by Beth Wiseman
“Esther.” Gus’s mouth fell open as his jowls hung low. His gray hair was in the usual ponytail, but he’d actually trimmed his beard. “What are you doing here?”
There weren’t any tubes or monitors. Just Gus lying in bed wearing a hospital gown and covered to his waist with white linens. He had apparently been watching television, and there was a food tray stacked with empty plates on the bedside table.
He finally closed his mouth and narrowed his eyebrows into a frown. “What are you doing here?” he asked again.
Esther stayed right inside the doorway, her purse dangling from one arm near her elbow. “I noticed that you had not been home in days, so I called this hospital to see if you were a patient. Why didn’t you tell me you were ill?” She took a step closer. “What’s wrong with you?”
He motioned with his hand for her to come closer, and he continued to do so until she was right next to his bed.
“I hurt my back when I fell off your porch.” He spoke in a whisper, as opposed to the thunderous voice she was used to.
Esther gasped and pressed trembling fingers to her mouth. “I knew it. I was afraid this was our fault.”
“I’m fine,” he said, speaking even softer.
Unsure why he was whispering, she looked over her shoulder. She’d left the door cracked. As she looked back at Gus, it was obvious by his position in the bed that he hadn’t broken his back. “How bad are your injuries?” A knot was building in her throat.
“I said I’m fine,” he whispered again. Then he scowled and used a remote control to lower the volume on the television. “I only told the doctors I hurt my back. I had to endure a few tests, but I needed a vacation. It’s hotter than a furnace in that cottage. I don’t remember it ever being this hot in July.” He smiled broadly. “And in here, I get all my meals brought to me in this air-conditioned room and unlimited desserts.” He paused, frowning. “They ain’t anywhere near as good as your pies, but I can watch as much television as I want.”
Esther was fuming on the inside, tempted to bop him with her purse. It was a good thing Lizzie hadn’t come into the room because her sister would have certainly done so.
“Goodbye, Gus.” Esther spun on her heel and left the room, even though Gus called out to her twice. By the time she reached the waiting room, her blood was boiling.
“You’re red as a beet.” Lizzie stood and skipped to catch up to Esther, who was already marching to the elevator. “How sick is he?”
“He’s not sick.” Inside the elevator, she reached into her purse and took out the cell phone they used for emergencies and times like this.
“What do you mean he isn’t sick? What’s he doing in the hospital?”
After the elevator door opened, Esther stomped across the lobby, rushed out the entrance, and sat on a bench outside the building, her knee throbbing. Lizzie sat down beside her.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Lizzie adjusted her dentures, scowling.
“Gus is faking his condition so he can be in the air-conditioning and have free food.” She gritted her teeth. “It just makes me so angry. What if another patient needed that room? He’s taking time away from other patients when the nurses have to tend to him.”
“Finally.” Her sister threw her hands in the air. “You’re starting to see the real man.”
“Hush, Lizzie.” Esther called the driver to pick them up, then said, “I know exactly how Gus is, always have. But he has been doing better lately, and there is kindness inside of him, even though he keeps it hidden most of the time. I’m just very disappointed in him right now.”
Esther rubbed her knee as Lizzie shuffled her dentures around again.
“Edgar will probably be mowing the yard when we get home.” Lizzie nudged Esther. “Maybe take him some iced tea and see how he acts. That would be a nice distraction from this mess with Gus.”
Esther took a tissue from her apron pocket and dabbed at the sweat beads on her forehead. “I don’t know about a distraction. And I know I mentioned Edgar, but I don’t think he sent the flowers either.” She blew out a breath of frustration. “I’m done speculating. We are on a wild goose chase.” She turned to Lizzie. “I’m an old woman. It shouldn’t even matter.” Even though it did. But flattery was still colliding with a small dose of fear, and she didn’t want to think about it anymore. She was also surprised at how angry she was at Gus. It was a low thing to do, even for him. It was abuse of a system put in place to help those in need. What Gus needed was one of Lizzie’s swift kicks in the shin.
