Once she maneuvered the car into a turn, Rachel offered to take Arden home so he could change his clothes and wash up, but he insisted on continuing to the workshop.
“After the, uh, paint incident, I brought a change of clothing to work. Didn’t think I’d need to use them so soon, but...”
Rachel giggled. “But you’ve never been around me before. I seem to foster all kinds of messy mishaps.”
“Neh, the paint spill was definitely my fault. But here’s a little hint for the next time someone is pushing you out of the mud. You want to apply light pressure to the gas pedal.”
“How was I supposed to know? I’ve never been stalled in a swamp before,” Rachel countered genially. “Besides, what makes you the expert? You don’t drive.”
“Neh, not anymore. But my running-around period lasted three years, and let’s just say there’s a lot of snow in Indiana in the winter and flooding in the spring...”
Rachel’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t imagine staid Arden going through a three-year rumspringa. “Wow. My running-around period only lasted four weeks when I was sixteen. I tried out the Englisch lifestyle with my friends, but I honestly wasn’t drawn to it.”
“But you—” Arden didn’t complete his thought.
“I left two years later, jah. Despite what people think about me seeking attention or rebelling against my Amish upbringing, that’s not why I left. I left because I—” Rachel swallowed the rest of her sentence. She’d said too much.
“You left because...?” Arden twisted toward her in his seat, as if he was truly interested in hearing her answer.
“I left because when my mamm was sick, I wished I could do something besides rub her temples and feet with apple cider vinegar or bring her ginger tea.” Remembering, Rachel sighed before she clarified, “That doesn’t mean I don’t value natural remedies, because I do in many instances. But as a young maedel watching my mamm’s dokder and nurses, I developed a curiosity about Englisch medicine, and I secretly dreamed of becoming a nurse. But that would have meant leaving the Amish, and after rumspringa, I had no desire to go Englisch, so I put the idea out of my mind. Then when my daed became ill, my fascination with medicine returned and, well, as you know, I eventually became a nurse.”
To Rachel’s astonishment, instead of Arden pointing out how prideful it was to pursue an Englisch education instead of being satisfied with her Amish schooling, he said, “And you became a very gut one. Denki for helping my mamm today.”
If Arden didn’t know better, he might have suspected it was a tear instead of a trickle of mud dripping down Rachel’s cheek as they pulled into Ivan’s driveway. She pushed it aside with the back of her hand and flashed him a smile.
“I’m glad to help your mamm any time.”
Arden was about to say he hoped his mother wouldn’t need help again when he spied movement out of the corner of his eye. An Amish wagon was parked in front of the workshop in the area designated for loading sheds and unloading supplies. Unlike the buggies the Amish in Serenity Ridge used for travel, this type of wagon was pulled by a draft horse instead of a standardbred and had an open seat. Although Arden couldn’t see the face of the man who owned the wagon, the steel roof panels piled on the flatbed indicated it belonged to Colin.
“Uh-oh. Look who got caught in the cloudburst.”
“I suppose since he’s wearing a hat, he figured he didn’t need to bring an umbrella,” Rachel said, quoting Arden’s earlier remark as Colin turned toward them, glaring. On the surface her gibe might have seemed facetious, but beneath it Arden heard a note of fear.
“Hi, Colin. That was quite some del-deluge, eh? Sorry to keep you w-waiting. I see you brought the panels I ordered for the sh-shed roofs.” Arden hoped in vain his friendliness would allay Colin’s ire.
“I’ve been sitting here for over an hour. I’m sopping wet and so is my horse. You’d better have a gut reason for closing the shop in the middle of the day.” As Colin strode in their direction, droplets flew from the brim of his hat. When he removed it to shake it dry, he must have gotten his first full gander at Arden and Rachel, because he abruptly halted and hollered, “Exactly what kind of nonsense have you two been up to this time?”
In the face of confrontation, Arden was usually tongue-tied, but today he struggled to hold his tongue. He stood tall with his fingers balled into fists at his sides. “I told you I’d pick up the panels from your shop myself. It was your choice to deliver them and your choice to set out in bad weather. You also chose to waste time sitting in the driveway when you could have piled the roofing by the door and left. But then you would have missed the opportunity to scrutinize the business. You can see we’re bedraggled and the car is filthy, yet your first inclination isn’t to ask about our welfare. It’s to cast judgment on me—and on Rachel.”
