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

impossible for Lydia to achieve that at sixteen.
    “We’re going to be okay,”
Dat
said, and Lydia wondered if he was trying to convince himself as much as the rest of them.
    Irma wrapped her arms around
Mamm
, and Lydia hoped her mother wouldn’t cry. Seeing her mother shed tears would make this situation even more painful.
    Unable to take any more of this sadness, Lydia stood. “I’ll take care of the dishes while you all talk.” She carried the plates and glasses to the sink and started the hot water. Her parents continued to reassure Irma and Titus that everything would be fine, and she hoped they were right.
    After she finished the dishes, she prepared lunch for herself, Irma, Titus, and her father. Glancing at the clock, she found she had ten minutes before she had to leave for school. Since her parents were still deep in conversation with Titus and Irma, Lydia slipped through the family room and up the stairs.
    Lydia rushed to her room, grabbed something off a shelf in the corner, and dropped it into the pocket of her apron. She walked down the hallway and gingerly pushed open Ruthie’s door. She found her sister sitting up in her crib while hugging her favorite cloth doll that she’d named Hannah.
    “
Gude mariye
,” Lydia said with a smile. “How are you and Hannah today?”
    “We’re
gut
,” Ruthie said, her voice small. “I smell breakfast.”
    “
Ya
.” Lydia lowered herself onto the rocking chair across from the crib. “I made breakfast this morning.”
    “You did?” Ruthie giggled. “I bet you burned the eggs like you did last week.”
    “That’s not nice.” Lydia laughed. “And I didn’t burn the eggs.”
    “May I have some?” Ruthie moved to her knees. “I’m hungry.”
    “Of course you may,” Lydia began. “But I’d like to talk to you first.”
    Ruthie looked surprised.
    “You and
Mamm
are leaving on a trip today. You’re going to see some really smart doctors who can help you.”
    “I am?” Now Ruthie looked confused.
    “
Ya
.” Lydia stood and walked over to the crib. “You’ll be gone for a little while. I have to go to school in a few minutes, but I just want to tell you that I love you.”
    Standing, Ruthie pulled Lydia into a hug. “
Ich liebe dich
.”
    Lydia closed her eyes, trying in vain not to cry. She then pulled the small, worn stuffed orange cat from her pocket. “I want you to take this with you.” She handed the toy to Ruthie. “This is Snuggles.
Mammi
gave it to me a long time ago.”
    Ruthie’s eyes widened as she hugged the cat and her doll. “
Danki!
I’ll take
gut
care of her.”
    Lydia smiled through her tears. “If you ever get scared, you just hug Snuggles and Hannah, and they will take away all your fears.”
    Ruthie smiled. “I’ll hug them all the time.”
    “
Gut
.” Lydia touched her sister’s nose.
    “Lydia!” Her mother’s voice sounded from downstairs. “It’s time to go.”
    “We better get downstairs.” Lydia hoisted her sister into her arms. She silently marveled how light Ruthie was as she carried her down the stairs. After depositing Ruthie on a bench at the kitchen table, Lydia brought her a cup of milk. She sat with Ruthie while Irma and Titus kissed their mother good-bye.
    When her siblings moved over to say good-bye to Ruthie, Lydia retrieved the lunch pails from the counter.
    The crunch of tires in the driveway alerted her that her father’s ride to work had arrived. Keeping with tradition, her father paid a non-Amish driver to take him to work every day.
    “It’s time to go,”
Dat
told
Mamm
, a frown turning down his lips. “I will try to call you later from the shop.”
    “
Ya
,”
Mamm
said. “I’ll leave you a message with my phone number.” She cleared her throat, and Lydia saw tears in her mother’s eyes. “I’ll take
gut
care of Ruthie. You take
gut
care of the rest of the family.”
    “You know I will,” he said.
    They embraced and kissed, and Lydia felt as if she should leave the