Roman jerked his head. The woman beside him gasped. But neither said a word. After several awkward moments, he spoke. “Where have you been all these years?”
“I’ve been living in Boise, Idaho, with my husband, Bob, but he died a few months ago. So I decided to come home and see my family.”
“You think you can just sashay in the door and pick up where you left off thirty-some years ago like nothing’s ever happened? Is that what you think?” Roman’s voice sounded harsh, and the scowl on his face spoke volumes.
“I—I would like to explain. There are things you don’t know—things you need to understand.”
Roman’s fist came down hard on the workbench, jiggling his lunch box and sending a napkin sailing to the floor. “It’s been over thirty years, Rosemary! Do you know how much can happen in that time?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off.
“Mom and Dad are dead. I’ll bet you didn’t know that, did you?”
“Not until I went by their house before I came here.”
“Do you have any idea how hard Mom cried after you left home? When you didn’t write and let her know where you were so she could write back, she was brokenhearted.”
“I did write. I—”
“Pig’s foot! If you’d written, we at least would have known where you were and that you were okay.” He waved his hand as if he were swatting at a fly. “Now everyone but me is gone.”
“My other brothers are dead?” Rosemary’s head began to pound, and she placed her fingers against her throbbing temples.
“They’re not dead; they moved to Wisconsin with their wives twenty years ago. Everyone except for Walt.”
“Where is he?”
“Walt and his family are living up in Geauga County now. Have been for the last couple of years. I’m the only one from our family still living in Holmes County.” He compressed his lips tightly together, grabbed the mug on his workbench, and took a drink.
The woman who stood at Roman’s side reached out her hand. “I’m Roman’s wife, Judith, and this is Ruth, one of our three daughters,” she said, nodding at Ruth.
“It’s nice to meet you, Judith. I met Ruth up at your house.”
Judith motioned to the young man Rosemary had seen when she’d entered the shop. “That’s our son-in-law, Cleon. He’s married to our oldest daughter, Grace.”
Rosemary glanced over at Cleon and smiled, then she turned to face Roman. “Can we sit awhile and talk? I’d like to explain a few things.”
He shook his head. “I’ve got nothing to say, and there isn’t anything you could say that I want to hear.”
“Dad, don’t you think you should listen to Aunt Rosemary?” Ruth spoke up.
Roman set his cup down with such force, a splash of coffee spilled on the sandwich that lay before him. “If she’d wanted to say something to me, then she would have written or come for a visit.” He picked up the sandwich, tossed it in the lunch box, and slammed the lid. “Appetite’s gone now.”
Cleon stepped over to the workbench and laid his hand on Roman’s shoulder. “I think you’d better take a deep breath and count to twenty. You’re getting all worked up, and it’s not good for your health.”
“Maybe we should go up to the house,” Judith suggested. “I’ll fix some iced tea and we can sit in the living room and talk things through.”
“No way!” Roman folded his arms in an unyielding pose. “I’ve got work to do.” He glared at Rosemary. “Besides, I’ve got nothing to say to the likes of you, and neither does anyone in my family.”
Tears stung the back of Rosemary’s eyes, blurring her vision. Coming here had been a mistake. She should have stayed in Idaho, just as her son and daughter-in-law wanted her to do.
“I’m sorry I bothered you. I should have known you would still be stubborn like you were as a child.” With a strangled sob, Rosemary rushed out the door.
Unable to stand the dejected look on her aunt’s face, Ruth hurried out of the woodworking shop after Rosemary. She thought her father was being cruel in his unwillingness to listen to what his sister wanted to say, and it wouldn’t be right to let the poor woman leave without someone saying something to her.
Aunt Rosemary was almost to her car when Ruth caught up to her. “Don’t go,” she panted. “You need to talk things through with my dad.”
Rosemary turned toward Ruth and sniffed deeply. “You heard what he said; he has nothing to say to me.”
