His Amish Nanny

by Samantha Price

Lucy’s smile at having a quiet word with Dan did not escape Olive’s notice.

  “Wait. How much is this going to cost?” Jessie asked.

  “I talked to them and they said we could have a stall for a week, at the back of the markets, for fifty dollars. That’s just ten dollars each.”

  “That’s a lot,” Olive heard one of them say.

  “Worth it, though, if we get jobs,” Jessie countered.

  When Lucy came back with a notepad and pen, Olive did her best to convince them. “The stall will cost us ten dollars each a week and won’t that be worth it?”

  “Okay, I’m in,” Lucy had a gleam in her eyes, which Olive guessed was thanks to Dan. At this point, she’d most likely agree to anything.

  “Me too,” Jessie said.

  When everyone had voiced her agreement, Lucy jotted down each girl’s particulars for their resumes. After that, Amy helped Lucy add flair to each one. They voted Olive to be in charge of arranging the stall and making up the schedule of who was to be at the stall on each of the days.

  Olive rode home and for the first time in her life she felt a sense of freedom. This was the first time she’d made a decision regarding her future rather than floating along with the tide of life.

  Once Olive had stored her bike back in the barn, she walked through the door to face her mother glaring at her with hands on hips.

  She had remembered her sister’s cookie and held it behind her back in a white paper bag. “Hello, Mamm. Do you want help with the evening meal?”

  “Where have you been?” Her mother tapped the toe of her shoe on the floor. That was never a good sign.

  “I've been in town with the girls.” Her mother’s hands went from her hips to folded across her chest. Swallowing hard, Olive continued, “I'm sorry, Mamm, but I was halfway to town when I forgot I should've told you I was going out. I was excited to tell them about my idea—you know the one we discussed?”

  Her mother shook her head. “But still, you should've asked. I didn't know you’d gone. I had to go into the barn looking for your bike.”

  “Hey, Mamm.” Her younger sister tried to get their mother’s attention.

  Olive’s mother shrugged and glared at Naomi. “Not now.”

  “Is Olive in trouble again?”

  Olive’s jaw dropped at her sister’s words. “Again? I'm hardly ever in trouble.”

  “Go sit at the kitchen table ready for some chores,” her mother hissed at Naomi. Naomi took two steps back without saying a word then turned and hurried to the kitchen. Now with Mamm’s attention again on Olive, her face softened. “All I want is for you to tell me where you're going. Is that too much to ask?”

  “No, Mamm.”

  “Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you can do what you like; not while you’re living under this roof.”

  Olive nodded. “I won't do it again, Mamm.”

  “Good. Wash up and then help me with the vegetables.”

  Olive walked to the bathroom and was headed off by Naomi. “Did you get it?” Naomi asked.

  Olive handed over the cookie and Naomi’s face lit up. “Denke, Olive. You’re the best.”

  “Just eat it quickly.”

  “I will.”

  “Naomi!” Mamm yelled.

  “Gotta go.” Naomi hid the cookie under her apron and raced back to the kitchen.

  Olive was upset with herself for not telling her mother she was going to town. She wouldn't have stopped her, but she might’ve found one or two more chores for her before she left. It had been a calculated decision on Olive’s part; one she now regretted. It seemed, despite her objection to Naomi, she was always in trouble over something.

  * * *

  After Olive had washed her hands, she sat down with her mother to shell the mountain of peas on the table. “I love fresh peas.”

  “Well, no eating while shelling because they’re for dinner.”

  “Jah, Mamm.”

  “How did your idea go over with your friends?” Her mother raised an eyebrow.

  “They love the idea. One of the girls is doing everyone's resumes on the computer and we’re seeing about renting a stall at the farmers market to promote ourselves.”

  “Good.”

  Olive smiled at her mother. “Denke for helping me come up with the idea.”

  “It was your idea, Olive. I just listened while you decided on it. You’re just like your vadder in that regard. You've got a lively and industrious mind.”

  “Denke, Mamm.”

  “And you'll get a job that suits you. With actions and prayers, miracles happen. My only hope is one day you’ll set your mind on finding a husband with as much gusto.”

