by Beth Wiseman
Esther laughed. “You’re sure you want me to cut your hair with those?”
Gus’s face was so red he looked like he might explode, but he got up again and returned with a pair of utility scissors. She’d cut Joe’s hair throughout their entire married life, so the only haircut she knew how to give was cropped bangs with the back trimmed above the collar. But she’d used scissors that were made for cutting hair and smaller than what Gus held out now. She supposed he was sprucing up for Suzanne and Isaiah’s wedding on Thursday, but that didn’t explain the clean house.
“I’ve never given a haircut to an Englisch man before, but I’ll do mei best.” Esther held out her hand, and right before Gus handed over the scissors, he pulled back. “You’re not going to stab me or anything, are you?”
She grinned. “Now, Gus, why in the world would you ask that? You’ve been nothing but pleasant and kind to us for all these years.”
He grumbled.
“Give me the scissors. I don’t have all night.” Although she really did. The only thing waiting for her at home was a book about gardening. It wasn’t very interesting. Maybe because it wasn’t gardening season, but lately, she had trouble falling asleep, and reading helped sometimes—especially if the book wasn’t holding her attention. Lizzie had a library of books, but they were all a bit too steamy for Esther’s taste.
After Gus handed her the scissors and sat on the stool, Esther willed her stomach to settle and got busy straightening the jagged haircut.
“Don’t move or I might accidentally nip off part of your ear.” To her surprise, Gus didn’t respond and sat so still that Esther wondered if he was breathing.
When she was done, she ran her fingers down the sides, smoothing it out, which seemed strange, to touch the man. Then she handed him back the scissors.
“That’s the best I can do.” She stepped back to have a better look, and even in the dim lighting, the improvement was nothing short of amazing. Beneath all that hair and beard, Gus was a fairly attractive man for his age, even with his jiggling jowls and protruding belly. “You might want to wash that blood off your face.”
He grumbled some more as he carried the stool back to its spot. After he stashed the scissors in the drawer, he took a napkin, wet it, and dabbed at his chin.
Esther folded her hands in front of her, hoping for any type of acknowledgement, but he threw himself down on the couch and ran a hand through his short hair. It was silly of her to expect thanks. Saying it twice in one night might cause Esther to faint.
“Goodbye, Gus.” Esther shook her head as she moved toward the door.
“Wait!” His voice had that frantic edge to it again.
Esther drew in a long, deep breath. What now? She turned around and held up a palm. “Gus, I’ve fixed your hair. I think it’s lovely that you are cleaning yourself up for Suzanne and Isaiah’s wedding, and—”
“Wedding! Woman, are you out of your mind? I hate weddings. I hate churches even more.” He waved a hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah, I know your people get married in barns and houses, but weddings aren’t for me, no matter where they’re held. What would make you think I’d do all this for a wedding?”
Esther held her arms stiffly on either side of her as patience abandoned her.
But he just groaned. “My daughter is coming for a visit.”
Esther’s mouth fell open. “Daughter? What daughter?”
“The only one I’ve got.” He snickered. “That I know of. She’ll be here tomorrow.”
“I didn’t know you had a daughter. How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”
His expression sobered as he rubbed his clean-shaven chin.
“Uh, not since she was fifteen and told me she never wanted to see me again.” He growled. “I’m sure she only said that because her no-good mother told her to.”
“Ya, I’m sure that was it.” Esther pulled a Lizzie and rolled her eyes. She’d heard rumors that Gus had been married once, a long time ago, but even her mother hadn’t been sure if it was true. “What is her name? How old is she?”
“Her name is Heather.” He closed his eyes, tapping his fingers together, barely moving his lips as if he was counting. “Let’s see . . . I’m seventy-four. She was fifteen . . .” He opened his eyes and started counting on his fingers, mouthing numbers. Esther was trying to process this new information. He opened his eyes and snapped his fingers. “She’s fifty-four.”
Esther glanced around the one-bedroom cottage. “Where is she going to sleep?”
