21

Marie asked me to go to her oncology appointment with her on a Friday afternoon in the middle of October. It meant leaving work early, but the office manager had scheduled two fewer patients for the day, which made it possible. My wanting to forego my Mennonite cape dresses at work was short-lived. Jah, I sometimes changed into jeans after work, but mostly I wore the dresses. Today I had on a purple print that I’d bought on Etsy.

It was a gloriously warm day. The landscape of Lancaster County always took my breath away, but this was a particularly beautiful day. The sky sparkled from the bright sunlight, unmarred by a single cloud. As I drove into town, I passed an Amish man driving mules pulling a plow. A collie ran alongside the team.

On a day like today, I could truly imagine staying in Lancaster County. Joining the Mennonite church. Marrying Stephen. Working at the clinic.

I hadn’t applied for the job at the hospital. It wasn’t that I’d decided not to—I just hadn’t managed to get my application done before the deadline, which wasn’t like me. I must not have wanted the position after all.

But now there was another position posted, this time on the med-surg floor. Where I’d see Stephen all the time. I hadn’t mentioned it to him yet.

I double-parked outside of Marie’s apartment and called to tell her I’d arrived. A couple of minutes later, she came out the door, juggling Caden, his car seat, and his diaper bag. “My sitter got sick,” she said through my open window. “Hopefully he won’t be too restless during the appointment.”

I jumped out of the car and took the baby so she could install the car seat. Soon Caden was safely secured, and we were heading to the doctor’s office.

“How have you been feeling?” I asked. Marie had more color in her face and looked as if she’d put on a few pounds, which she’d needed to. She’d gotten so thin.

“Better. I’m sleeping more, and I’m able to keep up with Caden for longer each day,” she said as I drove down Duke Street. “Hey, why didn’t you tell me Mamm is courting?”

“Is she? For sure?”

“Jah. And David, of all men.” Her eyes were wide. “Jessica thinks they’ll be married by Christmas.”

“Wow.”

“She’ll move to Chester County with him.”

I let that sink in. That meant Arden and Vi would move into the big house with their kids. Perhaps they’d rent out their house until Milton married. That would help with the finances.

“But where would Aenti Suz live?” I asked Marie.

“She’ll have to stop renting out the Dawdi Haus.”

Mamm and Aenti Suz were as different as could be, but they’d miss each other. And I’d miss Mamm too.

Caden began to fuss, and Marie turned around and wiggled his foot, causing him to giggle. “How are things going with Stephen?”

“Good,” I answered. We’d gone for a hike the Saturday before. We hadn’t talked much, but it had been nice to spend time with him.

“Have you heard anything from Nick? Since Chester County?” she asked, turning back around in the seat.

I shook my head.

I realized she was staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

She shrugged. “It’s none of my business.” After a long pause, she said, “I’ve been thinking how fun it would be to have a sisters’ night. At my apartment.”

“What about Gordon and Caden?”

“They could spend the night at Randi’s house. And Ruby could stay home with Silas. We could sit around and talk. Bake cookies. Don’t you think that would be fun?”

“What if we gather at the farmhouse? Before Arden takes over? One last night in our old home.”

“That would be perfect,” she answered. Hopefully we’d have good news from her oncologist to celebrate by then.

Marie’s appointment went well. The PET scan found no cancer and the doctor was hopeful. She would have a PET scan done every three months for the next year and then every six months after that.

The doctor also said there were certainly cases of women who went on to have babies after stomach cancer, although it wasn’t exactly common, and time would tell if that would be her experience or not. “But there’s no reason not to try,” he said.

On the way home, as Caden fell asleep, Marie seemed more carefree than I’d seen her since before the diagnosis. Maybe ever. “I’m going to hope for the best,” she said. “If I don’t have any more children, I can accept that. I’m just so thankful to have my health, a good husband, and a wonderful son.”

I patted her leg, too choked up to say anything. What had been a horrible year had just gotten a whole lot better. Marie was cancer free. That’s what mattered most.

As I dropped Marie and Caden off at their apartment, I told her I planned to go see Mamm.

“Oh, tell her my news, would you? And ask her about us having a girls’ night.”

