Chapter 16
Kyle hadn’t expected Daisy’s older brother, Lukas, to open the door. He really hadn’t expected him to act like Kyle was an interloper into their lives. Beyond working for the Millers, he wasn’t sure what he’d done to garner such a dark look from him.
“Is there something you needed?” he asked.
“Nee. I mean, not beyond the reason I’m here. Is Daisy up for callers?”
Lukas frowned. “Are you calling on my sister? In the middle of the afternoon?”
“What? Nee!” Realizing that he sounded like calling on Daisy was a bad thing, he hastily attempted to smooth things over. “I mean, she and I are friends. I decided to come over to see how she was feeling.”
Lukas’s frown eased but he didn’t move away from the door. “Her injuries are getting better, thank you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Of course, he knew that, too. What he was really hoping was that she’d be up to talking to him. “Is she free? I thought maybe the two of us could talk for a few moments.”
“Lukas, let Kyle in,” Mrs. Lapp called out.
Rushing toward them, she looked frazzled.
One of her hands was clutching a dish towel and the other was halfheartedly attempting to brush off a dusting of flour on the front of her dress.
“So sorry about my eldest son’s attitude. He’s a bit overprotective of Daisy.”
“I’m not overprotective, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do,” Lukas grumbled as he stepped backward and motioned Kyle inside. “We can’t let just anyone call on the girl.”
“I’m not here for any romantic reason,” he blurted. And, yes, he sounded stupid. Why had he thought this was a good idea?
“Don’t mind him, Kyle,” Mrs. Lapp said. “My goodness, what’s that in your hands?”
He’d been so taken aback by Lukas’s questioning he’d completely forgotten that he was holding a pie in his hands. “It’s a cherry pie. Ruthie asked me to take it over.”
For some reason that explanation seemed to set Lukas off again. “Why didn’t you tell me you were only here to drop off a pie?”
“Because that isn’t the only reason I’m here,” he bit out.
Mrs. Lapp hurried forward with outstretched hands. “Thank you for the pie.”
“It’s still a bit warm. I’ll be happy to carry it to the kitchen for you.”
“Danke, Kyle.” As she turned around, she glanced at her son. “Lukas, go tell Daisy that Kyle has come over. Help her with her crutches if she needs it.”
“Will do.” After closing the front door, he headed down the hall.
“I’m so sorry about his attitude,” Mrs. Lapp said as she led the way down the hall. “I’m afraid Daisy’s accident has taken a toll on all of us … but on Lukas most of all.”
“Why?”
She turned back toward him. “Why? Well, um, it’s all intertwined with my daughter’s wish to be a farmer.
” She lowered her voice. “As you know, running a farm is exhausting, back-breaking work. Lukas has never wanted her to help him with any plowing or the livestock because he didn’t want her to get hurt.
” She set the pie on the large butcher block island in the center of their kitchen.
“Now because of everything that’s happened—her impulsive bicycle purchase and then the accident—he feels guilty for not letting her be more involved around here. ”
“I see.”
“Especially since she lost her job at the bulk food store … would you like kaffi?”
“Nee. Danke.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, is Daisy available or not?”
“I suppose we’ll find out soon, hmm? Why don’t you have a seat. If you don’t want coffee, would you like water?”
This was one of the most frustrating and confusing visits he could ever remember having with a woman’s family. “If Daisy doesn’t want to see me, I’m going to go ahead and leave.”
“I’m here, Kyle,” Daisy said.
Turning, he saw her balancing herself on her crutches. Some of the bruising that had been on her face had lessened. “Hi,” he said. “You look like you’re feeling better.”
Her bright blue eyes lit up. “Do you really think so?”
He folded his hands behind his back. “I really do.”
“I was just trying to convince Kyle here to sit down and have a glass of water. Or coffee.” Her mother pulled out a chair. “Come sit down, you two.”
“We’re not going to sit at the kitchen table,” Daisy said. “Kyle, want to sit in the living room?”
Before he could answer, Lukas blurted, “Why do you need to go there by yourselves?”
Daisy sighed. “Because we do, bruder.”
“Do you want water or not, Kyle?” Mrs. Lapp asked.
Kyle felt as if he had walked into the middle of a three-ring circus. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
Mrs. Lapp held up a glass. “Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”
“He doesn’t want any water right now,” Daisy said. Tossing a look of sympathy his way, she added, “Come on, Kyle.”
As he watched her carefully crutch her way to the living room, with both her mother’s and her brother’s eyes fastened on her, Kyle strode to her side.
From both her brother’s attitude and her mother’s thrown-out explanations, Kyle was realizing that there was a whole lot more going on with Daisy—and maybe even her family—than he’d realized. What that was, he had no idea.
He hoped by the time he left he would have some more information. He was starting to feel like Daisy Lapp was a woman who was surrounded by love and family … but just happened to be feeling as alone as he was.