“So you just want to quit trying to figure out who the person is?” Lizzie eyed her skeptically.
Esther raised her chin as she clutched her purse with both hands. “Ya, that’s right.”
Lizzie hung her head, shaking it, before she looked back at Esther. “I’d be haunted for the rest of mei life. I might still be, even though the flowers were sent to you.”
“Well, I’m not going to let it bother me or take up one more second of mei time.” She pointed to a blue van. “There’s our driver.”
They were quiet in the car, and by the time they got home, Esther couldn’t stop yawning. She wasn’t sure when she became so dependent on naps, but they were now more of a need than a luxury. Sure enough, Edgar was mowing.
“I’m not taking him tea. I’m not going to talk to him,” she said with her head held high as she marched across the yard.
“I’ll talk to him.” Lizzie did an about-face, but Esther quickly latched on to her sister’s apron strings and pulled her to a halt.
“You will do no such thing. I expect you to respect mei feelings about this.”
Lizzie rolled her lip into a pout as she got in step with Esther. “Gus has put you in a foul mood. It’s just like him to take away our fun.”
“This isn’t just about Gus.” Esther held on to the handrail as she struggled up the steps, Lizzie rushing past her, like always. In truth, it was mostly about Gus. She thought she’d been making progress with him, especially over the past year. It bothered her more than she would have expected, that he had sunk so low as to have a vacation at the hospital. And if he were really as worried about a stalker as he’d made out to be, he wouldn’t have scheduled his vacation right now.
It was going to be a long while before Gus Owens received another slice of pie from Esther. Or even a visit.
Chapter 6
Rose was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when Esther walked into the room Friday morning. The poor woman had huge bags underneath her eyes and looked a bit pale.
“Are you okay?” Rose carried three plates to the table and began setting them out.
Esther pulled out a chair and sat. Normally the elder sister was dressed first thing, complete with prayer covering and shoes. This morning, she was in her robe, barefoot, and with only a scarf covering the bun on her head.
“If someone truly has taken a fancy to me, why keep it a secret?” Esther put her elbows on the table and rubbed her temples. “I was awake half the night wondering who would do such a thing. I told myself that I was going to quit worrying about this, but the thoughts invaded mei sleep just the same.”
Rose turned off the propane under the eggs, poured Esther a cup of coffee, and placed it in front of her.
“Danki, dear.”
“I think that whoever the person is, he must be very shy. Or maybe he is afraid you won’t feel the same way toward him. That can make a person nervous, worrying if someone will reciprocate feelings.” She briefly thought about Benjamin. “And I’m sure this man will show himself soon, in his own good time. You shouldn’t worry. Ach, I mean, I’m sure you are, but maybe try not to.” She clamped her mouth closed, even though she had much more to say. But telling Esther that the whole thing was a little unsettling would only upset her more.
“Lizzie didn’t lose any sleep.” Esther stopped rubbing her temples and took a sip of coffee. “I can still hear her snoring in my mind.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how any
one that tiny can produce so much noise.”
“Earplugs,” Rose said with a taut nod of her head. “I have several more pairs, and I’m happy to give you some. They come in different sizes, but they basically all work the same way. And—”
“Nee, I don’t need them.” Esther went back to rubbing her temples. Rose was pretty sure she was talking too much again. “I normally go right to sleep so Lizzie’s snoring in the next room usually doesn’t bother me.” Sighing, she leaned back in her chair. “I’m also upset about Gus.”
“Because you think he sent the flowers? I told you that I think he did. He looks at you sometimes like he’s lovesick.” She shivered, unable to picture sweet Esther with Grumpy Gus. “You might have to be firm with him to get him to admit it. You—”
“I’m upset with Gus about using a hospital for a vacation destination.” Esther stared into her coffee as she ran her hand around the rim. Rose had heard about Gus’s little vacation. “It’s so deceitful, and he’s taking nurses and doctors away from real patients.”
