by Beth Wiseman
“Maybe.” He smiled as she delivered a third helping to his plate.
“And, ya, Lizzie already ate some oatmeal. She still refuses to put in her teeth, since the cat played with them. I hope she changes her mind before Friday. We have a couple who booked a reservation for Friday and Saturday night.”
About halfway through his third helping, Amos was sure he couldn’t put one more bite in his mouth, but he didn’t like to waste food, so he managed to clean his plate. He would just have to take it easier for the rest of the day. Naomi had been right. It was a heavy meal.
“How’s your cat doing out in the barn?” He wiped his mouth, took a deep breath, and wished he could take a nap. Big midday meals made him sleepy.
Naomi bit her bottom lip. “I can’t find her. I’m hoping she’s just out exploring and returns soon.”
Amos thought about all the raccoons and foxes in the area, not to mention the coyotes. “I’m sure that’s it.”
He stood up. “Danki for the best meal I’ve ever had in mei life.”
Naomi rose, too, her cheeks taking on a rosy tint. “Ach, danki. I’m really, really flattered.”
Amos moved toward the door and reached for his hat. “See you at supper.” He put his hand across his stomach. “Although I might not eat as much as I usually do.” He grinned. “But I’m looking forward to painting with you again.”
“Ya, me too.”
* * *
Lizzie rushed into the kitchen carrying a load of wet laundry in a basket. She set it on the floor, scurried to Naomi, and clutched both of her shoulders. “He’s the one, child. I can feel it in mei bones. And I’ve always said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Naomi eased out of Lizzie’s grasp and rested her hands on her hips. “Lizzie, were you eavesdropping?”
“Maybe a little.” She flashed a toothless grin at Naomi.
“Amos is a very nice man, but neither of us is interested in pursuing a relationship. We both have a shared passion for painting.” She pointed a finger at Lizzie. “No matchmaking. It won’t work. Just let us enjoy the friendship we seem to be developing.”
“That’s how the best love stories start.”
Naomi decided to change the subject. “Do you think Esther is okay? She never goes to the doctor, especially for a checkup. And for Gus to drive her to Bedford . . .”
Lizzie sat down at the table. “I wondered about that, too, since she has such a fear of doctors. But when I questioned her, she insisted it was just a checkup.”
“It’s gut she’s going.” Naomi suspected Esther might have several problems she wasn’t telling them about because she didn’t want to worry Lizzie. Esther seemed to have trouble with her eyes sometimes, and in addition to her stomach problems, her face turned red often. Naomi remembered a friend’s father who became flushed when his blood pressure was high.
She picked up the basket of wet clothes. “I’m going to go hang these out on the line.”
Lizzie nodded, but sad eyes and a frown indicated she was more concerned about her sister than she was letting on.
* * *
Esther listened in horror as Dr. Elliot told her about the tests she needed to have. She’d already made up her mind that she wasn’t having any of them. She’d hoped whatever was wrong with her would be an easy fix and give her peace of mind. Instead, all her fears were turning into realities she wasn’t ready to face. When the doctor told her about a procedure where they would put her in a large machine that spun around her, that was the final straw.
“It’s important for you to have these tests, Mrs. Zook. You haven’t had a checkup in a long time, and whatever is going on needs to be addressed.” Dr. Elliot was about Esther’s age. She wanted to tell him that maybe he should be retired and didn’t know what he was talking about.
She nodded, even though her stomach churned.
“As I told you, this could be a minor thing. I suspect you have a stomach ulcer, but I wouldn’t be doing my job well if we didn’t rule out some other things too. And we need to run a blood panel to see where all your levels are, like cholesterol, blood sugar . . . things like that. Based on what you told me, I think you need to have your eyes checked as well.”
She stood up on shaky legs, thanked the doctor, and walked down the hall. When she walked into the waiting room, anxious to leave, Gus rose to meet her.
“Let’s go,” she said as she moved faster toward the door.
“Wait, Mrs. Zook.” The woman at the desk opened the glass window wider. “I need to give you the paperwork for the tests you need to schedule. They can all be done at the hospital here in Bedford.”
