A Precious Gift Read online

  However, when Gabby entered the kitchen quietly the next morning, she’d discovered Kyle’s father sitting alone at the very big table sipping coffee.

  The moment he spied her, he stood up. “Ah, Gabby. There you are.”

  It was ten after seven in the morning. She had a feeling she was the last to wake up. “I’m sorry, did I sleep too late?”

  He raised one eyebrow. “At seven? Nee.” He smiled slightly. “No, I’ve been waiting for you.”

  She sat down, telling herself that whatever he had to say, she could take it. He and Mrs. Lambright had given her a place to live when her own mother had not.

  But still she found herself clenching her hands in anticipation of what was to come.

  He cleared his throat. “So, um, how did you sleep?”

  How did she sleep? “Good. I mean, I slept well.” When he simply stared at her, she said, “What about you?”

  He looked taken aback. “Me?” After a pause, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, um, to be honest, I didn’t sleep all that good.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It can’t be helped, I suppose. The older I get, the less the Lord seems to want me to have a good night’s rest.” He smiled at her.

  This was the strangest of conversations! Awkwardly, she smiled back.

  “Gabby, I wanted to speak to you about what happened.”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, when you and Kyle told Emma and me the news? I have to tell ya, it made me pretty upset.”

  Here it came. He was going to blame her for ruining Kyle and for getting pregnant. She looked down at her feet. “I know. But I promise I didn’t do it intentionally.”

  He gaped at her, then shook his head. “Nee. You misunderstand, child. I ain’t talking about you having a baby. I’m talking about your mother treating you the way she did.”

  “Oh.” She shifted uncomfortably.

  “I’m sure your mother is a fine woman, but I don’t understand how she could have cast you out.”

  Though Gabby didn’t understand it either, she felt compelled to offer an explanation. “My mother, she still holds a lot of resentment because of the way my father refused to acknowledge her after he discovered she was pregnant.” She paused, trying to soften the story her mother always told into something a little less mean-sounding. “I guess he kind of went into hiding in his community.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand how a man can go into hiding. How could that be?”

  She gulped. “Um, I guess it was possible for him to do that eighteen years ago because he’s Amish.”

  William’s blue eyes widened. “Your father is Amish?” When she nodded, he leaned back in his chair. “My word. I didn’t know that.”

  “Not many people do. My mother hated to talk about him, other than the fact he was Amish and that I should never date any Amish boys.” In truth, she’d said more than that. Her mother had practically made her promise to not have anything to do with anyone who was Amish. Of course, she’d never done such a thing.

  “Though that’s very sad, I don’t understand why she treated you so unfairly. After all, our Kyle didn’t abandon you.”

  “You’re right. From the moment I told Kyle about the baby, he’s been supportive. Even though I’m sure he was just as shocked as I was, he stayed by my side.” Smiling softly, she continued, “Your son has been nothing but wonderful to me.”

  Mr. Lambright looked a little embarrassed by her praise. After rubbing his hand on his beard, he said, “I find it ironic that your mother abandoned you even though she had been abandoned herself.”

  Gabby thought that was pretty ironic, too. Her mother’s actions didn’t make a lot of sense. But admitting that seemed too hard. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.

  “I don’t reckon that you need to say anything at all. I just want you to understand that Emma and I will not forsake you. No matter what happens, we’re going to be in this together.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Lambright.”

  “I’m thinking it’s time you called me William. Don’t you?”

  “All right. Thank you, William.”

  His blue eyes brightened as he smiled. “Now, let’s get you something to eat.” He stood up and walked to the oven and pulled out a plate that Emma had obviously placed there for her. “I hope you like pancakes.”

  “I love them,” she said with a smile. “This was so nice of Emma to leave them for me. I really am sorry I didn’t get up earlier.”

  “Don’t apologize for resting, child. Now, get your plate.”

  Taking the plate from him, she attempted to make a dent in the stack of five pancakes.

  William sipped coffee and shared a funny story about when Kyle had gotten stuck in a tree when he was a little boy. As she ate and listened to his deep voice, Gabby felt another layer of worry slip off her shoulders. In the midst of what she’d thought were the darkest days of her life, she was actually finding a lot of wonderful moments.

  She was being accepted and taken care of.

  And, for the first time in her life, she was getting a taste of what it must be like to have a father. And that alone felt like something precious and sweet.

  A perfect, unexpected gift.

  TEN

  “It took Will, Andy, and Harley a good thirty minutes to get me out of that tree. Then, after I got to the ground, E.A. and Katie gave me hugs. I was embarrassed—and scared of what Harley was going to tell Mamm and Daed when we got home.”

  Ever since Gabby had moved into the dawdi haus, Kyle had felt like he was balancing precariously on a fraying tightrope. On one side of the rope were all his worries about Gabby. He knew she had to be feeling like a fish out of water over in the dawdi haus. Gabby had never had to live without electricity or the Internet. She didn’t know Pennsylvania Dutch and wasn’t used to being around so many farm animals.

  He felt like he was constantly on patrol whenever she was near, trying to help her get acclimated to a lifestyle she’d never intended on living.