“I guess on the couch. I’m too tall to sleep on it.”
“What if she is tall too?” Esther tried to picture Gus’s grown daughter, what she might be like, and more curiously, why did she want to see Gus now, after almost forty years? “Why don’t you invite her to stay at the main haus?” At least Esther could make sure the woman had meals to eat and a bed to sleep in.
“I ain’t paying for a room when—”
“Free, Gus. She can stay for free.” It was a good thing she and Lizzie weren’t in need of money, since they were offering a lot of free rooms this next week.
He slowly stood up and shuffled toward her, scratching his cheek. His expression left him more vulnerable than Esther had ever seen him.
“What if she doesn’t like me?”
Under normal circumstances Ether would have burst out laughing, but something in Gus’s eyes tugged at her heart. This was important to him. But what could she say—be yourself? The woman would run back to where she came from within the first five minutes.
“Just . . . be kind.”
And this time Esther left, closing the door behind her, and half expecting Gus to rush out onto the porch to thank her. It was a hope she didn’t cling to for long.
As she reached the steps to the main house, she tried again to picture what Gus’s daughter might be like. How she’d love to be a fly on the wall to witness that meeting. But when she climbed into bed later, she felt called to pray for Gus and his daughter’s reunion to go well.
Gus has a daughter. It still seemed surreal.
Four
Naomi pulled the canvas out from under her bed and blew the dust into a plume that revealed just how long the painting had been there. She had other paintings stashed in the basement, the ones she didn’t feel were very good, but she wasn’t willing to throw them away. She brushed away more dust, each swipe bringing fall foliage on the other side of the pond into clearer view. This painting had the cornstalks in between the pond and the trees, when the landscape was at its best.
Naomi hadn’t brought much with her when she moved in with Esther and Lizzie, but her paintings made the cut, along with her bedroom furniture, personal knickknacks, and her grandmother’s cedar chest, which was against the far wall in her bedroom. She recalled the times she used to visit Lizzie and Esther, having attained permission to paint on their property whenever she wanted. Those were happier times.
She eyed the painting some more. It was her favorite. And it was something that wasn’t tied to Thomas in any way. For a while everything she’d ever done with Thomas, or any place she’d ever been with him, caused her torment. But she’d painted this scene late one afternoon, months before she and Thomas started dating.
As she recalled being at the pond with Amos, she was surprised that Thomas hadn’t consumed her thoughts since she and Amos had spent time there together.
After she propped up the canvas against the headboard, she walked around to the foot of her bed and tried to decide if it was worthy enough to show Amos. She’d never shown it to anyone, not even Thomas. It was also the largest painting she’d ever completed, rising two feet high and stretching almost three feet wide. As she wondered what Amos would think, her chest tightened. Was it too personal to show him something she’d never shown anyone? She gingerly picked it up and carefully slid it back underneath the bed, making a mental note to at least clear the dust from it every now and then.
Downstairs, dishes were clanking in the kitchen
and as the aroma of bacon wafted up the stairs, she realized someone had started breakfast. She glanced at the clock on her wall. She wasn’t late, but she scurried down the stairs, crossed through the living room, and hurried into the kitchen.
“Lizzie, I’ll do that.” Naomi sidled up to the small woman and gently eased the fork from her hand and began flipping the bacon. Lizzie tended to burn it. It was Naomi’s job to get breakfast started, but they never served before eight o’clock when they had English guests. Traditionally Amish women and men started the day around four in the morning. Lizzie said traditions were meant to be altered, and Esther hadn’t argued. Nor had Naomi. Sleeping until seven was a welcomed change after spending most of her life getting up much earlier. Even when they didn’t have guests, they’d all taken to sleeping in until the sun had risen.
“Only the two Englisch ladies for breakfast.” Lizzie took some eggs from the refrigerator and placed them on the counter. “Anna Mae and that handsome sohn of hers left early to have breakfast with Isaiah’s parents.” Naomi detected an odd twinge of disappointment as a heaviness centered in her chest. “I told Esther to stay in bed a while longer. I heard her up in the night with stomach problems again.”
