The Patient One

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  “You mean Marie?”

  His expression relaxed. “Yes. Marie. Marie Hartman, right?” When John nodded, Mr. Kerrigan said, “I read in the newspaper that she was hospitalized overnight.”

  “She was,” he said awkwardly. “But Marie is home now. Well, home with her parents.” Why he was sharing so much but not making clear that Marie wasn’t exactly his girlfriend, he didn’t know.

  Mr. Kerrigan leaned back in his chair. “I hope she’ll make a full recovery as well.”

  “Thank you.” Gesturing to the paper, he said, “Can we talk about the drawings now?”

  “Of course.” He smiled, looking tired. “I was just trying to get these work orders organized. A couple of parts are on back order, so everything is going to have to be juggled and completed out of order.”

  “It’s going to get crowded.” Such things happened from time to time, and the consequences of any change in schedules created a ripple effect that rivaled any rock tossed into a pond.

  “Yep. And I’m going to have to schedule everyone for odd hours again.” He sighed. “Oh well, it can’t be helped.”

  “Do you want me to try to make heads and tails of the work schedule? I’ve a knack for that.”

  “You truly are gifted at arranging everyone, but let me make some phone calls first.” After he straightened the sheets and cleared a space on his desktop, he motioned with his hands. “I can’t wait to see what you came up with for our Arizona couple.”

  John rolled out the paper. “This is what I’ve been thinking. What do you think?”

  Mr. Kerrigan stared at the drawings, examining the three of them, as well as John’s careful notes, before speaking. One minute passed, then two. Then three.

  It felt like an eternity.

  Anxious, John got to his feet. He found it easier to see the whole drawing looking straight down on it. After allowing himself to imagine how nice it would be to have a real artist’s drawing table to work from, he pushed the whim from his head.

  There was no telling what would happen next. Maybe the Lord would lead him toward something different. Maybe not.

  As the seconds passed, John watched his boss’s expression, feeling vaguely like the man held his life in his hands. Of course he didn’t, but he now realized that he didn’t just want to be a designer; he was hoping such a thing would come true with all his heart. He felt as if God had given him these talents and he was finally putting them to good use.

  At last Mr. Kerrigan straightened and looked him in the eye. “I think if everything comes out the way you have indicated that it will, it’s going to be one of our finest works yet.” He grinned. “You should be real proud of yourself, John. It’s fantastic.”

  “Danke,” he blurted. “Um, I mean, I’m glad you feel that way.” And that was certainly an understatement! He knew it wasn’t right to feel so prideful, but the man’s words meant a lot to him. He felt a satisfaction deep in his chest.

  “I really do. I’m going to scan these drawings and e-mail them to our client.” He grinned. “As soon as he replies, I’ll come find you, but I’m telling you now, I know he’s going to be thrilled.”

  “I hope so. I’d hate to redo it.” Realizing how that sounded, he cleared this throat. “I meant, I like how it is, but I’ll be happy to make changes if the clients want me to.”

  “I feel the same way,” his boss replied with a grin. “Now, how would you feel about tackling a couple of more project designs?”

  “I’d enjoy working on them.”

  “Would you be comfortable corresponding with the clients and getting specific information? It would help me a lot, and I think it would save time, too. If you hear what they all want from their lips, you won’t have to wonder what I’m trying to describe.” Looking a little sheepish, his boss said, “We both know describing colors isn’t my strong point.”

  “I’d be happy to chat with them,” John said. “More than happy.”

  His boss pointed to the worktable at the side of his office. “Why don’t you get started there? I’ll get you a laptop and a company cell phone to use.”

  Though he was used to talking on a cell phone—the bishop had given him permission to use one for work long ago—the fancy laptop was another story. “I’m not sure how to use that computer.”

  “That’s why I thought you could work in here with me today. I’ll help you. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

  As John sat down, he realized that he’d just started something that was going to change everything he did at work. It was exciting and nerve-wracking, too. And truly amazing! The Lord was so good.

