Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) Read Free Page B

saw Deborah on the porch and waved to her as she continued walking home.
    Reaching the long rock driveway leading to her house, Lydia sent up a silent prayer for Ruthie, asking God to make her well so she could someday meet Michaela and her adorable puppy.
    “They seem really nice,” Lydia said to her mother while washing the dinner dishes in the kitchen sink.
    “Michaela is four, like Ruthie, and she says the funniest things. She told me everyone in New Jersey has a television, and she can’t believe I teach in a one-room schoolhouse.”
    “Uh-huh,”
Mamm
said while wiping the table.
    Lydia wondered if her mother wanted to discuss something with her, but she’d remained reticent while Lydia yammered on and on about the new neighbors in hopes of inspiring her mother to talk. Instead of giving Ruthie a bath, her mother had asked Irma to watch Ruthie so she could help Lydia in the kitchen. Lydia assumed there was a reason behind her mother’s sudden interest in kitchen cleanliness, but she hadn’t really spoken since they began their cleanup.
    “Tristan seems really nice,” Lydia continued as she scrubbed a pot. “He seemed interested in what I said. Plus, I’m just happy to see someone move into the Fitzgeralds’ house. It’s such a pretty brick home. I’ve always wondered how many bedrooms are in it.”
    “Uh-huh,”
Mamm
repeated, still running the washcloth over the table.
    Lydia faced her mother while leaning against the sink.
Mamm’s
face was twisted into a frown as she worked. Her hand continued to swipe the cloth over the table in a methodical motion, hitting the same clean spot several times.
    “I was thinking that I should take them a cake or something,” Lydia said, hoping to get her mother to stop and look up. “I’d like to welcome them to the community.”
    “Uh-huh,”
Mamm
said again. Her tone was flat, uninterested. She seemed to be in her own world. Was she thinking of Ruthie? Maybe praying for her?
    “
Mamm
?” Lydia asked. “Are you listening to me?”
    “
Ach!
”
Mamm
looked up at Lydia, startled. Her expression transformed back into a frown as she lowered herself into a chair. “I’m sorry,
mei liewe
. I have a lot on my mind. Sit with me, please.”
    Tossing the washcloth into the sudsy sink, Lydia joined her mother at the table and sat across from her. “
Was iss letz?
”
    Her mother blew out a deep sigh and her blue eyes filled with tears. “The doctor called today.”
    Dread filled Lydia. “What did he say?”
    “He wants to meet with your
dat
and me tomorrow morning.” She paused to wipe a tear that had trickled down her cheek. “He has news to tell us, and he wants to share it in person. I fear that it’s not
gut
news.”
    “Oh no.” Lydia cleared her throat, hoping to stop the lump forming there from getting any bigger. “Do you want me to stay home from the bakery and take care of Ruthie for you?”
    Mamm
shook her head and reached for Lydia’s hands. “No, but
danki
. The doctor wants us to bring Ruthie with us. He said he needs to do another exam and possibly talk about some procedures. He has some brochures geared to childrenthat we can read to her, and we may have an opportunity to share them with her in the office. I appreciate your offer though, Lydia.”
    “But do you need me to go with you?” Lydia pressed on while holding her mother’s hands. “Ruthie may be fussy if she’s tired. We all know how she gets when she’s tired. If she’s having a bad day, she’ll want to be home. I could help you keep her quiet and even take her outside to walk so you can talk to the doctor without interruption.”
    The tears in her mother’s eyes glistened. “I haven’t been working for weeks now, and your father is pulling extra hours installing kitchen floors. I don’t need to tell you that money is tight, and we don’t know what God has in store for us with Ruthie’s illness.”
    “So, you need me to work,” Lydia whispered as the gravity of the