Esther froze, didn’t look at Gus, but turned around and accepted the papers from the woman, forcing a smile. She tucked them all in her purse and went to where Gus was actually holding open the exit door. Breezing by him, she stayed steadily ahead of him as she quickly walked to the truck. If he asked any questions, she’d tell him everything was fine. Another lie. I’m sorry, Gott.
“This ain’t a marathon.” Gus huffed and puffed to keep up with her, but she didn’t slow or turn around. When she got to the truck, she opened her door, climbed in, slammed the door shut, and put her purse in her lap.
Gus opened his door and glared at her for a few seconds before he got in the seat. “You gonna tell me what the doc said?”
“It’s personal, Gus.” Esther raised her chin, hoping he didn’t see her bottom lip trembling. “But I’m going to be fine.”
He scratched his chin. “Then why all the tests?”
“Can you start the truck? I’m cold.” Esther hugged herself, rubbing her shoulders.
Gus started the truck and adjusted the heater, but he didn’t put the vehicle in gear. “I heard that woman say you gotta have tests. What tests?”
“Can you not respect mei privacy, please?” Esther’s voice shook as she spoke, and her lip trembled even more when she thought about the test where they put you in a tube to take pictures.
Gus glared at her. “Put your seat belt on.”
Esther pulled the strap across her chest, but once again she couldn’t get her hands to cooperate.
Gus gently pushed her hand away and grabbed the strap, fastening the seat belt with ease. “What kind of tests?” he asked again.
Esther’s blood pressure had been high in the doctor’s office, and she was sure it was even higher now. She clenched her hands into fists around the strap of her small black purse. “Stop asking me! Please respect mei privacy!” She turned to Gus, blinking back tears. In all the years she’d known him, she’d never cried in front of him, not even at her mother’s funeral. She’d managed to hold her emotions in until she was alone. But right now, she was unraveling right in front of him.
“You gonna die or what?” He asked the question as if he was asking if it was going to rain later. Esther had curse words on the tip of her tongue, words she’d only heard spoken by others, some she didn’t even know the meaning of.
“You are a coldhearted man to ask me that.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Do you have no compassion? Can’t you see that I am upset?” She pointed her finger inches from his face. “You will keep your word and not say anything to Lizzie.”
“You said you were gonna tell Lizzie.” Gus’s gruff voice didn’t hold an ounce of compassion. “But I still get my pie.”
“Gus Owens . . .” Esther’s hands shook as she took a tissue out of her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “It’s no wonder you have no friends! It’s no wonder you have a dochder who doesn’t want to see you. You are an unkind man who doesn’t care about anyone but yourself.”
Esther couldn’t recall ever speaking to another human being the way she was speaking to Gus now, and the comment about his daughter was awful. “And you’ll get your stupid pie.” She held her face in her hands for a couple seconds before she wiped the tears from her eyes again.
“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure if she was or not, but it was a foul way to talk to a perso
n. When she looked at him, her chest tightened. His eyes were moist, and it tugged at her heart more than she could have expected.
“I-I . . .” He locked eyes with her. “I kinda thought you were my friend. Maybe the only one, but . . .” He hung his head.
Esther reached into her purse, took out the papers the woman had given her, and handed them to Gus. Then she laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.
After reading them Gus cleared his throat, and Esther turned her head toward him, drained from crying, and resolved she was not going to have those tests. If it was the Lord’s will to call her home, then so be it.
“Esther, now you listen to me.” Gus spoke softly, in a way Esther had never heard from him. “None of these tests are painful. I’ve had them all. I know it can be scary but quit acting like a big ol’ chicken. There’s nothing to it. I’ll bring you. It’s up to you whether or not you tell that wacky sister of yours. But you have to have these tests done. They’ll likely give you some pills afterward and you’ll be all fixed up. There ain’t nothing to an MRI either, if that’s what you’re all worked up about.” He paused. “But ya gotta have it all done. It’s just part of getting old.”