  John just hoped he didn’t let himself, his boss, or their clients down. With that in mind, he cleared off his space and got ready. He could hardly wait.

  It was just too bad that he couldn’t make plans to rush over to tell Marie. That would have made the moment even sweeter.

  TWENTY–TWO

  “What Katie isn’t saying is that ‘taking things into his own hands’ meant Andy threw me over his shoulder and started hiking up the hill,” Marie explained to the crowd. “I was so surprised, all I could do was try to hold on.”

  Marie lasted only two nights at her parents’ house. Though her mother was a terrific “sick mom” and her parents were trying their best to give her space, it wasn’t enough. She needed more time to process her thoughts about the accident, John, and even her original reasons for wanting to return to Walnut Creek. She was actually starting to wonder if she’d returned to be closer to all of her close friends . . . or just to John in particular.

  Ironically, her parents didn’t seem all that concerned anymore about the fact that she’d gotten in a car accident while on a date with John Byler. Oh, of course they were worried about her head and the cuts and bruises. They spent a good amount of time talking about the kids in the other vehicle, both expressing their disappointment about the drinking and confiding that they were praying just as much for the teenagers’ parents as for the boy who’d passed away.

  But as far as concern went about Marie being with John?

  Not a peep.

  It was strange, really.

  If anything, her parents were acting like she and John had been in a serious relationship for years. It was both kind of cute and extremely awkward—almost as if they’d forgotten that John was Amish.

  When Marie had found herself wanting to ask why they were taking her relationship with John in stride, she knew it was time to go home. Her mother might be trying hard to not dwell on this on-again, off-again relationship, but if Marie gave her enough reasons to bring it up, she would change her mind real quick.

  After she’d had breakfast, Marie asked her father to drive her home, saying she was going to rest better in her own bed. Dad had agreed to drive her home after a few halfhearted attempts to change her mind.

  Now she was home and on sick leave for the rest of the week, doctor’s orders. She was also without a vehicle. Currently, the auto repair shop and insurance company were talking about whether her car should be considered totaled. She was privately hoping everyone would decide her SUV wasn’t salvageable. She was still having awful flashbacks of the accident. She didn’t know how she was going to be able to handle getting behind the wheel again.

  When she’d been resting in her old bedroom, she hadn’t been too worried about being without a car. Her mother had been catering to her every whim, and Marie hadn’t felt like going anywhere.

  But now that she was home?

  She realized she was now stuck in her house with only meager supplies in her refrigerator and freezer. One day, she vowed, as she stood and stared at the two eggs, three TV dinners, and a frozen package of hamburger meat, she would do a better job of keeping her pantry stocked.

  When her doorbell rang, she opened the door as quickly as she was able, thinking that it was going to be her mother with a shopping bag full of food.

  Instead, Elizabeth Anne and Katie were on her doorstep. E.A. held two Pyrex containe
rs in her hands. Katie was holding a heavy-looking brown grocery bag.

  “Oh, gut! You’re home,” Katie said as she walked in, looking bright and pretty in a cranberry-colored dress. “I was hoping you would be here.”

  Well aware she was wearing flannel pajamas that had dancing dogs in sweaters all over them, Marie tried to pretend that she didn’t care about how she looked.

  Well, almost. She peeked over her girlfriends’ shoulders. “There aren’t any boys on the way, are there?”

  Katie chuckled as she closed the door behind her. “Nope. It’s strictly girls.”

  “Jah, at first Will and I were gonna visit you tonight at your parents’ house, but after we learned you had come home, I decided he needed to wait to pay you a visit.”

  “Really? Wow.” This was a new level to E.A.’s bossiness.

  “It was no trouble,” E.A. said with a smile. “Your penchant for doggy pajamas is safe with us.”

  After Katie put the groceries in the kitchen, she looked Marie over. “Interesting choice in sleepwear though, Marie.”

  She lifted a foot and kind of kicked it out. “They’re comfortable.”