Colin faltered backward two steps before regaining his balance. “If you don’t want to tell me where you’ve been, maybe you’ll have to tell Ivan.”
Without acknowledging Colin’s threat, Arden walked around him to unlock the workshop door and then ambled back to the wagon and began pulling the steel panels from its bed. “Rachel, would you please write a check for Colin for this order?”
“Of course. How much do we owe you?” Rachel sweetly asked her brother.
While she and Colin went inside, Arden finished stacking the metal sheets against the side of the workshop wall. Passing Colin on the way in, he thanked him for the delivery, but Colin didn’t reply.
Once inside, Arden headed straight to the rag bin and toweled the grime from his face and hands. Rachel was quiet except to suggest Arden go to the house to change and clean up first, while she minded the shop, and then she took her turn. She came back with two mugs of piping-hot coffee, which Arden found surprisingly refreshing on such a warm day. By then he’d calmed down, but he didn’t want to discuss what had happened between Colin and him. He was relieved that once again, Rachel seemed to have an implicit understanding of his need to ruminate in silence. The only thing she told him before they began their separate tasks was that she must have dropped her phone at some point, because she’d discovered it submerged in a puddle on the way to the house.
“Does it still work?”
“Neh. I’ll stick it in a bowl of dry rice. That sometimes helps.”
“You can use the business phone if you need to make any personal calls.”
“Denki, Arden,” she said and when she placed her hand on his arm and held his gaze, he had the feeling she wasn’t just talking about the phone.
As she dabbed white paint on the trim of the coop, Rachel tried to sort out her feelings about everything that had happened so far that day. She wished she could talk to Meg, but she didn’t want to tie up the business phone. Besides, her roommate might tease her about the jumble of feelings she was experiencing concerning Arden, and Rachel didn’t want to joke about it, even in good fun.
She was surprised at herself for confiding in Arden about why she went Englisch. Most of the Amish people she’d discussed the subject with had a tendency to tell her why she wanted to leave—that was, because of hochmut or some other sin—but Arden had truly listened to her explanation, and he didn’t seem to judge her for it. He even said I was a gut nurse. Toby never would have said that—Toby would have criticized her for being confounded by what was triggering Oneita’s condition.
As much as she appreciated Arden’s kind words, what Rachel found most commendable was how he’d responded to Colin upbraiding him. Without rudeness or rancor, he’d firmly called out Colin’s hypocrisy. She was especially touched Arden had made a point to defend Rachel as well as himself against Colin’s unfair condemnation.
Colin had appeared so appalled Rachel might have pitied him, had he not threatened to tell Ivan on Arden, as if Arden were a child. How Arden managed to keep his temper Rachel didn’t know, but his response inspired her to be civil, too. How insulting of Colin to insinuate Arden was irresponsible for closing the shop, she thought. Rachel had witnessed firsthand how much Arden was doing for the business, and this morning she’d seen the burden he was carrying for his mother’s health, too. He’s got so much weight on his shoulders.
Thinking of Arden’s shoulders made her pulse skitter, and she set down her paintbrush.
“You dizzy?” Arden called. Had he been watching her?
“A little. I’m going to take my lunch break now, okay?”
“Jah. Me, too.”
After what they’d been through that morning, it seemed fitting to suggest they eat together, but Rachel resisted the impulse. Her emotions were running high; it was better to put a little distance between Arden and herself until she’d had a good night’s sleep. Besides, she intended to spend her break scrubbing the floors. Ivan’s coming home soon. If Colin tells him I’ve done nothing but made messes, a spotless haus will help prove him wrong.
Arden didn’t make it home until nine o’clock on Friday, and after checking with Grace to be sure his sleeping mother hadn’t had any more issues with her skin, he took a shower and went to bed. Lying there, he reflected on how Rachel reminded him of Ivan; not only was she finicky about the quality of her painting, but she was discreet like he was, too. She’d promised Arden she wouldn’t bring up their altercation with Colin when she visited Ivan that evening.
“We have nothing to hide,” she’d said. “But I’d prefer Ivan didn’t know about the tension between Colin and me.”
“Between Colin and me, too. I shouldn’t have responded to him in anger.”
