“What’s that?”
“You look good in the face.”
She smiled. In some ways, her husband hadn’t changed so much since he’d lost his memory. He’d always had a sense of humor, and even some of his more boyish pranks seemed to fit with his jovial personality. He’d begun calling her “Lydia” again, but she knew it wasn’t because he remembered her as his wife. It was simply a matter of her telling him over and over that she wasn’t his mother and her name was Lydia.
“Danki, Jacob,” she said. “I’m kind of partial to your face, too.”
“Jimmy told a funny joke before he brought me home today,” Jacob said.
“Do you want to share it with me?”
“Jah, sure.” Jacob drank the last of his milk and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Lydia was tempted to say something about his manners but changed her mind. No point in ruining the camaraderie between them over something so small.
“Let’s see now,” Jacob began. “An Englisher stopped by an Amish man’s house one day and said, ‘I’m headin’ to Blue Ball, so does it make any difference which road I take?’ ” He paused and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “The Amish man thought for a minute; then he answered, ‘Nope. Don’t make no difference to me.’ ”
Lydia chuckled. Thanks to Jimmy, Jacob was able to work half days, and he seemed much happier than he had before.
“Want to hear another joke? Richard told me a couple of good ones today.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
A knock sounded at the back door before Jacob could begin the next story. “Want me to get it?” he asked.
Lydia reached into the fruit bowl for an apple. “I’d appreciate that.”
A rush of cold air whipped into the room when Jacob opened the door. Caleb Hoffmeir stomped his boots on the porch and stepped inside.
“It’s good to see you, Caleb,” Lydia said. “What brings you out our way on this cold afternoon?”
“Naomi wanted me to let Leona know that our nephew John is in the hospital.”
Lydia crinkled her forehead. “I’m sorry to hear that. What’s he there for?”
“He got sick at school today, and since Naomi had gone with Abby to serve the scholars a hot lunch, she volunteered to take him home. By the time they got halfway there, he’d thrown up several times. So Naomi took him to the clinic in town and got word to her brother and his wife, asking them to meet her there.”
Jacob ambled across the room and plunked down in the chair. “I don’t like doctors. You gotta watch out for ’em ’cause they poke around on you too much and ask a bunch of questions.”
Lydia turned to Caleb. “What did the doctor at the clinic say about John?”
“They ran a couple of tests and sent him straightaway to the hospital in Lancaster.” Caleb shook his head. “By the time they got him there, his appendix had burst open.”
Lydia clucked her tongue. “That can be serious.”
Caleb nodded. “They rushed him into surgery, and the last I heard, he’s doin’ as well as can be expected.”
“We should pray for John,” Jacob said in a serious tone. “God can heal the boy. I’m sure of it.”
Caleb glanced at Lydia with a peculiar expression, and she wondered if his thoughts were the same as hers. Had her husband’s comment come from Jacob the bishop, or was he merely repeating something he’d heard at one of their church services?
Before Lydia could voice the question, the back door swung open and Leona entered the kitchen. “Oh, it’s you, Caleb,” she said, removing her dark bonnet and brushing flakes of snow off the top. “I was wondering whose rig that was outside.”
“He dropped by to give you news of John Fisher,” Lydia said before Caleb could respond.
Leona nodded. “He got sick at school today, and Naomi took him home. I think he’s got the flu.”
“He ain’t got no flu,” Jacob spoke up.
“It’s much worse than that,” Caleb said. “John’s appendix ruptured, and he’s in the hospital recovering from surgery.”
Leona’s face turned chalky white. “All morning the boy complained of a stomachache. I should have realized how sick he was.” She paced the length of the kitchen, her hands clasped in front of her as she slowly shook her head. “If he’d gotten to the hospital sooner, they might have caught it before his appendix ruptured.”
“Now don’t blame yourself,” Lydia was quick to say. “You had no way of knowing it was more than a simple flu bug causing him to feel sick.”