  “They certainly look it,” Elizabeth Anne said with a smile. “They are big enough for two Maries to fit inside.”

  Realizing that was probably true, Marie tugged on a roomy pant leg. “No one wants snug pajamas.”

  “Especially not you,” E.A. teased.

  “Oh, leave her alone, E.A.,” Katie said. “You’re just jealous that you don’t have a pair like them in your own bedroom drawer.”

  “Nee, I’m jealous that I’m wearing this dress instead of cozy pajamas.” She ran a hand down the light gray dress. It had tiny white flowers printed on the fabric.

  Marie hid a smile as she let the girls’ teasing banter float over her. All of them had known each other for so long, they sometimes commented on too much, kind of like sisters.

  “What are you two doing here?” she asked when she could get a word in edgewise.

  “Feeding you,” E.A. answered, just like that explained everything. “Now, go sit back down on the couch and rest. We’ll dish up some food and join you.”

  “You brought me supper?”

  “We did,” Katie said with a smile. “Supper and milk, juice, and strawberry ice cream.”

  “And a coffee cake,” E.A. added. “Because I know you like your sweets in the morning.”

  “You girls are lifesavers,” Marie said as she took E.A.’s advice and went back to the couch. “I was just standing in front of my refrigerator wondering what to do with two eggs.”

  E.A. looked at the other girls and smiled. “We figured it would look something like that. You’re hopeless when it comes to keeping a good kitchen.”

  “Hey, that isn’t exactly true.” Though, since E.A. was Mennonite and Katie was Amish, they sometimes considered her lack of cooking skills rather curious.

  “How about this, then?” Katie asked with a wink. “You never learned how to properly grocery shop.”

  “I know, I just chose to concentrate on other things.” Like banking, for example.

  “It’s time you learned, then. It’s a gut skill to have,” Katie said as she began bustling around Marie’s kitchen.

  “Ha-ha. You’re sounding pretty bossy this evening.”

  “It’s only because you caught us off guard. We thought you were staying at your parents’ house,” Katie explained. Eyeing her carefully, she said, “That’s where you were last night. What happened?”

  “I think I was simply ready to get home.”

  “Your father said that you wanted to sleep in your own bed.”

  “I do.” But even to her own ears her voice sounded kind of thin and doubtful. She bit her lip and tried once again to figure out what was wrong with her. Was she still simply reeling from the effects of the accident?

  Or did it have more to do with her conversation with John?

  Luckily, she didn’t have too much time to dwell on those questions because Elizabeth Anne approached with a wooden tray piled high with chicken and dumplings, fresh rolls, green beans, and a slice of chocolate pie. “This looks amazing.”

  Katie smiled. “Danke.”

  Marie was happy to see that each of them had given themselves small portions of the meal as well.

  That was just another reason why they were her best girlfriends in the world. They knew the last thing she wanted was to eat while they stared at her.

  “You girls are the best. Thank you for making all of this and coming over.” Marie smiled at all of them. “I’m so glad you’re eating with me, too.”

  “Well, you know what they say, friends don’t let friends eat pie alone,” Katie teased.

  “I can’t disagree.”

  Holding out her hand, E.A. said, “Let’s pray, shall we?”

  Used to the Amish way of praying silently before meals, Marie bent her head and fervently gave thanks. She was so very thankful for the food, the hands that made it, and her friends’ company.

  Once everyone was finished, Marie ate a spoonful of the chicken and dumplings. “This is so good. Thank you.”

  “No thanks are needed. It was the least we could do,” Katie said. “We’ve been worried about you.”

  “I’m all right. I’m just sorry that John got hurt, too. And, of course, about Evan and the other kids.”

  Elizabeth Anne winced. “Evan’s funeral was as difficult as I expected. That poor boy.”

  Katie nodded. “And Mary Jane, too. I’ve been praying for her, too.”

