Seeing Ellen’s face tighten, Rob realized he’d spoken too harshly. He pulled off his baseball hat and laid it on the nearby counter. Boy, I’m sure not being careful about my tone. Think I’d better lighten up. He glanced at Mandy and noticed her red face and tear-stained cheeks. “Are you okay? Is your husband worse?”
She sat, seeming to collect her thoughts. “He’s the same as before.” Mandy rose from her chair. “Excuse me. There are some things I need to do.” She glanced at Ellen, then fled the room.
Ellen stood too. “I’ll get your water, Rob.” She headed for the kitchen and he followed.
“That’s okay. I’ll get it, Ellen.” Rob made a beeline for the refrigerator, took out two bottles of water, and handed one to Ellen. “Sorry for speaking in a harsh tone to you when I first came in.”
Ellen took a drink of water before she spoke. “I appreciate your apology.”
“I shouldn’t have been so demanding.”
She nodded.
Rob wondered if she was still upset. Her eyes avoided his as she fiddled with the ties to her cap, looking everywhere but at him. He opened his bottle and drank all of it, then took a seat at the table. “Mind if I ask you something?”
“Not at all.” Ellen looked at him.
“How long are you planning to stay on the island?”
Ellen pulled out a chair and sat across from him. “I’ll be here for as long as Mandy needs me.”
“Is everything okay with her today? When I saw her in the dining room, it seemed like she may have been crying.”
“Mandy’s going through a rough time. A lot of people are praying for her and Ken, so I’m trusting God that everything will work out.”
He fingered the checkered tablecloth. “Do you believe in the power of prayer?”
“Yes. Don’t you?”
No. God let me down when I needed Him the most. Rob kept his thoughts to himself. Pushing the chair aside, he stood. “I’ve had enough of a break. How about you? Are you ready to get back to work, or would you rather stay inside for a while where it’s cooler?”
“I’m ready too.”
“Okay, great.” Rob raced for the door and held it open for her.
Ellen offered him the sweetest smile. “Thank you, Rob.”
Mandy lay on her bed, staring at the slow-turning ceiling fan. Learning that she was expecting a baby should have been a most joyous occasion, and she felt guilty for not being more excited.
What will Ken say when I tell him he’s going to be a daddy? I’m sure Vickie and my folks will be glad to hear this news.
Mandy touched her stomach. It was amazing to think a new life was growing mere inches from where her hand rested. Ken and I will become parents in less than nine months. She rolled onto her side. Why did I encourage him to go surfing with his friends? Mandy had twisted and turned that horrible day into so many different scenarios. But going over and over it didn’t change what had happened.
Mandy had looked forward to the day she would surprise Ken with the news that they were expecting their first child. It would have been so special—just the two of them, alone and uninterrupted. Mandy’s dream never included her husband lying in a hospital bed before learning he was going to be a father.
So many decisions fell on her now, but she didn’t feel up to making any of them. All Mandy wanted to do was sleep. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t turn off her concerns.
Mandy sat up and lifted her Bible from the nightstand. She turned to Isaiah 41, which she’d marked with a peach-colored ribbon. She read verse 13, which was underlined: “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
She clutched the Bible to her chest. Help me, Lord, to remain calm and remember Your blessings.
Mandy got off the bed. She needed to get back to Ken and relieve his mother. First, she would call her parents and leave a message. She wanted to give them an update on Ken and share the news of her pregnancy.
Later that evening as Ellen cleared the supper dishes at the bed-and-breakfast, she thought about Rob and how nice he’d been to her this afternoon. She couldn’t get over how he’d apologized for acting bossy—and the pleasant way he’d spoken to her as they worked in the chicken house.
Nothing like Ezra. He was never pleasant to work with. Ellen didn’t know why she was comparing Ezra to Rob. There was no chance of a relationship with either of them. Ezra wasn’t her type, even though her mother spoke highly of him whenever the opportunity presented itself.
If Mom knew I was interested in Rob, who’s English, she’d say I should nip it in the bud.
Well, Mom need not worry. There’s no chance of me developing a relationship with Rob either. When I leave Kauai, Rob will go on with his life, and I’ll return to mine in Middlebury. Ellen had to admit she felt drawn to Rob, even though she didn’t know much about him.
Determined to concentrate on the job at hand, she grabbed a spoon and put the leftover green beans in a plastic container.
