Chapter 16
Driving home in the Honda Accord, catching glances from the Amish pedestrians on our way out.
“I like Amish Country better than West Virginia,” I said.
Ronnie nodded. Her chin was propped in her hand, and her elbow was propped on the window ledge of the door. The breath from her nostrils puffed on the glass.
“Did you know the John Denver song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is about Virginia, not West Virginia?” I said.
“He sings West Virginia, but it would be more accurate if he sang Western Virginia, because he references the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are predominately in Virginia, barely touching the northern part of West Virginia,” I told her.
“Huhm,” she said.
“Plus, he sings ‘Almost heaven, West Virginia’ and that’s absurd.”
She made no reply at all. I was dropping pearlescent nuggets for her and she didn’t care.
Our discovery had troubled her further, instead of satisfying her guilt. After a few miles, she said, “I think I’ll send the Yoders some money, to care for Madeleine. I’ll ship her new boots and chocolate and champagne. The internet said many Amish drink.”
“Plus,” I said. “We need to check in on Emile’s kid, don’t we.”
She nodded, pivoting to face me. She’d been silently crying. “Do you mind?”
“I don’t mind. I’ll do it this week,” I said.
“You’re not too busy?”
“For you, kid,” I said, “Anything.”
She wiped at her eyes. “Thank you, Mackenzie.”
“And if we find out the kid isn’t in a great situation?”
“I don’t know.”