by Beth Wiseman
“Are you sure you’re ready to do that?”
Charlotte nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
Daniel’s serious expression seemed a prelude to something he was about to say, but he just stared at her. “Are you okay? You must be really tired still.”
He inched toward her and leaned down slightly, and Charlotte wondered if he was going to kiss her. She’d let him, even though it would further complicate things. In Amish country, a kiss could take things from zero to everything, and she was too broken to drag Daniel into her mess any more than he already was. She needed to tell him that one of the main reasons she moved to Lancaster County was because she’d been evicted, but shame wrapped around her and she stayed quiet.
Daniel stared into Charlotte’s eyes, unsure of the exact moment he’d started to care so much for her. His feelings had snuck up on him, and he knew he was setting himself up for heartache by getting involved with an Englisch woman. Charlotte had a world of issues, things she needed to work through. And now this situation with her mother. But he leaned forward until his lips met hers, and all those thoughts flew out of his mind. His heart led the way, and as she kissed him back, he lost himself completely in her.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” he said softly as he cupped her cheek.
She stared up into his eyes. “It seems an understatement to tell you what a wonderful friend you’ve been to me.” She bit her bottom lip. “But Daniel, I’m a bit of a mess.”
He smiled. “Ya, I know.”
She rolled her eyes, grinning. “You could have argued with me.”
Daniel would recall the sensation of her lips against his for a long time, but Charlotte needed time to get used to all the changes in her life too. “You have many things to think about and take care of, I know this.”
She nodded, still gazing up at him. “I think you know how much I care about you.” She looked away, then back at him. “I’m not Amish.”
I’ve laid awake nights reminding myself of this. “Are you sure?”
She squinted at him. “What?”
“Ach, well . . . awhile back, you dressed Amish during your time here.” He smiled, letting her know that he was way past that situation and had more than forgiven her. “You have a strong faith,” he added. “And now you are moving into a haus with no electricity or modern conveniences. That sounds pretty Amish to me.”
She laughed. “I guess it does.”
Daniel kissed her forehead. “Rest, Charlotte. Get things settled with your mudder and get moved into your new home. We will all help you with that.” He smiled, touching her lightly on the cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Charlotte smiled. “Me either.” She opened the truck door, but before she got in, she said, “Give Annie my love. I know this is a tough time for her.”
Daniel nodded. In truth, his sister was making them all a little crazy, pacing the house and waiting for Jacob to call her.
After devotions with her parents, Annie lingered downstairs, hoping Daniel would be home soon. He’d been gone all afternoon, and now it was evening. Someone had ordered a shed to be delivered and set up, and they’d paid a hefty price for a one-day turnaround—on a Sunday.
She paced the living room, looking out the window into the darkness, then walked into the kitchen, then back to the living room, praying he’d get home soon. It was easier to talk to her brother than her parents.
Her father shook his head, frowning. “I know you are waiting for that boy to call you from his chosen life in the Englisch world, but all of this must stop,” he said without looking up from a book he’d just opened. “All these phone calls . . .” He grumbled something under his breath. Annie sat down on the couch so she wouldn’t upset her father more.
Her mother reached into her knitting basket and went to work on a pair of pink booties she was making.
“What if the baby is a boy?” Annie tucked her legs underneath her on the couch.
“It’s a girl,” her mother said, not lifting her eyes from her project.
Annie brought a hand to her chest and gasped slightly. “Mamm, did you have the test like the Englisch do, the one that tells if the baby is a boy or a girl?”
Mamm shook her head, grinning a little. “Nee, but it’s a girl. I was certain when Daniel was born that he would be a boy, and I was just as sure you were a girl. This baby is a girl.” It was still hard to believe that Mamm was going to have a baby at her age. At least she wasn’t throwing up anymore, and with each day that passed, she seemed more at peace about having a third child this late in life.
