The Crow’s Call: Amish Greenhouse Mystery Book 1
Page 15
“I’d better not. I have groceries in the buggy that need to be refrigerated, so I need to get them home.” Amy smiled. “Please tell Sara I said hello and that we enjoyed our visit with her and Brad last evening.”
“I’ll give her the message.” Misty came around from behind the counter and gave Amy a hug. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you this, but I was sorry to hear about the horrible accident that took three of your family members.”
Amy’s chin trembled at the mention of their loss. It was easier not to think about it if people didn’t bring up the topic. “Thank you,” she murmured. Keeping her gaze fixed on a bouquet of pink carnations inside the standup cooler on the other side of the room, she said, “I’d better get going. It was nice seeing you, Misty.”
“Same here. Take care.”
When Amy exited the shop, she paused for a few minutes to gain control of her emotions. No matter how much time passed or how busy they kept, she was certain there would always be a huge void in her family’s lives.
Amy heard laughter, and for a split second she felt as if her breathing had been suspended. There stood Jared in front of the pizza place. Lydia stood beside him with her hand on his arm.
Amy ducked under the canopy above the flower shop door and angled her body so that her face could not be seen. Is my good friend being courted by Jared now? Could he have forgotten about me so quickly and moved on? A surge of jealousy coursed through her body.
Amy glanced over her shoulder and watched as Jared and Lydia headed down the sidewalk together. When they were far enough away, she hurried to the area where her horse and buggy waited. She’d told Jared he should move on, but did it have to be with someone she knew—her best friend, of all people?
“Would you mind watching the kinner for me?” Sylvia asked her mother after the supper dishes had been done one Friday evening. “I need to take a walk outside and get some fresh air.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Mom smiled as she wrung out the wet sponge. “It’s not good to be cooped up in the stuffy house with the little ones all day. I’m sure you could use a break, and the blueberry cobbler I made can wait. We’ll enjoy the dessert with vanilla ice cream when we’re all ready for it.”
If only a walk would help me feel better or the fruit crisp, for that matter. Sylvia’s jaw and facial muscles tightened. She hoped she wouldn’t be subjected to another of Mom’s lectures on the importance of getting back into life and a normal routine. Sylvia’s routine had been derailed the minute her husband, father, and brother had been killed. While it may have been true that the glare of the sun had been in the driver’s eyes, he should have been going slower.
Instead of responding to her mother’s comment, Sylvia merely smiled and said, “Danki, Mom. I won’t be outside very long.”
“Take all the time you need,” Mom was quick to say. “Amy will be upstairs from the basement soon, so if I need any help with the children, I’ll call on her for assistance.”
“Okay.” Sylvia removed her work apron and was about to head out the back door, when she paused. “Can I ask you a question, Mom?”
“Of course.”
“Is Amy your favorite over me and Henry?”
Mom blinked a couple of times. “Of course not, Sylvia. Why would you even ask such a question?”
“Because she willingly helps out in the greenhouse, and you can count on her for support.”
Mom slipped her arm around Sylvia’s waist. “Amy has been a big help to me in the greenhouse, but each one of my kinner is special to me, and I love you all the same.”
“I’m happy to hear that, because sometimes I feel like I’m letting you down by staying here with my little ones and—”
Mom held up one hand. “You’re where you need to be right now, and I’m grateful for all the chores you do in the house, not to mention so many meals you have prepared for us at the end of a long day. Danki for that.”
“You’re welcome.” Feeling a little better about things, Sylvia stepped out the back door.
From where she stood by the railing, Sylvia saw their new neighbor man out by the road, closest to his side. He held a shovel and appeared to be scooping up something.
I wonder if he’s getting some of the horse droppings left behind from all the buggies that travel this road. Sure hope he’s not planning to spread the fresh manure on any of his plants in the flowerbeds, or worse yet, in a vegetable garden. Sylvia had a lot of knowledge when it came to what could or couldn’t be mixed into the soil. She was fully aware that fresh horse manure could damage young plants. It also attracted flies and had a strong odor. Hopefully, the man across the road knew this too and would add the manure to a compost pile. It would take four to six weeks to turn from stable waste to being ready to put around the plants or in a garden. Sylvia wondered if either the man or his wife knew anything about composting.
