Heads nodded and folks smiled at little Betsy, who now leaned against Leah’s shoulder with an arm around her neck. When Betsy squawked, pleasant laughter filled the room.
“But that’s not all!” Jude continued. “Our family will be welcoming a new Shetler come September, and we couldn’t be more delighted.”
This time folks applauded and took a second look at Leah, whose cheeks tingled with heat. The women seated near her grabbed her hand or grasped her shoulders, sincerely happy for her, and folks began standing up to congratulate her and Jude.
“Before we leave this room—before you men set up for our dinner,” Margaret said loudly, “we’re not finished with announcements. Hush now, so everyone knows what’s going to happen.”
The murmurings ceased. All eyes focused on Jude and Jeremiah’s mamm, who stood with a hand on her hip and an authoritative expression on her face.
Margaret smiled at Leah. “When Jude came over yesterday and told us Betsy had returned—with only the clothes on her wee back—Lenore and I decided to make this a Mother’s Day we’d all remember by getting the word out and holding a baby frolic!” she exclaimed. “So while the menfolk are setting up the tables for a picnic outside, we gals can have a little hen party for you, Leah—”
“We brought along a big batch of bird’s-eye cotton for sewing diapers after dinner!” Cora Miller called out.
“We shared most of our spare baby things last time Jude came asking for them,” Rose Wagler remarked, “so we’ve also brought fabric for onesies and little dresses—”
“Not to mention another surprise we think you’ll find useful,” Mama chimed in from a couple rows in front of Leah. “But instead of talking about it, let’s go out on the porch and take a look!”
“Jah, and we’ll get out of the men’s way while they handle the meal setup,” Naomi put in with a laugh.
“Now wait just a minute.” The district’s deacon, Saul Hartzler, stood up with a scowl on his swarthy face, silencing the excited crowd. “This being Sunday, you women aren’t to be doing such work as sewing—especially with a sewing machine.”
“Ah, but this is a frolic,” Margaret countered quickly. “And my son the bishop gave me permission to organize this hen party, considering the circumstances Leah and Jude face now that Betsy’s come back without any clothes or diapers.”
Martha Maude Hartzler rose to address her son as well. “This is no different from you men giving feed and water to the livestock on Sunday,” she pointed out. “Animals have to eat on the Sabbath, and babies have to dirty their diapers no matter what day of the week it is.”
Laughter filled the room. As Leah situated Betsy in her basket, the women all began chattering excitedly as they headed outside. Leah welcomed the breeze as she stepped onto the porch, where Mama and Margaret were already standing with bright smiles lighting their faces. With a flourish they lifted a sheet that had been draped over some large, lumpy items that must’ve been positioned and covered after Leah had entered the house.
“A new washing machine!” she gasped as her hand flew to her mouth.
“Jah, with two wee ones in diapers, you’ll be doing a lot of laundry,” Mama explained. She was smiling as though she were the one receiving the gifts, probably because she and Margaret had so quickly organized this surprise party without Leah knowing about it.
So much for Mama going to Cedar Creek yesterday for her clothes and such, Leah thought. She really went to the mercantile—maybe with Margaret and some of these other ladies.
“We got lots of baby bottles, too, and a new pot for warming them on the stove,” Delores Floud said, pointing at the box of items on the floor.
“And diaper pins and ointment and wipes—”
“And a new bassinet—”
“And the pillow and sheets to go with it—”
“And little stuffed toys—”
“And sippy cups and baby bowls—”
“Oh, my word,” Leah said as she tried to keep up with the ladies’ rapid-fire responses. She set Betsy’s basket on the porch floor and approached the huge assortment of gifts these women—truly her friends now rather than just curious neighbors—had accumulated for her on very short notice. “I—I don’t know how I can possibly thank you all for helping us yet again.”
“It’s what friends do, Leah,” Anne Hartzler said gently. “Where would any of us be without other hens to cluck with when we need them?”
Leah smiled, unable to argue with that statement. The door banged behind them, and Stevie quickly made his way through the gathered women to stand beside her.
“Wow-ee!” he blurted out as he gawked at the items arranged on the porch. “It’s even better than Christmas! We got stuff for Betsy—and we’ll be ready for the new baby, too! But don’t go sewin’ a lot of pink stuff, coz it’s gonna be a boy. I just know it.”
The women laughed, and when one of them held the door open, the men began carrying long tables outside. Jude caught Leah’s eye and came up beside her with two folding chairs in each hand. When he saw the assortment of gifts, he nodded.
“You ladies outdid yourselves—and I’m grateful for all your help on such short notice,” he said. “If anybody deserves a party, it’s Leah.”
“Hear, hear!” Margaret said. “Any woman who can steer my granddaughters back onto the straight and narrow while taking on another girl’s child—twice—gets my vote.”
Leah gaped. Was this her mother-in-law, the same Margaret Shetler who’d made a cruel joke at the wedding about her inability to cook?
“Jah, Leah doesn’t just sit around making tiny stitches in a quilt,” Naomi put in with a nod. “She’s out there doing things for people, and getting involved. I had my
