by Aqua Allsopp
She touched her lips, where she could still feel his, and she shook her head, “I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong of me.” Michael stood up too but he didn’t let go of her wrist as he said, “I’m glad you did,” and he pulled her close, pressing his mouth against hers again, and this time she didn’t pull away. After what seemed like several long minutes, when they finally broke apart, Emma shook her head and said, “This is not what I had in mind when I came to visit you at your job.” Michael grinned and said, “No, me neither, but it certainly is much more fun than cutting down trees.” Emma tried to hide her smile but it escaped anyway and soon, she was laughing.
She stopped suddenly, feeling guilty about having a good time while her mother lay in a hospital bed, depending on Emma to make the right decision for her. Emma glanced at Michael and said, “Will you really help me choose what’s right for Mama?” Michael widened his eyes and nodded, “Of course. I’m not well versed with medicine either, but I’ll help in any way I can.” Emma smiled gratefully and thanked him as she rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. “Thank you, Michael,” she said softly, “Thank you for everything. I’m not sure I can do all this alone.”
*****
At six p.m., Michael and Emma waited anxiously for the doctor to return, and soon enough there was a knock on the door and he entered with a grim look on his look. “I’m afraid it’s time to make a decision, Miss Weaver,” he said. Emma glanced at Michael, who smiled encouragingly at her, before she took a deep breath, nodded and said, “You can go ahead with the surgery.” The doctor nodded too and said, “You understand all the risk involved?” Emma nodded again, glancing at her mother who lay limply in bed, the covers dragged up all the way to her chin. “I understand. And if there’s even the smallest chance of recovery, I want to give it to her.”
The doctor nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll get her prepped for surgery. We’ll operate first thing in the morning,” he turned to leave and stopped, turning back as he said gently, “And Emma, please try to get some rest. This will be just as taxing on you as it will be on your mother.” Emma nodded and thanked him as he left. She stood in front of the door for a long time, aware of the fact that Michael was looking at her, but she couldn’t turn and face him just yet. Michael noticed her shoulders shaking, and he stepped closer, placing her hands on her shoulders as he softly said, “It’s alright, Emma. It will all be okay.”
Just then, a weak voice called out, “Emma?” The two of them jumped and Michael hastily let go of her shoulders as they turned to see Verity sitting up in bed. She pulled the covers up and said shrilly, “Who is this?” Emma motioned for Michael to leave as she turned to her mother and said, “Nobody, Mama, just rest.” Her mother was adamant to get answers, however, and she pushed Emma aside and addressed Michael, “You’re the shirtless boy.” Michael’s eyes widened and he shook his head vehemently as Emma said, “Mama, you’re tired and seeing things. Go back to sleep.” As she pushed her mother back down onto the bed, she violently gestured for Michael to leave and he ran out, closing the door behind him with a snap.
“What’s going on, Emma?” Verity asked her daughter sleepily in Pennsylvania Dutch, and Emma shook her head, answering in English, “Just go to sleep, Mother. The doctors will treat you tomorrow, and it’ll be scary but you’ll get better after that.” Verity nodded and fell back into her stupor as Emma sighed with relief and then slipped out of the room quietly. She ran into Michael, who was pacing anxiously in the corridor. “I’m so sorry. Did I get you in trouble?” he asked her as soon as he saw her, but she shook her head and held a finger to her lips as she whispered, “No, it’s alright. She’ll forget what she saw, but Michael I need to speak with you.” He nodded and said, “Let’s go outside.”
As they walked, Emma rehearsed what she had to say in her head, walking a few steps behind Michael and going over everything. Michael knew by the way that Emma was walking that she had something serious to say, and he had already guessed what it was. By the time they reached the spot where they had kissed earlier, Emma sat down with a sigh and said, “I’m not sure where to begin.” Michael sighed too and said, “I know what you’re going to say, Emma, but we don’t have to end things this way.” Emma shook her head sadly and said, “But we do. This is temporary, you don’t understand how different our lives are.”
Michael shrugged and said, “So tell me.” Emma laughed mirthlessly and said, “If only that were easy. Look, this isn’t just about me. I have four sisters to think about. Rosie’s marriage depends on me, and whether I want to marry Daniel Bailer.” Michael felt jealous and angry when he heard her say that, but he reminded himself that he had no right to be. He simply said, “Is that what you want?” Emma shrugged and said, “It doesn’t matter what I want. All that matters is that there are things I have to do. I have to go back and take care of the farm and take care of my sisters and help my father take care of mother. I’m not like you. Don’t you see what kind of world I come from?”
Michael reached out and gently tugged on a strand of hair that had escaped her bonnet, “Emma,” he said, softly, “I care about you. I truly do.” Emma stood up and shook her head, tears streaming down her face now, and she bitterly said, “You don’t even know me.” Michael stood up too and he said, “And Daniel Bailer? Does he know you? Does he care about you?” Emma stepped back as though she had been slapped and she said, “Don’t you dare. You don’t understand me or my way of life. That’s not how things work in the Amish community.” Michael was undeterred as he said, “What, Amish people don’t fall in love?”
