Tanner hated to leave Becky. She was coughing and sneezing at every turn. Now she complained of a stomachache.
“She used to do that when she first started school,” he whispered to Eva. “Something’s up with her.”
“She’s sick, and she needs soup and sleep.” Eva knew all the symptoms, but she’d need to sit with Becky and let the child tell her if there was something else going on. “Sometimes, coughing makes you feel as if you have a stomachache. I will read to her and calm her down.”
Reluctantly, he showed Eva where he kept the pain pills and some herbal remedies Martha had insisted he’d need. “I have to go, or I’ll miss meeting the condo owner on time.”
Eva waved him away. “I’ll go back in and check on her. I won’t leave her side—I promise.”
Relief washed through Tanner. Becky was in gut hands. He’d only be gone a couple of hours at the most. “Okay. I’m going.”
Giving Eva one last glance, he saw the serenity and confidence in her pretty eyes. She must have had episodes like this a lot growing up. But she was brave after all. He wanted Becky to be brave, too. He’d have to curb his worries, or he’d ruin his only child.
“Denke,” he told Eva again. “I won’t forget this.”
Eva only smiled and shooed him out of the house.
He hurried to his cart. He had just enough time to get the truck from the rental place up the road. But he couldn’t help glancing back. Becky had been sick before, but usually his cousins just took her in and got her better.
Things were changing all the time. They’d all found steady work and his business continued to grow and thrive. He should be thankful.
How can I make my daughter grow and thrive? I need Your help, Lord. I need to trust in You. And I need to trust Eva with all of my heart.
He spoke this prayer as he went about his work.
Eva had become a part of their life for a reason. Tanner was beginning to see that reason. They needed her, and Eva needed them. It all made so much sense now.
Eva glanced through the partially open door to Becky’s room. The child was asleep now. Her stomachache disappeared after some soup and crackers, and her cough and sniffles settled after some lukewarm tea with mint and honey. Wondering if Tanner had gone straight back to the store, Eva had read her the story of Noah’s Ark, one of Becky’s favorites.
“I’m so glad Gott saved the animals,” Becky had said on a sleepy note. “I love the dove the best. It had a special job, ain’t so?”
“That’s right,” Eva had replied. “It had to show Noah the flood had receded.”
“So it brought the branch. An olive branch. Do olives grow on trees, Eva?”
“They sure do. The dove found a tree and plucked a branch, so Noah knew it was safe to leave the ark.”
“I wish I could travel in an ark.”
“The bus I rode in on was big like an ark.”
“Maybe I can ride the bus with you one day.”
Becky had drifted into her dreams, leaving Eva wondering about getting back on that bus. She’d have to return home, like Noah. Maybe Gott could give her a sign because she surely had no answers to her predicament.
She might be falling for this family—Tanner and Becky. They needed someone to love them. And she needed to be loved, to be a helpmate, to be a wife. Why had Mamm even suggested she’d never be able to marry and have children?
“I’ll ask her that question next time we talk,” Eva whispered as she went about cleaning. Then she decided she’d bake a cake and make a chicken potpie for dinner. Ramona had a really good recipe that she’d been wanting to try.
Tanner sent a message by James. “Tanner’s having some trouble getting the piece set up. He hopes to be home soon. Martha and I have things under control at the shop.”
Eva got busy in the kitchen, her mind on a nourishing supper for Tanner. She swept and cleaned until the whole house shone and smelled fresh and lemony. She even tidied up Tanner’s room as quickly as she could without invading his privacy. But when she saw an Amish woman’s clothing still hanging in the small armoire, Eva left the room in a hurry. She’d somehow missed that the first time she’d hurried through.
Tanner was having a hard time letting go of his grief.
That made her want to stay busy, even more busy. She found fresh strawberries and made biscuit-size shortcakes. A little fresh cream on top would be perfect.
She’d just finished when she heard Becky crying out.
Eva had checked on her not ten minutes before, but she hurried to find Becky flushed and warm. Too warm.
“Hold on, sweetie,” she said. “Let’s get your temperature.”
Becky cried out again. “My throat.”
Eva took a calming breath and touched Becky’s forehead. “Hold this under your tongue.”
Becky nodded, tears forming in her eyes.
To distract her, Eva started counting. Soon Becky was nodding with each count. When Eva thought she’d held the thermometer long enough, she tugged it out and looked at the gauge. One hundred and two.
She needed help.
After going into the kitchen where Tanner kept a business phone, she dialed Ramona’s number. “Becky’s fever has spiked. I think we need to get her to the clinic.”
“I’ll be right there,” Ramona said. “I’ll find a cart.”
Tanner walked in the house later that afternoon, tired and frustrated. His day had gone from bad to worse when a traffic accident caused an hour-long wait time before he could get out to the island. Thankfully, no one was hurt badly.
