The Christmas Quilt: Quilts of Love Series Read Free

Rachel, who was Samuel’s sister-in-law. The fact that Rachel had tried to persuade Samuel to move to Ohio and marry her should have caused an insurmountable wall of jealousy between the two, but Annie had assured her it didn’t.
    Annie had said she and Samuel talked about everything—including the situation with Rachel.
    It seemed to Leah that she hardly talked to Adam at all these days. He tumbled into bed exhausted, when he came to bed at all, and rose before daylight.
    Glancing down at her stomach, which blocked the view of her feet, Leah couldn’t help wondering if it was because of her size. She knew her husband loved her, but perhaps he didn’t like her very much right now. Maybe things would be better between them in a few months.
    “I suppose we could come if I didn’t have to drive. I’d rather not use the mare and buggy more than necessary.”
    “ Wunderbaar . It’s settled then.”
    Leah made her purchase, without anymore commentary from Rachel, and was happy to see two more families enter the store as they were leaving. The last thing Annie needed was for Samuel to bear the financial responsibility of Rachel Zook and her two sons. The emotional baggage the woman had brought to town was enough of a burden.
    Stepping outside into the November sunshine reminded Leah of being released from a long day at school. She stopped on the sidewalk, held her stomach in both her hands and pulled in a long, deep breath.
    “ Was iss letz ?” Annie moved in front of her, reached forward and placed her palm against Leah’s forehead. Then she moved her fingertips to Leah’s wrist.
    Leah knew Annie was counting her pulse.
    Always the nurse, always checking on her.
    Leah opened her eyes and smiled. “Rachel’s store is a little oppressive.”
    “That’s it?”
    “ Ya . Outside feels gut .”
    “It does, but you scared me.”
    “You frighten easily, maybe because you are worried my babies will come early.”
    “Early, yes, but not today, Leah. Now let’s go and have a cup of tea.”

    Five minutes later, they sat down in the shop where Annie’s mother worked. Leah had always been close to her own parents. Six months after she married Adam they made the decision to move to Wisconsin. She’d been completely shocked. It was something they had talked about for several years—because the cost of land was less there, but she hadn’t thought they were serious.
    Since then Leah’s feelings toward Rebekah and Jacob had changed. Perhaps it was because her family had moved.
    Maybe it was the fact that Annie was expecting her own first child, or because hers were twins.
    Whatever the reason, in the last two years, she’d grown incredibly close to Annie and Adam’s parents.
    Rebekah moved toward them, calmness and joy on her face. “I was hoping you two would come in today. Let me help Charity see to the other tables, then I’ll come and sit with you.” Round, motherly, with gray hair peeking out from under her kapp , Rebekah Weaver was a balm to Leah’s soul. They ordered and soon Rebekah was back, setting two mugs of tea in front of them and a plate filled with three kinds of cheese, crackers, and fruit.
    “ Mamm , we only ordered the tea—decaffeinated.”
    “No caffeine. I remember, and the lunch is on me. I have three grandkinner at this table. Can’t start feeding them gut things too soon. I’ll be back in a snap.”
    She was gone before they could argue.
    “Your mamm is the best,” Leah said, reaching for a cracker and some cheese.
    “Our mamm .”
    “Right.” Leah sighed, suddenly happy they had come into town.
    “I love this cafe.” Annie stared around the room as if she didn’t come in to see her mother at least twice a month, as if she were seeing it with new eyes.
    “What’s not to love?”
    “Did I ever tell you about the time Samuel followed me in here?”
    “At least twice, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”
    “I thought he’d gone crazy. I’d recently returned home, recently