Plain Paradise

by Beth Wiseman

  “What do we do?” Josie yelled over the shrill squawking that echoed through the house.

  Mary Ellen grabbed a broom in the corner. “Not sure! Something is wrong with that bird!” She ran into the den, and Josie followed behind. Then Mary Ellen screamed, and turned around, bumping right into Josie. “It’s coming back!”

  They ran back through the den, and Josie threw her hands over her head as the rooster began to flap his wings and lift off the ground, spewing horrible sounds. Josie didn’t know much about roosters, but this didn’t sound good at all. The bird skimmed the coffee table; books, Abe’s glasses, and a lantern went crashing to the floor. Josie kept running until she got to the kitchen, but Mary Ellen stayed behind. Then it got very quiet.

  “Mary Ellen, are you okay?” Josie peeked around the corner, and Mary Ellen had her shoulders scrunched up to her ears as she pointed to the couch.

  Josie jerked her head to the left. That bird had perched itself on the back of the couch. Still and quiet. Josie didn’t move. She looked back at Mary Ellen. “What do we do?”

  That’s all it took. The bird was in flight, and both women started screaming and trying to stay out of its path as it flew around the den, then into the kitchen, then back to the den. Josie even jumped over the coffee table to get out of the bird’s way, toppling the wooden table over when her foot didn’t quite clear it. Mary Ellen was trying to use the rocking chair to block the bird as it dove toward her, eventually toppling the chair over as well.

  Mary Ellen began screaming something in Pennsylvania Deitsch when the bird slammed into the china cabinet up against the wall in between the kitchen and den. Then she yelled, “That’s my wedding china!”

  Josie was hovering on the couch with her hands over her head, but when she looked up and saw Mary Ellen holding the broom like a weapon and protecting her china, Josie burst into laughter, the type of laughter that causes you to snort and make all kinds of sounds you wouldn’t necessarily want anyone to hear.

  “You think this is funny?” Mary Ellen still had her hands gripped firmly around the broom, but her eyes were looking to the left, then to the right. “Where is that bird?”

  Josie rolled onto her side on the couch, struggling to catch her breath because she was laughing so hard.

  They both turned toward the kitchen when they heard the screen door slam. Linda’s mouth dropped open. She looked back and forth between Josie and Mary Ellen. Then her hands moved over her mouth as she surveyed the area, which, Josie knew, looked like a war zone. When Linda looked at Josie lying on the couch, with tears streaming down her face, she turned to her mother.

  Placing her hands on her hips, she said, “Mamm, put that broom down right now! What could you two possibly be fighting about? Look at this mess.” She walked toward Josie, mumbling to herself in Pennsylvania Deitsch, before she addressed Josie directly. “Are you all right?”

  Josie burst into laughter at Linda’s assumption and, through watery eyes, noticed that Mary Ellen was bent over at the waist, laughing as hard as she was.

  “Linda!” Mary Ellen yelled between gasps for air and laughter. “Do you really think I would hit Josie with a broom?”

  Mary Ellen went to the couch and sat down beside Josie, who sat up next to her. Both women continued to laugh, but Linda didn’t seem to see the humor.

  “It smells like something is burning in the oven, and look at this mess!”

  “Oops. Forgot to take the bread out.” Mary Ellen started laughing again.

  Linda walked toward them, laughing like school girls on the couch. She folded her hands across her chest. “Well, I reckon the two of you better get this mess cleaned up before Daed gets here and sees you carrying on this way. He’ll think you’ve been hitting the wine, I reckon.”

  Josie heard the flapping of wings, and evidently Mary Ellen did too. “Cover your head,” Mary Ellen yelled to her daughter as she scooted closer to Josie and held her hands above her head.

  “What is that—” Linda looked toward the mudroom just in time to see that crazy bird come flying through. She screamed, then joined them both on the couch. All three were still huddled together when Abe walked through the door. He grabbed the rooster by the neck, then eyed the women on the couch, who were trying not to laugh but were unsuccessful.

