Free Anna's Healing by Vannetta Chapman Page B

daughter-in-law, Sally, who was nursing an infant.
    Sally sat quietly. She didn’t smile, and she avoided looking directly at them.
    Chloe guessed that the younger woman was about her age, probably in her early to mid-thirties. Around her, scattered throughout the sitting room floor, were four youngsters in addition to the one she was holding. The oldest boy proudly proclaimed himself four years old by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. The twins were in the middle at age two and a half, and there was another toddler that looked to be a year, if that.
    Five children under five years of age. Chloe couldn’t imagine.
    Naomi had gray in her hair and a few extra pounds around her middle. She was the quintessential grandmother, and Chloe’s fingers itched to pull out her camera and snap a few photos. She didn’t, of course. She understood the rules. Naomi had a slow, genuine smile that lit up her face.
    But there was a profound sadness about Sally. Her expression was grave, and she only interacted with them if asked a direct question. Her face was drawn tight, perhaps owing to her thinness. Dark circles under her eyes indicated she wasn’t receiving nearly enough sleep.
    Naomi corralled the twins toward the kitchen table, where she placed crayons and sheets of paper. Bending down, she asked the oldest, the four-year-old, to watch over his baby brothers.
    â€œDon’t let them eat the crayons,” she reminded the boy as she turned back toward her guests.
    â€œI apologize if this is a bad time.” Chloe couldn’t imagine a good time. Maybe in six years when they were all in school?
    â€œOne time is as gut as any other,” Naomi assured her, walking her guests to a back porch that had been converted into another sitting area. Two chairs were positioned by the windows with a small table betweenthem. On the table was a checkerboard. The room was full of sunshine and warmth. Chloe found herself wishing Sally would come out with them, but she’d said she needed to finish nursing the baby.
    Naomi was bustling about, opening the back door to let in the breeze and raising one of the shades to allow even more sunshine into the room. “Sally has other kinner who are older and in school now. It’s a bit busier when they’re home, though they are gut helpers. When they’re gone for the day, the house seems somewhat quiet and empty. Sally and I are ready to see them by the time they return in the afternoon.”
    Chloe glanced at Anna, who waved four fingers at her.
    They had four more at school? That made for nine.
    â€œYou look surprised.” Naomi smiled and patted Chloe’s arm. “Nine kinner is not unusual for an Amish family.”
    â€œSo I’m learning.”
    In a corner of the room was a full-sized bed, and Naomi motioned toward it. “Here’s where we keep the quilts. We don’t have closets in our homes, and this is an easy way to show the quilts to Englischers who stop by.”
    On the top of the bed was a sheet, which Naomi removed and folded. Under it was a quilt that looked plain until Chloe stepped closer to examine it.
    â€œThis is a polished cream double wedding ring quilt,” Naomi explained.
    â€œIt’s stunning. And this was all done by hand?”
    â€œ Ya . None of the women in our district use treadle machines, though some Amish do.” Naomi folded back the top quilt, revealing another off-white quilt, but this one was designed with black squares set off diagonally. “This is a black-and-cream nine patch.”
    Chloe glanced at Anna, who smiled and turned to Naomi. “Chloe would like to take a picture of the quilt with her phone if that’s okay with you.”
    Naomi’s brow furrowed in concern. “I’m afraid that would be quite prideful of me. Though I enjoy the work Sally and I do, and I’m grateful we are able to do it, I wouldn’t want to be bragging about