“Dad’s upset right now. Give him some time to calm down and think things through.”
“Are you suggesting I try again?”
Ruth nodded. “Not right now, but maybe in a day or two.”
Rosemary shook her head. “I’m not so sure—”
“Mom will talk to him, and so will I. Please, won’t you come back in a few days?”
Tears glistened in Rosemary’s eyes. “There’s not much left for me here anymore. But I came all this way, so I suppose I should stay awhile longer.”
“Life is so short, and one never knows when their loved ones will be snatched away.” Ruth drew in a quick breath. “If you were to leave without making things right between you and Dad, you might regret it for the rest of your life.”
“I already do. I never should have left home in the first place.” Rosemary opened her car door and stepped into the driver’s seat. “I’ve taken a room at Hannah’s House, a bed-and-breakfast in Berlin, so I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
As Ruth watched her aunt drive out of the yard, a lump lodged in her throat. Nothing was right anymore. Misunderstanding, misery, and confusion abounded at every turn. There seemed to be no answers for any of it.
With a heavy heart, she made her way back to her father’s shop. Maybe Mom had been able to talk some sense into Dad by now. Maybe when his sister returned, he would be willing to listen to what she had to say.
As Martha guided her horse and buggy up the driveway leading to her house, a gray compact car passed her on the left. A middle-aged woman with short brown hair sat in the driver’s seat. Martha didn’t recognize her. Maybe she was a tourist who had gotten lost and needed directions. Or maybe she’d had business at Dad’s woodworking shop.
Martha directed the horse to the hitching rail near the barn and climbed down from the buggy. After she unhitched the horse and led him to the corral, she went around to the back of the buggy to remove the dog carrier.
“Did you have any success at the auction?”
Martha turned and smiled at Grace, who held baby Daniel in her arms. “Jah, I got another female beagle to take Flo’s place.”
“That’s good. Let’s hope this one isn’t barren.”
“She’s already had one litter of pups, so I’m sure she’ll be able to have more.” Martha reached over and stroked the top of Daniel’s head. “Are you two out for a walk?”
“Not really. Cleon was supposed to come home for lunch, but it’s after one and he hasn’t shown up. I thought I’d better go down to the shop and see if he’s still planning to eat lunch at the house or if he wants me to bring him something there.”
Martha glanced toward the woodworking shop. “If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll walk with you. I’d like to show Dad my new dog.”
“Sure, we can wait.”
Martha took the dog out of the carrier and clipped a leash to its collar. “We’re ready.”
Grace smiled. “She’s a nice-looking dog. What’d you name her?”
“Polly. She already had the name when I got her.”
“I like it,” Grace said as they started walking down the path toward the shop.
“I saw Luke Friesen at the dog auction. He bought a female cocker spaniel to give his mamm for her birthday. We discussed the idea of me getting a male cocker later on and breeding the two.”
“Better not mention that idea to Dad.” Grace frowned. “I don’t think he’d be pleased about you making plans that involve Luke.”
“Dad’s been irritated ever s
ince he fired Luke.” Martha grunted. “I used to think Dad liked Luke, and I can’t believe he and Ruth suspect Luke might have done all those terrible things to us. Luke seems like a nice fellow. I’m sure he would never do anything criminal.”
“I don’t think he could, either.” Grace stopped walking and turned to face Martha. “It’s been several months since there was an attack—not since Ruth and Martin’s buggy was rammed.”
“And we don’t know for sure that the person responsible for the accident was the same one who broke into our house and did all of the other acts of vandalism to our property.”
“That’s true. Whoever hit the buggy could have been drinking. Maybe they got scared and fled the scene when they realized they had caused an accident.”
Martha shook her head. “Try telling that to Ruth. She thinks the person who hit them did it on purpose, and she’s convinced that Luke is the one responsible for that, too.”
“How could it have been Luke when he drives a horse and buggy?”
“He owns a truck and keeps it hidden in the woods.”
Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Really? This is the first I’ve heard that.”
Martha clamped her hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d blurted that out. Especially after Ruth had asked her not to say anything.
“Does Dad know what Ruth suspects?”
“No, but I talked to Luke soon after the accident. In fact, I came right out and asked what he was doing on Christmas Eve.”
“What’d he say?”
“Said he was home all evening, except for a quick trip to the Kings’ place to borrow something his mamm needed.”
Deep lines etched Grace’s forehead. “Then he could have done it.”
Martha shook her head vigorously. “I asked Luke if he’d been driving his truck on Christmas Eve, and he said he hadn’t.”
“And you believe him?”
“Jah. He said he went to the Kings’ around four o’clock. Since Martin and Ruth’s accident happened sometime after six, he couldn’t have done it.”
“Well,” Grace said, releasing a sigh, “we can’t solve anything standing here speculating. Let’s get into the shop before my arms give out.” She smiled at Daniel, fast asleep in her arms. “This young man feels like he weighs a ton.”
Martha chuckled. It was good to see Grace feeling better these days. For a while after Daniel was born, Grace had been sullen and mildly depressed.
They stepped onto the porch of Dad’s shop, and Martha had no more than opened the door, when she heard Mom’s pleading voice.
“Roman, won’t you please listen to reason? This may have been your only chance to—”
“My only chance?” Dad bellowed. “It’s that woman who had a chance. But she threw it out the window the day she left home.”
“What’s going on?” Grace asked, looking at Cleon, who stood off to one side with an anxious expression. “I thought you were coming up to the house for lunch.”
“I was, until things got sticky in here. Figured I’d better hang around and see if I could help get your daed calmed down.”
Martha felt immediate concern. “What’s wrong with Dad?”
Cleon nodded toward the workbench where Dad stood beside Mom. “Better let him explain.”
Martha hurried across the room. “What’s going on? Why were you shouting at Mom?”
“My sister came home,” he said with a groan.
Martha gasped. “The sister who’s been gone more than thirty years?”
Dad gave one quick nod.
“That’s wunderbaar,” Grace said.
“Your daed doesn’t think so.” Mom shook her head. “He sent Rosemary away.”
Martha glanced out the window. “That must have been her in the car I passed when I came up the driveway. Oh, Dad, how could you have sent her away? Didn’t you think we’d all like to meet her?”
“Ruth met her,” Mom said. “Apparently Rosemary went up to the house, and then Ruth brought her down here.”
“Did she say where she’s been all these years?” Grace asked.
“Boise, Idaho. She said her husband died recently, so she came here to see her family.”
“It’s too late for that,” Dad mumbled. “She never cared a whit about her family before, so why now?”
Mom frowned. “If you’d given her the chance to explain, you might have the answer to your question.”
Polly whined and pulled on her leash, and Martha looked down. She’d almost forgotten her reason for coming to the shop. “I came here to tell you that I bought a female beagle today,” she mumbled. “But I guess that’s not so important right now.”
“It is important, dear one.” Mom patted Martha’s arm. “But at the moment it’s hard to get enthused about anything.”
“Will Aunt Rosemary be back?” Grace asked. “I’d like to meet her.”
Dad shook his head. “If I have my way, I’ll never have to see that woman again.”
“I’m sorry about lunch being late,” Sue said as Abe pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table. “Molly got into a jar of petroleum jelly and made a mess of not only herself but the sofa cushions in the living room.”
Abe grimaced. Instead of things getting better for his sister, they seemed to be getting worse. Even with the four older ones in school, Sue had her hands full caring for Molly and Owen during the day.
“I’m sorry to hear about your troubles.” He glanced over at Molly’s high chair and saw that it was empty. “Where’s my little girl now?”
“I gave her a bath after she made the mess. As I was drying her off, she fell asleep. I put her to bed and figured she could eat when she wakes up.”
