Chapter Twenty-Eight

Caleb wanted Emma out of harm’s way, and he didn’t know whether he could keep her safe anymore. She was stubbornly attached to Monique, and that friendship had become dangerous for her. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her, and neither would Zeb. He turned his attention to Mark, who had been quietly waiting for Caleb.

Mark’s tight lips made Caleb suck in air. “Be strong for Adrian, Mark. Pray through this so you have the courage you need to get him through this.” The news of a fire in Adrian’s neighborhood had hit them hard. Not so much for Caleb—unfortunately it wasn’t uncommon for him—but that Adrian was taken to the hospital was heart-wrenching for Mark.

“Is he hurt bad?” Mark used as few words as possible, keeping himself intact. Caleb had never seen him this vulnerable, which made it even harder to talk to him about it.

“I don’t know, Mark. I only found out about him through the grapevine—people know who I know and tell me when something’s up. I’m hoping it’s not as bad as it sounds.” Caleb hesitated about Mark going to the hospital with him. He needed to make a couple phone calls first, anyway, so he had time to figure out what was best.

“I want to see him.” Mark lifted his head, keeping himself together as determination began to take over. Caleb didn’t know how Emma would feel about Mark going, but could see in his eyes that Mark wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Let me do some networking first.” Caleb was rather short with him, but he had to be. A lot more things could be involved that Mark couldn’t even imagine with gangs and vendettas, not to mention there was the possibility of Abe being involved.

Mark stood. “I’m going to see him whether you’re with me or not.”

“Don’t think for a minute that I don’t want you to be at the hospital at Adrian’s side. But it’s different here than the community where you can trust everyone.” When Mark rolled his eyes, Caleb stood, facing him, standing within inches of each other. “Mark, don’t test me on this.”

Mark took a step back and huffed out a breath. “Then I’ll go myself,” he mumbled.

“No, you won’t.” Caleb stood his ground verbally and physically. He wasn’t much taller than Mark, but he used every advantage he had to let Mark know that this time, he wouldn’t get his way.

Mark balled his fists, turned, and walked away.

“What happened?” Emma stood staring at Caleb in disbelief.

“He wanted to take himself to the hospital.”

Caleb wasn’t in the mood to explain more. There were times when he got tired of naive Amish kids who had to learn everything the hard way. Sometimes he didn’t know why he even bothered with the annual ritual of rumspringa, but they were his people. Even though the community didn’t consider him part of their fold, he treated their sons and daughters as his while they were with him.

“That was wonderful gut.” Emma still had a shocked look on her face. “I wish it was that easy for me to deal with him.”

Caleb shook his head, switching gears to locate the hospital Adrian was at. It was privileged information, and there were over three hundred hospitals in the Philadelphia area, which could be narrowed down easily due to Adrian’s indigent status.

Once Caleb found the right one, he asked Emma to find Mark, though Caleb wouldn’t be surprised if he’d left, which would be futile—Mark would never find Adrian’s hospital.

Caleb got ready to walk out the front door when he saw Mark coming up the steps. “They won’t let him see visitors, only immediate family. There’s an investigation involving the fire. They think it may be arson,” Caleb explained.

Mark shook his head. “Where is he?”

“Philadelphia General Hospital in West Philly. But there is something we can do in the meantime.”

“What?” Emma walked up behind Caleb.

“His place is beyond repair, and we can’t get on the property due to the investigation. But we can help rebuild a place for Adrian’s family to live, one down the street from his that’s been abandoned. I’m waiting to hear back from the city to see what they say.”

Emma looked at him like he was crazy, and Mark grinned from ear to ear. “There’s nothing we Amish do better than build things.”

Caleb smiled. “Think of it as a barn-raising.”

“Where would we get the material?” Emma seemed to come around. She had a gleam in her eyes that surprised Caleb. It was a bold move, but there was something about the Amish way of helping those in need and building, just about anything, that made Caleb think it might not be so far-fetched after all. He thought sure Emma would worry about the area close to where Monique was, close to where they would be working. Maybe she was getting past that.

Caleb lifted his hand up toward the broken down old church that had become his home. “This place runs on donations. I’ll just be asking for a different kind.”

She smiled at Caleb. “This would be an incredible gesture to Adrian and the community where he lives.”

Caleb nodded. “This is a good project. It will keep the guys busy.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “And for the girls.”

Caleb cocked his head to the side. “Emma, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go. “You’ll be safe at the church and needed—”

“I’m not going to live in fear.” Emma placed her hands on her hips and raised her brows. “Caleb Lapp, I will be going to this haus raising.”

And with the look in her eyes, Caleb knew it was futile to try and convince her otherwise.

Emma shut out the noise as they went down the busy street. No one said a word. What had started as a chance meeting with the church group had turned into friendship, Christian fellowship, and that had led Mark to have a strong relationship with Adrian. Once they got the permit, they wasted no time gathering together to help build Adrian’s home. She reminded herself of that as they started their way back to that godforsaken neighborhood. Fear rose in her remembering the horrible incident when they found Monique. She’d hoped never to be here again. But with Caleb by her side, she felt safe.

Emma stepped into the subway train and held tight to a steel post. The seats were all taken. Even an older lady clung to one of the poles to keep from falling. Flashes of words were painted on the cement walls that surrounded them. She didn’t know some of the words, and others, she chose not to see.

How do people come down in these tunnels and paint walls with the large, noisy trains going by? And why do they write on walls at all? If they have something to say, they should speak it.

“Hang on, there’s a corner up here.” Caleb clasped his hand over hers to keep her steady. Emma swayed and grabbed Caleb’s arm with her other hand. The sensation of his strong arm made her heart skip. As much as she tried to avoid it, her feelings for him were as much there as they ever were. She’d done well to push the thoughts away, but after being with him during this long period of time, her resistance was beginning to wane.

