Chapter 22
Becky heard Adam come through the back door and stop at the doorway to the living room, where she and Ike lay. He was checking on Ike.
She hoped Adam had been over to see Joanna.
She thought of the conversation she’d heard in the van on the way home from Noah and Emily’s wedding three years ago, of Adam confessing his interest in Joanna after he’d only just met her.
She’d wanted to turn around and tell him to stop, but of course she hadn’t.
Ike had told her the night they met he’d wanted to marry her, but Becky had been a very different girl.
Joanna, after losing her childhood home to fire and then her family to Maine just just after that, wasn’t ready for some boy she barely knew to rush her. Jah, Joanna had been interested in Jacob right away, according to Lu, but they didn’t start courting for another seven months.
Becky mentally shook her head. Ach, Adam. You should have waited a couple of months. At least a couple of weeks. It would have saved everyone a lot of worry.
Under the blanket, something brushed against Becky’s thigh.
Her eyes flew open. By the moonlight coming through the living room window, she could see Ike’s arm was stretched over the space between the couch and her cot.
Tears stung as she took his hand. Every night for the last nearly forty-seven years, they’d gone to sleep holding hands.
After he squeezed her hand three times, she let go, climbed out of her cot, pushed it flush against the couch, climbed back in, and reached for Ike’s hand, squeezing it in return.
The next morning, Adam helped Ike dress, and then after breakfast they all took a little walk around the yard. Once they had Ike back on the couch and propped up with pillows, Adam went to the warehouse to work for a few hours.
Becky sat at the kitchen table putting Ike’s medications into his pillbox.
She yawned and stretched her back, trying to work out the kinks from sleeping on the cot, and then double-checked the meds.
One for high blood pressure. A blood thinner.
And a pain medication. Ike hated taking anything, but no doubt he’d be taking the first two for quite a while, if not for the rest of his life.
The doctor said because of the surgery he could live another twenty years easily.
She shivered even though the house was warm already.
She was worried about Ike and the business and Adam and whether they could make payroll. They had a bid on the farmhouse that they’d accepted. Even if everything worked out, the money wouldn’t come through for six weeks or so. And they were sinking a lot of money into the Pequea Creek house.
As she put the medication back in the cupboard, there was a quick knock on the door before it flew open. Lu smiled and lifted a loaf of bread in one hand and a basket in the other. Joanna stood behind her with a box.
Becky clapped her hands. “Wunderbar! Come in.” She rose and hurried to take the bread and the basket filled with muffins from Lu. Company was just what she needed.
Joanna lifted the box. “We brought a hamburger casserole for your dinner.”
“Denki,” Becky said. “Ike’s asleep. Do you have time for a muffin and a cup of coffee?” She desperately needed some company.
“Jah.” Lu glanced at Joanna, who nodded.
“I’m not working today,” Joanna said. “Unless you think I should.”
“Nee.” Becky turned to fill the kettle, but Joanna already had it in her hand. “There’s not anything pressing for you to do.”
Lu put muffins on a plate. Joanna made the coffee in Becky’s big French press and then grabbed three cups out of the cupboard. Becky watched Joanna carefully. She seemed comfortable with every task she did, no matter how small or big, whether menial or creative.
Becky thought of Reuben and when he first brought Elizabeth home. She was young—just nineteen—and quiet as could be. Joanna was quiet too, but confident. Except when it came to Jacob. Becky could feel her pain the day before when they’d all seen Jacob and Veronica at the creamery.
“Becky?” Lu was staring at her.
“Sorry.”
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Jah. Why?”
“You aren’t looking like your wonderful gut self today.”
Becky tried to laugh but it came out as a gasp.
“You look tired.” Lu put a muffin on a plate.
Becky took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I slept on an old cot by Ike last night is all. He was on the couch.” Becky rubbed her neck.
Lu pushed the plate toward her. “They’re blueberry and lemon. Joanna made them this morning.”
Of course Joanna had. She was so productive. Working full-time for Becky and Ike. Gardening. Helping Lu with the house. Doing the laundry and a good portion of the cooking and cleaning.
Jacob was a fool, thank the Lord. Hopefully he would continue to be. That was her prayer.
Lu asked quietly, “So how is Ike doing?”
Becky said he was as well as could be expected. “Honestly, the doctor is pleased with his progress. Hopefully we can move into our bedroom soon. I think the bed is too high for him, but he thinks he’ll be fine.”
“Of course he does.” Lu shook her head. “What can he do?”
“Go on little walks.” Becky paused a moment.
“He can’t work or drive a buggy for six weeks.
He can start doing chores in a couple of weeks as long as he doesn’t lift more than fifteen pounds.
” Which meant he couldn’t even lift a bag of chicken feed, let alone a hay bale.
