Summer Promise (19 page)

Nineteen

A
baby!” Leah cried. “Oh, but that's wonderful!”

“It is,” Aenti Rachel agreed. “But, Leah, it is not our way to speak so openly about a woman with child when it is still so early. It is only because you and Eli found Miriam when she was unconscious that so many of us are here now—and know the good news.”

“
Ja
, Aenti, I understand,” Leah said. “I must be very patient and not tell anyone else.”

“Sometimes seeing God's work takes patience,” Bishop John said. “Miriam and Daniel have waited a long time.”

The three were gathered in the farmhouse kitchen, along with Daniel's parents, Sarah, and Victor and Eli King. Amelia Brennemann had made coffee and brought out some of Miriam's homemade rolls while they waited for news of her health. Ruth Kauffman had just gone home, after assuring them that Miriam was resting comfortably. It was Daniel who had told them the glad tidings, when he came down from the bedroom to thank Leah and Eli.

Bishop John cleared his throat. “Eli, I must speak of a matter that involves you.”

“No, Onkel John,” Leah said at once, then she flushed as she became the focus of all eyes. She took a quick breath, willing her voice to remain steady. “I know Eli wasn't supposed to drive. But it was an emergency. Surely he should not be punished for that. But if you decide he must be punished, then you must punish me as well. I was the one who asked him to take the horse and buggy and go for the
dokterfraa
.”

“Which we are very grateful for,” Sarah said quickly.

Bishop John didn't seem to notice Sarah's comment. He was focused on his niece. “Thank you, Leah,” he said. “But I have no intention of punishing Eli. In fact, I think there has been quite enough of that.” Bishop John switched his attention to Eli himself, standing silently beside his older brother. “Wouldn't you agree, Eli?”

Eli's eyes grew wide. “It is not a matter for me to decide,” he replied.

“John,” said Victor quietly, “may we know what you are talking about?”

“A number of days ago, I received a letter,” Bishop John explained. “It was from Isaac Wittmer, who is the bishop of the district in Ohio where Eli's mother lives. In it, he tells me that you weren't driving the buggy when it crashed that day, Eli. Instead, it was his son, Reuben. Is this true?”

“
Ja.
It is true,” Eli said softly.

“What do you mean it's true?” Leah burst out before she could stop herself. “All these months you've been letting people believe you did something wrong!”

“I did do something wrong,” Eli replied. “I did not drive the buggy, it is true, but I didn't stop the race, either.”

“That still does not tell me why you did not tell the truth,” the bishop said.

“I wasn't trying to tell a lie,” Eli said quickly. “I just thought perhaps it was not my truth to tell. If I spoke, then Reuben never would, and it seemed to me that it was important that he make his own peace with God. If he could do that . . .” Eli's voice trailed off.

“
Danki
, Eli,” Bishop John said. “I think that I have heard enough. I must speak to the deacons, of course, but I will give them my recommendation that your punishment be lifted. You may have made an error in judgment when you took part in a buggy race, but since then I think your behavior has been beyond reproach.”

Leah tried not to smile as she saw Eli blush at her
onkel
's words.

“I am proud to have you as a member of our community,” Bishop John went on. “But Bishop Isaac writes that, now that they know the truth, there are many in your settlement who would like to welcome you back to Ohio.”

Eli's eyes shot to Leah's face, then dropped. “I would like to speak with my mother first, if I may. And to Victor, also.”

“You must take all the time you need, Eli,” said Bishop John. He got to his feet. “I think that now that we know Miriam is well, perhaps it is time for all of us to go home.”

“I will look in tomorrow if I may,” Rachel said as she, too, rose. “I don't imagine Miriam will want to stay in bed for long.”

“I think you are right about that!” Sarah answered with a laugh. “Let me walk you out.”

“We'll go, too,” Amelia said. “Martin, don't you think now would be a fine time to talk to Victor about that matter you wished to discuss?”