  There was that forgiveness that was such a part of the Amish way of life. Surprisingly, though, she didn’t find herself getting as upset as she had when John had confided that he had already forgiven Mary Jane for driving underage and intoxicated. She wondered why. Was it because she was slowly coming to terms with the Amish way of forgiving others? Or, was it because she was simply feeling better and had some time to think about how Mary Jane must have been feeling?

  E.A. broke the silence. “John went to work today. Did you know that?”

  “No.” She picked up her roll and took a bite. “I haven’t talked to John today.” Or yesterday.

  Katie sighed. “You still haven’t talked to him since you were in the hospital?”

  “We had some words.” Way too many words. How she wished she could take back half of what she had said or at least a good part of her anger! “I told you that, Katie.”

  E.A. looked confused. “I stopped by John’s house yesterday. I could have sworn he told us all that he was going to stop by your parents’ house soon.”

  “Our argument in the hospital didn’t end well. I kind of asked him not to come over.”

  Elizabeth Anne leaned forward. “It was that bad? Why were you arguing?”

  Marie groaned. “E.A., don’t you think that’s kind of personal?”

  “Well, yes. And I would never expect you to answer me if other girls who weren’t us were here,” Elizabeth Anne said. “But it is us, Marie. We’re your best friends and we love you.”

  That simple declaration brought tears to her eyes.

  Katie noticed immediately. “Oh, Marie. What is really wrong?”

  “I don’t know. You’re all probably going to think I’m being selfish but I was pretty harsh on the kids who crashed into us. John said that he was already trying hard to forgive them.” Each word came out grudgingly. She didn’t exactly want to rehash her feelings with the girls.

  Especially not while she was eating their delicious food—and after Katie said she was praying for Mary Jane.

  As she feared, the two girls exchanged worried looks. Before one of them could launch into a lecture, she raised her hand. “I know. This is something I need to work on. I understand.”

  “Nee, what I was going to say is that you have every right to feel that way,” Katie said softly.

  Marie studied her expression. “Do you mean that?”

  “Of course. The accident was scary.”


  Setting her dish down, she felt one of the tears that had threatened to fall begin a slow march down her face. “It was awful. I didn’t know how to get out of the way of that oncoming car.”

  “Of course not,” E.A. murmured.

  Marie kept talking. “And then there was John. I was driving, of course, so I didn’t want him to get hurt. But really, it all happened so fast, I could hardly think.”

  “Even though we’ve all been praying for Mary Jane, I can’t deny that I was shocked about what she did,” Katie said quietly.

  “And Evan! He was so young. It was such a waste,” E.A. murmured. “They all knew better. I know they did.”

  Marie was almost afraid to say anything more, but she felt like she owed their friendship too much to not be honest. “I was pretty harsh when I shared my opinion. John wasn’t happy.” Looking from one girl to the other, she continued, “It felt like everything I loved about him didn’t matter. Only our differences.”

  She paused, ready for the other girls to nod in agreement. Maybe even share some of their experiences about how everyone’s chosen way of life did matter in the real world.

  But instead of agreeing, the other two seemed to be gaping at her.

  “What?” Marie asked at last. “What did I say?”

  “Do you really not know?” Katie asked gently.

  She shook her head. Feeling hurt, she said, “I already told you I feel bad about making John upset.”

  Elizabeth Anne stood up. “I think all of us need pie for this conversation. Not just Marie. Does everyone want a slice?”

  “We all need a piece, you know that,” Katie said.

  Marie was getting a little irritated. “Just to remind you all, I was in a car accident two nights ago. I’m not at my best right now. Maybe you could give me a bit of a break and tell me what I said that has gotten you two in a dither?”

  “You said ‘everything I loved about him.’ You love John,” Katie said.

  Marie blinked. “Well, of course I love him. I love all of the Eight.”

  “It’s different with you and John,” Katie murmured.

  Just as Marie was going to protest, she closed her mouth. Katie was right. It was time to stop pretending to herself and to her friends and family. She really did love John. Maybe she always had.