Naomi held up a wrinkled hand. “I used to run this kitchen but old age has slowed me down. But Raesha is a fast learner and her mother taught her well before she came to live with us.”
“We cook for special occasions and frolics, church gatherings and market days,” Raesha said, the coziness of the night making her mellow. “But for the two of us, we measure out and don’t waste anything.”
“A good rule,” Josiah replied. “Josie and I were not the best of cooks but we managed. When we first moved to Ohio, we were both so distraught. We’d lost our parents and our relatives didn’t much know what to do with us.”
“Did you live with some of them?” Raesha asked, her mind wound tight with so many questions.
“For a while we lived with our uncle but he had a large family to begin with. I made a little money doing odd jobs and we moved into a small house that my cousin owned near them. That worked for a while but Josie was not happy. It’s hard to explain death to a child who is old enough to grasp it but still young enough to want her parents.” He took a bite of the chicken casserole and broke off a piece of freshly baked bread. “She only got worse as she grew. I think she’d held a lot inside for a long time. We both had.”
“I’m sure you did your best,” Naomi said, her tone gentle.
“I tried.”
He looked so dejected Raesha again felt an overwhelming sympathy for him. “You were young, too. Did you seek help from the ministers or the bishop?”
“I tried to get Josie more involved in the youth singings and frolics. She always was shy and quiet. She wouldn’t speak up and she didn’t know how to fight for herself.” He looked down at the bread on his plate. “Our daddi didn’t like women to speak up much.”
Naomi shot Raesha a measured glance.
They both knew that the man was the head of the household but what most didn’t know or understand was that the woman was the heart of the household and kept things running smoothly, all the while holding things close to her heart and praying to God to show her the strength she needed each day.
“We all have our roles to play,” Naomi said.
“Ja, and some take their positions very seriously,” Raesha replied. “My husband, Aaron, was a gut man who followed the tenets of our faith but he was never harsh or cruel.”
“Nor was his father, my husband, Hyam Bawell,” Naomi said, nodding. “Different people have different ways of doing things.”
“I didn’t mean to imply I went against my father,” Josiah said, clearly shaken. “He took care of us and provided for us. But he never seemed content.”
Content.
That word echoed inside Raesha’s head. She’d been content a few days ago. Today, her life seemed confusing and unpredictable.
The man sitting across from her wasn’t helping matters.
She wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up at their door. Or if they’d hidden the baby away until he was gone.
But no, that kind of attitude went against her nature and she was very sure Naomi felt the same way.
“May he rest in peace,” she said. Then she looked over at Josiah. “And may you live in peace.”
Josiah’s eyes widened. “Denke. You have both been very kind to me.”
After they’d each had a slice of spice cake, Naomi stood. “My bedtime has arrived. I’ll help with the dishes and then I’ll say good-night. Raesha, you can give Josiah the keys to the grossdaddi haus. I trust him to do what is right.”
“And what about the bishop?” Raesha asked. “He still needs to hear what we’ve planned.”
“I will speak again with the bishop tomorrow when we are out and about,” Naomi said. She shrugged. “He probably will nod and bless us since he’s used to this house being a refuge for those in need.”
“Go on to bed, then, and sleep well,” Raesha replied. “I’ll take care of cleaning up.”
“Let me help,” Josiah said. He must have seen her shocked expression. “I batch myself. I know how to clean a kitchen.”
“That is kind of you,” she replied, acutely aware that they were alone but Naomi was in the next room. “Once we’re done, I’ll take you across the porch and show you where everything is.”
His rich brown eyes brightened. “It will be nice to have a dry, clean place to sleep.”
They went about their work in silence but Raesha had to wonder what he’d seen and done since he’d been away. Had this lonely, hurting man been sleeping out in the elements? He’d mentioned the inn on the other side of town. But where had he been before then?
Just one of the many mysteries surrounding her handsome new neighbor.
No, make that the handsome single man who would now be staying on her property.
Confusing and unpredictable.
But she couldn’t turn back now. She had a child to consider. Tomorrow would the beginning of something new either way.
“You two go on,” Naomi said the next morning. “It’s too cold out there for old people and tiny babies.”
Raesha glanced from where Naomi sat by the fire holding Dinah, her gaze meeting Josiah’s. He stood in the kitchen, waiting with a tight somber apprehension.
He’d knocked on the door bright and early, stating a call had come in to the shop for him. One of the workers saw him outside on the tiny back porch and gave him a message to call back immediately.
“Mr. Craig has news,” he said the minute Raesha let him inside. “He will meet me at the Campton Center.” Then Josiah had asked if they wanted to go with him.
But Naomi had decided she didn’t want to do that.
“Your mother-in-law does bring up a good point,” he said now. “It is cold out there and damp at that. You and I can talk to him. We need advice on how to handle this.”
Raesha couldn’t refuse. They needed to know if Dinah was his niece or not. He had to be there to explain and ply his case and she needed to be there to hear the instructions and see to it they both understood how to proceed. She’d also back him up on his claim. How could she not?
“Well, you certainly do not need to be out in this weather,” she told Naomi. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here with little Dinah?”
“I’ll be just fine,” Naomi replied, her eyes on the bobbeli. “Dinah and I will have a gut talk about life.”
“We do have Susan Raber coming to run the shop today,” Raesha said, glad she’d been able to send word to their reliable helper. “If you need anything, she will be right next door and she has experience with little ones.”
“Ja,” Naomi said on a chuckle. “The girl has eight brothers and sisters.”
Raesha had long ago learned to ignore the pang of hurt in her heart each time she thought of big families. “That she does, so I shall not worry. Josiah and I will find out what needs to be done and then we’ll stop at the general store and get what supplies we might need.”
“Don’t forget to pick up what we need to make fresh formula,” Naomi reminded them, her eyes bright with expectation.
And something else that Raesha hoped Josiah didn’t notice.
Naomi