On Thursday morning, Madison had her hands full. Attempting to make breakfast for Daniel and the four children, keeping Elizabeth out of harm’s way, and tending to Rachel and the baby felt like participating in a weird triathlon. When someone knocked on the kitchen door just as the oatmeal boiled over, Madison felt tempted to throw something.
“Hello?” A young woman stuck her head in the door.
Madison frowned. “What?”
“I came to help.” The woman opened the door a bit wider.
Madison brightened. “Ja, ja. Come in. Welcome!”
“I am Rebekah Lapp,” she said as she came in.
“I am Anna.” Madison grabbed a singed pot holder, using it to move the oatmeal to a cooler part of the stove, and put the lid on halfway like she’d seen Rachel do.
“I know who you are.” Rebekah smiled as she picked up Elizabeth. “You are Rachel’s niece. You speak English.”
“Ja, ja. And some German also.”
“You are the one who spoke to Berta.”
Madison made a face as she set the bowls on the table with a thud. “Berta was unkind to my aunt.”
“Berta is good at faultfinding.”
“Ja, that’s for sure.”
Rebekah moved effortlessly through the kitchen, helping and doing things without being told. Madison felt a bit envious but reminded herself that Rebekah had probably been doing this most of her life. Madison had been here less than a week. Besides that, Madison felt certain she could not have gotten breakfast served without her. Finally, the twins headed off to school and Daniel once again offered to take Jeremiah with him for the morning. Then it was only females left in the house.
“My mamm is bringin’ my sister Lydia today,” Rebekah said as they finished cleaning the dishes.
“Why?”
“They want to help Rachel and you.”
“Denki.” Madison smiled. “Aunt Rachel has not got many friends.”
“I know.”
“I think she is lonely.”
“Ja. My mamm says is time to be friends.”
“Good.”
By midmorning, Rebekah and her mother and sister had rolled up their sleeves and done some serious spring cleaning. Madison was surprised to see how much grime was removed from the wood floors and how the windows sparkled. Even the curtains got washed and pressed. This three-woman cleaning team was impressive!
While Madison tried to make herself useful downstairs, it seemed her most important role was seeing to Rachel and the baby. Rachel was still worn out from yesterday, but her smile had returned and she looked happy and peaceful with the baby at her breast.
“What is her name?” Madison asked as she tucked the sleeping infant back into the wooden cradle near the bed.
“I think I call her Anna.” Rachel gave a funny grin. “For you.”
Madison felt a little uneasy now. “Ja. Anna is good name.”
“But not your name.” Rachel’s eyes locked on her.
Madison took in a quick breath, then turned away. What was going on?
“I know you are not Anna.”
“Of course I am Anna,” Madison said with her back to Rachel. She pretended to fold a diaper, something she had no idea how to do.
“Who are you?” Rachel asked quietly.
Madison turned back around. Rachel didn’t look angry, just confused.
“What do you mean?” Madison held up her hands in a helpless gesture. “You know I am Anna.”
“Close the door,” Rachel told her.
Madison did so.
“Come here.” Rachel pointed to a chair by the bed. “And sit.”
Madison complied.
“Tell me who you are. Tell me where is Anna.”
“What makes you think I am not Anna?”
Rachel chuckled. “When I first saw you . . . I knew something was not right.” She frowned, tapping the side of her head. “Then I think I must be daft. Sure, you are Anna. You must be Anna.”
“Ja.” Madison nodded.
“Then yesterday . . . such pain . . . and it came to me so plain and clear—you are not Anna.” Her brows drew together. “I cannot explain how I know it is true. I just know it is. Now, tell me who you are.”
“I am sorry.” Madison choked up. “You’re right. I’m not Anna.”
Rachel smiled. “Ja! I knew that.”
Madison told her the whole story, and the entire time Rachel just listened with wide eyes until Madison finished. Then she clapped her hands. “Good for you. Good for Anna also.”
“Really?” Madison felt confused. “You’re not angry?”
“No.” She reached for Madison’s hand. “You are a good girl. Anna is blessed to have you for a friend.”
“I’m your friend too, Rachel.”
“Denki.” She smiled. “You are a good friend. Now, tell me, what is your name?”
“Madison Van Buren.”
“Madison?” Rachel frowned. “It is a girl’s name?”
Madison shrugged. “It is for me.”
Rachel pointed to her sleeping baby. “Her name—it is Madison too.”
Madison felt her jaw drop. “No way.”
Rachel chuckled. “Ja. Baby Madison.”
Madison wondered what Daniel would have to say about that but decided not to spoil this moment by bringing it up. “Denki, Rachel.”
“Denki, Madison.”
“Some of my friends call me Maddie.”
Rachel smiled. “I will call you Maddie too. But only inside my head. For everyone else you are still Anna, ja?”
Madison nodded and explained the plan to switch back on Saturday. “I’m not sure how I will get to town.”
“I will send Malachi on an errand. You will go with him.”
Madison was about to point out that Malachi might present a problem, but Rachel looked as if she were about to fall asleep and Madison knew she needed her rest. She tiptoed from the room, closing the door behind her.
The cleaning trio was now preparing lunch, and Madison remembered that since it was Thursday, Malachi would be working on the farm today. She hadn’t seen him yet, but she knew it would be impossible to avoid him.
Sure enough, he came to lunch with Daniel and Jeremiah. Madison tried to avoid his eyes, but she could tell he was watching her. When she accidentally glanced up, she could see the questioning look. She knew she had to speak to him.
As lunch was winding down, she excused herself and went outside. Without looking back, she hurried over to the pond, where she sat on the bench and waited. Minutes later he sat next to her.
“I have to tell you something,” she said without looking at him. “It isn’t going to be easy to say, or to hear.”
“I am waiting.”
She turned and looked at him. “Malachi, you are a great guy.”
He nodded. “I know where this is going.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You do not. Believe me, you have no idea.” She had his attention now. “I need to be able to trust you.” She paused, watching his eyes.
“You can trust me. I swear you can trust me with anything, Anna.”
“I am not Anna.”
His brow creased. “Who are you?”
For the second time that day, she told her story. He listened with a shocked expression, shaking his head from time to time, saying he couldn’t believe it. She simply continued, trying to make him understand. When she was done, he looked angry.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
“You tricked me.”
“No.” She shook her head. “At least I didn’t mean to trick you. I’m sorry.”
He stood with balled fists. “Whether you meant to or not, you tricked me, Anna.” He shook his finger at her. “No, you are not Anna. You said that, right?”
She told him her real name and waited as he stood there glaring at her.
“I really am sorry, Malachi.”
“I do not understand you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“But I can trust you still?” she asked. “You won’t tell anyone? Rachel knows, but—”
“Rachel knows?”
“Yes. And she understands—”
“She understands?” He looked skeptical.
“She knows we meant no harm.”
He shook his head. She could tell he was hurting, and it hurt her to see it. Still, what could she do? What was done was done. There was no undoing it. “Rachel said that you could drive me to town on Saturday.”
“Why?” He stared at her with angry eyes. “Why should I do that?”
“So Anna and I can trade places again.”
“Fine,” he snapped at her. “I will do that. I will be glad to see you gone, Anna—I mean Madison. I will say good riddance!” He stormed away.
Madison’s stomach felt like it had tied itself into a dozen tight little knots. This was not how it was supposed to go. She felt so sorry for what she’d done to Malachi. In a way, he was right—she had tricked him. She never should’ve spent time with him. But really, what could she do about that now? The damage was done. He would get over it. Everyone did . . . in time.
She stood and headed back toward the house. As she walked, she told herself that in all fairness, Malachi didn’t even know her. They had spent a total of maybe two hours together. Perhaps not even that much. What they had both experienced was a bad case of infatuation. A plain old crush. Not true love. Not really.
Still, she felt guilty and regretful. It was wrong to toy with anyone’s heart. If she could go back and do it all over again, she would definitely do it differently.
As Madison got near the house, she began to pray silently, asking God to help Malachi through this heartache and bring something good out of something messed up.