  He shook his head and walked out the door mumbling.

  It took a few moments for Josie to gather herself. She took several deep breaths, then she looked to her left at—at—

  Her head started to hurt in a way that it had never hurt before, and she slammed her hands to her temples. She could vaguely hear the women asking her if she was all right.

  She panicked as her heart began to race, and her head was surely going to explode. Please, dear God, help me. Oh, please help.

  I am here, My child.

  Then everything went black.

  21

  JOSIE BLINKED HER EYES INTO FOCUS AND SQUINTED from the bright lights in the drafty room. She recognized the smell of the hospital right away.

  “Hello, sleepyhead.” Robert ran his hand through Josie’s hair, then leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “How are you feeling?”

  “I don’t remember getting here. There was this bird, and . . .”

  “You had a seizure last night, and Mary Ellen called an ambulance from their phone in the barn.” Robert pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down. “Mary Ellen stayed with you all night, until I got here this morning.”

  “She did?” Josie lifted her arm and eyed the IV. “I don’t remember much.” She reached for Robert’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re home. So very glad.”

  He leaned down and kissed her again. “Me too. And I’m not leaving you again. I don’t care what kind of business presents itself.” Robert hung his head. “I’m so sorry, babe.”

  Josie reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. “It’s all right, honey. I had an amazing time getting to know Linda. And Mary Ellen . . . well, who would have ever thought that we might become friends? She’s a wonderful woman. And Robert, she taught me so much while I was there.”

  Robert smiled. “I imagine she did. I bet it was interesting to find out about their ways, live the life for a while.”

  “We prayed, she explained some of the Ordnung, their way of conduct, and we read the Bible. It was wonderful.”

  Robert stopped smiling, and his expression filled with concern. Then he seemed to be forcing a smile. “I’m glad you had a good time.”

  “I did.” She paused, seeing the hurt in his eyes. “But I missed you terribly.”

  “The doctor said you can go home. They’re sending home yet another new medication that hopefully will help with the seizures.”

  “Robert, I want you to get to know Linda.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Maybe she can come stay with us some over the next few— few months.”

  “Josie, we can do anything you want to do. Anything.” He ran a hand through her tangled hair again. “My precious Josie.”

  “She’ll be eighteen in August. And I’ll be praying that I make it to her birthday party.”

  Robert tried to hide the shadow that crossed his face, but Josie knew him too well for that.

  “That bothers you, doesn’t it?”

  “What’s that?”

  “That I would mention praying.”

  Robert shrugged. “No.”

  She intertwined her fingers within his and stared into his eyes. “Do you know that people all over the country are praying for me? I know you don’t believe, Robert, but I think that is just amazing.”

  Robert lifted her hand and kissed her fingers tenderly. “Josie, if you think it’s amazing, then I think it’s amazing.”

  “Get me out of here.” She grinned. “Take me home and hold me all night long.”

  “Deal. We’re just waiting for the nurse to come take out your IV. Then we can go.”

  Josie gazed into Robert’s eyes, the love of her life. Please help him to
believe, God. Even if just a little.

  The door swung open, and the nurse walked in. “I understand someone is ready to go home?”

  “Yes! Release me, please.” Josie playfully lifted her hand with the IV up and down.

  “You got it.”

  With Josie’s IV out, Robert helped her dress and took her home.

  Linda pushed herself along on the foot scooter, pumping her leg faster the closer she got to the bridge in Ronks. Stephen had told her he’d left a poem for her there, and sure enough, she saw a pink ribbon as soon as she entered the shade from the covered bridge. She fought to catch her breath and pulled the note from between the slats.

  My heart belongs to the recipient of this letter; the one who makes my heart feel better.

  My emotions for you I cannot hide; as you are the warmth I feel inside. Please believe me as this is true; my entire world revolves around you.

  I love you, Stephen

  She smiled at Stephen’s gentle words. “I love you too,” she whispered, and she wrote those same words on the note before stuffing it back in place. As much as she loved these exchanges on the bridge, her heart ached for Stephen to propose. She worried that Bishop Ebersol didn’t think she was a suitable choice for a fraa, and perhaps Stephen would never get around to asking her to marry him. They’d been dating for over a year and were in love.

