Chapter 24
— chapter twenty-four
Three hours later, against his better judgment, Nelson stopped by the store and bought two dozen pink roses, a spiral-sliced ham, and a battery-operated bubble machine, then picked up a pan of freshly baked mac and cheese from Brenneman’s.
Then, just as he’d done dozens of times before, he drove up Jenna’s driveway, parked his truck, and knocked on the front door.
He spied Katie peeking through the window and waving at him before Jenna unlocked the door and opened it.
“Hi, Nelson,” Jenna said with a hesitant smile. “I didn’t know you were stopping by this evening.”
“I was at work most of the day but wasn’t quite ready to head home. Are you busy?”
She hesitated. “Well, um, as a matter of fact, it’s not a good day for you to be here. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh. I see.” He noticed then that Jenna had dark circles under her eyes, her face was flushed, and her dress looked a little wrinkled. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Jah. I’m okay.” Her smile was strained as she seemed to grip the door a little more tightly.
Katie wiggled her way under her mother’s arm to stand in front of him. “Mamm is sick,” she announced.
Ignoring the fact that Jenna was still standing right in front of him, he bent down slightly to speak to Katie. “She is?”
“Uh-huh. Mamm doesn’t feel good. Not at all.”
“Uh-oh.” Focusing back on Jenna, he lowered his voice. “What’s wrong?”
She shrugged. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.” When he continued to stare at her, she sighed. “Fine. I have a stomach bug. It’ll pass.”
It didn’t look like it was passing anytime soon. He was kind of worried she was about to pass out. “Who’s taking care of you?”
“No one needs to take care of me. I’ll be fine. I’m just tired. Now, if you’ll—”
“Wait.” He reached out and pressed his palm to her cheek. She was burning up. “You have a fever.”
“I doubt that. It’s warm in here.” But her eyes were averted.
“I didn’t ever think you’d lie to me, Jenna.”
“I’m not lying. Not really.”
Stepping forward, he motioned for Katie to move out of the way. “Let me in.”
“Certainly not. I’m fine.” Catching sight of his narrowed eyes, she mumbled, “Okay, I’m not fine. But I’m not too sick.”
“She’s real sick, Nelson,” Katie blurted. “Mamm was throwing up all night. I heard her in the bathroom.”
Looking pained, Jenna closed her eyes. “Katie, you mustn’t talk about things like that.”
“How come? It’s the truth.”
“Jah. But it isn’t something we speak of.” Meeting his gaze again, she murmured, “I’m so sorry. I’d have been perfectly good if you had never heard that.”
She was being silly. “There’s no reason on earth for you to be embarrassed right now. I’m glad that Katie told me what’s been going on.” As he stepped inside, he added, “I’m glad one of you ladies has decided to tell me the truth.”
“Nelson, I’m not in the mood to spar with you.”
“I know you’re not,” he said as he closed the door behind him. Boy, Jenna looked under the weather. Concern for both her and Katie surged through him. Someone needed to be taking care of both of them. “Are you sick too, Kitty?”
“Nope.” She smiled.
“Is your grandmother coming over?”
“I don’t think so. My Grandma Amy had to be somewhere else today. I’m not sure where.”
“What about your other grandmother? Mary?”
Katie shook her head. “My mamm doesn’t like it when my grandmother comes over to help. Because she doesn’t listen to Mamm, and that makes her mad.”
Jenna closed her eyes. “Katie!”
“It’s a good thing I’m here to take care of her, then.” He winked. “I’m fantastic at following directions.”
“Nelson, this isn’t funny. Please go.”
“Sorry, but I can’t do that,” he replied with another wink Katie’s way.
While the little girl giggled, he reached for Jenna’s arm.
“Come on. Let’s get you back in the living room.
You can sit down or lay down or whatever you were doing,” he said in a tone of voice he usually reserved for guys at work.
“Why?”
“Because I have some things in my truck for you,” he replied, deliberately sidestepping her protest. “I can’t get them and watch you at the same time.”