I promised I would do both. When I reached the farm, Mamm sat on the porch in her rocking chair while David sat in Dat’s. It was after six, and they’d probably already eaten their supper. The sun was setting, and it was beginning to grow chilly. They both wore coats. Mamm stood as I came up the steps and greeted me warmly. “I’m so glad you stopped by,” she said. “I have some news.”

She turned toward David, and he stood too. “David and I are planning to marry, right before Thanksgiving.”

“Congratulations,” I managed to say, thankful Marie had warned me. “That’s wonderful.” I meant it, but it was still a big change.

She nodded, a hint of a smile on her face. “I’ll be moving up to Chester County, and Arden and Vi will move in here.”

Just as we’d expected. Now, the sisters’ sleepover seemed more important than ever, so I broached the topic. “Can we stay here next Friday or the one after?”

“I’ll be in Chester County meeting all of David’s children and grandchildren in two weeks—I’ll be staying at his oldest daughter’s house.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her nod to propriety.

She frowned. “Marie would be coming too?”

“Yes,” I answered, stopping myself from saying anything more. She did have three daughters.

She pressed her lips together and then said, “I suppose that will be all right.”

Relieved, I realized I hadn’t shared Marie’s good news and quickly explained the results of the PET scan.

Mamm blinked a couple of times. “Well, isn’t that something.”

David spoke, a broad smile on his face. “Thank God,” he said. “We have so much to be grateful for.” He met Mamm’s eyes and she smiled a little. Perhaps the man could change her in ways Dat never could.

“Is Aenti Suz in her Dawdi Haus?” I asked.

“No, she’s here,” Mamm said. “She has guests out in her place this weekend. A couple from Tennessee.”

“I’ll tell her hello before I go.” I stepped into the house, squinting in the dim light. Aenti Suz stood at the sink, wringing out a dishcloth. The dish rack was full.

“Who are you?” I asked as I approached, nodding toward Mamm and David on the porch. “Cinderella?”

She laughed. “I sent them out. With so few of us, the cleanup is fast.”

I stepped around the island, leaned against the counter, and told her about Marie’s appointment.

“Oh, what a blessing.” She grabbed a towel. “Did your mother tell you her news?”

I nodded and grabbed a second towel. “What do you think?”

“I’m over the moon for both of them,” she said as she dried a plate. “And your Dat would be pleased. He knew David way back when and always respected him.”

“Oh?”

Aenti Suz nodded as she put the plate in the cupboard.

For a moment I suspected that she’d played matchmaker. Did she think Mamm needed a husband more than she did? I exhaled. Surely she wouldn’t have done that. But then again, I wouldn’t put it past her. “So what are you going to do?” I asked as I dried another plate.

She shrugged. “I’d like to keep renting out the Dawdi Haus, but I doubt Arden and Vi will want me to keep living in this house.”

I doubted that too.

“I’ve been toying with the idea of doing some sort of service work.”

“Really?” I felt a tinge of jealousy and hoped it hadn’t come through in my voice.

“I’ve talked with the director from Mennonites Serve. She’s pulling some information together for me.”

“You’re thinking something long-term?”

She smiled, grabbing a handful of forks. “Perhaps. If I’m ever going to do that sort of thing, I’d better while I still can.”

I asked her to let me know what she found out. If I didn’t have student loans to pay back, I’d be tempted to go with her.

She pulled the silverware drawer open and began putting the forks away. “Have you heard from Nick?”

I exhaled, maybe a little too loudly.

“What?”

“Oh, it’s just that Marie asked me the same thing today.” I hung up my towel. “I haven’t. Not a word.”

“Have you contacted him?”

I leaned against the counter again. “No. Why would I do that?”

Aenti Suz met my eyes. “Because he’s your friend. A very good friend, I might add. Probably the best friend you’ve ever had.”

“I’m dating Stephen. And I’m going to join the Mennonite church. Nick ran off and joined the Air Force, remember?”

“Well . . .” Aenti Suz hung up her towel. “I hope you’ll forgive him someday. And once you do, I hope you won’t neglect him.” Her eyes met mine. “True friends are hard to find.”

