“What did the doctor say?” A worried Bertha was waiting on the porch when Rachel pulled up with Anna after their visit with the doctor.
Anna pulled a lollypop out of her mouth and held it up. “I was goot. See?”
Bertha ignored Anna’s announcement and looked to Rachel for answers.
“He changed her meds.” Rachel handed over the new prescription she had filled at the pharmacy. “He said that her heart is not strong and she shouldn’t overdo but she’ll be okay if she takes her medication and rests more.”
“How are we supposed to make that happen?” Bertha fussed. “You know how Anna likes to be part of everything, especially the cooking.”
“I cook goot!” Anna offered.
“Yes, you do cook goot,” Bertha said. “But you must rest more.”
Anna seemed confused by the idea of resting.
Rachel wasn’t surprised. “Now you know how I felt when I tried to get you and Lydia to shut down the inn a couple of years ago.”
Bertha waved a dismissive hand. “That was different.”
“It wasn’t,” Rachel argued. “You’ll work until you drop regardless of what I say, so I’ve stopped talking about it.”
“It is true that we are not idle like so many of the Englisch,” Bertha said. “But we do not know what to do with ourselves if we do not work.”
“I know, but don’t expect me to tell you what to do with Anna. She comes by her inability to rest honestly.”
“I’m a goot worker!” Anna took the sucker out of her mouth and beamed at them again.
Rachel sighed. “I need to get to work myself. Are you expecting any guests tonight, or will Aunt Lydia have just you and Anna to cook for tomorrow morning?”
“We have one couple from out of state and one woman traveling alone from Canada.” Bertha glanced at the medication Rachel had handed her and then put it into her apron pocket. “The woman from Canada called and asked if it was dangerous to come to Sugarcreek.”
“Dangerous?” Rachel said. “Sugarcreek?”
“She seemed quite worried about something she’d seen on television. Something about an Amish…mafia? I do not know exactly what that is supposed to be, but I told her I am pretty sure we don’t have one.”
Rachel had watched only part of one episode of that program before turning it off. The last thing she wanted to do was describe it to her aunt.
“Don’t worry about it, Bertha. If she has any other questions, tell her to talk to me.”
“I will be happy to do that,” Bertha said. “By the way, are you taking any vitamins?”
“Why?”
“You look a little pale. Do you feel okay?”
“Yes.”
“Because if you aren’t, my cousin Martha is using some supplements that she says are wonderful.”
“Does she also happen to be selling that product?”
“Well…yes. She offered to bring over some samples.”
“Uh-huh.” Rachel nodded. “Did she suggest that you start to sell the supplements here at the inn as well?”
“Yes, but I told her no.”
“Good for you. I think I’ll pass too.”
Many Amish women were interested in nontraditional products that promised to make them healthier. They were quick to use the alternative medicines and salves, many of which were homemade. Some worked; some didn’t. Most didn’t do any damage, at least. Unfortunately, their interest in nontraditional medicines made the Amish perfect targets for pyramid schemes involving miracle supplements and products. They also had an almost limitless number of relatives to sell to within the Amish “network.”
“That is fine,” Bertha said. “I am not so sure that Martha knows what she is talking about anyhow.”
Bertha took off Anna’s kapp and laid it on the porch swing. Then she smoothed back her little sister’s hair and refastened the bobby pins that had come loose. It was a loving gesture Rachel had seen many times.
“Thank you for taking Anna to the doctor.” Bertha positioned Anna’s kapp back on her head.
“I want to feed my chickens,” Anna announced, her lollypop finished. “And find the eggs.”
“Maybe it would be best for you to lay down for a while, after the trip to the doctor,” Bertha said.
“No,” Anna said. “I will go feed my chickens. And find the eggs. And then I will peel potatoes with Lydia. I am a good potato peeler.”
“I have to leave,” Rachel said apologetically.
“But I need to talk to you, Rachel,” Bertha said. “It’s important.”
“I’ll be back sometime this week, Aunt Bertha. We’ll have time for a good visit soon.”
“So busy all the time!”
Rachel was grateful to see that Bertha had become distracted by Anna, who was walking toward the chicken coop. “Anna, I will give you another sucker if you will take a nap.”
As Rachel walked to the car, she heard Anna’s refusal. And in her rearview mirror, she saw Bertha trailing Anna to the chicken coop, still trying to talk her into having a rest.
Rachel loved her aunts so much it hurt—but sometimes she had no idea how to help them.
It also bothered her that Bertha had said she looked pale. Bertha paid attention to things like that and was seldom wrong. It was especially worrisome to Rachel because, when she had stopped at the pharmacy to get Anna’s new prescription, she’d slipped a pregnancy kit in with the purchase. When she got home, she intended to quietly use it and then bury it deep in the trash regardless of what it showed. With Joe worried about finances, this was not a good time to tell him that she thought she might be pregnant.