by Amy Field
“She’s been back only a week,” Josef replied. “I haven’t seen you a week now,” he further excused.
“No matter,” David replied.
Just then his niece showed up and reached for Hope.
“I will see you later,” Josef told him, walking off after Liza greeted him.
Later that afternoon the two men met for fishing. It was a secluded area that was rarely used by anyone else. This made it a suitable area to sit in silence as they waited for the fish to bite. Their moments of silence were usually interrupted by sporadic conversation before they reverted back to not speaking.
As the two sat comfortably on the grass by the bank of the river, they each threw out their lines and waited.
David was the first to catch a fish and Josef followed in short order.
“How’s business?” Josef asked David as he swung his line back into the water.
“Business is good,” he answered. “The orders keep coming in. I did two shipments this week alone,” he continued beaming.
“You?” he asked Josef.
After some time Josef answered. “Business isn’t as it used to be but I’m thankful.”
“That’s true,” David acquiesced. “If you ever need any help don’t hesitate to ask me though,” he offered.
“It won’t come to that,” Josef affirmed, being the proud man that he was.
David didn’t comment further.
“How’s little Hope?” Josef restarted the conversation. “She looks bigger every time I see her.”
“Hope is great,” he replied. “I can’t imagine my life without her, especially now that…”
David trailed off not able to complete the sentence. Josef however knew what he was about to say and he gave him a light pat on the back.
“Praise God for leaving you this precious gift,” he implored David.
“I am grateful,” he countered. “I just wish she was here to share in the joy. I’m not bitter anymore but it still hurts sometimes when I think about her,” he confessed.
Again Josef patted his back before bringing his attention back to his pole.
After some time Josef spoke again.
“I hear that Liza will be leaving with her new husband.”
“Yes,” David acknowledged. “And it means I’m out of a babysitter as well.”
“Have you tried asking around to see if anyone would like the job?” Josef asked.
“No I haven’t; most of the females are too young, already married or about to get married,” he replied.
“Well I hope it works out soon for you,” Josef offered and David inclined his head in response.
The two remained quiet for the rest of their time fishing. When they were satisfied with their catch, they packed up and walked back to the main road. There they parted ways as they lived opposite ends of the community.
Ruth’s committal ceremony passed without a hitch and she was now a member of the church. She was happy and hopeful that everything would now fall in place. However, the euphoric feeling she felt quickly died away when she overheard two women who were supposedly her mother’s friend talking about her.
“It’s a shame she put her poor family through such grief,” one woman said in a voice filled with disdain.
“I can’t imagine the things she must have done while out there,” the other woman joined in referring to her time out in the English world.
“And she was gone so long. Something must have happened that’s the only reason she returned,” the first woman said.
“I for one know that my Nathan could never think of taking such a girl to be his wife,” she continued to say.
“I would have a heart attack if Jacob ever had that intention towards her,” the other said laughing.
“No one in their right minds allow her to taint their son with her worldly ways.”
Unable to take anymore, Ruth rounded the corner catching them off guard.
“Oh, hello dear,” the woman who had spoken first greeted, when she recovered from her surprise.
Ruth couldn’t bring herself to return the greeting.
“Excuse me,” she said instead pushing past them and heading for the house.
“She’s rude too,” she heard the other woman try to whisper to her co-conspirator.
Even at service it was no better. The persons in her age group barely spoke to her and if they even tried they got stern looks from their parents. She didn’t stay back at the after service sing alongs, opting to go home with her parents. The only friend she had was Mary, but Mary wouldn’t understand her plight because she believed in the innate good of everyone. When she wasn’t working herself to exhaustion trying to help her mother with everything, she spent most days in the barn talking to their cow Bessy while she wrote in her diary.
Her father became worried, as he knew something was wrong but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. He thought she probably needed a new setting to get away from the house some times.
That is when the idea of her becoming Hope’s babysitter popped into his head.
Donning his straw hat and coat, he decided to pay his friend a visit.
“Josef, this is a surprise,” David spoke after embracing him. “What brings you here?”
“I found a babysitter for you,” Joseph replied excitedly.
David knitted his eyebrows in confusion.
“What? Who?”
“My daughter, Ruth."
“Your daughter?” David was surprised at this.
“Yes. I think she needs something to do. She has been cooped up in the house since she came home. She doesn’t interact with the people her age, I’m worried."
David pondered all that he just said for a few moments. He had noticed how reserved the girl had been. When others in her age group congregated, she was never in the midst. His eyes usually sought her out and he would see her sitting by herself or around her mother. He had found it odd but hadn’t put much more thought into it.
When he pondered his friend’s offer, he realized that he couldn’t pass it up, not now anyway. Liza was set to leave by the week’s end, which meant he was between a rock and a hard place.
