Chapter 17
Becky stood in the first-floor hallway of her house, fighting tears. Elaine and her granddaughter Veronica were in the kitchen making casseroles to freeze, while Rhoda made her specialty—beef stew.
Upstairs, Joanna, Lu, and Mandy were doing a thorough cleaning, which they would do on the first floor too. Joanna had told Becky to get her laundry ready to be washed so she wouldn’t have to worry about it Monday morning.
Monday. The day Ike would have open heart surgery.
She moved toward the staircase. She needed to grab Adam’s laundry too. When she reached his room, the door was closed. Joanna poked her head out of the sewing room. “I didn’t think we should clean Adam’s room without his permission.”
“I did before he arrived—it’s fine.” Becky doubted Adam needed anyone to clean his room anyway.
He’d lived on his own long enough to know how to take care of himself.
“I’ll go ahead and strip his sheets and grab his clothes, though,” she said.
She might not have time to do the laundry the week after next either.
She expected Ike would be home then, and she’d be busy caring for him.
“All right.” Joanna stepped back into the sewing room. “Yell when you have all the laundry together, and I’ll get it started.”
Becky opened the door to Reuben’s room. No, it was Adam’s room.
Would she ever stop thinking of it as Reuben’s?
The bed was perfectly made down to the hospital corners.
His dirty clothes were in the collapsible mesh hamper he’d brought with him.
There was a Bible on his bedside table, an English translation, and another book underneath it.
She stepped closer. Jane Eyre. It was her copy.
She smiled. She remembered Adam borrowing it and taking it back to Florida with him.
Lu had said Jane Eyre was one of Joanna’s favorite books.
Becky had assumed that was why Adam had asked to borrow it, but she hadn’t asked.
He was so much like his father. And his grandfather.
Not that Ike would have read Jane Eyre or any other book Becky liked, but he certainly cared enough about her to be interested in her world. Reuben had been the same.
A hollowness settled in Becky’s chest.
Sometimes when she saw Ike and Adam together, the long-term, dull ache she felt over losing Reuben turned back into the soul-wrenching one. It had been two decades and yet sometimes the pain was as intense as the day it happened.
Reuben was the missing link. They’d lost him, and they’d nearly lost their relationship with Adam too when Elizabeth remarried. It had taken a lot of finagling to stay in his life.
She pulled back the quilt on Adam’s bed, a Star of Bethlehem pattern in shades of blue, and pulled the hospital corners apart and the sheets off.
Next she tackled the pillowcases. She stuffed everything into the hamper, grabbed the used towels out of the upstairs bathroom, and carried everything down the stairs.
Once she’d added Ike’s and her things, she yelled up the stairs to Joanna that the laundry was all collected.
“I’ll leave it at the top of the basement stairs. ”
“All right,” Joanna answered. “I’ll get it started in a minute.”
At noon everyone stopped for lunch except for Joanna.
She was outside hanging the wash and insisted they start without her.
The day had turned hotter than expected—the sheets and clothes would dry in no time.
And the towels soon after. Lu had brought chicken salad and homemade buns.
Becky led them in a silent prayer and then, as they started to eat, Rhoda said, “I got the letter, Lu. Why would you ask for an anonymous request when we all know who you were referring to?”
“What are you talking about?” Elaine asked. “What letter?”
Becky shot Rhoda an exasperated look. Thank goodness Joanna wasn’t in the house.
Becky said, as sweetly as she could, “It’s something we discussed at the quilting day you missed.
” She raised her eyebrows. Becky hadn’t wanted Elaine to know about the circle letter at all, but she especially didn’t want Mandy and Veronica to know.
“We’ll fill you in at the next meeting.”
Elaine picked up her sandwich. “What’s wrong with right now?”
Lu stood. “Oh, I didn’t grab the chips!” She stepped to her basket that sat underneath the worktable. “Rhoda, would you mind reaching one of Becky’s serving bowls? They’re—”
“I know where they are.” Rhoda was the tallest of all of them.
Becky turned her attention toward Veronica. “Where are you working now?”
“As a mother’s helper for the Byers.”
Becky cocked her head. “Which Byer family?”
“The Paul Byers. They have five little ones.”
Becky had heard Paul’s wife hadn’t bounced back after her last pregnancy. She’d had five in seven years.
“Didn’t they build a house on Enoch Byer’s farm?” That was where Jacob lived.
Veronica’s face turned pink. “Jah. A couple of years ago, on the other side of the property.”