  On the other side of the tightrope was his whole family. His parents, though kind and patient to her, made it known to him that they were more than a little disappointed in him. They’d raised him to value marriage and had expected him to follow the rules of both the church and the family—one of which was to not have sex before marriage.

  Then there were his siblings. While they, again, seemed to get along just fine with Gabby and acted genuinely happy about the baby, it was obvious that having a new English girl living with them wasn’t easy.

  Especially not for Jimmy.

  “Where is Gabby?” Jimmy asked early one morning about three weeks after she’d settled in.

  Jimmy, Kyle, and their parents were all sitting around the kitchen table. Like always, Kyle and Jimmy had gotten up at five to see to the livestock in the barn while their mother had made breakfast.

  This was usually the calmest time of the day. The most urgent needs of the farm had been noted or taken care of, and they’d always taken a good hour to enjoy breakfast and prepare for the rest of the day.

  Which was why Jimmy’s question had grated on Kyle. “I’m guessing she’s still asleep in her room,” he said.

  “Does she know she’s in an Amish home? She shouldn’t be lazing about.”

  “I’m fairly sure she realizes she’s in an Amish home, brother,” Kyle replied. “And she’s not lazing about. She’s sleeping.”

  “I would have thought she would want to make herself useful, seeing as she has made herself at home here.”

  “Gabby has not only still been working at Walnut Cheese, she’s been helping Mamm and Betty with the housework and cooking.”

  “That’s true, she has,” Betty added before giving Jimmy a dark look. “Not that the housework or kitchen is any concern of yours.”

  Jimmy cast Betty an irritated look. “All I’m saying is that I hope you’ve told her that we start our days early around here.”

  �
��It ain’t your business what we discuss.”

  Mamm brought a plate filled with piping hot hash browns to the table. “I’m not sure where you’re going with this, James.”

  “Nowhere. Simply making conversation.”

  Their father looked at him sharply but said nothing, just served himself some potatoes.

  When their father had gotten his fill, both boys served themselves, then waited for their mother to sit down and fill her plate.

  After each quietly bowed their heads in prayer, they picked up their forks.

  Kyle had just taken a bite when Jimmy spoke again. “Do you know where you’re going to live?”

  “When?”

  “You know. When the baby comes. Are you going to marry her soon?”

  Kyle swallowed and took a sip of juice. “That ain’t none of your business.”

  “I think it is. I live here and I’m a part of the family.” His voice hardened. “Why can’t you answer me? Do you even know what you’re going to do? Have you even truly thought about your future?” he pressed.

  “I think it’s pretty evident that I have,” Kyle bit out.

  “Well, what are you going to do?” When Kyle only gave him a dark look, Jimmy rolled his eyes. “You don’t know, do you?”

  “That’s enough, Jimmy,” Daed said. “You are purposely pestering your brother. That ain’t right.”

  Kyle inhaled a sharp breath. Their father never bothered to explain himself.

  But instead of backing down, Jimmy sighed. “Boy, it must be nice to be you, Kyle. If Harley or I had gotten some English girl with child, no one would be tiptoeing around so much.”

  “Jimmy, you are out of line,” Daed said in Pennsylvania Dutch.

  “Yes,” Mamm said. “What in the world has gotten into you?”

  “Nothing is wrong. Nothing at all.”

  “Something sure has,” Betty muttered under her breath.

  “Jimmy, I would have thought you’d be a lot more worried about your relationship with Sarah instead of what is going on with me,” Kyle said.

  “I would be more worried, if Sarah and I still had a relationship. We do not.”

  “What?” Betty asked.

  “You heard me,” Jimmy said. “Sarah broke up with me.”

  Kyle was so shocked, he didn’t know where to look. “Oh.”

  “Oh?” Jimmy echoed. “Is that all you have to say?”

  “How about that I’m sorry?” Kyle asked, doubting that even those words would make his brother feel better.

  After casting a sympathetic look his way, their mother stood up. “James, when did this happen?”

  “A few weeks ago.”

  “Maybe she will come around soon,” Betty said.

  “Nee, I don’t think so. I think we are done.” Looking even more morose, Jimmy sighed. “I canna believe I wasted so much time on her. I canna believe I’ve done everything right, lived here, helped with the farm, worked hard, dated a suitable girl, and now none of it seems to matter.”

  Kyle couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t talking about love at all. “Maybe God intends for you to do something else.”

  “Is that what you think happened with you and Gabby? That God encouraged you to forget your honor with that girl?”

  “Don’t speak about Gabby like that. She isn’t that girl. And she’s been through more than you can imagine.”

  “Still, she’s not suitable.”

  “She is for me.”

  “She—”

  “She is right here,” Gabby said from the doorway.

  Everyone turned to stare at her. She had one hand braced against the wall, her hair in a ponytail, and was wearing a loose, modest-cut housedress. Plain white canvas sneakers were on her feet. Kyle thought she’d never looked prettier, or more vulnerable.

  “Good morning, Gabby,” Kyle said as he crossed the room to her side. Not caring that everyone was watching them, he leaned forward and kissed her brow. “How are you?”

