How come you’re limpin’ ‘round the kitchen, Mama?” Peggy Ann asked as Velma moved slowly about the room, getting supper ready.
“I told you before—my knee hurts from where the handle of the axe fell against it today.” Velma grunted. “Don’t ya listen to anything I say?”
Peggy Ann’s hair hung in her face as she lowered her head. “S–sorry. Guess I forgot.”
Shuffling over to her daughter, Velma pulled the child into her arms. She wished she could take back her harsh words. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. Didn’t mean to be so cross. I’m just tired, hurtin’, and hungry, to boot.”
Eddie burst into the room. “I’m hungry too. What’s for supper, Mama?”
She pointed to the stove. “I’m heating some leftover vegetable soup, and we’ll have cheese and crackers to go with it. Nothing exciting, but at least it’ll fill our bellies.”
“Will we be havin’ any dessert?” Peggy Ann wanted to know.
Velma shook her head. “Nope. You two had your dessert at Heidi’s, remember?”
Eddie smacked his lips. “It was sure good.”
“That it was. And since your sister came home with the recipe, we can make strawberry shortcake sometime. I’m sure it’ll be as good as what we had today.” Velma took three bowls down from the cupboard. “You two go wash up now, while I dish out the soup.”
The children scampered out of the kitchen, and Velma hobbled over to get the soup ladle.
Pulling and tugging, Velma blew out an exasperated breath. “Now why won’t this stubborn drawer open?” She rattled it and jiggled it in every direction, but it wouldn’t budge. “Come on you stupid thing. Don’t I have enough troubles already?”
Velma stopped for a minute to catch her breath. She hoped Hank would be home soon with some money. Their food supplies were running low, and some things needed to be fixed around the house—including now, this kitchen drawer.
Once more, Velma wished she could look for a job. But what would she do with Eddie and Peggy Ann while she was at work? She couldn’t leave them home by themselves. That would be asking for trouble. And then there was her need for transportation. If she took a job at one of the stores or restaurants anywhere—even one of the small towns here in Holmes County—it would require a car.
Staring at the drawer, Velma knew it wouldn’t open itself. She grabbed the handle one more time, and with one final tug, the drawer flew open, almost sending Velma backward to the floor. Apparently the soup ladle had been stuck, keeping the drawer from opening. It was bent, but, at least, still usable. “Why can’t anything ever be simple?” she mumbled.
“Cause it ain’t.”
Velma jumped at the sound of her husband’s booming voice. “Hank, I—I didn’t hear your rig pull in. How long have ya been here?”
“Long enough to say hi to the kids.” He moved toward Velma. “What’s the matter with you, woman? Are ya goin’ deaf? That truck of mine’s loud enough to wake the dead.”
Velma’s chin quivered. “You don’t have to holler, Hank. I’m standing right here.”
His eyes narrowed. “What’s going on? You look like you’re gonna start bawling.”
“I’m tired, and I’ve had a rough day.” She motioned to the pot of soup on the stove. “The kids and I are about ready to have supper. Have you eaten yet?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, I’ll set you a place.” Velma took out another bowl and put it on the table where Hank normally sat when he was at home. “Can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure, what’s up?” He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Velma moved to stand beside him. “I was talkin’ to Heidi today—told her about our two oldest running off.”
His face tightened. “Ya got no call to be tellin’ other people our business. What happens in the Kimball home stays right here.” Hank slapped his hand on the table. “A nosy neighbor starts gossiping, and pretty soon the whole county will know what’s goin’ on at our place.”
“But Heidi isn’t like that. She’s not a nosy neighbor, and I doubt she will tell anyone what I told her.”
“Puh! I wouldn’t be so sure about that. The Amish don’t have TVs or run around in motorized vehicles. What else do they have to do all day but spread gossip?”
Velma’s fingernails bit into her palms as she fought for control. “You are not being fair. Are you prejudiced against the Amish?”
He shook his head vigorously. “Course not. I just know how people like to talk—not just the Amish, but anyone with a waggin’ tongue.”
“Well, like I said, I don’t think Heidi would gossip about us. When I talked to her today, she seemed to truly care.” Velma drew in a quick breath. “Heidi mentioned church too.”
“What about it?”
“She asked if we attended church or had a minister we could talk to about our problems.”
“Humph! Church is the last thing we need. Now, if you wanna start goin’, I won’t stop ya, but there’s no way I’ll step inside a church building.” Hank pushed his chair aside and strode across the room. After opening the refrigerator door, he took out a carton of milk and poured himself a glass. “Is this all the milk we have?” He shook the carton.
“Yes, it is, and I could use some money to go grocery shopping.”
“Figured you’d be askin’ for money.” He lifted the glass to his lips and took a big drink. “You really oughta find a job.”
“We’ve been over this before.” She sighed. “If I went to work, I’d need to pay someone to watch the kids—not to mention some form of transportation.”
“Eddie and Peggy Ann are big enough to stay by themselves.”
“No they’re not, Hank. They’re just children.”
He took another drink. “Yeah, well, when I was Eddie’s age, I was helpin’ my pa at the lumber mill.”
She plopped her hands against her hips. “Just because your dad trusted a boy to do a man’s job doesn’t mean we should leave our kids alone while we’re both off working.” Velma could see by her husband’s placid expression that she wasn’t getting anywhere with him. She was stubborn, but Hank was even more hard-headed. He rarely agreed with her on anything.
Hank flopped back in his chair. “So, are we gonna eat now, or what?”
“Yeah, I’ll go get the kids.” Velma clenched her fists as she limped out of the kitchen. No kiss on the cheek today when Hank got home. It seemed they were getting further and further apart. “Guess absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, like some people say,” she muttered. Nothing would probably ever change for the better in her life, so she may as well accept it. I bet he didn’t even notice me limping.
Miranda was getting ready to climb into bed when someone tapped on her door. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Mommy. Can I come in?”
“Of course, sweetie,” Miranda called.
The door opened, and Debbie stepped into the room. “I have something for you. It’s from Daddy, and I promised to give it to you, but I forgot until now.”
Miranda’s lips pressed together. Oh, boy, here it comes. “What did your father ask you to give me?”
“This.” Debbie held out a cream-colored envelope. “I was supposed to give it to you when me and Kevin came in the house after Dad left. But then you told us we should change clothes before lunch, so I put the envelope on my dresser and forgot about it till now.”
“Okay, thanks.” Miranda took the envelope and hugged her daughter. It wasn’t Debbie’s fault Trent was using her to deliver his gift. “Did your dad visit with you and your brother a little before he left?”
“No. Daddy said he had to go home and rest. Something about a kidney stone.”
“Your father had a kidney stone?”
“Yep, I think he said he passed it, whatever that means.”
Miranda didn’t ask her daughter any more. “Now off to bed you go.”
“Night, Mommy. Sweet dreams.”
Miranda smiled. “Sweet dreams to you too.”
After Debbie left the room, Miranda took a seat on the bed and opened the envelope. She recognized the card right away. It was one she’d given Trent on their first anniversary, when they were so very much in love. She’d written such lovely things to him—promising, no matter how many struggles they might encounter, or how difficult or challenging situations may get, they’d always work things out together.
I wonder if I should call him to see if he’s okay. The last time he had a kidney stone attack, it lasted for two days. No, I better not. Trent would have called if it had been too bad.
Tears welled in her eyes and dripped onto the card. Miranda couldn’t deny that she still loved Trent. She just wasn’t sure they could be together again.