Midway through the afternoon as Becky made coffee to go with the snickerdoodles Lu had brought for their afternoon snack, she heard a buggy roll over the gravel. She stepped to the back door.
“Who is it?” Elaine called out, pulling her cornbread from the oven.
Becky squinted. Was that Mandy? No, she was in the living room dusting. Becky stepped onto the back porch. “Miriam!”
As Miriam waved, steps fell behind Becky. And then Elaine was at her side. “What is she doing here?”
Becky said, “I didn’t know she was back from Berks County.”
“Jah.” Elaine didn’t sound pleased. “She is.”
Becky hoped having Miriam show up wouldn’t make things awkward for Joanna, but maybe that was all water under the bridge, especially now.
“Dawdi Daniel told me about the frolic!” Miriam grinned as she tied the horse—Daniel’s—to the hitching post. “Mammi, why wasn’t I invited?” Miriam asked in a playful tone. She’d always had a lot of spunk.
Becky studied her. The strip of blond hair in front of her Kapp appeared lighter than before.
It was definitely lighter than Mandy’s. Perhaps Miriam spent a lot of time outside.
She sashayed a little as she walked toward them.
She and Mandy were identical twins, but Miriam had always sparkled a bit more than Mandy.
“You’re just in time for a snack,” Becky said.
“Oh good!” Miriam was coming up the steps now and smiled at Elaine. “Hi, Mammi. I told Dawdi I’d give you and Mandy and Veronica a ride home.”
Becky kept an eye on both Elaine and Joanna as they all sat around the table. Elaine seemed uptight, but Joanna appeared to be fine. Lu asked Miriam where she was staying.
“With Mandy.” Miriam grinned at her twin. “A least for now.”
Joanna shot Mandy a glance, but she just shrugged. It seemed Joanna hadn’t known Miriam was staying with Mandy, or maybe even that she was back in Lancaster County.
“Since when?” Apparently Veronica didn’t know either.
“Two days ago.” Now Miriam was grinning at Veronica. “When did you get so big? You weren’t even wearing a Kapp last time I saw you.”
Veronica’s face grew red. “That’s not true.”
Becky felt a pang of sympathy for Veronica.
“Dawdi filled me in on Ike,” Miriam said, quickly changing the subject as she directed her attention to Becky. “And he said Adam moved back. Does he plan to stay?”
“I hope so,” Becky answered. “He’s running the business right now.”
Elaine gripped her mug with both hands. “Speaking of, I heard Tim was out in his buggy last night with a young lady.”
“Who?” Mandy asked.
Veronica squealed a little. “I know!” She glanced around the circle of women. “She’s my friend. Wendy Yoder.”
“The tiny one with the dark hair? Who’s from your district?” Mandy asked.
“Jah,” Veronica said. “She’s smitten with Tim.”
Elaine grinned.
Becky didn’t understand Elaine’s interest in who might be courting who. It wasn’t anyone’s business besides the couple’s and their family’s.
A few minutes later, Joanna stood and said, “Let’s get back to work. I’m going to go pull the laundry off the line.”
Mandy stood too. “I’ll help.”
A few minutes later, Becky stepped onto the back porch. Mandy and Joanna seemed to be deep in conversation as they folded the clothes.
The women went home just after five, leaving the house spotless, the beds made, the laundry put away, eight casseroles in the freezer in the shed, Rhoda’s stew in the refrigerator, and a pan of lasagna baking in the oven.
Becky stood on the front porch and watched Lu and Joanna, the last to leave, walk down the road toward their house.
Loneliness flowed through her like a cold draft in an old house.
Becky had stopped by to see Lu nearly every day since Marcus passed away because she was concerned for her best friend.
But also because, in some twisted way that she could see now, she felt if she did all she could to help Lu it wouldn’t happen to her.
She wouldn’t lose Ike like Lu had lost Marcus.
Losing Ike was her worst fear. She’d felt that way since the day she met him and even more so after they married, but it was losing Reuben that intensified the feeling even more.
Jah, she had ten younger siblings, nearly a hundred nieces and nephews, and she had no idea how many great nieces and nephews, but Ike was her whole world now.
Nee, she wasn’t supposed to be so dependent on a person.
And jah, she was dependent on God. She clasped her hands together and then said a prayer that she’d depend on God even more.
Selfishly she’d always hoped she would pass away first. Jah, Ike would miss her, but he wouldn’t be lost without her. He’d go on with his life. He’d work too many hours. He wouldn’t retire. He’d probably start roofing again. But he wouldn’t be without purpose.
