by Marta Perry
People around them drifted away or began loud conversations with each other, obviously following Zeb’s lead.
“Aaron.” The bishop surveyed him for a moment, and then clapped him on the shoulder, smiling. “It’s wonderful gut to see you home again. It’s been a long time.”
“It has, I know.” He took a breath. May as well be honest. “The family would have been disappointed if I hadn’t come to worship with them, but I wasn’t sure others would feel that way.”
“Ach, that’s foolishness.” His grip tightened strongly, reminding Aaron that in addition to being the bishop, he was also the wheelwright, and he had muscles like iron. “The Leit will always wilkom those who come back to us with an open and contrite heart.”
Aaron was at a loss for words. His heart felt like a chunk of rock. He didn’t think the bishop would consider that either open or contrite.
“Take your time.” Maybe Bishop Thomas saw that he wasn’t ready yet. “When you feel like talking to me, you know where I am.”
He moved off, leaving Aaron still speechless. Coming back the way the bishop saw it meant confession—meant telling everything, including the reason he’d come back. It meant kneeling in front of the whole congregation and asking to return...to return forever.
He didn’t see his way clear to doing any of that. If he couldn’t even be open with Sally... But what was he thinking? Of course he couldn’t say anything to Sally. She was little more than a kid, and he certainly couldn’t burden her with his story. Maybe the best thing he could do for everyone was to walk away again.
Someone touched his arm, and he jerked around. Sally.
“Don’t be alarmed,” she said quickly, her voice low. “Can you find Caleb for Jessie? There’s nothing wrong, but she’s tired and needs to go home. We’ll be in the kitchen.”
He nodded a quick assent, everything else forgotten. Was the baby about to arrive?
* * *
Sally hurried back to the kitchen, trying to reassure herself. Everything was fine. Aaron would find Caleb, and he’d take charge of getting his family home.
Jessie sat at the kitchen table where she’d left her, leaning her head on her hand. Becky stood nearby, looking scared.
Sally bent over Jessie, touching her shoulder gently. “I didn’t see Caleb, so I sent Aaron to look for him. Don’t worry. He’ll be here soon.”
“I’m all right.” Jessie looked up and tried to smile. “Silly of me, but I just felt like I wanted to go home.”
“And so you will. In the meantime, if you want to lie down in one of the bedrooms...”
“No, no.” She looked horrified at the thought. “I’ll just sit here.”
She didn’t want to draw attention to herself, of course. “Well, it looks as if Mary Miller left everything ready for tea. Shall I make you a cup?”
“That sounds gut.” Jessie held her hand out to Becky, who came and gave her a cautious hug. “Maybe a weak cup of tea with sugar for Becky, too. I’m afraid I scared her when I started feeling dizzy.”
“I’m not scared, Mammi,” Becky said, belying the look in her eyes. “I was just worried.” She kept her arm around Jessie’s shoulders.
“Two cups of tea coming right up.” Sally turned the gas on under the teakettle and took two cups from the tray that was ready. It was sweet to see Becky so attached to her stepmother. She hadn’t had much mothering from her own mammi, but Jessie’s warm heart was more than filling that gap.
Mary had the water already hot, and it only took a minute to bring it back to boiling. Sally took a quick look out the back window. The women still sat around the tables, having dessert and talking. That was just as well. She didn’t think Jessie wanted a lot of people fussing over her.
Still, Jessie could have done better than Sally. Once again she had the sense that she was in over her head. Carrying the cups to the table, she set them in front of Jessie and Becky. Jessie immediately wrapped her fingers around the cup and drank thirstily.
Was tea a good idea if she were going into labor? Sally had no notion, but it seemed to calm Jessie. She smiled, patting Becky.
“Drink up. Your daadi will be here in a minute.”
Sally perched on the edge of her chair, not wanting to be too obviously watching for the men. What was taking so long? Most likely, Caleb had walked off to have a look at the Burkhalters’ orchard, or their corn crop, or something equally fascinating to him.
