bread alongside. She poured herself another cup of tea and then sat down with him.
Courtney had read in Aaron’s notebook that the children’s schul was held four days a week on Heather and James’ land. There were only twelve children in the school ranging in ages from five through ten. That had to mean that, with Aaron’s oldest two and James and Heather’s three, they made up nearly half the students. “Do you like your schoolwork, Jared?”
Jared was busily eating his eggs, but he put his fork down and said, “Sometimes.”
She had been hoping for more of a conversation. “And your sister Amy is too young to go yet, isn’t she?”
“Jah, too little.”
“What do you like learning about at school?”
“Nothing. I don’t want to go to schul but Dat says we must.”
Courtney laughed. “There must be something you like learning about.”
“It’s just words and numbers. Sometimes we play games.”
“Really? What kind of games?”
“Games about words and numbers.”
The other two children interrupted Jared and Courtney.
“Everyone’s awake now. Gut morning you two. Would you like breakfast?”
Ben nodded while Amy remained silent and ran to the bathroom. Courtney put more toast on and got more eggs ready. Soon Amy reappeared. “Have you washed your hands?” Courtney asked Amy.
Amy nodded and sat down in between Jared and Ben. It seemed none of them were very active in the morning. After breakfast they all did their chores, and then they got ready for schul.
Courtney drove the boys to schul with Jared sitting in the front giving her directions. When the boys were safely inside the one room schoolhouse, she and Amy headed back home. She didn’t feel she knew Heather well enough to drop by her house even though she’d been invited to do so.
“Are you looking forward to going to schul when you’re bigger, Amy?”
“Jah, I want to go with the boys.”
Courtney remembered what Aaron said about Amy not wanting to wear a dress because her brothers didn’t. “You’ll be going to schul soon enough and you can play with some other girls there.”
When Courtney had unhitched the buggy, Amy took hold of her hand and together they walked inside. “Looks like our fire’s gone out. Are you cold?”
Amy shook her head.
“Perhaps we’ll leave it for a while and light it when we get home after collecting the boys.”
“Okay.”
“Are you hungry?”
When Amy shook her head, Courtney tried to remember what was on her list of chores. She knew she had to bake bread every couple of days and she knew from cooking breakfast that the bread supply was running low. “How would you like to help me make bread?”
“Jah. Can I do it?”
“I did say the boys could help me, but Jared wasn’t too keen on that idea, so maybe you and I will do it by ourselves.” Just at that moment, they heard the sound of a horse and buggy.
Amy raced to the window to see who it was and Courtney wasn’t far behind her.
“It’s Aunty Heather.”
“Wunderbaar. Let’s go and greet her.”
Amy grabbed Courtney’s hand, pulled the door open, and tugged her outside.
They both waited until Heather climbed out of the buggy.
“Hello,” Courtney said and then Amy said hello.
“Hello to you both.” Heather hurried toward them. “Did you find the schul all right?"
"Jah, I had two helpers to show me the way.”
“Jah, of course you would’ve.”
“Come in. I’m so pleased you’ve come for a visit. Will you stay for a cup of tea or kaffe?”
“I’ve just taken the boys to schul so I’ve got some free time.”
When they were sitting at the table with hot tea, Courtney said, “I need to do some baking. I can offer you sugar cookies and that’s all.”
“They’re fine sugar cookies. I should know I baked them.”
Courtney giggled. “It must’ve been a lot of extra work for you helping Aaron out with the children.” Courtney looked over at Amy who was sitting at the table with a hot chocolate.
“In times of trouble we all work together. He’d do the same if the situation called for it.”
“I’m sure he would. I’m so glad you stopped by today because I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know a midwife? Is there one around here somewhere?” Courtney bit her lip hoping that there was, otherwise she wasn’t quite sure what she was going to do.
Heather looked over at Amy and then leaned in to whisper, “Are you having a boppli?”
Courtney nodded.
“That’s wunderbaar. I thought you might be, but I didn’t know if I should ask in case I was wrong. I’m a midwife.”
“Are you?” Courtney heaved a sigh of relief, as that was the one thing she was most concerned with.
“I’m a registered nurse with midwife training. I joined the Amish when I was twenty-two and married James. I’ve delivered three babies since we moved here; that’s not many but there aren’t a lot being born around here.”
“Would you be able to deliver my boppli?”
“I’d be happy to. When is your due date?”
“In eight week's time.”
“Have you had check ups?”