  Olive quickly popped one of the peas into her mouth. “I hope so. Wait.” She looked across at her mother. “What?”

  Her mother shook her head. “Never mind.”

  “I told you,” Naomi whispered to Olive.

  “You told her what?” Mamm frowned.

  Naomi licked her lips that were dusted with cookie crumbs. “I told Olive you’d find her a good man.”

  Mamm’s frown was replaced with a grin. “If she doesn’t find one for herself pretty soon, it’ll be up to me.”

  Chapter 2

  When the first day of their week at the farmers market came, the girls were all excited. They had decided beforehand to break up the week into shifts and have two people in the stall at all times. Olive and Lucy were scheduled for the first day. Even though they all wanted jobs as maids, each girl had special skills. Claire was a brilliant cook, Amy was good with children, Olive was a great organizer, Jessie loved to garden, and Claire and Lucy had experience with the sick as they had both taken care of sick, elderly relatives.

  Olive had brought along sandwiches and juice to sustain herself and Lucy throughout the day. From the beginning of the day, Olive knew it had been a good idea. Their resume flyers were being scooped up and the first reaction from passers-by was positive.

  The day had been quite warm and their budget had only permitted an outside stall, and being in the bright sun with no shade made Olive grateful she was only going to be there for one more day.

  They had handed out dozens of flyers, but there had been no takers. Olive was starting to lose hope. Two hours before closing, Olive’s father stopped by. Olive stepped out to talk to him privately and left Lucy to staff the stall.

  “Don’t look so down, Olive. It’s a good sign no one has offered to employ any of you yet. It only means people are taking you seriously and thinking long and hard about what each of you has to offer. You’ve put the effort in and no effort goes unrewarded.”

  Olive smiled and nodded. He was always encouraging to his kinner. “Denke, Dat, I’m not feeling down, I just hoped that one of us would get a job on the first day. We’ve got the stall for a week, and there are five of us, so I was hoping that things might have happened quicker.”

  “Always trying to force things aren’t you.” He put both hands on Olive’s shoulders. “Let things happen in Gott’s timing.”

  Olive looked back at her stall. “Do you think that this was a bad idea, Dat?”

  “Nee I don’t think it was a bad idea.” He lowered his head leaning toward her. “You don’t need to work; we don’t need the money. I'd be happy to have you to stay at home until you get married, and have you help your mudder until then.”

  Olive frowned, knowing things weren’t as rosy as he said. They did need extra money. “Dat, I don’t want to move out from home, but I want to pay my way. Who knows what might happen in the future, and what if I never marry? There are too many women in the community and not enough men.”

  “Have faith, Olive.”

  His words were full of faith, but his eyes told another story. He knew there were only two men their ages and that was her own brother, Elijah, and Jessie’s brother, Mark. Olive’s other brother who lived at home was betrothed to a woman from a different community. Olive had no interest in Mark and, for some reason, not one of h
er friends liked her brother in that way. “Okay, I will. You don’t mind me getting a job though?”

  He adjusted his straw hat. “Nee, if that’s what you want to do and if your mudder is all right with it.”

  Olive nodded. “She is.”

  “Do you want me to wait around for you to finish up?”

  “Nee denke. Lucy’s going to drive me home.” Olive nodded toward Lucy who was now busy speaking to an older couple who’d stopped by the stall.

  Olive’s father nodded and went about his business picking up a few things from the markets for the family since Mamm always said she was too busy to leave the home. Olive’s family was nearly self-sufficient, but they still needed some things from the markets.

  None of the girls had been successful in getting a job the first day, and now it was Tuesday at two in the afternoon. Olive was growing tired.

  Just get to the end of the day.

  At least it wasn’t as hot as the day before. Her friend, Jessie, was supposed to have joined her that morning, but she was still nowhere in sight. It wasn’t like her to be unreliable and Olive knew something must’ve happened.

