Phoebe's Gift

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Phoebe decided to speak up. “We should talk about Grandfather Tobias’s accident, Leroy. There is no need for the past to come between our families. Grandma—”

  His face turned into thunderclouds. “How dare you come into my house and lecture me, Phoebe? Do not speak to me of your grandma and her spiritual ways. Haven’t I put up with her meddling with my children? Now you intend to steal my son from me.”

  David tried again. “Daett! Please!”

  Priscilla reappeared in the kitchen doorway. “The time has come to let go, Leroy. Phoebe speaks the truth.”

  “Are you turning on me too, Priscilla?” His look blazed into her.

  His wife wilted, and tears streamed down her face.

  “Mamm is right!” David declared. “This must end. You must forgive yourself and ask for the Lord’s grace, which we all need.”

  “Now my son has turned on me as well,” Leroy muttered.

  “Phoebe is welcome in our home,” David continued. “If you can’t say the words, I will. Phoebe has done no wrong, and Grandma Lapp was nothing but goot to you after the accident.”

  “What do you know about accidents?” Leroy snorted. “If Tobias had driven carefully, the single tree would not have broken.”

  David appeared stunned. “I am not fighting the past, Daett. I wasn’t there, and what happened, happened. I only know that I love Phoebe and that she is welcome to stay for supper. Will you at least allow that?”

  Leroy said nothing but bolted out the front door.

  “Grandma forgave you,” Phoebe wanted to holler after him, but the words came out barely above a whisper.

  David’s face was grief-stricken. Priscilla rushed over to wrap her arms around Phoebe.

  “I am sorry about that,” David said. “I should have approached Daett about the matter before now.”

  “You did nothing wrong,” Phoebe told him.

  “Will you still stay for supper?” Priscilla begged. “Please? This would mean so much to us, and the Lord knows our hearts need healing.”

  Phoebe gathered herself together. “Of course I will. And I’m sorry Leroy feels the way he does about me.”

  “Leroy will see the error of his ways!” Priscilla declared. “I will speak with him after I have supper ready.”

  “Let me help in the kitchen, then. I might as well make myself useful.”

  “You don’t have to help,” Priscilla protested. “David likes your company in here.”

  Phoebe gave David a sweet smile. “I’ll see plenty of him once he’s well, but I’m not down here every day.”

  “Okay.” Priscilla gave in and led the way. “How are things going up at the farm?” She turned to ask. “David doesn’t say too much.”

  Phoebe took a deep breath. “I don’t know where to begin. Your son has been such a blessing through everything. He pitches right in and helps with even the most difficult situations. Last week we had a young boy with a stammering problem, and David helped make Wesley feel right at home.”

  “He would do that.” Priscilla’s smile appeared again. “My boy has a tender heart. Thanks for letting him work with you, Phoebe. That has meant the world to him, and for your…” Priscilla paused. “I don’t want to assume, but I guess you are…” She paused again. “We are so thrilled.”

  Phoebe ducked her head bashfully. “I know. We have a strange relationship, but it’s going well.”

  She didn’t know how much David had told his mother, but Priscilla must assume they were close after seeing Phoebe’s open expression of affection at Uncle Reuben’s place yesterday. Mothers usually knew what their children were up to.

  “How many people know about Ruth’s struggles at the schoolhouse?” Priscilla asked, her smile gone. “I’m assuming you know.”

  “Yah, I do,” Phoebe admitted. “But I’ve not talked about them with anyone.”

  Priscilla sighed. “I don’t know what will happen if Ruth is disciplined.”

  “We can pray.” Phoebe laid her hand on Priscilla’s arm. “And we can pray for Leroy. Maybe the worst is over with your family’s trials. I keep hoping it is. Uncle Homer must know Ruth was tempted, yet he has given her the time to make her own choice. Isn’t that a goot sign?”

  “That would be the Lord’s blessing indeed, and Leroy must change his attitude.” Priscilla turned away and began to work, but not before Phoebe caught a glimmer of tears in her eyes.

  “Grandma’s dream has changed so many of us,” Phoebe told her. “We must not lose faith.”

