After the family picked at their supper amidst an atmosphere of leaden sadness, Dawdi and Mammi Schwartz lingered with them at the table, and Deacon Miller opened his Biewel and began to read. Then all heads bowed at the table for a silent prayer before Lena Rose and Emma helped Mammi ready the younger children for bedtime.
In the midst of her own distress, Lena fleetingly wondered if it might be possible for them to stay together in their parents’ farmhouse. But the question loomed much too big in her mind for such a day. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us together,” Lena told Emma later, determined to be courageous for her siblings’ sake.
“I know ya will,” Emma said, tears flowing freely as she sat on the edge of the bed.
But truly, Lena had no inkling what the future held.
CHAPTER
2
By the time the sun had set that day, Lena Rose felt completely immersed in the reality of their enormous loss. This heart-rending sorrow was too much for anyone to bear, even a young woman taught to accept whatever came her way as being from the hand of the Lord. The sovereignty of God was the way of peace and not strife, Dat had always said. The People did not shake their fists toward heaven, questioning the hitches along life’s path. But in spite of her acceptance, Lena could not understand how this could possibly be part of God’s plan.
In the few days before the funeral, Uncle Noah came regularly to look in on them with his wife, Mary, both of them doing what they could to comfort the children, even spending the nights there. Mercifully, the ministerial brethren had suggested a joint service to spare the family the difficulty of facing such an ordeal twice.
Once the burials were behind them, Lena knew life must somehow go on for her and her siblings. She was busily redding up the front room the day after the funeral when she glanced up to see all her brothers and sisters shuffling into the large room.
“We’d like to talk to ya, Lena Rose,” Emma said softly. “Just our family.”
Their faces were grim, though little Chris looked the most forlorn.
Wilbur got right to the point. “What’s going to happen now? Do ya know? Can we stay put here . . . with you overseein’ us, maybe?”
Lena sighed, her heart going out to them. “I’m working things out with Uncle Noah as best I can, but I can’t say for sure.”
Liz’s and Verena’s expressions registered worry.
“Why can’t we keep on livin’ here?” Liz asked. “It’s our home . . . where we were born.”
“Jah, we wanna stay with you,” Mose echoed as his twin nodded. Their solemn eyes focused on Lena.
“We’d obey whatever you said,” Chris pledged.
“With no fussin’ or talkin’ back,” Benjamin added.
“We promise,” Timothy said.
Emma nodded her head and pressed her lips together as if trying not to cry. “We belong together.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Lena said, recalling the earnest conversations she’d had with various relatives these past few days. “But the bishop thinks I’m too young to keep the house and farm going. There are just so many responsibilities.” Lena wished she were better equipped to handle such a challenge. “I’m doing all I can, though, and I can promise each of you that Gott will watch over us, no matter where we end up,” she said, trying hard to make herself believe the words.
Emma sighed and looked dejected. “I can’t just hope we’ll stay together, Lena Rose. I need to know it!”
“Oh, sister.” Lena pulled her near, understanding exactly what she meant.
After evening prayers, while Emma and Wilbur had the younger children wash up for bed, Lena Rose sat down at the kitchen table with Uncle Noah and Aunt Mary, not certain what to expect. The deacon had appointed Noah to locate a home for them, preferably with relatives.
“I know you’ve been hopin’ to keep all of yous together here in your father’s home, but it’s just not feasible,” Uncle Noah said, confirming Lena’s fears.
“Would ya at least give me a chance to try? I’d do everything within my power.”
Uncle Noah shook his head. “I’m mighty sorry, Lena Rose,” he said. “I truly am. But the brethren and the People are in agreement. It’s too much to ask.”
Lena Rose knew better than to argue with her father’s elder brother, but something in her wanted to continue to fight. She traced her finger along a groove in the table Dat had built soon after he married Mamma. “I was afraid of this,” she admitted. “And honestly, I can’t think of anyone in Centreville who’s able to care for all ten of us. But I can’t bear to see us separated.”
Uncle Noah regarded her kindly. “I wish I could locate a family, but with this many Kinner . . . it just isn’t gonna happen. Not even with close kinfolk.”
Suppressing her heartache, Lena considered the few uncles and aunts who were in any position to take in more than one or two of them, what with the number of available bedrooms or the advanced age of the relatives themselves. She knew he was right.
“At the very least, the twins ought to stay together,” she urged.
“Keepin’ Mose and Sam together does make gut sense,” Uncle Noah agreed, his wrinkled hand gripping the coffee cup while his usually jovial wife looked on sadly across the kitchen table. “If we could, Mary and I would open our home, but with just the
