The girls presented me with a meticulously wrapped present, much to my surprise. A teal-colored scarf and a pair of matching mittens. Finally, Naomi gave me a large gift from the whole family: the incredible quilt I’d admired at the shop.
“This is too much,” I exclaimed, although I found myself clasping it. Now I needed a bed. But where would I land?
Naomi’s gaze flitted to her sister. “Linda wanted us to give it to you.”
I turned to Linda, who looked away. My guess was that Naomi had talked her into giving it to me. Still, I needed to show gratitude. “Thank you very much, Linda, I will treasure this the rest of my life.” I felt salty moisture pricking the backs of my eyes. More than ever I wanted to be a member of this loving household.
An hour later, Anna and Nancy trundled up to their bedrooms with their gifts, leaving Naomi, Linda, Silas, and me to sip coffee together.
Naomi brought out a box. “Linda, you haven’t opened your gift from Silas and me.”
“I can’t accept a gift until I’ve made a kneeling confession.” Linda looked at Silas. “May I make it to you right now, seeing as you’re a minister?”
“Nee, that’s not the way we do it. I’d need a deacon or another minister with me to hear a confession. And a kneeling confession is made before the whole congregation. You know that.”
“Now open our present.” Naomi scooted the box closer to her.
Linda cleared her throat. “I don’t deserve gifts. Not after what I’ve done. A lifetime of deceit.” She seemed to be shrinking. “But I have something I need to tell all of you.”
Silas stroked his beard. “Can’t it wait?”
“What could be so terrible?” Naomi asked.
Linda wrung her hands. “Many years ago, I worked for a couple in Connecticut as a housekeeper.”
“I seem to recall that, now that you mention it,” Naomi said. “When you were a late teen.”
Linda looked like a frightened rabbit trying to seek camouflage in the couch.
“How did you meet them?” Silas leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.
Linda strained to get the words out, as if her body were wracked with pain. “I was working in Bird-in-Hand. Somehow this Englisch woman surmised I was in a motherly way.”
“You mean with child?” Naomi’s voice rose in pitch but not volume.
“I was seventeen years old.” Linda paused so long I wondered if she’d continue. I didn’t dare speak, couldn’t inhale.
Finally, she said, “Not even our mother suspected a thing. She was busy helping you and your new baby, Naomi.” Through her chalky white skin, a dark stain erupted on her cheeks. “I was so naïve. I never should have been alone with that boy, even if he was Amish.” She stared at the floor. “Anyway, the woman said that she and her husband wanted to adopt my baby and would give it the best of homes. In the meantime, I could live with them and do light housekeeping, so no one would be the wiser. I agreed on the spot. I didn’t even pack a bag. I just quit my job, asked my boss to tell our parents I was okay, and left with them.” She fluffed Saucy’s fur and received a lick. “She and her husband were very kind, so I have no regrets as far as they go. They were fine people.”
“Well, did you give birth to a child?” I asked.
“Yes, and I left my baby with the couple.” Her voice grew weak. “I promised never to contact them again as long as they took care of my dearest little child.”
“A girl or boy?”
“A—a girl.” Her face contorted. “I was afraid to hold her for fear I’d change my mind and want to keep the baby. I’d already promised to give her away. And I’d agreed never to reveal anything to anyone.”
I felt as though a giant hand was squeezing my heart. Could this woman who looked so innocent be playing me for a fool? Maybe she didn’t want me for a daughter.
“The couple lived in Connecticut?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Yah.”
Silas broke in. “I demand you tell us the truth. No more deceit.”
“Yes, please,” Naomi said. “Why would you keep such a secret? Silas and I would have helped you raise the child.”
I felt light-headed. “What was the couple’s last name?”
“Romano.” Her moist eyes found mine. “Maria, if you’re my daughter, I’m so very sorry. If you’re not, I’m even sorrier.”
I hadn’t planned on this scenario. A cyclone of emotions whirled through me. White noise filled my ears.
Naomi wrung her hands. “Maybe we should do another DNA test.”
“No more tests.” Silas seemed to be containing a volcano of anger.
“How about if Charlene administered it?” Naomi beseeched him.
“I’ll give it some thought after I’ve spoken to the deacon and the bishop.”
“In the meantime, I float around in a state of limbo?” I sounded pitiful, even to me. “I need to know if Linda is my mother.”
“I’m sure of it.” Linda turned to face me. “The moment I saw you it was as if God Himself had brought me the greatest gift I could ever receive.”
Silas shook his head, but Naomi shushed him before he could speak. “I felt it, too,” she said.
How about me? What did I think? Now was not the time to get swept away into emotional decisions. I stared at Linda until her eyes met mine. “Who’s my father?”
“I don’t know for sure. I had a crush on an Amish boy my age. We went to a party with the wrong crowd. Ach, I drank too much. When I awoke in the morning, I was alone.”
“You have no idea what happened?”
“I remember drinking too much and feeling fuzzy-headed. I vaguely recall the young man . . . I must have passed out.” She blinked away a tear. “He was probably so drunk he doesn’t remember either. Can you see why I’ve not told anyone?”
“There’s never a good excuse for lying.” Silas’s balled fist rested on his knee.
“I know that.”
