The Mending

by Susan Lantz Simpson

  Midafternoon Saturday, Malinda swept crinkly brown leaves off the front porch with vigorous flicks of the straw broom. Although a breath of fresh air brought relief from the stuffy kitchen, the wind had more of a bite than a nip. If the wind kept up, sweeping leaves would be a losing battle. If Mamm sensed her jumpiness, it would only be a matter of time before questions flew. Malinda breathed deeply, taking in the smoky smell from the belching chimney. There was something comforting about the scent of wood smoke. She exhaled slowly, imagining her tension and fear flowing out with her breath.

  The crunch of tires—automobile tires, not buggy tires—on the gravel driveway brought Malinda’s fears back full force. She relaxed only a little when she determined the car was silver rather than red. A successful Englisch doctor may have more than one vehicle, though. She fought the urge to run inside and slam the door behind her. The car sped up the driveway. Malinda inched to the opposite side of the porch. Maybe she would be out of the visitor’s line of vision. She glanced down. Purple dress pressed against a white house. Not exactly inconspicuous.

  The silver car screeched to a stop. A woman emerged before the engine even stopped thrumming, a woman with short, curly, blonde hair. Malinda tried to shrink back into the shadows.

  “Malinda Stauffer, is that you?”

  So much for hiding. Malinda stepped out into the sunlight. “Jah.” She forced her feet to carry her forward, all the while praying she could get the woman to leave before Mamm realized they had a visitor. “Wh-what are you doing here?” She cringed at her lack of manners. Guests were always treated with respect. Mamm would be ashamed of her.

  “I’ve been looking for you. It looks like I’ve been successful at last.”

  Malinda quickly crossed the porch and ran down the steps to meet the visitor in the middle of the walkway.

  “Apparently you haven’t been receiving your mail, or you’ve been disregarding it. You are literate, if I remember correctly.” The kind, caring smile from the hospital had changed into an ugly, twisted sneer.

  “I can read. And I can write, too. In fact, I mailed you a letter a few days ago.”

  “Really?”

  “I thought about trying to call you, but I didn’t have a phone number.”

  “Do you have a phone?”

  “Nee, but I used one at a local business to call Dr. McWilliams right before Thanksgiving.”

  “Aha! So you have been in touch with him even after I, uh, encouraged you to stay away from him.”

  “‘Encouraged’? It sounded more like a threat.”

  “Yet you still had the nerve to call Todd, uh, Dr. McWilliams?”

  “I called him because he left a message for me to call him.”

  “Why couldn’t you leave him alone like I said?”

  “I want him to leave me alone. I wrote to him asking him to stop contacting me. I told him the same thing when I spoke to him.”

  “Did you now? It seems to me if that’s what you really told him, he wouldn’t keep contacting you. Maybe you gave him some indication you liked his attention.”

  The blonde woman fixed Malinda with a hard stare, making Malinda want to cringe. The nurse reminded Malinda of a curly-haired poodle, but her manner was more akin to that of a Doberman. As the woman took one step forward, Malinda took one step backward. The woman was a nurse. Surely she couldn’t be prone to physical violence, could she? “I did not give Dr. McWilliams any mixed messages. My words should have been totally clear to him.”

  “Do you really think a highly educated man could misinterpret what a simple girl said to him?” She jabbed one index finger with a brightly polished nail toward Malinda’s chest.

  Malinda shrank back a bit farther. “I may be simple in that I am not so highly educated, but I am not stupid, Nurse Trudy. I am able to speak my mind clearly.”

  “I can vouch for that.” The deep voice startled both women, who had been too intent on their discussion to notice anyone’s approach.

  Malinda gasped. Her heart pounded harder than she thought could possibly be compatible with life. “Atlee, I thought you were at work.”

  “I got off early. I was in the barn. It looks like I came out at just the right time.” Atlee didn’t remove his black felt hat. His green eyes darted from Malinda to the woman staring at her in an accusatory manner.

  “Who are you, and how is this your business?” Trudy’s face grew bright red, and she puffed up like a hen plumped up its feathers to guard its baby chicks.