Emma looked out the window as the train flew through the tunnel. There was so much to see, and different people to observe, although she’d noticed people here didn’t like you to look at them. They would frown and look away, giving no opportunity to converse. Most didn’t talk, avoiding others as much as possible. There was very little laughter. She felt sad for them.

If they were happy, she sure couldn’t tell. Emma expected the different clothing but not to the extent she’d seen here. Skin was exposed to an embarrassing level. There were low-cut necklines and pants that hung down as if they would fall off. She wondered what the women’s faces really looked like beneath the color and marks around their eyes and lips.

“South Ninth Street,” a monotone voice announced over the intercom. When the doors opened, everyone rushed out to be first, instead of letting others go before them. Caleb lifted a hand so the others who were with them could see that they weren’t moving. Once everyone got off the train who were going to, the Amish walked onto the platform. Emma missed the dirt beneath her feet that gave with her steps, unlike the hard concrete here. “How much farther?”

“A couple of blocks. Not far.”

Caleb grabbed Emma’s hand and held tightly. He looked back frequently to see the group of a dozen Amish who were trailing behind them. They were getting as many looks as they were looking, a mutual curiosity between them and the natives.

Caleb thought it best Monique stay at the church with Alex and the other staff of volunteers who were there. Monique had told Emma she wasn’t ready to go anywhere even close to Abe’s home, and Adrian’s neighborhood was far too close.

Caleb led them to Adrian’s burned-out house farther down from the residential area. Black scorch marks randomly covered large areas around the windows and doors. The houses beside his were brick and also had dark marks. There were areas where the fire had taken down walls and floors. Most of the place was covered with black soot.

Rows of houses lined both sides of the streets. Most were in need of repair, others were more cared for. The closeness made it hard for Emma to breathe. There was only cement in front and a small yard in the back with a chain link fence a few feet away from the house. Neighbors were inches away, with no privacy once you set your foot out the door. Steel bars covered the lower windows that looked out at sidewalk level. It was so similar to Abe’s place, she felt the same fear climb up her spine.

They approached a beat-up wooden home. “This is it.” Caleb looked down at her. “Adrian’s family will live here.”

She heard him, but she was too busy trying to inhale to respond. The asthma was kicking in again. But why? Without any reason.

Caleb watched with concern until she seemed to catch her breath, then turned to the group and motioned to them by clapping his hands. “All of the materials are in the back yard. Your job here is to rebuild the shell of this house. It’s a good thing you’re doing here today.”

Caleb stopped and scratched his head. “Adrian’s family couldn’t afford to have their home repaired. Without your help, they would have few options of where to live while they waited for the outcome of the investigation.”

“Who builds the rest of the haus?” Mark asked at the same time Emma thought of the question.

“An organization called Habitat for Humanity will help with the rest. So let’s get to work and make it the best it can be, for Adrian.”

The looks on their faces showed determination mixed with sorrow. Each of the Amish young men collected his tool belt, hammer, or saw, depending on his assignment. The young women set up the sawhorses and kept the men supplied with whatever they needed—more nails, boards moved, or a cold drink when needed.

The weather was a little warm, but not so much that it was uncomfortable. Neighbors came by and watched as they worked. Caleb greeted the passersby to explain what they were doing. Most were interested, and many were surprised. Emma could hear one very loud man as he talked with Caleb.

“You all don’t even know how much Adrian’s folks will appreciate you fixin’ this place for ’em.” He shook his head. “That don’t happen ’round here. When your house gets vandalized, burned, or just plain falls apart nobody gonna help. You on the street or in a shelter.”

“We’re glad to help. Adrian is a friend of ours.” Emma looked at the man’s shocked face and wished it wasn’t such an unusual thing to help when people needed it. But a group of Amish doing it would be unusual for sure. Then she thought of Caleb. He used what he’d learned growing up Amish. Maybe that was why God had put him here—to spread the idea around in a place completely different than what he grew up with.

They worked into the evening, until it started to get dark, without taking more than a few minutes’ break. By the time the sun went down, they had the wood-frame walls in place, and once the cleanup was complete, they’d finished what they set out to do. The interior was left up to the next crew.

As they packed up, Caleb heard grumbles of empty stomachs. They’d taken a short break for lunch, but they’d earned a good meal. Emma wasted no time getting out of the area before dark. She’d looked over her shoulder too many times today and was ready to leave.

Emma noticed Caleb lead them down a different street on their way to the subway and stopped at a restaurant that made her stomach growl. Caleb told them he wanted to have a special dinner so they could bond after doing a good deed. They all pitched in, and Caleb made up the rest with the slush fund.

He stopped at an area that was only mildly better than where they were and opened the door of a crowded restaurant.

“Here it is. Geno’s! They have the best cheesesteaks in town. My mouth is watering already.” Caleb waved the group in and explained to them how to order as they passed him. The men of every color and size who worked there stared at the group, and the Amish returned the stares. Most of them had traded in their Amish clothes, but they still stood out with their hair and the way they talked, and even more so, their manners.

“You ever had a cheesesteak at Geno’s?” one of the men asked in all seriousness, as he flipped strips of meat on a large, hot griddle with a spatula. He pointed to Emma, who was standing in front of the group with Caleb at her side.

“Nee, I haven’t, but we make something similar—a hamburger sub that looks similar to yours.” She liked this man and was enjoying the banter. He and the other cooks around him chuckled but continued their work. More people came in, and they all got down to business. Some were brave and got the works, and it looked good enough for Emma to delve in, as well.

Emma noticed Mark quietly sitting among the other Amish teens. It wasn’t like him not to talk or join in the fun. He looked up and met her eyes, and for the first time since they’d been in Philly, she knew he missed being home.