A Sister's Hope

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Grace drew in one more deep breath and rose to her feet. “I’d better see what he wants.”

  “Do you want me to go with you or wait here with Daniel?” Martha asked.

  “Daniel will be okay in his crib.” Grace managed a weak smile. “I’d like to have you with me for moral support.”

  Martha nodded. “You’ve got it.”

  When they entered the living room, Grace spotted Carl sitting on the sofa. He jumped up as soon he saw Grace and moved quickly across the room. “It’s nice to see you again,” he said, extending his hand.

  Grace didn’t want to be rude, but it was all she could do to shake Carl’s hand. She motioned to the sofa. “Please, have a seat.”

  He sat down, and Grace and Martha took seats in the chairs across from him.

  “I’m surprised to see you.” Grace moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I—I had no idea you were coming.”

  “I wrote you a letter saying I was planning to come.”

  Grace shook her head. “I’ve received no such letter.”

  He shrugged. “It must have gotten lost in the mail.”

  “How’s your health?” she asked, for want of anything better to say. “Are you feeling better than the last time you were here?”

  He nodded. “My doctor discovered that I had a yeast overgrowth throughout much of my body.”

  “What was that caused from?” Martha asked, leaning slightly forward.

  “I’ve had trouble with sinus infections most of my life,” Carl said. “Consequently, I’ve taken numerous courses of antibiotics, which not only killed the bad bacteria in my body but the good ones, as well. That’s how the yeast overgrowth began. But with proper diet and the right supplements, it’s under control. I’m feeling much better now.”

  Grace was glad Carl’s health had improved, but she felt concern over why he’d come. “What are you doing in Holmes County?” she asked.

  “I came to see Anna. I’ve missed my little girl something awful.”

  “I missed her, too, when she was living with you and your wife and I had no idea how to find her.” Grace couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice, and she blinked several times against stinging tears.

  “As I told you before, I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t right for us to keep Anna from you, but all that’s in the past, and it can’t be undone.

  “I’m sure you’ve missed Anna,” Grace said, keeping her voice steady and low, “but I don’t want my daughter seeing you and getting confused about things.”

  “Why would she be confused?”

  “She might think you’ve come to take her away, and if you did—”

  Carl held up his hand. “I did not come here to take Anna away.”

  Grace hoped Carl was telling the truth, but she couldn’t be sure. “I’m sorry you came all this way, because as my sister’s already told you, Anna’s at school.”

  Carl stood. “I’ve checked into a hotel just outside of Sugarcreek, so I’ll head there now, but I’ll be back this evening to see Anna.”

  “This evening won’t work.”

  “Why not?”

  “I. . .uh. . .need time to prepare Anna for seeing you.” Grace paused and swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. “It took her some time to adjust to living here, and—”

  “Are you afraid if she sees me again, she won’t want me to go or might want to go with me?”

  Grace nodded, as tears stung the back of her eyes.

  He took a step forward. “As I said, I haven’t come to take Anna away. But I did come to see her, and I’m not leaving until I know how she’s doing. So if I can’t see Anna this evening, then how about tomorrow evening or Saturday?”

  “You can come by on Saturday morning,” Grace finally agreed.

  I’m going home to get some of my clothes and a few other things,” Luke told John after they’d finished work for the day.

  “No problem,” John said. “You’ve got a key to the shop, so when you get back, let yourself in and you can settle into the back room.”

  Luke smiled. “I sure appreciate this, John.”

  John thumped Luke on the back. “Not a problem. I’m heading over to my place now to get a few more things you might need. If I don’t see you when you get back with your clothes, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Thanks.” Luke headed for his truck. He hoped Pop wasn’t home from work yet. The last thing he needed was another confrontation, which would probably lead to a full-blown argument. He wasn’t as concerned about seeing Mom, except that she might get emotional and beg him to come home and make restitution. Why couldn’t his folks allow him to go through rumschpringe the way other fellows his age did, without laying down so many rules and stipulations? Others he knew had trucks and cars. Why couldn’t he?