“Maybe she needs to see a doctor.” Naomi began cracking eggs into a bowl.
Lizzie shook her head. “You know she won’t go. Stubborn woman.” She slammed her hands to her hips. “And we talked briefly in the hall after one of her trips to the bathroom. Guess who has a child?”
Naomi gasped. “Is Mary pregnant?” They’d all been hoping she and John would be able to conceive a child soon. Mary was a lovely person, and Naomi had hoped they would become friends. But after Naomi’s split with Thomas, she preferred to be alone. Apparently Mary did too. Esther told Naomi that Mary’s focus was on conceiving a child, so much so that she had detached herself from most everyone and slipped into depression. Maybe if Naomi and Mary had already been friends before Mary and John moved into the daadi haus, they would have been able to comfort each other during these trying times. Now, it felt like too much effort. Naomi didn’t know how to make herself feel better, much less anyone else. But she prayed for Mary.
Lizzie glowered. “Nee.” She waved a frustrated hand in the air before it landed back on her hip. “Esther, being the gut woman she is, took Grumpy Gus a plate of food last night, and she ended up cutting his hair because his dochder is visiting him today.”
Naomi spun around, her eyes wide. “He has a dochder?”
Lizzie wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. “Just the thought makes me shudder. I mean, what kind of offspring could someone like Gus produce? And who’d have him anyway?”
Naomi turned back to the bacon. “Now, Lizzie, there is someone for everyone.” Her heart sank a little. Maybe not. She used to believe that.
“And that sister of mine actually helped him get all spruced up for the visit and said his haus is even clean.” Lizzie groaned. “She’s too gut to that man.”
“Maybe he hasn’t always been the way he is now. Maybe seeing his dochder will brighten his disposition and make him a happier person.”
“Well, since the dochder ditched him almost four decades ago—when she was fifteen—I can’t imagine why she’s seeking him out now. Esther told him the woman, who is fifty-four, can have a room upstairs.” She chuckled. “For free.” Rolling her eyes, she added, “Did I mention that Esther is too nice for her own good?”
“I can’t wait to meet her.” Naomi stirred the eggs, then added a little salt, pepper, and cheese. “Forty years is a long time. I’m sure she’s nothing like Gus. But if he let Esther cut his hair, and the house is clean . . .” Naomi smiled. “He must be excited about her visit. Does Esther know when she’ll be here?”
“Just sometime today. She filled me in best as she could before she went back to bed. And before I forget, it’s just you, me, and Esther for meals today. The two Englisch ladies only made reservations for one night, so we won’t see them again after they check out this morning. And Anna Mae and Amos won’t be back until after supper time.”
Naomi nodded. “Ya, okay.” She felt a strange and unexpected hint of disappointment again, but it didn’t last long. Today would be an easier day than normal. Naomi would prepare simple meals for herself, Lizzie, and Esther instead of the lavish ones she created for their guests. After breakfast she’d collect eggs and tend to the animals—two goats, two pigs, and three horses. She mentally ran through her list of daily chores. She’d dusted and swept the day before. Washday wasn’t until Monday. After she stripped the beds, there were only a couple mending projects to work on. Then what? Did she really want an easy day? Staying busy was the best therapy, although she knew there was no cure-all for how she was feeling.
Lizzie cleared her throat. “Amos owns his own construction company. His mudder said his fiancée died of cancer.” She paused, and even over her shoulder, Naomi could tell Lizzie was adjusting her teeth. Her words sounded garbled, and there was a sort of spitting noise when she talked.
“Ya, he told me about his fiancée.” Naomi recalled the ease of their conversation the evening before.
“Seems like you have something in common. Not exactly the same, but you’ve both lost someone you love.”
Here we go. Naomi spun around and pointed the spoon at Lizzie, drops of egg hitting the floor. “No matchmaking. Do you hear me, Lizzie?”
Lizzie grunted as she shook her head. “Now, dear. Would I do such a thing?”
