Chapter 8
Dat and Mamm ushered Hannah through the door as though she were delicate spun glass. They loved all of their kinskinner, but it seemed like they’d had to wait an eternity for Hannah to conceive. Each of their other daughters had gotten pregnant in the first year of marriage, so it was a bit surprising when Hannah hadn’t. And even more alarming was when there was still no sign of grandchildren over the next two years. Miriam had worried that perhaps their marital relations were strained, especially during their first year of marriage when they seemed to struggle, but Hannah had protested to the contrary. Notwithstanding, they were ecstatic about another grandchild.
Mamm noticed how Christian’s countenance lit up whenever the boppli was mentioned, but it appeared Hannah lacked the same enthusiasm. This concerned Mamm greatly and she hoped that Hannah wasn’t slipping into depression again. There had only been one other time she had been like this and that was when she and Christian were going through a patch of rough water.
Miriam tried hard not to blame Christian, but often her efforts were futile, at least on the inside. They all knew what Christian had done and at the time they’d counseled Hannah against marrying him. However, Christian eventually proved himself worthy and regained Hannah’s trust, along with the rest of the family’s.
Sometimes Miriam felt that Christian went overboard in his affections for Hannah, but she was glad that her daughter had a husband who cherished her. Mamm was certain now that he would make a gut father for their grandchild.
Christian and Hannah now sat around the dinner table with Mamm and Dat. “When is your appointment with the midwife?” Miriam asked.
“She’ll come by next week. I’ll be about ten weeks along then,” Hannah said.
“I’m so glad you’ll be having a boppli after all this time. Just wait until you get to hold the little one in your arms. There’s nothing more precious than holding a newborn baby.” Miriam smiled.
“Ach, I can’t wait.” Christian’s face brightened. “I wish Hannah’s time was up already and I could hold our little one tomorrow.” He reached for Hannah’s hand across the table and gave a gentle squeeze.
“Jah, Sohn. I’m afraid the waiting is the hard part. But before you know it, you’ll be up all night changing diapers and pacing the floor with a crying baby,” Silas chimed in.
“I look forward to it.” Christian smiled. “Just to be able to see a child of our own making and hold him in my arms will be the biggest blessing I could ever have, other than my beautiful fraa, that is.”
“Jah, kinner are definitely a blessing from Der Herr,” Silas said.
A blessing I’m not worthy of, Hannah thought.
Hannah glanced at the clock on the wall. The beautiful timepiece had been an engagement gift from Christian. It was intricately carved from oak wood and engraved with a scripture: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Am I serving the Lord? Hannah wondered. Yes, she attended meeting every other week and Christian read the Bible aloud every evening in their home, but she didn’t really feel like she was serving the Lord. She didn’t think she’d been serving herself, though. No, she’d had too much self-condemnation for that. So who was she serving? Christian, perhaps? That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, was it? After all, wives were supposed to honor their husbands.
Perhaps she should spend more time with the other ladies in their community? Growing up, she’d gotten along just fine with everyone, but her closest friends were Christian and Samuel, and to some degree, her sister Deborah. One of the reasons she’d recently shied away is the fact that everyone else her age, it seemed, were having babies. But now that she was expecting, she felt as though she was now part of the club, so to speak. Hannah smiled as she determined to attend the next ladies’ gathering.
A knock on the back door brought excitement and her stomach turned a nervous flip. Chloe was here. She’d been looking forward to this visit for a couple of weeks now, and she knew Christian was equally excited, if not even more so. She would need to call him in from the fields.
Hannah quickly opened the door for Chloe and welcomed her into the house. She noticed Christian jogging in from the fields, and caught the excitement on his face even from this distance. He'll be a gut father, Hannah had to smile at the thought.
"Christian is coming in from the fields now," Hannah informed Chloe. "Is it all right if he is here for the visit?"
"Of course. I encourage all fathers to be present during exams, but many Amish fathers feel uncomfortable. The Englisch fathers tend to be much less reserved about attending their wives' exams and births. I'm glad Christian wants to be with you. I can understand his enthusiasm, given you've had to wait so long for this little one."
"Jah, I'm afraid we won't make it another seven months, though. We're so excited," Hannah said.
"We always want things to happen sooner, but I'm afraid that part isn't up to us. Remember, God's timing is perfect." Chloe smiled, thinking of God’s providence in her own life.
"Jah, it is," Hannah said, then remembered her manners. "Would you like some cinnamon buns and a cup of tea now, or would you like to wait until afterward."
"Ach, that sounds wunderbaar, but I never take anything until after I've first given. Shall we get started?" Chloe teased.
"Don't start without me!" Christian said, entering the kitchen.
"We weren't just yet, but now that you're here we can begin," Chloe said. "Are you ready to hear this little one's heartbeat?"
Christian's and Hannah's faces lit up. "Ach, we'll really be able to hear him?" Christian asked in disbelief.
Chloe nodded in affirmation, thinking how fun it was to attend new parents. Helping families grow never got old and she loved seeing others in her community blessed with new additions. She knew firsthand how much joy little ones could bring.
As Chloe placed the portable Doppler device over Hannah's still-flat abdomen, a whooshing sound echoed through the microphone. Christian held Hannah's hand as she laid on the bed and Chloe noticed tears in the corners of their eyes. Surely this babe would be born into a good family.