“Nee, denke, Matthew. I’ll need to cool down.” Tulip was still mad, but felt better for telling Nathanial exactly how she felt. He wasn’t a nice person at all. She was glad Matthew had been there to defend her from Nathanial’s lies.
Tulip drove home in the darkness of night. She was very often scared of driving alone at night, but not this night. Sadness and anger mixed together held her fear at bay. The twins rushed out of the house as soon as she arrived home.
“What happened?” Daisy asked.
“Did you speak to Nathanial himself?” Lily asked.
Tulip jumped down from the buggy. “Before I tell you, did you ring Rose and the boys?”
“I did,” Daisy said.
“Gut, denke.”
“They were very worried. Trevor and Peter said they’d go to the hospital and Rose and Mark were going too.”
“It makes me wish we could’ve gone too,” Lily said.
“Nee, they might not have let you see him with them treating him and trying to find out what was wrong with him. It would’ve been a wasted trip. Best that we all stayed here.”
“Did you see Nathanial and talk to him?” Daisy asked.
“Jah, Matthew came out of the house first and he brought Nathanial out and stayed in the background. He heard everything. Nathanial denied he did anything and walked inside as if he didn’t even care. Matthew said his parents won’t want him there after they hear what happened.”
“So Matthew is going to tell his parents?” Daisy asked.
“Jah. Now help me unhitch the buggy.” While the three of them worked to unhitch the buggy and rub down the horse, Tulip told them she would speak to the bishop herself tomorrow morning.
“Do you think you should wait until Dat is well enough to tell him?” Lily asked.
“We don’t know how long he’ll be in the hospital,” Tulip said. “I’ll call as soon as we’re finished here and find out how he is.”
“Will they tell you?” Daisy asked.
“I don’t know but I’ll try to find out.”
“Don’t worry about talking to the bishop tomorrow,” Daisy said. “It’s more important that Dat’s okay.”
“Jah, but I don’t want to let Nathanial get away with it,” Tulip said.
Lily wheeled the buggy into the barn while Daisy and Tulip rubbed down the horse.
When Lily came back, she said, “He won’t get away with it, Tulip, but I think Daisy is right. We should forget about it until we know how Dat is and he’s back home.”
Daisy stopped what she was doing and covered her face with both hands. “It’s all my fault. Dat might die and its all my fault for going on that stupid buggy ride with that horrible man.” She sobbed uncontrollably and both her sisters rushed to her side and placed their arms around her.
“It’s not your fault at all,” Lily said. “Stop crying.”
“Lily is right. It’s not your fault and Dat would want us to be strong. I’ll call the hospital now if you stop crying.”
Daisy put her hands by her side while Lily wiped the tears away from Daisy’s face.
Tulip called the hospital with a younger twin sister on either side. When she finally got through to someone, she was told he was currently being treated and was stable. Then she was asked to ring back in the morning. When she hung up the receiver, she told her sisters that he was okay and they wouldn’t know any more until the morning.
“Mamm would say that the best thing we could do is get a good night’s sleep,” Lily said.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Tulip said. “Let’s get inside. It’s getting cold out here.”
* * *
When Tulip called the hospital early the next morning, she learned that her father had heart disease, but he was okay for now. He was awake and was due to be released that afternoon. She called her two brothers and then Rose and learned that they’d all come home from the hospital in the early hours of the morning. Tulip headed back to the house to let her sisters know the news.
“Is he going to die soon?” Daisy asked Tulip.
“I don’t think so. They’re giving him medication that he has to take daily, so I think he’ll be okay for a few more years.”
“I thought he was dead, or going to die,” Lily said. “I didn’t get a wink of sleep all night.”
“Me too. I don’t think any of us would’ve gotten any sleep, especially Mamm.” Tulip thought back to the frightful moment when she couldn’t wake her father and thought he had gone home to be with Gott. Until that moment, she’d never given any serious thought to losing either of her parents.
“Are you going to work today, Tulip?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know. I had planned to go to the bishop. What do you think?”
“Nee. We talked about that last night and decided it’s best that you don’t,” Daisy said. “Just wait until Dat is better and see what happens.”
“Nathanial will probably leave of his own accord now that other people know what he’s done,” Lily said.
“Jah, I will go to work then. It sounds like Dat is not in any danger. You two can stay here and wait for Mamm and Dat to come home. See what you can fix for dinner.”
“I hope Nathanial doesn’t get away with everything that happened. Do you think he will?” Lily asked.
“Hopefully, he’ll go away now after Tulip let Matthew know what happened.” Daisy managed a laugh.
“I’ve never been so angry.” Tulip placed a plate of eggs down on the table for the girls to help themselves. “It must’ve been a terrible fright for you, Daisy.”
“It was. I jumped out of the buggy and ran away. At first I wasn’t sure where I was, but then when I came to the corner I knew what street I was on. I was scared, too, because he kept yelling my name and I had to hide when he drove past looking for me.”
* * *
Tulip went to work as usual. She didn’t want to let Audrey down by calling in for a day off. She hoped that her father would be home by the time her shift was over.
