Free Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) by Amy Clipston Page A

the table, and they filled their plates with eggs, potatoes, and bread. Her mother kept the conversation going, asking questions about what the children thought they would do in school today.
    Lydia felt as if she were holding her breath, waiting for her parents to share the news of
Mamm’s
plans to leave for the hospital with Ruthie today. It was almost torture to listen to the chitchat, knowing a more important issue washanging over them, like a dense fog smothering the air in the room. At one point Lydia almost asked her mother to just tell Titus and Irma the news. But she knew that she would be punished for speaking out of turn.
    After they finished eating, Irma started to stand up to help clear the table.
    “Wait,” her father said. “We need to discuss something.”
    “I thought so,” Titus said. “Something fishy was going on when breakfast was ready when we came downstairs.” He turned to Lydia, and she forced a smile in an effort to reassure him that things would be okay.
    Irma sat back down. “
Ya
. I did too.”
    “You’re right,”
Dat
began, pulling on his beard while he chose his words. “There is something going on. Your mother and I have some news to share, and it’s going to be difficult to tell you. We wanted you to eat early so you can think it over before you go off to school today.”
    Irma’s eyes widened. “Did something happen to Ruthie last night?” She turned to Lydia. “You said prayers would help! Why didn’t they help?”
    “It’s okay,” Lydia said. “Nothing happened to Ruthie last night. She’ll be fine.”
    “Calm down,”
Mamm
said, taking Irma’s hands in hers. “Listen to your
dat
.”
    Irma sucked in a breath and Lydia rubbed her back.
    Lydia swallowed a sigh.
This is going to be much more difficult than I thought
.
    “Remember when we told you Ruthie was going to need special treatments from the doctor?”
Dat
began.
    “
Ya
,” Titus said, folding his napkin and turning to
Mamm
. “And you said she’ll have to be in the hospital for a while, and
Mamm
will have to go with her.”
    Irma looked back and forth between her parents, and her mouth gaped. “You’re leaving us? You’re going to the hospital with Ruthie?”
    “Only for a short time,”
Mamm
said, patting Irma’s hand. “I will be back.”
    “And I will take
gut
care of you while they’re gone,” Lydia chimed in. “You don’t have to worry about that.” She tried to keep her tone light, even though the task of acting as her siblings’ mother felt like a huge mountain she’d never be able to conquer.
    “Are you going too,
Dat
?” Titus asked, looking confused.
    “Only your
mamm
and Ruthie are going,”
Dat
said, still fingering his beard. “Your
mammi
Elizabeth is going to go too, to help your
mamm
.”
    “When are you leaving?” Titus asked, his frown deepening.
    “Today,”
Mamm
said. “A driver is going to pick us up after you leave for school. We’re going to pick up
Mammi
on the way.”
    “Today?” Irma’s lip began to tremble as she stared at
Mamm
. “I don’t want you to go. I’m going to miss you.” Irma jumped up, came around the table, and hopped into
Mamm’s
lap.
    Mamm
held her close and kissed her head. “You will be fine,
mei liewe
. We’ll talk on the phone, and you can even write me letters. It will be just fine. I’ll be home before you know it. I need you to be strong and to behave for Lydia and
Dat
. You need to do your best in school and help out with the chores at home. Can you do that for me?”
    Irma looked up at
Mamm
and nodded while sniffing. Tears splattered her pink cheeks.
    Lydia wished she could wake up from this surreal nightmare. How could she possibly take the place of their mother?She’d never be able to comfort Irma like their mother could. Her mother was the woman who kept the household running without any flaws. She knew just what to do in any situation. Why would Lydia’s parents put this pressure on her? It was just unfair. It was