Chapter 13 #2
Jalon looked at her over his shoulder and withered inside. Her face was red with anger, her eyes cold as they finally flitted to him, then back to her son.
“Is it time for lunch?”
Jalon almost laughed, amazed at how easily Malachi had gone from shutting him out to being concerned about food.
“We’ll get something to eat later,” she said. “ Geh inside and wait for me on the couch.”
“But—”
“Malachi, now.” Her voice was low. Calm, but barely controlled. Without a word Malachi went inside.
Jalon rose from the porch step. “Phoebe—”
She blew past him and headed for the driveway. She was halfway down it when he realized she was going to the phone shanty.
“Wait,” he called out, hurrying to her. Her steps quickened and she didn’t answer him. He jumped in front of her, blocking her way. “Stop. Let’s talk about this—”
“There’s nix to say.” She squared her shoulders, but her lower lip trembled slightly. “Please get out of mei way. I need to call a taxi.”
“For what?”
“We’re going to mei cousin’s.”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“Overreacting?” Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? You terrified mei sohn because he climbed a tree—”
“I know and I’m—”
“And then you accused me of being a bad mamm .”
He stilled. “I never said that.”
“ Ya. ” Her voice quavered. “You did.”
She tried to move past him but he stepped in front of her again. “Phoebe, let’s talk about this. I know I shouldn’t have lost mei temper.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glowered.
“You have the right to be mad at me. I deserve it. But I don’t think you should leave now. Malachi’s been upset enough for one day.”
She didn’t answer, just glared at him. If her eyes had been daggers, they would have shot right to his heart. “We won’t leave today,” she finally said. “Because of Malachi.” Then she whirled around and went back to the house.
She wasn’t going to make it easy on him, and she shouldn’t. He didn’t deserve easy.
At a loss, he walked around the house to the backyard.
He couldn’t go inside, not yet. He had to give Phoebe time to cool down.
He didn’t remember saying she was a bad mother, but he’d been so terrified at seeing Malachi in the tree he didn’t doubt that he had.
He couldn’t take back those words, or any others he’d said that hurt her, but somehow he had to make it up to her.
He’d convinced her to stay one more night because of Malachi, and his concern for him was genuine. But he wasn’t completely selfless in his motives. He couldn’t bear the thought of them leaving, remembering him angry and, yes, overreacting. He had to fix this.
He looked at the oak again. What he’d done was the very definition of a hack job, and represented exactly how he felt about himself right now—ragged and damaged. He’d let his fear and guilt overcome him, and now he was on the verge of losing two people he cared about deeply.
But he hadn’t changed his mind about the tree, and he couldn’t cut it down by himself. He’d get Sol and a few other men in the community to help him do it properly. He would get rid of the tree once and for all—along with the painful memories it held.
Phoebe sat on the edge of Jalon’s couch, her teeth grinding together.
She’d made Malachi a snack and told him to stay in the kitchen.
She needed a moment—more than a moment—to compose herself.
Her heart thudded in her chest, and it wasn’t only because she was angry with Jalon.
She was also mad at herself. He’d been right about Malachi.
Her son had been distraught enough, although seeing him and Jalon on the front porch moments ago reminded her once again how irrepressible Malachi could be.
Suddenly uprooting him with little explanation and leaving to stay with a family he didn’t know wasn’t the right thing to do.
The front door opened, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Jalon.
He didn’t walk inside right away, and despite herself, she looked at him.
His expression was contrite and pained and she could see the apology in his eyes.
In fact, it was written all over his face.
And as much as she wanted to hang on to her anger and hurt, she felt her heart soften a tiny bit.
“Phoebe?”
His voice was gentle and uncertain. Was it just a short time ago that everything had been right between them?
“I’m very sorry.” He took off his hat and moved the brim back and forth in his fingers. “I shouldn’t have lost mei temper with Malachi, or with you.”
“You scared us.”
“I know that too.” He was practically bending the hat brim in half. “I’m glad you’re staying.”
The ice around her heart cracked a little more, but she wasn’t ready to let him off the hook. She rose from the couch and walked past him to the kitchen. He didn’t follow her.
Malachi had finished his snack, and she handed him the pad of paper and crayons Karen had brought over the other day.
She watched as he started drawing and thought about Jalon.