When she finished work, she walked around the back of the shop to where the buggies were, and saw Wilhem waiting for her.
He stepped toward her. “Are you okay?”
She was pleased to see his friendly face. “You heard?”
“Everyone knows about Nathanial and about your vadder being in the hospital.”
Tulip was glad everyone knew about Nathanial, but hoped it wouldn’t be twisted around to reflect badly on Daisy’s reputation.
“How is your vadder doing now?”
“He has heart disease, and he fainted because not enough blood was getting to his brain. It gave us all a terrible fright. He should be okay now that he’ll have medicine to take. The doctor told me that people live for many years with it. He’s coming home this afternoon. He might even be home now.”
“That’s good news! And you might be happy to know that Nathanial is leaving town this afternoon.”
Tulip heaved a sigh. “I’m so glad. That does make me happy.”
“I heard you had a few words to say to him and woke up the Schumacher household.”
“How did you hear about that?”
He laughed. “News travels.”
“It certainly does.”
“Is there anything I can do, Tulip, for you or your familye?”
She shook her head. “Nee, I don’t think so, but denke.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you.”
She smiled back at him. “Denke. That means a lot.”
“I won’t hold you up. You’ll be anxious to see your vadder.” He stepped away from her horse.
She climbed into the buggy. “Denke. It means a lot that you came here.”
Chapter 24
On her drive home, Tulip wondered if Wilhem would be attracted to a girl who would wake up a household to yell at their visitor. One thing she knew for certain, her mother wouldn’t be happy to find out about her outburst and since Wilhem had learned of it, her mother w
ould be sure to find out.
Tulip was pleased to be able to give the twins the news that Nathanial had left. Now it wasn’t so urgent that they speak to the bishop.
Not long after Tulip arrived home, Peter and Trevor and their wives, as well as Rose and Mark, drove up to the house to wait for their father to arrive home.
Tulip was the first of her sisters to hurry over and ask her sister-in-law if she could hold Shirley, her young niece. It was usually the twins who got there first to hold Shirley, but they were too upset about recent events to race their sister to their only niece.
When everyone was settled in the house, the twins were busy making tea when a taxi pulled up to the house. Tulip’s older brothers went outside to help their father inside.
“Don’t give me any more frights,” their father joked to everyone as he walked inside the house. “The old ticker won’t be able to take it.”
Peter glared at each of the twins. “What’s this about giving Dat a fright?”
“Why do you assume it was one of us?” Lily asked.
“Hush,” Rose said. “Dat doesn’t need to hear squabbles.”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Tulip told Peter as she shifted Shirley from one hip to the other.
“Sit down, Dat,” Lily said.
“We’ll look after you,” Daisy said.
Peter helped Dat to the couch. Once he was seated, Mamm sat next to him.
“Tell us the news. What did the doctor say?” Trevor asked as everyone sat down in the living room.
“I’ll let your mudder tell you.” His voice was quiet, almost breathless.
They all looked expectantly at Mamm.
“He needs to take daily medication and if he does that he’ll be okay. He’ll live long enough to see all his grosskinner come into the world.” She particularly looked at Amy and Trevor when she said that since they’d been married well over a year and they still had no children and weren’t even expecting.
* * *
Tulip leaned down and kissed her father on his cheek, and then she looked at her mother, who looked like she needed a good sleep. “How are you, Mamm?”
“I need a hot shower.”
“Did you get any sleep at all?” Julie, one of her daughters-in-law, asked.
“Nee, I was sitting up all night worried about Hezekiah.”
“I’m sorry to put you through that,” he said.
“No need to be sorry.”
Their father chuckled. “I’m all right.”
“Jah, you are now. Now that they’ve given you heart medication,” Daisy said.
“Just don’t forget to take them,” Lily added.
Dat opened his mouth to speak but Mamm got in first. “There’s no chance of that with all of us here to remind him. He has to go back to the hospital every day for a while until they get the levels right,” Mamm told them. “We don’t want him passing out again.”
“Are you going to faint or something again?” Daisy asked her father.
He pulled a face. “I hope not.”
“He won’t as long as he does everything the doctor said.” Mamm stared at her husband.
His lips turned upward at the corners. “I will.”
“You look really tired, Dat,” Rose said. “And very pale.”
“That won’t make him feel any better,” Lily said to Rose.
“I feel a bit weak, that’s all.”
“Did you say you have to go to the hospital every day?” Tulip asked.
“Jah, then I’d reckon I’ll have to be checked every few weeks for a bit, and then months.”
“Don’t talk so much. Just rest,” Mamm said, putting a hand on her husband’s shoulder.
“Tulip said that Nathanial has already left, Dat,” Lily said as she moved to sit on the floor by her father’s feet.
Tulip glanced at her father, worried about how he’d take the mention of Nathanial. The last thing he needed was to hear that name, and now Trevor and Peter would want to know what was happening in regard to Nathanial. They hadn’t heard what had happened as yet.