“Your mamm’s right,” Caleb agreed. “From what I understand, it’s not easy to know when someone’s having a problem with their appendix.”
A look of doubt flashed onto Leona’s face, and Lydia felt relief when her daughter finally nodded and said, “I’ll have the class make John some get-well cards tomorrow. After school’s out for the day, I’ll see about getting a ride to Lancaster so I can visit him at the hospital.”
Jacob folded his arms and shook his head. “Not me. I ain’t goin’ to no hospital. Never again!”
The following afternoon, shortly after Leona’s students went home, Jimmy showed up at the schoolhouse to drive her to the hospital. He promised to take her by Abby’s quilt shop afterwards so she could deliver Abner’s valentine to Mary Ann.
“I appreciate you doing this for me,” Leona said as Jimmy opened the door on the passenger’s side of his pickup.
“I’m willing to drive you wherever you need to go, so don’t hesitate to ask.” Jimmy smiled. “That goes for anyone else in your family who might ever need a ride.”
“Danki.” She said, sliding into her seat.
He closed the door and came around to the driver’s side. “Have you been ice-skating lately?” he asked, once he was seated and had shut his own door.
Leona shook her head.
“Maybe we could go again this Saturday and then have lunch somewhere afterward.”
“You—you mean, just the two of us?”
He nodded. “If that’s all right with you?”
Leona knew it wouldn’t look good if she went skating alone with Jimmy. If anyone saw them together, they might assume she and Jimmy were on a date.
She studied his handsome face. Was a date what he had in mind?
“You’re awfully quiet,” he said. “Are you afraid I might fall on the ice again?”
Leona’s fingers trembled as she snapped her seat belt into place. “I–I’m concerned that someone might get the wrong idea if they see us alone together.”
“We’re alone now.”
“This is different. You’re driving me somewhere. Ice-skating by ourselves would be more like a—”
“Date?”
She nodded. “Some young Amish women do date English fellows when they’re going through rumschpringe, but once a woman has been baptized and joined the church, she’s expected to date only Amish men.”
“Have you found a special Amish man yet?” he asked.
“No, and I’m not looking.”
“If I were Amish or you were English, would you go out with me?”
Tears pricked the back of her eyes. “You’re not Amish, and if we started courting, I would be shunned.”
“Eli has explained some things about your way of life, and I realize how serious a shunning can be.” He started to reach across the seat, but pulled his hand back. “Can we still be friends?”
She nodded slowly. A friendship with Jimmy was all she could ever have, even if he were Amish or she were English.
“What a surprise seeing you today,” Mary Ann said when Leona walked into the quilt shop shortly before closing time. “I’ll be leaving soon, and Abby’s already gone for the day.”
“I’ve been to the hospital to see John, and I asked Jimmy—he’s my driver today—if he’d bring me here before taking me home.”
“How’s my nephew doing? Is he gonna be okay?”
“The doctor said it will take awhile for John to feel like his old self again, but he will live, and for
that I’m very grateful.”
“Me, too.” Mary Ann took a seat on the stool behind the counter. “Whew, I’m tired, and my feet are hurtin’ something awful. It’s been a long day.”
“I know how you feel.” Leona opened her purse and reached inside. “I came by to give you this,” she said, handing Abner’s envelope to Mary Ann.
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you open it and see?”
Mary Ann grabbed a pair of scissors and sliced the envelope open. When she pulled out the card, she smiled and said, “This is a surprise. We haven’t exchanged valentines since we were kinner.”
“Oh, it’s not from me.”
“Who then?”
“Take a look inside.”
Mary Ann’s brows puckered as she read aloud what had been written inside the card. “A rainbow in the sky reminds us that God keeps His promises. A honeysuckle vine reminds me of you—pretty and sweet. Happy Valentine’s Day—Abner Lapp.”
“Well, what do you think?”