Emma stopped short and said, “Love?” Michael’s expression completely changed then as he stared blankly at her. “Did you say love?” Emma asked again and Michael licked his lips before he said, “I know it’s crazy, trust me, I know. But Emma, I can’t seem to stop thinking about you. I know that it sounds like complete madness, but I just always want to be with you, just to be around you. I don’t know you very well yet, but I promise you that I care more about you than any Daniel or Joseph ever can.” He fell to his knees and said, “Emma, I’m asking you to stay. Just stay here with me. I love you.” Emma stared at him with her mouth open and before she realized what was happening, she had turned away and started to run as fast as she could.
*****
Emma cried all night and when she felt too tired to cry some more and her eyes grew heavy with sleep, two nurses walked in chattering brightly. Emma jumped up, startled, and the nurses told her they were taking her mother in for surgery. “You continue resting, honey. We’ll keep updating you.” Emma walked over to her mother and kissed her on the forehead, whispering a quick prayer as they wheeled her away. All along in the ward, she curled up on the window seat and closed her eyes, but sleep seemed to have left her, and she just rested her head against the cool glass of the window, feeling miserable.
She didn’t know when she had fallen asleep, but she awoke with a start when a voice called out her name. It was the doctor and he peered at her kindly over his glasses as he said, “Emma, the surgery went very well. Much better than we had even hoped for.” Emma sleepily rubbed her eyes and sat up as she said, “Is my mother alright?” The doctor nodded and said, “Yes, she’s still under sedatives, but you can see her if you wish.” Emma nodded enthusiastically and quickly unfolded her limbs, standing up as two men rolled her in on a stretcher and then transferred her onto the bed. As they left, Emma neared her mother and glanced at her face. She still looked weak and fragile but the color had returned to her skin.
“We got the whole tumor. Your mother is completely cancer-free. In a day or two, you can go back home. I’m sure your family’s waiting anxiously to see you.” Emma nodded, tears of happiness and relief streaming down her face as she watched her mother breathe steadily. The doctor clapped her gently on the shoulder and then walked out, leaving Emma alone with her mother. She sat down next to the bed and said, “Mama, I’m so happy to see you better. I know it’s selfish but I’m also happy for m
yself. I was getting so tired of having to run the house all by myself and raising the girls, knowing I could never do a good job with Miriam and Gracie, not the way you did with us older three.”
She wiped her tears and went on, “Mother, I love you and I love my sisters and Papa and the farm, but a part of me can’t bear to go back. I don’t want to go back to Faith’s Lake and be another Mrs. Bailer. It’s just not for me.” She glanced out of the window. It was too dark to see anything clearly and she sniffled as she said, “He told me he loves me and I ran away, Mama. I didn’t know what else to do. I was so scared. I didn’t think anybody would ever love me, or that I would ever love anybody. But Mama, I do love him. I’ve been feeling it grow since the moment I laid eyes on him.” She was crying heavily now and a sudden knock on the door startled her.
Slowly, she got up and answered the door. Michael stood there, holding out a large bouquet of flowers. Emma stared at him, and he gulped before he said, “These are for your mother.” She took the flowers and shyly looked to the floor as she said, “Thank you.” There was a rustling sound behind her and her mother’s voice called out, in Pennsylvania Dutch, “Is that him?” Emma whirled around and saw her mother sitting up, smiling. Emma blinked and then her mother laughed. So taken aback by the sound of her mother’s laughter which she hadn’t heard it in over a year, Emma started to cry again. “Oh darling,” her mother said, switching to English, “Darling don’t cry.”
Michael’s voice was shaking as he said, “I’ll go- I’m sorry,” and before Emma could respond, he was gone. Emma walked over to her mother and hugged her until her mother said, “Emma, darling. I see you blossoming before my very eyes. You’re my daughter, don’t you think I know you?” Emma wiped away her tears and her mother said, “You love him. It’s clear as day. I would have known even if I hadn’t heard you confess to it a few minutes ago.” Emma blinked and said, “You heard all that?” Verity grinned and said, “I love you. And I know that we live a completely different lifestyle, but I only want what’s best for you. Stay, darling. Stay and see if this story is worth being written.”
Emma shook her head disbelievingly and said, “What about the community? What about-” but her mother shook her head and said, “I nearly died Emma, and I don’t want to live what life God has given me seeing my daughter unhappy. I’ll take care of the community and of that horrid Mrs. Bailer.” Emma started to laugh and her mother pulled her in and kissed her cheek, “Go find the boy.” Emma laughed and picked up her skirts as she ran straight out the door, wondering where she would possibly find him.
As she ran down the hallway, she suddenly tripped and shrieked as she fell. She heard someone cry out in pain and realized she had tripped over Michael, who was sitting on the floor outside her room, leaning against the wall. “Michael,” she shrieked and Michael stared at her in shock. “Michael,” she said again laughing this time as she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, too,” she gasped and he started to laugh in disbelief as he said, “Really?”
