by Leslie Gould
“Will you teach me?” Zane asked.
Daniel harrumphed behind her. “That’ll be the day.” Eve frowned at him again.
“Zane could learn,” Lila said.
“Nah,” Daniel said. “He doesn’t have any reason to learn it.”
“I like languages,” Zane said. “Je parle français. Yo hablo español. Ich spreche Deutsch.”
Rose laughed. “Jah! Wie alt sind?”
“Zwölf,” Zane replied.
Rose laughed again. “Ich bin sieben.”
Zane high-fived her, which made her laugh even more. “I don’t really speak German, although I am twelve,” Zane said. “And I’m pleased to know you’re seven.” He smiled at her. “I don’t speak French either. But I do speak a little Spanish, and I’m going to take it in my new school.”
“We study German in our school,” Lila said.
Rose grinned. “I’m getting pretty good at it.”
Eve shook her head at the little girl, warning her not to be prideful.
“And you study Pennsylvania Dutch too?” Zane asked.
Lila answered, “No, we just learn it. When we’re little. It’s not a written language so we can’t study it.”
Zane’s expression soured. “Oh.”
“Jah, that’s why you can’t learn it.” Daniel headed toward the door.
Lila’s voice was low, but Eve still heard her clearly—“I’ll teach you.”
Zane smiled and then followed Daniel out the door.
Eve called after her nephew. “Check on the cow that is due on your way back.”
“I know!” Daniel responded. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“Denki!” Zane yelled as he ran out the door.
9
The next morning Zane and Charlie headed out to the neighbors’ as Shani left for the hospital. Charlie appeared rested, especially for having slept in his truck. She trusted him completely, but she also appreciated his sense of propriety.
Before visiting Joel, she checked in with Tim, who looked like he hadn’t slept at all. However, Simon seemed to be doing better. She introduced herself, and through the wires he murmured, “Hallo.”
Tim followed her out to the hall. “How long are you staying today?”
“A few hours.”
“I need a ride back to the farm.”
She contemplated his words, wondering why he’d be leaving. “Will Simon be all right without you?”
“His grandparents are coming.” Tim’s focus shifted down the hall. “My wife’s Mamm and Dat.”
“Oh,” Shani said. He didn’t seemed very pleased about their visit. “Of course I’ll give you a ride.”
Joel dozed most of the morning, and when she got ready to leave, she told him she’d back in the late afternoon or early evening. He squeezed her hand, but that was all.
Tim hardly spoke on the way home. As she drove up the Lehmans’ driveway, she passed a wagon heading toward the house.
“Who’s that?” Shani asked Tim.
“Our bishop.” Tim squinted out the window and shaded his eyes with his hand. “Gideon.” The man stopped the wagon by the clothesline.
Shani shifted into Park in front of the house and turned off the ignition.
“You don’t need to stop in,” Tim said.
“Eve has something for me.”
“Oh.” Tim kept his head down and opened the door without looking at her.
She climbed out quickly and pushed up her long sleeves as she strode toward the house. The day had grown warm. Unsure of whether to go to the back door or the front, she glanced at Tim, hoping he might instruct her.
He’d walked back to the bishop, his arms crossed and stance wide, oblivious to her.
She decided on the front door and knocked a few rapid beats. Little feet pattered toward her, and then the door swung open. The little girl, braids sticking out from beneath her little bonnet, turned her round face upward and smiled broadly.
“Is your aunt home?” Shani asked.
“Jah.”
“May I speak to her?”
The older girl appeared. A strand of her blond hair had managed to work its way out of her bun at the base of her neck. “Rose, invite our neighbor in.” The girl was polite and poised.
Rose stepped back, sweeping her arm in a wide arc. “Come in.”
Shani smiled as she stepped over the threshold. The little girl had quite a presence.
Eve stepped into the living room. “Hallo,” she said. “How is Simon today?”
“He’s doing much better.”
Eve exhaled and then asked, “How about your husband?”
“Okay,” Shani answered.
“Gut,” the woman said.