  “You are right,” Priscilla agreed. “I wish Ruth were here this afternoon, but she went home with Lily Yoder. They seem to have a budding friendship of sorts.”

  “Look how the Lord is working already!” Phoebe exclaimed. “We must believe for the best.”

  Priscilla nodded and wiped her eyes. “You are such a blessing, Phoebe. I can’t say how much.”

  “I would feel like more of a blessing if I made myself useful. How can I help with supper?”

  Priscilla caught her breath. “Sorry about that. I am forgetting my manners. Here, slice the celery, and I’ll get the lettuce from the basement. I’m serving sandwiches tonight with a tossed salad for a light meal.” Priscilla paused to think. “While I’m out, I might as well speak with Leroy. Pray for me, Phoebe.”

  “I will,” Phoebe assured her. “And take your time. I’ll have things ready when you get back.”

  Phoebe busied herself after Priscilla disappeared down the basement stairs. The outside door soon slammed, and Phoebe took a peek through the kitchen window to catch a glimpse of Priscilla hurrying toward the barn door with her head bent low.

  “Please help her, Lord,” Phoebe whispered, returning to the food preparations.

  Phoebe had finished her tasks when the basement door slammed again. Priscilla appeared with the lettuce, smiling but tearful. “You must have gotten to him because he didn’t argue with me. He is coming in to eat supper with us.”

  “Thank You, dear Lord,” Phoebe softly prayed.

  “Amen,” Priscilla echoed.

  The lettuce was sliced and the sandwiches were completed when Leroy appeared stone faced, helping David hobble in from the living room. Leroy took his place at the table, and the smaller children came in from the outside as if they already knew when supper would be ready.

  “Hi, children.” Phoebe greeted them with a smile.

  They grinned back but didn’t offer any comments. Apparently everyone was used to tension in the family.

  Leroy grunted when Priscilla placed the last dish on the table. He bowed his head and led out in a short prayer of thanks. After the amen, they passed around the sandwiches.

  David caught Phoebe’s eye. “These are goot sandwiches.”

  “Your mamm made them,” she said, and everyone except Leroy chuckled.

  “David thinks everything is made better by the touch of your hands,” Priscilla added. “We are all glad to see that he has made such a goot choice in a girlfriend.”

  Phoebe kept her head down as even the smaller children grinned from ear to ear. Leroy grunted again but made no comment.

  “I hope our teasing isn’t too much for you,” Priscilla ventured.

  “It’s okay,” Phoebe assured her. “I guess I should come down more often.”

  “Yah, do,” said a chorus of small voices.

  “In the future, then,” Phoebe replied with a smile, and the conversation moved to other subjects. Even Leroy joined in with a few short sentences.

  After they finished, Leroy offered another short prayer of thanks. The smaller children dashed outside to play, while Priscilla waved Phoebe out of the kitchen. “Don’t even think about helping with the dishes. Go into the living room with David. Leroy’s going out to finish the evening chores, and I have plenty of time.”

  Phoebe agreed as Leroy helped his son back to the couch. She seated herself on the chair, but David moved his pillows after everyone had left.

  “Sit here,” he ordered. “I want
you near me.”

  “What is this? An official date?” she teased.

  He laughed. “Would you have agreed?”

  “You know I would have.”

  “Thanks for speaking to Daett,” he whispered. “That means the world to all of us.”

  They locked eyes as his fingers tightened on hers.

  FORTY

  Phoebe was waiting beside the barn door on Monday morning when Ethan pulled up with the van. He was grinning, but she didn’t feel like responding in kind. She had been brave since she left the Fishers’ home last evening, after that horrible explosion with Leroy. Now the new week had arrived, and David’s absence hung like a weight over the whole farm.

  Phoebe forced herself to paste on a smile. There was no reason the week should go badly, and she could manage. David would be back eventually, perhaps by Friday, and Leroy would find his own way toward healing somehow.

  Ethan scrambled out of the van and approached her. “Where’s David?”

  “He’s not here. He has an injury to his arm that required stitches.”

  “Do you know any Spanish?”

  “No.” She gave him a strange look.

