Chapter 16 #2
Guess I should probably head for home and check on Emma tomorrow after church. Ivan was about to ask Marlin to give his granddaughter a message, when he heard Emma’s voice in the kitchen talking to her grandmother.
Ivan positioned himself like a statue outside the doorway, struggling with the desire to barge into the kitchen but not wanting to be so bold.
Marlin was there with him, and he gave Ivan a nudge. “Go on in. I’m sure Emma will be happy to see you. I’ll be right behind you, so don’t hold back.”
Ivan hoped Marlin was right, and desperate to see Emma, he pushed the kitchen door open and stepped inside.
His eyes feasted upon Emma, who sat at the table, cutting pieces of cheese and arranging the slices on a silver tray.
Luellen stood at the counter near the sink, with three ripe apples, which she appeared ready to cut.
Emma turned to face Ivan, and he felt relief when she offered him a smile.
“How’d things go with the mattress?” Luellen asked, turning toward her husband. “Were you able to find a good place to lay it out for the cats?”
“I did, but that crazy hund laid claim to it before any of the cats could even check out the mattress,” Marlin responded.
She gave a quick shake of her head. “Silly pup. Maybe she’d prefer to sleep out there at night, instead of in our utility room.”
“That’s not a good idea, Grandma,” Emma chimed in.
“Fawn would be lonely out there all night. Besides, it could be unsafe for her if some wild animal were to get into the barn.” She looked at Ivan, hoping he would agree with her, but he stood with arms folded and said nothing in the dog’s defense.
Emma figured he either didn’t agree with her or had chosen not to take sides.
Emma was glad when Grandma told the men to fill their plates with snacks and take them outside to the picnic table. “It’s too warm in the house to eat in the kitchen,” she added.
“It’s plenty warm outdoors too,” Grandpa spoke up. “But it’s probably hotter in the house.” He gestured to Ivan. “You can go first.”
Ivan hesitated a few seconds, but then he took one of the plates on the table and picked out some cheese, lunch meat, cut-up veggies, and a handful of pretzels.
Grandpa followed behind him, and then at Grandma’s insistence, Emma went next. Before the men went out the back door, Grandma asked Grandpa if he would bring some of his homemade root beer out to the picnic table.
“Oh, sure, I can do that.” He set his plate on the counter, told Ivan to go ahead, and went down the cellar steps where the root beer and other bottled and canned items were kept.
While the four of them sat at the picnic table, Fawn came running up, looking for a handout.
“Mind if I feed her something?” Ivan directed his question to Emma’s grandfather.
“Suit yourself,” Marlin replied, “but be ready to be pestered, ’cause the more you feed her, the more she’ll keep begging.”
Ivan laughed. “I figured as much.” He picked up a piece of bologna, tore off a small piece, and then leaned down and let the pup take it from him.
Fawn gobbled it right down and slurped the top of Ivan’s hand.
“That hund is disgusting.” Luellen wrinkled her nose. “I bet you feel like you ought to go wash your hand now.”
Ivan shook his head. “Naw, I’ve been eating with my fingers, not the top side of my hand.”
Luellen shrugged and picked up her glass of root beer, guzzling what was left of it.
Ivan glanced over at Emma, who had barely touched the food on her plate.
He figured she either wasn’t hungry or had no desire to eat.
Ivan had also noticed the way Emma’s hands repeatedly rose to touch her face.
It was clear that she wasn’t herself this evening.
Her darting gaze and frequent swallowing were good indications that she was dealing with anxiety, no doubt from all that had happened to her today.
Hoping to distract Emma and take her thoughts in another direction, Ivan leaned closer and said, “I was wondering if you would like to join me and my family for supper tomorrow evening—if you feel up to it, that is.”
Without speaking, Emma’s mouth opened and closed. She swiftly reached for her glass and took a drink.
Ivan wasn’t sure what to make of her lack of response. If Emma didn’t want to join his family for Sunday supper, he certainly wouldn’t press the issue.
“Actually, Ivan,” Luellen interjected, “Emma won’t be going anywhere tomorrow, because she needs to rest for a few days.”
“Oh, jah—guess that makes sense.” Although Ivan understood, he couldn’t help feeling disappointed. He’d really wanted to confess his feelings to Emma today, but the events that unfolded had stymied Ivan’s plans to do so.
“I’ll tell you what,” Marlin spoke up. “Why don’t you come over here Sunday evening? I’ll make a batch of homemade ice cream, and we can all sit out here and watch the sun go down. Does that sound good to you two?”
Ivan looked at Emma before responding. He wanted to be sure she would be okay with her grandpa’s suggestion before he gave a reply.
Emma offered him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and nodded.
“Okay, jah,” Ivan said, feeling a little better about things. “What time would you like me to come over?”
“Six o’clock, if that works for you,” Marlin replied.
“That’ll be fine.” Ivan finished the rest of his beverage, gave Fawn what was left on his plate, and stood.
“Guess I’d better be heading for home now.
” His muscles tightened in readiness to go, but before he turned away from the table, he looked at Emma and said, “I hope you sleep well tonight and wake up feeling rested in the morning.”
“Danki.”
Ivan told her grandparents goodbye and then sprinted for his horse and buggy.
He hoped when he returned tomorrow evening that Emma would be more talkative and looking more relaxed.
It concerned him to see her like this, and he wondered if it was from the fatigue she felt or if something else could be wrong.