Even as she thought that, she saw Caleb and Aaron heading for the porch at a fast walk. At least they had sense enough not to run and get everyone upset. Caleb did run once he got inside, brushing past Sally as if she weren’t there to get to his wife.
He bent over her, murmuring softly to her. Aaron paused next to Sally, his hand brushing her arm. “Is she all right?”
“I think so. She felt a little dizzy, but she says she just wants to go home.”
He nodded. “Onkel Zeb and Daniel went to hitch up the buggy. They’ll be along any minute now.” He gave her a curious glance. “How did you get involved?”
“Becky was frightened, so she ran and got me.” She wrinkled her nose. “I guess she thinks teachers can solve anything, but in this case...”
“It looks to me as if you did fine.” He squeezed her arm in a quick gesture. “Here comes the buggy. Jessie, shall we carry you out?”
“Ach, no, how silly.” Jessie’s voice was stronger, and her color was better now that Caleb’s arm was around her. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Are you sure?” Caleb helped her up. “Maybe the midwife—”
“No, not yet.” Her voice was firm, and she walked across the kitchen without hesitation. “Denke, Sally.”
“Yah, denke,” Caleb repeated.
Aaron held the door, and they all went to the buggy where Daniel waited with Onkel Zeb and Timothy. Jessie clearly wanted to get away without causing comment, but folks were bound to notice that they were leaving early.
And ask questions. Once the buggy had pulled out, Sally found herself surrounded. It hadn’t occurred to her that she’d be the one they questioned, and she had her work cut out for her parrying all the concerned inquiries.
Before long most people were soon ready to pack up and head for home, while a small group stayed to help clean up and prepare for the young people’s singing that evening.
By the time Sally was back in the buggy with Ben and Elizabeth, she was ready for Elizabeth’s questions. She repeated all the answers she’d already given.
“I wonder if the boppli...” Elizabeth broke off suddenly. Sally met her gaze and grinned. They were both thinking the same thing. Elizabeth shot a glance at Ben, who was studiously looking elsewhere.
“I guess we’ll know soon enough,” Sally said. “Especially if we see Anna Miller’s buggy coming.”
Elizabeth nodded. At least she wasn’t carrying on about how unsuitable it was for Sally to be involved. “I wonder...” she began, but her words were cut off when Ben pulled up suddenly.
A car was tipped down over the bank on the right side of the road, up against a utility pole, which tilted at a dangerous angle. Fortunately, the lines it carried were off the road. The driver, a young man who looked to be in his twenties, stood surveying the wreck.
Ben hailed him. “Are you hurt? Can we do anything to help?”
The man scrambled up the bank to the buggy. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I swerved to miss a deer. It’s fine, but my car’s a mess.”
“If we can give you a lift, we will be happy to.”
He shook his head. “I already called to report it. But thanks.” He stood back, waving as Ben clicked to the horse and they moved off.
Elizabeth glanced back at him. “I hope he’s really all right. I wouldn’t want to run into something in a car. And young people always drive too fast.”
Ben exchanged glances with Sall
y. “No need to worry. When Frank Williams drives us places, he always goes ten miles slower than the speed limit.”
Sally hid a smile. Elizabeth was a born worrier, it seemed. At least the car accident had diverted her attention from Jessie, so hopefully she wouldn’t run over there filled with questions and concerns.
“We’d best get home and get ready to leave for your sister’s place,” Ben said. “Sally, you know they’d be happy to see you if you want to come.”
“That’s right,” Elizabeth echoed.
“I appreciate it, but I have a book I want to read for school this afternoon.”
Ben and Elizabeth planned to visit her sister and family this afternoon and stay for supper. It was kind of them to invite her, but the thought of an afternoon on her own was too tempting. Besides, she knew how much Elizabeth looked forward to visiting with her sister. They’d do much better without her.
