The Christmas Quilt: Quilts of Love Series Read Free Page B

someone.”
    Leah reached for a strawberry and popped it in her mouth. Her worries faded away as she listened to the good-natured bantering between Rebekah and Annie.
    “Our community is so lucky to have the two of you.” Rebekah straightened the tablecloth. “I knew when you came home from Philadelphia Gotte would use your talents in some special way.”
    When Annie stuffed the material back into the bag, Leah felt she should encourage her. “It’s true, Annie. Your nursing comes in handy quite often. You were busy last week helping with the birthing of that calf over at David Hostetler’s place.”
    “Birthing a calf. To think I went to nursing school—”
    “Now, Annie. Gotte cares about the animals, too, and the vet couldn’t be reached in time.” Rebekah was trying to hide her smile behind her teacup. “Adam told me you enjoyed the birthing.”
    Leah’s heart lurched. Adam had told her nothing of the calf’s birthing. She’d heard about it from David when he’d stopped by to bring fresh milk, which he traded with them for eggs.
    “I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. It was messy and frightening. I didn’t exactly know what I was doing. Calves are bigger than babies and harder to birth in several ways. Fortunately, David and Samuel were there because another heifer was birthing at the same time. They needed an extra pair of hands.”
    “And yours were there,” Rebekah added.
    “They were.” Annie grinned. “He was a white-faced calf, mamm . Pretty as shoofly pie.”
    “So, no quilting,” Leah added.
    “I mean to start this week.” Annie pushed her plate away.
    “You’ll learn to set aside a specific time each day or evening for your sewing, which could be difficult since your schedule is never the same. Didn’t you sit with Bishop Levi’s mother one night this week?”
    “We did. He brought her home from the hospital. There’s nothing more they can do there, and it’s gut for her to be at the farm where she at least remembers some things.”
    “How much longer does she have?”
    “The doctors think a month or so, but Samuel says he’s seen cases where the cancer can take one quickly or can cause them to linger. Samuel says there’s no way to be sure.”
    “ Gotte knows best.”
    “Why did you go, Annie?” Leah ran her finger around the rim of her cup. “If there’s nothing to be done . . .”
    “The bishop had to attend to a matter on the other side of our district and couldn’t be back until the next morning, so we went and spent the night. It was no problem. Samuel and I took shifts. I like to go with him when I can. Once our boppli is born, I won’t be able to share those times with him anymore.”
    “Everything changes when two become three.” Rebekah smiled at them both. “Or four.”
    Leah’s concerns always seemed out of proportion when she was visiting with Rebekah. Maybe she was right. Maybe at their home, things would change for the better.
    “Once you cut your fabric, you can take it with you and quilt while you’re waiting.”
    “ Ya. I meant to, but then . . .” Annie stared down at her hands. “I took a nap instead. Three times last week. I know it’s because of the boppli, but I feel guilty when I sleep in the middle of the day.”
    “Be glad you can, Annie.” Leah rubbed her hands along her lower back. “It’s been weeks since I have slept more than a few hours at a time in the evening, and not at all in the day.”
    “You girls will forget all about this as soon as you hold your newborn.” Rebekah began stacking the dishes. “Annie, I’d be happy to help you begin the quilt.”
    “ Nein. I want to do it myself. This is my gift. My work of love for Leah.”
    “All right.” Rebekah nodded in agreement. “I understand.”
    Leah stood, with some difficulty, and collected her package from the store. “Let’s go say hello to Charity before we leave.”
    “ Gut idea.”
    “She can walk you girls back to your buggy.” Rebekah pulled Annie, then