After some time, the neighbor man went up the driveway and into his yard with the shovel. Sylvia thought it was a bit odd that he would be so eager to go out and collect horse droppings from the road. She had seen the wife a time or two, when she came out to her front porch. The new neighbors kept pretty much to themselves—nothing like Mom and Dad’s previous, friendly neighbors.
Those nice people are surely missed. Sylvia wiped the perspiration from her forehead. “Typical weather for the second week of July,” she muttered, stepping off the porch. The grass felt soft and cool under her bare feet. Sylvia paused to admire the newest flowerbed Mom had created. It was filled with summer colors.
Sylvia’s first inclination was to lie in the free-standing hammock awhile, but that would only remind her of Abe. When they were teenagers, on hot summer nights he often slept out here under the stars. Whenever Sylvia and Amy slept outdoors, Dad set up cots for them on the porch. Ezekiel had never cared much for sleeping outside, but occasionally Sylvia and the rest of his siblings would convince him to join them. Even though Henry was several years younger than the rest of them, Mom and Dad sometimes agreed to let him take part in the sleep-outs.
Tightening the black scarf wrapped around her head, Sylvia remembered one time when Ezekiel and Henry lay on the grass in sleeping bags with a canvas tarp beneath them. Abe, like most big brothers, decided it would be fun to tease Henry by telling him made-up scary stories. One story in particular had made Henry cry and run for the house. It was about a wild animal that would sneak into the yard under a full moon and steal small children.
A few minutes after Henry ran screaming into the house, Mom came out, shook her finger at Abe, and said, “If you keep tormenting your little brother, you’ll be sleeping in the barn by yourself, and Henry can have the comfortable hammock.”
Sylvia’s eyes filled with tears as she recalled more childhood memories. I would give almost anything to have those carefree days back again.
She smoothed the black fabric of her dress. Amy, Mom, and Sylvia all wore the drab color every day in remembrance of their loss. Wearing black during the mourning process was part of their Amish way. After a year of grieving, they would put away the dresses and wear regular colored frocks again. In the meantime, they all said that they hoped it would be a very long while before any of them would have to wear mourning garb again.
Sylvia’s thoughts went to Toby’s parents and siblings, who lived in Mifflin County. She’d received a letter from Toby’s mother, Selma, the other day, asking how Sylvia and the kinner were getting along and stating that she and the rest of the family were still missing Toby and spoke of him often.
Feeling restless and struggling to keep her raging emotions under control, Sylvia made her way down the driveway until she came to the phone shed. Stepping inside, she took a seat, leaving the door hanging open. Despite the sting of losing loved ones, life continued to move on. It hadn’t stopped or changed because of what had happened to Toby, Dad, and Abe.
The message light blinked, so she clicked the button then picked up the pen to write down any information they would need. The first o
ne was from a man wanting to sell them something she was sure they didn’t need. Sylvia deleted the message and listened to the next. This was from Ezekiel, letting them know that Michelle had delivered a nine-pound, twenty-one-inch baby boy at two o’clock this afternoon. They’d decided to call him Vernon Lee.
Sylvia felt a tightness in her chest that would not loosen. Oh Dad, I wish there was a way you could know that you have a namesake. If only you could be here to hold the new boppli.
She wrote down the details of the baby’s birth, tore off the paper from the tablet, and stepped out of the phone shed. Sylvia couldn’t help the envy circulating within her. Michelle has a husband to share in the joy of raising their children. I, on the other hand, am without my mate and need extra support from my mamm and sister. Sylvia hoped that in time things would get better—not just for her but for the others in her family, who’d also suffered a great loss.
As she started back toward the house, a crow flew over her head, screeching out its shrill call. It landed on a nearby treetop and let out several more aggravating calls. I hope that silly thing doesn’t have a nest somewhere in our yard.