Then he reached the high-rise condo and couldn’t get the owner to answer the door. They’d agreed to meet at ten this morning. After borrowing the office phone, he’d located the woman who’d commissioned the massive table. She said she’d left to run some errands since he was late, so she’d be there in thirty minutes. An hour later, he’d still sat waiting on a bench by the truck he’d rented for two hours so he’d had to call the truck company and explain.
Now it was well past three. But he was home.
He noticed the food in the warm stove and noticed freshly cut strawberries in the refrigerator.
Deciding to check Becky’s room, he found her bed empty. Panic set in. Where were they?
He went back to the kitchen and glanced around until he spotted the writing tablet propped up by the phone. Tanner, we are at the clinic. Becky’s fever got worse. I didn’t have any way to get in touch. We’ll be home soon.
Eva had signed the note.
Tanner forgot how tired he was as he hurried out the door and practically ran the three blocks to the small clinic. He entered the jingling doors and checked the waiting room. No one. Then he ran to the counter and hit the bell. “Hello?”
A nurse came hurrying out of a room in the back.
“I’m Tanner Dawson. My daughter Becky is here with my friend Eva.”
“Mr. Dawson, hello.” The nurse motioned him around the counter. “I’m Margie. Eva and Becky are in the last room. Dr. Whitmore can fill you in.”
Tanner hurried to the room and opened the door to find Eva, Becky and the doctor all looking up in surprise. “Becky?”
“Daed.” His daughter’s voice sounded strained and shrill.
“Is she all right?” he asked anyone who’d listen.
“She will be fine,” the doctor said. “I’ve given Eva some sample tablets to use for the sore throat, and I’ve called in an antibiotic for the infection.”
“Infection?”
Eva, who’d been sitting in a chair, stood up and nodded. “An ear infection that spread to her sinuses.” She glanced at Becky. “I’ve had such when I was younger. They are not fun.”
“Your little girl is sick,” the doctor replied. “But treatable. Eva did the right thing bringing her here as quickly as possible once she spotted the fever.”
“Fever?” Tanner couldn’t believe he hadn’t checked for that.
“She was fine one minute, Tanner,” Eva said. “Then a few minutes later, she was too warm. Her temperature had gone high.”
Tanner hugged Becky close. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get home sooner.” Then he glanced at Eva. She looked afraid. Did she think he’d be angry at her?
“Denke,” he said, nodding toward her. “I knew I could count on you.”
Her fear turned to a sweet blush of pink on her cheeks and a big flash of relief in her eyes. “I’m just sorry I didn’t go ahead and bring her earlier.”
“You did fine,” the Englisch doctor said. “Fevers spike later in the day. But we’ve brought it down with the liquid pain reliever we gave her. Soon after Becky starts her antibiotic medicine she should start to feel better, but the medicine will need a few days to work.” He looked at Tanner. “I’d like to see her back in two weeks. I’m concerned about that right ear.”
Tanner didn’t like hearing that. But he had to be strong for Becky. Eva had been right earlier. He couldn’t fall apart in front of his child. He’d held up for so long, but he had to wonder if he’d shown any signs that Becky could have picked up on. He’d get a grip on that. Didn’t he know he needed to trust—in Gott, and in the people who cared about him and Becky?
That included Eva now.
“Can I go home?” Becky asked the doctor.
Dr. Whitmore smiled and nodded. “I think home is the best place for you over the rest of this week. How’s that?”
“Only if Eva will be with me,” Becky countered without hesitation. “She can help me keep up with my schoolwork.”
Eva glanced at Tanner. “I’m thinking your daed will make sure of that.”
Tanner glanced at Eva with a nod. Then he lifted Becky off the examining table. “Let’s get you home and we’ll discuss all of this.”
Becky bobbed her head.
Eva straightened her apron. “Denke, Dr. Whitmore.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you and to take care of our Becky,” the doctor replied. “Now, Becky, you can have a nibble of that strawberry shortcake you were telling me about. Just eat small bites so you don’t aggravate your throat.”
Seeing Tanner’s questioning look, Eva said, “I told her what I’d made for dinner to keep her occupied.”
“Ah, well, that sounds wunderbar to me,” Tanner said with a grin. Relief and gratitude swelled inside his heart. He was thankful for Eva being with Becky all day.
But in his heart, he felt he should have been there, too.
“She’s asleep.”
Tanner came back into the small living area and watched as Eva made quick work of cleaning up their supper dishes. She looked right at home there in his kitchen.
He thought of other nights when Deborah had stood there cooking, her gaze always off somewhere in the distance.
Eva glanced up at his words. “Poor little thing. She fought it, but the sickness won out.” She stopped moving the dish cloth over the already clean counter. “Tanner, she’ll be okay.”
