Chapter 21
Two weeks later, instead of just Sarah, Kyle’s family came into town. His daed had arranged for a driver and said there was room for Aaron to tag along. Aaron hadn’t needed to be asked twice.
All the company was a blessing, but it had thrown Ruthie into a tizzy. When Kyle started to feel guilty about it, Mervin confided that his wife enjoyed hosting company.
He’d been counting down the days, too. He missed his sister and it would be good to spend some time with his parents.
He was also hoping that Aaron might give him some advice about how to deal with Ruthie and Mervin.
Every once in a while Kyle felt as if he was overstepping himself with Mervin.
He hoped Aaron could alleviate his worries.
But maybe he should’ve been more worried about all the trouble Ruthie had gone to for his family’s visit.
“This is lovely, Ruthie. Danke.”
Kyle thought that the Millers’ dining room table looked like something out of a magazine.
The plates, silverware, and glasses were arranged in perfect precision.
Three small bouquets of flowers and two sets of candles ran along the center.
It was all very pretty, but paled against the numerous serving dishes scattered all around.
Ruthie was standing in front of it all with a worried expression. “What do you think, Kyle? Does this look like enough food?”
“I think so.”
“Are you sure?”
It took just about everything Kyle had to keep a straight face, because Ruthie had made enough food for at least double the amount of people they would be serving. Certainly more than enough for four additional people.
“Mei parents and Sarah don’t eat any more than most folks, Ruthie.”
“I didn’t mean to insinuate that they did. But there’s Aaron, too.”
“If he needs more than chicken, meatballs, noodles, potatoes, coleslaw, Watergate salad, and beans for lunch, then your son might have a tapeworm or something,” he teased. “Aaron will be fine.”
She didn’t crack a smile. “Kyle, dear, that’s an old wives’ tale.”
“Forgive my joke. All I’m saying is that there is plenty. It looks amazing, too.”
“I appreciate your help.”
“You are welcome. I enjoyed it.” He had, too. His mother had never wanted him in the kitchen, saying that it was women’s work. Plus Sarah liked cooking.
But now Kyle was starting to think that he’d been missing out. There was something rather relaxing about peeling ten potatoes, slicing cabbage, and chopping apples. “Next time you need an assistant, I hope you’ll ask me to help.”
“I just might. You’re a hard worker.”
“Danke.”
“Kyle, I know you told me that your sister doesn’t need any special attention, but I’m still worried that she’ll be struggling here because of her hearing loss.”
“Sarah can hear out of one of her ears. Plus, she is pretty good at reading lips. She’ll be fine. If she isn’t, she’ll tell one of my parents or me.”
“All right. I mean, if you are sure.”
“I’m sure. One day she might get a cochlear implant but until then, she’s going to do the best she can.”
“I suppose that’s all any of us can do, ain’t so?”
“Jah, Ruthie. That’s all the Lord asks of us. And if that’s all we can give, then it’s enough.”
“I’m sorry that Winter couldn’t come over.”
“It’s kind of you to want to invite her, but I’m a little relieved that she had other plans,” he admitted.
“Why is that?”
“I want to have a chance to talk to my parents and sister about her first.”
“You haven’t mentioned Winter to them?” When he shook his head, she asked, “Why not?”
“I’m not sure. It feels too fresh to share.”
“I see.” She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly when the front door opened.
“Mamm? You here?” Aaron called out.
Ruthie beamed at Kyle. “He’s here!” She turned and hurried across the house.
Kyle waited a moment, wanting to give Ruthie time with her son before he joined the fray.
And sure enough, when he entered the living room, his parents beamed at him.
“There you are, son,” his mamm said. “We missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” He hugged her tightly, before walking into his father’s open arms. “All of you.”
When his father released him from a bear hug, he stepped back but held him by his arms. “You’re looking gut. Healthy.”
“Ruthie takes care of me like her own,” he teased as he scanned the room for Sarah. His insides warmed when he spied her standing off to the side.
He strode over to her. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”
“Same,” she said with a smile.
“Hi, silly,” he said, taking care to face her so she could read his lips. “I’ve missed you something fierce.”
She giggled. “Hey, that’s my line!”
“I couldn’t resist,” he teased as he picked her up and twirled her around.
As he’d hoped, she squealed in delight. Just like she had when she’d been five years old.
After he put her down, Aaron was waiting to greet him. “It’s been too long,” he said.
“I agree. How’s Hanna?”
“Uncomfortable, but the doctor says she is doing well.”
“Only two months until her due date?”
“Jah. Eight weeks. We discuss the babe’s arrival in weeks instead of months now,” he explained with a smile. “That’s when I’m not painting the nursery or helping Hanna get everything she needs.”
“We have a lot to catch up on.”
“I agree. But before I do anything, let me tell you that your sister is a sweetheart. Hanna is going to love her.”
Looking at his sister, who was now trying to converse with a very excited Ruthie, Kyle smiled. “I think so too. Sarah is special.”
Ten more minutes passed as everyone hugged and greeted each other.
Then Ruthie squeezed his arm. “Kyle, let’s get everyone settled and then it’s time to eat. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I hope you didn’t go to a lot of trouble for us, Ruthie,” his mother said.
“Of course she did,” Aaron said with a laugh. “Mei mother loves having people over.”
“Still. It’s a lot of work.”
“Not so much. Plus, Kyle helped.”
His father raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been working in the kitchen, son?”
“Jah. I’ve enjoyed it.” Wrapping his arm around Sarah, he guided her through a hallway. “Come on. I know a shortcut to the dawdi haus.” He looked around. “Where’s all your stuff?”
