Heidi spent the next hour fixing supper and keeping her ear tuned for a car that might pull into their yard. She could only imagine what it would be like when the children’s grandfather showed up and demanded that Randy and Marsha go with him. She hadn’t returned the social worker’s call, fearful of what she would say. But if he was coming to see the children, Heidi needed to know when it would be so she could prepare them.
Heidi looked up at the clock on the far wall. It was too late to call Gail now. She would have already left her office for the day.
She rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to clear her thoughts. Since this was Saturday, Gail might not have been in her office at all when she made the call. Did she call yesterday, and somehow Lyle missed the message when he’d gone to the phone shed this morning? So many jumbled and conflicting thoughts raced through Heidi’s mind. It was hard to concentrate on anything else.
She glanced out the kitchen window. I hope Lyle gets here soon. I need to talk to him about this before we say anything to the children. Heidi held her arms tightly against her sides. She feared that she and Lyle were about to suffer yet another shattering disappointment. Why would God allow something like this? Doesn’t He care how much we love Marsha and Randy?
“Are you okay, Heidi?” Velma asked when she entered the kitchen. “Your face is the color of fresh-fallen snow.”
“I… I…” Heidi stuttered. Should I tell her, or wait until I know something more?
Velma rushed forward and slipped her arm around Heidi’s waist. “You look like you’re about to pass out. Why don’t ya sit down?” She pulled out a chair at the table and guided Heidi to the seat.
“Where are the children?” Heidi asked.
Velma took a peek into the living room, then quietly returned to the kitchen. “Hank must have played them out. All four kids are sound asleep, and Hank’s snorin’ away in the rocking chair.” Velma rubbed Heidi’s arm. “Now what has you so upset?”
A moan escaped Heidi’s lips as she answered quietly. “We may lose Randy and Marsha.”
Eyebrows raised, Velma took the chair beside Heidi. “What do you mean?”
With a desperate need to tell someone, Heidi told Velma about the social worker’s message. She sniffed back tears threatening to spill over. “I can’t believe this is happening to us. We were told the children had no living relatives.” Heidi paused to pick up a napkin and blow her nose. “If this man Gail Saunders spoke of is truly the children’s grandfather, then where has he been all this time, and why did he wait till now to come forward?”
“I—I don’t know. It makes no sense to me.”
“I’m not sure what I’ll do if we lose Randy and Marsha. I love them so much, and Lyle and I have been looking forward to adopting them.” Heidi nearly choked on the sob rising in her throat.
Velma stroked Heidi’s forearm with a gentle touch. “Maybe the man isn’t really their grandpa. He could be an imposter tryin’ to steal their inheritance.”
“There is no inheritance.” Heidi shook her head. “From what we were told, the children’s parents barely had enough insurance for burial expenses. And the money they had in the bank was meager. Basically, they were living from paycheck to paycheck.”
“Did they own a house and a car?”
“No house. They were renting. They did have a car, but it was totaled when they were hit by another vehicle.” Heidi sat quietly for a few seconds, staring at the table. “If the man is really the children’s grandfather, his interest in them would not be for any money he might receive.”
She stood and moved over to the stove to check on the ham. “Please don’t say anything about this to Randy and Marsha, or even Lyle. I’ll discuss this with him, of course, but not until after the children have gone to bed. Lyle and I need time to talk this through and decide the best way to tell them.”
Velma’s head moved back and forth. “Don’t worry, Heidi. I won’t say a word.”
The doorbell rang, and Ellen took one last look in the hall mirror to make sure she looked okay. Opening the front door, she put on her best smile. Darren looked so handsome there on the porch, holding a bottle of sparkling cider. Jeremy stood beside his father, wearing a cheerful smile.
“It’s nice to see you both. I’m glad you could come for supper this evening.”
Darren grinned and handed her the bottle. “We’re glad you invited us.” He looked at Jeremy. “My son gets tired of his dad’s bland cooking.”
She laughed. “Come on in.”
They followed Ellen into the living room. She smiled when Jeremy flopped down on the couch beside Becky. There had been a day when those two would never have sat beside each other.
“What’s new with you?” Jeremy asked, looking at Becky.
“Nothing much. How ‘bout you?”
