Ellen’s throat felt so swollen she could barely swallow as she crossed the room and reached out to touch her daughter’s arm. “Let’s take a seat, and I’ll explain things to you.” She moved toward the couch, hoping Becky would follow. The child, however, remained standing like a statue, with her arms held tightly against her sides.
Ellen looked at Patrick, hoping he would say something, and she wasn’t disappointed. Speaking softly, he smiled at Becky. “Please take a seat. You and your mother need to talk.”
Shuffling her feet across the carpet, Becky took a seat in the rocking chair. Except for the grandfather clock striking the half-past hour, the room was uncomfortably quiet.
Ellen couldn’t hide her disappointment. Her desire was for Becky to sit beside her, so she could wrap her arms around the girl and explain her reasons for keeping the adoption a secret.
Becky shot Ellen an icy stare. The daughter who was usually so pleasant, showed no sign of that trait. “Did you ever plan to tell me the truth?”
“Of course, when you were old enough to understand it all, I planned to tell you, but—”
“Who are my real parents?” Becky’s voice cracked. “I… I can’t believe you hid this from me.”
Ellen clutched the folds in her skirt. She had put herself in this position by keeping the truth from Becky, and that had obviously been a mistake. Her daughter was clearly upset, with good reason.
“I don’t know your biological parents, Becky. I never met them.” Ellen paused to clear her throat, hoping to dislodge the lump that had formed. “The adoption took place through an agency, and as far as I’m concerned, I am your real mother.”
“But you’re a single mom. Didn’t you want me to have a dad?”
“It was not my intention for you to be raised without a father, but…” Ellen shifted on her seat. “I’ve always loved children and wanted some of my own. Since I had no serious boyfriend or any promise of marriage, I decided to adopt a child on my own.”
Becky got the rocker moving and gave Ellen her full attention. “So what was the big secret? How come you didn’t want me to know?”
Speaking slowly and with conviction, Ellen told how, when she was in high school, her best friend, Lynn, had learned she was adopted. “Lynn was upset and wanted to know about the woman who’d given birth to her,” Ellen explained. “My friend’s adoptive parents wouldn’t tell her much and refused to help her look for her birth mother. Lynn was angry and moved out of their house and found a job after she graduated. It was sad, but she cut all ties with the parents who’d raised her, and as far as I know, she never went back.” Tears welled in Ellen’s eyes. “I was afraid if you knew you’d been adopted, it might cause problems between us too. I realize now that I made a huge mistake. I should have been honest with you as soon as you were old enough to understand. Will you forgive me, Becky?”
The ticking of the clock seemed to grow louder in Ellen’s ears as she waited for her daughter’s response. Finally, Becky nodded. With tears coursing down her flushed cheeks, she rushed across the room and into Ellen’s arms. “I still love you, Mom, and I always will.”
Ellen breathed a sigh of relief. She never wanted to lose her daughter and would do anything to protect what they had together. She closed her eyes and lifted a silent prayer: Lord, thank You for a daughter like Becky. Please continue to help me raise her according to Your purpose. Amen.
“Someday, when you’re a bit older, I’ll help you search for your biological parents if that’s what you want.” She opened her eyes and patted her daughter’s back. When Ellen looked across the room where her brother sat in another chair, he smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
“How come you’re in Mommy’s closet?”
Trent whirled around at the sound of his son’s voice. “I’m looking for some of my clothes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m locked out of my apartment and need a place to spend the night.”
“Are you gonna stay here?” Debbie questioned, giving Trent’s shirttail a tug.
“Yes. I’ll be sleeping on the couch downstairs.”
Jumping onto the foot of the bed, Kevin frowned. “But you used to sleep in here with Mommy.”
“You’re right, but we don’t live together anymore, remember?” Trent ruffled his son’s hair.
“If you and Mommy don’t fight this time, maybe you can spend another night at our house.” Kevin’s expression brightened.
“I rather doubt it,” Trent mumbled under his breath.
“Try to get along better with her, Daddy.” Debbie stepped closer to him and took hold of his hand. “I wish we all lived together like we did before you and Mommy started fighting so much.”
“Yeah, me too,” Kevin added.
Trent swallowed hard. He remembered those days well and knew how hard it had been on the kids when Miranda had asked him to move out. He wished he could erase the past and start over again, but he’d done many things that had gotten him in trouble with his wife—one in particular. Trent needed to work on this matter—not just for the kids, but also for him. “I can be nicer to your mom, but I’m not sure she’ll want me back.” He squeezed his daughter’s fingers. “Let’s take it one step at a time and see how it goes.”