  Luke loosened his grip on the steering wheel. He needed to be calm when he arrived home.

  As Grace stood at the kitchen sink, peeling potatoes for supper, she struggled to stay focused on the job at hand. For a long time after Carl had left this morning, she’d paced the floor, asking God to give her the wisdom to know how to tell Anna that her English grandfather had come for a visit. At least Grace hoped it was just for a visit. What if Carl had been lying when he’d said he hadn’t come to take Anna away?

  The back door opened and slammed shut. “Guess what, Mama?” Anna asked, as she burst into the kitchen. “Karen Miller’s got twin baby sisters!”

  “That’s exciting news.” Grace motioned to the umbrella stand near the door. “Put your umbrella and coat away, and then you can have some hot chocolate and cookies while you tell me about it.”

  “That sounds appeditlich.”

  Grace smiled. “I think hot chocolate and cookies are always delicious.”

  A short time later, they sat at the table, each holding a cup of hot chocolate with a plate of cookies between them.

  Between bites of cookie and slurps of hot chocolate, Anna told Grace about Karen’s news and that her parents had named the babies Lorine and Corine. When Anna finished her story, she turned to Grace and said, “I wish I had somethin’ exciting to share with the kinner at school.”

  “Are you hoping another boppli will be added to our family?” Grace asked.

  Anna shook her head. “Not unless it can be a baby sister this time.”

  Grace chuckled and patted Anna’s hand. “If and when I have another boppli, it will be up to God to decide whether it’ll be a buwe or a maedel.”

  Anna nodded and reached for another cookie. “Where’s Daniel? How come he’s not eatin’ cookies with us?”

  “Your little bruder was fussy most of the afternoon, so I put him down for a nap about an hour ago. He’s still sleeping.”

  Anna’s eyebrows drew together. “I’m glad I don’t have to take naps anymore. When I was livin’ with Poppy and Grandma Davis, I had to take a nap every day.”

  Grace flinched. Should she tell Anna about Carl having been here earlier today? She’d wanted to discuss things with Cleon first and had hoped he would help her decide the best way to tell Anna. She’d gone out to the barn to speak with him earlier, but Dad had said Cleon was out making some deliveries.

  Maybe I should tell Anna now. Grace opened her mouth, but a shrill cry coming from upstairs halted her words.

  “Daniel’s awake,” Anna announced.

  “You finish your cookies, and I’ll go get him,” Grace said with a nod. Maybe it was better that she hadn’t said anything yet. It might be best to wait and talk to Cleon first.

  Martha had just started down the road after leaving her job at the Schrocks’ house, when a truck passed, going in the opposite direction. She thought she recognized the driver, and when he rolled down the window and motioned her to pull over, she knew it was Luke.

  Martha guided her horse and buggy to the side of the road and waited for Luke to turn his truck around and park behind her. When he stepped up to the driver’s side of her buggy, she opened the door.

&nbs
p; “I’m glad to see you,” he said breathlessly. “Something happened today, and I wanted to let you know.”

  “It’s starting to rain,” she said. “Why don’t you get in and tell me about it?”

  Luke climbed into the buggy as soon as Martha slid to the passenger’s side. “I moved out of my folks’ house this morning,” he said.

  Martha’s mouth dropped open. “Why?”

  “I had a disagreement with my daed because I got home late last night.” Luke grunted. “He said if I didn’t sell my truck and join the church, I’d have to move out.”

  “But that’s lecherich. A lot of Amish fellows going through rumschpringe have cars or trucks.”

  Luke nodded. “It might seem ridiculous to you and me, but not to Pop. He’s got old-fashioned ideas, and he’s been after me to sell my truck ever since he found out I had one and kept it hidden in the woods.” He grunted again. “I wish Toby hadn’t told them I had it.”

  Martha’s heart went out to Luke. She could see by the droop of his shoulders and the pinched look on his face that he was grieving over this conflict with his folks. “What are you going to do now? Have you found another place to stay?”