  It was bothering her more and more, and even though she was only approaching her eighteenth birthday, she was sure she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Stephen. She sighed, then kicked the scooter forward, wishing she’d taken the time to hook the horse to the buggy. This July heat was almost unbearable. Lines of sweat rolled down her cheeks as she continued to Josie’s house. She hadn’t seen Josie in three days, and she knew that tomorrow Josie would get the results from the special test she’d had last week, the test to check the tumor inside her head.

  “Hey, there,” Robert said when Linda rolled onto the driveway. “Josie will be so glad to see you. She’s had a great couple of days.”

  “Ach, gut!” Linda dragged her foot a bit, pulling the scooter to a stop. “What ya doing?”

  Robert’s hands were on his hips and he was staring at a leafy green plant in a big red container. “Wondering why this thing looks so sickly. I water it every day since it’s so hot.”

  “Maybe it doesn’t need water every day.” Linda propped the scooter up on the stand, then leaned forward. “I reckon I’ve never seen a plant like that.”

  Robert chuckled. “Me either. It was actually here when we bought the place.” He lifted his head and pointed toward the front door. “Go on in. Josie’s making a shoofly pie.”

  “She learned that from me,” Linda said.

  “I’m quite sure I don’t need to eat all the molasses in those things, but I sure enjoy her making them. You’re probably just in time to have a warm slice.” Linda turned to head toward the front door. “Save me a piece,” Robert said.

  “I will.”

  Over the past few weeks, she’d had time to get to know Robert. He was so good to Josie. He waited on her constantly, went out of his way to make her happy, and just the way he looked at her caused Linda’s heart to fill with anticipation. I want to live my life with Stephen like that.

  She entered the house, walked through the living room, and made her way to the kitchen. Josie was just pulling the pie out of the oven.

  Linda walked to Josie’s side as Josie placed the pie on a cooling rack. “Smells gut.”

  “Linda!” She threw her arms around her. “I’m so glad you stopped by. You’re just in time for pie.”

  “Robert said you’ve had a gut couple of days. I’m glad.”

  Josie eased out of the hug, then studied her pie. “A very special young lady showed me how to make the perfect shoofly pie, so let’s have a piece.” She paused. “And yes . . . it’s been a great couple of days.”

  Linda nodded and went to the cabinet where she knew the plates were stored, and she pulled out two small ones. Josie sliced the pie, and they took a seat at the kitchen table. They both bowed their heads in silent prayer, and Linda added an extra special one for Josie. Please God, leave her with me for a long time.

  “This air-conditioning feels so gut.” Linda took a bite of her pie, then grinned.

  Josie chuckled. “I have to admit, I never appreciated air-conditioning so much until recently. Stay as long as you like.”

  “Tomorrow you find out about your test, no?” Linda tried to sound upbeat as she made the statement, but Josie’s expression soured just the same.

  “Yes. The results from my MRI. They’ll be able to tell how fast the tumor is growing.” Josie shrugged. “Whatever. I feel good today, so I’m going to enjoy it.”

  Linda watched Josie shoveling the rest of the pie into her mouth. “I guess you do feel better.” She brought her hand up to stifle a giggle.

  Josie chuckled. “Think I’ve put on a few pounds too.”

  Linda didn’t want to focus on anything negative. For now, she was going to pretend that Josie would be around forever. “Guess what?”

  “What?” Josie put her plate in the sink, then returned to the table.

  “My birthday party is in two and half weeks. Mamm wanted me to tell you to come over at four o’clock that day, Saturday. She’s going to make meatloaf. All my aunts and uncles and cousins will be there too. Ach, she’s also making yellow cake with chocolate icing. My favorite.”

  Josie’s face shriveled up until she looked like she might cry.

  “What’s wrong?” Linda reached across the table and touched her hand.

