The HOPE of SPRING Read Free Page B

both working at the farmers’ market today, and thirteen-year-old
     Nina visiting a friend after school, Mom was short-handed this evening.
    “You’d better give me that!” Katie shouted as she raced past Meredith, chasing after
     Owen, who had taken her doll.
    Meredith grimaced.
I wonder if I’ll feel this way when my own baby is born and starts fussing or being
     too loud. I hope not, because I don’t want to be an impatient mother.
    Meredith loved her family, but she wished she could go back to the quiet of her own
     house. She didn’t remember that the antics of her younger brothers and sisters bothered
     her before she got married like they did now. Maybe that was because, for over a year,
     it had just been her, Luke, and Fritz, with no energetic little ones underfoot.
    Adding to Meredith’s frustration were all the things she wanted to get done at home,
     and the preparations she wanted to make for the baby. But there was nothing more important
     than the safety of her unborn child, and most of her aggravation was from not doing
     anything except lying around. Hopefully, she could get started on making those head
     coverings soon.
    She glanced around the room. Not much had changed in the large home where her family
     lived. From the looks of the furniture, one would never know that seven children were
     still being raised in this house. Most of the pieces were still original and had been
     here when Meredith was growing up. Mom had a knack for taking good care of things
     and teaching her children to do the same. With a little sanding and some varnish,
     Mom had brought new life to some of the old pieces of furniture she and Dad had purchased
     at auctions a long time ago. Meredith had been told that some of the pieces in this
     room had been handed down to Mom and Dad from their parents. She remembered Dad saying
     once, “If you take care of what you have, it’ll last a long time.”
    Looking around, the proof was here, right down to the large oak table and chairs in
     the dining room. A lot of celebrations had been held around that table, and many great
     memories were made with family and friends.
    I hope I can be a good role model for my child, like my parents still are with all
     of us
, Meredith thought. She closed her eyes, breathing in the wonderful aromas coming
     from the kitchen. Was that fried chicken she smelled? She hoped so. Mom’s fried chicken
     was the best.
    “I’m sorry if the little ones are disturbing you,” Mom said, dashing into the living
     room, hoisting Owen onto her hip, and taking hold of Katie’s hand. “Your grandma and
     I have been busy fixing supper, and we figured either Stanley or Arlene would keep
     an eye on the little ones, but things didn’t quite go as planned.”
    “Where are my little bruder
un schweschder
?” Meredith asked.
    “Stanley’s in the barn doing some chores, and Arlene’s resting upstairs in her room.
     She came home from school this afternoon complaining of a
koppweh
.”
    Meredith sighed. “Arlene’s not the only one with a headache. My head’s pounding so
     hard I can barely think.”
    “Why don’t you go to your room and lie down?” Mom suggested. “I’ll call you when supper’s
     ready.”
    “Maybe I will.” Meredith swung her legs over the side of the sofa, and had just started
     across the room when a knock sounded on the door. “I’ll get that,” she said, looking
     at Mom. “You’ve got your hands full right now.”
    Mom nodded and hurried into the kitchen, with the two little ones in tow.
    When Meredith opened the front door, she was surprised to see Jonah Miller.
    “
Wie geht’s?
” he asked with a smile.
    “I’m doing okay,” Meredith replied, making no mention of her headache. “Come in out
     of the cold,” she said, opening the door wider.
    “Danki.”
    When Jonah stepped in, Meredith motioned for him to take a seat in the rocker, and
     she returned to the sofa.
    “I want to thank you for calling 911 for