“Nelson, I’d rather not be around you right now.”
He knew she’d probably get mad at him later, but he figured it was time he brought out the big guns. “I have two dozen pink roses for you in the cab of my truck, Jenna. They’re wilting as we speak. Do you really want them to die because you’re being so stubborn?”
“You brought me roses?”
“Yep, and I brought a bubble machine for Katie.”
“You brought us a bubble machine?” Katie asked, her whole face lighting up.
He smiled down at her. “I did, and I think we’re going to love playing with it. I even brought the batteries it needs.”
She clapped her hands. “Yay.”
When he dared to meet Jenna’s eyes again, Nelson saw everything he was sure he’d see—irritation that he’d steamrolled over her wishes combined with a reluctant appreciation for the roses she hadn’t yet seen.
“Come on.” He walked her into the living room, rearranged two pillows for behind her head, and then helped her lie down. “How’s that? Are you settled? I don’t want you to fall.”
“I’m not a child. I am not going to fall.”
She sounded so full of herself.
He smirked at her before walking out the door.
He left the front door open, which allowed him to make the two trips back and forth from his vehicle.
One to get the roses and bubble machine.
The second trip was to bring in the ham and mac and cheese.
It was all going to be too rich for Jenna’s queasy stomach but probably perfect for Katie and him.
He was sure he was going to be sticking around for a while and eating supper with her.
“What’s that?” Katie asked as she followed him into the kitchen after he closed the door.
“A spiral-sliced ham. Do you like ham?”
“I think so.”
He lifted the foil off the pan that was still warm. “And this is mac and cheese. I know you like this.”
“I like it a lot.” She grinned. “I’m really hungry too.”
“Well, we can’t have that. Let me get your mother settled, and then I’ll fix you a plate.”
“But what about the bubbles?”
“That comes last.”
She frowned. “Can’t we play first?”
“Not if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not that hungry anymore . . .”
He laughed. “Sorry, but I’m not going to change my mind. Take it or leave it, Kitty. What do you want to do?”
“All right. Fine. I’ll eat first.”
“Katie, you be nice,” Jenna called out.
“I’m being nice.” She turned to him. “Aren’t I?”
“Yes, honey. You are being very nice. Now, can you sit down and wait for me while I get your mama settled?” When she nodded, he gently squeezed her shoulder, then headed to the more prickly female in the household. She was finally lying down on the couch. “Do you have ibuprofen?”
“Jah. But I can’t keep anything down.”
“Let’s try. Do you have any soda, like Sprite or ginger ale?”
“No.”
He pulled out his phone. “I’m going to get some over here.” Remembering his mother’s cure-all—saltines, popsicles, applesauce, and toast—he typed off a list of things for Fanny to bring over as soon as possible.
Deciding that water might be best for Jenna anyway, he filled a glass with cold water and handed it to her, along with two of the pills he’d found in her medicine cabinet. “Take this.”
“Danke.” She took the pills and sipped the water with a look of foreboding but seemed to handle it all right.
“Were you up all night?”
“Kind of,” she admitted in a small voice. “This—this flu, or whatever it is, came up on me suddenly. It’s been awful.”
“It’s time for a nap, then.” Reaching for her hand, he said, “Come on. Let’s get you in bed.”
Her pretty eyes widened. “I can’t leave Katie alone.”
“You aren’t. I’ll stay with her. We’ll be fine.”
“Nelson, are you sure? She’s five, you know.”
“I’m positive, honey. I love spending time with her. I’ll feed her some supper, and we’ll play with the bubble machine. Plus, if she needs something, I’ll wake you up.”
“You promise?”
“Of course. I’m trying to help you, Jenna.” He waggled his fingers. “Now, come on. Take my hand, and let’s get you back in bed.”
At last, she took his hand. Then Nelson helped her to her feet but kept her hand securely in his own. Her skin was warm—too warm—but as he ran his hand along her knuckles, he noticed how smooth and soft they were. So feminine.