Thank goodness Adam had come home. Home.
Lancaster County had never really been his home, not since he was six.
Becky hoped it was now. What would they do if he didn’t stay?
Her grief over Reuben waxed and waned over the years, but suddenly it was back in full force. If only he were here now.
Joanna stood and stepped to the counter.
Lu reached for Becky’s hand. “Are you okay?”
Becky smiled a little. “I was just thinking of Reuben. You know, missing him.” It wasn’t often she felt despondent. She was usually all business. Or all fun. She took a bite of muffin. Her heart began to race. She put her hand to her chest.
Lu asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I feel funny.”
Coffee sloshed over the third cup Joanna was pouring. “Oops.” She put down the French press and moved to the sink.
Becky’s heart raced faster. She stood.
“Are you in pain?” Joanna asked as she cleaned up the spill.
“Nee.” Becky stretched to the right.
Joanna said, “I read heart problems appear differently in women than men.”
“I’m not having heart problems.” Becky stretched to the left.
“Are you anxious?” Joanna returned to the table.
“I don’t think so.” Becky wasn’t an anxious person. Well, she had been after Reuben passed. And she did worry about Ike.
Becky pressed one hand to her chest again and grasped the chair with her other hand.
“Maybe you should lie down,” Joanna suggested. “And do some deep breathing.”
“Nee. I’m okay.” But she wasn’t.
Joanna stepped to Becky’s side. “I’ll help you into your room. Maybe resting will help.”
Becky slumped a little. “I should stay seated.” She put her arm on the table and her head on her arm. She took several deep breaths, like she did when she was in labor with Reuben all those years ago. Why did so much of life feel like labor?
After several raggedy breaths, she stood again.
“Where are you going?” Lu asked.
“Down.” Becky tried to kneel as gracefully as she could and then spread her body out on the kitchen floor, thankful she’d mopped it that morning. Again she took several deep breaths, but her heart only raced more.
“I’m going to go call Adam.” Joanna started toward the door.
Lu kneeled beside Becky. “Call 9-1-1.”
“Nee,” Becky said. “Call Nick.”
“I’m going to call all three,” Joanna called as she ran out the door.
“I don’t need an ambulance.” Becky’s voice was shaky, and she couldn’t get her breathing—or her heartbeat—right no matter how hard she tried.
“Becky, are you all right?” Ike’s voice came from the doorway.
Becky groaned. “I’m fine. Go back to the couch.”
Lu took Becky’s hand and said to Ike, “Joanna went to call 9-1-1. And Adam.”
“9-1-1? What’s going on?” Ike’s voice was closer.
“I’m fine, really. I told her to call Nick.”
“Don’t talk.” Ike pulled a chair close to Becky. He sat and reached down toward her free hand. She took it and squeezed it three times and then let go.
Lu got her a glass of water and helped her to take a drink. Becky’s heart raced more and she put her hand on her chest and closed her eyes.
Maybe she dozed or just lost track of time. The screen door flew open and Joanna, a little out of breath, said, “Adam is coming, Nick will be here as soon as he can, and the ambulance is on its way.”
Becky kept her eyes closed and said, “Joanna, take Ike back to the living room.”
“Nee,” he said. “I’ll stay right here.”
Becky’s hand fluttered and she said, “It’s time for his pain medication.”
“I’m all right.” Ike’s voice shook a little.
Becky was afraid he’d have a setback because of her. “The doctor said to stay up on the meds—your pain will overwhelm you if you don’t.”
“Is it here on the table?” Joanna pointed to a basket of supplements.
“Nee. In the cupboard by the glasses.”
A minute later—maybe longer, Joanna told Ike to open his hand.
Becky sighed and said, “Denki, Joanna.”
Ike parroted, “Denki.”
Adam came through the back door like a bull and then screeched to a halt. “Did she fall?”
“I was afraid I might.” Becky opened her eyes. “That’s why I’m on the floor.”
Adam, with a frightened look, asked, “Dawdi, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Becky turned her head a little. What was wrong with her? Ike needed her. The business needed her. Adam needed her. Lu and Joanna needed her too.
She registered the wail of a siren. It grew closer. Adam and Joanna both stepped back outside.
Becky began to cry.
“Beck.” Ike reached for her hand again. “We’re going to be okay.”
“I know,” Becky said. “That’s not why I’m crying.” She couldn’t explain it when she didn’t even understand it herself. Was it because she didn’t think this could happen to her and Ike, yet it was happening? Or because she couldn’t stop it?
Or was it that Joanna and Adam had just gone out the door together to bring the paramedics back in to help her? Why would that make her cry? Because she was sure they’d get together? Or because she was so afraid they wouldn’t?