She guessed everyone thought the opposite—that Ike would be lost without her, but she wouldn’t do okay if she lost him. Not at all.
Joanna and Lu both waved as Nick turned the van toward the house. Adam sat up front. Both Nick and Adam had serious expressions on their faces. Had something happened?
Becky started down the stairs. The cold draft inside became an icy wind. She stumbled a little on the bottom step and then caught herself. Nick stopped the van. His face didn’t look as serious as he rolled down his window. “Hallo, Becky. What time do you want to go up to the hospital tomorrow?”
She sighed in relief. “What time works for you?”
“Either before or after church, if that’s all right.”
“Of course.” Sometimes she forgot Englischers had church every week. Becky remembered Nick’s church service started at nine thirty and ended at noon. Of course, he’d need to eat afterward. Her heart lurched.
“Before is fine.” Nick smiled.
“I’ll be ready by eight. I’ll plan to stay until midafternoon.”
“You can call me when you’re ready to come home.”
Adam gave Nick a wave and said, “Denki.” What would they do without Nick?
Becky waved goodbye to Nick as Adam started up the steps with a file under his arm. He held the door for her, and she stepped into the house first.
Adam followed. “It smells good.”
“The ladies left a lasagna baking in the oven.” Becky quickly changed the subject. “How was your Dawdi doing when you left?”
“Gut. Tired, but he seemed in good spirits.” He held up the file. “We went over the Pequea Creek house details. I think he’ll have less worries now.” Adam led the way through the living room and into the hall. He glanced back at Becky. “He’s missing you.”
“Did you tell him I’d be back tomorrow?”
“I did.” Adam smiled. “That made him happy.”
When they reached the kitchen, Adam breathed deeply. “Who made the lasagna?
“Elaine and Veronica.” Becky put her hand on the small of her back. She felt extra tired. “Did you know Miriam is back?”
Adam had a puzzled expression on his face. “Mandy’s twin?”
“Jah. She came to the frolic.”
“How is she?”
“Gut, it seems. Much the same.”
Adam took a drink of water. “How long until dinner?”
“It’s ready now. We can eat as soon as I get everything on the table.”
“What can I do to help?”
Jah, Adam was so much like his father and grandfather. If only the right girl would come along. If only that girl was Joanna.
After Becky put the food away and Adam finished the dishes, he asked, “Want to go on a walk?” He hung the dish towel on the peg by the sink to dry.
Becky didn’t tire very often, however she’d felt weary ever since Ike’s heart attack. But she’d probably sleep better if she walked first. She ran her fingers under her eyes. “That’s a gut idea.”
When they reached the road, Adam asked if she wanted to turn right or left.
“Right,” she answered. “Let’s stop by Lu’s. Maybe she and Joanna are out on their porch.” More likely, Joanna would be gardening. The girl could not sit still.
As they strolled along, Adam linked his arm through Becky’s. Sunset was a couple of hours away and the evening was still hot and muggy without a breeze. When they turned up Lu’s lane, Adam called out, “Hallo!”
Joanna’s head popped up out of the vegetable section of the garden. She waved. Lu stood on the porch and called out, “Becky, what are you doing? I thought you’d be resting.”
“Adam and I are out for a walk. We thought we’d stop by.”
“Come sit for a while,” Lu said. “I have more snickerdoodles.”
Joanna brushed her hands on her apron. “I’ll get them, Mammi.”
“Nee. Becky and I can. Maybe Adam can help you finish picking the beans.”
“Jah, I’d be happy to,” he said.
Once they reached the gate, Becky let go of Adam’s arm.
“When are you going to see Ike tomorrow?” Lu asked as Becky walked toward her.
“Early.”
“Adam,” Lu called out. “Joanna and I are going to stop by Daniel and Elaine’s in the morning, but we’ll be home by noon. Please join us for dinner.”
“All right.”
Becky turned her head and watched her grandson unlatch the gate and step into the garden. He smiled at Joanna and then asked, “Which row should I start on?”
She pointed to the far one and handed him a bucket. “Denki.”
He nodded and began picking.
Becky stepped onto the porch with a smile on her face.
Just because Lu asked Adam to Sunday dinner didn’t mean she thought Adam and Joanna were a good match.
Lu was quieter about these things and not prone to matchmaking, but Becky hoped she thought the two would make a good pair.
Becky was praying for it—and she hoped her best friend was too.