Tears stung my eyes, catching me off guard. I blinked them away. At least I still had my sisters. And Stephen. But Aenti Suz was right. Nick was the best friend I’d ever had.

The Friday night that worked best for Jessica was the one where Mamm was away. I did the grocery shopping after I got off work, then I picked up Marie, and together we went out to Jessica’s house. She came out with her bag in one arm and Ruby in the other and then asked me if I’d go over to John and Mildred’s Dawdi Haus with her. “You too, Marie,” Jessica said. “Mildred’s taken a turn for the worse. Her doctor has written an order for hospice, but she doesn’t want to start it yet.”

I wasn’t sure what Jessica wanted me to do, and she must have sensed I was puzzled because she said, “She’s impressed you’re a nurse and has heard good things about your work at the clinic. Maybe you could just talk with her for a few minutes and give her your opinion.”

“All right.” Mildred had been diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. She’d been very ill a couple of times and then rallied, and she’d gone into remission once. But her chances didn’t sound good now.

Clouds scuttled over the horizon as we walked across the driveway. Ruby reached for me and I took her, giggling as I jostled her along. John and Silas stepped out of the barn and waved. Jessica called out that we were all going to say hello to Mildred.

Silas approached me and reached for Ruby. “It’s just you and me this weekend,” he cooed in Pennsylvania Dutch.

She fell into his arms, laughing as Jessica kissed her good-bye.

When we reached the Dawdi Haus, Jessica knocked softly and then opened the door. Mildred sat on the couch, wrapped in a quilt. She wore a scarf instead of a Kapp.

“Leisel is here,” Jessica said. “And Marie too.”

“Oh, Marie,” Mildred whispered. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re better. I’ve been praying for you every single day.”

“Denki.” Marie stepped closer and knelt in front of Mildred, taking her hand and gently stroking her thin skin. “How are you feeling?”

“Not well.” She raised her head a little and met my eyes. “I’m hoping you can help me decide about hospice, Leisel.”

I knelt beside Marie.

“I’ve heard there are preachers who work for hospice—who aren’t Amish, of course,” Mildred said, “who might come out and try to minister to me.”

“Not if you don’t want them to.” I took her other hand. “You have your own people to minister to you. What you need are the aides and nurses to come in and bathe you and give you your medicine and help manage your pain. I worked with hospice nurses at the care facility in Pittsburgh. They really helped alleviate the pain of patients and the stress on their families too.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I’d like to stay at home. . . .”

“They should be able to make that possible,” I answered. “Unless a complication makes it necessary for you to be transported to the hospital.”

“Do you think it would be a big help to John?”

“Absolutely.” I peered into her eyes. “It will make the time you two spend together higher quality because he won’t have to be trying to do everything on his own. He’ll still have plenty to do, but he’ll have others to share the work. I think it’s a good idea, and if you’re having a hard time with daily tasks, such as getting enough nutrition, bathing, and toileting, then it’s best to start as soon as possible.” Doctors usually wrote the orders when they believed a person had six months or less to live. My guess was that Mildred had a few weeks to a month or so. It was past time to start hospice.

She nodded her head slowly. “I’ll talk with John and have him make the call then.”

“Please let Jessica know to contact me if I can help,” I said. “It would be my privilege.”

She took my hand. “You’re so much like your Dat.” She smiled weakly. “And like your grandparents too—I knew them when I was a girl.”

My heart swelled at her words, connecting me to all three of them. All because of Aenti Suz’s story.

We told her good-bye, and then I flagged down John by the chicken coop and told him what I’d told Mildred. He assured me he’d keep my offer in mind.

Jessica hesitated about leaving and asked John if he preferred that she stay.

“Nee,” he said. “Go be with your sisters. I’ll get Silas if we need anything.”

We all climbed into my car, sad and subdued. By the time we reached the farm, it was completely dark. We gathered up all of the groceries and bags and headed up the front steps. A lamp shone in the window, which warmed my heart.

Marie opened the door and we stepped inside to the savory smell of soup and homemade bread. The big old oak table was set for three with a big green salad in the middle.

“Do you think Mamm did this before she left?” Marie asked, her voice hopeful.

I didn’t. “My guess is Aenti Suz.”