Esther stared at him. She was worked up about all of it. “I don’t have to do anything.”
It was a long while before Gus responded. “Yeah, you do. And you know it. I know you’re scared, but I’ll be with you.”
Esther blinked a few times as she tried to envision it. Grumpy Gus Owens by her side as she entered a world of medical mystery and strange tests that terrified her. But she couldn’t tell Lizzie. Not yet.
“Okay,” she said softly. She hadn’t felt right in a long time. Perhaps enduring the tests was better than dying prematurely because of a medical phobia.
Gus finally put the truck in gear and neither one of them spoke on the way home.
Esther would take him his pie after supper. A deal was a deal.
Twelve
Naomi put the jams, jellies, and chow-chow on the table, then took a seat across from Amos at the small table in the kitchen. After the four of them prayed, she placed her napkin in her lap, hoping she wasn’t about to overstep.
“How did your checkup go today?” She wasn’t sure, but the circles under Esther’s eyes seemed darker than usual. Naomi wondered if she’d been crying.
“Just fine.” Esther dabbed butter on a slice of bread.
“You’ll probably outlive us all,” Lizzie said as she spooned mashed potatoes onto her plate. “But you cough a lot. What did the Englisch doctor say about that?”
So Lizzie had noticed the cough too.
“Probably just a bit of a cold.” Esther wouldn’t look at any of them. Naomi had never known Esther to lie, but she wondered if she was being completely truthful with them.
“Surely they’re gonna do blood work since you haven’t had it done in so long.” Lizzie sighed as she glanced back and forth between Naomi and Amos. “Esther’s appendix burst when she was young, and it was a horrible ordeal for her.” She looked back at her sister. “But having a little blood drawn isn’t a big thing, Esther. Just a little pinprick. Nothing like what you went through as a teenager.”
A flash of lightning turned their attention to the kitchen window, and a clap of thunder followed right behind, causing Naomi to flinch. She wasn’t fond of storms.
“It’s supposed to rain like this for days.” Lizzie gummed her mashed potatoes, but at least she did it with her mouth closed.
Naomi’s mood fell. No painting tonight.
“Uh . . .” Amos set his fork down. “All the projects on your list of repairs are outside. I’d like to earn my keep for these fine meals.” He smiled at Naomi, which for some reason caused her heart to beat faster. “Are there any inside projects that you’d like me to do?”
“First of all, we’re paying you, so the meals come free.” Lizzie smiled as she looked back and forth between Naomi and Amos. “Just because you can’t paint pictures, doesn’t mean you two can’t find something else fun to do.” She shrugged. “It’ll just have to be something indoors. And no, we don’t have any inside projects.”
Naomi wasn’t sure about that as she thought about the leaky faucet upstairs, but she didn’t say anything because she thought she might be blushing. Lizzie couldn’t have been any more overt if she’d tried. Naomi was glad she’d told Amos about the sisters’ matchmaking tactics. At least he knew what was going on, which made it less awkward.
After they’d eaten and Lizzie and Naomi had cleaned the kitchen, they all retired to the living room for devotions. A knock on the door interrupted them. Esther was closest and got up to answer it.
Gus was standing on the porch with an umbrella dangling at his side. He wasn’t getting wet under the porch overhang, but he was soaked.
“Gus, what’s wrong?” Esther asked, frowning.
“There was a black cat on my porch earlier. And if that’s not bad luck, I don’t know what is.” He cringed. “Blasted thing even tried to run in the house.”
“Whiskers!” Naomi stood up from where she’d been sitting on the couch. “Where is she?”
Lizzie groaned and laid her head back against the rocker.
“It had a flea collar on, so I wondered if it might be yours or Mary’s.” He waved a hand toward Lizzie. “I knew it wasn’t hers. She’s got some abnormal phobia about felines. But I didn’t know if you or Esther were feeding the thing. Or Mary.”
“Amos and I found her caught in a trap the day of Suzanne and Isaiah’s wedding. I brought her home.” Naomi sighed. “But she kept getting out of mei bedroom, and since Lizzie is afraid, I set her up a bed and put food and water in the barn. But then I didn’t see her.” Pausing, she was a bit surprised Gus made the trip in the weather. “Danki for coming over here in such bad weather to let us know.”