Mary Ann let the card slip from her fingers as she stared at Leona with obvious disbelief. “You’re playing matchmaker?”
“Not really. I’m more the message deliverer.”
“Are you trying to set me up with Abner?”
“It wasn’t my idea. Abner asked me to give you the valentine, and he wants to know if you’d be willing to let him court you.”
Mary Ann’s mouth dropped open. “Why didn’t he ask me himself?”
Leona leaned on the edge of the counter, wondering if she’d made a mistake by agreeing to act as Abner’s go-between. “He’s worried you might say no.”
Mary Ann stared at the card for several seconds. Finally, she turned it over and reached for a pen.
“What are you doing?”
“Writing him a note in return. Since you’re so good at playing messenger, I figured you’d be more than happy to deliver my response to him.”
“What are you going to say?”
Mary Ann’s lips slanted upward in a sly little smile. “Maybe I’ll let him tell you that.”
Leona clicked her tongue. It was typical of her good-natured friend to make her wait. Well, that was okay. She had made Abner wait when she’d promised to speak with Mary Ann on his behalf, so it was only fair that she’d have to wait to hear how Mary Ann responded to his question.
“Did you hear about Mark Stauffer’s barn catching fire?” Mom asked Leona when she returned home shortly before supper.
“No, I hadn’t heard a thing. Of course, Mark and Nancy’s daughter wasn’t in school today because she’s been out all week with a cold.” Leona hung her heavy jacket and dark bonnet on a wall peg and moved over to the counter where her mother was making a salad. “How bad was the fire?”
“It burned clear to the ground. I’m sure they’ll have a barn raising as soon as the weather improves.”
“What was the cause of the fire? Do you know?”
Mom shrugged. “We haven’t had any thunder or lightning lately, just a lot of snow. I heard from Fannie that the firemen found no sign of foul play, so they’re thinkin’ it was probably the gases from the hay that ignited the fire.”
“I’m sorry to hear this. No one ever likes to lose a barn.”
“At least they were able to get the livestock out in time.” Mom picked up a tomato and sliced it into the bowl. “During the winter months, I sure do miss our fresh produce. These store-bought vegetables don’t taste nearly as good as what we grow in our garden.”
“What can I do to help with supper?”
“You can check on the biscuits baking in the oven.”
Leona slipped into her choring apron, opened the oven door, and peered inside. “They’re not done yet.”
“So, how’s little John doing?” Mom asked. “Since you were late getting home, I figured you’d gone to the hospital to see him again.”
“I did go, and he’s doing okay.”
Mom smiled. “I’m sure John’s folks are happy about that.”
“Jah.” Leona lifted the lid on the Dutch oven near the back of their wood-burning stove and peeked at the fragrant, simmering stew.
“You seem kind of sullen this evening. Is there somethin’ you’re not telling me?”
Leona glanced at the door leading to the living room. “Where’s Papa?”
“He’s in the barn playing with your pup. Now that the goat’s getting bigger, he seems to be losin’ interest in it.”
“I’m glad he’s done with the goat, and it’s good he’s out in the barn.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t want Papa to hear what I’m about to say. He might repeat it, and it would probably come out differently than the way I said it to you.”
Mom nodded toward the table. “Let’s have a seat, and you can tell me what’s on your mind.”
“What about supper?”
“The stew’s done, and the salad’s almost made, so we’re just waiting on the biscuits.” She ambled across the room and pulled out a chair. “I think we can rest our weary bones a few minutes, don’t you?”
Leona took the seat opposite her mamm, grabbed a handful of napkins, and started folding them in half. She wasn’t sure she should be sharing the things that weighed heavily on her mind, yet the burden of keeping it to herself was too much to bear.
Mom leaned across the table, pulled the napkins from Leona’s hands, and set them off to one side. “Are you feeling naerfich about something?”
Leona bit her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood. “Jah, I am a little nervous.”
“What is it, daughter? Are you feeling sick?”
“Not physically.”