He was pleased when she didn’t try to pull away from his grip, instead staying by his side and allowing him to walk her up the stairs and into her bedroom.
There were four pink walls, a stack of books, and a truly beautiful quilt over a white iron bed frame. A vase of flowers adorned her white dresser. The flowers were obviously from her garden and no doubt had been there a few days, but they still lent a bright, pretty contrast to her dour mood.
Her sheets were in disarray. Even her three pillows were scattered across the bed. Hoping to lighten the mood, Nelson chuckled. “It looks like you went round and round with the bedding, and it won.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, I barely made it to the bathroom the last time.”
“What time was this?”
“I don’t know. Six, maybe? Seven? After I lay on the floor for a while, I moved to the living room couch.”
“You really do need some rest.” When she moved to straighten her bedding, he shook his head. “I’ve got this. Want to go to the bathroom or something before you lay down?”
“Jah. I probably should.”
He reached for her. “Do you need help?”
“Nee, Nelson.”
He didn’t argue but he did hover until she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Don’t come in!”
Nelson grinned at her words as he pulled up her sheets, tucked in the light cotton blanket and quilt, and rearranged the pillows.
He’d just pulled down one side when she returned, her face damp from where she’d washed it.
“Look how nice you made everything.”
“I’ve been making my own bed for a while now.”
“Jah. I guess you have.”
She crawled in and lay down with a sigh. “This feels gut. Danke, Nelson.”
“You’re welcome. Now close your eyes and try to rest. I’ll come back to check on you in a while.”
Jenna’s eyes were closed and she was breathing softly before he was in the hallway.
Poor thing. She must have been exhausted.
Katie was coloring a picture on the coffee table when he came back. “I’m drawing some flowers for mei mamm for when she wakes up. She really likes flowers.”
“That’s a pretty picture. I bet she’s going to love it.”
“Uh-huh.” She colored a little more before looking up at him. “What should we do now?”
“Eat.”
“And then bubbles?”
“Yep. Come on.”
Katie sat down at the small table in the kitchen and watched as he made her a plate.
“Do you want milk?”
“Yes, please.”
After she was all set, he sat down across from her. “Okay, dig in for me.”
Without his prompting, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. She moved her lips, but he didn’t hear a word.
Nelson thought that was just about the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Once she started eating, he fixed a small plate for himself and ate across the table from her.
“This is pretty good, don’t you think?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you like the ham or the mac and cheese better?”
“I like them the same. What about you?”
“I feel the same way you do. The same,” he said with a smile.
When Katie grinned back at him, Nelson knew that he’d been right to be so pushy. He was taking care of Katie and giving Jenna a much-needed break. He’d call that progress.
When they were both done, he washed their dishes and set them on the wooden drying rack. “You know what? Let’s call your Grandma Amy, just to make sure she can’t come over. She has a phone in her kitchen, jah?”
“Jah.” Brightening, Katie added, “I even know her phone number.”
“Aren’t you smart?” He pulled out his cell phone and punched in the numbers that Katie recited. Jenna’s mother answered on the first ring. “Amy, this is Nelson. I . . .”
“I know who you are. Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” Briefly he explained about Jenna feeling poorly.
“I’ll come over to spend the night, but I can’t stay long in the morning. I’ve promised that I would help make fried pies early tomorrow for a benefit auction coming up.”
“I can come get you and bring you here, then take you back in the morning.”
“No need to do that. I have my bike. But I might not get there for an hour.”
“That’s fine. Katie and I have been having a good time together.”
After he hung up, he explained to Katie what the new plans were. Amy would come over when she could and spend the night. He’d stay until she arrived and then return in the morning.
Katie seemed to take everything in stride.
“Ready to try out the bubble machine now?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“Come on. Let’s go sit on the front porch and figure it out.”
When she scrambled to her feet, she reached for his hand. As he held it while they walked outside, Nelson decided that he could get used to holding both of these women’s hands. Taking care of them.
Doing whatever they needed in order to get through life. Jenna might disagree, but he was pretty sure they needed him.
He sure knew that he needed them.