When Miranda awoke the next morning, she was greeted with the aroma of coffee. It took a few moments to remember that Trent had spent the night on the living-room sofa. But the smell of coffee was the reminder she needed.
She rose from the bed and stretched both arms over her head. Miranda would never admit it to Trent, but it was kind of nice having him in the house again. She felt protected and knew the kids were happy to have their daddy there too. It was evident last evening, after he got settled in and they ate popcorn together while watching TV. If only things could be different. If she and Trent could have learned to get along and settle their differences peacefully instead of hollering at each other all the time, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten interested in another woman. She still found it hard to believe Trent’s protests that his relationship with that person had never developed into an affair. Miranda’s heart held no trust where her husband was concerned, and she was still contemplating if divorce was the best option.
I can’t think about all this right now. I need to get downstairs and start breakfast. After slipping on her robe, she opened the bedroom door. Miranda heard some contagious laughter rising from the room below. When she entered the kitchen a short time later, she found Debbie and Kevin, all smiles, sitting at the table, each with a glass of milk in front of them. Trent stood at the stove with his back to her.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
When Trent turned around, she couldn’t believe he was wearing her springtime floral apron. “Our children were laughing at their father’s choice of cooking attire,” he announced, before turning back to the stove.
Miranda stifled a chuckle. “I can see why there was so much giggling going on.”
Kevin grinned and pointed to the bottle of maple syrup sitting in the center of the table. “Daddy’s making us pancakes.”
“Is that so?” She pressed her lips together to keep from asking Trent why he never fixed breakfast for the kids when he was living here. Was he trying to butter her up via the kids, in the hope of worming his way back in?
Miranda grabbed a mug and poured herself some coffee. Well, it won’t work. Trent hasn’t changed. If he had, he’d start by going to church and setting a Christian example for his family. He’d also prove he was responsible and be true to his word.
Trent looked over his shoulder and smiled at Miranda. “After breakfast, would it be okay if I borrow your car so I can meet up with the locksmith whom I called first thing this morning? I need to get into my apartment again.”
“I guess that’ll be okay. Today’s my day off, so I won’t need the car unless I decide to run to the store for something later on.”
He flipped one of the pancakes and gave her a wide grin. “Thanks, hon. I appreciate that.”
Miranda looked away. There he goes, calling me “hon” again. She’d have called him on it, but not here in front of the kids. Miranda would save her accusations for another time when she could speak to Trent alone.
After breakfast, Lyle hitched the horse and buggy and set off to Eli’s place. He wanted to make arrangements to have a coop built before they purchased some chickens. “I sure hope Eli has time to build one for us.” Lyle said to himself, and Bobbins nickered in return. Last evening, after their picnic when things had settled down a bit, Randy talked excitedly about the chickens they would soon be getting. This morning at the kitchen table, even Marsha seemed excited. Brother and sister talked about who would feed the chickens and who would collect the eggs.
Lyle had been relieved that the children recovered so quickly after Steve and Allie stopped by and knew Heidi was happy about it too.
“Those poor kids.” Lyle shook his head, letting Bobbins take the lead. It was hard enough to lose one parent, let alone both at the same time. Lyle felt blessed that his and Heidi’s parents were still around. If Lyle could do anything to ease the children’s grief and help them understand about losses, he would do it, whatever it took.
It hadn’t been that long ago when Lyle thought it was God’s will for him and Heidi not to have any children. In fact, he had convinced himself that if it was to be that way, he would be content. But since he and Heidi had become foster parents, he couldn’t imagine even a day without Marsha and Randy. Heidi had told him several times that she felt the same way about the children. Last night, before going to bed, they’d even discussed the possibility of adopting Marsha and Randy. Of course that would depend on several things, including how well the kids adjusted to living with them.
Nearing Eli’s farm, Lyle breathed in the fresh air as the clip-clop of Bobbin’s hooves put him in a mellow mood. So clear was the sky, uninterrupted by any clouds for as far as the eye could see.
Pulling into the Millers’ lane, Lyle noticed Loretta waving from the yard where she was hanging up clothes.
“Guder mariye.” Lyle tipped his hat after he secured the horse to the hitching rail.
“Good morning to you too.” Loretta smiled as she walked to the edge of the yard. “What brings you here on this beautiful morning?”
“I have a project to ask Eli about. Is he around?”