“That makes sense.” Abe looked over at Owen and then back at Sue. “Should we bow for prayer?”
They nodded and lowered their heads. When the prayer was over, Abe helped himself to a piece of bread and slathered it with butter.
“I got a letter from home this morning,” Sue said.
“Was it from the folks?”
She nodded. “It was from Dad, letting me know that Mom fell and broke her hip last week. He asked if I could come home.”
Abe nearly choked on the bread he’d put in his mouth. “Ach! I’m sorry to hear about Mom.”
“I hate to leave you in the lurch, but she really needs me right now, so—”
Abe held up his hand. “No problem. You’re needed there more than here. I’m sure I can find someone to take your place.” He grabbed his glass of water and gulped some down. “I’ll start looking for a helper right away.”
How did the dog auction go the other day?” Irene asked Martha as the two of them peeled apples for the pies Irene would serve to a group of tourists later in the day.
“It went well.” Martha smiled. “I got another female beagle, and I’m hoping she’ll give me lots of pups.”
“What’d you name her?” Irene’s teenage daughter, Carolyn, asked from where she stood making a fruit salad.
“She already had a name—Polly.”
“I like it. Sounds real lebhaft,” Irene put in.
“Polly seems to be pretty sprightly, all right. When I introduced Polly to Bo, she got so excited she knocked the poor critter to the ground.” Martha reached for another apple. As she sliced into it, the tangy aroma wafted up to her nose and made her mouth water. Apple pie was her favorite, and she hoped there would be some left over so she could have a piece.
“Guess we know who’ll be the boss in that family,” Carolyn said with a chuckle.
A knock sounded at the back door.
“I wonder who that could be.” Irene wiped her hands on a dish towel and went to answer the door. When Irene returned, Martha was shocked to see Gary Walker standing beside her.
“Wh–what are you doing here?” she squeaked.
“I heard about the Amish meals that are served here, so I came by to see if I could get an interview to put in one of the local papers.” Gary offered Martha a sl
anted grin and lifted his notebook and pen.
She ground her teeth together. “I thought you had moved on.”
“I did, but I missed the place so much, I decided to come back.” Gary smiled at Irene, a more genuine smile than he’d given Martha. “In fact, I’ve decided to relocate to Holmes County, and I’ve been looking for a place to live. You wouldn’t know of anything that’s available, would you?”
Irene opened her mouth as if to respond, but Martha spoke first. “Why would you want to move to Holmes County?”
“I like it here. Besides, I’ve been offered a job at the newspaper in Millersburg. I’ll be doing a regular column for them from now on, as well as some freelance stuff.”
Martha’s heart gave a lurch, and her palms grew sweaty. If Gary moved to Holmes County and he was the one responsible for the things that had been done to them, they could probably expect more.
Gary turned to face Irene. “Would you mind answering a few of my questions about the home-cooked meals you serve?”
“I suppose it would be all right,” she replied sweetly. “In fact, some free advertising might be good for my business.”
Gary pulled out a chair at the table and took a seat. “Is there anything in particular you’d like my readers to know?”
Ruth lay curled in a fetal position on her bedroom floor. The circle of sun shining through her window did nothing to diminish the loneliness encompassing her soul. When Ruth was a child, she used to lie in the sun, enjoying its warmth, finding it to be healing and comforting whenever she felt sad or lonely. Not anymore. Even the heat of the sun brought no healing or comfort. There seemed to be no reason for her to go on living.
She stared at the dust particles floating past her face. One. . .two. . . three. . . How many specks of dust were there, and where did they all come from?
Caw! Caw! Caw! The persistent chatter of a crow outside her window sounded foreboding, and she shivered. Her nose twitched as she drew in a shallow breath. When was the last time the braided throw rug on which she lay had been cleaned?
She rolled onto her back. Gazing at the cracks in the ceiling, she tried to pray, but no words would come. What was the point of praying? God never answered her prayers.
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