Lydia's Charm

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Lydia, are you coming?” Mae called from across the yard.

  “I–I’d better go.” Lydia glanced at Levi; then she hurried away.

  After Menno had visited awhile with Lydia, Mae, and Mae’s two older brothers, he looked across the yard where his boys were playing with Josh and some of the other children. So far, they’d been on their best behavior today, and for that he was grateful.

  “I want to thank you again for keeping Josh the other night,” Lydia said. “It was important that I be with my mamm at the hospital.”

  “No problem. I was glad to do it.”

  “When I picked Josh up, I was so upset about Grandpa dying that I didn’t even think to ask how everything went. Was he a good boy?”

  Despite the craziness that had gone on that evening, Menno assured Lydia that everything had been fine, and that Josh had gotten along well with his boys.

  “I’m impressed with how well-behaved your boys seem to be. I just don’t know how you do it.” Mae looked at Lydia. “Don’t you think they’re well-behaved?”

  Lydia nodded in response.

  They’re not always this well-behaved, Menno thought ruefully. What they need is a mother. He studied Lydia, until he saw her blush; then he quickly averted his gaze. Could you be that mother?

  CHAPTER 17

  Over the next several weeks, Mom was sullen and often snapped at both Lydia and Josh. Given the loss Mom had just suffered, Lydia tried to be supportive and ignore her negative attitude, but it was getting increasingly difficult.

  Josh had spent the night at Menno’s house a few times, and that gave Josh something fun to do while easing the tension at home. Lydia didn’t know why, but she suspected that Mom resented her only grandson.

  One morning, as Lydia and Mom were getting breakfast ready, Mom turned to her and said, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I was under a lot of tension while I was taking care of my daed.”

  Lydia nodded.

  “Things were never good between me and Dad, and I always figured it was because he blamed me for my mamm’s death.”

  “How could that be your fault, Mom?”

  “She died giving birth to me.” Tears welled in Mom’s eyes. “I—I think Dad was so angry and hurt when she died that he needed someone to blame. Since my mamm had complications and bled to death, he thought he was justified in blaming me.”

  Lydia’s heart went out to Mom, for she could see the anguish on her face. She touched Mom’s arm. “If that’s the case, then Grandpa was wrong for putting the blame on you.”

  “Dad must have loved my mamm a lot, because he never remarried.” Mom sniffed deeply. “All the years I lived at home I tried to please him, but nothing I did ever seemed to be good enough. He treated my brothers like they were special, and that made me bitter and envious. When your daed and I moved to Wisconsin, I was glad for the opportunity to get away from Dad. Then when Dad had his first stroke, I thought if I came back here to care for him, he might appreciate it and finally show me some love.” She dabbed at the tears that had splashed onto her cheeks. “But he didn’t appreciate anything I did, and the thanks I got were angry words and his unwillingness to do anything I suggested that might help him to get better.”

  Lydia slipped her arm around Mom’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I knew things were strained between you and Grandpa, but I had no idea what all you’d been through.”

  Mom turned down the stove and blew her nose on a napkin. “At the hospital, just before Dad died, he said that he loved me. You have no idea how much that meant to me.”

  Lydia nodded slowly. She did have an idea, because it would mean a lot to her if Mom would say she loved her and was sorry for the tension there’d been between the two of them. Lydia was beginning to think that the reason Mom had been so sharp with her and Josh was because of how things had been between Mom and Grandpa. She wished Mom had talked to her about this sooner. It might have helped ease some of the tension between them.

  “It’s good that Josh could get through to my daed when I couldn’t,” Mom continued, “but I must admit, I felt envious when I saw how Josh made Dad smile. It brought back the pain of the past and reminded me once again that Dad showed my brothers more attention than me. I always felt left out.”

  “I’m glad Grandpa told you that he loved you before he died,” Lydia said.

  Mom dropped into a chair at the table and motioned for Lydia to do the same. “There’s something else I want to discuss with you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Much to my surprise, my daed left this house to me. Probably because I came here and took care of him. So for now at least, the three of us have a roof over our heads.” Mom paused and blew her nose again. “While you were at work yesterday, I went to the bank. I discovered that there was hardly anything left in Dad’s account, and I had to use most of it in order to pay his doctor bills. There’s still the hospital bill, and I don’t have enough money for that.”

  “Maybe I can ask for more hours at the restaurant,” Lydia said.

  Mom blinked, as though trying to hold back her tears. “That might help a little, but I don’t think it’ll be enough.”

  “We’ll make out; I’m sure God will provide.”

  “I hope so.”

  Lydia thought about suggesting that Mom look for a job, but if Mom worked outside the home, who would take care of Josh?

  “Breakfast is ready!” Menno called up the stairs. “Come and get it now before it gets cold.”

  A few seconds later, Dennis and Ike tromped down the stairs. “It’s summer break, and we ain’t got no school, so I don’t see why we hafta get up early every morning,” Dennis complained.

  “You get up early because there are chores to do.” Menno looked up the stairs. “Where’s Carl and Kevin?”

  Ike shrugged and released a noisy yawn. “Probably still in bed.”