Annie picked up a seed catalog and flipped through it, unable to focus on anything besides Jacob. She wanted to hear more about his job. He’d told her it was a sales job and that he’d fill her in on more later, but he hadn’t called, and she was starting to worry since he wasn’t answering his cell phone. Maybe he’d already decided he wasn’t coming back and didn’t know how to tell her. She shrugged off the thought. Jacob hadn’t been gone long enough to know what he wanted. Besides, she’d promised to give him the time he needed.
Amos had been in bed about an hour when Lena said, “You girls go to bed. You’re both yawning, and it’s getting late. And Charlotte, I know you are bound to still be very tired from your long night.”
Charlotte nodded through another yawn, hoping she’d be able to sleep with everything on her mind, including the kiss she’d shared with Daniel.
Lena took off her prayer covering and scratched her head, the way Charlotte had seen her do a dozen times before in the privacy of Charlotte’s apartment. Her head itched from her hair growing back in. Lena put the prayer covering back on. “We are all tired.” She hugged Charlotte. “You are a light in our world, Charlotte. I know this is a tough time for you. But love bears all things.”
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing, putting Janell in rehab? I mean, I don’t know her. And she was awful to me . . . and—”
Lena held Charlotte’s shoulders and looked into her eyes for a long time, then softly said, “ ‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.’ ” She smiled. “Ya, mei maedel, I think you are doing the right thing.”
Lena went to her and Amos’s bedroom and closed the door. A few minutes later, Charlotte followed Hannah upstairs with Buddy on her heels. “Well, hello, stranger.” She turned around and picked Buddy up, scratching him behind the ears. “Decide you want to sleep with me tonight?”
Charlotte suspected Amos might have intentionally left Buddy outside of his room, thinking Charlotte might need her furry friend tonight. And he was right.
But despite everything that was happening, Charlotte and Hannah had barely gotten into their beds when Charlotte couldn’t stand it anymore. “Daniel kissed me Saturday.”
Hannah was upright instantly and gasped. She swung her legs off the bed, faced Charlotte, and brought a hand to her chest. “You’re going to marry him!” Hannah turned up the flame on the lantern.
Charlotte tossed her covers back and sat up, facing Hannah. “Whoa there. It was just a kiss.” Even Buddy seemed excited, wagging his tail with his tongue hanging out.
“How was it? Did you make plans to see each other again? I know you will be tending to your mudder, but is there room in your heart for him? Could you love him?”
Charlotte smiled at Hannah’s enthusiasm—more like a teenager than a twentysomething woman. Charlotte didn’t have answers to these questions. But as they giggled and speculated, Charlotte had a sense of belonging. And despite the problems that lay ahead, she felt stronger here. Family had a way of doing that to a person.
Monday morning during breakfast, Charlotte’s name came up in conversation. Daniel filled his parents and Annie in on the latest happenings.
“Poor Charlotte,” Annie said as she reached for a biscuit. “She’s been through so much. Her breakup with her boyfriend and now this. But I’m so g
lad she’s here now. She’s lucky to have you, Daniel.”
Daniel was the lucky one, if not a bit fearful. He scooped up a forkful of dippy eggs.
“Annie’s right,” Mamm said. “A person can never have too many friends.”
Their mother couldn’t have been any more obvious about her thoughts, emphasizing the word friends.
“I think Daniel and Charlotte are more than friends.” Annie giggled, but Daniel wanted to change the subject.
“Have you heard from Jacob?”
Annie paled, and Daniel wished he’d picked another topic. “Nee, and I’m very worried.”
“He has a cell phone, ya?” Daniel asked with a mouthful.
“Sometimes he called me from his mobile phone and other times he called me from the phone in his fancy hotel room, but he said the man he was working for—Liam something—was getting him his own cell phone to use for work. He said he’d mail Charlotte’s phone back to her.”