  “Well, we have two sisters from Guatemala. They’ll be staying with you until we can find them permanent homes.” Ethan shrugged. “Not the usual one week, but orders are orders. Political situation.”

  Phoebe froze in place. “Until…”

  “Don’t look so panic-stricken. If that’s a problem, we can take them back for the weekend, but it would give them a more stable life if they could stay here. Two weeks, we hope—but with the bureaucracy, you never know.”

  “Why…I guess…okay.”

  Ethan opened the van door, and two bewildered-looking young girls stared back at her. They slowly climbed out of the van. Phoebe took small steps toward them before she hurried forward. So what if she couldn’t speak their language? A hug was understood by everyone. Their smiles were tentative as she took the oldest in her arms. “Goot morning. How are you?”

  “Buenos días,” Ethan muttered behind her. “I know that much.” He shoved a dictionary in her hand. “That’s the best I can do.”

  Phoebe hugged the second girl before opening the pages. There were English words on one side, with meaningless letters on the other. Did anyone in the community know Spanish? Considering all his travels, Cousin Herman might know a little—but he wasn’t here.

  “Time for Spanish lessons,” Ethan said. He transferred the suitcases to the ground. “Sorry. At least you have my number. Call me if you need to.”

  She turned to face him, and the words tumbled out. “I don’t approve of your relationship with Ruth Fisher, but it still wasn’t decent of you to drop her without at least an explanation. You should talk with her and end things on a decent note.”

  “Whoa,” he said. “What have we here?”

  “Just human decency, Ethan. And for the record, I don’t think you should date her.”

  “Ruth told you about us?” He scratched his head.

  “Not everything,” she told him. “But enough that I know. Ruth should be at the schoolhouse by now. I’ll ride up with you and the girls, and you can speak with her.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “First it’s secrecy, and now it’s a chaperoned parting.”

  “I won’t go inside, but if you’re alone you’ll only make things worse, so…”

  “You Amish are strange creatures.”

  “And this from a man who doesn’t keep his dates.”

  “Your tongue is sharp this morning,” he muttered. “But your logic compels me, Phoebe. Maybe I will take you up on the offer.”

  Phoebe glanced at the suitcases by the sidewalk. “I guess these won’t run off anywhere.”

  “Come on. We can go and then bring the girls back. Oh, and meet Maria and Juanita.”

  They both smiled at the mention of their names. Phoebe pointed at herself and said, “Phoebe” before motioning them back into the van. Then she slid onto the seat beside them. Ethan started the van and pulled out of the driveway, turning east on Peckville Road to slow for the schoolhouse moments later. John was standing outside the Yoders’ barn with a bucket in his hand, and when Phoebe hopped out of the van, she waved at him. His curiosity satisfied, John vanished inside.

  Ethan headed toward the schoolhouse without a backward glance. Phoebe stood by the van door to wait. Ethan’s and Ruth’s silhouettes were framed inside the front window. Arms flew around, and the sound of voices rose in the background. If Phoebe had to guess, she’d say the conversation was not going well.

  Phoebe sighed. She had still spoken the right words, even if Ethan was getting his ears chewed off. Ruth was understandably upset, but closure would come quicker for her this way. She didn’t want Ruth to be haunted for the rest of her life by an unresolved past. Leroy kept enough of those ghosts in his closet.

  Moments later, Ethan appeared in the schoolhouse doorway still waving his arm about. Then the door was shut behind him with a slam.

  “Just a minute,” Phoebe told the two girls, who looked more confused than ever. “I’m going in to talk…” she tried again. Giving up, she crossed the schoolyard at a run to meet Ethan at the bottom of the steps.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  She rushed past him. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Ruth was crying when she entered, and Phoebe hurried to her side. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, embracing Ruth. “Did he apologize?”

  “You put him up to this?” Ruth asked, wiping her eyes on her handkerchief.

  “Yah,” Phoebe admitted. “Kind of a spur-of-the-moment idea.”

  “Perhaps it was for the best. I was going to bury him in a deep, dark corner of my life and never think of him again.”