  A little while later, a well-dressed lady walked past holding the hand of a toddler. The lady looked at Olive and Olive smiled at her. Then Olive couldn’t keep her eyes from the handsome boy with his blonde curls. Without warning, the boy lunged at the resumes from Olive’s stall and threw them to the ground.

  “Leo, stop it, at once.” The woman made a grab for him, but the boy was too quick.

  He jumped on Olive’s papers then ran away. Perched on her stiletto heels, the woman made a good effort to catch up to him but failed. Olive covered her mouth in shock. She wasn’t used to children who were not well behaved. Amish children were always obedient and polite even at a young age. With their strict discipline, they dared not be anything else. This boy darted the opposite way avoiding the older woman.

  Olive stepped in front of the boy who’d spun around and was now heading her way. He stopped in his tracks, and then she crouched down. “Hello, what’s your name?”

  He promptly poked out his tongue.

  Olive ignored his antics and did her best not to laugh. “I think I can pick up these papers faster than you.” Olive reached out her hand to pick up the papers.

  “No, me.” The boy grabbed them before she got them. “I do it,” the toddler mumbled.

  “No. I’ll do it,” Olive said.

  “No, me.” The little boy proceeded to gather all the papers he had thrown. Once he'd picked up all the papers, he handed them to Olive.

  “Why thank you; that’s very nice of you. Did you say your name was Michael?”

  The little boy giggled and shook his head.

  “What about David, is that your name?”

  The little boy giggled again, and said, “I’m Leo.”

  “Oh, Leo. Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Olive.”

  While Olive was still crouched on the ground, he flung his arms around her neck and nearly knocked her over, and would have if she hadn’t managed to grab onto the table.

  The older woman seized the opportunity to take hold of the boy’s arm. “Thank you. I’m terribly sorry for what my grandson has done. I don’t know what gets into him sometimes.” He struggled to get out of her grasp, but the woman kept a firm hold.

  “Full of beans they are at that age.” Olive stood up. Leo managed to squirm away from his grandmother and grabbed Olive’s hand. Olive giggled. “Seems I’ve made a friend.”

  “It appears you have.” The older lady stepped to one side, picked up one of the flyers and read it. “Are you looking for a job?”

  “Yes, I’m looking for a job as a maid. My four friends are as well. We each have a different speciality.” The woman looked wealthy, judging from her clothing, and with her brightly painted long nails she didn’t look like she did her own cleaning. “Are you looking for a housekeeper?”

  “Well, my son, Leo’s father, needs a nanny. I’ve told him I can’t keep looking after the boy. You’ve seen how he is and I’m too worn out for all that now at my age. I’ve been there and done that and I’m not enjoying being forced to do it all over again.”

  “My good friend, Amy Yoder, is good with children.” With Leo still having a firm grip on Olive’s hand, she used her free hand to sort through the papers to find Amy’s resume.

  The woman didn’t even look at the resume once Olive found it and held it out to her. “What about you?”

  “I can clean. I’m looking for a job as a maid.”

  “What about looking after children?”

  “I could do that, but Amy’s so much better at it than I am.”

  She stared into Olive’s eyes for a moment and then shook her head. “No, I want you for the job. You’d be perfect and in between times, you could do a little tidying up for my son.”

  Olive stood tall. “I have had some experience, but what I’ve had is with my younger sister, and nieces and nephews.”

  “See? That's all the experience you need. Sounds like you’re a natural.”

  Olive wondered if this whole thing of renting the stall at the farmers market was a good idea after all. Was she getting in way over her head? “I do have a first-aid certificate,” Olive said, mostly to make herself feel more qualified. “Um, because I was helping out at the volunteer firefighters and I thought why not find out—”

  “Splendid. The job pays well and I’ll make sure you’re paid a week in advance. All you have to do is keep Leo occupied. You don’t have to shop or clean. Blake has someone clean the house once a week and the food is delivered weekly as well.”

  This is all happening fast. Was she getting a real job? Could it all be this easy or would Leo’s father see she was a fraud?