“Aaron told us to put our suitcases on that front porch.”
“Ah. Good idea. Come on then.”
They walked down a narrow hallway that Ruthie had painted a pale, buttery yellow. At the opposite side of it was the door that led to the living room of the dawdi haus.
Samuel Burkholder had explained to Mervin and Ruthie that the two houses had been connected that way because it had originally been built to house all of Samuel’s aunts and uncles.
His father had been one of eight children and by the time the twins had been born, the house had been near to bursting at the seams.
The addition had been built to first be an apartment of sorts for the eldest children, with the expectation that by the time Henry, Samuel’s father, was ready to marry, the rest of the “main” house would be less full.
All that meant that the dawdi haus wasn’t merely a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and living area. There were three small bedrooms, a full bath, a smallish kitchen, and a very large living area.
Though Mervin and Aaron had had many a conversation about remodeling it into something more traditional, Kyle had told them that it wasn’t necessary.
Kyle, for one, was very glad about the floor plan because it allowed his parents to have one room, his sister her own, and he was able to stay in his own bed during their visit.
It also gave them a small bit of privacy, which was going to be a good thing for Sarah. She could get overwhelmed if there was a lot of talking around her, and Ruthie was the type to chat nonstop.
“This is mighty nice, Kyle,” his father said. “When you described your home, I kept imagining something like a rat’s maze.”
“It does have that feel about it when you’re walking down the yellow hall, but it’s mighty comfortable.”
“I reckon so.”
After they chose their rooms, Kyle helped Sarah put her things down and then led her into the kitchenette for a glass of water.
“Was the trip all right?”
“Oh, jah. I enjoy being on the bus. Much better than sitting in the back seat with just an English driver to talk to for eight hours.”
“I feel the same way. Is there anything special you want to do? While you’re here?”
Sarah shrugged. “I’m not sure. I want to meet all the animals, of course. Especially Velvet and Lizzie.”
“We can do that.” He winked. “Velvet is good company and Ruthie’s silly hound will enjoy your company.”
“I want to meet your new friend, too.”
“Winter?”
She frowned. “Sure I want to meet her, but I was thinking of someone else. Daisy, right?” She spelled Daisy’s name with her fingers. “Isn’t she the woman who wanted to be a farmer here?”
“Oh. Sure. You’re right. Yes, you’ll have to meet her.” He hadn’t told her yet that he’d talked to Daisy about possibly tutoring her.
“Meet who?” his mother said as she joined them.
“Daisy.”
“Ah, yes. The bicycle girl. How is her leg healing?”
“It’s doing better. To be honest, I haven’t been spending too much time with her of late.”
“Why not? Because you’ve been so busy here?”
“To be sure, but also I’ve been busy with other things.”
Sarah frowned. “Like what?”
Like calling on Winter. He winked at her. “Like it is none of your business.”
She glanced at their parents. Who, to his surprise, didn’t look all that supportive of his sudden desire to keep his personal life private.
Feeling like he’d just made a mistake, Kyle tried to smooth things over. “Listen, it’s not as if I’m doing anything all that special, it’s just … well, maybe we can wait another hour before I am questioned any more.”
“I understand,” Sarah said. “I think I’ll go get my things organized now.” She turned and walked into her room and closed the door.
Things had just gone from bad to worse. “Sorry. I wasn’t meaning to be short with her.”
“She’ll be all right,” Daed said. “Sarah’s just a bit touchy these days.” He lowered his voice. “First was all the teasing at school. Then, the doctor said that it was time to either get the cochlear implant or accept that she will be deaf within the next year.”
“It’s a lot for a fourteen-year-old to handle,” Mamm added.
“What is she going to do?”
“I’m not sure,” Mamm said. “But she needs to make some choices soon.”
“Aren’t you going to make her get them?” His mind spinning, he added, “Hey, is it the money? If so, I can start sending you even more of my paycheck. I don’t need much.”
“Halt,” Daed whispered. “It ain’t the money. It’s that we can’t make Sarah do something about her ears. Whatever she decides is going to affect her for the rest of her life. She needs to make the decision.”
“That seems like too much for her to handle.”
“We’re going to help her, Kyle. Of course we will,” his mother said. “But getting the implant might not make her hearing perfect.” After a pause, she added, “People will notice the implants, too. It will be another way that she is different, and she’s already having a difficult time at school.”
“That’s because her teacher is Addie.”
“Nee. It’s because Sarah needs to learn to handle her disability.” His mother lowered her voice. “Addie is not doing a bad job, Kyle.”
It took a moment to understand what she was getting at. “So, you’re saying it’s everything else.”
“Jah. She’s got some growing pains, and they’re tough ones. Not everyone is kind to someone who is different.”
That killed him. He’d wanted to believe that her sheltered life in the Amish school would make everything easier, but he supposed teenagers were teenagers.
Just because they were raised Amish didn’t make them suddenly more thoughtful or kind.
“I’ve talked to her about this some already.
But maybe I should do something more. Do you need me to move back? ”
“To do what? You canna go back to the eighth grade, son,” Daed joked.
“If I walk her to school and pick her up, I’m sure everyone will think twice before being mean to her.”
“It will also show everyone that she canna help herself. That she can’t even get back and forth from school without help.”
“I didn’t think of it that way.”
His mother patted his hand. “I think Sarah had a good idea about getting settled. Give us thirty minutes or so, Kyle. We’ll meet you back in the big house.”
He stood, feeling helpless as he watched his parents walk into the other room and close the door.
He suddenly felt like he was doing everything wrong and he had no idea how to make it better.