“What?” Martin asked. “Oh,
ja
, of course. Victor, I've been meaning to ask you . . .”

Seizing Eli's brother by the arm, he marched him out the kitchen door. In the space of no more than a moment, Leah and Eli were left alone.

He stood across the table from Leah, arms loosely at his sides. For the first and only time since they had met, it seemed to Leah that Eli was at a loss. He would not meet her eyes.

“What will you do?” she asked. “Will you stay or go?”

“That depends,” Eli said.

Leah felt a familiar spurt of irritation. What was it about Eli, she wondered, that got under her skin so? He'd done it from the day they'd first met.

“Well, of course it
depends
,” she said tartly. “The question is, on what?”

Eli smiled. He lifted his head and looked Leah straight in the eye. “On whether or not I have a good enough reason to stay, of course.”

Leah's heart began to pound. “What kind of a reason?” she asked.

“If I have to tell you, that settles it,” Eli answered. “I'm going back to Ohio.”

“I wish you wouldn't,” Leah said.

“How much do you wish it?” Eli asked.

Leah put her hands on her hips. She was trying to look severe, but she was unable to hold back a smile. It seemed Eli wasn't the only one who could get underneath somebody's skin.

“Eli King,” she said, “that's enough. If you want to know more, you'll just have to be patient.”

“I can do that,” Eli said. He flashed that grin that Leah used to find so wicked but that now filled her heart with joy. “And do you know what else I can do? Soon I will be able to drive a courting buggy, won't I?”

Now Leah was the one who smiled.

Twenty

T
wins!” Miriam exclaimed. She gazed at the
Englisch
doctor in astonishment. Her hand reached out for Daniel's, silently seeking support. She felt him grasp her fingers, thread his own through them, and hold on tight. “Twins? You are sure?”

“As sure as I can be at this stage of the pregnancy,” Dr. Harrington said with a smile.

At Ruth Kauffman's insistence, Miriam had made an appointment to see an
Englisch
doctor in town. Annaliese had been a patient of Dr. Harrington's during her first pregnancy. The doctor was an older woman who was trusted and well liked within the Plain community.

“Twins,” Miriam said once more. “After all this time?”

“God has given us a very special gift.” Daniel spoke quietly.

“
Ja
,” Miriam answered swiftly. She gave his hand a squeeze. “That is so.”

“Is there anything special we need to know or do?” Daniel asked Dr. Harrington. “This fainting, will it happen again?”

“I don't think so. But I do think you need to be sensible about the amount of work you do, Miriam. I know it's too much to ask a Plain woman to sit down and put her feet up . . .”

Miriam smiled.

“But it may come to that as the months go along. Why don't you come back and see me in . . .” The doctor consulted a laptop computer. “About three weeks' time. Though of course you should call if you have any questions or concerns. You have a phone at the farm stand, don't you?”

“No,” Miriam replied. “But Daniel's parents have a pay phone in their barn.”

The doctor frowned. “It's just a precaution, but considering that you are pregnant with twins, it might be a good time to put a phone in at the farm stand. And not a pay phone. If anything should go wrong, you'll want to summon help quickly.”

“We'll do that,” Daniel said at once, to Miriam's surprise.

Miriam considered the doctor with curiosity. “You come to the stand?” She didn't remember seeing her, but then, so many
Englischers
came and went.

“Oh, yes,” Dr. Harrington said with a smile. “Your father and I were old friends. He always saved me a jar of your rose hip jelly.”

“Then we will continue the tradition,” Miriam promised.

“Thank you. I would like that,” Dr. Harrington replied. “Any more questions?”

Miriam exchanged a look with Daniel. “I don't think so,” she said. “At least, not now.”

“You feel free to call me if you change your mind,” the doctor said. She got to her feet. Miriam and Daniel did the same. “Congratulations, folks. I'll look forward to helping you welcome a new generation into your home.”

* * *

“Twins!” Sarah said. She caught Miriam by both hands and twirled her around in a great circle.