“Yeah, whatever. She’s on my porch. You can get her tomorrow. Last thing I need is a black cat making my life any more miserable than it already is.” He locked eyes with Esther. “Seems I’ve earned a piece of pie for trudging over here in the rain to inquire about a stupid cat.”
Lizzie stood from the rocking chair, her fists balled at her sides. “You deserve a kick in the shin is what you deserve.” She took a few steps forward and pushed her bottom lip out. “Just for being you.”
Gus ran two fingers the length of his lips. “Zip it, crazy lady, and for heaven’s sake, put your teeth in. You look like a fish out of water, smacking for air.”
Lizzie moved closer to him, but Esther put a hand out to stop her. “I’ll get you some pie, Gus. I know how much Naomi appreciates you coming in this weather to let her know about the cat.”
“I want chocolate if you’ve got it.” Gus stood dripping just on the other side of the threshold. Esther nodded and left for the kitchen. Gus stretched his neck into the living room, his eyes landing on Amos. “I don’t know how you can live in this nut house with that one.” He pointed to Lizzie.
Naomi braced herself, hoping Lizzie didn’t go after him. Everyone in their district had been taught passiveness, but Lizzie didn’t always adhere to that way of thinking. But she raised her chin, told everyone goodnight, and excused herself to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Something she’d been doing a lot of lately.
Before Amos could answer, Esther returned with a slice of pie she’d put in a plastic container. “Here, this should keep it from getting wet.” She stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind her.
“What’s she doing out there?” Amos asked.
Naomi shrugged. “I don’t know.” She had a niggling sense that all wasn’t what it seemed.
* * *
“I know you just wanted your pie, but it was nice of you to let Naomi know about the cat. I think the girl has been worried.” She pushed the container toward Gus.
“I was afraid you’d try to bring me the pie in this weather since you’re a woman of your word and wouldn’t let a thunderstorm stop you.” He paused. “And sinc
e you’re all sick and everything, I figured I’d come collect it myself.”
Esther folded her arms across her chest, shivering. “Well, I’m not the woman you think I am, then, because I wasn’t going to venture out in this mess just to take you some pie.”
Gus twisted his mouth back and forth, then shrugged. “I guess you could have brought me two slices tomorrow. So . . . if the weather is bad, I’ll either come here, or—”
“Nee.” Esther held up a hand. “You can’t come here every day for pie. I’ll get it to you or save it up. You won’t miss any.” Closing her eyes, she sighed. “Anything else, Gus, because I have a lot on mei mind?”
“Nope.” He handed her the pie while he opened the umbrella, then snatched back the container. “I’ve got my pie.”
Esther watched him walk away. Today she’d seen a glimpse of the man Gus could be. But no sooner did he appear to be a noble and caring person than he reverted to the grouch they’d always known.
She went back into the living room. Naomi was on one side of the room, sitting on the couch, and Amos was in a rocking chair. Esther sensed they might have been talking, but all was quiet when she walked in. She thought about how Joe used to love a good thunderstorm. They’d curl up on the couch, snuggling, thunder in the background. She’d miss that man until the day she died, which she feared might be coming sooner rather than later. She needed a distraction, and she had just the thing.
“I have something for you two.” She smiled as she looked back and forth between Amos and Naomi. She held up a finger. “Wait right here.”
She returned from her bedroom with a book she’d found at a yard sale years ago. She’d only bought it for the pretty pictures and because it was only a nickel. But it might come in handy now.
Esther sat beside Naomi on the couch. “Come join us, Amos.”
He rose from the rocking chair and sat on the other side of Naomi. Esther put the book on Naomi’s lap, and Amos leaned closer.
“I bought this a long time ago because I liked the pictures of the landscapes. But it’s actually a book about how to paint landscapes. I’m not saying either of you need a book to teach you, but I thought you might enjoy looking at it.”