  “Oh, you poor thing.” Phoebe reached out, and Ruth buried her head in Phoebe’s shoulder, sobbing. But after a few moments she managed to pull herself together.

  “I should be going,” Phoebe said. “Do you want to stop by and speak with me on the way home from school today? That might help, and I have two cute little Guatemalan girls who can’t speak English.” She made a face, and Ruth managed to smile.

  “I’ll be okay.” Ruth wiped her eyes. “I needed a good cry, and to hear that it really was over between Ethan and me.” Ruth glanced toward the ceiling as her tears welled up again. “I thought I knew, but deep down…”

  Phoebe held Ruth until the wails subsided.

  “You have to go,” Ruth said this time. “I’ll wash my face and be brand new by the time the schoolchildren arrive.”

  “Remember, you can stop by anytime.”

  Ruth followed Phoebe to the door, and they parted with another hug.

  “What did you tell her?” Phoebe demanded of Ethan when she climbed back in the van.

  He shrugged. “I apologized. You were right. I shouldn’t have stood her up that evening, and I could have answered the phone when she called and explained that I didn’t think we should see each other anymore. It was wrong to just dodge her. Are you satisfied?”

  “Thank you, Ethan,” Phoebe told him. “I appreciate it. Ruth is in a fragile phase of her life, and she needed a proper conclusion to the matter.”

  “Fragile phase!” He snorted. “The woman is a blazing firebrand.”

  “Not everything is as it seems on the surface,” Phoebe chided. “But thanks again.”

  He pulled back into Grandma Lapp’s driveway. “Are you sure you’ll be okay with these girls? It’s not as though we have much choice, but the tender side of my heart has been stirred.”

  “Just go!” She smiled at him before climbing out and then helping the two girls down.

  Maria and Juanita grabbed their suitcases and headed toward the house before Ethan had the van turned around. With the dictionary tucked under her arm, Phoebe gave him a quick goodbye wave and followed the girls up the walkway.

  This was a new situation indeed, and one she had not expected. She needed David now mo
re than ever. He might know what could be done. Should she make a trip over to Aunt Millie’s to search for Cousin Herman? That could turn into a wild goose chase. One never knew where the man would show up, and she had never heard Cousin Herman speak in a foreign tongue other than German anyway.

  What would Grandma do? Phoebe asked herself. That was a better question—but Grandma had never spoken Spanish.

  Phoebe approached the two girls, who were huddled by the front door. She gave them both hugs and smiles, which seemed to help. She flipped through the dictionary to the word welcome. “Bien-a-ven…ben, ven…” Phoebe tried to sound out the unfamiliar word.

  Both girls giggled—which was an improvement—but they hadn’t communicated yet beyond hugs.

  She found the word hunger next. “Hambre, ham…” That must have been closer. They smiled and nodded this time.

  “Then we’ll make breakfast!” Phoebe proclaimed. “That is another form of language.”

  Their happy smiles seemed to say they understood, and maybe they did. The smells of bacon and toasted bread soon filled the kitchen. The girls watched her with wide eyes while she worked. Where had these two come from? Ethan hadn’t given any details, other than their home country, but maybe he didn’t even know.

  They must have parents. Perhaps still in Guatemala? But what were two little girls doing here all by themselves? Maybe they had brothers who had been situated somewhere else. Phoebe left the bacon pan for a moment to flip through the dictionary. She stopped at the word brother. “Hermano?” She pointed at them. They nodded vigorously. Phoebe pointed around her. “Hermano here? Or hermano in Guatemala?”

  “Here,” they said together. The word was said clearly.

  “So you can speak some English?” Phoebe asked. “That’s a start, at least.”

  She dashed back to the bacon pan, where smoke had begun to rise toward the ceiling. When Phoebe transferred the bacon to a plate a moment later, she cracked in the eggs. Once they were cooked, she set them on the table. She heard a knock at the front door. Both girls jumped, and worried looks crossed their faces.

  “It’s okay,” she told them. Her tone must have communicated assurance because they relaxed. Phoebe still tiptoed to the door and cracked it open. “David!” she exclaimed. “How dare you walk up here?”