Thankful (9 page)

Judith wasn't sure. No matter how much Bernie had explained to her about fostering a child, or how much Ben had reminded her that becoming a foster parent was only a temporary thing, Judith had secretly held a few dreams in her heart. She'd imagined having an instant bond with the baby.

She'd hoped that one day the baby's mother might want her and Ben to be James's forever parents. And then, very secretly, she imagined raising the boy as their own. She'd even imagined that eventually everyone would forget that the baby wasn't theirs by blood. He would stop being the foster baby and would simply become James Knox.

But this baby looked so different from her! No one would ever believe he'd been hers since birth.

“Of course it doesn't matter what he looks like. This ain't a problem. Not a problem at all,” Ben said quickly. “We feel blessed to have this time with James. Isn't that right, Judith?”

“Oh,
jah
. Yes, of course.”

Ben looked at Judith strangely as he stepped in front of her and reached for the tiny baby. “Judith, may I hold him now?”

Still feeling like she was in a daze, she handed James to Ben. James settled easily into her husband's arms, all the while looking at her husband with wide brown eyes.

Ben smiled. “Look at that! Not a single tear from this little guy!”

Bernie reached out and gently ran a finger along James's chubby cheek. “I have to tell you, he is one of the sweetest babies I've ever had the honor of helping. He's got a wonderful disposition. So easygoing.”

“He is going to be a joy to have around,” Ben murmured. Then he raised his head and stared hard at Judith. “Don't you agree, Judith?”

His look finally served to push her from her daze. “Hmm? Oh,
jah
. I mean, yes, of course.” She stepped to her husband's side and looked down at James. “He is a sweetie, isn't he,” she said with a smile.

Reaching out, she gently rubbed the tiny hand that had popped out of the plaid blanket.

James turned his head and met her gaze. And then, to her surprise, grabbed ahold of her finger.

“Oh! Oh, look at that, Ben!”

“I think he's telling you something,” Ben teased.

Staring into James's eyes, feeling his little hand wrapped around her finger, she realized that he'd just wrapped himself around her heart, too. And just like that, she felt every stitch of worry and doubt and, well, ridiculousness fade away.

There in her husband's arms was the most beautiful baby in the world. And she knew in that instant that they were meant to be together.

Lifting her arms out, she smiled at them both. “May I have him back now?”

Ben's expression eased and something soft and sweet entered his eyes. “Of course, dear. Here you go. Mind his head, now.”

She rested one hand on the back of James's soft, curly head and carefully eased him into her arms. And as the baby easily cuddled closer, making a little noise of what she could only imagine was happiness, Judith finally understood what it meant to love without reservations. Her love for this little boy was limitless.

Bernie clasped her hands together. “I knew this was the right decision,” she stated, satisfaction in her tone. “Look at you three. Already, you look like a family.”

The tears that had threatened to fall all morning at last fell down her cheeks. “We are so thankful for him, Bernie.”

Then she shifted James so she could look at his sweet little face once again. “I am so thankful for you, James. You are truly God's gift. All
kinner
are.”

I
heard through the grapevine that you're going to be moving out on your own, Aden,” Junior Beiler mentioned when their paths crossed outside the Graber Country Store just before suppertime.

“News travels fast.”

Junior chuckled. “Good news does. It is good news, right?”

“Definitely. I'm actually looking forward to living in town.”

“Have you found an apartment yet?”

“Nope.” After peeking to make sure that no one they knew could overhear, Aden added, “I feel kind of foolish. I have some money saved up, but obviously not as much as most places want. I hadn't realized everyone was going to be wanting both my first and last month's rent. And a security deposit.”

“It all adds up, for sure.”

“I guess I'm going to have to set my sights a little lower.”

“Now that the economy is turning around, I heard some of the places have raised their prices.”

“That makes sense. I just wish they weren't raising them quite as much as they are,” Aden declared as Miriam, Junior's new wife approached. “Hi there, Miriam.”

After smiling at Junior in a very sweet way, Miriam turned to him. “Hi, Aden. How are you?”

“I'm good. Just talking to your husband before I run over to the restaurant to pick up Christina.”

“Tell her hello for me. I miss seeing her every day.”

“I'll tell her. I know she misses seeing you.” Until recently, Miriam had worked at the Sugarcreek Inn. She'd worked there a good five years. Aden recalled Christina saying once that many thought of Miriam as being the heart and soul of the inn.

“Aden is out looking for an apartment in Sugarcreek.”

“For who?”

“Me. I thought it was time to get a place of my own.”

“Why?”

Junior winced. “Miriam, you can't ask him something like that. His reasons aren't any of our concern.”

She instantly looked abashed. “I'm sorry. I was only thinking your situation was a lot like Junior's here. You both are the eldest boys in a big household.”

“My situation isn't quite the same. I'm not really a part of the Kempf family, you know. They've only been kind enough to take me in for years.”

Miriam raised her brows. “I don't know that they ever thought of you as an inconvenience. Christina always acted like she was pleased as punch that you were living there.”

“Well, Christina is . . . um, older now.”

“Yes, that is true. But—”

Junior cut her off. “Miriam, I just thought of something. What do you know about Mary Kate's old apartment?”

“The apartment over the old hardware store? It's still vacant, I think.” She brightened. “Oh, that would be a
wonderful-gut
spot for you, Aden. It's close to everything.”

“And because the owners are anxious to have it filled, it might be going for a good price. Especially given its history and all,” Junior added. “Who knows? Maybe they'll even work with you on the first and last month's rent.”

“If that's the case it would be a real blessing.” Aden knew that one of Miriam's best friends had lived in that apartment, but her ex-boyfriend had shown up there and attacked her. It had created a ruckus in town. He'd even heard some of the more superstitious people in town were certain that the place was cursed and didn't want anything to do with it.

