Chapter 13
It was dusk by the time Perry neared home. Work had been harder than he anticipated, mostly because he didn’t sleep well last
night. The couch was decent enough, but the flat throw pillows weren’t comfortable. He also wanted to make sure he didn’t
miss hearing Ferman if he needed anything, particularly help going to the bathroom. He wasn’t going to let him fall on his
watch.
He needn’t have worried. Ferman slept through the night. Even if Perry was in a dead sleep, he would have heard him holler.
He’d been the recipient of the old man shouting right in his face. That had been embarrassing, although after the fact, he
chided himself for feeling that way. Modesty was important, but they were all adults. Daisy had handled it well.
The reins went slack in his hand. She kept surprising him, having turned out to be the ideal caretaker for Ferman. She refused
to put up with any of his guff, and when he didn’t eat much of her delicious supper, she wasn’t put out at all. She didn’t
bat an eye while helping Perry move the heavy couch to his house so he would have a place to sleep. She’d even fluffed the
pillows. And later when he’d fumbled through adjusting their pact, their discussion went well.
But what impressed him the most was the look of awe and wonder on her face when she was in his butterfly room. He’d expected her to think he was off his rocker, but she hadn’t. Her reaction was the exact opposite of Ruby’s, the woman who supposedly loved him. He shouldn’t compare them, but he couldn’t help it. And that’s what caused his emotions to turn into tumbleweeds.
He could easily see himself letting Daisy back in the room, the two of them poring over his collection. He could even ask
her to help him with the one-thousand-piece “Butterflies of North America” puzzle sitting on the bottom shelf of the bookcase,
gathering dust. The puzzle was more for decoration than scientific information, and he’d purchased it on a whim but never
got around to doing it. If they did the puzzle together, he could discuss the different butterflies and their habitats with
her.
He halted his rambling thoughts and forced reality to set in. There was no point in sharing his hobby or doing puzzles. Daisy
wasn’t sticking around. She was going back to Dover in a few weeks, and then she would be with Maynard, the man she loved.
Besides, Perry wasn’t interested in her. Or attracted. He had two goals in mind—get Ferman on his feet and his mother off
his back. Daisy was assisting with both, and once those goals were met, they had no reason to be around each other. More importantly,
he had no business interacting with a taken woman.
He’d do well to keep reminding himself of that.
Perry turned into the driveway and went to the barn. Then he groaned. He’d forgotten to go by Ferman’s to get his clothes.
Now he’d have to stop by after church tomorrow afternoon. Once the evening chores were done, he went inside through the back
door. He’d taken off his boots and was walking into the kitchen when he smelled... furniture polish?
Daisy glanced up as he walked farther into the living room. She straightened, a small rag and a can of polish in her hand. She wiped off the leg of the side table and rose, her lips curving into a soft smile.
The most extraordinary and mystifying feeling traveled through him. Pleasurable too. He was home... and it felt more like
a home than it ever had before. Because of Daisy.
The faint sound of a toilet flushing broke his stupor. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Let me guess?”
She grinned. “Supper will be ready soon.”
Perry nodded. “I’ll get him.”
“ Nee need, bu .”
He spun around to see Ferman shuffling with a cane. “Where did you get that?”
“From the harebrained Howard Hershberger,” he quipped, then winked at Daisy before looking at Perry again. “Better get yourself
cleaned up for our evening repast.”
“Repast?”
“He’s been doing crossword puzzles today.” Daisy set the polish and rag in her basket on the floor next to the sofa.
“I’ll take a quick shower.” As he walked past Ferman, the old man leaned toward him.
“Remember your clothes this time.”
Perry rolled his eyes, and Daisy’s feather-light giggle made him smile. He started for his bedroom, but before he got to the
door he was frowning. He’d forgotten about washing his clothes last night. He did have a clean pair of sweatpants and several
T-shirts, along with his Sunday clothes for tomorrow. But he didn’t have any work clothes ready for the following week. He’d
have to wash and hang them tonight or wait until Monday after work to get it done. He wasn’t going to break the Sabbath because
of bad planning.
But when he opened the top dresser drawer, he saw clean work shirts next to the T-shirts. Then he opened the other drawers. All his clothes were freshly laundered and smelled great, although he noticed he was still low on underwear. He grinned. Thanks, Daisy.
***
Supper was a quiet affair, and Perry insisted Daisy join them. She was pleased that Ferman had eaten most of his meal, and
perhaps that signaled his appetite was returning. Even though the food was on the bland side, Perry ate all of it. He also
seemed deep in thought.
“May I be excused?” Ferman’s eyes shifted from Daisy to Perry.
“ Ya ,” they said at the same time.
Perry met her gaze with a slight smile.
Uh-oh. She was getting that hot and cold feeling again. She jumped up and started clearing the dishes as Perry accompanied
Ferman to help him with his bedtime routine.
As she cleaned the kitchen, the sensation went away, and for the first time since his call this morning, Maynard came to mind.
It wasn’t lost on her that this was the second day in a row that she hadn’t ruminated on him or even wondered how he was doing
at work. He’d even sounded a little surprised and disheartened when she had to cut their conversation short.
Now he knows how it feels.
She stilled. She shouldn’t be petty about the man she loved. Giving her head a quick shake, she settled herself and finished
the kitchen chores. When she was done, she went to the living room and started packing her basket.
“That was easy,” Perry said as he entered the room. “I hardly had to help him tonight. If he keeps improving at this rate, he’ll geh home soon.”
She hid an unexpected stab of disappointment. Ferman wanted to go home. He’d made that abundantly clear. She’d only been taking
care of him for two days, but she would miss coming over here. In a way, she was also tending to Perry by cleaning house,
doing laundry, and cooking meals. He was fine on his own, but making his house a home had been nice. No, more than nice. It
was satisfying.
