As Heidi sat in the waiting room at the dentist’s office Monday morning, she took a notepad from her purse and made a list of the ingredients she would need for Saturday’s cooking class. Marsha sat quietly next to her, looking at a children’s picture book, while Randy had his teeth cleaned and saw the dentist for an evaluation. It would be Marsha’s turn next, but since she was so young and insecure, Heidi intended to go in with her.
She chuckled to herself, thinking about Randy’s independence when she asked if he wanted her to go with him when it was his turn. Putting on a brave face, he’d shaken his head and said, “Nope. I’m a big boy and don’t need no one to sit beside me.”
When the children’s appointments were over, Heidi planned to take them to lunch at one of her favorite restaurants. Afterward, they would stop for ice cream at Walnut Creek Cheese.
A smile reached Heidi’s lips, remembering how many years she’d dreamed of doing these things with her own children. Having Randy and Marsha in her life had turned out to be the most precious blessing, and she prayed it would keep getting better.
Heidi glanced out the window in the waiting room. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. After a weekend of off-and-on rain, it was nice to see blue skies again. The buggy ride here had been pleasant, with warm breezes pushing away the damp air. The only evidence of the soggy weather was puddles of water that hadn’t dried up yet. Guess Velma was right last week when she mentioned rain might be coming.
Pulling her attention back to her notebook, Heidi wrapped her fingers around the pen as she thought about this Saturday and how she would teach her young students to make strawberry shortcake. Since there were plenty of ripe strawberries in her garden right now, this would be the perfect dessert to make. She was sure everyone would like it—especially since she planned to make some homemade whipped cream to put over the top of the berries after they were spooned onto the shortcake.
The verse she planned to write on the back of their recipe cards this time was Proverbs 20:11: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” No one had said anything about the scriptures she’d included so far, but Heidi hoped one or more of the children in class, or perhaps a parent, might memorize the verses and find help through them.
“Mama, what are they doin’ to Randy?” Marsha placed her small hand on Heidi’s arm.
“The hygienist is cleaning his teeth, and then the dentist will look in your brother’s mouth and let me know if there are any problems. You will go in after Randy comes out.”
Marsha shook her head. “Don’t want no one lookin’ in my mouth. Only you can brush my teeth.”
“I’ll be right there with you when they clean your teeth. I’ve had mine cleaned many times.” Heidi patted the little girl’s hand. “It’ll be fine. I promise. They will most likely give you a new toothbrush too, and even let you pick out the color you want.”
Marsha looked up at her with a dimpled grin. “Okay, Mammi.”
Heidi’s heart nearly melted. Even though Marsha was not her biological daughter, every day spent together seemed to draw them closer.
In order to keep her mind off her runaway daughter, Velma decided the best remedy was to stay busy. She had more work to do at the Troyers’, of course, but didn’t want to leave Peggy Ann and Eddie by themselves. Her plan was to work for Heidi this Saturday, while Peggy Ann took part in the cooking class. Since Bobbie Sue was no longer around and Hank was on the road again, no one would be home to keep an eye on Eddie. So Velma would enlist his help on whatever chore Heidi gave her to do. It was either that, or let the boy attend the class with Peggy Ann, which wasn’t a good idea. Quite often, Eddie could be quite mischievous. No telling what kind of trouble he might cause that could interrupt Heidi’s teaching. No, it was safer to keep him close by Velma’s side.
Velma thought about Heidi and the way she and other Amish women in the area dressed. Sure can’t picture myself wearing a long dress while building a chicken coop. I like Heidi. She’s a good person, and her ways, even though they’re different, aren’t bad.
Velma’s contemplations came to a halt when she looked out the window at the clean sheets flapping in the breeze. Guess it’s time to get some work done around here. It would go a lot quicker if my wayward daughter was still with us. Her eyes misted.
She went outside, took the bedding off the line, and hauled it inside. Velma paused to inhale the fresh fragerance. “Now those are some nice smellin’ sheets for Eddie’s bed.” She carried them to his room.
Coming in through the door, the not-so-nice smelling bedroom needed a good airing. Velma dumped the sheets on the bed and opened the window as wide as it would go. The curtains swayed back and forth with the fresh breeze entering the room.
Turning her attention to Eddie’s twin-size bed, Velma began searching through the bedding for the pillowcase to put on, but it was not there.
She hurried from the room and found it lying in the hallway on the worn carpet. “Even the laundry isn’t cooperating today.” Velma picked up the pillowcase and headed back to Eddie’s room, trying to focus on something positive.
Yesterday, in between rain showers, Velma had begun building a chicken coop in their backyard, so that was positive. She hoped to finish it today. Velma had seen some laying hens advertised in the local paper for a reasonable price and planned to pick them up on Wednesday. Having fresh eggs to eat, and maybe sell, would be nice. Any little extra income in their pockets would surely be beneficial.
When Abner barked excitedly, Velma opened the front door and glanced toward the road. Hope welled in her chest as she heard a noisy vehicle approach. It sounded like a motorcycle. Maybe Bobbie Sue had changed her mind and come home.
But as the cycle sped by, Velma realized it didn’t belong to Kenny. The elderly man driving it waved, and so did the woman in the sidecar. They were a happy-looking couple—probably reliving their youth and enjoying every moment they had together.
