“You worry too much. Just cut our son some slack. Give him a chance, Cora. You shouldn’t have to feel pressured to move.” Evan paused. “Now, if that’s all you have to say, I really do need to go.”
“Wait, Evan. I need to ask you something.”
“For heaven’s sake, Cora, what is it?”
Cora cringed. “If we did move, would you be okay with it?”
“I guess so; just don’t move out of the country. I’d like to see my boy once in a while.”
“Really, Evan! Of course we won’t leave the country,” she snapped. “I just want to move to some rural area where Jared won’t be faced with so many temptations.”
“Yeah, okay. Do whatever you want. Just make sure you let me know where you are so I can keep in touch with Jared.” Evan hung up.
Cora’s eyes burned as she clicked off her phone. Slapping her forehead, she scolded herself. Why did she need Evan’s approval? It was obvious that all he cared about was being with Emily and pleasing her. Cora didn’t know why she let Evan’s indifference bother her so much. Was I hoping he’d beg us to stay? she wondered. Since Evan obviously doesn’t care, I’m going to take that as a sign that it’s meant for Jared and me to move. Maybe someday he’ll realize what he lost. She picked up her phone. I’m definitely calling my Realtor. Then I’ll go online to look for a job.
CHAPTER 16
Arthur
Adam sank into his recliner with a groan. The day had been exceptionally busy, and he was exhausted. He’d been relieved when, half an hour ago, the girls had gone willingly to bed themselves, because right now, he didn’t have the energy to climb the stairs to their bedroom. It had been a week since Dianna had begun watching the girls during the day, and he was grateful for that.
Yesterday had been an off-Sunday for their church district, which had given both him and the girls a little more time to rest and get better acquainted. Many Amish in the area visited another church district on their in-between Sundays, but Adam rarely did. In addition to the fact that he wasn’t much for socializing, he needed that every-other-Sunday as a time to rest and reflect on things.
Hearing voices coming from upstairs, Adam gritted his teeth. His nerves were on edge this evening. “You three need to go to sleep,” he called, cupping his hands around his mouth. Adam valued his peace and quiet and hoped this kind of thing would not go on every night, because he didn’t have the patience for it.
“I’m not sleepy!” Linda’s high-pitched voice floated down the stairs.
“You’ll never feel sleepy if you don’t quit talking! Just lie down now, and please be quiet.”
“Why?” Amy chimed in.
“Because I said so.” Adam hoped that would put an end their idle chitchat.
When no one responded, he reached for the glass of milk he’d placed on the coffee table and took a drink. He wished he had some cookies to go with it, but the girls had eaten the last of the ones Dianna had brought over when she’d come to watch the kids last Friday. Adam knew he should limit their sweets, but while trying to make them happy, he didn’t always do the right thing.
Adam reminded himself that at least the girls were functioning better in the new life they’d been forced to accept. At night no more muffled crying came from behind closed doors, as it had during the first few weeks they’d been here. Adam had wanted to rush into the girls’ room and gather them into his arms, but they had been keeping him at arm’s length and he feared their rejection. So when he’d heard his nieces crying themselves to sleep, he just stood there, with his forehead pressed against the side of their door, letting his own tears fall along with theirs. Other times, he’d stand there, barely able to breathe, until the girls’ whimpers were replaced with even breathing, letting him know they’d fallen asleep. Then he would quietly enter and tuck them in before heading downstairs to his room in the hopes that he could sleep. Linda and Carrie shared a room and slept in the same bed. Adam had set up a cot in their room for Amy so they could all be together. He figured that later, if Amy wanted her own room, she could sleep in the one across the hall from her sisters.
Last night he’d gone into the girls’ room after they’d fallen asleep. When he’d pulled the blanket up to cover Carrie and Linda, Carrie had mumbled sleepily, “Good night, Papa.” The poor little thing still didn’t seem to understand that her parents weren’t coming back.
At the supper table this evening, Adam had felt like his head was going to explode. Linda and Carrie talked nonstop about the chipmunk they’d discovered that lived in the brush pile out back. Dianna had apparently brought some popcorn with her today, and they’d placed the popped kernels on the ground in front of the branches. Linda was excited that Chippy, as she’d named the critter, had peeked out a short time later and filled his pouch with as much popcorn as possible before storing it back underneath the branches. Adam had to admit, it was kind of cute when Carrie puffed out her cheeks, trying to show him how Chippy had looked. After hearing their stories, Adam had joined the conversation long enough to suggest that they save some apple peels for their newfound friend.
It was good to see Linda and Carrie smiling once in a while, but Amy was another story. While her younger sisters jabbered on and on about Chippy, Amy sat quietly, toying with her food. Adam continued to hope that something would bring Amy around and give her a reason to smile, but he’d begun to think that might never happen.
He rubbed his forehead, making little circles above his brows. Mary should have picked someone else to raise her children, not me. I don’t know how to relate to them, and I’ll never be able to take their mamm and daed’s place.
“Uncle Adam, Carrie’s hogging the covers.” Linda’s shrill voice scattered Adam’s thoughts. A few seconds later, she padded into the room.