“Are you narrish? You may have felt angry—and justifiably so—but your response wasn’t angry. It was truthful and direct. It was very well said, Arden. And you gave him every opportunity to reciprocate with grace.”
It was very well said. Arden had never received that compliment before, and he played it over and over in his mind before his thoughts turned to why Rachel had said she’d left the Amish. Despite the rumors, it didn’t seem her intention in leaving was to gain knowledge so she could promote herself; she’d left because the Englisch gave her an opportunity to serve others in a way she couldn’t serve them if she remained in Serenity Ridge. Her decision seemed neither rash nor rebellious—she’d waffled about it for years, primarily because she preferred the Amish lifestyle.
Yet ultimately she did choose to go Englisch, Arden reminded himself. And she is going back, so I’d better not get too accustomed to her company, as pleasant as it’s turning out to be.
Although Arden was putting in a full day’s work on Saturday, Rachel left the workshop at twelve to pick up Ivan from the hospital, since the staff had confirmed the previous evening he’d be discharged sometime in the afternoon. Arden suggested she take the business phone with her in the event an emergency arose.
“Don’t worry,” she razzed him. “I learned my lesson yesterday. I’m sticking to the main roads.”
“Even the main roads might be flooded. You’ll have Ivan with you, and...well, it seems wise to take the phone if case you need it.”
Rachel was puzzled by his suggestion, since the Amish relied on the Lord, not on technology, in times of emergency. I suppose he thinks since I’m not Amish, it’s not incongruent for me to carry a phone. It wasn’t, but somehow she didn’t want her status as an Englischer emphasized.
“Okay, but only because I’m expecting a call from my roommate.” Because the business phone didn’t have internet access, on Friday Rachel had used it to call Meg to ask her to periodically check her email account for a message from the university. Meg hadn’t answered so Rachel left a confidential message along with her email password.
When she arrived at the hospital, an aide was assisting Ivan with his clothing, so Rachel wandered outside and perched on a bench in the sunshine. As a balmy breeze played with the ends of her hair, Rachel watched doctors and nurses entering and exiting the building, their expressions mostly intense. She wondered if that’s how she appeared when she arrived for work. There were so many sick people in the world and so many loving family members and friends who worried about them. It often felt overwhelming, and today Rachel was grateful for the slower pace of caring for just one patient, her brother.
When she went back inside, she met one delay after the next in the processing of Ivan’s discharge paperwork, even though she’d arrived with his checkbook ready for him to pay the bill. Eventually everything was sorted out, and she brought the car around to pick Ivan up at the entrance. As she and an unfamiliar patient-care assistant helped him into the passenger seat, Ivan tottered, breathless from the brief exertion of standing.
“You sure you’re ready to leave? You can stay another night,” the assistant jested.
“Jah, I’m in gut hands. My schweschder is a nurse.”
Rachel might have been mistaken, but she thought she heard a trace of pride in his voice.
At four o’clock, the customer who ordered the coop came by with several buddies and a truck to transport it home. Afterward, Arden continued working on the shed that was due Monday. Although he’d made enough progress to be confident he’d finish it well before the scheduled pickup time, Arden puttered around the workshop, hoping to greet Ivan. If her brother was as weak as Rachel indicated, he might need help getting into the house.
By six o’clock when they hadn’t shown up, Arden began to worry. What if there is damage to Rachel’s car from yesterday and it’s acting up now? His stomach constricted with cramps, and he didn’t know if they were from nerves or hunger, but he was determined to stay until Rachel and Ivan arrived.
Unable to focus on work, he took a seat on the bench beneath the peach tree. It had bloomed early this year, and as he leaned against the trunk, inhaling its fragrance and listening to the bees buzzing within the pink blossoms overhead, he quietly prayed until calmness settled over him. Within minutes, Rachel’s car wound its way up the driveway. Another soaking rain on Friday afternoon had washed off most of the mud, and her car glinted in the late-day sun.
Arden lifted his hand. He strode to them and opened the front passenger door as Rachel got out on the other side. He was surprised by how loosely Ivan’s clothes fit and how much paler he’d become since Arden had seen him last, but his humor was still robust. Grinning at him, Ivan asked, “You didn’t think I was coming back, did you?”
