Chapter 19
Martin was pretty sure the brunch was going to be a disaster.
How could it not be with so many people in attendance?
He couldn’t believe it when he’d heard that not only were he, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny going to be eating with their mother, but Richard and Treva, too.
And Patti. And their grandparents. And Treva’s parents!
That was twelve people, thirteen, if he counted baby Belle, which he supposed he should.
When he and Kelsey had talked about seeing their mom, he’d suggested they do something simple and easy. Kelsey had said not to worry.
Obviously, he should’ve checked in with her two days ago and told her to cut back the numbers.
Or, at the very least, he should have told Kelsey that he couldn’t make it when she’d called last night to tell him the details.
But, of course, he hadn’t. Even though she was married and had a baby girl of her own, old habits died hard, and he liked taking care of her. Or at least, doing his best to make her happy.
All that meant he was now stuck trying to make the best of things. The problem was that he couldn’t decide who to look out for the most. Mom? Kelsey? Beth? Mommi and Dawdi? He didn’t want anyone he loved to get their feelings hurt, but chances were very good that was going to happen, anyway.
Then, to make matters worse, his grandmother had shared that she’d invited Patti to join them as well. And . . . she was going to need a ride.
As much as he’d wanted to tell his grandmother that picking up Patti wasn’t possible, he hadn’t. No way could he deny his grandparents anything, not when they’d completely upended their lives for him, Beth, and the others.
After worrying about what to say to Patti all morning, he’d attempted to shake off his trepidation when he headed to Patti’s house to pick her up.
It turned out that Patti was obviously feeling the same way that he did. After a rather stilted greeting, she cleared her throat. “Thank you for picking me up.”
“It was no problem.”
“Still . . .” Her voice trailed off, reminding him that he wasn’t the only one who was feeling awkward and disappointed.
“Patti, if you’d like to change your mind, I can tell everyone that you had a change of plans. I could say that you needed to work.”
“It’s too late to do that,” she stated as she picked up an insulated carrier from the countertop. “I already made my casserole.”
“I could bring it for you.”
“Nope. I’m coming. I’m looking forward to it, Martin.”
Maybe there was hope for them, after all. “You are?”
“To be sure. I mean, I like everyone in your family . . . and I heard Treva was making pumpkin scones.”
He supposed Patti had a point. She was as close to his grandmother as he was. And she’d become good friends with Kelsey and Beth, too. Plus, anything Treva baked was pretty amazing. “Fine.”
She frowned at his curt response. In typical Patti-style, though, she’d held her tongue until they’d left her house and he’d stowed her hashbrown potato casserole in the back seat.
“Martin, you need to take a deep breath and relax,” Patti chided as he started the car. “Just because you and I are having some trouble, we are still friends, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then everything is going to be just fine.”
“You can say that because it isn’t your family that is getting together.” Or because she wasn’t the one who was hoping to hear a profession of love.
“Nee, I can say that because I know in my heart that this brunch your sister is hosting is going to be enjoyable. Both the food and the company.”
“What about us?”
Patti’s expression clouded before she replied. “Martin, as much as I wish things between us were settled, perhaps we could continue on the way we’ve been?”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“I think that no matter what the Lord has planned for our future, we can agree that we can still be friends.”
She was right. They’d waited this long to figure things out, they could wait a little longer. “I agree.”
“So, friends?”
“Yeah.” Amazed that some of the tension that had been between them had dissipated, he chuckled. “Patti, you always know what to say to me. It’s amazing.”
“I don’t always know anything. All I know is that I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
Curving one slim hand around his forearm, she smiled softly. “Then everything will be okay. Between us, and with your family. Stop worrying so much.”
He loved Patti’s smile, and he loved the way one touch from her could improve his mood. But in this case, he was pretty sure that even her sweet help wasn’t going to make much of a difference. “Okay, but if things at Kelsey’s go south in a hurry, don’t blame me.”
“Nothing is going to go south.”
“Just warning you, there’s a weird dynamic with my mom and my grandparents.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve seen them together. They don’t fight.”
“Of course they don’t. Everyone is too well mannered for that. But there’s an underlying tension there.”
“Perhaps, but what does it matter?”
Glad that they were still parked in Patti’s drive, Martin caught Patti’s small shrug. He was taken aback. “It matters because it’s going to be me who has to diffuse things.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Kelsey has gone to a lot of trouble. If things go badly, she’ll be upset.” And he’d feel guilty.
“If she’s upset, I reckon Richard will make things right,” Patti said in a light tone. “He is her husband, after all.”
“Yeah, maybe.” When he realized that Patti was actively trying not to laugh, he blurted, “Do you think I’m overthinking everything?”
“Maybe. But what I’m trying to get you to see is that even if your mother and grandparents don’t become best friends, that’s not the point.
What matters is that your mother gets to see her kinner here in Walden.
