Chapter 4
Kyle’s parents would call this the day that kept on giving. They’d always say that phrase tongue in cheek, and usually when either he or his sister would complain that everything in the day seemed to go wrong.
“It’s days like that when you know that the Lord is looking out for ya,” his father would say. “Otherwise, you’d be wondering how you were able to take it.”
Truthfully, Kyle’s day hadn’t been all that bad. Not like Daisy Lapp’s was. But it had definitely entered the weird category when he’d impulsively decided to pick up a bouquet of flowers for Daisy and bring them to her room at the hospital.
Things had taken a strange turn when the receptionist informed him that the nurse was limiting Daisy’s visitors. She’d told him this news as she walked into the waiting room and stopped directly next to Daisy’s parents.
He’d had no choice but to sit down and wait, though he would’ve been perfectly fine if he’d been able to leave the bouquet for her.
Then, because Mrs. Lapp was a chatty sort—and because his bouquet of daisies must have appeared to be a conversation starter—Mrs. Lapp asked him many questions.
When they realized that he was currently living in the dawdi haus on the Millers’ farm—which Mr. Lapp insisted on calling the Burkholder property—they were shocked.
Daisy’s daed had seemed very taken aback. “I’ve seen the dawdi haus. Is it in better condition than it used to be?”
Kyle knew what he meant. It had been in rough shape when he’d first arrived. But loyalty to Mervin and Ruthie inspired him to shrug. “I’m not sure how it used to be, but it is fine now.”
“That’s gut.”
As for Daisy’s mother? A new light had entered her eyes and she’d started asking him far more personal questions.
He’d begun to feel as if he was being grilled, and kept looking for the door.
Unfortunately, Lukas Lapp, Daisy’s eldest brother, didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave his sister’s room.
Kyle had been pretty curious about that. After all, his sister, Sarah, hardly got through the day without either stopping by their haus or calling the mother on the phone. Mamm had told him more than once that daughters and mothers were always close.
In any case, by the time they’d finally walked into Daisy’s room, Kyle was more than ready to leave. His twenty-minute, impulsive visit had now been stretched to an hour.
Then things just got worse when Daisy stared at him like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know him or not.
After a few minutes of awkward conversation, he edged toward the door. “I hope you feel better, Daisy. I’m going to be on my way now.”
But just as he was turning to leave, a doctor and a nurse walked inside.
“Oh, good. Everyone’s in here,” he said. “I’m Dr. Alvarez. I’m an orthopedic surgeon and took a look at the scans that were done on Daisy’s tibia downstairs.”
“What did you see?” Daisy asked in a soft, hesitant voice.
“It’s fractured, dear,” the doctor said, looking as if he hated sharing the news. He sighed. “To make matters worse, it wasn’t a clean break. A chip broke off, which if untreated could be life threatening. I’m afraid this means that you’re going to need surgery.”
“Are you sure?” She looked completely heartbroken.
He nodded. “Luckily, it shouldn’t be a long surgery and there are rarely complications.”
“I see.”
Kyle thought Daisy looked slightly green.
“Afterward, you’ll wear a cast for several weeks. Your leg won’t heal without surgery and careful attention to our orders.”
“My life is falling apart,” she whispered to herself.
“Pardon me?” the doctor said.
“Sorry. That was nothing,” she said far more loudly. “It’s just that … well, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I know this is a lot to take in, but I’d like to schedule the operation for tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“It’s best to take care of this now, Daisy.
” Glancing around the room, Dr. Alvarez gestured to the nurse who had been standing quietly next to him.
“Everyone, this is Dana Green. She’s my PA, otherwise known as physician’s assistant.
She’s a pro and can answer any questions you might have about the surgery.
When you are ready, she’ll walk you through what will happen, the probable recovery process, and get you started on everything we need to do for your pre-op. ”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Mr. Lapp said as they shook hands.
After he exited, there was a new tension in the room. Kyle knew he had to get out of there. There was nothing he could do for her. Besides, he was a relative stranger. Just as he was about to excuse himself, Dana spoke.
“What are your questions?” Dana asked.
“I need a moment,” Daisy blurted.
Her mother gasped. “Daisy, what in the world is going on with you?”
“A lot, Mamm.” Looking even more upset, she added, “Dana, thank you. I know you are busy, but if I could have just ten minutes by myself, I would appreciate it.”
“That isn’t how they do things here, daughter,” her father said under his voice.
“No, no. I understand,” Dana said. “And you know what? I think Daisy has a good point. All of us here at the hospital sometimes forget that the things we talk about—and ask our patients to do—are completely out of their comfort zones. I think it’s an excellent idea to take a moment to let everything sink in. ”
To Kyle’s relief, Dana stood by the door, obviously making sure that Mr. and Mrs. Lapp didn’t ignore their daughter’s wishes.
Knowing that it was past time that he got out of there, too, Kyle turned to Daisy. “Goodbye, Daisy. I’ll be praying for your recovery,” he said.
“Nee. Wait.”
He turned around. “Yes?”