  “You’re in charge around here when I’m at work,” Menno said. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “Jah.”

  “Well, it’s also your job to see that your brothers get out of bed and come down to breakfast on time.”

  Ike grunted. “Never had to do it before. Not until after Mama died, anyhow.”

  “Things are different now, and I really do need your help.”

  Ike turned and tromped back up the stairs. “Carl! Kevin! You’d better get outa bed right now!”

  It’s not fair that Ike has to be responsible for the care of his brothers. He’s still just a boy himself, Menno thought as he followed Dennis into the kitchen. It’s not right for me to be hollering at the boys all the time, when I ought to enjoy being with them. My boys need a mother.

  Nona had just taken a seat at a table inside Grandma’s Restaurant, when she spotted Lydia talking with her boss, Edith. Since they stood a few feet from her, she couldn’t help but overhear what they were saying.

  “My mother and I are having some financial struggles right now, so it would help if I could get more hours in every week….” Lydia’s voice trailed off as she and Edith moved toward the back of the restaurant.

  Several minutes later, Lydia returned and stepped up to Nona’s table. “Are you ready to order?” she asked.

  “I’ll just have the soup of the day and a garden salad.”

  “What would you like to drink?”

  “Water will be fine.”

  “I’ll turn your order in right away.”

  Nona reached out and touched her arm. “Is everything all right? You look upset.”

  Lydia shifted her ordering pad from one hand to the other. “I’m concerned about our finances right now, but I’ve asked Edith for more hours so the extra money will help.”

  “Is there anything we can do?”

  “It’s nice of you to offer, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

  As Lydia walked away from the table, Nona glanced to her right, where Rueben Miller sat in a booth. Dee
p wrinkles etched his forehead as he glanced in her direction. Had he also heard Lydia’s conversation with her boss? Was he concerned about Lydia and her mother, too?

  CHAPTER 18

  One morning a week later, Mae discovered an envelope in her mailbox with a typewritten note that said: To help with your expenses.

  She tore open the envelope and gasped. One thousand dollars was inside! “Now who could this be from?” she murmured.

  Mae hurried back to the house, hoping to catch Lydia before she left for work. “Look what someone left us,” she said breathlessly, holding the envelope out to Lydia.

  “What is it?”

  “Someone gave us one thousand dollars to help with our expenses.”

  When Lydia took the envelope and looked inside, her mouth opened wide. “Who could it be from?”

  Mae shrugged. “I’m wondering if it might be Menno.”

  “What makes you think the money came from him?”

  “I’m almost certain he’s interested in you.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” Lydia tapped the envelope as she stared at the money. “I wonder if Rueben Miller could be the one responsible.”

  “What made you think of him?”

  “I’m almost certain he’s interested in you.”

  “I seriously doubt he put the money in our mailbox.”

  “Maybe we should quit trying to guess who did it and just be thankful for the money,” Lydia said.

  Mae gave a slow nod. She was thankful, but she wished she didn’t have to rely on others during a time such as this. She wished they could make it on their own.

  When Nona entered the restaurant and was ushered to a seat, she was pleased to see Lydia waiting on tables.

  “Wie geht’s?” Nona asked when Lydia stepped up to her table.

  “I’m doing all right. How are things with you?”

  “Just fine.”

  “How’s Harold? Is he recuperating from his fall?”

  “Yes, and he’s looking forward to getting his cast off soon.”

  “I’m sure he must be.” Lydia handed Nona a menu. “Can I bring you something to drink while you decide what you want to eat?”

  “Iced tea sounds good to me.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Lydia hurried from the table.

  Nona figured Lydia was putting up a brave front. With the financial situation she and her mother faced, she had to be feeling more than a little stressed.

  A few minutes later, Lydia returned with Nona’s iced tea. “Have you decided on what you’d like to order?”

  “Think I’ll have a toasted cheese sandwich.”

  “Anything else?”

  “That should be enough.” Nona patted her stomach. “The older I get, the easier it seems to gain weight.”

  Lydia smiled. “I’ll put in your order.”

  “Before you go, I wanted to ask you a question.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I was wondering if you, Josh, and your mamm would like to come to our place for supper on Friday night.”

  Lydia tapped her chin with the end of her pencil. “Josh and I would love to come, but I can’t speak for Mom.”

  “Please mention it to her, and tell her we’d like the chance to get to know her better.”

  “I’ll do that,” Lydia said with a nod.

  “I’m going to the back room to get the boxes of towels that just came in,” Levi said to Selma, who’d been sitting behind the counter on a stool. “When I come back, you can unpack the boxes and put the towels on the shelf over there.” He pointed to one of the shelves he’d just cleared off.

  Selma frowned. “Can’t Betty unload the towels? I’d rather sit here and wait on customers.”

  “You’ve been waiting on customers all morning. It’s Betty’s turn to do that.”

  Selma groaned. “My back hurts, Levi. If I have to unload boxes it’ll hurt even worse.”

  “Haven’t you been doing those back exercises Dr. Langley gave you?”

  Her thick eyebrows drew together. “It makes my back hurt more when I do those exercises.”

  “Maybe that’s because you’re not doing them regularly.”