“All things work together for good,” he said.
“What’s going on with Nathanial?” Peter asked.
Trevor added, “Who is Nathanial?”
“It’s a story for another day, but not today,” Tulip said.
When they heard a buggy, Daisy ran to the window, followed close behind by Lily who had leaped off the couch.
“It’s Aunt Nerida and it looks like she’s come by herself,” Daisy said.
Tulip looked at her mother. Mamm and her younger sister had been having a feud for some time. The twins ran and opened the door while their mother stood still, looking exhausted.
* * *
A little part of Nancy was pleased that her sister cared enough to visit even though she was still annoyed with her. Nerida must’ve heard about Hezekiah landing in the hospital. Nancy placed one foot in front of the other and reached the door just as Nerida stepped into the house.
“Nancy, I just heard the news. How is he?”
“He’s better; he’s home now.”
Nerida looked over at Hezekiah on the couch. “You gave everyone a scare.”
He chuckled and everyone greeted Nerida and then there was silence in the room as the two women stood face-to-face, staring at each other. “Are you okay, Nancy?”
“As good as I can be. A night in the chair at the hospital has taken its toll.”
“You need to rest, Nancy,” Hezekiah called from the couch.
“Don’t you worry about me, Hezekiah. You just worry about yourself.”
Everyone laughed.
“Denke for coming, Nerida,” Nancy said. Being with her sister gave her a sense of comfort and reminded her of days gone by.
“Of course I’d come. I came as soon as I heard. You should’ve called me.”
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Tulip asked her aunt.
Before Nerida could answer, Nancy said to Tulip, “Have you arranged dinner?”
Tulip said, “Jah. Everyone can stay for dinner. The twins fixed something, and there’s plenty for all of us.”
Everyone accepted the dinner invitation except for Nerida.
“Maybe another time,” Nerida said. “I’ve left the girls at home alone. They wanted to come, but I told them I wouldn’t be long. Now that I know you’re okay, Hezekiah, I better get back to the girls and to John.” Nerida turned and walked away, stepping out the door.
“Denke for coming,” Nancy called after her younger sister.
“Of course I would come,” came the reply.
It had been a while since Nancy had all her children in the home and, although she was pleased to have them there, the circumstances could’ve been better.
“It was very nice of Aunt Nerida, coming to see how Dat was, wasn’t it Mamm?”
“Mmm. Now if you’ll all excuse me, I need a shower. You girls see what you can do about getting dinner served and the table set.”
“Jah Mamm,” the twins chorused.
Nancy walked up the stairs, relieved that Hezekiah was going to be okay. He was always the one who’d told her to enjoy the day they were living right now rather than think they’d enjoy some future day in a future time. Nancy knew she had a habit of looking forward to the future, and particularly to the time when Hezekiah and she could be alone once more. It was a lesson learned now that she’d nearly lost him. Now she’d enjoy each day she got to spend with him.
* * *
As the beads of hot water pelted over Nancy’s body, all of the tension left her. She hadn’t realized how tightly she’d been holding her body until she’d told herself to relax. Tonight, she’d enjoy having the whole family gathered around the table and under the one roof.
She would talk to her entire family and insist that they all have dinner at the house once a month. After the scare with Hezekiah, she intended to make the most of each and every day with her family. One day, things might mend between her sister
and herself. Nerida had made a step, which had given Nancy hope. Now it was up to her to make the next step. If only Nerida had apologized years ago then things wouldn’t have gotten this far. Maybe she had to let the whole thing slide rather than wait for an apology that she was clearly never going to get.
Nancy decided to put the step she’d make toward Nerida out of her mind for the moment. What was important right now was enjoying her entire family and thanking God that they were all together.
Chapter 25
,
The doctor at the hospital was pleased with Hezekiah’s progress over the next few days and now they were satisfied that he was on the correct level of medication.
When Nancy went downstairs on Saturday morning, Tulip and the twins were already at the kitchen table, talking.
Tulip looked up at Mamm when she entered the room. “Can we all go today and choose some material for new dresses? We haven’t had any for some time. I have enough money to pay for all of the material for the three of us.”
“That’s not necessary, Tulip,” Mamm said, pleased by the sudden generosity.
“I don’t mind. I’ve nothing else to spend my money on.”
“I’m okay with her spending her money on me,” Lily said with a giggle.
“Me too,” Daisy added. “I’ll pay you back when I get a job, Tulip.”
Lily scowled at her twin. “You’ll never get a job. You’re not even looking for one.”
“I’ve been thinking about it.”
“You never told me you even wanted one.”
“Quiet, girls. You can go into town by yourselves. I’m not feeling too well today, but the three of you can go if that’s what you want. At least I might have some quiet around here while you’re gone.”
“We won’t go if you’re sick,” Tulip said.
“I’ll stay with Mamm if you and Lily want to get the material,” Daisy said. “Just get me dark colored fabric. Maybe purple or something nice.”
“Denke Daisy, but we can wait until Mamm’s better so that all four of us can go together.”
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