“Please stay a moment.” Looking frustrated with herself, she added, “That is, would you please stay a moment after everyone leaves?”
“Of course. I mean, if that’s what you want.”
She nodded.
Her mother frowned. “Daisy?”
“Please, Mamm.” Raising her eyes to Dana, she said, “Thank you. I promise I only need ten minutes.”
The PA winked. “You know what? I think I can even give you fifteen. I’m going to check on another patient and have a sip of coffee. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you.” She looked meaningfully at her parents.
They sighed but did as she asked. When Dana closed the door and they were alone, Kyle stepped closer. “How may I help you?”
“First, could you sit down? It’s hard to look up at you from here.”
“Sure.” He sat down on the edge of the chair. He was willing to do whatever she needed, but he was kind of ready to get out of there, too. This is what he got for imagining one thing when the reality had shown him something else altogether.
“Kyle, I wanted you to stay because I wanted to apologize for how rude I was when you came in. The flowers are beautiful and thoughtful. Plus, you helped me so much when I fell. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there. Thank you for everything.”
And just like that, all the confusion and irritation he’d been feeling faded.
“Don’t worry about it.” He held out his arm.
He was wearing a short-sleeved green shirt that his mother had given him on his birthday.
His bare arm was tan. His hands were full of callouses and there were freckles and two scars on his forearm—the product of an accident when he was fourteen.
“Obviously I have tough skin,” he teased.
Daisy stared at his bare skin. “Jah, I guess you do.” Meeting his eyes again, she whispered, “Everyone has difficulties, don’t they?”
“I reckon so.” He swallowed, “I don’t know if this will help, but someone once told me that life isn’t a windy road. It’s more of a long journey through jungles and prairies and sometimes even river crossings.”
Daisy raised her eyebrows. “That’s a lot.”
“I’ve always liked that comparison because it felt apt.
Like a river crossing. Sometimes, the river is shallow.
Or calm. Or it’s just a little thing, something that wasn’t hard to swim across without even getting winded.
But other times, it’s a perilous thing. The water is deep, the current is strong. Or there are water moccasins in it.”
“Or maybe it’s not too terrible, but the traveler never learned to swim,” she said softly.
He nodded, liking her example a lot. “Exactly. That river crossing might not be difficult for an Olympic swimmer. But for someone who never learned to do much besides dog paddle? It’s a scary, dangerous thing indeed.
” Leaning back, he shrugged. “But who is to say that one person is better than the other?” It’s just where they are in life, ain’t so? ”
“The Olympian might have no experience trudging through the prairie.”
Glad she understood what he’d been trying to convey, Kyle smiled at her again.
“This moment in your life might be your treacherous river crossing, Daisy Lapp. And what that means to me is that I don’t care if you need to take double the amount of time as other people, or that you need a life preserver, or even if you have to walk down a mile and cross where it feels safer.
All I think you should care about is getting across. ”
She blinked slowly, like she was trying his suggestion on for size. “I need to stop worrying about the ‘how’ or how clumsy I might look when I do it. All I have to do is just cross. That’s what counts.”
“Jah, Daisy. The worst thing to happen isn’t that you might end up with some nicks and scratches or be a little embarrassed because you canna swim all that good.
The worst thing isn’t even that you might get hurt or even get off course and a little lost.” He lowered his voice.
“The worst thing that could happen is that you don’t try to cross at all. Because then …”
“Then I will be in the same exact place that I was in the first place,” she finished.
“Jah. And if you didn’t want to be there in the first place, what would it matter if you stayed there, safe and sound?”
“I need to do that surgery, don’t I?”
He nodded. “It’s your leg, and ultimately your decision, but it seems so.”
“I know I don’t deserve it, but, um, would you mind visiting me after the surgery? If you have the time?”
He’d already been planning on it. “I wouldn’t mind visiting you, and even if I hadn’t planned to come over, I’d make the time.”
“I … I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I could say the same about you.” He winked. “And I mean that in a good way, so remember that before you decide to take offense.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
Giving in to impulse, he bent down and pressed his lips to the top of her forehead. “Safe travels, Daisy. I’ll be looking for ya on the other side.”
“I’ll call out your name when I get close.”
Then she smiled. A real, full smile, showing off beautiful teeth and brightening her eyes.
It was a bit dazzling. So much so that he felt slightly dazed when he stepped out of the room.
“Is she all right?” Mr. Lapp asked.
“What did she want?” Mrs. Lapp asked.
“She’s good … and I’m afraid that’s between the two of us.” He tipped his hat. “Gut day.”
Just as he reached the elevator, Kyle saw Dana leaning against the side of the nurse’s station, the aforementioned cup of coffee in her hands. Her eyes flickered toward him. “She doing okay?”
“Yes. I think she’s doing just fine.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” She smiled as she glanced at the clock again.
His last view of the busy hospital floor was of Dana sipping coffee, several nurses and orderlies walking around with carts and poles and electronic notebooks. And farther down the hall, Mr. and Mrs. Lapp standing outside their daughter’s door with their heads down. Quietly praying.
Kyle was no expert, but he was pretty sure that everything was going to be just fine.