“I don’t know why you’re so surprised,” Lizzie said, yawning as she came into the kitchen with her arms stretched above her head. “He’s an awful man.” She poured herself a cup of coffee, then sat down across from Esther. “But I’ll admit, such a stunt is low, even for Gus.”
Rose wasn’t a fan of Gus’s, but she felt the need to defend him a little. “He’s very gut to his cats and has been from the beginning. Even though he was upset when Whiskers had a litter, he worried over all the kittens, almost like a parent. Remember how I helped him with the kitties at first? And they mostly stay near him, inside the cottage or on the porch.” She paused when Lizzie scowled. “So he can’t be all bad.”
“No one is all bad,” Lizzie said softly. Esther’s eyes widened in surprise and so did Rose’s. “If he was all bad, then he wouldn’t be able to see the goodness in Esther. Surely he knew you were upset when you left his hospital room.”
“Ach, he knew.” Esther took a sip of coffee. “And no pie for that man. Not for a long time.”
Lizzie snickered. “Serves him right.”
Rose didn’t want to make things worse, but this was one time she couldn’t stifle her words. “I strongly believe Gus sent those flowers because he doesn’t know how to confront you about his feelings, Esther.”
“Well, taking a fake vacation in a hospital didn’t earn him any points.” She lowered her head and ran her finger around the rim of her coffee cup.
Rose and Lizzie locked eyes. Was Esther admitting that Gus had romantic intentions toward her? And why was she allowing herself to get so upset with him?
* * *
Esther was sure they were wrong about the flowers. Even though it was somewhat disturbing to receive the anonymous gift, she was equally as upset about what Gus had done. The man was brash, had no manners, and was often very rude. But his deceitfulness had gotten under Esther’s skin.
“I know you both think Gus sent the flowers, but I’m sure he did not.” Esther’s head was splitting. “This whole thing is upsetting to me. I don’t want to discuss it any further.” She slid her chair back, then shuffled to her room, closing the door behind her. Rarely did her feathers get ruffled, but she was about to take flight. Anger bubbled up inside her, and she was tempted to go back to the hospital to tell them how Gus was taking advantage of the staff there. But there were other ways to let the man know she was upset with him. No more pie or leftovers was just for starters.
Why am I so upset about this? Maybe it was because she’d seen such progress with him over the past year or so. It felt like work undone. Or, as Lizzie said, it was low, even for Gus.
Esther lay on the bed and clasped her hands atop her stomach, which was grumbling for food. But instead of going back to the kitchen to eat, she closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.
* * *
It was nearing three o’clock when the three ladies from Texas knocked at the front door. Rose brushed the flour from her black apron and went to greet the women. Esther had been napping on and off all day, and Lizzie had gone to the Bargain Center for a few things they were out of.
As Rose opened the screen door and introduced herself, she noticed that Gus’s truck was back in the driveway.
Each of the women had a small suitcase on rollers, and they appeared to be about Esther and Lizzie’s age, in their seventies.
“If you’ll leave your suitcases just inside the door, I’ll get them to your rooms. I’ve set out some appetizers and melon punch in the dining room if you’d like to follow me.” Rose motioned with her hand. “There’s a nice cross breeze also.”
“I’ve never had melon punch.” The tallest of the women, dressed in long white shorts, a red T-shirt, and white sandals, smiled. She didn’t appear to be sweating as much as the two smaller women, who were both dressed similarly but with different colored shirts.
“It’s very refreshing.” Rose had made the punch the night before, then about an hour ago, she poured it into a watermelon she’d sliced in half. She’d thought about her mother the entire time she prepared it. How many times had she watched her mom dice and deseed the watermelon and add pineapple juice and lemonade to a large bowl? Once everything was mashed and there was mostly juice left, her mother would pour it into a watermelon half and add small chunks of whatever fruit she had on hand. Rose had added a few diced strawberries. Her heart was suddenly back in Ohio. She corresponded with her mother regularly because it was the right thing to do, even though certain subjects were taboo. It felt good to recall memories about the punch, but unwanted thoughts always fought for space in her recollections.