When Ben and Elizabeth had driven off, Sally settled herself in the living room rocker with a book. She liked to read to her scholars each day after the lunch recess, but it could be a challenge to find something that would interest all ages.
She found it difficult to focus, and she knew why. Aaron had just spoken with the bishop when she’d approached him earlier, and the look on Aaron’s face had startled her. He had looked like a man who found himself trapped and was searching for a way out.
But Bishop Thomas hadn’t looked stern or forbidding to her—he’d given Aaron a clap on the shoulder in his usual friendly way. Still, something about his words had upset Aaron. If it hadn’t been for the necessity of finding Caleb quickly, she’d have tried to find out. Not that Aaron would have been likely to confide.
Sally glanced toward the King farm, wondering about Jessie, and saw a buggy being driven at a fast trot toward her. Dropping the book, she hurried through the house to the back door. Jessie?
Aaron had already flung himself from the buggy when she reached him and was racing for the phone shanty.
“Our phone is out. Does yours work?”
“I don’t know.” She hurried after him. “Is it Jessie?”
He was already picking up the receiver. Then he slammed it down again. “Dead.”
“It must have been the accident. You would have gone past before it happened. A car in the ditch, and the pole knocked sideways. Jessie?”
“She’s in labor. I don’t know what’s wrong, but she wants the midwife right away. Daniel ran to get Leah, and I said I’d call.”
She could see the scrap of paper he clutched—presumably Anna’s phone number. Sally tried to think what the best possibility would be. The midwife lived even farther out the same road, and her phone might well be affected, too.
“You’ll have to go for her,” she said. “That’s the quickest thing.”
“It would be, if I knew where she lived. You forget I’ve been away a long time.”
“No problem.” She was already hurrying to the buggy. “I’ll go with you.”
He hesitated for a moment, as if trying to come up with another option. Then he pulled himself up with an easy motion and grabbed the lines. They were already heading back down the lane before it occurred to Sally that perhaps she should have left a note for Ben and Elizabeth.
It was too late now, and most likely she’d be home long before they got back. Anna’s clinic wasn’t that far off, but just far enough that she was in another church district.
“I hope she’s home.” Aaron sent a worried look back over his shoulder. “If we can’t find her... Maybe I should have headed toward town and tried to get the ambulance.”
“If Jessie asked for the midwife, then that’s what she needs.” She prayed she was right. “Anna would leave a note on the door if she went anywhere, and chances are she’ll be at home with the family.”
Anna had taken over the midwife practice that her mother-in-law had run for so long. Initially there had been those who’d said she was too young, but Anna had proved herself.
Aaron still looked worried. Sally reached out to pat his arm. “It will be all right. You’ll see. Leah can handle things until we get back with the midwife.”
“I hope you’re right,” he muttered. “I’d rather have heard about the baby when it was all over.”
“You don’t mean that. I know you don’t. It’s a blessing to be able to help at such a time.”
“Is it?” He gave her as much of a smile as he could probably manage right now. “You’re a nice person, Sally.”
She shook her head impatiently. “Anyone would rush to help. I care about Jessie. And so do you.”
Aaron’s face tightened. “I guess I do. That’s the trouble with coming home. It won’t be easy to go away again.”
Sally’s heart seemed to stop for a second. “Are you planning to go away, Aaron?”
“I don’t know.” His jaw clamped, and his face was suddenly forbidding. “I don’t know,” he repeated.
Sally clasped the edge of the seat with her fingers, trying to deny the pain she felt. But she couldn’t. If Aaron left, she was afraid he’d be taking her heart with him.
Chapter Seven
Aaron’s nerves were jangling by the time they neared the farm, the midwife sitting between him and Sally in the buggy. Anna was everything, he supposed, that one would want a midwife to be, with a calm, capable manner and a warm, sweet smile. She seemed to radiate confidence. He wished he felt the same.
Sally and the midwife had been chatting during the ride, but as he neared the lane, Sally leaned forward. “Just drop me here, Aaron. You’ll want to get Anna straight to Jessie.”