Ignoring the black bird, Sylvia hurried up the back steps and into the house. “Mom, there was a message from Ezekiel on our answering machine!” She rushed into the living room, where her mother and sister sat on the sofa. Mom held Rachel, and Allen sat on Amy’s knee.
“What did your brother have to say?” Mom patted the baby’s back.
“Michelle had her boppli this afternoon, and they named him Vernon.”
Mom squealed so loud, Rachel began to howl. “Oh, sorry, sweet baby.” She continued to pat the little girl’s back as she looked over at Sylvia. “That is such good news. Are Michelle and the boppli doing okay?”
“They’re both fine.” Sylvia gave them all the details then leaned down and scooped her baby daughter into her arms.
“Dad would be so pleased to know they named their son after him.” Tears welled in Amy’s eyes as she looked at their mother. “Michelle’s going to have her hands full now, with two little ones to look after.”
Tearfully, Mom bobbed her head.
“She’s no doubt going to need some help.” Amy reached over and touched Mom’s hand. “You should go there for at least two weeks to lend a hand.” She looked at Sylvia. “Don’t you agree, Sister?”
Sylvia shrugged. “I suppose so, but it would be a lot for you to handle the greenhouse by yourself. Every time I’ve looked out the window the past few weeks, there have been a good many cars and horse and buggies in the parking area. Busy is good, but not when you are working in the greenhouse pretty much by yourself.”
“I’ll have Henry’s help.”
“Jah, when he feels like helping,” Mom put in. “Sylvia’s right, Amy. I can’t leave you here to run the place by yourself.”
Amy set Allen on the floor, jumped up, and faced Sylvia. Planting her feet in a wide stance, she spoke with assurance. “We’ll get someone to come here to watch the kinner, and then you can help me in the greenhouse.”
Sylvia’s forehead wrinkled as she gave a determined shake of her head. “No, Amy … I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Amy pointed at Sylvia with her index finger. “If you care about Ezekiel and Michelle, you’ll step out of your comfort zone to help out so Mom can go there to help.”
Sylvia took a deep, pained breath and closed her eyes. She disliked being made to feel guilty. Didn’t her sister realize how hard it would be for her to leave the children with someone else and spend a good portion of her days in the greenhouse? I can’t do it, she told herself. It would be too difficult to deal with people asking me questions all day and giving me looks of pity. Hiring someone to help out in the greenhouse would be better.
Sylvia bit down on her lower lip. But honestly, it would take some time to train a new person, and I already know what to do.
“Don’t feel like you have to say yes, Daughter.” Mom looked at Sylvia with a tender expression. “But it would be ever so nice if I could go to Clymer to see my newest grandchild and stay a few weeks to help out.”
No pressure. I really do need to deal with my stress and anxiety, so I’ll force myself to do it. Either I’ll be able to work through the two weeks Mom’s gone, or I’ll be very desperate for her return.
Sylvia stroked the sides of her little girl’s silky head while clearing her throat a couple of times. “All right, I’ll do it. I will help in the greenhouse, but only till Mom gets back. After that, I’ll be right here with my precious kinner again.”
“You’ve been actin’ like a bumble grumble all evening. What’s the problem?” Earl moved closer to Virginia on the couch and bumped her shoulder.
“You’d be a bumble grumble too if you had to be stuck in this house all day listening to all the traffic coming down the road in front of our place.” Virginia wrinkled her nose. “I tried sitting on the front porch for a while, but the nasty stench from all those horses was unbearable.”
“That’s good ole’ country air.” He nudged her again. “You’ll get used to it in time.”
She folded her arms. “I doubt that. Also, Earl, I’ll have you know that my car has horse stuff on most of its wheels. That sort of thing would never have happened in good old Chicago.”
“Well, dear, you’ll just have to try harder to dodge all the road apples when you’re out driving.” Earl chuckled. “Actually, I went out earlier and collected some of that stuff. A guy from work told me that it’s good for fertilizing around the shrubs in the flowerbeds.”
Virginia merely glanced at him and gave a look of disapproval.
“Did you get started on the garden yet?”