Rose had three battery-operated fans in the dining room, and as the grandfather clock chimed three times, the women commented on what a lovely piece of furniture it was.
“It’s over a hundred years old,” Rose said as she poured each woman a glass of punch. She waved a hand near the table. “Please enjoy, and I’ll cart your bags upstairs, with your permission.”
“Thank you,” they said in unison, and Rose heard them chatting among themselves as she took each suitcase to the second floor. She was grateful they were small and not very heavy. Some folks had enormous luggage. The younger ones and those with husbands carried their own bags, but Rose always offered to be of assistance if their guests were older.
When she placed the last of the suitcases in each room, she went across the hall to her own room and looked out the window. Edgar had mowed the yard the day before, and Rose breathed in the aroma of freshly cut grass. She’d been trying to put Benjamin out of her mind, but she would likely see him at worship service on Sunday. Would he speak to her? Perhaps he would avoid her? What had begun as hurt had slowly morphed into anger. What kind of man kisses a woman then never calls? It was easy enough to toss blame back on herself. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me. She was lost in thought and regret when she saw Gus emerge from the cottage. Two black cats scurried up the porch steps, and Gus scooped them into his arms, nuzzling both kitties with his face. If a person didn’t know Gus, you’d think he was just a kind old man—especially at moments like this. He set the cats down, filled their bowls with food, and went back inside the cottage.
Rose needed to return to the guests downstairs. Esther was just walking out of her bedroom when Rose stepped onto the landing. She was fully dressed, complete with her prayer covering.
“I didn’t mean to sleep so much today. I hear guests in the dining room. Is everything all right?” Esther pulled a tissue from her apron pocket and dabbed at the sweat on her forehead. She seemed to sweat more than Rose or Lizzie. Maybe because Esther was a larger woman. Or possibly because she’d been worrying a lot.
Rose nodded. “Ya, they are enjoying appetizers and melon punch.” She paused, biting her lip, careful not to ramble. “Gus is home.”
Esther stiffened as her lips thinned with anger. “I hope he enjoyed his vacation.”
Rose cringed at Esther’s hostile tone. It was unlike her. “I saw him
on the porch loving on his kitties a few minutes ago.”
“It is a gut thing he has those cats because there will be no more treats or leftovers from me.”
Rose couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. Esther and Jayce were Gus’s only friends. But since Jayce had a wife and baby on the way, as well as a job, he wasn’t able to stop by as often anymore. “Lizzie went to the Bargain Center to get flour and yeast. She should be back soon, unless she’s shopping. You know how she does, just browsing for things that we don’t really need but she gets anyway. But I guess it makes her happy, and—” She forced herself to stop, biting her lip, which was surely swollen by now.
“You’ve handled everything today, Rose. Go take some time for yourself. I’ll chat with our guests.” Esther rubbed Rose’s arm before she started toward the dining room.
Time to herself would only make her think of Benjamin. She trudged up the stairs anyway.
* * *
Benjamin got home about four, and his mother had the table set. Without even looking, he knew chicken and dumplings would be served for supper. It was an aroma he recognized right away—the smell of chicken simmering with carrots, celery, and dumplings. His mother had been making his favorites all week long. More and more, he thought about getting his own place, but in addition to suffering from loneliness, he might starve.
“Did you finish your last job for the week?” His mother placed a freshly baked loaf of bread on the table.
“Ya, nothing scheduled for tomorrow.” He hung his hat on the rack and sat at the kitchen table. His mother put out jams, jelly, and chowchow, then carried the pot of chicken and dumplings to the table. After she sat down, they lowered their heads in prayer.
“I know you haven’t been to worship service since we arrived, but I think it’s important for you to go Sunday,” his mother said after they’d prayed. She reached for a slice of bread.