  “Jah. John said I could sleep in the back room of his shop until I find something more permanent.” He motioned to his truck. “I just came from my house, where I picked up my clothes and few personal items. Thankfully, my folks weren’t at home, or I’m sure we’d have ended up in another disagreement.”

  She touched his arm. “I’m sorry, Luke.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best,” he said with a shrug. “Living away from home without Pop watching my every move will give me a better chance to play detective.”

  “I suppose. Even so—”

  “What’s new with you?” he asked, changing the subject. “Have you found any more clues or done more investigating?”

  She shook her head. “Not really, although I did see our neighbor, Ray Larson, looking over at our place this morning with his binoculars.”

  Luke’s eyes narrowed. “Any idea why?”

  “I went over there and asked. He said he was looking for some unusual bird he’d seen earlier.”

  “Did you believe him?”

  “I guess so.” Martha shivered, as a gust of wind blew in through the cracks around the opening of the buggy flap. “I know it’s ridiculous, but I’m starting to think everyone I know is a suspect.”

  “Does that include me?”

  She shook her head. “No, Luke. Not anymore.”

  Luke reached for Martha’s hand. “It’s nice to know at least one member of the Hostettler family believes I’m innocent. I just wish I could prove it to everyone else.”

  Grace had just cleared their breakfast dishes from the table and was about to run some water into the sink, when a knock sounded on the back door. Her heart gave a lurch. Could that be Carl? He’d said he would return on Saturday, but she hadn’t expected it would be this early or that she would feel so unprepared.

  Thursday night, after Anna had gone to bed, Grace had told Cleon about Carl’s visit. Cleon hadn’t seemed too upset by the news. He’d even said he thought it might be good for Anna to spend some time with her English grandpa, since they had once been so close. Grace wasn’t sure about that. She was still worried that even if Carl hadn’t come to take Anna way, the child might want to go with him.

  Grace had waited until last night to tell Anna about her grandfather’s visit, when the child was preparing for bed. Anna had been so excited about the prospect of seeing her poppy that it had been hard for her to fall asleep. Grace half expected to find Anna up at the crack of dawn this morning, but Anna had slept longer than usual and had come down to breakfast still wearing her nightgown. Now the child was upstairs in her room getting dressed.

  Another knock sounded at the door, a little louder this time. With a sigh, Grace went to answer it, wishing Cleon was here, but he’d gone to check on his bee boxes as soon as he’d finished breakfast.

  When Grace opened the door a few seconds later, she found Carl standing on the porch holding a vinyl doll with bright red hair in his hands. “This is for Anna,” he said. “She is here, I hope.”

  “She’s upstairs getting dressed. We. . .uh. . .didn’t expect you so soon.” Grace opened the door wider. “If you’d like to wait for Anna in the kitchen, I’m sure she’ll be down soon.”

  Carl seated himself at the table, and a few minutes later, Anna bounded into the room. “Poppy! You’re really here!” She threw herself into his arms.

  “Oh, I’ve missed you, Anna girl.” He nuzzled her head with his chin. “But I hardly recognized you in those plain clothes.”

  “I dress Amish now.” Anna kissed his cheek. “You look the same, only better.”

  “Why don’t we go into the living room and sit down?” Grace suggested. “I think it will be easier for us to visit there.”

  Holding her grandfather’s hand, Anna led the way. Grace followed. When they entered the living room, Grace took a seat in the rocking chair, and Carl sat on the sofa with Anna in his lap.

  “Can you stay and visit all day, Poppy?” Anna gazed up at Carl with a look of adoration.

  “I’d like to, Anna, but I have an appointment this afternoon.”

  Anna’s lower lip protruded. “You’re goin’ home?”

  He shook his head. “I’m going to see about renting a house in Berlin.”

  “Why would you need to rent a house if you’re only here for a visit?” Grace asked.

  “I’m thinking about moving here so I can be closer to Anna.”

