“Why, Esther,” Daadi said, gazing at Mamm. “You’re up and about. How nice.”
“Hello, Dat,” Mamm said. “Eat up.”
They all laughed and dug in with renewed vigor. Mellie found it difficult to eat with her usual gusto. All she could think about was the upcoming conversation. Dan laughed and joked around as usual, but she could see a nervous twitch now and again next to his mouth. He was dreading the conversation as much as she was. So why was he doing it, then?
Or maybe it wasn’t dread she saw. Maybe, it was excitement.
Chapter Two
After Mellie had served some of her day-old cinnamon rolls for dessert, a quiet fell over the table. Dan cleared his throat. “You all know why I’m here,” he said.
No one responded.
“Dat’s been gone three years now,” he continued. Mellie swallowed the lump in her throat. “Ruthie and I have been farming her family’s land, but now her younger brother is taking over. They don’t need me anymore, and you do.”
Eli looked down at his empty plate then over at his brother. “Is this because I’m getting married come November? Is that why?”
Dan tilted his head. “Partially. Without you, Eli, the running of the farm is going to fall squarely on Gabe.”
Daadi raised his hand. “Hold on. Don’t I count for anything around here?”
Dan’s face flushed. “Of course, Daadi. But you and Gabe need me.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to live here!” Faith blurted and then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Dan looked affronted. “Ruthie’s brother will be taking over their daadi haus. Besides, my family is getting too big to stay there now. I’m the eldest Fisher child. I need to be on the land I’m farming.” He looked to their mother. “Mamm, what do you think?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to her. She swallowed, making a small gulping noise. “You belong here,” she said, her voice cracking. “In your own home.”
Mellie let out her breath. So that was it, then. It was done.
“Where are we going to stay?” asked Faith. “There’s not room for all of us.”
“I’ve thought of this.” Dan looked around the table. “Eli will be leaving in November, which frees up a bed there. My two boys can bunk in there.”
“With me?” Gabe asked.
“Jah. And the two girls can take Faith’s room…”
Mellie could feel Faith go stiff beside her.
“…and Faith can move in with Mellie and Beth.”
“And you and Ruthie?” Beth asked. “Where will you sleep?”
Dan grew silent. He turned to Mamm. “We thought that maybe we could move you to the daadi haus. It’s one level. There’d be no stairs to climb.”
Mellie caught her breath. Her brother was actually going to oust their mother from her own bedroom? The very room she and Dat had shared for years? How could he even think to do such a thing?
She could see her own thoughts on the subject reflected in all her siblings’ expressions. She turned toward her mother, expecting to see hurt feelings. But instead, her mother was nodding.
“Makes the best sense,” she said. She cast her watery gaze upon Daadi. “What do you think, Dat? Willing to share the same roof again?”
“But Daadi can’t take care of Mamm!” Faith cried. “She needs looking after.”
Mamm’s face turned bright pink. “I can see to myself,” she snapped.
Faith gulped. “Sorry, Mamm. It’s just that we often bring you food, and—”
Mamm’s eyes narrowed. “So, you take a few more steps.”
Faith clamped her lips shut and nodded, duly thwarted.
“What about my sweet shop?” Mellie asked. “I use the kitchen for hours with all the baking I have to do.”
“Ruthie knows that.”
“So, I can continue?”
“We don’t see why not.”
Mellie gave a half-smile, hoping she looked grateful. In truth, she was grateful, but her mind raced ahead to the challenge of living with Ruthie. The woman loved her brother, she had no doubt of that. But Ruthie was, well, difficult. Her personality was sharp and unforgiving, and Mellie didn’t see how it was going to make for a pleasant life.
She glanced at Beth, envying her. Chances were good that Beth would be leaving the family soon herself, something that was gaining appeal with every passing moment.
“Settled then,” Mamm said, looking pleased.
“Eli, do you mind if we move in right away? Before you get married? You won’t mind a bit of overcrowding in your bedroom for a few months, will you?”
Eli shook his head. “Nee. Of course, not. My nephews are welcome anytime.”