Courtney shook her head. “I moved from Ohio to Lancaster County after my husband died and when I arrived there, I was looking for a job so I didn’t tell anyone about the baby and then I just kept keeping it quiet until Bessie found me the job here with Aaron.”
“Come to my haus tomorrow after you take Ben and Jared to schul. I’ve got a blood pressure machine and the rest of my equipment there. I’ll take a look at you.”
“Denke, Heather. That’s such a relief and a load off my mind.”
“Are your familye in Ohio?”
“I have no familye. My husband’s familye lived in Ohio, but he was an Englischer before he joined the community, and they weren’t happy with him marrying me. They sold the house from underneath me because it belonged to them, and they made everything hard for me. I thought I’d have a new start in Lancaster County. I’d met nice people from the different regions there over the years. I stayed with David and Wilma Yoder for some months and they were so lovely to me.”
“May I please have a cookie?” Amy asked.
“Jah, you can have one.” Courtney passed the plate of cookies and Amy took one.
“Denke, Miss Courtney.”
“You’re welcome,” Courtney said, taking a sugar cookie for herself.
“What lovely manners you have Amy,” Heather said which made Amy giggle.
Courtney took a bite out of the cookie and when she’d swallowed she said, “I didn’t realize that you weren’t raised Amish. It didn’t even occur to me.”
“Most people guess from my name.”
“I know it’s not a traditional Amish name but that’s not too unusual. Are you pleased you joined the community?”
Heather nodded. “I’m more happy than I’ve ever been. Mind you, I’ve always been a happy person, but since I met and married James he’s made such a huge difference. It’s a good way of life and everyone is so kind and caring just like one big happy family. A happy familye of Gott and we can always do with another boppli about the place. Funny that Aaron never mentioned it.”
“That’s the thing that makes me feel bad. Aaron didn’t know because no one in Lancaster County knew, not even Bessie.”
“Oh. Now it all makes sense. I thought there was something wrong with him yesterday. Is that when he found out?”
“Jah. Do you think he was greatly upset? He appeared to be shocked and a little disappointed that no one told him and I told him it was my entire fault. I had to convince him that I could still work and do everything right after my boppli is born and leading up to the birth. I might need a day off.”
Heather laughed. “He didn’t pack you off on the next bus. He’ll get over it. He was expecting someone old and plain, I’ll bet. He certainly didn’t expect someone young and attractive.”
Courtney smiled. She certainly hadn’t felt good about herself in a long time, so it was nice to hear someone speak about her as though she were attractive. “That’s nice of you to say.”
Heather wagged her finger. “Now don’t get prideful.”
“I’m so far away from being prideful that it’ll never be a concern. I just hope I didn’t upset Aaron too much after everything that's happened to him. I know it’s not easy to lose a spouse at such a young age, especially when it would have been so unexpected.”
“That’s true. He’s coped well, but he has to because of his kinner. Life goes on—his children keep on growing and he needs to be a vadder to them and he can’t do that if he doesn’t find a way to cope with his loss. It can’t have been easy for you, either.” Heather drank a mouthful of tea.
Courtney shook her head. “I haven’t had time to stop and feel sorry for myself. I’ve been too busy trying to find a way to create a life for my boppli and myself. I miss him dreadfully and my heart aches, but I guess just like Aaron I have to keep moving forward and put my boppli’s needs first.”
“That's true. Sorry, I must go. The chores won’t get done if I stay here and talk all day. Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow and I’ll check you over; make sure that all looks gut. I’ll have something for Amy to play with so she’s kept busy.”
“Denke, Heather. I’m truly grateful. And denke for helping Aaron fix up the cabin so nicely.”
Heather nodded, stood up and walked over to Amy and kissed her on top of her head. “Bye, Amy.”
“Bye bye, Aunty Heather.”
“We’ll come outside and wave,” Courtney said standing up and putting a hand out toward Amy.
Amy slipped off her chair and put her hand in Courtney’s. Together they walked to the front door behind Heather. Heather stopped and looked down at a letter on the table by the door. “What’s this?” She picked up the letter and turned it over. “It’s a letter to Aaron’s aunt. I can take it today since I’m going to the post office.”
“That’s gut, that will save him the time of going there himself.”
Heather took the letter with her and after she drove away, Courtney looked at Amy. “What were we going to do before Aunty Heather arrived?”
Amy put her finger to her lip. “Um… bake bread.”
“Jah, that’s right. You were going to help me bake some bread.”
Amy giggled.