  She folded her arms and stared at him. “Just because you’re bigger than me doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do. You’re not my daed, you know.”

  “Never said I was, but I am older than you, and I think I know what’s good for you.”

  “Humph! You’d better get married and have a few kinner of your own before you start tellin’ me what to do!”

  Levi was stunned by Selma’s outburst. She’d never talked to him like that before. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m not your daed, but today I’m in charge of things here at the store, so you’d best do what I say.”

  Selma folded her arms and glared at him. “I’ll be glad when school starts up again and I don’t have to work at the store.”

  “Well, you’ll probably be working here full-time after you graduate from the eighth grade, so you may as well get used to being told what to do.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I may not be workin’ here at all. May get a job at the bed-and-breakfast where Betty works part-time.”

  “Whatever.” Levi started to walk away, but just then Mom entered the store.

  “How are things going?” she asked, looking at Selma. “Did you get many customers while I was gone?”

  “Not so many.” Selma climbed off the stool and reached around to rub a spot on her lower back. “My back hurts, Mama, and Levi’s tryin’ to make me unload some boxes.”

  Mom’s gaze went to Levi.

  “Never said she had to lift anything heavy; just wanted her to put some towels on a shelf.”

  “Even so, bending over the box might aggravate her back.” Mom touched Selma’s shoulder. “You can stay behind the counter and wait on customers. I’ll put the towels on the shelf.”

  Selma smiled. “Danki, Mom.”

  Levi groaned as he lifted his gaze toward the ceiling. He couldn’t believe the way Mom was babying Selma.

  He headed for the back room, and when he returned with the first box, he found Mom waiting in front of the shelf where the towels were supposed to go. “Did you get all your errands run?” he asked.

  “Sure did, and then I stopped by Grandma’s Restaurant and had lunch.” A smile lifted the corners of Mom’s lips. “I saw Lydia while I was there, and I invited her and Josh to come to our place for supper this Friday night.” Mom’s smile widened. “She said they could come, and I included Lydia’s mamm in the invitation.”

  Levi grunted. “I’d be real surprised if Mae shows up.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Have you forgotten how she acts whenever she’s around you and Pop?” He frowned deeply. “It was all she could do to say hello to you the day of her daed’s funeral.”

  “Maybe she’s shy. Probably just needs a chance to get to know us.”

  “And you think that inviting her to our place for supper’s the answer to that?”

  “It could be.” She patted Levi’s arm. “Even if Mae doesn’t come, it’ll be nice to spend time with Lydia and Josh, don’t you think?”

  Levi gave a noncommittal shrug. No way would he admit to Mom that he enjoyed being with Lydia and Josh. He didn’t even want to admit that to himself.

  CHAPTER 19

  I saw Nona Stutzman at the restaurant today,” Lydia said to Mom as they did the supper dishes that evening.

  Mom reached for another plate to dry.

  “She invited Josh and me to go over to their house for supper this Friday evening.”

  “What’d you tell her?”

  “I said we’d love to come.” Lydia smiled. “She invited you to come, too.”

  Mom shook her head forcefully. “You two can go if you like, but I won’t be going.”

  “Why not? Have you made other plans for Friday evening?”

  “No, but I’d rather not go.”

  “Do
you have something against Levi’s family?”

  “Of course not. It’s just that…” Mom’s voice trailed off as she stared out the window. “There’s a horse and buggy coming up the driveway. I’d better see who it is.” She dropped the dish towel on the counter and hurried out the door.

  Lydia watched out the window as the horse pulled up to the hitching rail. She was surprised to see Menno and his four boys get out of the buggy. After Menno tied up the horse, he and the boys followed Mom into the house.

  Lydia wrung out the dishcloth and greeted them when they entered the kitchen.

  “We were driving by and thought we’d drop in and see how you’re doing,” Menno said, smiling at Lydia.

  Josh, who’d been playing in the living room, raced into the kitchen and rushed over to Kevin. “Wanna go out to the barn and play with the busslin?”

  Kevin looked up at Menno, as though seeking his approval.

  “Jah, sure,” Menno said. “Why don’t all of you boys go out to the barn while I sit and visit with Lydia and Mae?”

  When the boys rushed out the door, Mom turned to Lydia and said, “It’s kind of stuffy in the house. Why don’t you and Menno go out on the porch and visit? I’ll be there in a minute with some refreshments for us.”

  “I’ll help you,” Lydia was quick to say. She didn’t want Menno to think she was the kind of daughter who’d let her mother do all the work while she sat and visited.

  Mom shook her head. “Go on out to the porch. I can manage fine on my own.”

  Lydia was tempted to argue, but that would be pointless. She’d never won an argument with Mom. Besides, it would be embarrassing to make an issue of it in front of Menno. So she followed him silently out the door and took a seat on the porch swing.

  “You look tired,” Menno said, lowering himself onto the swing beside her.

  “I’ve been working longer hours at the restaurant lately.”

  “How come? Are they shorthanded?”

  Lydia twirled the ties on her head covering around her fingers while shaking her head. “With Grandpa’s hospital bills, we need the extra money.” She chose not to mention that there was very little money left in Grandpa’s bank account.