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

with fevers, has bruising, and is so weak.”
    Irma’s face began to crumple.
    Lydia sniffed and pulled her little sister toward her. Grief and worry rained down on her.
How can this be happening to us? This has to be a bad dream
.
    Titus wiggled in his chair, his face grim and his eyes shiny from developing tears. “Are they sure she has this cancer? Could they be wrong?”
    Their father pulled
Mamm
closer while she continued to cry. “They aren’t wrong,” he said. “They are absolutely certain. We were hoping they would give us
gut
news today, but the Lord didn’t see fit for that.”
    “What happens now?” Lydia quickly wiped a tear from her cheek. “What can they do for her?” She hoped to hear a happy answer that would cause all of her worry to disappear.
    “She has to undergo treatments,”
Dat
said. “She’ll have to travel to the hospital and stay there for a while. Your
mamm
will go with her and stay there.”
    Lydia’s eyes rounded as panic and questions surgedthrough her. Mamm’s
leaving? Where does that leave me?
“What do you mean? How long will she be gone?”
    “Who is going to take care of us?” Irma’s eyes filled with shock and she mirrored Lydia’s worry.
    “We don’t have an exact date yet, but it will be soon.”
Mamm
sat up straight and wiped her eyes. “Dat and Lydia will take care of you, and you know that your
aentis
and
mammi
will help out too. You’ll be taken care of.”
    Lydia rubbed Irma’s back in an effort to soothe her sister, even though she still felt unsure of their future.
How am I going to get through this? It’s too much to digest so quickly
.
    “Will Ruthie be okay with the treatments?” Titus chimed in.
    “The doctor said she should do just fine.”
Mamm’s
voice was a ragged whisper, audible only because the room was deathly quiet. “Most children survive.”
    Most children?
Lydia bit her lower lip and wondered if she were having a horrible nightmare.
How is this happening to my family? Why us? Why now?
    “I don’t want her to go,” Irma said with a sniff. “I want her and
Mamm
to stay right here in our house. Maybe the doctor can come here and make her better.”
    “We’ll be okay,” Lydia whispered to Irma. She felt the need to calm her sister even though she felt as if she were falling apart inside. While Lydia wiped her eyes, her mother’s eyes searched hers as if asking if she believed little Ruthie would be okay.
    “Things are going to be stressful,”
Dat
said. “Your
mamm
and Ruthie are going to be gone for a while, and we’re all going to have to do our part to keep this household running.” His voice sounded with authority, and that strength seemed to permeate the room as Titus sat up straight and
Mamm
wiped her remaining tears.
    “How can we help?” Lydia asked. The question seemed to bubble forth before her brain registered it. But the question gave her a feeling of control despite the chaos of this news.
    Reaching across the table
Mamm
’s father had made as a wedding present years ago,
Dat
took Lydia’s hand in his. “You’re such a
gut kind
.” He looked with love at his other children, his eyes shining with fresh tears. “You all are
gut kinner
, and we love you very much. But you’re right, Lydia. Your
mamm
and I are going to need you to do more at home. I’m going to have to work more hours and ask for more jobs. The doctor bills are going to pile up quickly.” His eyes focused on Lydia. “I’m going to need you to take on more chores in the house. You may need to take over the cooking, but your
aentis
and
mammi
may also bring us meals. We’re going to share our news with the community, and I assume they will reach out to us and help us in any way they can.”
    “How long will
Mamm
be gone?” Lydia asked, her voice a strangled whisper.
    “It looks like it will be several weeks.” He paused and turned to
Mamm
, and they shared worried expressions. “If she has complications, then she’ll have to stay in