Any other time he might have argued, but he couldn’t think of anything else until he’d fulfilled his duty. If only the phones...
He pulled up long enough for Sally to jump down. “Let me know if I can do anything to help,” she said.
Aaron turned toward the house, wondering how long it had been. He’d gone as fast as he could, hadn’t he?
“I’m sure I’ll be in time,” Anna said, as if she’d read his thoughts. “First babies always take a while to arrive.”
“I hope so, or I wouldn’t want to face my brother. Caleb is probably twice as nervous as I am.”
“I haven’t lost a father yet,” she said lightly. He supposed she meant it to be reassuring, but it didn’t help him, and he didn’t think it would Caleb either.
They came to a stop at the porch, and he hopped down, ground tying the horse. Time enough to unharness once he knew how things were with Jessie.
He followed Anna inside. Caleb was there to meet them, looking as if he’d been dragged through a knothole. He clasped Anna’s hands.
“She’s upstairs. Leah is with her. I’ll show you—”
Anna shook her head. “I’m sure I can find them.” Her smile seemed to include all of them. “If I need anything, I’ll call you.”
As soon as she left the room, Caleb turned on Aaron. “What took so long? It shouldn’t have taken you an hour.”
He’d snap back, but he could see the worry etched in his brother’s face. “All the phones along the road are out. There was a car accident. So I had to go for the midwife.”
“An accident? I hope it wasn’t bad,” Onkel Zeb said, looking up from saying something to the kinder.
“I don’t think so. Sally says they passed it on their way home from church. Must have happened not long after we came home.”
They heard footsteps. Leah came down the stairs. “It’s all right,” she said quickly. “Caleb, Anna says you can go up and see Jessie for a few minutes.” She caught his arm when he brushed past her, and smiled. “Be calm. Be loving. Don’t upset her or we won’t let you in again.”
“Yah. Right.” He hurried off.
Leah looked after him for a moment and then headed for the stove. “Is there coffee hot?”
“Yah, for su
re.” Zeb seemed to collect himself. “And some sticky buns that Jessie made yesterday. Sit and relax a bit.”
“It will be wilkom.” She sat at the table with the kinder. “Rebecca is coming over in a bit with supper.” She looked from the young ones to the adults with an expression that said she found the grown-ups lacking. “Daniel, isn’t there something you and the kinder could be doing outside?”
Galvanized, Daniel got up. “The chickens. We’ve gotten all behind today, ain’t so? Let’s go gather the eggs and see to the food and water.”
Becky hesitated, looking at Leah. “Can’t I see Mammi? I could help.”
“I know you’re a wonderful gut helper.” Leah smoothed back her hair. “Mammi will need you later, after this boppli comes, ain’t so?”
Becky didn’t look entirely satisfied, but she nodded and left with Daniel and her brother. Leah divided a disapproving look between Zeb and Aaron.
“If you two want to be helpful, you’ll keep the kinder occupied so they don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t here,” Aaron protested. “I went for the midwife.”
“You’re right,” Zeb said, setting a sticky bun in front of her. “I should have thought.” He gave her a rueful glance. “But Caleb has been enough to handle.”
Leah sipped her coffee. “I’m sure. Well, you try to keep him busy when he comes back down. Worrying never helped anyone, and Jessie is in gut hands, and everything is going as it should.”
“We’ll try.” Zeb patted her shoulder. “You’re a gut friend, Leah.”
“Ach, it’s what she would do for me.” Leah drained her cup and set it in the sink. “I’ll go up and chase Caleb down now. Ben and the older boys will be over to help with the milking and anything else you need.”
Zeb nodded, accepting it as normal. Aaron turned it over in his mind. Neighbors helped each other in a crisis out there in the world, he was sure, but they seemed to wait to be asked. The Amish were such a part of each other’s lives that they didn’t need to wait. They’d just be there.
