“Danke.” Levy looked relieved beyond words. “Later this evening, maybe you can come to the house and I’ll show you around. Danke,” he babbled again. “Vielen Dank.”
Catherine chuckled. “Eat,” she told him, “before the food gets cold.”
When the meal was over, Jane rose to help with the dishes, but Catherine waved her off. “Why don’t you go with Levy now and see what he needs you to do?”
“Actually, I’ve got the barn chores to do first.” Levy stood up and placed his napkin on the table. He looked at Jane. “Can you give me half an hour or so?”
“Ja, sure. Do you want me to bring the baby with me? She’s sleeping right now.”
“Nein, if she’s sleeping, I’ll just lay her in her crib. Here, I’ll take her.”
Having seen his previous reaction to the infant, Jane considered it a minor miracle the infant didn’t wake up when she transferred her to her uncle’s arms. “First baby lesson,” she told him. “Support her a bit more under the head, like this.” She positioned his arm more securely around the baby.
“Ja, that feels better.” He looked at the child, and for the first time Jane saw tenderness on his face toward his niece. He raised his head. “Half an hour then?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Catherine, danke for supper.” He smiled. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
Catherine flapped a hand. “Go on, now. It was nothing.”
Cradling the infant, Levy touched the brim of his hat and departed.
“Whew.” Jane sat down. “Looks like I have a job.”
“The boppli needs you more than we do,” affirmed Peter. “I think you made the right decision.”
“Will this leave you in a lurch, since I was supposed to work in the store?”
“Nein, we’ll be fine,” said Catherine. “And your uncle is right. The boppli needs you. So does Levy.” She chuckled.
“I offered to give him baby lessons,” Jane commented. “Looks like that’s what I’ll be doing.”
“He needs them, for sure and certain. Nein, liebling, don’t worry about dishes. Why don’t you go unpack until it’s time to go to Levy’s? Your suitcase is upstairs, second bedroom on the left.”
Jane climbed the stairs and found the bedroom, glowing and quiet as the late-evening sun streamed in the window. It was plainly furnished with a colorful quilt on the bed, a chest of drawers, a rocking chair and some hooks on the wall for clothing.
With one suitcase, it took her no time to unpack. Before heading back downstairs, Jane stepped into the bathroom to splash her face and tidy some stray wisps that had escaped her kapp. She gave herself one hard look in the mirror and turned away. She didn’t like mirrors. It only reminded her of what she lacked.
In the kitchen, Aunt Catherine was just finishing the dishes. “I guess I’ll be going. Where is Levy’s house?”
Catherine wiped her hands on a dish towel, then pointed. “It’s the little farm at the end of this road, maybe half a mile away. White house, big front porch, look for the row of sunflowers growing next to the ditch in front.” Her aunt winked. “And gut luck.”
“Danke.” Jane chuckled and set off.
* * *
She set off toward Levy’s house, looking around with interest at her new community. The small town had large homes and neat gardens. Fireflies began flickering over the lawns and fields. Some children played in the spacious front yard of a nearby house; their shrieks and laughter drifted over the road. There seemed to be far fewer Englischers living here in Grand Creek than in her hometown in Ohio.
Just ahead, two young women about her age and wearing kapps walked toward her. They paused as Jane passed by. “Gut’n owed!” one of them said. “Are you visiting here?”
Jane stopped. “Ja. I’m Jane Troyer. I just arrived to stay with my aunt and uncle, Peter and Catherine Troyer.”
“Welkom. I’m Sarah. This is Rhoda…”
Jane chatted with the women for a few minutes. Sarah invited Jane to the same barbecue her uncle had mentioned earlier.
She thanked her for the invitation, then headed on toward Levy’s house. She felt the warmth of acceptance and had a feeling it would be no trouble fitting into her new home. Despite the loneliness she sometimes felt as one by one her friends got married and started families, there was a certain excitement about being in a new place and meeting new people.
And she would no longer have to see Isaac, giddy about his new bride. She wouldn’t have to witness Hannah’s excitement at her first pregnancy. She would no longer have to pretend to be indifferent.
Yes, a whole new community full of new people was just what she needed.
* * *
The glow of the kerosene lamp lit the living room as Mercy cried in Levy’s arms. He paced back and forth, trying to calm the infant. She’d woken up the moment he’d stepped into the house. Why? What was he doing wrong?
When he heard a knock at the door, he sighed with relief.
Jane stood on his porch, her glasses reflecting the lamplight from within. “Isn’t this where I left you?” she joked.
He thrust a hand through his hair and gently bounced the baby. He spoke without greeting. “I’ve fed her, diapered her. I don’t know why she won’t stop crying.”
“Sounds like she’s overly tired. Here, let me take her.”
Glad for the break, Levy handed over the infant and stepped away from the door, inviting her inside.
“Shhh, shhhh,” Jane whispered. She cradled the baby, swaying a bit as she walked. Levy gestured toward a rocking chair, and she sank down and rocked, cuddling the infant against her chest and murmuring soothing nonsense.
Within moments, Mercy’s crying stopped and her little face relaxed.
Levy dropped into a chair opposite. He felt exhausted. “How can you do
