“But if they don’t—”
“Then they won’t. But in the meantime it might help all of you out.” She looked at Katie carefully. “Don’t you agree that busy hands help an eager mind?”
But what of sour dispositions? Yet, her mother did know so much. It was worth a try. “Danke, though I don’t quite know how to get them started.”
Her mother chuckled. “It is easy, dear. Simply pull out the fabric and tell them it is time to begin.” Tenderly, she cupped her cheek. Her mother’s hand was rough and strong, reminding Katie of just how much she’d done all her life to make their family life good and comfortable.
Had she ever truly appreciated her mother’s sacrifices?
Leaving the basket in the living room, Katie followed her mother into the kitchen, where she efficiently put on an apron, then pushed up her sleeves and got to work on the dishes.
“Don’t do those, Mamm. You have more dishes than you can count at home.”
“Anna did them today. Together we will clean, Daughter, then we’ll cook, jah?”
For the first time in years, Katie was grateful to get to work and be told what to do.
Chapter 7
That evening after the girls had their supper and they were waiting for Jonathan to return, Katie led the way into the living room. “Look what my mother brought over today—fabric.” After sitting down on the couch, she spread a few of the especially beautiful pieces of cloth on her lap. The rich colors of butter yellow, dark red, and bright, vivid blue made Katie feel like she’d just brought the best of God’s bounty into the room. “Aren’t these fabrics pretty? Which one is your favorite?”
Hannah shyly pointed to the yellow.
Katie moved to place it on top of the others. “Jah, that is a wondrous color. It shines as pretty as the daffodils in May.” Turning to Mary, she said, “Which one do you like?”
“None of them.” Instead of sitting, Mary remained where she was, militantly glaring at the fabric like the swatches were terrible intruders infringing on her routine. “We’re not supposed to be here in this room.”
“Why ever not? It is a pretty room, to be sure.”
“It is the sitzschtupp, our special living room. It is only for visitors.”
It was on the tip of Katie’s tongue to remind Mary that that was exactly what she was. She sure hadn’t been treated like part of the family.
However, her mother’s good example was fresh in her mind, and that gave Katie the courage to push a little harder to make inroads. Sooner or later, Mary was going to have to bend a little, surely! “There’s a mighty nice fireplace, we could ask your daed if we could make a cozy fire and begin work on a quilt tonight.”
Though Hannah carefully nodded, Mary scowled. “He’s going to say no.”
“He might surprise you. All men enjoy a new quilt.”
“I don’t want to make a quilt. You’re not going to make me do this, are you?”
“No, of course not,” Katie said, but had a difficult time hiding her surprise and disappointment. Quilting had always brought her a great amount of joy. It was also something she felt proud about and comfortable teaching others to do. She’d been hoping to use quilting to forge a bond with Mary.
Meekly, little Hannah tugged on Katie’s sleeve. “I do. Am I too small?”
“Not at all!” Opening her arm, she moved to one side as Hannah scooted closer. “I was younger than you when I pieced my first quilt. Mary, by the time I was your age, almost seven—why I was anxious to begin all kinds of projects.”
Mary backed away, literally pulling away from her in both spirit and space.
However, Katie couldn’t let Mary do that. If she didn’t make the girl do anything she didn’t want, they’d never make progress. And Katie really wanted to become friends with the little girl. “Come here, Mary, and give me your time, please. This task is important to me.”
“No, I—”
“Please Mary. Sit down. I think you should try, yes? If not for my sake, then try working on this for my mother’s. She was so hoping you would enjoy quilting.”
Little by little, Mary unbent enough to come forward and join her sister.
With a glad heart, Katie watched Mary try her best to join in the activity. For an instant, Mary’s behavior reminded Katie of her own. She remembered more than one occasion when her attitude had not always been pleasing or kind. Mary might be going through some of the same growing pains. In a worthy imitation of her mother, Katie stated, “We’re going to start on this quilt. I’ve decided.”