  “This is my bruder Atlee.”

  “And my schweschder is my business. I was with her when she made the phone call. I heard every word she said and every word Dr. McWilliams said.” Atlee moved closer to Malinda and crossed his arms over his chest. He stared hard at the curly-haired woman, as if daring her to question him.

  “Hmpf!”

  “I also read this last letter you sent my schweschder.”

  “What letter?”

  “I know you wrote the letter warning me to stay away from Dr. McWilliams. The handwriting was the same as on the first letter you sent and even matches the writing on my hospital discharge papers.” With Atlee’s support, Malinda’s courage returned.

  “You could have saved yourself a trip if you’d talked to Dr. McWilliams or waited for your mail,” Atlee pointed out.

  “Trust me, Nurse Trudy. I have no wish to return to Ohio. I am not interested in Dr. McWilliams. This is my home, and this is where I will stay. You are totally free to pursue your own relationship with Dr. McWilliams. I pose no threat to your plans.”

  “Plans!” Trudy muttered half under her breath. “The man scarcely knows I exist other than to fetch things for him. He’s been spellbound by a little Amish girl and thinks she should be groveling at his feet like every other woman he meets.”

  “Not this Amish girl,” Malinda said, breaking into the nurse’s ramblings. “I am not groveling at anyone’s feet. I only want to be left alone. I hope Dr. McWilliams got the message once and for all.”

  “I’ll see that he does.” Trudy spun on her heel and stomped off toward the silver car.

  Malinda raised a questioning look to Atlee, who shrugged his broad shoulders in response. Together they watched the silver car whip around and speed down the driveway, scattering pebbles in all directions.

  “Who was that?” Saloma called from the back door.

  Malinda looked at Atlee. Neither spoke for a moment. Mamm missed nothing.

  “Was it just someone looking for something?”

  “I guess you could say that.” Atlee nudged Malinda and winked.

  “Malinda, you’d better get a cloak if you’re going to stay outside.”

  Malinda smiled. Mamm was ever the worrier. “I’ll finish sweeping the porch and be right inside.” She wiggled her cold fingers to restore their circulation. She’d sweep fast.

  “Okay. Did you point that person in the right direction?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Gut.” Saloma withdrew into the house, closing the door firmly behind her.

  “Do you think we got through to Nurse Trudy?” Malinda desperately wanted to permanently close that chapter of her life.

  “If we didn’t, nothing will convince her. The way she tore out of here makes me think she is heading straight for Ohio and a confrontation with the doctor. You know, those two seem a perfect match.”

  “Whatever they do, I hope they stay in Ohio.” Malinda rubbed her arms before reaching for the broom. “Danki, Atlee.”

  “Just doing my duty.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  One week after Thanksgiving, Malinda watched Phoebe Yoder and Ben Miller exchange wedding vows. Again Malinda bustled about serving at a wedding dinner. Would she ever sit at the eck with her groom, or was she destined to be a server until she got too old and became the community’s old maedel?

  But she would not be gloomy today. She was too happy for Phoebe. After all the Yoder family—and especially Phoebe—had been through with little Naomi�
��s kidnapping, this wedding served as an extra-special blessing. Malinda could be content with sharing the joy of her freinden and bruders as they married and spoiling her bruders’ little ones when they came along. Couldn’t she?

  Malinda had caught Timothy staring at her several times during the service. She wiggled like one of Aden’s captive frogs trying to escape the little bu’s grubby grasp. Timothy made butterflies take flight in her belly when he looked at her with those big, blue eyes. She wasn’t quite sure when it had started, but she’d begun to care very deeply for the big, gentle man. Too much. She cared too much to saddle him with a less-than-perfect fraa. He deserved the best, and that was not her.

  “Will you and Timothy be next?” Mary Stoltzfus nudged Malinda with an elbow.

  “Huh?” Malinda hadn’t heard Mary’s approach.

  “You’ve been staring at Timothy, and I noticed him sneaking peeks at you during the service.”

  “You did? I was?” Could she be any more flustered? Malinda brushed at imaginary lint on her dress and looked away from Timothy.