“I never doubted it for a second,” Arden said, a catch in his voice, because he had doubted it. He bent forward so Ivan could sling an arm around his shoulder for support as he rose into a standing position. Arden bolstered Ivan across the lawn at a snail’s pace. By the time they got to the porch, Ivan’s stamina was depleted.
“Let me rest here in the fresh air,” he requested, so Arden lowered him onto the porch swing and took a seat on the bench nearby.
“I made supp last night. You’ll stay for supper, won’t you, Arden?” Rachel asked.
“Supper? I thought Ivan and I would get back to work. There’s a shed we need to finish by Monday.”
“Oh, sure, now that my bruder is back you’re going to kick me out of the shop, aren’t you?”
“Of course not,” Arden objected. “After all, Ivan never brings me kaffi and sticky buns in the morning the way you do.”
“Jah, and I doubt he’d be as forbearing as I was if you ruined his paint job.”
“Neh, probably not, but he’s never propelled me into a mud puddle like you have.” Arden recognized they were teasing exaggeratedly for Ivan’s benefit, and Ivan seemed to enjoy the entertainment. It felt like a celebration to have him home. That his hospital bill was paid and Arden had nearly met all of their work deadlines added to the festivity.
“It sounds like you two have quite a few stories to tell me,” Ivan said. “I can’t say denki enough to both of you—” He coughed weakly.
“Then don’t try,” Rachel told him before disappearing into the house for a glass of water.
“She’s right. Or I’ll have to try to figure out a way to say denki for all the times you’ve helped me. And we both know how gut I am with words.” Usually Arden didn’t acknowledge his speaking difficulties, even in jest, but this evening he felt less self-conscious than ever before. Rachel reappeared with the water for Ivan and then went back into the house, telling them supper would be ready in a few minutes.
“How is your mamm?” Ivan questioned.
“She was struggling for a while. She experienced some new symptoms, which are already improving, thanks to your schweschder.”
“That’s gut.” Ivan closed his eyes and smiled as a breeze passed over the lawn, carrying the scent of peach blossoms and new grass.
They sat in comfortable silence until Rachel announced supper was ready. She stepped outside to steady the swing so Arden could assist her brother out of it. He used his shoulder to truss Ivan beneath one arm while Rachel did the same on the opposite side. The three of them were about to angle toward the door when Ivan said softly, “Well, look at that. I think my first visitor has arrived.”
Perplexed that someone could have come up the driveway without her hearing them and nervous it might have been Colin, Rachel followed the direction of Ivan’s eyes. In the gloaming she could just make out a form on the far periphery of the front lawn. A bear? An enormous deer?
“A moose!” Arden uttered in a hushed tone, and the great animal swung its head in their direction. For nearly a full minute, it kept utterly still before it turned and lumbered into the woods bordering the property.
“That was amazing. I’ve never seen a moose the whole time I’ve lived here,” Ivan said.
“Me, neither,” Rachel said. “I mean, when I lived here before. I wish my phone worked. I would have liked to take a photo to show to Meg. Maybe it’ll come back.”
“If he does, it’s schmaert to steer clear of him,” Arden said. “He might look docile, but moose are unpredictable. His antlers haven’t fully kumme in this year, but if he charged, he could kick or trample a person to death.”
After the trio squeezed through the door, Ivan said, “It must have been all the excitement, but I’m too bushed to eat. Arden, could you help me out? I’d like to go to bed, but I feel as unwieldy as that moose.”
While Arden was assisting her brother in the bedroom down the hall, Rachel filled two bowls with soup and placed a loaf of bread on the table and then poured the milk. When Arden reentered the room and seated himself opposite her, she felt strangely shy to be eating alone with him, even though they worked together side by side every day.
“I’ll say grace,” she offered, bowing her head. “Lord, denki for healing Ivan and bringing him home. And denki for bringing me home at this time, too.” Her voice quavered, so she paused a moment. “Please continue to heal Arden’s mamm and help her to get the care she needs. Soften my heart toward Colin and soften his heart to me and both of our hearts to You. Please strengthen us with this food, especially Arden, who needs endurance as he continues to labor so diligently in the workshop during Ivan’s recovery. Amen.” Rachel furtively dabbed a tear away before lifting her head.
Arden’s celestial-blue eyes searched hers. “Are you okay?” he asked. She was embarrassed he’d caught her tearing up until he added, “Your hand is bleeding.”