Adam grimaced, wondering if he was ever going to have any peace. There was another empty bedroom upstairs, and he thought about suggesting that Linda move into that room, so she’d have her own bed, but the girls had indicated they didn’t want to be separated. “Come on, Linda,” he said, rising from his chair. “I’ll walk you back up to your room and tuck you into bed.”
“Will you tell Carrie she can’t have all the covers?”
He nodded. “Jah, sure.”
As Adam followed Linda up the stairs, he thought about the challenges that lay ahead for him. The only way to deal with the situation was to take things as they came, because if he looked too far ahead, he’d feel even more overwhelmed. He thought once again how grateful he was that Leah’s mother had agreed to watch the children while he was at work. Having a woman’s influence to help guide them in areas where Adam couldn’t was a huge relief. At least that was one phase of this challenge he didn’t have to worry about right now.
“How did things go over at Adam’s today?” Leah asked her mother.
Mom’s lips compressed as she set the magazine she’d been reading aside. “Adam’s nieces are well behaved, and they do whatever I ask, but they’re having a hard time adjusting. Losing one’s parents at any age is difficult, but when a child loses both parents at the same time, I believe they may feel a sense of abandonment.”
“Do you think the girls are angry at their mamm and daed for dying?” Leah questioned, seating herself beside Mom on the couch.
Mom gave a slow nod. “That’s possible—especially Amy. And the fact that their uncle is gone so much due to his job isn’t helping things any.”
“But you’re there for them during the day, and Adam’s with them in the evenings and on weekends.”
“True, but it’s not the same as having two parents, and a mother who’s at home with them during the day. That little chipmunk is about the only thing that seems to have made those two younger girls happy.” Mom smiled. “This morning we put some of that old popcorn I took over in front of the pile of branches. Then we all stood back and watched until Chippy came to investigate. He must have liked it, because back and forth he went, storing the kernels underneath there somewhere, wher
e he’ll no doubt eat them later.”
“Sounds like a positive distraction that gives the children some joy,” Leah said. “At least they have you to share it with them.”
“True, and while I like the girls, I’ll never have the bond with them that their mother had. And Adam… well, he’s their uncle, and a bachelor at that, so unless he gets married someday, the girls might never feel as if they’re part of a complete family.”
“I doubt that Adam will ever find a woman who’d be willing to marry him.”
“Why do you think that?”
“He’s too set in his ways.” Leah popped a piece of gum into her mouth. “No woman I know would want to marry a man who thinks he’s right about everything.”
Just then Leah’s father entered the room with a grim expression.
“What’s wrong, Alton?” Mom asked. “Was there a problem in the barn when you were feeding the horses?”
“It’s not the horses.” He took a seat on the other side of Mom. “I just came from the phone shack. There was a message from your brother-in-law James. Guess your sister is having a hard time with her pregnancy, and the doctor’s worried she may lose the boppli, so he put her on bed rest.”
“That’s going to be difficult.” Mom looked at Dad and then touched Leah’s arm. “Since James and Grace moved to Wisconsin and have no family close by, I should go there and help out.”
Leah nodded. “I understand. And don’t worry about things here. Dad and I will get along just fine while you’re gone.” Grace was Mom’s youngest sibling, and this was her fifth child. The other children, all boys, were all less than ten years old and had been born every two years. The boys were quite active, and none would be that much help to their mother, so Leah knew Mom’s assistance would be greatly appreciated.
“There’s just one thing.” Frowning, Mom rubbed the bridge of her nose. “If I go to help Grace, Adam won’t have a sitter for his nieces. Would you consider taking over that responsibility, Leah?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mom—”
“The girls will be starting school in a few weeks, and you wouldn’t need to be at Adam’s house all day.”
“Adam doesn’t get home until close to suppertime,” Leah reminded. “That would mean the girls would be alone after they get out of school until Adam gets home. Besides, Carrie’s not in school yet, so she’ll need someone with her during the day.”
“You’re right about that.”
“But it won’t work for my schedule, Mom, because I need to be available for people who need a reflexology treatment.”
“Maybe you could schedule appointments during the evening hours,” Dad suggested.
“Or perhaps Adam could bring the girls over here every day,” Mom interjected.
Leah shook her head. “They’d be by themselves while I was in the basement working on people’s feet. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate, knowing they were upstairs, unattended.” Leah grabbed the throw pillow and pushed it behind her back. “Besides, I’m sure Adam would never go for that.”
“If you’re willing to watch them, at least we could ask,” Mom said with a hopeful expression.
Leah sucked her bottom lip as she mulled things over. “I suppose I could do that, but Adam may want to ask someone else to watch the girls.”
“You won’t know that till you talk to him about it.” Mom rose from her seat. “I’m going out to the phone shack and leave a message for James, letting him know that I’ll be coming to help out.”
Leah leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. Adam needed someone to care for his nieces during the day, and for some strange reason, she hoped it would be her. Not to see Adam, of course, but to spend time with those precious girls.