She’d caught his hurt expression as she’d breezed past him.
That should have made her feel a little better, knowing he was paying the consequences for scaring Malachi and insulting her.
It didn’t. If anything, she felt much, much worse.
Supper was simple and quiet. Phoebe had helped Karen prepare stewed chicken and dumplings, brussels sprouts, and a Yum Yum cake for dessert.
Phoebe had never heard of such a cake, a Yoder family favorite.
The combination of yellow cake, pudding, pineapple, and whipped cream looked delicious.
Too bad only Karen and Malachi were hungry.
Phoebe nibbled on her meal, trying not to pay attention to Jalon as he pushed his food around his plate.
Karen had stopped trying to force conversation.
She had asked about the tree, and as far as Phoebe knew Jalon had given her some excuse about trying to cut it down without going into any details.
Malachi did eat most of his food, and by the time he was finished his head started to bob with exhaustion.
He’d spent the rest of the afternoon coloring and playing inside, not asking to go out as he usually did.
He’d stuck close to Phoebe, even helping her dust the furniture without her asking him to.
“Come, Malachi,” Phoebe said. “Let’s get you to bed. ”
His head popped up. “I’m not tired,” he slurred.
“You’re falling asleep at the table.” She rose and said to Karen, “I’ll help you with the dishes when he’s settled.”
She waved her hand. “ Nee worries. I’ll take care of them. Gute nacht , Malachi.”
“I’m not tired.” His head lolled to one side.
Phoebe was about to take Malachi’s hand when Jalon appeared at her side. “I’ve got him,” he said, scooping Malachi up into his arms.
She was going to protest until she saw Malachi wrap his arms around Jalon’s neck.
She followed them both upstairs, and Jalon set Malachi on the bed.
He stepped out of the way as she took off Malachi’s shoes and socks, then moved his legs onto the mattress and pulled the covers over him.
His eyes were already closed. “ Gute nacht ,” she whispered, touching his cheek.
She stood, turned around, and looked at Jalon.
He motioned for her to come into the hallway. When she joined him, he shut the bedroom door.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“Not if you’re going to yell at me again.”
His brow shot up. “Why would I do that? Phoebe, I said I was sorry, and I meant it.”
She rubbed the middle of her forehead and frowned. She was being rude and hurtful while he was trying to set things right. “I’m sorry too.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“ Ya. I do.” She drew in a deep breath. “I should have been paying more attention to Malachi. But I was working in the haus and ...” Her face flushed.
“And what?” he asked, his brow furrowing a bit.
“I was thinking about ... things.” She swallowed, and it was hard to keep looking at him, especially when he leaned against the wall, his brow relaxing slightly, as if he knew exactly what she was referring to.
“What kind of things?”
“I was distracted thinking about you, okay?”
“Then I had to geh and ruin it.” He pushed off the wall, suddenly looking hopeful. “Or not.”
“What?”
“We could still have our date. Tonight. It won’t be a ride in the buggy but it will be something.”
“Jalon, I don’t know ...”
“I’d like a second chance.”
After everything he had done for them, he deserved at least that. “Okay,” she said.
“I’ll meet you in the living room in a few minutes.”
Phoebe nodded, and he disappeared downstairs. She peeked to check on Malachi, who was fast asleep. At some point Blue had come into the room and snuggled right next to him. The cat usually left the bed once Phoebe got in it for the night, but until that point he was stuck like glue next to Malachi.
She went downstairs and sat in the rocker next to the woodstove. Heat from the fireplace warmed her body, and she leaned back and closed her eyes.
“I’m tired too,” Karen said.
Phoebe opened her eyes to see Karen standing at the bottom of the staircase. “Are you going to bed already?”
“ Ya. I got sleepy all of a sudden. I’ll see you in the morning.” She paused. “Unless there was something you wanted to talk about?”
Karen didn’t miss a thing. Phoebe shook her head. “Everything is fine.”
Karen nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “ Gut. Just know that I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
“ Danki ,” she said, finally able to muster a smile. “I appreciate that.”
A few minutes after Karen went upstairs, Jalon walked in, carrying a mug. He handed it to her.
“Tea?” she said, taking a sniff.
“Also known as a peace offering.” He sat down across from her, and she noticed he didn’t have a drink.