“Bleeding? Where?” She turned her hands palm up and then over again.
He leaned across the table and gently twisted her hand to indicate the space between her ring and middle fingers. “There.”
Rachel’s breath hitched. Instead of taking her hand from his to get a better look, she leaned forward to see the red stain. Although she instantly recognized what it was, she didn’t want to say. Not yet, not if saying it meant he withdrew his touch.
“See it?” Arden asked.
“It’s paint, from the coop,” she replied, embarrassed that she’d washed her hands countless times but clearly hadn’t done a good enough job. To her surprise, he allowed her fingers to linger in his.
“Oh. I guess it’s a gut thing I’m not the one taking care of Ivan, since I can’t even tell the difference between blood and paint,” Arden joked, giving her hand a little squeeze. Only then did he release it, sliding his arm back across the table and picking up his spoon.
The soup scalded Arden’s tongue and gave him something to distract him from the topsy-turvy way he was feeling. As he chugged down half a glass of milk, Rachel remarked how tired Ivan still seemed.
“Jah, he practically dozed off midsentence in his room.”
“I’ll have to wake him soon for his medication. And to check for a fever. They said to watch for that. A relapse of pneumonia can be even worse than the initial bout.”
“You’re going to need endurance, too.”
“What?”
“You prayed I’d have endurance. You’re going to need it, too,” Arden explained. “There were a lot of nurses in the hospital, but here you’re on your own.”
“Don’t you think I’m qualified to take care of him by myself?”
That wasn’t what he’d meant at all. Arden was surprised by the plea for reassurance in Rachel’s question; usually she seemed so confident. “I can’t think of anyone better qualified to take care of him. But he’s got a long road to recovery ahead, and you’re going to need help so you don’t wear yourself out.”
“I told Hadassah I’d wilkom her help, but I don’t think I can count on her. Joyce and Albert won’t return from Canada for a couple more weeks, according to Ivan.”
“In addition to Grace, there are others in the community who will be hallich to help.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m worried they’ll stay away because of my presence. Maybe Ivan would have been better off without me here. Maybe my coming here was a mistake.”
“Neh. It wasn’t a mistake.” Upon seeing the fragile vulnerability in Rachel’s eyes, Arden’s heart ballooned with compassion. “Trust me, the community will kumme to help.”
“In that case, I’d better keep dessert and tea on hand,” Rachel said, smiling once again.
“Does that mean we can’t have a slice of that pie over there?”
“Of course it doesn’t. And since Ivan has no appetite, you and I might as well have large pieces.”
Supping with Rachel after a hard day’s work, encouraging her and discussing Ivan’s care as if he were...not a child, but like a child, felt...well, it felt like how Arden always imagined it would feel if he had a family of his own. Which was probably why, half an hour later as he directed his horse toward home, Arden’s stomach was full, but he couldn’t shake the aching emptiness he felt inside.
Having checked on Ivan throughout the night, Rachel was wearier in the morning than she’d been when she went to bed. Since it was an off Sunday, she suggested she and Ivan hold their own worship services together. She was delighted when he told her he’d kept their father’s old Bible in a drawer upstairs. Rachel read aloud from it in German. Although she hadn’t practiced the language in years, the words returned to her as readily as the vistas of Serenity Ridge, so familiar and beautiful she wondered how she’d gone so long without them.
When she finished reading, she prepared a light lunch and then Ivan needed to sleep again, so Rachel helped him into the bedroom and then tiptoed away, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could hear if he summoned her. She was drying their dishes when a buggy approached; it was Arden’s.
“Grace wanted me to deliver these whoopie pies. She thinks they’ll whet Ivan’s appetite for home-cooked food again.” He handed her a square plastic container with a note taped on top of it, reading:
Rachel,
Mamm and I are expecting visitors this afternoon or I would have kumme to see you and Ivan myself. We are praying for you both.
Grace
“Oh, that’s so thoughtful. These are Ivan’s favorite, but it feels like there are plenty in here. Would you like one?” After experiencing such an enjoyable time with Arden at supper the previous night, Rachel didn’t hesitate to invite him to share dessert this afternoon.