Dan let out a sigh. “Thank you.” He glanced around the table again. “Thank you, everyone.”
Faith bolted up, knocking against the bench. “I’ll get started with the clean-up.”
Mellie rose, too. “I’ll help.”
Beth stood. “So will I.”
The three girls were silent as they bustled about the kitchen, washing dishes, storing left-overs, and wiping down the counters. Finally, Mellie sighed and faced her two sisters. “We can pretend all we want, but this is happening.”
Faith slumped into a chair. “Ruthie…” She gave a pleading look to Mellie. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to welcome her with open arms,” Beth said. “She’s our brother’s wife and part of our family.”
Mellie looked at her older sister. She’d never been so accommodating when it had come to Ruthie before. “Beth?” she questioned. “What is it?”
Beth gave her a quick look and then went back to scrubbing the last corner of the sink. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Jah, you do. Why are you being so understanding all of a sudden?”
Faith stood and gave Beth a curious look herself.
Beth licked her lips and frowned. “She’s kin. And I don’t think Gott would look kindly on us speaking poorly of her.”
Mellie frowned. Of course, Beth was right. But still…
“You don’t have to go all holy on us, sister,” Faith said. “We know you don’t like her a lick better than we do.”
Mellie’s eyes went wide, and she hurried to the kitchen door to peer out toward the front room. If Dan had overheard, he would have been crushed.
“Faith Fisher!” Beth scolded. “Mamm would have your hide for that kind of comment.”
Faith sank back down to her chair. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“It’s going to be a big change,” Mellie said, hoping to restore the peace. “We’re all going to have to adjust.”
“I don’t like Mamm being out in the daadi haus. I know it’s right out back, but we won’t be able to check on her as easily,” Faith said.
“You’re right.” Mellie took off her apron. “We’ll just have to be more vigilant. That’s all.” She gazed at Faith and Beth. “I’m going to bring up the subject of going to an Englisch doctor again.”
Faith took in a quick intake of breath. Beth shook her head.
“It won’t do a bit of good,” Beth said. “She won’t go.”
“Probably not. But I have to ask again. I can’t stand to see her suffer so.”
“None of us can. But she’s stubborn as a goat guarding the clothesline. She won’t budge.”
Mellie gazed out the kitchen window and imagined what could happen if Mamm agreed to go. In all probability, her pain could be lessened. Who knew? Perhaps, she’d even be able to get up and about better. She didn’t understand why Mamm had to be so stubborn. There were many Amish who went to Englisch doctors. Not as a first resort, certainly, but when things got drastic, many went.
And Mamm’s case was drastic.
“Dan’s leaving,” Beth said from the doorway.
Mellie and Faith walked out with her to the front room to say good-bye.
“I’m off then,” Dan said. “I’ll tell Ruthie that everything is settled.”
&nbs
p; “Give the children our love,” Beth told him.
“That I will.” He put on his felt hat, smiled his goodbye, and left the house.
Gabe and Eli looked at each other with a shrug and both went outside through the washroom. Daadi walked over to Mamm who was sitting in a rocking chair next to the warming stove.
“Well, daughter, I’ll look forward to you moving in. No reason to wait. Have the girls bring your things tomorrow.”
Mamm nodded her head. Daadi leaned down and gave her an uncustomary kiss on her kapp. Mellie’s lips parted in surprise. Showing such affection wasn’t normal in their family. In fact, now that she thought on it, she had no remembrance of Daadi ever kissing anyone in public. He stood back up and saw all three sisters looking at him.
“So, you heard me,” he said, his voice thin. “Bring Esther’s things around tomorrow.”
“Jah, Daadi. We will,” Faith said.
He shuffled out of the room, and Mellie went to Mamm and stretched out her hand. “Are you ready to go back up? Or would you like to stay down here a while?”
Mamm let out her breath in a long sigh. Mellie could see the fatigue on her face and the familiar tightness around her eyes.
“I’m ready to go up,” she said. Mellie gently put her arms around her and lifted her from the chair. She let Mamm brace herself against her side, and they inched their way to the stairs. It took a full ten minutes to get up to Mamm’s room.