  “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Malinda. I’m only teasing.”

  “I know. I guess I was a little distracted.”

  “A little?” Mary chuckled. “I called your name three times.”

  “Oops!”

  “Tim is a nice fellow.”

  “He is, for sure.”

  “You two make a nice couple.”

  “Ach, Mary, I don’t know about that.”

  “It’s plain he’s crazy about you, and I have a notion you feel the same way.”

  “Well, there’s more to it than that.”

  “Don’t let him get away, Malinda. Count your blessings.”

  * * *

  Count your blessings. Mary’s words echoed in Malinda’s mind as she prepared for bed. She had a loving family and freinden, a warm home, plenty of food. Only her health spoiled the picture. Generally she felt strong and energetic, but that rug could be pulled from under her in an instant, sending her crashing to the floor. Timothy could be one of her blessings, if she allowed him to be, but he deserved someone he could depend on. He didn’t need to wonder and worry about whether her health would fluctuate from one day to the next, or if it would deteriorate altogether. To be totally fair, she should cut all ties with him. A tear slipped down her cheek as she crawled beneath her quilt.

  “Another letter for you, Malinda,” Aden announced the next day. His cheeks were rosy from his walk home from school. He had asked at breakfast if he could get the mail this afternoon, since he was expecting some sort of bug book he’d been allowed to order from an ad on the back of the cornflakes box. “My book came today. I just knew it would!”

  “Change your clothes and do your chores before you start looking at that book,” Saloma admonished.

  “I will, Mamm.”

  “Do I need to hold the book until you finish?”

  “Nee, Mamm. I’ll go change and get started right now.” Aden thrust the mail into Malinda’s hands and dashed for the stairs.

  “Bugs! That’s certainly one way to get him to move.” Saloma clucked her tongue.

  Malinda tried to squirrel the letter away in a pocket. She silently folded the envelope in half and jammed it into her pocket with one hand while the other hand tossed the rest of the mail onto the kitchen counter.

  “It seems you’ve been getting a lot of mail lately.”

  Malinda merely shrugged.

  “A circle letter?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t look at the return address.” She wasn’t sure the envelope even had a return address in the corner, but the creator of this missive was probably one of two people. Both were people she had hoped to never hear from again. “I’ll read it later.” Malinda got busy peeling potatoes. She wished Aden had kept quiet and not made a grand announcement about her mail. She couldn’t blame him, though. He thought he was being helpful.

  Atlee must have felt Malinda’s eyes boring through him as he ate. He shot her questioning looks from time to time. She ever-so-slightly shrugged her shoulders. No doubt he would seek her out later. Atlee seemed to have taken over the role of her protector.

  Sure enough, Atlee snagged Malinda before she could escape to her room after prayers. “What’s up?”

  “Another letter,” Malinda mouthed without a sound.

  Atlee nodded toward the kitchen. “Is there more pie, Malinda?” He spoke louder than necessary so his voice could be heard in the living room.

  “You can’t still be hungry.”

  “I’m a growing bu.” Atlee patted his trim midsection.

  Malinda rolled her eyes. “If Roman and Ray didn’t sneak back into the kitchen, there might be a piece of pie or two left.” She stomped off toward the kitchen with Atlee at her heels.

  “It looks like you’re in luck. There’s a bit of pumpkin pie and a larger piece of apple pie left.”

  Atlee caught her hand as she reached toward the pie plates covered with aluminum foil. “I don’t really want a piece of pie. I’m stuffed,” he whispered, patting his belly.

  “Well, you’d better make room for a sliver. I won’t be part of any lie.”

  “Give me a teensy-weensy piece of apple, then.”

  “I’m going to put it on a paper plate.”

  “Make it small enough, and I’ll hold it in my hand.”

  “So you only want a bite?”

  “If I have to put anything else in my stomach, a bite is all that will fit.”

  Malinda sliced the tiniest piece of pie she could, trying to make her cut even despite her shaky fingers. Before she could transfer the sliver to the waiting paper plate, Atlee snatched it and popped it into his mouth.