“Nope.”
“How come? I got the plot all ready for you.”
“I’m still unpacking boxes. Besides, I don’t have any vegetable seeds.”
Earl gave a disgusting snort. “Really, Virginia, there’s a greenhouse right across the street. I bet ya anything they sell packets of seeds. Probably have some vegetable plants already started too, which would be your best bet since it’s already the middle of summer.” He pointed toward the front window. “You oughta go over there tomorrow morning and check it out.”
She groaned. “Do I have to? Can’t we buy the seeds at a hardware store or anyplace else that might sell them?”
Earl shook his head. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s a place right across the road, so why make a special trip into town to get what you need?”
With my luck, that Mrs. King will try to arrange a tea party with me. I feel stuck in the middle with Earl making me go over there and me trying to avoid any contact with those Amish people.
Virginia sighed. “Okay, okay. Sometime tomorrow I’ll head over there and see what they have.” Maybe I’ll tell ’em what I think of the stench their place causes too.
Amy stood in front of her bedroom window, staring out at the night sky. Only a sliver of the moon shown tonight, and a light wind blew in through the partially open window. Tomorrow morning Mom’s driver would be by early to pick her up for the roughly six-hour journey to Clymer.
Amy figured her mother must be pretty excited about seeing Ezekiel and Michelle’s new baby. It would be good for her to get away for a few weeks to help out and enjoy two of her grandchildren.
Amy moved away from the window and picked up her hairbrush. As she pulled the bristles through her long hair, she thought about Sylvia agreeing to help in the greenhouse. It will be nice to have my sister working in there with me again.
Amy clicked her tongue. She hoped Sylvia’s little ones would adjust to having an unfamiliar person taking care of them. Mom had been in touch with Mary Ruth, and she’d agreed to come over each workday to watch Sylvia’s children while Mom was away.
Amy wished she could go with their mother to see Michelle and Ezekiel’s new baby. How exciting it must be to have a new addition to their growing family. Once more, Amy thought about how her plans for marriage and children ha
d been changed.
She continued to run the brush through her smooth waves. I hope it all goes well tomorrow and that it’s not too much for Sylvia to work with me in the greenhouse.
Amy’s thoughts turn to Jared and the jealousy she’d felt seeing him with Lydia. But can I really blame him? I did tell Jared he was free to court someone else. And who better than my dear sweet friend?
She set the hairbrush down and sank to the edge of her bed. If Jared decides to marry Lydia or someone else, I’ll have to accept it and try to be happy for them. In the meantime, I need to keep my focus on running the greenhouse and helping everyone in the family overcome their depression.
Sylvia swallowed multiple times as she hugged her mother and told her goodbye the following morning. Mom would be gone for at least two weeks, and during that time Sylvia was expected to help in the greenhouse. She could hardly believe she had agreed to do it.
Sylvia gripped her hands together behind her back as she watched Henry put Mom’s suitcase in her driver’s van. Sylvia’s apprehension increased when Henry and Amy hugged their mother and then Mom got into the van.
How am I going to be able to cope? Sylvia asked herself. What if I can’t carry through with my promise? Mary Ruth would be here soon to look after the children, so that problem had been taken care of. Sylvia felt sure Allen and Rachel would be in good hands, but that didn’t make her job of waiting on customers and being available to answer questions at the greenhouse any easier. There was no turning back now. The vehicle had pulled out of the yard and turned onto the road.
As if she were able to read Sylvia’s thoughts, Amy joined her on the porch and slipped her arm around Sylvia’s waist. “I have every confidence that you’ll be able to do this, dear sister.” She glanced toward the greenhouse, where Henry had already gone. “It will be time to open soon, so I’m going to head out there now. You can join us as soon as Mary Ruth shows up.”
“Okay.” Sylvia’s single word came out in a squeak. It was selfish to think such thoughts, but she wished Mom hadn’t agreed to help at Michelle and Ezekiel’s. But she came over to my house to help when both of my bopplin were born, Sylvia reminded herself. It’s only fair that she would do the same for my brother and his wife.