“Stop!” Miriam protested, laughing. “I already feel dizzy enough!”

“Twins,” Sarah said. She collapsed onto the couch, pulling Miriam down beside her. “I can't believe it!”

Miriam laughed. “That's exactly how I felt.”

“What will you call them?” Sarah asked. “Have you decided?”

“Give us some time,” Daniel protested. “We only just found out.”

“And we don't even know if we're having girls or boys yet,” Miriam added.

“It could be one of each,” Sarah remarked. “But I know you, Miriam. You probably had half a dozen names for each picked out on the way home.”

“Well,” Miriam began.

“I knew it!” Sarah cried.

“We did have a few thoughts. Edna for certain, if God gives us a girl.”

“Oh,” Sarah said. “Just like Mamm. And if there's a boy?”

“Daniel,” Miriam said softly. She looked up at Daniel, who stood, quiet and steady as always, just inside the living room door. “I have always dreamed of having a son to name for his father.”

“That's it. It's official,” Sarah announced. “I am going to cry.”

* * *

One week later, Miriam and Daniel stood in the Philadelphia airport, watching Sarah's great, silver plane lift off into the sky. Though Sarah had insisted she could get to the airport on her own, Miriam had been equally insistent: She would see her sister off. And when Sarah returned once the babies were born, as she promised to do, this time Miriam knew just how she would feel. She would welcome her sister with an open heart and open arms.

“It was a good visit, in the end, wasn't it?” Daniel asked quietly.

“
Ja
.” Miriam nodded. “It was.” She turned from the window with its view of planes lifting off and touching down. “But I am ready to be out of the hustle and bustle of this
Englisch
world she has chosen.”

“Then come,” Daniel said. He extended one hand and Miriam took it. “Let us go home.”

Miriam Brennemann's Blackberry Jam

Miriam makes her blackberry jam by the “slow cook” method her mother, Edna, learned from her mother. Edna Lapp wrote the technique down in a book that Miriam treasures (and uses) to this day.

In spite of its name, this method really isn't all that slow. It will produce a slightly softer jam than one made with commercial pectin. But Miriam thinks the flavor is much better because the fruit-to-sugar ratio is higher on the fruit side. Her Stony Field Farm Stand customers seem to agree! This blackberry jam is always one of the stand's bestsellers.

4 cups fresh blackberries

3 cups granulated sugar, divided into three portions of 1 cup each

½ large, tart apple, such as Granny Smith

Rinse the berries in cold water. Put the berries through a food mill or a strainer to remove most of the seeds.

Pour the slightly thick and frothy juice/pulp mixture into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. (Miriam uses her mother's enameled Dutch oven.)

Add the first cup of sugar to the mixture and stir to dissolve.

Cut the half apple into four slices. Remove the core, but leave the skin on. Place the slices in the pot.

Set the burner to medium, and heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a rolling boil. A rolling boil is a boil that cannot be stirred down, so you will want to stir more as the mixture begins to boil to make sure that the rolling boil point has been reached (and also to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pot).

Once the mixture reaches the rolling boil stage, set a timer for five minutes. Continue to stir, adjusting the temperature if you feel you need to, until the timer goes off.

At the end of five minutes, add the second cup of sugar and stir to dissolve. Continue to stir as the mixture returns to a rolling boil. Set another five minutes on the timer. Stir for this five minutes, then add the final cup of sugar when the timer goes off.

Repeat the stirring/reaching rolling boil stage one last time. (The amount of time it takes the berry mixture to return to a rolling boil grows shorter and shorter as you go along.)

At the end of the final five minutes, take the pan off the heat. Remove the apple slices. (They make a tasty sweet snack when cool.)

Ladle the hot jam into the size of jars you like. Miriam prefers the eight-ounce size. Prepare jars for water bath according to the manufacturer's instructions. This recipe makes approximately four eight-ounce jars.

If Miriam has jam left over, she puts it in a little dish and saves it for her family to use immediately.