“As I said, it’s my gift. Enough said.” Her voice was clipped.
Levy noticed her curtness, but was too tired to analyze it. “Then I think I’ve discovered my anti-gift. With me, she won’t calm down at all. I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to care for her.”
Jane set the rocking chair in motion again. “Is there no other woman who can take this baby? It’s not going to be easy for a single man to care for her, especially since, as you’ve said, you have to run your business.”
“I’m discovering that. You arrived just as I was going to look for someone else to care for Mercy. That makes you an answer to prayer.”
“I’ve been told I’m good at being useful.” He thought he saw her eyes tear up, but wasn’t sure since she ducked her head to look at the baby. “She’s starting to fall asleep, see?”
Levy leaned back in his chair. “It seems like I’ve been walking her for hours. That’s an exaggeration, but not by much. What hours can you work? I’m warning you, I may overwork you.”
“My schedule is open. I can work whenever you need me. Within reason,” she added.
“What time tomorrow do you want to start?”
“I can be here by eight in the morning. Would that be all right?”
“I hate to ask, but could you make it closer to seven? The days have been very hot lately and I’m trying to get work done outside before the sun is high.”
“Ja, I can do that.”
He nodded, filled with gratitude at this strange woman who had saved him. “Now here’s an important question. Can you work Saturdays?”
“I suppose so. But why Saturdays?”
“Because if you remember, I have a booth at the farmer’s market. I spend most of my week gearing up for it. Many Englischers come to buy produce, so I’ll be busy, from dawn until dusk. That’s probably when I’ll need you the most.”
“I’ll have to ask my aunt and uncle. Forgive me, Levy, but would it be easier…” She trailed off and didn’t finish.
“Let me guess. You were going to ask why I don’t give Mercy to another family to raise.”
“Well…ja.”
“Ja sure, it would be easier. That’s what the bishop wants me to do. But I won’t. Not yet. Not until I know whether or not my sister…” He didn’t finish his words, unwilling to reveal the deep emotion behind his determination to keep the baby. “If my sister ever comes home, I want her to see I’ve risen to the challenge of caring for her child.”
He was relieved when Jane didn’t pursue the matter further. His reasons were his own, and whatever difficult path he had set himself, he was trying to follow it.
“Well, I’ll help however I can.” Jane shifted the sleeping baby from the crook of her arm to over her shoulder. The infant gave a small sigh and didn’t wake. “I think I’ll enjoy caring for her.”
“I’m grateful.” He saw beyond the plain features and thick glasses of this young woman, and noticed instead her sweet expression as she held the baby.
“Well.” She rose from the rocking chair. “Where does the boppli sleep? I’ll put her down.”
“In here.” Levy picked up the oil lamp and led the way to a bedroom off the kitchen. “This is my room, and it’s easiest to have her with me for now.”
Late-evening shadows had darkened the room, but he put the lamp on the dresser near the crib so she had light. Jane leaned over and placed the slumbering infant on the mat. She covered her with a light blanket, then tiptoed out of the room.
Levy heaved a sigh as he replaced the lamp on the table. “Ah, danke. She’s been fussy all day, and I still have barn chores to do.”
“Hopefully she’ll sleep through the night, so doing chores shouldn’t be a problem. I expect she’s still getting used to the changes around her. Babies are creatures of habit, so the more she can stay on a regular schedule, the calmer she’ll be.” Jane walked toward the front door, then turned back to him. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning at seven. You can show me where everything is—her formula, diapers and such.”
“Ja, that’s fine. And Jane, danke. I had no idea I was so bad with babies.”
“Do you still want lessons? Baby lessons?”
“Ja. I don’t have a choice.”
“Then we’ll start tomorrow. Don’t worry, Levy. If you’re determined to raise the baby, you’ll learn fast. Gude nacht.” She smiled and walked out the door.
Levy watched the tall, slender figure walk down the darkening street. Jane wasn’t pretty in the conventional sense, but she had a remarkably calming quality about her. Not just with Mercy, but somehow he felt more composed in her presence.
He shook his head. There was more to Jane than met the eye, that was for sure. He was just very grateful she’d agreed to care for Mercy.
* * *
Jane retraced her path down the quiet road toward her aunt and uncle’s house. No streetlights or car headlights broke the darkness, but fireflies twinkled over the fields and warm lamplight shone from windows.
So she had a job now, a job where she could be useful. Levy needed help, no question. In addition to caring for little Mercy, she was glad Levy wanted some parenting lessons. All in all, it had been an eventful day, and she realized how tired she was.
But being useful kept darker thoughts at bay. She tried not to think of the cozy home she’d left behind, with her mother and father, her younger sisters, her brothers. Her married older sister was expecting a baby. And Jane would miss all that.
When her mamm half-jokingly offered to arrange a marriage for her, Jane knew it was time to leave. She wasn’t sure an arranged marriage was the right thing for her, at least not right now.
Here in this new community, she wouldn’t linger over the past. She would look only at the present—her new job, becoming acquainted with people