“No more stairs after tomorrow,” Mellie said, trying for a playful note in her voice. She tucked Mamm into her bed. “Do you need anything else?”
“I know you girls don’t want Ruthie here.” Mamm’s voice was weak, but sharp.
Mellie froze.
“Don’t pretend,” Mamm said.
Mellie straightened and gazed down at her mother. “It’s going to be fine,” she said. “And it will be nice to have the kinner here.”
“Ruthie’s a hard woman.”
Mellie swallowed, shocked at her mother’s words. She had no idea how to respond to such a comment.
“But she loves Dan and their kinner,” Mamm said and closed her eyes.
“Of course, she does.” Mellie tucked the quilt more firmly under Mamm’s chin. “Of course, she does, Mamm. You rest now.”
Deciding that it wasn’t the right timing to bring up an Englisch doctor again, Mellie slipped out of the room, leaving the door ajar. From the hallway, she heard noise from the bedroom she shared with Beth and walked in to see her sister standing at the window. She walked over to join her. Neither spoke for a long moment.
“You okay?” Mellie finally asked. Beth hadn’t seemed herself since she’d visited her out in the sweet shop.
“Of course.”
Mellie turned to study her sister’s face. There was a pinched look around her mouth and eyes. “Beth?”
“Ever wonder what it would be like to teach the kinner?”
Mellie gave a start. What in the world was Beth talking about? “Teach the kinner? You mean at the schoolhouse?”
“Jah.” A faraway look now came to Beth’s face. “At the schoolhouse.”
“Nee. Truth be told, I was happy when I finished eighth grade. Don’t see any reason to prolong the experience.”
“But the learning. All the learning to be had.” Beth turned to Mellie, her eyes alight. “Every time I read a book, I realize how much I don’t know.”
She was getting into dangerous territory, and Mellie tensed.
“But we do know all that’s needed. We know how to can and sew and mend and plant—”
Beth shook her head, cutting Mellie off. “Jah, jah. All of that. But the world…” Here, she flung out her arms, accidently knocking her knuckles into the window glass. “There’s so much out there. Teachers have an excuse to learn.”
Mellie was stunned as she watched Beth come alive in a way she’d never seen before. Her face grew animated, and her eyes sparkled. But then, just as quickly, it all faded.
“Our district has a gut teacher,” Beth murmured.
And they did. John Beiler had been teaching for a few years. It was somewhat unusual to have a male teacher in an Amish school, but John was wonderful. The Hollybrook district loved him and begged him to stay at the end of each school year.
Mellie continued staring at Beth. “Do you want to be a teacher?” she asked. “Is that what you’re really saying?”
Beth shook her head as if the idea was foolish. “Nee, of course not. Where would I teach? And besides, if I were to be married, I wouldn’t be a teacher for long.”
At the thought of her sister marrying, Mellie’s mind flew once again to Caleb. Were they engaged already? Asking such personal questions wasn’t really done, but they were sisters. Close sisters.
“Has he spoken?” Mellie asked, more than a little afraid of the answer.
“Caleb?”
“Jah. Caleb.”
Beth inhaled and then blew out her breath in a long hiss of air. “He will,” she said.
“You’re sure.” Something inside Mellie was dying. She tried to keep the pleading from her voice, but she wasn’t sure if she succeeded.
Beth didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. “I’m sure.”
Mellie nodded and turned away, toward her bed. “That’s wonderful gut, isn’t it?”
“Wonderful gut,” Beth repeated, with a decided lack of enthusiasm.
Mellie unpinned her kapp and took it from her head. She also took out the pins from her tightly twisted bun. Her blond hair fell down her back in one long thick curl. She picked up her brush from the dresser and sat on the edge of her bed. With methodical strokes, she brushed her hair, reaching with her entire arm to get to the ends.
She braided it loosely and tied a string around it so it wouldn’t be such a mess when she awoke. Then she got out her nightclothes.
