By the first Saturday of June, Ellen felt very thankful for her sister’s presence at the store. Lenore’s work not only lightened the load, but Ezra’s bossiness toward Ellen had lessened a bit as well, since he now had two helpers to tell what to do. Ellen wished this was a job she liked more, but for Dad’s sake she would work without complaint—even though dealing with Ezra at times still felt like having a burr under her saddle.
“Where shall I put this pair of schuh? I don’t see a box for them.” Lenore bumped Ellen’s arm, halting her thoughts.
Ellen took the black sneakers from her sister and looked inside to check the size. “Did you look on the shelf for size nine in women’s shoes? Sometimes people put the empty box on the shelf but set the shoes someplace else.”
Lenore squinted her blue eyes. “You want me to go through every box on the shelf?”
“Jah.” Ellen pointed in the right direction. “As soon as you find it, I’d appreciate some help opening several boxes in the back room.”
“Okay.” Lenore smiled. “I like workin’ here in the store. Don’t you?”
“It’s all right, but I’m hoping to find another job after Dad comes back.”
“If you quit working here, do you think Dad will let me keep helping?”
“Maybe. That’s why I’m training you the best I can—so you can fill my shoes.” She snickered.
“Good one, Ellen.” Lenore grinned. “When I get paid I’d like to go shopping. Maybe we could go together.”
“That would be nice, and we could stop for ice cream afterward.” Ellen glanced out the window and saw a minivan pull into their lot. Things had been busy today, with a steady stream of customers.
Lenore headed down the women’s aisle, and Ellen turned toward the front door as an English couple with three children entered the store. Since Ezra was behind the counter, waiting on a customer, Ellen greeted the couple. “May I help you?”
The woman, who wore her brown hair in a long braid, nodded. “My girls and I need new shoes.” She gestured to the man and small boy. “They may want to try on a few pairs too.”
Ellen smiled. “I’d be happy to assist.” She directed the man to the men’s and boys’ section, then led the woman and her daughters to the women’s department.
Ezra came out from behind the counter. “Lenore, when you get done with whatever you’re doing, could you help Ellen?” he called.
Ellen looked back at Ezra. There he goes again—telling us what to do.
“Okay, I’ll put these away and be right back to help.” Lenore rushed off.
Ezra’s bossiness didn’t seem to bother Ellen’s sister. If it did, she never let on. Perhaps I’m just too sensitive.
“Is this your store?” The woman looked at Ellen with a curious expression.
She shook her head. “My father owns it.”
“Oh, I see. I didn’t realize until we came in that it’s an Amish shoe store.” The woman reached into her purse and withdrew a small camera. “Mind if I take a few pictures? This is our first time visiting Amish country, and I want to take some photos to share with my friends in Chicago.”
“It’s okay to take pictures of the shoes, but please, no photos of those who work here.”
The woman’s shoulders rose as she gave a huff. “Okay, if that’s what you’d prefer.”
Ellen didn’t have a chance to explain, for the woman grabbed her daughters’ hands and hurried down the first aisle.
Lenore came back and stood by her sister. “How can I help?”
“Depending on what our customers want, I may need you to run out to the shed for more shoes.” Ellen glanced over her shoulder and saw Ezra talking to the man and his boy. A few seconds later, they started down one of the aisles.
Heading down the aisle of women’s shoes, she and Lenore were almost run over by the young girls, each waving a pair of shoes in their hands. Before Ellen could say anything, the girls zipped past them and raced toward the front of the store. Thinking their mother would go after her daughters, Ellen paused.
“Where’s their mom?” Lenore whispered.
Glancing around, Ellen shrugged. Then, hearing some giggling in the next aisle, she hurried to see what was so funny. The girls both wore shoes several sizes too big for them and stood posed as their mother snapped a picture.
The youngest girl pointed to her feet. “I want these shoes.”
“Me too.” Her sister eyed Lenore, when she stepped up to her.