  “I’ll write down his address. Is seven o’clock in the morning too early for you? I know he leaves for work around eight and he’ll probably want to run through a few things with you.” The older lady rattled around in her bag until she found a pen. She wrote down a name, address and phone number. “My name is Sonia Worthington and my son is Blake. I can’t wait to tell Blake about you; he’ll be so pleased I found a nanny, finally.”

  “I’m not a real nanny, though. I’ve got no real experience; I just wanted a job as a maid.”

  “Do you want a full-time job?”

  Olive quickly thought what she could do with the money from full-time employment. She could save it for her future as well as contribute to the household budget. If she never married, she wanted to have her own home rather than have to live with one of her siblings as a sad old maid. “Full-time would be good. You want me to start tomorrow?”

  “You can, can’t you? I’ve got a bridge game tomorrow. If I have to look after Leo again, I’ll have to cancel. Then after that, I’ve got my hair appointment with Maxwell Leon. I’ve had that appointment booked for four weeks; he’s so hard to get into. He’s an excellent colorist. A friend recommended him and I was lucky he accepted me.” Sonia looked at Olive’s prayer kapp. “I guess you’ve no need for a hair care specialist?”

  Olive touched her fingertips to her prayer kapp and looked at the blonde hair piled high on Sonia’s head. “No, I don’t. Not really. Yes, tomorrow is fine.” Olive took the information from Sonia, recognized the street name and was pleased that it wasn’t too far from town. It was close enough that she could ride her bike. “Nice and close.” Olive smiled. “Are you sure this will be okay with your son? I mean, he’s never met me.”

  “It’ll be okay. I make most of the decisions for him; he’s so busy. He works far too much.”

  Leo squealed about something, let go of Olive’s hand and his little chubby legs ran. Sonia dashed to grab his arm and this time she was successful. She turned back to Olive. “Thank you, Olive. I’ll see you again.”

  “Yes. And I’ll be there tomorrow. Thank you very much, Sonia.”

  Olive’s eyes fixed upon Sonia and Leo as they disappeared down one of the lanes. Leo needed disciplin
e; he wasn’t a bad child. Olive knew that every child needed structure and discipline and it seemed to Olive that Leo lacked both of those. She wondered why Leo’s mother wasn’t mentioned. Were Leo’s parents divorced?

  An hour before the farmers markets closed for the day, Jessie rushed toward the stall. “I’m so sorry, Olive. There was an accident, and my bruder broke his leg. He was fixing something on the roof, and he slipped off. He’s still in the hospital.”

  “That’s awful, Jessie! He’ll be alright, won’t he?”

  “It was a bad break, but I guess he’s lucky he didn’t do any more damage. A tree broke his fall.”

  Jessie’s parents’ haus was two full stories, so her bruder would have fallen from quite a height. “You need not have come in at all, Jessie.”

  “I said I’d be here. I always do what I say. Even though I’m a bit late I made it.” Jessie gave a sharp nod of her head to emphasize her point.

  Olive touched Jessie lightly on her arm. “Do you want me to get you a cup of tea or something?”

  Jessie shook her head. “I’m okay. I had too many kaffes in the hospital while we were waiting for the x-rays and when we were waiting for the cast. He’ll be back home tonight, they said.”

  “Sit down while I give you some good news.” Olive pulled a small chair out from under the table and when Jessie sat down, she told her the news of her new job.

  Jessie clapped her hands. “You were right to do this. We’ll all have jobs soon. I’m so pleased for you, Olive.”

  “Denke. Well, we’ll have to re-arrange the schedule since it looks like I won’t be here for the rest of the week. I was going to help out on Thursday, but now I won’t be able to.”

  “I’ll arrange it with the others; you just concentrate on your new job. I didn’t know you wanted to work with children; I thought that’s what Amy wanted to do.”

  “I tried to tell the lady about Amy, but she said the little boy got on well with me, so she wanted me.” Olive breathed out heavily.

  “What’s the matter? You look upset now.”

  “The grossmammi hired me, but the catch is that the boy’s father knows nothing of me. How do I know I’m not going to show up at the house for nothing? I might be back here after all. It’s not as though one of the boy’s parents hired me.”