This was one area where Esther was as guilty as her sister, but Lizzie always took things a step too far. “Ya, you would. Don’t you remember locking me and that man from Lancaster County in the basement? We were down there together for hours before someone let us out.”
“That was an accident,” Lizzie said under her breath as she batted her eyes at Naomi.
“Ha. That’s a lie.” Naomi turned back to the eggs. “No tricks. And you best ask Gott to forgive you for not telling the truth.”
Lizzie didn’t say anything. Her intentions were good, but Naomi had made it clear to both sisters that she wasn’t interested in a relationship.
“I’ll be anxious to meet Gus’s dochder,” Naomi said to break the silence and change the subject. She wasn’t sure if she’d made Lizzie feel bad or if Lizzie was busy brewing up an attempt to push Naomi and Amos together. It didn’t matter too much. Amos and his mother would be leaving Sunday anyway.
The bigger concern was tomorrow. The wedding. And would Thomas be there?
* * *
Amos enjoyed visiting and getting to know his relatives. He’d thought they were going to hire a driver to cart them around town, but instead, they borrowed one of Esther and Lizzie’s buggies. It was a beautiful day and not much distance between the families they had visited.
Since they were leaving Sunday, his mother was trying to fit in as much visiting as she could during the trip. Amos could barely remember when his great uncle and some other family members decided to leave Ohio to move here. And no matter how many times his mother told him how they were all related, Amos couldn’t keep it straight. He just knew they’d made the move in search of a quieter, less populated community.
“This is a fine animal,” Amos said as he pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the main house. “It was nice of Esther and Lizzie to let us use one of their buggies.” He glanced at his mother, but her eyes were fixed on the house. Amos wasn’t sure she even heard him. When he got out of the buggy, he was surprised to see Esther, Lizzie, and Naomi all looking out the window. “Why are they staring at us?”
His mother stepped out of the buggy and started across the yard, picking up her pace. “I don’t know. I hope everything is okay.”
Amos gave an awkward wave, since it was obvious he and his mother could see the three women peering out the window. When he heard car wheels crunch atop the gravel road that led to the small cottage, he looked over his shoulder at a small white car.
As soon as they walked into t
he house, Naomi cleared her throat and turned to face Amos and his mother. Lizzie and Esther said hello but kept their eyes presumably on the car.
“We weren’t staring at you.” Naomi’s face turned a delicate shade of pink as she spoke directly to Amos. “We were waiting to see Gus’s dochder get out of the car.”
Amos hung his hat on the rack by the front door, again wondering if he should take off his boots. But there were never any shoes near the entryway. Probably since they often had English guests staying at the inn. Lizzie, Esther, and Naomi were barefoot most of the time, even though the temperatures were dropping. Amos took off his shoes as a courtesy.
“Well, the wait is over.” Lizzie stomped a foot. “And it isn’t Gus’s dochder who stepped out of the car.”
Amos wasn’t sure why the visitor’s arrival was so important to the ladies, but Lizzie groaned. Esther turned to Naomi and sighed.
“It’s a man, and there’s an insurance name written on a sign on his car. I’d hate to be a solicitor and have to face off with Gus. Whether it’s someone selling insurance or Gus’s insurance agent, it definitely is not Gus’s dochder,” Esther said before she turned to Amos’s mother. “Mei apologies that you caught us gawking at our neighbor this way, but we’ve known Gus a long time, and we never knew he had a child. A grown woman now, and she’s due to arrive today.” Esther smiled and waved an arm toward the kitchen. “I know you said you were eating with family, but there are plenty of leftovers in the refrigerator, and I left two pies on the table—apple and pecan. Please help yourselves to anything you’d like.”
Amos and his mother thanked Esther at the same time. As the sun began its descent, Amos recalled his pleasant conversation with Naomi down by the pond the day before. He wanted to invite her to walk to the water again, to sit on the bench and talk more. But it sounded forward in his mind, and he worried she might think he was making an attempt at courting.