I think that’s why she came, Martin. Helen has seen each one of you a time or two over the last year, but the only time she’s seen you all together was at Jonny’s and Kelsey’s weddings. ”
“Maybe so.”
“I like that Kelsey is hosting, too.”
“I couldn’t believe that she wanted to host.”
“Why? She and Richard are very happy and have their cute baby. She’s the most settled of the four of you.” Lowering her voice, Patti added, “Maybe Kelsey wants to show you and Beth that she isn’t just your little sister anymore.”
He rubbed a palm over his face. He did go into big brother protective mode a little too often. She’d called him out for doing that, too.
“I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you might be right.”
“I know I am. Now stop stalling and start driving, Martin Schrock.”
Backing down her drive, he said, “You aren’t near as biddable as I thought you were, Patti Coblentz.”
She smiled. “I get that a lot.”
Two hours later, Martin was very glad that Patti hadn’t backed out like he’d suggested.
Maybe it was because she knew everyone except for his mother well, but she’d been chatty and relaxed the entire time.
And because of that, everyone else seemed to take a collective sigh and become more at ease, too.
Sitting in Kelsey and Richard’s living room, Martin had to admit that things weren’t going all that badly, after all.
His mom was currently holding a sleeping Belle while chatting with Treva about her coffee shop.
Jonny was sitting on the other side of Treva, but his attention was on a crossword their grandfather was trying to solve.
Beth had disappeared with Kelsey into Belle’s nursery, and Patti and Richard were joking around with his grandmother in the kitchen.
Everything was fine.
So, why could he not relax?
“Martin, you’ve been watching the going-ons more closely than a hawk circling a nest of field mice.”
Hating the scene that had just appeared in his head, he grimaced. “Dawdi, way to paint a picture of death and destruction.”
“I did not. And I wouldn’t exactly say a hawk looking for his supper was that. It’s more like he’s going to snap up a mouse and deliver it to his family.”
“Still.”
Dawdi shrugged. “It was apt.”
“It is not. I’m not eyeing my family like one of them is my next meal.”
“I reckon that’s true.” Looking back down at his crossword, he added, “Ah. Here you go. Caregiver.”
“What?”
“I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to think of a nine-letter word for ‘guardian.’ ” He frowned. “Sometimes I get stuck on the long words, you know?”
“No, I didn’t know.” Noticing that the crossword was already half-filled in, he added, “Dawdi, I didn’t know you liked to do crossword puzzles.”
“That’s because I don’t like them. Not especially. They’re good for my brain, though. Gotta keep sharp.”
“Hmm.”
“Sometimes doing something uncomfortable is good for you.”
“Like getting all together?”
“Jah.” His grandfather darted a look his way, then added, “And letting go of control.”
“Dawdi, is that what this conversation has been about? That I need to stop trying to take care of my siblings?”
“Of course not, son. You’re a grown man. I wouldn’t think of telling you what to do with your life.” He stood up. “I think I’d best go see what kind of trouble your grandmother is getting into in Kelsey’s kitchen.”
Feeling flummoxed, Martin watched his grandfather wander off.
He picked up the crossword, looked for “caregiver” and then at the clue.
He wouldn’t have put it past him to have made the whole thing up, just to have the opportunity to give him advice.
But sure enough, there was the clue—a guardian for a loved one.
Amazing.
When he heard his mother chuckling, he glanced her way. “Did you overhear our conversation, Mom?”
“Only a bit of it. Treva here heard most of it.”
Treva was grinning. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. Your dawdi had me from the moment he compared you to a circling hawk.”
“What’s this about a hawk?” Beth asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Martin said.
“Your grandfather was doling out a bit of Amish wisdom,” Mom said.
“To Martin?”
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry I missed that,” Jonny said.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that you, big brother, are a chip off our grandfather’s shoulder. It would be a treat to listen to you get your just desserts.”
“Thanks, Kelsey.” And here he’d thought she’d always appreciated his help.
“Don’t get your feelings hurt,” she said as she gave him a hug. “You’ve done more for me than I can ever repay. But I’m a grown woman now, right? I’m a wife and a mother.”
He swallowed. “I haven’t forgotten.” Sharing a glance with their mother, she gave him a sympathetic look.
“Don’t worry, Martin,” she said. “They leave the nest, but they’re still yours.”
“I was so worried about everyone getting along, I didn’t stop to think that maybe the person that would be having the most difficult time would be me.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about everyone else, Martin.
No matter what happens, our family always seems to muddle through.
” Looking over his shoulder, she added, “Plus, I think you’ve got someone pretty special on your side.
If you have her, you’re going to be able to get through just about anything. ”
Martin didn’t have to turn around to know that his mother was referring to Patti. She was right. Patti was pretty special.
It was just too bad that he had no idea how long he’d get to keep her by his side.