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babies are due—”
    “December 28th,” Annie finished for him. “We talked about my tardiness today and she laughed. Everyone says I’m a fast quilter.”
    “Twins often make an early appearance, it’s true, but I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s only a quilt, mi lieb .”
    “I know. I’d like to have it finished before they’re born though.” Annie began stacking the fabric carefully.
    “And I know you’ll do your best.” Samuel peered at her pattern as if it were a book on herbs, but she knew he was thinking of something else. “No worries, Nurse Annie. Soon enough your project will be done and our midwife will call for your help delivering your niece and nephew.”
    “How do you know they will be a girl and a boy?”
    “She’s carrying them low. I’ve seen it before.” Samuel winked as he shifted closer to her, lacing his fingers with hers. “Once you start on something you tend to focus on it wholeheartedly. I suspect you will finish your quilt for the bopplin early.”
    “I do have plenty of time, at least six weeks. I was there when Leah went for her prenatal visit last week.”
    “And everything’s gut ? Because I spoke with Belinda earlier today and she seemed to think—”
    “The doctor told Leah there’s nothing to worry about. I’m glad she agreed to see the doctor, even though she plans on using Belinda to deliver the bopplin .” Annie started to tell him about her and Leah’s conversation in the buggy. Was this the right time though? It wasn’t actually about Leah’s physical condition.
    “ Wunderbaar .” Samuel patted his stomach. “Would you like me to help you with dinner?”
    “Dinner! Samuel, I forgot about the casserole.” Annie attempted to pull her hand from his, to hurry past him and out of the room, but he caught her in his arms.
    “No need to rush. I checked it when I came inside. Smelled burned, so I took a peek.”
    “Burned?” Her voice rose like a screech owl.
    “Appeared mostly black. I think you’ll have to leave it all for me.”
    Annie ran her palm along his cheek, then leaned forward and kissed him once. “It wasn’t burned,” she whispered. “I would have smelled it.”
    “Maybe not black,” he admitted.
    She kissed him again.
    “I confess. The chicken was brown and the potatoes seasoned perfectly. Would you like me to go down and finish things up?”
    “I would not.” She slapped him on the arm and pushed past him. “I can prepare dinner for two.”
    “Three soon enough,” he called after her.
    “Yes, three.” She smiled to herself as she heard him running water in the bathroom sink. They would eat, then spend a quiet evening together.
    She would tell him her worries about all Leah had said after they ate. Samuel would know what they should do, if anything. Quilting for the afternoon had been exactly what she needed to spend a few hours doing. Though she hadn’t started sewing yet, focusing on the fabric and the pattern had helped calm her nerves.
    Now to feed her starving husband.

5
    S unday morning should have been relaxing. Since this was not their Sunday for church meeting, Leah didn’t have to hurry, which was a good thing. The babies felt as if they were fighting for space inside her stomach. Belinda had warned her these last few weeks would be even more uncomfortable. Leah hadn’t thought that would be possible. As she lay in bed, staring around her belly at her ankles, she decided they were definitely less swollen than the day before.
    Maybe today would be better.
    Maybe the worst was behind her.
    And maybe she and Adam wouldn’t argue again.
    Struggling out of the bed, she tried to picture the babies—healthy and sleeping in their crib.
    With her hand, she caressed the mound that was her stomach. “You’re worth every minute of discomfort,” she whispered.
    By eleven o’clock that morning she wasn’t so sure. Her body was rebelling against her. It felt like a buggy she couldn’t quite control as she tried to make