  Josie sniffed. “I’m just incredibly grateful to be included. This year, I’ll get to see you blow out your candles.” Then she gasped. “You do blow out candles, right?”

  Linda giggled. Englisch folks, they can never keep things straight. “Ya. We have birthday parties just like everyone else. Cake, candles, and homemade ice cream. We’re making vanilla ice cream. Luke and Matt will take turns churning the ice cream during the afternoon, like I do when it’s one of their birthdays.”

  “And singing?”

  “Ya, singing too.”

  Josie smiled. “It will be a wonderful day.”

  Linda gazed into Josie’s eyes, eyes still filled with happy tears. Please God, don’t let anything happen to her before my birthday.

  Stephen pulled the buggy to a stop in front of his house and wished he could see Linda’s face one of the times she read his notes from the bridge. As he stepped down from the buggy, he heard wagon wheels churning the gravel on the driveway, and he turned to see his grandfather pulling up to the house.

  Daadi pulled beside Stephen, but didn’t get out of the buggy, so Stephen walked closer.

  “Hello, Daadi. Are you here for supper?”

  “No, I was just on my way home from Bird-In-Hand, and I saw you pulling in.” He stroked his long gray beard. “How are things at the Huyard home? I understand the Englisch woman is back at her home, no?”

  “Ya, she is.”

  “This pleases me, as I don’t think it was appropriate for her to be their guest. Too complicated.” He shook his head.

  Stephen took a deep breath and smiled, too tired to argue with his grandfather.

  “Does Linda plan to continue a relationship with this woman?”

  “That woman is her birth mother. I reckon so.” Stephen’s heart started pounding in his chest the moment he made the wise comment, and he could tell by the look on Daadi’s face that his statement was not well received.

  His grandfather narrowed his eyes in Stephen’s direction. “I was against Mary Ellen and Abe adopting Linda for reasons such as this. Linda is a fine maedel, but I worried something like this would happen, the girl’s mamm showing up to claim her.”

  “She’s not claiming her, just being friends with her.”

  Daadi’s forehead wrinkled with concern. “We all have Englisch friends, Stephen, but this is not the same. Are you sure that Linda still plans
to be baptized into the faith?”

  “Ya. For sure she is.”

  Stephen knew his parents didn’t have any concerns about Linda, but he worried his grandfather might persuade them.

  “Even before this woman entered Linda’s life, I heard many stories of Linda stretching her rumschpringe to the limit. Much time at the movies and malls with Englisch girlfriends. It wonders me if she will be able to stay on course with her studies of the Ordnung.”

  Stephen fought the anger building, but also realized he’d been guilty of having these same thoughts where Linda was concerned. But that was in the past.

  “Daadi, Linda will not stray from her faith, even if she is friends with Josie. I’m sure of it.” Stephen recalled briefly the scene with Linda wearing Josie’s blue jeans, but quickly wiped it from his mind.

  His grandfather tipped back the rim of his straw hat with his thumb. “I hope you’re right.”

  I know I’m right.

  If that was the case, why couldn’t he bring himself to propose to Linda? He’d gotten up his nerve once, only to have her disappoint him.

  “Besides, Daadi . . .” Stephen looked down and kicked the gravel with one foot. “Josie is sick.”

  “Ya, I know. God’s peace be with her.”

  Stephen knew how much Josie’s passing was going to affect Linda, and he was planning to be by her side.

  “Ya, God’s peace be with her,” Stephen echoed.

  The next morning in Dr. Phillips’ office, Josie took a deep breath and crossed her legs while she and Robert waited for the doctor to bring in her MRI results. She’d thrown up earlier that morning but she attributed it to nerves. I just want to make it to Linda’s birthday in a couple of weeks. Please God. And she felt hopeful, since she’d had a good few days. Surely she couldn’t go down that fast, although she was well aware that the pressure on her brain stem could cause her to slip into a coma with little warning.

  “What’s taking so long?” Robert stood up and began to pace. “He’s kept us waiting in here for thirty minutes.”