“Jah, he’s there in the shop.” Loretta pointed. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”
“Okay, danki. Have a gut day.” Lyle turned and walked toward the woodshop. When he entered, he found Eli staining a porch chair.
“Hello, my friend.”
“Oh, you startled me.” Eli bent to pick up the paint brush he’d dropped.
“Sorry, I thought you may have heard me out there talking to Loretta.”
“Nope. I’ve been concentrating on my work in here.” Eli grinned, picking a piece of straw off the brush. “It’s good to see you and a fine morning it is, jah?”
“Sure is.” Lyle stepped closer to his friend. “Don’t want to keep you from your work, but I came to see if you might have time to do a project for me soon.”
“Sure thing. I have one other chair to finish for a customer, but no coffins to make right now. So, what did you have in mind?”
Lyle explained about the need for a chicken coop, and was pleased when Eli said he’d be happy to build it. In fact, Eli said he would be able to start by Friday or Saturday of the coming week. Lyle also agreed when Eli suggested the structure be built right there at Lyle and Heidi’s place. That way they wouldn’t have to worry about transporting the completed coop once it was finished. And Randy and Marsha could watch the progress.
On the way home, feeling like a kid himself, Lyle whistled. He was anxious to tell the children and couldn’t get Bobbins to go fast enough.
“You did what?” Velma’s husband’s face contorted.
“You heard me, Hank. I ran a stoplight and hit another vehicle.” Velma stared at her lukewarm coffee sitting on the kitchen table. Ten minutes ago, Hank had returned home with his truck, after being gone three days, and she’d just given him the news that their car was totaled. Why couldn’t that man of mine be a little more sympathetic? Sometimes I feel like I’m married to a grumpy ole grizzly bear.
Hank pounded his fist, vibrating the table. “What in tarnation were ya thinkin’? You shoulda been payin’ attention to your driving.”
“I don’t know. Guess I was thinking about Bobbie Sue and how she lost her job yesterday afternoon.”
He hit the table a second time. “Now isn’t that just great?”
Velma drew a sharp breath. “Aren’t ya even gonna ask if anyone was hurt? Or do you care more about your precious vehicle than your wife and kids?”
He scrutinized her. “I can see by lookin’ at ya that you ain’t hurt. I saw Bobbie Sue outside when I pulled my rig into the yard. She looked fine to me.”
Velma pulled in a few more breaths, hoping to calm her nerves. Hank had a temper, and while he’d never hit Velma, she often wondered if he might someday. She figured her one saving grace was him being on the road so much. If he wasn’t home when something unpleasant occurred, she wouldn’t have to hear him blow his stack.
Velma handled most situations with the kids on her own, without him ever knowing about it. However, hitting another vehicle was something she couldn’t very well hide, especially since their one and only car had been totaled.
“Eddie and Peggy Ann were in the car too, and luckily, none of us was seriously hurt.” She paused for another breath. “But the driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital by ambulance. I heard later that he wasn’t in serious condition, so that’s something to be thankful for.”
His eyes glazed over. “That’s good news about the other driver, but you’re lucky the cops didn’t haul you off to jail for runnin’ a stoplight.”
Oh boy, here we go… Mount St. Helens is erupting again. Velma sniffed, struggling to hold back tears. “I did receive a citation—a pretty hefty one at that.”
“Great! So now we have that to pay for too.” Hank’s face reddened further, and a vein on his neck protruded. “You do realize that we only have liability insurance, so even though our insurance company will pay for the other guy’s vehicle and injuries, our car won’t be covered. Not to mention our insurance will go up with surcharge points, all because of this accident.”
Gulping, she nodded. Doesn’t he know he’s making me feel even worse by his continued ranting?
“So now, on top of daughter number one bein’ out of a job and unable to contribute to our finances, I’ll have to work twice as hard hauling with my semitruck in order to earn enough money to replace the car.”
“I can look for a job.”
Hank shook his head vigorously. “Your job is here, takin’ care of the kids while I’m on the road.” He glanced around. “Where are they, anyhow?”
“Eddie and Peggy Ann are still in bed, and as you already know, Bobbie Sue’s outside, hanging up the laundry because we can’t afford to buy a dryer.”
He raked his fingers through the ends of his thinning brown hair. “That’s right, and now, because of your careless driving, a new dryer goes to the bottom of our list.”
Velma rested her head on both hands. “I don’t know how, but we’ll get through this, Hank. We always have.”