  Grace’s hands turned cold and clammy. Things were complicated enough in her life; she didn’t need Carl moving to Holmes County and complicating them further.

  “If you move to Berlin, I can see you all the time,” Anna said excitedly. “Berlin’s not far from here. Right, Mama?”

  Grace opened her mouth to respond, but Daniel’s shrill cry halted her words. “I need to tend to the baby,” she said, looking at Carl.

  “I didn’t realize you had a baby.”

  “His name’s Daniel, and he’s my little brother,” Anna answered for Grace. “Daniel still cries and wets his windle a lot.”

  Carl quirked an eyebrow as he looked back at Grace.

  “Windle means diapers,” she explained.

  “Oh, I see.”

  Grace stood and held out her hand to Anna. “Why don’t you come upstairs with me while I see about Daniel?”

  Anna shook her head. “I wanna stay here with Poppy.”

  Grace struggled with the need to tend Daniel or remain in the living room. What if Carl takes Anna while I’m upstairs? He has a car. He could get away quickly, and there wouldn’t be a thing I could do about it.

  As if Carl could read her mind, he smiled and said, “Anna will be fine; I promise.”

  Daniel let out another ear-piercing scream, and Grace bolted for the stairs. She’d only gotten halfway up when someone knocked on the front door. Turning back around, she went to see who it was.

  Rosemary lifted her hand to knock on Grace’s door for the third time, when the door suddenly swung open. Grace stood there with a panicked expression on her face.

  “Is everything all right?” Rosemary asked, feeling immediate concern.

  Grace touched her flushed cheeks. “Daniel’s crying, and I need to go to him. But I’ve got company in the living room.”

  “Would you like me to entertain your company while you take care of Daniel?”

  “I’d appreciate that.” Grace led Rosemary into the living room, where a middle-aged man sat on the sofa with Anna in his lap. “Carl, this is my aunt Rosemary.” She looked at Rosemary then nodded at Carl. “This is Anna’s grandfather, Carl Davis.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Rosemary and Carl said in unison.

  Daniel’s howling increased, and Grace excused herself, leaving Rosemary alone with Carl and Anna. She took a seat in the chair opposite them.

  “Do you liv
e around here?” Carl asked.

  “I’m Roman Hostettler’s sister. I grew up in Holmes County but moved away when I was a young woman. I married an English man, and we moved to Idaho.” She paused a moment to see if he would comment, but when he said nothing, she continued. “My husband died several months ago, so I came home to see my family.”

  “So you’re just here for a visit?”

  “No, I’ve recently purchased a house nearby. Where are you from?”

  “I’ve been living in Nevada for the last several years, and I’m also widowed.”

  “Poppy came here to see me,” Anna put in.

  Rosemary smiled at the exuberance she saw on the child’s face. Anna was obviously happy to see her English grandfather.

  “Anna’s mother was married to my son, Wade, at one time,” Carl said. “Wade was killed in a car accident when Anna was a baby.”

  “Yes, I know about that.”

  Carl looked like he was about to say something more when Grace returned to the room, carrying Daniel.

  “Can I hold him?” Rosemary asked.

  Grace nodded and handed the little boy to Rosemary.

  Rosemary rubbed her chin along the top of Daniel’s downy head as she breathed in the sweet smell of him. Oh, how she wished she could have had more than one child, but she was grateful God had given her Ken.

  “I hate to cut this visit short,” Carl said looking at his watch, “but I’m supposed to meet a Realtor in Berlin in half an hour, and I don’t want to be late.” He placed Anna on the sofa and stood.

  With a panicked expression, Anna grabbed his hand. “Please, Poppy, don’t go away again!”

  He bent down and gave her a hug. “I’m going to look at a house, but I’ll be back to see you soon.”

  “You promise?”

  “Yes, I promise.”

  Anna clung to Carl’s hand as she walked him to the door. Grace followed.

  When Grace and Anna returned to the living room, Grace nodded at Anna and said, “Why don’t you take Daniel to the kitchen and see if you can find some cookies for the two of you?”