Read Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) for Free Online Page A

talking penguins? Do you think they really talk when humans aren’t around? That’s silly,
ya
?”
    Titus frowned with frustration. “I told her it was a cartoon, but she doesn’t get it.”
    Lydia smiled and then stood up. “We best get home.
Mamm
and
Dat
are going to wonder where we’ve been. Thank the Andersons for inviting us inside to visit.”
    “Thank you,” her siblings said in unison.
    Irma squatted and rubbed the puppy’s head. “Good-bye, Bitsy.”
    “Thank you so much for the treats,” Mrs. Anderson said as she followed them to the door. “It was wonderful meeting you.”
    “You too,” Lydia said. She opened the front door with a
whoosh
and Irma and Titus scampered out, waving as they started down the porch steps.
    Mrs. Anderson touched Lydia’s arm. “I hope everything works out with your sister. Let us know if you need anything. I’d be happy to help your family in any way I can. I can always bring a meal or babysit your siblings if you need to go to the doctor with your parents.”
    “Thank you,” Lydia said. “That’s very thoughtful and kind.”
    Tristan sidled up to Lydia as his mother walked back toward the kitchen. “I hope your sister is okay too. Can you let me know once you hear the news?”
    “I will,” Lydia said as she hugged her arms to her chest. “I appreciate your concern.”
    “It was great seeing you again.” He leaned against the front door. “Thanks for coming by and bringing great desserts. I had no idea Amish food was so delicious.”
    “The tourists love it,” Lydia said. “My grandmother’s bakery is a well-known place to visit.”
    “I can see why.” He grinned.
    “You’ll have to come by and see it one day while I’m working,” Lydia offered. “It’s called the Kauffman Amish Bakery. I could introduce you to my family members who work there and you could get some treats. I bet Michaela would enjoy it too. You could bring her along.”
    “That sounds like a plan.” He glanced toward the street. “I guess I better let you go catch up with your brother and sister. See you soon. I’ll expect that tour of the schoolhouse too.”
    “I look forward to it.” Lydia said. “Good night.” She followed Irma and Titus down the street. She was thankful for the brief distraction with her new friends before she had to face whatever news was waiting for her at home.

5
     
    S he’s asleep,”
Mamm
said as she entered the kitchen later that evening after dinner.
    Lydia held her breath while sitting quietly between Irma and Titus at the kitchen table. The only sound was her mother’s soft footsteps and the scrape of the wooden chair when she pulled it out from under the table.
Mamm
sank into the seat next to their father, Paul, and her eyes filled with tears.
    “We have some news,”
Dat
began, his voice soft and thick. “And it’s not
gut
news.”
    Oh no. This is very bad
. Lydia felt her eyes fill with threatening tears.
    Mamm
swallowed a sob, and then Lydia couldn’t hold back her own hot tears, which trickled down her face.
    “Your sister has …” His voice broke and he paused to clear his throat. “She has,” he began again in a raspy whisper, “leukemia.”
    Lydia gasped as more tears flowed.
    “Lu-kee-meeeeee-a?” Irma asked, trying to sound out the name. “Is it bad?”
    “
Ya
,”
Dat
said, wiping a tear from his cheek before placing his arm around their mother. “It’s cancer, and cancer is bad.”
    “Cancer?” Irma asked. “That means she’s very sick.”
    “That’s right,”
Dat
said. “It’s cancer of the blood. She has something called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the doctor told us it’s the most common kind of leukemia in children.”
    Lydia tried to understand what her father was saying. It sounded like a foreign language. “What does it mean exactly?” she asked. “What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?”
    Dat
cleared his throat. “Leukemia affects the blood and bone marrow. That’s why she’s very sick