She pulled back and nodded happily before pressing her lips against his, whispering into his mouth, “I’m staying, Michael. If you’ll have me, I’ll stay.” Michael pulled away and said, “Really?” She nodded again and Michael let her go, running down the hallway and shouting with glee. He looked around and found a rolled up sticker which he ran back with and fell to his knees. He held it out and said, “Marry me?” Emma laughed and slipped the sticker ring on her finger as she gasped, “Yes!”
THE END
Another bonus story is on the next page.
Bonus Story 14 of 15
The Champ of Champaneer
Description
David McKay and Julie Summer work in two different NGOs in the United States of America. As part of a joint initiative by UNICEF and the American government, both of them find themselves working on the social development of a poor, backward region of rural India.
As the only Americans on the mission, David and Julie strike up a really good friendship as they sweat it out amid the heat and dust of the subcontinent. It is not long before both of them realize that they have feelings for each other, but are not able to come clean on the desires of their hearts.
A minor tragedy strikes one night as the NGO camp is attacked by some local political toughs who are against any development of the region. There is a festival in the region and most of the native folks are away for the evening when all of a sudden a group of people barge in and start ransacking the place. Julie is threatened as some of them try to physically assault her. David stands up and defends Julie but is grievously injured in the process.
Will destiny finally bring the two closer through adversity or is something more sinister in place for the couple?
*****
“Sir, we are there. That’s JFK Airport in front of you,” the man in the driver’s seat announced. David McKay woke up from his slumber. He had no idea when he had dozed off. The last he remembered, the young man was racing down Fifth Avenue in a yellow cab with very thin traffic in the early hours of the day making it a smooth ride across what was otherwise a very busy thoroughfare.
“Huh? There already?” he said, sitting up straight and rubbing his eyes. He looked around himself. There was a shoulder bag lying next to him on the seat. David checked his watch. The time showed ten minutes to seven. His flight was at eight-thirty. There was enough time and he did not need to hurry.
David picked up his luggage from the cab, paid the driver and was about to head towards the entrance when the cabbie called out to him. “Sir if you don’t mind my asking, may I know where you are going?”
David turned around to look at the man who grinned at him through his white, uneven teeth. “And why do you ask that?” he said.
The cab driver touched his cap. “Actually, I just happened to notice that you are carrying a UNICEF backpack on your shoulders. And I know about all that has been going on with the American government and this organization. So I was just wondering if you were going to India.”
David permitted himself a smile. “Yes I am headed for India. And you are an Indian I believe?”
The man nodded. “You will enjoy your stay in the country as much as I do enjoy staying here in America,” he said. David felt like the man was going to say something more but could not. Another cab came up honking behind him and he drove away, leaving him standing in bewilderment.
David stared at the cab as it disappeared down the driveway. He let out a sigh and turned towards the entrance, proceeding slowly towards the main terminal building. It did not take long for all the necessary pre-boarding formalities to be completed and soon he found himself in the lounge, waiting for further information regarding his flight.
As he sat in the comfortable seat amid the plush surroundings of JFK International Airport, his attention was drawn towards a man sitting a few seats down the row from him. He was reading a book on India and the subcontinent. Like David, he too was carrying a bag with a UNICEF logo embossed on it.
“Excuse me,” David called out to him. The man looked up from his book. He had a thickset feature and a bushy beard that contributed more to his rugged appearance. He was wearing thick-rimmed glasses and had been immersed in his book until David called.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Pardon me but are you part of the UNICEF initiative as well?”
The man looked at his bag. “Why yes I am! You too?”
David nodded. “Going to India I believe! First time?”
“Yes,” the man said. “By the way I am Alex, Alex Morgan. Nice meeting you!”
“David McKay, nice to meet you too! Which NGO are you associated with?”
“Whitestone Foundation, New Orleans. And you? Are you from New York?”
“Yes,” David said. “I am with the World Care Society.”
It did not take long for the two recently-acquainted men to get busy chatting with one another. The main topic of their conversation revolved around the UNICEF initiative that wa
s the talk of the nation, as well as, the world at that very moment.
“Passengers your kind attention please! This is the first boarding call for the Etihad Airlines flight from New York to Abu Dhabi. All travelling passengers are requested to proceed to gate number eight for boarding,” the announcement came blaring through the PA system.
“That’s our flight!” Alex said as he stood up from his seat. “Come on, I think we should get moving before there is a huge rush for the boarding.”
As Alex and David proceeded towards the boarding point, it seemed as if everyone else in the airport had the same idea as them. By the time they reached the boarding gate, there was a long line snaking out towards them. “You can never find them empty any longer,” Alex cursed under his breath.
Thankfully they did not have to wait too long. After around twenty minutes, they had boarded the aircraft and found their respective seats in the Economy Class cabin. David stowed his carry-on baggage on the overhead bin and settled down in his seat. He looked around for Alex but could not locate him anywhere so he thought that the man must have found his seat. After a wait of another fifteen minutes or so, the gates closed and the aircraft began proceeding towards the runway. It was not long before the carrier was in the air and on its journey across the Atlantic.
David looked out of the window on his side of the aircraft as the Statue of Liberty and Downtown Manhattan gradually disappeared beneath the clouds. He dropped back into his seat. The journey had begun. Now he had no idea how long he would have to wait before getting a chance to return to his beloved Motherland again.