“I know,” he said. “I was remembering her mamm. She stood right there when she was expecting. So beautiful, and so sad all at the same time.”
Eva came over to him and took his hand. “You love her still.”
Shocked, Tanner gripped her fingers and tugged her to the tan-and-blue-floral couch. “I will always love Deborah, but Eva, you need to understand something.”
Eva’s eyes went big and then he saw the resolve she managed to contain. “I’m listening.”
“I loved Deborah, but she didn’t love me.”
Now it was Eva’s turn to be shocked. “I see.”
“It’s hard to explain, but I want you to know the truth.”
He studied her face, her eyes. Eva was so different from Deborah. More positive and daring, bold and determined. Deborah had only been determined to run away with the man she loved.
Eva stared back at him. “Are you comparing me to her?”
He had to smile. “I might be. But you are different.”
“I know I’m different,” she replied, her dander going up. “I haven’t tried to hide that.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, Eva.” He let go of her hand so he wouldn’t do something stupid and tuck her into his arms. “You’re so strong, even with your health problems. You came across the country for an adventure and here you are cooking and cleaning for Becky and me.”
“I don’t mind. I enjoy being busy. Mamm pampered me and rarely let me learn on my own. I learned a little when I insisted on it. But mostly, other women helped me along. I’d find excuses to visit friends just to go to the frolics. I saved money I made from selling desserts to neighbors so I could afford the bus ticket here.”
“Your mother loves you too much, ain’t so?”
“Ja. She means well. I shouldn’t speak badly of her. I understand why she’s tried to protect me so.”
“Probably for the same reasons I try to protect Becky.”
“I think so, ja.”
“I love Becky too much, in the same way I loved her mother, but Deborah...she didn’t love me. So I tried to overcompensate by spoiling her, thinking I could make her love me.” He stood and looked out at the backyard where the fresh new buds were already popping out on some of the hibiscus bushes. “Spoiling isn’t loving.”
“Why didn’t she love you, Tanner? You are a gut man with work you enjoy, productive work that brings joy to people, and the shop out front to sustain that work. I can’t see anything wrong with you, other than that grumpy nature you use to shield your real feelings.”
Tanner’s heart swelled. Deborah had not complimented him much. She’d thanked him a lot for marrying her, but she had never actually cared about the rest. Gratitude was nice, but love should guide a marriage.
He shook his head. “You’re right. I am a grump. It’s the grief and my concerns for my child. I fear it might rub off on Becky. That or her mother’s dour nature. Deborah was melancholy and sad a lot.”
Eva’s confused expression said it all. “Becky is like a little butterfly, just as you call her. She’s always happy and flittering around. Nothing dour in that child.”
“I’d like to keep her that way, but I can’t spoil her to keep her happy. I need to be more involved with her. Firm and sure.”
“You’re a gut daed, Tanner.”
He pivoted to stare at Eva, his heart lifting as he decided he had to trust someone. “Deborah loved another.”
Eva stood, shaking her head. “You don’t have to tell me this.”
“Ja, I do. You’ve been so kind to us. Before I only allowed family to help, but Becky is growing so fast. I needed someone solid and sure. You are a blessing.”
Her eyes widened and a soft smile formed on her lips. “No one has ever told me that before.”
His heart hurt for her. She couldn’t see her own worth. “Eva—”
“Tell me why she couldn’t love you?”
He was about to confess when a knock came at the door. To the west, the sky streamed in streaks of golden orange flames. The sunset.
Tanner headed to the door. “Ramona, kumm in.”
Ramona entered the room and glanced around. “I was concerned. How is Becky?”
“She’s sleeping,” Eva said. “I didn’t realize the time.”
Tanner nodded. “I’m sorry Eva had to stay here so long, Ramona.” He explained what had happened. “It was one of those days.”
Ramona chuckled, her gaze taking both of them in. “I can see that. Eva, you look tired.”
Tanner studied Eva, realizing she did look pale. He should have gotten her home earlier.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Just sleepy.”
“Denke,” Tanner told her. “You should go with Ramona.”
Eva nodded, her eyes holding the questions he still had to answer.
“Why don’t you rest tomorrow,” he said, his vulnerable feelings resurfacing. Why did he tell her all of this? “Martha and James can run the shop. I’d like to spend some time with Becky.”
Eva gave him a confused glance. “Neh, I will work at the store as planned. Then you can have Becky to yourself.” She looked hurt. Lowering her head, she turned to Ramona. “Let me get my bag.”
“If you need us, let us know,” Ramona added.
Tanner thanked them again and walked out onto the long porch, the sunset hovering in an afterglow as they walked away.
He stood and waited until they turned the corner, then he watched as the distant sun slipped like a lost beach ball behind the old oaks and swaying palm trees.
He was alone with his thought again and now he wished he hadn’t shared so much with Eva. What must she be thinking right now?