Ellen looked at the children’s mother. “Would you like me to measure the girls’ feet? Then I can check and see if we have their sizes in stock.”
“Yes, please do.”
“I’ll get the shoes for you, once we know their sizes,” Lenore said.
Ellen asked the children to take a seat on the bench at the end of the aisle. While she measured the girls’ feet, their mother took a few more pictures. Ellen hoped she wasn’t in any of them. Most people didn’t come into the store with a camera. Why do they feel the need to take pictures? Is our business so different from an English shoe store?
Ezra had been talking to the English man who’d come into the store with his family, but he didn’t seem interested in buying shoes. The young boy had gone outside a few minutes ago, and the father followed.
Ezra looked out the window. Father and son sat side-by-side on the bench. He felt a twinge of envy. Sure hope I have a son someday. Of course I’ll first need a fraa.
Turning, he glanced at Ellen. He’d noticed that she seemed to be avoiding him. She spent most of her time training Lenore to restock when deliveries were made, wait on customers, run the battery-operated cash register, and sort through boxes of shoes. At this rate, he’d never get a relationship started with her. If he could only get up the nerve to ask Ellen out without fear of rejection. And it didn’t help that he kept saying the wrong things whenever he talked with her.
Ezra returned to his seat behind the counter. I wonder if Ellen is expecting her sister to take over for her when Nathan returns to the store. I haven’t been very pleasant to Ellen since she started helping out while her daed had surgery and recovers. Maybe I’d better change my ways and quit telling her what to do.
He shifted on the wooden stool. Wish there was something I could say to make things better. Would it help if I told Ellen I was sorry?
Nora stepped out of the kitchen and stood watching Nathan sitting in his favorite chair, staring out the window with a wistful expression. Her husband was bored, no doubt wishing he could go back to work at the shoe store. It was difficult to hold him down, and she’d be glad when the doctor said Nathan could return to work. All he’d talked about since he got out of the hospital was the store—wondering how things were going, if Ezra and Ellen were managing okay without him, and if Lenore was fitting in well.
Nora sighed. Having her husband down like this was testing their marriage. He’d become irritable and snapped at her for the littlest things. She had considered talking to their bishop or one of the other ministers about it. Instead, she’d confided in her mother when she came by earlier. Mom was in the kitchen now, fixing coffee.
Nora stepped forward and placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Do you need anything, Nathan?”
He shook his head, never taking his gaze off the window.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you’re hurting, I’ll bring you one of the pain pills the doctor prescribed.”
“Said I’m fine. I don’t like taking those pills. And if I need one, I’ll get it myself.”
Nora stepped back, feeling like she’d been punched. “Okay, I’ll be in the kitchen with Mom if you need me.” She crept down the hall, stopping in the bathroom for a tissue. She blotted her eyes and blew her nose. Nathan doesn’t appreciate anything I do. It’s like he’s become a different person. Doesn’t he realize how much I care about him?
Nora paused to reflect on what her mother had said earlier this morning. “Be patient, kind, and supportive, for this too shall pass.”
Mom also explained how some people can change when pain racks their body. She’d said, “Nathan doesn’t intend to be nasty. He’s upset, not only because he hurts, but because his normal routine has been interrupted. Remember, the husband is the head of the household—the main breadwinner for his family. When he can’t do what he normally does, it’s difficult to see his family doing everything for him. I’m sure when he’s feeling himself again, he will most likely apologize and say how grateful he is to have you by his side.”
Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, Nora took a deep breath. “Mom is right,” she said to herself quietly. “I must show Nathan how much I love him and, at the same time, try not to overwhelm him with too much attention.”
Nora pulled out a clean washcloth from storage and dampened it with cool running water. After applying the refreshing cloth to her face, she felt more relaxed.
Leaning against the bathroom counter, Nora closed her eyes. Lord, help me be an understanding wife. Show me when to speak and when to keep quiet. Please help my husband to heal quickly so he can return to his store and things will be better between us.