Daed slammed a hand to the table, not hard—just enough to get everyone’s attention. “These mobile phones go against everything we believe in. We are unequally yoked with the Englisch, and there is a reason for that.” He pointed a finger at Daniel. “A fact you need to remember as you explore your new friendship with Charlotte. They are not like us.”
Daniel suspected this was an argument he wouldn’t win, and since he wasn’t sure where things were headed with Charlotte, he decided to stay quiet until a time when he knew what he was fighting for.
Annie jumped when her cell phone vibrated in her apron pocket, and all eyes landed on their father, who was already shaking his head. His sister excused herself and ran for the stairs.
Jacob slouched into the chair in his hotel room and prepared himself for a lashing from Annie.
“Where have you been?” she hissed.
“I love you too,” Jacob said in response to her clipped, accusatory voice. “I dropped the cell phone Charlotte gave me, so it stopped working. And I was having trouble making calls from the hotel room for some reason. Mr. Stone—well, he told me to call him Liam—got me a cell phone, but he said it’s only for business, and I don’t want to abuse his kindness. I can’t stay on the phone long.” Jacob glanced at the pile of new clothes on the bed. “He’s been so nice to me, Annie.”
“What exactly is your business, Jacob?”
He sighed. “Annie, can you let up with the attitude? Is this how it’s going to be every time we talk?”
“Nee, nee. I’m sorry. I’ve just been worried since I haven’t heard from you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call. I guess I need to get a cell phone for my personal calls.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t use your work phone to call your family—and me.”
Jacob stood up and paced the room in his new slacks and bare feet, running a hand through his much shorter blond hair. “I got a haircut. An Englisch haircut. Mr. Stone thought it was a gut idea.” He glanced at his tattoo and flexed his muscle until the tattoo wiggled on his arm. Then he thanked God for his good fortune—the job and that he’d been able to hide the tattoo from Annie and his parents. Not an easy task.
“Well, if Mr. Stone thinks it’s a gut idea, I’m sure it is.” Sometimes, when Annie got like this, Jacob wondered what he ever saw in her. But he knew. She was kind, loving, beautiful, and she would be a great mother someday. He was glad that wasn’t a factor in their lives at the moment, though.
“What exactly is your job, Jacob?”
“Well, it’s a real easy job. And Mr. Stone is paying me fifteen dollars an hour, plus letting me stay in this fancy hotel.” Jacob chuckled. “Annie, I even have a driver to take me from place to place. Mr. Stone bought me some clothes too.”
“What is the job?”
Jacob bit his tongue and reminded himself that Annie was the woman he loved. “Don’t yell, Annie. I’m going to tell you. I told Mr. Stone that I had carried on my learning past the eighth grade, that I even knew calculus, so I’d hoped maybe my new job would have something to do with numbers, but it doesn’t. I pretty much just ride from place to place with Evan.”
“Doing what? And who is Evan?”
“Evan is a really big man with a dark tan. He speaks Spanish and Englisch. Very friendly fellow, not much older than me. Maybe thirty.”
“Jacob, you’re not even eighteen!”
“Well, I feel older, Annie. Quit hollering or I’m going to hang up.”
“Jacob King, if you hang up on me, it will be the last time. I’m worried, that’s all.”
“Why can’t you just be happy for me? You knew how worried I was about having enough money and finding a job. God is showering me with blessings! I have a fancy place to live, new clothes, and a great job.”
“Well, I’ve about decided you’re not going to tell me about this great new job. You drive from place to place doing what?”
“Here’s what’s so great . . . Mr. Stone’s company delivers pharmaceuticals to people in the medical industry to distribute to doctors and hospitals.” Jacob pulled back his shoulders, strutting around the room, knowing Annie wouldn’t know what such big words meant. “Pharmaceuticals are medicines.”
“I know what they are.”