“Jah, please. When I asked if I could have one at home, Grace refused. Apparently, whoopie pies are only for people with pneu-pneumon-pneumonia,” Arden complained as he lowered himself onto the bench. “Or for p-people taking care of p-people with pneumonia.”
“Neh, they’re also for people visiting people taking care of people with pneumonia,” Rachel said with a giggle.
A few minutes later as they were indulging in the treats and tea, another buggy pulled into the driveway. Upon seeing it was Hadassah, Rachel nearly fell off the porch swing. Maybe she’s had a change of heart!
Smiling, Rachel waved as Arden hurried to help her sister-in-law from the buggy. Two of the children scrambled down in front of her. Hadassah’s pregnant belly seemed to have grown impossibly larger in the past few days.
Aware questions about her sister-in-law’s health would be unwelcome, Rachel greeted her by saying, “Hello, Hadassah. It’s so nice to see you.” Then she bent to speak to the children. “Hello again, Thomas. And you must be Sarah. Your onkel Ivan wrote to me about you. I’m your ant Rachel.”
Without responding, Thomas took off to chase a squirrel across the yard, but to Rachel’s amazement, Sarah said, “Hello, Ant Rachel,” and then joined her brother. Rachel couldn’t help but notice the girl looked more like Rachel than like Hadassah—with one unfortunate difference; Sarah’s nose was running. In fact, Thomas had a runny nose, too. The nurse in Rachel wondered how long they’d been ill.
Without acknowledging Rachel’s greeting, Hadassah said, “The kinner want to see their onkel. Is he inside?”
“Jah, but he’s sleeping.”
“That’s okay. We’ve kumme all this way. Thomas and Sarah can play in the yard until he wakes. I’ll sit beneath the peach tree.” She began plodding across the sodden ground.
“You’re wilkom to join us on the porch, Hadassah,” Rachel called after her. “But I’m afraid today isn’t a gut day for you and the kinner to visit Ivan. It seems Sarah and Thomas have colds, and we don’t want to jeopardize Ivan’s recovery.”
Hadassah slowly pivoted toward the house, her features contorted into a scowl. Breathing heavily, she approached the porch and shook her pointer finger at Rachel. “It’s one thing for you to believe you’re superior to the Amish. But how can you can be so puffed up as to think you know more about health care than the Englisch? Not one of those nurses in the hospital ever prohibited me from seeing Ivan, and I’m not going to let you stop me, either!”
As peeved as Hadassah’s remarks made her, Rachel had enough experience dealing with patients’ families to respond calmly. “If the nurses in the hospital saw Sarah and Thomas today, they wouldn’t allow them to visit Ivan, either. He simply can’t be exposed to any infections right now. Even a common cold could wreak havoc on his immune system, because it’s already severely compromised.”
“My kinner do not have colds. They have allergies.”
“Neh, they have colds. Their mucus is not running clear—”
“Absatz! I don’t want to hear you describe such a thing to me. Even if you’re right—which you are not—I do not have a cold and I’m going to see Ivan.” Her face and neck were crimson as she set one foot on the bottom stair.
“You may not have a cold yet, but you’ve been in close contact with least two kinner who do.” Rachel planted herself in front of the doorway. “We must guard Ivan’s health. And I hope you’ll guard your own health, too, because you don’t want to kumme down with something this late in your pregnancy. I appreciate what an effort it was for you to kumme here, and I’d wilkom your company here on the porch. How about if I bring you and the kinner some refreshments?”
Without answering her, Hadassah questioned Arden, “Do you hear how she’s speaking to me?”
“I think Rachel’s right, Hadassah,” Arden replied. “Please don’t get so worked up about it, though. As soon as the kinner are over their colds, you can visit.”
“Pah!” Hadassah puffed. She leaned on her knee with one hand and used the other to point at Arden this time. “Colin warned me about you two. I believed what he said about Rachel, but I didn’t want to believe him about you, Arden. You’d better be careful cozying up to an Englischer. It wouldn’t sit right with the bishop.”
As she trudged away, Arden scurried down the porch steps, offering, “Let me help you into the buggy, Hadassah,” but she batted at his hand. Instead she leaned on the shoulders of her children, who teetered beneath her weight.
So much for the community helping me, Rachel lamented to herself. I’ll be fortunate if I’m not ousted from Serenity Ridge altogether once Hadassah and Colin are done wagging their chins about me.