  “There.” He gulped down the fat chunk of apple wrapped in flaky, golden crust. He pressed his finger to the counter and popped his finger into his mouth. “Nee crumbs, either.”

  Malinda turned on the water to rinse the knife. Under cover of the running water, Atlee asked, “Who is the letter from?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t read it yet.”

  “Where is it?”

  “My pocket.” Malinda re-covered the pie, pressing the foil around the edges of the plate. She heard the light tapping of Atlee’s foot on the linoleum floor and knew his patience was wearing thin. She quickly rinsed and dried the knife and replaced it in the drawer. She hung the dish towel on a hook and reached into her pocket.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t read it yet. If it’s just one of your circle letters, I’ll—”

  “I haven’t had time to read it. Aden brought it in while Mamm and I were fixing supper. And it’s not a circle letter. There wasn’t a return address.”

  Atlee yanked the letter from Malinda’s hand and ripped open the envelope.

  “Hey! That’s my mail!”

  “You’re moving too slow.” Atlee shook the letter open. Huddled close together, they read the few lines scrawled across the single sheet of plain white paper.

  “Is everything all right in there?” Saloma called.

  Atlee scrunched the paper in his hand as Malinda slipped the envelope into her pocket. “Everything’s fine, Mamm. Malinda is cutting me some pie.”

  “All right. Your daed and I are heading up to bed.”

  “Gut nacht,” Malinda called. She held her breath until she knew Mamm wouldn’t enter the kitchen.

  Atlee waited until there were no more shuffling sounds from the other room. “Whew! That was close.” He used both hands to smooth the wrinkles from the paper. Malinda scooted closer to read along with him.

  My Dearest Malinda,

  I understand your position. I know your family and community are important to you. I had hoped I would be important enough for you to alter your plans a bit. Ohio truly is a good place to live. I will honor your wishes and not contact you again. If you change your mind, all you have to do is give me the word, and I’ll drive nonstop to Maryland to get you. You will always have my devotion.

  Yours,
/>
  Todd McWilliams

  P.S. I will speak to Trudy and tell her to leave you alone. I believe she will listen to me.

  “Of all the nerve! I’m not his dearest, and I gave him no reason to hope I would change my mind. I can’t believe . . .”

  Atlee’s hand on her arm calmed her. “He seems a rather conceited fellow, but I always knew you wouldn’t fall for someone like that.”

  “Not in a million years! I wouldn’t dream of leaving my home and family.” Malinda paused for breath. “Do you think this whole mess is truly over? Do you think he will keep his word and leave me alone?”

  “If we can believe his letter, it sounds like he will wait to hear from you.” Atlee elbowed her and snickered.

  “Well, he will have a very long wait, then!”

  “Maybe Nurse Trudy will get her wish at last.”

  “I hope she does. She certainly has much more in common with the man than I ever would.” Malinda pulled the envelope from her pocket and snatched the paper from Atlee’s grasp. She slid the door of the woodstove open and tossed in the papers. “All gone!”

  “Good riddance, I say.”

  “Danki, Atlee, for your help.”

  “I keep telling you, that’s what big bruders are for.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Timothy whistled a tune from the Ausbund as he dusted the fancy little curlicues on the china cabinet he’d finished constructing just this morning. The tall, heavy cabinet was solid cherry wood with a dark cherry stain. Sam had helped him move it to a safe corner in the front room of the shop. Even used to heavy lifting as they were, their muscles strained with the effort of relocating it.

  It was actually more ornate than his usual pieces, but the Englisch customer had definite ideas for decorating the cabinet. She had liked his sketches and had visited the shop weekly, oohing and aahing over his progress. It had turned out nicely, if he did say so himself, and it would probably bring in more customers to Swarey’s Furniture Shop. The woman’s husband and some helpers were due to pick it up this afternoon, and Timothy wanted to remove any specks of dust. He even sprayed the window cleaner on the glass sections and vigorously wiped away any smudges or fingerprints. He threw an old quilt over the cabinet to protect it before heading back to the work area, where the noise of air tools and hammering drowned out his whistling.