Or the power of God.
The last was more likely. He hadn’t prayed for much since Mary and the baby died, but he was sure Mims had, and he could probably blame all this on her. Then again, she might like that. He smiled.
“What is it?” Tillie asked.
He supposed he looked something of a fool standing in the middle of an unfinished nursery, holding a tiny pair of baby pajamas and grinning like a fool. He shook his head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He put the pajamas in the bag and handed it all to her. Then he reached down and picked up a package of disposable diapers. “I suppose you should take this too. You’re gonna need them, and who knows when you’ll be able to get out.”
“I never dreamed the baby could go through so many diapers. And I worked at a day care center.”
He tilted his head to one side. “That’s what you did in the English world?”
She nodded. “I enjoyed it, but it doesn’t pay much, and . . .” She didn’t finish. And he didn’t have to have her spell it out for him to understand. Quitting school at fourteen didn’t make for easy transition into the English world, where education seemed to be prized above almost everything else. Employers didn’t take into account the home education the Amish kids received after they quit going to school. How Amish girls were taught to be wives and Amish boys were taught in trade, farming, and such. Had his baby been born, Levi would’ve taught him how to work with leather. Just as Tillie would teach Emmy to can food and quilt and make clothes and all the other things that girls did. Tillie didn’t say as much, but he understood. Without Melvin, she wouldn’t be able to make it in the English world, and without Melvin, she wouldn’t be able to make it in the Amish world. So where was she going to go from here?
Chapter Eighteen
“Tillie!” Leah screeched as she came through the front door about an hour later. “My goodness! We’ve been so worried!”
Leah wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug and rocked them back and forth as she held on.
“I’m okay.” Tillie returned her sister’s squeeze, then pulled away. “Would you like to meet your niece?”
Leah nodded, then turned toward the coffee table, where Emmy rested in the fabric seat.
“She’s perfect,” Leah breathed.
Tillie had to agree. She would admit that she was a little biased, but every time she looked at Emmy, it was as if the world was sitting there wrapped in a little yellow blanket, sleeping peacefully. She supposed Emmy was. Her world, at least.
“And you named her Emmanuela?” Leah said. “That’s an awfully big name for such a sweet little girl.” That was Leah, never holding back.
Tillie was barely aware of Levi hovering behind her as she approached her sister once more. “We’ve been calling her Emmy.”
Leah nodded. “I like that. That fits.”
“Just a form of Emmanuel: God is with us.”
“Christmas.” Leah smiled at Emmy. “I guess she wanted to spend Christmas here this year.”
“I guess so,” Tillie murmured.
“Baby’s first Christmas,” Leah said. “Can I hold her?” She was already reaching for the snaps and buckles that kept Emmy in the chair.
“If you wake her up, she’ll want to feed.”
Leah stopped, but only for a moment. “Is that a problem?” She looked from Tillie to Levi, then, as if sensing her mistake, turned back to Tillie once more. “She’s eating, right?”
Tillie nodded. “Like a little pig.”
Leah sighed with relief, then continued her mission to hold the baby. “My goodness,” she said as she snuggled Emmy close to her. She turned the baby in her arms so she could see Emmy’s face. “I can’t believe how beautiful she is. So tiny and perfect.”
“That’s what I said.” Levi nodded.
Leah turned to him, still snuggling the baby close to her. “I can’t thank you enough for the help you’ve given Tillie. We’ll be forever grateful.”
Tillie felt her face heat up, and she knew she was as red as a Christmas poinsettia.
“I’m just glad I was here to help,” he said.
He seemed genuine enough. And he acted as if he was glad they were there. Not at first, of course, but now he did. And now they were leaving.
“We need to get her in the car seat, and we’ll head out. Mamm wanted to come, but since I was already in town at the store, I didn’t run by the house to get her first. She’s champing at the bit to see you and this baby.”
Tillie nodded. “I’m sure,” she murmured.
Leah picked up the baby carrier she had dropped as she walked in the door.
“It’s used,” she said. “But clean. And I was assured that it’s never been in a wreck. So hopefully it will be just fine for this little one.” She shook her head. “What am I saying? I’m going to buy a brand-new one tomorrow.”
Levi chuckled and shook his head at Leah’s antics.
“My goodness,” Leah said again. She gently placed the baby in the carrier and tried to strap her in. Emmy, disturbed from her rest, started to fuss.
“Oops.” Leah looked to Tillie. “I suppose she wants to eat now?”
Tillie shook her head. “Probably, but she can wait a little bit. Give her the pacifier and see if that helps. Maybe she’ll go back to sleep.”
“Good idea,” Leah said. “Babies love to ride in cars. I’m sure she’ll be asleep in no time.” She continued to buckle Emmy into the car seat. Levi picked up the diaper bag he’d filled earlier and handed it to Tillie.
“Leah’s right,” Tillie said. “There will never be enough that we can offer you to show our thanks for helping me. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You would’ve been just fine,” he said. “But I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.” There was a strange light in his blue eyes. Tillie had no idea what it meant. But