“Before you geh ,” Perry said, “would you mind if Ferman went with us to church tomorrow? He’s doing well, but I don’t want him to be alone.”
She smiled, setting her disappointment aside. “That’s a great idea.”
“There’s one other thing.” He shifted on his feet. “I’ve been thinking about our pact again. It seems lopsided to me. I’m
getting more out of it than you are.”
“That’s not true.” She set her basket back on the couch. “Telling Mamm that I considered dating someone else is all I need. And now I can.”
He tilted his head. “Have you heard from Maynard yet?”
“ Ya .”
He blinked, as if he wasn’t expecting that answer. “When?” he asked.
“Yesterday.” She didn’t give him the details of the call. That wouldn’t be right, and Perry hadn’t asked. “I’m thinking about
writing him another letter.” Until now the thought hadn’t occurred to her. But since their phone calls were so dull, maybe
exchanging letters would make their communication livelier.
Wait. What if the reason their conversations were uninteresting was because she was uninteresting? What if I’m the problem? “Am I boring, Perry?”
He did a double take. “Who told you that?”
Good grief, why did she keep blurting out embarrassing questions? But the notion was sinking in. When she and Maynard were
together, their conversations were brief, the topics were surface level, and there were more silent pauses than actual talking.
If she were more exciting or a better conversationalist or... something... then maybe he would be more eager to communicate.
And eager to be more than friends.
Daisy started to pace. She was going to lose him if she didn’t change, or at least gain some understanding about the opposite
sex and romance.
Perry intercepted her, dipping his head to look her in the eyes. “Who said you were boring?”
“ Nee one, but...” She looked away, embarrassed anew. “I’m not veryexperienced.” There, she said it.
His brow furrowed. “Experienced at what?”
“Romance. How to, um, initiate it.” She was certain her entire body was as red as a poppy flower, but she couldn’t stop plowing
forward. “What do men want, Perry?”
The thumping sound of Ferman’s cane made her jump and Perry turn around. “Forgot my salve,” he said, limping into the living
room, his gaze landing on the side table next to the chair. “Ah, there it is, right where I left it.”
Daisy took the opportunity to grab her basket and flee. “Bye!” she said and hurried out the door, slowing down when she reached
her aunt and uncle’s driveway. Halting, she closed her eyes, humiliation washing over her. She had no business asking Perry
such a question. Grace would have been a better choice. Even her daed or Onkel Howard would have made more sense, although she would never ask them such a personal question that would reveal her ignorance when it came to romantic relationships.
With a sigh, she opened her eyes and started walking again, the streetlamp down the road giving her enough faint light to
guide her steps, although she didn’t need it. What she did need was her head examined, and she prayed Perry had somehow misheard
her ridiculous query. If he had, it wouldn’t come up again. And if he hadn’t...
Daisy groaned. She didn’t want to think about that.
***
The next morning, Daisy smoothed her white apron over her navy blue church dress as she paced in the living room a half hour
earlier than necessary. She was jump-out-of-her skin nervous about going to church in Birch Creek with Perry, even though
she was truthful when she said she wanted to meet his family.
“When are you going over to Perry’s?” Grace asked, entering the living room. She was also dressed for church, but she and
her parents were going to a service in Millersburg since Marigold wasn’t having service today. Birch Creek and Marigold’s
services were on opposite Sundays, and Grace’s family often went to different districts in the area when their home church
wasn’t in session. The taxi would be picking them up in a few minutes.
“In a little while.” Daisy kept her answer vague. Her cousin didn’t need to find out how nervous she really was.
“It’s just you and him then?” she said with a teasing smile.
Daisy scowled. “Ferman’s going too.” She sounded a little snappy, but she wasn’t in the mood for ribbing, no matter how good-natured
it was.
“You’re kind of touchy this morning.”
“I’m sorry.” Daisy sat down on the couch and smoothed her apron again.
Grace joined her. “You also seem nervous.”
So much for concealing her apprehension. She was tempted to explain the source of her nerves—her conversation with Perry last
night. But she needed to keep that embarrassing moment to herself. Instead, she admitted her other concern. “I’m worried how
his family is going to react.”
Grace put her arm around Daisy’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “Just be yourself. Everything will be fine.”
That was good advice. Managing a smile, she said, “ Danki .”
Aenti Rosella came down the stairs, followed by a less spunky Onkel Howard. “Is the taxi here yet?” She went to the coat rack and put on her cape.
Onkel Howard took his black hat and plopped it on his head. “Rosella, I told you we weren’t running late—”
Honk!
She shot her husband a victorious look as she grabbed her black bonnet. “Enjoy your day in Birch Creek,” she said to Daisy
with a knowing smile.
Grace gave her a quick hug. “I want details tonight.”
And just like that, her nerves returned. “Details?”
“Bye!”
They rushed out of the house and Daisy heard the car exit the driveway. That left her alone with her thoughts, and she wasn’t
preparing her mind for church like she should be. In a few minutes she would leave for Perry’s, and Grace’s small pep talk
faded away, replaced by increasing jitters. Her question to him didn’t just reveal her inexperience with men, it also sounded
desperate. Because I am. She was desperate for her and Maynard to be a couple, and while she’d been confident that after they had “the talk,” they would be, now she wasn’t sure that she had the skills or words to convince him that they should be together.
Daisy glanced at the clock. Time to go. Her stomach flip-flopped. Mortification wasn’t an excuse for missing church, so she rose from the couch, took her jacket
from the coatrack, and clutched her purse, deciding to pretend her discussion with Perry last night had never happened. She
would figure out on her own how to talk to men and be an engaging conversational partner. Somehow.