Ellen glanced at Luana, busy loading the dishwasher. I wish I could tell her about Mandy’s pregnancy. But it’s not my place to say anything. Mandy will share the news when she feels ready. Ellen put the beans in the refrigerator. Mandy hadn’t even told Ken yet, which was sad, because her husband should have been the first to know. Ellen could only imagine what it felt like to be in her friend’s position.
“You’ve been quiet this evening. Even the jokes Makaio told at the supper table didn’t make you laugh,” Luana mentioned when Ellen handed her a few more dirty dishes. “Are you tired from putting in a hard day at the farm?”
“Not too much. It was a pretty easy day. I’m just worried about Mandy and Ken.” Ellen wet the dishrag and began wiping the kitchen table.
“We’re all concerned, but worry won’t change a thing.” Luana folded her hands. “Remember the remedy for worry?”
Ellen nodded. “Prayer.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ve been sending up lots of prayers since Ken became injured, but sometimes worry creeps in.”
“How well I know. I’ve had plenty of things to worry about over the years. But fretting never changed any of my circumstances. All it did was stress me out.”
“I felt that way when Mandy and Ken moved to Kauai and I was left to run their B&B. At first I thought it was only temporary. But when they decided to sell, my stress level increased.”
Ellen finished wiping the table and put the dishrag on the drying rack. “I enjoyed my responsibilities at the B&B and wanted to buy their business. But of course I didn’t have enough money for even a small down payment.”
Luana tipped her head. “Does Mandy know you wanted to buy it?”
“No. I saw no point in telling her, since I couldn’t afford it. I’m just glad for Mandy and Ken’s sake that it sold right away. At least they don’t have to worry about mortgage payments anymore. They probably didn’t get much from the equity they’d built up in the two years they owned the B&B, but whatever they made should help pay some of Ken’s hospital bills.”
Luana poured detergent into the proper receptacle and closed the dishwasher door. “I hope they don’t have to use any of it. They’re going to need money for their future. Who knows—if Vickie should decide to sell the farm, Ken and Mandy might want to buy a house of their own.”
“Do you think they would move back to Middlebury?”
“Unless Vickie were willing to move to the mainland, I doubt they would leave her.” Luana pursed her lips. “If that brother of Ken’s had stayed here instead of running off to California because he couldn’t deal with his dad’s death, Vickie would have all the help and support she needs.” She shook her head. “I doubt Ken will be back to work anytime soon.”
When Vickie entered the house, she found Mandy on the couch, holding her cell phone. She turned to face Vickie with raised brows. “I’m surprised to see you. I assumed you wouldn’t come home until I returned to the hospital.”
“Ken’s asleep, so I decided to get a few things done here before I go back.”
“I thought we were taking turns.” Mandy placed the cell phone in her lap.
“That was the plan, but the nurse gave Ken a pretty strong sedative, so there’s no point in either of us being there right now.” Vickie studied her daughter-in-law’s pale face and red-rimmed eyes. “We both need a good night’s sleep in our own beds tonight. Do you agree?”
“It would be nice, but …” Mandy’s voice trailed off.
Vickie took a seat beside Mandy. “Is something other than Ken’s situation bothering you?”
Mandy gave a slow nod. “I have some news.”
“Oh? Is it about the farm?”
“It’s about me. I took a home-pregnancy test earlier today. It was positive.”
Vickie sat several seconds, letting her daughter-in-law’s words sink in. Then she pulled Mandy into a tight hug. “That’s wonderful! We needed some good news.” She dabbed at the tears trickling down her cheeks. “Have you told your folks?”
“I called a few minutes ago and left them a message.”
“Ken’s going to be so excited about this when he wakes up and you share the good news.” Vickie leaned in closer.
Mandy shook her head. “I’m not going to burden him with this right now.”
“Burden him? What do you mean?” Vickie bit down on her bottom lip. “Knowing he’s going to be a father will give my son a reason to get well.”
“You heard the doctor say Ken has a long recovery ahead. I don’t need him worrying about me.” Mandy clasped Vickie’s arm. “Please don’t say anything to Ken about my pregnancy. I should be the one to tell him, but not till I feel he’s ready.”
“You’re right, it is your place to give Ken the news, but I hope you won’t wait too long.” Vickie didn’t understand Mandy’s reasoning, but she would keep quiet and let Mandy do the telling.