Beth remained at the window as the darkness crept over the land.
“Do you want to light the lantern?” Mellie asked.
“Nee. Let’s not. The darkness feels cooler.”
Indeed, their room was stuffy after the hot Indiana day. The open window helped, but there didn’t seem to be any breeze coming in.
“The fireflies are out,” Beth observed. “Come watch them with me.”
So Mellie did. They stood together as the tiny lights zig-zagged across the yard, flicking on and off in a random display of summer lights. For a long time, they stood there. Neither spoke. But Mellie’s mind was not quiet, nor did she think was Beth’s.
Caleb’s face loomed in Mellie’s thoughts. His handsome good looks. His clear blue eyes. His brown hair with that funny cowlick in front—the one she was so sure would be soft to the touch. In her mind’s eye, Caleb was smiling at her. Happy to see her, to talk to her. Happy to be with her.
Mellie sucked in air and felt the tears burn the back of her eyelids. She turned away from the window and from Beth. It was time for bed.
Ruthie stood on the front porch, directing all the men. “That goes in the kitchen,” she hollered to Gabe, who was struggling with an over-sized box. “That one to our bedroom,” she told her husband.
Mellie had gathered up a stack of quilts from the back of the van and was balancing them carefully while trying to peer over the top so she didn’t miss the step.
“Is there a trunk?” Ruthie asked her. “Someplace to store the quilts for now?”
“Mamm has a trunk, but it’s full of her things.”
“Empty it out, would you?” Ruthie asked. “I’m sure your mother won’t mind. You can take all the stuff from inside out to the daadi haus.”
Mellie bristled. How did Ruthie know if her mother would mind or not? Mellie was quite sure she would mind. It was her trunk, after all.
“Why don’t I stack them in the bedroom?” Mellie asked. “I could put them on top of the dresser for now.”
“Nee. That’s a horrible idea. They’ll look ridiculous on the dresser. Put them in the trunk.” Ruthie fixed her attention on the driver of
the van. “We have more back at my folks’ place,” she said, striding down the steps to him. “You’ll have to make more trips.”
Mellie gritted her teeth and made her way inside to the staircase. It has started. Ruthie was there, and by the looks of it, it was going to be worse than Mellie predicted. Faith met her halfway down the stairs.
“Here, give some of them to me. You’re going to trip,” Faith offered, holding out her arms.
They divided the quilts between them and went up to Mamm’s old room. The trunk was in the far corner.
“Ruthie wants the quilts stored in the trunk.”
“But the trunk’s full. We left Mamm’s things in it. I was going to have Dan and the boys take it to the daadi haus.”
“Not anymore. Ruthie insists that we take the things out and haul them to the daadi haus and leave the trunk here.”
“But it’s Mamm’s trunk!”
“Not anymore.”
Faith sank onto the floor with her armload of quilts. “Mellie, I’m worried.”
Mellie gazed down on her younger sister with sympathy. “So am I. But moaning about it won’t help.” Her tone was gentle, but she couldn’t afford to let Faith pull her into a worse place than she already was.
Faith struggled to get back to her feet without letting the quilts drop. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. Truth be told, I feel the same way, but we have to move ahead. We all have to live together now.”
“Do you think I should move out to the daadi haus, too?” Faith asked. “I could better care for Mamm out there.”
“And sleep where? On the floor in Mamm’s room?”
Faith pursed her lips. “I could put a mattress on the floor.”
“Is that what you really want to do?”
“Nee.” Faith sighed. “What I really want is for Dat to be alive and for our family to return to normal.”
“This is normal, now,” Mellie said, cringing at her own words. “We have to get used to it.”
Chapter Three
Mellie was behind in her baking. What with Dan and Ruth moving in, she’d been occupied from sun-up to sun-down. Supper had been served and now the whole family was in the front room for Bible reading and prayer. Mellie hesitated at the kitchen door. She loved hearing the scriptures read in Old German, but right then, she longed for a moment of quiet. A moment of peace. Baking would give that to her.
Amish Romance Box Set: Finding Home Page 2