Shani guessed that meant good. She looked around as her mouth watered from the smell of something baking.
“We’re having lunch. Soup and biscuits. Would you like some?” the woman asked.
Shani’d had a protein bar for breakfast. And then another one midmorning. “Sure.”
“Zane and Charlie are here,” Eve said.
“Are they staying to eat?” Shani followed Eve.
Eve shrugged. “I invited them.”
Shani stepped into the kitchen. Charlie stood by the back door, while Zane sat at the table, along with the baby and the older boy. Zane appeared as comfortable as could be.
“Fancy meeting you here,” she said, tousling his hair. He ducked away.
Charlie stepped closer. “We’re just taking a break. All the boxes are in the right rooms and mostly unpacked. We left the kitchen and bathroom for you. Of course you’ll have to say exactly where you want the furniture.” He grinned.
“Sounds good.”
Eve motioned for her to sit down and then pulled a plate and bowl from the cupboard. She turned to Charlie. “Would you like some soup?”
He glanced at Shani. She nodded, hoping she communicated he could go back to the farmhouse and make a sandwich or be gracious and eat Eve’s soup.
“Sure,” Charlie said, heading to the empty seat by the baby. The baby tried to pick up a slice of cooked carrot on her high-chair tray and fussed when she couldn’t. After an odd silent prayer, Charlie speared the veggie with his fork and held it to the baby’s mouth. She managed to pry it off with her lips.
Shani couldn’t help but smile. The man was a natural. Nikki Hall had been a fool to let him go—and a coldhearted one to do it while he’d been deployed. But, selfishly, Shani knew having Charlie unattached meant he was more available to help Joel. He worked three days each week at a fire department on the edge of Philly and had spent much of his time off the past two months trying to encourage Joel to keep doing his exercises and stay positive.
The two hadn’t met until Joel was assigned to Charlie’s unit and moved to Philly to get ready to deploy while Shani and Zane stayed behind in California. Charlie had quickly become Joel’s closest friend. Shani and Zane had met Charlie at Fort Hood when they’d visited before the soldiers shipped out. Joel, Charlie, and Zane had played football on the lawn in front of the barracks. They’d all gone out to dinner together several times.
Nikki had come down the last few days they were there. It was the first time Shani had met her, and she liked her.
Over and over, when they’d Skyped with Joel once he was in-country, Charlie had been around, kidding with Zane and telling stories about Joel. Charlie had been a good friend to all of them.
Eve dished the soup into bowls and passed them around the table.
“Daniel, pass the biscuits,” she said.
The boy complied. Shani breathed in deeply as she sliced the warm biscuit in half and spread butter on each side, remembering her grandmother’s cooking.
“Mom,” Zane said, “maybe you could take some cooking lessons.”
The other children froze.
Shani smiled. “It’s no secret that I’m a really bad cook. My idea of lunch—and breakfast and dinner—is a protein bar. Sadly, my husband and son don’t agree.�
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Eve gasped. “But you’re growing—” She stopped, her face reddening.
Shani filled in the blank. “A baby.”
Eve nodded.
“Yep. And I really am trying to eat better.” If only the drama in their life would stop so she could work out a normal schedule.
“Mom?” Zane was staring at her.
“Yes?”
“What’s up with Dad?”
“He’s back in traction, and then they’ll cast the leg again. They adjusted his painkillers too.” Upped them. “The doctor said he’ll be able to come home by the end of the week.” They’d need a ramp by then. There was no way she could help Charlie lift the wheelchair, and Zane wasn’t strong enough to do it either.
Besides, Charlie needed to be back for work on Tuesday.
She turned to Eve. “Do you know a carpenter in the area? I need someone to build a ramp.” Shani took a bite of the biscuit. It melted in her mouth.
“I can do it,” Charlie said.
“We don’t have many tools,” Shani said. “And I think all of my grandfather’s were sold.”
“Jah,” the oldest boy said. “Our Dat bought them.”
“Tim can do it,” Eve said.
“No,” Shani said. “He has too much going on.”