“Ok,” he conceded reluctantly. “She can start next Monday. Liza is leaving the Saturday. But I’ll manage until then.”
“Thank you David,” Josef responded, relieved.
He returned his friend’s smile as they shook on it.
Ruth knocked on the door as she patiently waited for her new employer to admit her. To say she was anxious would have been an understatement. Her palms were sweating profusely and her heart rate was far from normal. Had she known her father would have gone and set her up with a job like this, she would have implored him not to. It wasn’t that she was opposed to getting a job but she didn’t think she had the skill-set to take care of a toddler. Yet it seemed it would be the only job that she would be getting in town. It was even more important now that there was another mouth to feed at home (hers) and her father’s tanning business wasn’t doing too well.
For this reason she chose to endure it. She didn't know the man she was about to meet, but from her father's description he seemed nice enough.
Just then the door flew open and Mr. Yoder stood before her.
“Good morning Mr. Yoder, I am Ruth, my father sent me,” she introduced herself with a shy smile.
“Yes I know,” he replied his smile much broader than hers. “Please come in,” he said moving aside so she could enter.
Ruth stepped inside and waited for him to close the door and lead the way.
“This way please,” he said warmly. He led her to a living room that was filled with the finest furnishings she had ever seen.
“Please have a seat,” he offered when she stood awkwardly by the entrance.
Graciously accepting his offer, she sat in a high backed armchair while he sat across from her.
The man stared at her for a few moments without saying anything. This made her uncomfortable as his steel
grey eyes peered at her as if he was trying to see into her soul. She felt like squirming – shrinking even under his gaze but somehow she remained upright and unmoving.
“Hope is asleep at the moment,” he said, to break the ice.
She smiled in response, not quite certain what to say.
“Do you have any experience taking care of a toddler Ruth?” he asked still watching her intently.
“Ohm,” she started nervously, fidgeting in her seat. He was making her so nervous; she couldn’t think what to say. Removing her gaze from his, she attempted an answer once more.
“No, I don’t have much experience with taking care of toddlers. Though I did assist my mother when I was younger with the other two girls,” she answered, sounding hopeful.
She turned her head to face him and to see his response, and saw him shaking his head as if in consideration of her answer.
“Fair enough,” he responded. “And what are your expectations of your wages?” he asked.
She was surprised by the question. Usually the employer stated what he expected to pay.
“I didn’t have a figure in mind,” she answered timidly feeling even more inadequate with the role she was called to play.
“No worries,” he answered with a bright smile picking up on her nervousness.
“The pay will be $400 per fortnight,” he said.
Ruth couldn’t believe what heard. She stared at him in surprise. So much so that she almost missed the rest of his statement.
“You will be here from seven to five every evening except Sundays. If you have errands to run, I give you permission to take Hope with you and if you have an emergency at home just let me know beforehand."
Rising to his feet, he extended a hand to help her out of her seat.
“Let me show you where Hope’s room is,” he said.
Ruth gently placed her hand into his upturned palm and immediately felt an unfamiliar warmth travel from her palm that was connected to his and straight up her arm. She turned her eyes up at him wondering if he had felt it but he wasn’t looking at her. As soon as she was up, she removed her still warm and tingly palm from his.
“This way,” he instructed walking ahead of her.
When they made it to the room that was located on the second floor, Ruth was bowled over by everything. There was a big mahogany crib to the far side of the room. There was a changing table to one side and a small chest beside it. There was also a small cot in the middle of the room adorned with a pink comforter and a few teddy bears neatly laying on top. There was also a chest at the foot of the bed.
This was more than she or any of her siblings had grown up with and she was at a loss for words.
“My wife wanted her room to be special. She designed it all,” David spoke when he saw the look of awe on her face.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Yoder,” Ruth offered her condolences.
“It’s okay,” he said before turning his attention to the crib where the little girl lay asleep on her belly.
Bending over the crib, David gently shook his daughter.
“Hey Hopey Dopey,” he spoke gently. “Time to get up.”
Ruth’s insides tingled at the sweet gesture.
The baby’s eyes fluttered open. Bringing herself into a sitting position she began to rub her eyes. David stood by the crib watching his daughter. When she was more oriented, her eyes landed on him and she smiled.
“Papa up,” she said raising her hands.
David obliged the little girl taking her into his arms. Like every other morning he threw her in the air, much to her happiness before catching her. Squeals of enjoyment escaped her little mouth and when he stopped she held tightly to his neck.
“More papa, more,” the little girl requested and he obliged her once more.
Ruth stood to the side with a smile on her face as she watched the happy exchange between father and daughter. Without warning, her mind conjured images of her past reminding her of what she had lost.
She quickly averted her eyes that had started burning with her near tears. She didn’t want to break up the happy moment with her own drama.