“My dad brought home an abandoned pup, but we’re not gonna keep the mutt, since we already have a dog.” Jeremy bumped Becky’s arm. “Say, how’d ya like to have a dog? You don’t have any pets, right?”
“Actually, we do,” Ellen spoke up. “We got a cat last week, and most cats and dogs don’t get along very well, so we’ll have to pass on the pup.”
“We went to the pound and got a cat that needed a good home,” Becky explained.
Just then the pretty calico entered the room and meowed.
“There she is now.” Ellen pointed. “Guess she heard us talking about her.”
“What did you name the cat?” Jeremy asked.
“We call her Callie.” Becky giggled when the cat walked over and rubbed against her leg.
Jeremy looked up at his dad. “Guess there’s not much point in takin’ the cockapoo to the cooking class next week. Peggy Ann and Eddie already have a dog, and so do Randy and Marsha.” Jeremy tapped his chin. “Come to think of it, Debbie and Kevin told me one time after class that they have a dog named Blondie.”
“Theoretically, Rusty is the Troyers’ dog, but since Marsha and Randy live with them, I guess they figure the dog is theirs too,” Darren interjected. “Anyway, there’s still Kassidy to ask. She might be happy to take the puppy.”
Becky’s nose scrunched up as she shook her head. “I wouldn’t even bother asking her. She’s too snooty and prissy to take care of a pet.”
“Be nice, Becky,” Ellen warned. “You don’t know Kassidy well enough to make a judgment about what she would or would not do.”
“Your mom’s right,” Darren put in. “So it won’t hurt for me to ask.” He leaned close to Ellen and stroked her arm, sending shivers up her neck. “Now lead the way to the kitchen, and I’ll help you get supper on the table.”
“Thank you.” Ellen smiled. What a thoughtful man. I’m glad you came into my life when you did.
“Sure am glad you and the kids were free this evening. I’ve wanted to take you all out for a picnic supper, and this is the perfect night.” Trent looked over at Miranda and smiled.
“Yes, it’s a beautiful evening.” Miranda waited until the kids were in the back, along with their dog, and then she slid into the passenger’s seat. Unconsciously, she reached over and took his hand. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m so pleased that you gave the Kimballs a car they so desperately needed.” She gently squeezed his fingers. “I’m proud to be your wife.”
He leaned closer and whispered in Miranda’s ear. “Does that mean what I hope it does?”
She nodded slowly. “I’d like you to move back in with us whenever you’re ready.”
“Is tonight too soon?” His eyes glistened.
“Tonight would be fine. When the picnic is over, we can stop by your apartment for a few of your things. The rest you can bring home at your convenience.”
Trent turned and looked in the back seat. “Did ya hear that, kids? Your dad’s coming home.”
Debbie and Kevin clapped their hands and shouted, “Hooray!”
As though not wanting to be left out, Blondie joined in with a few excited barks.
Trent pulled Miranda into his arms and kissed her tenderly. When the kiss ended, he looked into her eyes and said, “I can’t promise to be the perfect husband, but I will always try to do my best. And I’ll go to church with you, and study the Bible on my own, because I want to be the kind of husband and father you and the kids deserve.”
As Heidi sat at the picnic table during supper, she could barely eat anything. She stared at the slice of ham next to the few green beans she’d put on her plate, and as her thoughts took her to the message she’d listened to earlier today, her fear and insecurity increased.
Lyle must have sensed something, for he looked over at Heidi and pointed to her plate. “You’ve barely touched a thing. Aren’t you hungrich this evening? Or is the oppressive heat we’ve had lately getting to you?”
“A little of both, I guess.” She wanted to blurt out the real reason for her loss of appetite but was committed to waiting until the children were in bed before she told Lyle about Gail’s message.
“Well, the heat hasn’t hurt my appetite any. I’m hungry as a mule!” Hank reached for a second baked potato and slathered it with butter and plenty of sour cream. “You’re married to one fine cook.” He grinned at Lyle.
Lyle smiled back at him. “You’re right. That’s why Heidi’s the perfect woman to teach others how to cook.”
Normally, Heidi would have blushed at the compliment, but this evening she felt so flustered, all she could manage was a quick, “Danki.”
She continued to pick at her food, only half listening to the conversation going on around her.