Eve shook her head. “He’s quick with that sort of work. He’d want to do it.”
“Well, that’s not what I intended. I thought you could recommend someone. But I can pay Tim—or someone else.” Shani took a spoonful of the soup. It was hearty and delicious.
Eve started to say something more but stopped. The older girl and the boy looked at her. “I’ll talk to him,” she said.
“I think he’ll be in soon,” Shani said.
“What do you mean?” Eve stood and started toward the window. “He’s here?”
Shani nodded toward the driveway. “He’s outside, talking to the bishop.”
Eve pulled back the curtain, a concerned expression on her face. “Simon’s alone at the hospital?”
“His grandparents were coming this afternoon . . . ” Shani said, but she stopped when she realized Eve was shaking her head. Shani’s voice quieted but she continued. “So Tim came back here.”
Daniel crossed his arms over his suspenders. “He didn’t need to come back. I’m taking care of everything here. He just didn’t want to spend the afternoon with Dawdi and Mammi—that’s all.”
Eve stepped back from the glass, shooting Daniel a sympathetic look. Lila said, “It’s good he has visitors besides Dat. Has he been lonely?”
“Not too much,” Shani answered. “He’ll probably be home by tomorrow. He’s definitely traumatized, but considering what happened, he’s doing well.” Shani glanced toward the window and then at Eve. “Tim said he’d go back tonight after the grandparents go home. When I go back to see Joel.”
Eve stepped back to the window, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Is everything all right?” Charlie asked.
Eve nodded.
“I want to go see Dawdi and Mammi,” Rose said.
“Hush,” Lila responded.
A pout settled on the little girl’s face. “Then I want to go out and see Dat and the bishop.”
“Wait until we’re done eating,” Eve said, sitting back down at the table.
Rose didn’t seem to be afraid of her father, but Shani wasn’t so sure about the twins.
The baby began to fuss again, and Charlie fed her another carrot.
“We have cookies for dessert,” Lila said. “Snickerdoodles.”
“What are snickerdoodles?” Zane asked.
“I’ve failed you.” Shani sighed, thinking about the cookies her grandmother used to make. “You’re in for a real treat.”
By the time Tim came into the house, Shani and Eve were doing the dishes while Charlie held the baby and the children ate their cookies. Stepping forward, Charlie held out his right hand while balancing the baby with his left.
Tim shook his hand, although without much enthusiasm. He ignored the baby, and she didn’t reach for him or acknowledge him in anyway. She seemed content to have Charlie hold her.
The older children scampered away into the living room.
“Shani needs someone to build a ramp,” Eve said to Tim. “So Joel can come home. He’s going to be in a wheelchair for a while.”
“I was hoping I might hire you,” Shani said.
“I can help,” Charlie added. “As long as we can use your tools.”
Tim didn’t answer.
“Wash up,” Eve said. “You’d better eat before the soup gets cold.”
He started to leave the kitchen without answering, but then stopped and said to Eve, “The bishop said to tell you hallo.”
Eve didn’t respond. Instead, the woman turned toward Charlie and said, “Do you think the wood for the ramp will fit in your truck?”
Charlie nodded.
“There’s a lumberyard nearby,” she said. “Daniel and Zane can move the furniture around while you’re gone.” Eve dried her hands and put out her hands for the baby.
Charlie slid the little one into her arms. “I’ll go take a look at where the ramp needs to go.”
Shani said, “There’s a measuring tape in—”
“I have one in the truck,” Charlie replied, heading for the back door.
Eve called out to the children, telling them to come into the kitchen. A moment later Daniel and Zane appeared, followed by the oldest girl.
“Lila can go help you finish unpacking,” Eve said to Shani. “Or if you’d rather, she can stay here and I can help you.”
“Why don’t you both come?”
“The baby needs to nap.” Eve bounced the little one on her hip.
“We have a portable crib. She can nap at our place.”
“Rose would need to come too,” Lila said.
“I’ll put her to work.” Shani dried the last plate.
Tim returned, with Rose at his side. “Where’d Charlie go?”
“He’s going to the lumberyard,” Eve said.
“Why didn’t he wait for me?”
Eve pursed her lips, and then said to Daniel and Zane, “Go tell Charlie that Tim will go to the lumberyard with him after he eats. Then stay at the house so Shani can tell you where to move the furniture.”
The boys rushed out the back door and clomped down the steps.
Shani was anxious to get home, but instead she took the baby from Eve and sat down at the end of the table, balancing the little one on the edge so Eve could fill Tim’s bowl and plate. Shani couldn’t figure the man out. Had the grief over the loss of his wife changed him? Much like Joel’s injury had turned her husband into a man she hardly knew.
The baby smiled, her blue eyes shining. Shani wrinkled her nose, and the baby giggled. She grinned, and the baby laughed out loud. “What beautiful children you have,” Shani said to Tim.
He ignored her, shoveling the soup into his mouth. In no time, he stood, carrying his dishes to the sink. Eve took them from him, and off he went, out the back door without saying another word.
Shani couldn’t help but feel that Tim was annoyed. “Everything all right?” she asked.
“Jah,” Eve said, glancing toward Lila. “Go pack the diaper bag for me, and get Rose ready.” Then she turned to Shani. “I’ll be done here in a minute. Then we can walk up to your place.”
“No need to walk,” Shani said. “We can all go in my van. Do you have a car seat for the baby?”
“Jah, I do,” Eve answered. “But do we need it for such a short ride?”
Shani nodded. “I’ve worked emergency and then pediatrics. I’ve seen way too many injuries.”
A few minutes later, as the girls piled into the back of the van, Eve told Shani she’d be just a minute. Lila secured the car seat, while Eve walked toward the chicken coop with the baby. Tim stepped out from the other side.
Eve spoke quietly but Shani could still hear her say, “We could use the mon
ey. The lease on the field is due next month. And you keep saying you want to tear down—”
Shani ushered the girls into the van and climbed in herself, not wanting them or herself to hear any more of her neighbors’ private business. A couple of minutes later, Tim stepped through the gate to the field.
Eve called out that she’d forgotten a bottle for the baby. When she returned, she fastened the baby into her car seat and climbed into the front passenger seat.
Shani was overcome with a sense of comfort. It’d been so long since she’d spent time with other women. The girls counted too, even the baby. “So why do you have the car seat?” Shani asked as Eve fastened her seat belt, wondering if they used it in their buggy.
“For when we ride with our drivers.”
It sounded as if they had chauffeurs. “Drivers?”
“Jah. We hire them to take us places. Doctors’ appointments. Stores in Lancaster. Anywhere farther than we can go by buggy.” Eve chuckled. “They call it ‘hauling Amish.’”
Shani couldn’t help but laugh. “So that’s what I’ve been doing, right? Hauling Tim back and forth to the hospital.”
Eve nodded, smiling as she did, and then said, “And now hauling us too.”
The baby began to fuss as Shani drove, and Lila sang a sweet melody to her. It took Shani a moment to realize she couldn’t understand any of the words. Glancing into her rearview mirror, Shani saw Lila leaning forward. The baby grasped her finger and held on.
As they reached the old farmhouse, Tim held one end of the tape measure while Daniel held the other. Charlie wrote in a small notebook, while Zane bent down on the steps, examining where the handrail had come loose.
Shani rolled down her window and called out, “Thank you!”
Charlie gave her a thumbs-up gesture. Tim didn’t respond. Maybe he hadn’t heard her.
“Is your friend really as nice as he seems?” Eve had her eyes on Charlie as the men headed toward the truck.
“Nice, yes. But it’s more than that. It’s a long story . . .”
“I’d like to hear it someday,” Eve said.
Shani imagined sitting in Eve’s kitchen, and over coffee and sticky buns sharing stories. She’d never had that with a friend. Sure, she and co-workers shared their lives between charting and bed checks and shifts. And she’d relied on other Army wives at different bases through the years, but many of them stayed home to care for their children while Shani always had a nursing job.