Chicago
Cora sat at her desk in the kitchen, searching for nursing jobs on the Internet. For Jared’s sake, she’d been keeping her search to the more rural areas in Illinois, not wanting to move too far from Chicago. She wanted him out of the big city but figured she’d have to deal with Evan if she and Jared moved too far away. Besides, it was only fair to her son to live close enough so that he could spend some time with his father—what precious little time Evan gave.
So far, Cora hadn’t found any jobs that met her criteria, but she would keep looking. Yesterday, she’d made contact with a Realtor, who’d be coming by tomorrow morning to take a look at the house. Cora was anxious to find out how much he thought she could get for it. Hopefully, it would sell quickly and bring in enough that she’d be able to put a good share of the money into Jared’s college fund. Of course, she had to convince him that he needed more schooling once he graduated from high school. The last time the subject of his education came up, Jared had insisted that he didn’t need college and wanted to find a job doing something with his hands. Cora couldn’t imagine what that would be. Jared didn’t seem to have much interest in anything other than running around with his friends and playing video games on their large-screen TV.
Maybe things will change once we’re out of the city and away from his friends, Cora told herself, turning off the computer. Tomorrow was another day, and hopefully things would go well with the Realtor. Her one big concern, however, was what she would do if the house sold before she found a job someplace else. She sure couldn’t move without suitable employment.
“You worry too much,” Cora’s mother had often said during Cora’s childhood. “Just take each day as it comes, and trust God for the rest.”
“That was easy enough for you to say, Mom,” Cora muttered under her breath. Cora hadn’t trusted God for anything in a long time; not since she was a young girl.
“Who you talking to, Mom?” Jared asked, stepping into the room.
Cora jumped. “Oh, you startled me. I thought you’d gone to bed.”
“Nope. I ain’t sleepy. Thought I’d fix myself something to eat.” Jared marched across the room and flung the refrigerator door open. “Is there any of that pepperoni pizza left from yesterday?”
“There probably is, but do you really want to stuff yourself at this hour of the night?”
He lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug. “Don’t really matter to me what time it is. When I’m hungry, I eat. So there!”
Cora cringed. When had her son gotten so mouthy? As far as Cora was concerned, she and Jared really needed to move, and the sooner the better. She might have to take the first job that came along, regardless of how much it paid.
CHAPTER 17
Arthur
The next morning before leaving for work, Adam peeled an apple then wrapped the peelings in a paper towel and wrote a note to the girls. He hoped they’d be happy that he’d left a little something for their chipmunk friend.
As Adam began fixing a sandwich to take to work, he heard Coal barking outside. Glancing out the kitchen window, he was surprised to see Leah riding up on her bicycle. It was a beautiful morning, so he could understand why she’d be on her bike. What he couldn’t figure out was why she had come here.
Going to the door, he met her on the porch, with Coal wagging his tail and nudging her hand to pet him.
“Guder mariye,” Leah said, looking up at Adam.
“Good morning,” he replied. “Out for a morning ride?”
“No, actually, I came to let you know that my mamm can’t watch the kinner today,” Leah said. “Her sister’s expecting a baby and the doctor ordered bed rest for her, so Mom is going there to help out with her four children and will probably stay till the boppli’s born.”
Adam groaned. This was not the kind of news he needed this morning. “I can understand why she’d want to help her sister, but it kind of puts me in a bind right now. I can’t very well take the girls to work with me today. There’s nothing for them to do at the store, and they’d either be bored or get into things I don’t want them to touch.”
Leah held up her hand. “I have the answer to that—at least for today.”
“What do you mean?”
“I a
lso came here to say that since my mamm will not be available to watch the girls, I can take over that responsibility today and even until Mom returns home. Unless, of course, you have someone else in mind to be here with the girls.”
Adam shook his head. “I don’t know of anyone right now, but didn’t you say before that you wouldn’t be available to watch my nieces?”
“Jah, I did say that, but I’ve decided that I can give reflexology treatments during the evening hours, which will leave me free to watch the girls until you get home from work each day.” She paused. “That is, if you think the arrangement will work for you.”
“Sounds good to me, and I’ll pay you the same as I was giving your mamm,” he said, feeling both grateful and relieved. He figured Leah would do as well with the girls as her mother had and certainly better than he could.
“Are you feeling all right this morning?” Jonah asked, coming up behind Sara and placing his hands against her growing stomach. “I heard you get up several times during the night.”
“I’m fine,” Sara said. “My back hurts a bit, and I had a hard time finding a comfortable position.”
“Sorry to hear that. Would you like me to make you an appointment with our chiropractor?”
Turning to face Jonah, Sara shook her head. “I thought I’d see Leah first and see if she can help me.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Sara nodded. “When Leah works on my feet, it always helps me relax. I think stress plays a role in causing my back to flare up.”
“Why are you feeling stressed?” Jonah’s face was a mask of concern. “Is it your MS? Have you been having more symptoms?”
Sara leaned into him. “Now don’t look so concerned. My MS symptoms have actually been better since I got pregnant. I’m feeling stressed because Mark is demanding more of my attention lately. He clings to me a lot when he should be happily playing.”
“I think that’s partially my fault because I haven’t been giving him enough attention.”
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