He narrowed his eyebrows, doubting that. “I take a suitcase to someone called a middleman. He gives me an envelope in return. Then the middleman delivers the medications to the doctors and hospitals. It’s that easy.” He scratched his head. “It’s not challenging my mind very much, but I’m going to make a lot of money doing it. Mr. Stone said I might even be able to work my way up in the company. I work about six hours per day. There is a lot of driving around. But I don’t mind. It gives me time to think.”
“Why doesn’t Mr. Stone deliver directly to the hospitals and doctors?”
Jacob clenched a fist and held it up, the way he’d seen people in the movies do when they had something important to say. “Here’s the thing. Evan drives me to these houses, lots of them far away from Pittsburgh, and the houses are mansions—big fancy places with automatic gates, fountains, and long driveways . . . stuff like that. Sometimes Evan waits at the end of a long driveway while I walk the distance to the house. Mr. Stone said these are lifesaving medicines worth a lot of money. He can’t take any chances that they might get in the hands of someone who might not use them the right way.”
“Oh. What kind of lifesaving medicines? For cancer or something serious like that?”
“Exactly, Annie. I’m doing a very important job that saves lives.”
Jacob waited for her to acknowledge the importance of his work, but Annie was quiet. She’d been through a lot, so Jacob decided not to tell her what was heaviest on his heart. That he was never going back to his old way of life.
Eighteen
Charlotte chewed on a fingernail as she sat across the desk from a woman named Glenda Ward, who was sharing an early evaluation of Janell. Not much happens at a hospital over the weekend, so it wasn’t until Monday afternoon that Charlotte got some real information. Janell had spent the weekend licking her wounds, and the staff at the hospital said she was sleeping, clean, and comfortable for the past two days.
“Your mother is severely undernourished, jaundiced, and she’s got a couple of cuts on her arms that we’re treating. She’s also anemic.” Glenda had gray hair, short and above her ears, slightly spiked on the top. She was a heavyset woman with closely set blue eyes. Tapping a pencil on the desk, she said, “Janell talks out of her head sometimes but seems to make perfect sense other times. We have her sedated since we’re trying to take care of her physical issues first.” She paused. “I’m sure you are aware that your mother is addicted to methamphetamines.”
Charlotte nodded.
“And she has been for a long time. At this point, it’s hard to know how much that’s affecting her mental state, but I suspect the doctors might find more than one diagnosis for Janell. She’s already ripped the bandages off her arms twice. Has she, uh . . . been living with you?”
Charlotte had gone through all this on Friday when they checked Janell in, but she’d never spoken to Glenda before. Isn’t this information in the file? “No. I haven’t seen her in almost ten years.”
Glenda’s sharp eyes softened. “I see. Well, give us a couple more days to get some fluids and food in her, and she’ll be evaluated by several more doctors, then we can see where we go from there.”
Charlotte shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She’d done some research on this facility. Best she could tell, Janell would be forced out after a month unless she had insurance or a way to pay for her care. “My mother isn’t a resident of Pennsylvania, and I just moved here, so I don’t know how this works.” Charlotte folded her hands in her lap, forcing herself to keep her fingers away from her mouth. “I—I guess I’m worried about being able to cover the costs.”
Glenda smiled. “Don’t worry. I need you to sign here as Janell’s guardian, but the costs are being handled if there’s a need for Janell to stay longer than a month, and I suspect that will be the case.” She handed Charlotte a pen, clicking it once.
“What? By whom?”
“Amos King.”
“What?” Charlotte asked again.
“I think some of this expense will be taken care of due to the nature of your mother’s illness, but Mr. King said he would be picking up anything else.”
Charlotte brought a hand to her overactive heart. “Do they have that kind of money?” And why?
Charlotte was speaking to herself, but Glenda chuckled. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know, but many of the Amish around here are loaded. Think about it. No cars, most of them live on family properties, so no mortgage, no electric bill. They grow most of their own food and raise livestock. It doesn’t cost them much to live.” She paused. “They must think an awful lot of you to do this. Mr. King came by earlier today.”