Everyone had finished eating, and Heidi was getting ready to clear the dishes, when a car pulled into the yard. Her mouth went dry. It was the same vehicle she’d seen parked across the road and again at the end of their driveway. When a short man with silver-gray hair got out and started walking toward them, her adrenaline spiked. Could it be him? Was this man Marsha and Randy’s grandfather?
With fists clenched so hard her nails bit into her palms, Heidi sat rigidly waiting for him to approach.
“Good evening, folks. I’m sorry to barge in like this unannounced, but I’d like to talk to you.” He walked up to Lyle and extended his hand. “I’m Gerald Olsen, and I understand that my grandchildren live with you.”
Heidi’s stomach clenched, and her mouth felt so dry she had trouble swallowing. This was like reliving the nightmare she’d had several weeks ago. Her precious foster children were about to be snatched away, and she was powerless to stop it from happening. I should have told Lyle about the phone message when he first got home. We could have prepared Randy and Marsha for this.
Gerald looked at each of the children who sat at the picnic table. Then his gaze came to rest on Marsha. “You have to be Judy’s daughter. Same color hair… same blue eyes.” He gestured toward Randy. “And you must be my son’s boy. You look so much like Fred when he was about your age.”
Randy and Marsha looked up at the stranger with fear in their eyes. If they’d ever met the man, they obviously didn’t recognize him.
Lyle’s eyes narrowed. “Is this some kind of a joke? We were told that the children had no living relatives.”
Gerald shook his head. “It’s not a joke. My son was their father. When he ran off and married his high school sweetheart, my wife, Maggie, and I lost all contact with them.” He paused and drew in a breath. “After Maggie died, I moved to Europe to pursue my desire to write.”
Heidi glanced at Velma, needing some support. Velma reached over and touched Heidi’s arm.
“I came back to the States a few months ago and decided to see if I could locate my son. When I hit a brick wall, I hired a detective, and he found out about the accident that killed Fred and Judy. He also found out they had a couple of kids and that they’d become wards of the state until an Amish couple took them in.” Gerald looked at Heidi, then turned his gaze on Lyle again. “I’m guessing that’d be you and your wife.”
With a pained expression, Lyle nodded. He, too, must be realizing what was about to happen. Heidi rose from the bench she sat upon and moved toward Gerald. “I listened to a phone message from our social worker this afternoon, saying that you wanted to see the children. But I had no idea it would be this soon or that you would come here without calling first.”
He nodded. “Yes, I’ve spoken to her. I had to go through quite an ordeal to prove who I was.”
“I can’t believe any social worker worth her salt would give out someone’s address and let you come here unannounced.” Hank eyed Gerald suspiciously. “Are you on the level?”
“I most certainly am.” He focused on Lyle. “And the social worker did not give me this address. I got it from the detective I hired.” Gerald stood with his arms folded, staring at the children with a look of longing.
Heidi’s hands fluttered as she spoke in an emotion-choked voice. “Please don’t take them from us, Mr. Olsen. My husband and I love Randy and Marsha so much, and we’re on the verge of adopting them.”
“You’re gonna adopt us?” Randy leaped off his bench and ran up to Heidi.
She gently patted his head. “Yes, we have been trying to do that but didn’t want to tell you until we got the word that it was about to become official.”
Marsha left her seat too, and darted up to Lyle. Looking up at him, her chin trembled. “We don’t know this man. Please, don’t let him take us.”
Before either Heidi or Lyle could say anything, Gerald spoke again. “You little ones have nothing to worry about. I’m not here to steal you away from people you obviously love.” Gerald tweaked Marsha’s nose. “And I can see they love you very much too. I just wanted to connect with my grandchildren, and if possible, have some sort of relationship with them.” He stopped talking and swallowed so hard, Heidi saw his Adam’s apple bob. “I won’t stand in the way of the adoption. I’m just happy my son’s children have found a good home and will be raised by nice people who will love them the way they deserve.”
Struggling to find the right words, Heidi took hold of the man’s hand and shook it. “Thank you, Mr. Olsen. Thank you, ever so much.”
Bobbing his head, Lyle moved over to stand beside them. “Why don’t you join us for dessert, Gerald? We’d like the opportunity to get acquainted, and I’m sure the children would too.”
Tears welled in the older man’s eyes. “I’d enjoy that very much.”
Heidi looked upward and prayed silently, Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer.