Epilogue

One year later

Esther lifted the turkey from the oven, happy to have her family seated in the dining room for another Thanksgiving dinner. As she recalled last year’s holiday, she cringed, even though the day had a happy ending. This year would be even better, and Gus and Lizzie had promised to behave.

The table was short two place settings this year. Mary and John had decided to move closer to their families after becoming pregnant. They were missed, but the timing had worked out perfectly for Naomi and Amos to rent the daadi haus after they were married. Esther was glad Mary stayed in touch and that she’d been gifted a healthy baby boy, whom they’d named Adam.

Instead of waiting until the next fall to say their vows, as was tradition, Amos and Naomi had married in March. Their decision had nothing to do with fear that one of them would leave. Amos simply needed time to move his construction business to Montgomery before the summer, his busiest time of year. Esther could still recall the way the couple looked at each other on their wedding day, and it warmed her heart every time she thought about it. God had surely blessed them with a second chance at love. Naomi continued working at the inn but not as many hours now that she was married. She and Amos traveled to Ohio to see his family as often as they could.

Esther enjoyed having her family close, even Gus. The man continued to be a work in progress, but Esther kept the faith that he would find his way to God and learn to be the best man he could be. She still took him pie often, and he thanked her every single time. Lizzie refused to dine with him except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Luckily, last year’s Christmas dinner had gone better than the disastrous Thanksgiving meal. Hopefully this year’s festivities would be even better.

“Here we go,” Esther said as she placed the turkey closest to Gus.

They each lowered their heads in prayer, including Gus. Esther had no idea if he was praying or just waiting. She’d tried to bring up the subject a few times, but Gus shied away from any talk about God. At least now he knew to raise his head and not wait for a prayer to be said aloud.

“Will you do the honors again this year?” Esther raised an eyebrow.

Gus grumbled, but for the second time, he carved the juicy bird with precision.

“Lizzie gets credit for the turkey again this year. It looks and smells delicious, mei schweschder.” Esther paused. “Don’t you agree, Gus?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t look up, but he didn’t add anything negative either.

Amos ate like he hadn’t seen food in a month of Sundays, and Naomi was glowing. Esther wondered if they were with child and didn’t know it yet. Or maybe they did know and weren’t ready to share the news. Either way, seeing Naomi and Amos so happy together filled Esther’s heart even more.

Ach, I have some news to share. And you don’t even know because I just found out.” Lizzie glanced at Esther, flashing her pearly whites. She wore the dentures every day now without shifting them around in her mouth as much. Esther had worked hard over the last year to adjust her diet, and along with the pills, her stomach had begun to heal. She rarely had problems or pain like before. She’d also stuck to her checkups like the doctor asked her to.

Esther straightened. “What news do you know that I don’t?”

“Someone left a message on the answering machine requesting reservations for the spring. They said they’d firm up the dates later, but it will be an extended stay and there are a bunch of them!”

Esther calculated how many people they could house, even using cots and hide-a-beds. “How many is a bunch? If we fill each room to capacity, we only have enough beds for twelve people.”

“I called the man back and told him that, and he said lodging for twelve would be fine.” Lizzie’s eyes grew. “They are coming all the way from Los Angeles, California.” She smiled again. “I think he said they are with a big produce company. Fancy executives coming for a meeting or something.”

“Well, it sounds like we will be busy.” Esther was grateful the inn was making a name for itself.

*  *  *

Naomi glanced at Amos, and he nodded. In light of this information, she supposed they should share their own news. She cleared her throat.

“Um, we have some news too.”

Esther gasped and moved her hands to her mouth. “I knew it!”

Naomi couldn’t stop smiling as she reached for Amos’s hand under the table.

Lizzie pushed her chair back, jumped up, and clapped her palms together. “Tell us! Tell us!”

“Amos and I are expecting.” Naomi could feel herself blushing as Amos squeezed her hand. “In May. We were going to wait until I was farther along to tell anyone, but since you have a large crowd coming in the spring, I’m afraid I won’t be available to work. It sounds like you need to hire someone new.”

Naomi looked around at each of them. Her family. Even Gus had a pleasant expression on his face. Considering his reaction to Mary and John’s baby news the year before, Naomi believed Gus was softening, even if just a little.

Lizzie rushed to Naomi and hugged her, then straightened and turned to her sister. “Esther! We’re going to have a boppli to share!” She pressed her palms together again as she wound around the table and sat down.

“Well . . . there’ll be no need for sharing.” Amos chuckled before he reached for a slice of bread with his free hand.

Lizzie and Esther exchanged glances. After a few seconds Esther gasped. Lizzie was a bit slower, but her eyes widened as she caught on.

Ya, it’s twins.” Naomi didn’t think it was possible to reach this level of happiness. She didn’t even know it existed and had always presumed no one earned it until they got to heaven. But God had blessed her and Amos in more ways than they ever could have imagined. They painted together almost daily, though they’d changed locations, which seemed fitting. Now they recreated the house and barn, and there was a lot of red in both paintings.

Esther clapped as she bounced up and down in her chair. She looked like Lizzie, who was doing the same thing. “A boppli for each of us, Lizzie.”

“You both look like five-year-olds,” Gus said with his mouth full. Once he’d swallowed, he actually smiled, which caused Naomi’s heart to swell even more.

Naomi was thrilled to be expecting her first two children with Amos. She prayed daily for healthy babies. She also prayed that Lizzie and Esther would continue to be in good health. They would finally be able to experience having a baby in the family—two of them.

Esther lifted her glass of tea. “I’d like to propose a toast.” She waited until everyone held up their glass. “To Naomi and Amos, and to the two precious little ones coming into our lives.”

Everyone clinked glasses, saying amen in unison. When Gus reached across the table and gently tapped his glass to Lizzie’s, Naomi thought she might fall out of her chair. The two still sparred, but their coexistence was proof positive that God really was in the business of granting miracles.

Naomi rested her free hand on her stomach.

I can’t wait to meet you both, mei little ones, and to see what the future holds for all of us. Thank you, Gott.