Junior eyed him closely. “You know about its history, right? Would you find it difficult to live there? Some folks do.”

“Not at all.” It was going to take a whole lot more than another couple's fight to have him turn away a place that might be going for an affordable price. “I'll go down to the bank tomorrow and ask who I can talk to about it.”

“I hope it all works out,” Miriam said. “The last time I talked with Mary Kate, she said she felt real bad that she'd broken her lease so suddenly.”

“After you get everything ironed out, be sure to let me know if you need help moving,” Junior piped in. “My brothers and I will be glad to lend a hand.”

“
Danke
. I'll let you know what happens.”

With a worried look at the sky, Junior said, “Now I better get Miriam home. Mr. Graber told us that snow is on the way.”

After wishing them both a good evening, Aden walked briskly to the Sugarcreek Inn. If Mr. Graber was right—and he was always right about snow—he was going to have just enough time to grab a slice of pie before it was time to head back to the Kempfs' farm.

chapter eight

It took a bit of effort, but Christina was discovering if she really concentrated, she could act as if seeing Aden at the end of a very long day was nothing special. Nothing special at all.

Over and over again, she reminded herself about how flattered she had been when the man with the striking green eyes had flirted with her earlier that day. Though she might never see him again, he was serving as a good reminder that Aden Reese was not the only fish in the sea.

She needed to keep reminding herself that Aden was moving forward with his life. He had a job at the hospital, was looking for a place of his own, and was even interested in another woman.

She was going to get her heart broken if she continually held out hope that Aden Reese was going to fall in love with her one day.

Doing her best to seem nonchalant, she placed a large slice of pie down in front of him. “You're a lucky man, Aden. This was our last slice of lemon meringue.”

“It's my lucky day, to be sure.” After he picked up his fork, he looked at her with a frown. “Aren't you going to sit down and join me?”

If she sat down, she'd be tempted to start chatting. Possibly even smile. And then there would go her best intentions! “I'm afraid I can't today. I'm pretty busy, you see.”

He looked around the half-empty restaurant. “Really? Doing what?”

“Um, I'm needed in the kitchen.” She backed up a step to prove her point.

Down went that fork. “But your day is done, right? Or is Mrs. Kent making you work late?”

The very last thing she needed was for Aden to get on his high horse and start asking Mrs. Kent if Christina was getting her overtime. “
Nee
. . . it's just something personal I have to take care of.”

But instead of looking satisfied with her excuse he merely looked a little more concerned. “Something personal? Is something wrong?”

“Not with me. It's with Ruth. She's having some family problems.”

“I hope it's nothing serious.”

“I hope not, too. But I did promise her that we'd talk before I left. I'll be right back.”

And with that, she scurried to the kitchen. Only as she practically trotted through the swinging doors did she realize that Ruth was following right on her heels.

Which brought her up short. “Ruth, you scared me!”

“You scared me a bit, too, if you want to know the truth. It's not every day I overhear that I'm having family issues.”

“Sorry about that.”

Ruth's eyes sparkled as she wrapped an arm around Christina's shoulders. “Care to explain what has been going on in your head?”

“I just made that up so I wouldn't have to sit with Aden.”

Ruth chuckled. “Well, next time you come up with a lie you might try looking around you first. I was standing right there.”

Christina peeked out through the crack in the doors. “Oh . . . Oh . . . shoot. Do you think Aden noticed that you were in the dining room, too?”

Ruth's lips twitched. “Since he's not blind, I would say so,” she quipped.

“Oh, but this is terrible.”

The older woman rested her hands on her hips, stared at her hard, then grabbed Christina's hand and pulled her to the very back of the kitchen. Only when they were standing in the middle of the cubby where their coats and such hung, did Ruth let go of her hand. “I'll play along . . . if you tell me what's going on.”

There was no reason to lie. Not to Ruth, who had children Christina's age. Ruth also had a habit of speaking bluntly and to the point. Miriam had used to say that their English friend could spot a lie from a mile away. “It's nothing. I'm simply trying to keep away from Aden.”

Ruth narrowed her eyes. “That would make perfect sense, except that you two live in the same house. And he is here to pick you up. You planning to avoid him in that buggy of yours?”

Christina frowned at her friend's sarcastic tone. “I know we need to ride together. But I'm hoping to not visit with him if I don't have to.”

“Because?”

“Because things with us are really messed up.”

“You're talking in circles, Christina. You're going to have to be a bit clearer if you want my help.”

“I don't know if I can. It's complicated.”

A new thread of compassion eased into Ruth's voice. “Oh, my dear. You really are in a state. Why don't ya start slow? You obviously need to talk about this. It might as well be me.”

Ruth had a point. “Well . . . ” Her voice suddenly felt stuck in her throat. Because, she ached to say, she was hopeless. Hopelessly in love with him. Hopeless about having any kind of future with him, which was making her terribly sad. “Ruth, you might not know this, but I've liked Aden for a really long time,” she finally blurted. “For years I've been waiting for him to realize I was grown up.”

“Well, you're grown up now. And you're not only beautiful, but you're lovely on the inside, too. What's the problem?”

“He only sees me as his friend. And to make matters worse, he is moving out of our
haus
.”

“Where is he going?”

“Somewhere in town. And it gets worse, too. He told me last night that he's also seeing a woman. He's dating an Englisher who he met at work,” she sputtered. “At his hospital. Ruth, I think I've lost him before I even got a chance!”

Ruth winced. “Ouch. That has to be hard.”

“You have no idea,” Christina said. “Everything between us has changed now, and I'm so sad about it, too. I have a feeling that now, every time I look at Aden, I'm going to realize that everything I had thought we could have is never going to happen.”

“Come now. It still might. . . . ”

“And it also might not.”