Chapter 7
“Hey, lazy bones,” Lukas called out from the other side of her door. “Are you decent?”
“You know I am,” Daisy said from the cozy chair in the corner of her room.
Two days ago her brothers had brought it—and the matching ottoman—to the house.
It was covered in a plush, soft pale blue fabric.
Somehow they’d found a chair that fit her frame perfectly.
It had become her favorite place to sit, since she could rest her cast on the ottoman. “Come on in.”
“Ah, there you are.” Even though she was still sitting with her leg perched up, Lukas studied her intently. “Hey, I think you’ve got some color in your cheeks. You look like you feel a lot better.”
Relief filled his gaze. That made her happy. She hated to worry him. “I do,” she replied in as cheery a voice as she was able. “Today’s been a good day.” Lifting her chin, she added, “I haven’t had to take any pain reliever.”
Crossing the room, he leaned on the side of her bed and faced her. “Are you sure that is wise? I thought you were supposed to keep ahead of the pain.”
“I am. Don’t worry.” Motioning to her yellow dress and the kapp on her head, she smiled. “I was feeling so good I put on my new dress.”
“I like the yellow on you.”
She chuckled at his attempt to sound gallant.
Her brother farmed all day and was usually more inclined to notice when one of the horses needed a good brushing or when the crops were looking good than any sort of detail on a woman.
“Danke. Now, is there a reason you came to check on me? Was there something that Mamm needed?”
“Hmm? As a matter of fact, yes.” He stood up straight. “I came up to let you know that you have a visitor. Two, in fact.”
“Really? Who is here?”
“Kyle Hostetler and Ruthie Miller.”
“Oh, no.” Immediately she felt ashamed of her reaction. “Sorry. I mean, that’s kind of them to stop by. But, um, any chance you could tell them that I’m busy right now?”
“Busy sitting in your chair? Nee. I’m not going to tell them that.”
“I figured.”
Lukas stepped forward and held out a hand to help her to her feet. “I know neither are your favorite people, but they’re concerned about ya.”
“I don’t dislike them. You’re right. They’re nice folks.”
“Kyle has been nothing but kind to you, Daisy. And Ruthie and her husband have done nothing except buy their dream farm. Sorry, but you need to get over your disappointment and move on.”
“I know I do.” What she didn’t want to share was that she was starting to realize that Kyle wasn’t making her feel angry and disappointed. He was making her feel the opposite things. Sometimes, when he looked at her, she felt a little tremor of anticipation. A nervous, excited jitter.
Which she’d never felt in her life.
It was embarrassing.
Oblivious to the direction of her thoughts, Lukas said, “Ruthie even brought over an apple pie.” He smiled. “It looks tasty.”
Yep. There was longing in his voice. “I suppose that no one is going to eat a slice unless I am there?” she joked.
“You supposed right.” He bent down and handed her the crutches.
She slowly got to her feet, pleased that she was no longer huffing and puffing as she attempted to get her bearings. “Let’s get this over with, then.” She held out a hand to grip his arm before grasping her crutches
Lukas stayed steady but all of the tender sympathy that he’d been showing her the last few days was long gone. “I meant it, Daisy. Don’t embarrass Mamm by being rude. These folks are our neighbors.”
A lump formed in her throat. “You are right. I’ll stop all this feeling sorry for myself.”
“I hope so. You have so many blessings that you have elected to be blind to. That feels like a shame, don’t it?”
“Jah. It, ah, does indeed.”
She felt near tears as Lukas helped her descend the steps. She hated making him feel ashamed, and he obviously had been feeling that way, since he’d felt the need to remind her not to embarrass their mother.
Daisy promised herself right then and there that she would finally stop focusing on herself and concentrate on the needs of other people. Lukas was right. She had started to take all her blessings for granted. That was a shameful way to live.
“At last,” her mother said when Daisy and Lukas stepped into the living room. “I was beginning to wonder if your brother had to wake you up, Daisy.”
Across the room, Kyle’s eyes widened.
“I wasn’t asleep. But, um, I, ah, had to fix my hair,” she fibbed. “Please forgive me for making all of you wait.”
Standing up, Ruthie shook her head. “No need for apologies. I’m glad you are feeling up for visitors.”
“I was just telling Lukas that I feel sure that I am feeling much better every day. Thank you for your concern.”
“Come sit down. Do you like apple pie? I hope so. It’s fresh. I made it this morning.”
“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like apple pie,” Lukas said after he helped Daisy sit back down. Reaching out a hand, he shook Kyle’s. “Good to see you again.”
“Same to you.” Turning to Daisy, Kyle added, “You are looking very well, Daisy.”
“Danke.”
“I think yellow must be your color,” Ruthie added.
“With a name like Daisy, I hope it is,” she joked.
Looking pleased with Daisy’s good manners and smile, her mother started slicing the pie. “I was just telling Ruthie and Kyle that I hope they’ll attend the county fair that’s coming up.”
“Do you think your cast will be off by then?” Kyle asked.
“It’s supposed to. Do you enjoy going to fairs?”
“I do. We went to the Holmes County when I was young. It was easy because it was in Millersburg. The one in our county in Kentucky wasn’t near as easy to get to.”
“I like them, too. Ours is far smaller than the Holmes County fair, but it’s still a lot of fun.” She grinned at her mother. “When I was younger, I used to whine and say that I wanted to enter all the contests. I didn’t understand that it wasn’t our way to not do such things.”
“I imagine you aren’t the only Amish girl to yearn to enter a pie or pickles.”
Lukas laughed. “Our Daisy wasn’t interested in baking pies. She always wanted to enter a calf in the fair.”
Her mother’s lips twitched. “Or a chicken. Or a goat … even though we don’t keep goats.”
“I fear they are right.” Though she tried not to be embarrassed about her interests, she’d been poked fun about by more than one girl, growing up. “I fear I’ve always enjoyed spending time in the barn. I like animals and enjoy raising them.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, dear.” Ruthie looked from Kyle to her. “Since Kyle doesn’t know too many people around here yet, perhaps the two of you could go together.”
Alarmed, Daisy caught Kyle’s eye.
He looked just as alarmed as she felt. I’m sorry, he mouthed.
Which made her feel amused all over again.
“Daisy, what do you think about that idea?” her mother prompted.
“I think that I’d like that very much.” She pointed to her leg in its bright pink cast. “I mean, as long as I can get around okay.”
“That will be something to look forward to, ain’t so?” Ruthie asked.
“Indeed.”
“Almost as much as this first bite of pie,” Lukas murmured, reminding them all that a mouthwatering slice was resting in front of each of them.
Bending their heads, they silently gave thanks for the food.
Daisy also took the time to give thanks for her brother’s not-so-gentle reminder to look for the many blessings in life.
She hadn’t had to look far at all.
All she’d had to do was open her eyes.