  She looked warily at Jimmy and his parents. “I’m okay.” Looking down at her tennis shoes, she bit her lip. “I’m also embarrassed. I was relieved to have a place to stay, it never occurred to me that my being here was a problem for the rest of you.”

  “That’s because it isn’t,” Betty said.

  Gabby kept talking, as if she hadn’t heard Betty’s comment. “Jimmy, I can leave if you’d like me to.”

  Jimmy paled as he stood up. “I owe you an apology. I … well, I broke up with my fiancée and I am afraid I’ve been taking out my frustration on the rest of the family.”

  Gabby pursed her lips but said nothing.

  And Kyle knew that there was nothing for her to say. Jimmy had hurt her feelings and made her feel unwelcome. And though it wasn’t his fault, he felt responsible for it.

  “Please sit down, dear,” Mamm said. “It’s time to eat some breakfast.” She gestured to a plate of hot sausages in the center. “Perhaps you would like some sausage and eggs?”

  Gabby’s eyes widened, she looked a little green, and then, covering her mouth, she darted down the hall.

  Kyle stepped toward her but glared at his brother first. “Jimmy, we’ve always been close and I’ve felt that I could always rely on you. But the way you spoke to Gabby this morning wasn’t okay with me. I don’t think it would be all right for any guest in our home.” When Jimmy simply stared at him, Kyle hardened his voice. “I hope you figure things out real soon.”

  When Jimmy still didn’t respond, Kyle turned away and walked down the hall. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, he tapped lightly on the door. “Gabby?”

  “Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “Um, I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Gabby, let me in,” he said quietly.

  “But—”

  “Please.”

  After a few seconds passed, she opened the door and stared at him. Her face was pale, and her eyes were watering. Hating to see her so upset, his heart went out to her. Stepping into the small space, he closed the door behind him.

  To his surprise, he felt more comfortable in here with her than he had at the breakfast table.

  “Now, what can I do to help?” he asked.

  His heart started beating faster when she didn’t answer right away.

  ELEVEN

  “But Harley said he wasn’t going to be the one to tell Daed I was sneaking. That was my job. When I started whining, he looked at me right in the eye and said tonight likely wasn’t going to be the last time I did something that I regretted. That whenever I did something wrong, I should own up to it.”

  “James, we need to talk, son. Now.”

  Jimmy had rarely seen his father look so angry. Though his father rarely looked pleased about much, he usually kept a firm grip on his temper.

  Today, though? His daed looked angry enough to spit nails.

  Even worse was knowing that his anger was deserved.

  “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been out of sorts this morning.”

  “Nee. Out of sorts is when one needs a second cup of kaffi. You have been deliberately disrespectful to both Kyle and to Gabby. That will not do.”

  “I know. Neither of them deserved what I said.”

  His father’s thick gray eyebrows shot up. “Deserve, you say? Boy, I canna think of a time when anyone would deserve to be talked to the way you spoke to them.”

  “I know. I’ll apologize. I’m not sure what is going on with me.”

  “I do. You are in a bad way because you don’t know what to do about your own life.”

  Jimmy drew back. “Excuse me? I’ve been working on our farm all my life.”

  “I ain’t talking about work. I’m talking about your heart.” While Jimmy gaped at him, his father clucked his tongue. “James, you know what I am referring to. What are you ever going to do about Sarah?”

  Even hearing her name made him feel desolate. He had no idea what he was going to do about her—or if there was anything to be done at all. “She and I aren’t
meant to be.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Mamm asked from the doorway. “You’ve known each other all your lives. You two fit together like peas in a pod. That means something, I think.”

  “I don’t think so. Sarah asked me not to stop by her house anymore. She doesn’t want to see me again.”

  His daed folded his arms over his chest. “And?”

  “And nothing.”

  “Surely you aren’t going to give up so easily.”

  “I’m not giving up, but what more can I do? A relationship takes two people.”

  His father looked at him closely. “Exactly. I’m thinking it’s time you decided to work hard on patching things up with her.”

  Jimmy’s first inclination was to protest that his father didn’t know what he was talking about. That he was certain there wasn’t any way to mend what had broken in his and Sarah’s relationship.

  But he caught himself in time. Thinking about how his little brother’s eyes lit upon Gabby the moment he saw her, the way Kyle was even willing to run after her into the bathroom to be by her side? It humbled him.

  Had he ever been willing to put himself in such a position like that? Had he ever been willing to do whatever it took to make things better for Sarah?

  Making up his mind, he said, “I think I need to pay a call on Sarah today. I need to try.”

  “That’s all you can do, jah?” his father said softly.

  Gesturing down the hall to the still closed door, he said, “What should I do about Gabby and Kyle? I was almost unforgivably rude. Apologizing doesn’t seem like it would be enough.”

  “You are right. You were rude. But ‘almost’ is the key word, don’t you think, son?” Mamm asked. “What matters is that you say the words. We can all offer forgiveness and be forgiven, no matter what.”

  “I guess I could try.”

  She smiled at him, pure warmth filling her features. “Jah, boo. That’s what you should do.”

  Those words rang in his ears as he walked out to the barn to hitch up the buggy again. Everything with him and Sarah wasn’t lost for good.