“What are you saying?”
“I feel sick right here.” Leona placed her hand against her chest.
Mom’s eyebrows furrowed.
“I’m in love with someone, but it’s an impossible situation.”
“Is that all?” Mom waved her hand. “With love, there’s always a way.”
Leona blinked rapidly in an attempt to hold off the tears that stung the back of her eyes. “Nee. There’s not a way—not for me and Jimmy.”
“What was that?” Mom’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew round.
“I–I’m not sure when it happened, but I–I’ve fallen in love with Jimmy.”
Mom clasped her hands in front of her and placed them on the table. “Oh, Leona, this is a serious thing.”
“It would be, if either of us chose to pursue it, but—”
“You’ve got to stop seeing him right away.”
“That’s going to be hard, considering that Jimmy often comes over here to see Papa and he’s sometimes our taxi driver.”
“It will have to end—all of it!”
“But, Mom, what reason would we give for shutting Jimmy out of our lives? Papa’s grown attached to him, and he’d be upset if Jimmy quit coming around.”
Mom fiddled with the napkins she’d taken from Leona. “Does Jimmy know the way you feel?”
“I haven’t told him, but I think he might suspect.”
“Is he in love with you, as well?”
Leona drew in a shaky breath and released it slowly. “He hasn’t actually said so, but I believe he might have feelings for me.”
“Then we’ll have to pray that he leaves Lancaster County—and the sooner the better.”
“But Jimmy and I have agreed to be just friends, and even if we could be together, I would never open my heart up to another man and take the chance of losing him.”
“That’s lecherich, Leona,” Mom said sharply. “We’ve had this discussion before, and you know how I feel about you closing off your heart to love because you’re afraid of what the future might hold.” She pursed her lips. “I want you to fall in love and get married someday—just not to an Englisher.”
“You might think it’s ridiculous for me to feel the way I do, but the man you love didn’t die.” Leona cringed, wishing she could take back her words and f
eeling awfully guilty for having said them. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean that.” She sniffed. “I know how close Papa came to dying; truth be told, you really did lose him, because most of the time, he doesn’t know who you are.”
Mom dropped her gaze to the table and sat there breathing slowly in and out. Finally, she lifted her head. “Would you mind going out to the barn to tell your daed that supper’s almost ready?”
“Sure, Mom.” Leona pushed her chair aside, grabbed her heavy shawl from a wall peg, and opened the back door. It was a mistake to tell Mom how I feel about Jimmy. I thought she and I had been drawing closer, but she doesn’t understand how I feel about anything. I wish I had never confided in her!
Jimmy was pleased that he’d been invited to help raise Mark Stauffer’s new barn. It meant the Amish he’d been living near these last nine months had accepted him.
Have I really been here that long? he mused as he pulled into the open field where dozens of Amish buggies and several cars were parked. I still don’t know who my real family is or even if I could give up my modern way of life to join the Amish faith. Since I now know the Amish won’t prosecute Jim for his crime, maybe I need to search harder for my family and start asking more questions. I could even run an ad in the paper or hang some signs around the county announcing that a man who had been kidnapped when he was a baby twenty years ago has returned to the area looking for his Amish family.
His thoughts drifted back to the day he’d finally believed Jim’s story about the kidnapping, and he moaned. What a mess I’m in, all because of one man’s sinful deed. I don’t know who my real family is or even where I belong. I’m in love with an Amish woman, but I grew up English, so I don’t know if I could ever leave that way of life. Even if I did join the Amish faith, there would be no guarantees that Leona and I could be together. She’s been through a lot and is hiding from love to guard her heart from further pain.
As Jimmy opened his truck door, the truth slammed into him with such force he nearly fell out of his truck. As he stood and regained his balance, a blast of chilly March air took his breath away.
I’ve been hiding, too, he thought. By refusing to talk to Jim and unwilling to let go of my anger, I have pulled away from God.
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