“Papa, girl,” she heard the little girl say in her sweet little voice.
Lifting her head she noticed the little girl pointing at her and David looking in her direction.
“Yes that is a girl, like you and Aunty Liza,” he said against her cheek.
“And I am a boy,” he continued to say.
The little girl stared at him, not quite sure what he meant and again Ruth found herself smiling. They were so innocent when they were young.
“Would you like to see her?” he asked the little girl cautiously pointing to Ruth.
Hope shook her head eagerly, prompting David to walk towards her.
“Hello Hope,” she said smiling at the little girl who stared at her through interested eyes.
“I’m Ruth,” she continued introducing herself.
The little girl simply continued to stare at her.
“Where auntie Li?” she asked her father looking as if she was about to cry.
The little girl’s rejection was a sting to her ego but it was understandable. She was a stranger after all; someone the little girl had just met as opposed to who had been looking after her before.
“Aunty Liza had to leave for a while sweetie; Aunty Ruth will be with you now,” he tried to explain. However it only made the situation worse as the little girl’s mouth formed the perfect pout and her eyes glistened just before she let out a loud wail.
David did his best to calm her but she wouldn’t as she kept crying for the other woman. David gave her an apologetic look over the little girl’s mass of brown curls.
Ruth in turn gave him an understanding smile.
Finally he was able to calm the wailing child and Ruth tried to get the little girl acquainted with her.
She was currently sitting on the area rug with a few of her toys surrounding her. David was beside her playing, or rather allowing her to include him in her play. Very slowly Ruth knelt beside her. The little girl turned briefly to look at her before returning to what she was doing.
“Can I play Hope?” she asked the little girl in a kind gentle voice.
After some time she replied, “Okie.”
Ruth took one of the bears that seemed to be her least favorite and began mimicking the little girl’s movements. Soon she was giggling and trying more intricate actions to see if Ruth would be able to mimic them.
Slowly David eased himself off the ground mouthing to her that he was late and needed to be at work. She shook her head in understanding as she continued her play with the little girl.
When she was certain that David had left she tried to coax the little girl in going downstairs for breakfast. To her surprise it didn’t take much prodding.
“Up,” Hope said her arms upraised, as they had been when she requested her father lift her.
Obliging the little girl, Ruth took her into her arms and brought her downstairs. After setting her in the high chair in the kitchen, she went about making cereal for her. Hope watched her for some time before turning her attention to the bear she had brought downstairs.
Ruth thanked God privately when the little girl cooperated as she fed her the cereal.
After breakfast, she bathed her and put on a fresh set of clothes on her. The rest of the day was spent with her playing all of Hope’s favorite games in between meals and nap time.
Although she didn’t know if it was a part of her job description, she decided to make dinner for David. She then put Hope to sleep before taking some time to relax. Taking care of a toddler was no joke.
At precisely five, David was home.
“Ah I see you made it through the say unscathed,” he remarked.
“Yes Mr. Yoder,” she affirmed. “Hope is a handful,” she said with a soft laugh. “But she is a sweet child."
“That’s good to hear,” he replied' sounding relieved.
“I didn’t
know if I should but I made dinner,” she informed him.
“Oh thank you Ruth,” he replied in a pleasantly surprised tone.
At his comment she found herself smiling pleased by his gratitude.
“Well I’ll be off now,” she informed him.
“Wait,” he called out before she could make it to the door.
Ruth turned to face him.
“Did you eat?” he asked his gaze as assessing as it had been earlier.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I’m sure they left my dinner at home.”
“Well, Miss Ruth; the next time you cook for me, I expect you to enjoy the meal as well."
Not wanting to displease him she readily agreed, “Yes sir.”
“Is your father coming for you?” he asked.
“No sir. I will walk,” she told him.
“At this time of the evening and after such a long day?” he asked in return.
“Take the buggy and get home safely,” he offered.
As she made to protest he spoke up, “I have another buggy so you aren’t putting me out of my way. Plus I will feel better knowing you arrived home in a safe and timely manner.”
At this she offered him a bright smile that caused David’s heart to constrict within his chest.
“Thank you sir,” she replied and he followed her outside helping her into the driver’s seat.
David watched as the buggy rolled away from him and made its way through the path before picking up speed as the horse cantered down the stretch.
What was it about this girl that interested him so? He couldn’t quite comprehend why he had been so drawn to her. Something stirred within him whenever she turned her bright blue eyes at him or when her pink lips formed the perfect crescent as she smiled at him. Even when their hands touched he had felt something.
Whatever it was, he had to put a stop to it. He was her employer and not only that but her father was his good friend. When he thought about the age gap, he felt even guiltier – he could have easily been her father.
The feelings that stirred within him made him feel alive but they also felt taboo. Sarah would probably turn in her grave if she knew he was harboring such feelings.