Velma envied them. It had been a long time since she and Hank had done anything purely for fun. With his long days on the road, plus their lack of money, she couldn’t envision them doing anything fun in the near future either. Fact was, with her two oldest children leaving home, Velma had been left with a huge void in her life, so nothing seemed enjoyable anymore. She felt like an unfit mother who had driven her children away.
Dropping to her knees, just inside the door, Velma gave in to her tears. Had she done something in her past to deserve such misery? Had she failed her children somehow? Maybe their negative behavior was because of how she’d raised them.
Miranda said goodbye to Carla and the children, then headed out the door. She didn’t have to be at work for another hour and a half but needed to run a few errands on the way.
She’d no more than stepped out the front door when she saw a silver-gray SUV pull in. At first, she wasn’t sure who it was, until Trent got out of the vehicle. It made sense after she noticed the license plate with the dealership’s name on it. Since her husband sold cars, he sometimes drove a demo instead of his own. While this might not be the best time to confront Trent about the flowers he’d planted, she wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Miranda brought her hand up to the strands of hair grazing her forehead, waiting until Trent finished dabbing a spot off the car. Then she stepped up to him as he approached.
“Hi, how are ya doing?” He gave her a dimpled grin—the kind of sweet smile that used to cause a stirring in her heart.
“Okay, I guess. Nice car you’re driving.”
“Wish it were mine, but it’s only a demo.” Trent continued to smile, never taking his eyes off of her. “You look great, Miranda.”
A shiver went through her as Trent’s gaze slowly roamed from her head, down to her toes, and back to her face again.
“Is that a new shade of lipstick you’re wearing?”
She lifted her chin and gave him a probing gaze. In all the time they’d been married, he’d never once mentioned her lipstick. Or much of anything else about her appearance, for that matter. Why the sudden interest now? I bet he’s trying to butter me up.
“It’s not new.” Miranda spoke slowly, deliberately. “I’ve worn this same lipstick many times in the past.”
“Okay then, but you do look nice this morning. Are you on your way to work?”
“Yes, I am. And what might you be here for? Did you come to plant more flowers?” Miranda couldn’t keep from speaking in a tone of sarcasm.
Trent lifted both hands. “All right, you’ve found me out. I did plant the roses. Do you like them?”
She slowly nodded. “They’re beautiful, but I’m not happy about the reason you put them there.”
He tipped his head slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t act innocent, Trent. You felt guilty for not staying with the kids during the cooking class, so you—”
“Okay, okay, I admit it. I did feel bad about not sticking around. But the real reason I planted the roses was to remind you of our wedding day. Remember the beautiful bouquet you carried as you walked down the aisle toward me—your eager groom?”
Miranda shifted her weight, clutching her purse close to her side. “Of course I remember.”
“I still love you, honey, and I want to come home.”
She swallowed hard, hoping he wouldn’t know how close she was to letting her tears fall. Thinking back to their wedding day, Miranda recalled how she’d thought she and Trent would always be happy together, making beautiful memories throughout the years. But those hopes and dreams had gone out the window when her husband admitted he had feelings for another woman and wanted to pursue a relationship with her. It wasn’t long after Miranda insisted he move out of their home that Trent said he was sorry and pleaded with her to forgive him. Of course, Miranda said no. She couldn’t trust him anymore. And with good reason. He couldn’t even keep a simple promise to take the kids to cooking class.
She bit her bottom lip. Trent did take them. He just didn’t stay there like I expected him to. And he asked the kids not to tell. That’s deceitful behavior from a man who claims to love me.
“Well, aren’t you going to say anything, Miranda? Can I come home or not?”
Trent’s question pulled her back to the present. “No. I can’t believe you think that just because you planted some roses in my flower bed, our marriage should be back on track and everything would be peachy—or should I say rosy?”
Trent huffed impatiently. “What’s it gonna take to convince you to give me another chance? What do I have to do to get back in your good graces?”
“For one thing, you’d need to take an interest in spiritual things.” Her chin jutted out. “And I don’t mean just going to church.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“You need to make a serious commitment to God and become the spiritual leader in our home.”
He spoke as though his words were chosen deliberately. “I am not a bad person, Miranda. And I’m getting sick and tired of you making me feel like one. Just because I almost got caught up in an extramarital affair doesn’t mean I’m headed down the road toward—”
She held up her hand. “I don’t want to discuss this with you anymore, Trent. And I won’t be late for work on account of you.”
He glared at her. “Why do you always have to blame me for everything? Did it ever occur to you that your holier-than-thou attitude might be part of our problem?”
Trent’s words stung like a slap across the face. If she didn’t leave now, Miranda knew she would either say something mean or break down in tears. “Sorry, Trent, but I have to go. Debbie and Kevin are inside with their babysitter if you want to say hello.” Miranda hurried to her car and opened the door. Short of a miracle, she doubted that she and Trent would ever live together again.
Miranda closed her eyes and took in a breath. I just wish the children weren’t affected by all of this. They deserve two parents who love the Lord, as well as each other. She sniffed deeply. Perhaps that’s too much to hope and pray for, but I have to trust God to help me get through this without losing faith and becoming a bitter person.