Two Weeks Later
ROB EASED BACK in the hospital bedside chair and tried to concentrate on staying awake. It was late, and he should be heading back to his grossdaudi’s house, but the old man was sleeping and still needed to eat his supper, which was growing cold on the tray. Following the amputation of Da’s right leg, he’d developed a blood clot and an infection—all of which made Rob figure the old man needed all the rest could get.
“I really need to wake him,” a soft feminine voice sounded nearby.
Rob glanced up, then straightened abruptly in his chair as he gazed up into the beautiful face of the nurse. His eyes sought her badge and read “KATIE” in bold black print.
“Uh—yeah, sure,” he stammered. “I only wanted to let him sleep because he was in so much pain earlier.”
The red-headed English nurse blinked lightly made-up green eyes and smiled sympathetically. “I know. I read the chart when I came on at seven. He’s due for some pain medicine soon, in fact.”
Rob nodded. He’d gotten used to the parade of nurses in the past weeks, some pretty, some not so much, some kind and others apathetic, but this Katie seemed to especially tug on his senses. Then he remembered Tabby and ran a hand across his weary eyes. I should have written to her by now.
“You’re tired,” the young nurse whispered, lightly touching his shoulder for a moment. He wanted to shiver in response but blinked instead, automatically shaking his head in denial.
“Nee—I mean, no—I’m fine.”
She smiled, a flash of white teeth behind moist, pink lips. “Why not go home, really? I promise I’ll keep a close eye on your grandfather tonight.”
He swallowed. “I’m sure you will. I—uh—maybe you’re right. I could use a bit of rest.” He stood up and discovered that the nurse nearly reached his shoulder in her well-fitting blue scrubs. She stepped back, and he bent unself-consciously to brush a kiss on his grandfather’s warm forehead. Then he caught up his hat from the bedside table.
“Thank you,” he muttered, slipping past her.
“You’re quite welcome,” she called gently as he left the room.
He walked down the familiar hospital hallway, then paused at the elevators. I must write Tabby soon, he decided. As soon as I feel up to it.
Tabitha Beiler gazed with pleasure around the crowded kitchen and open sitting room of Aenti Beth’s home; all of the youth seemed to be having a gut time at the Saturday evening singing. Even Aenti Beth, though aged and confined to her wheelchair, looked pleased as she offered a tray piled high with fresh raisin cookies and apple turnovers to the appreciative guests.
“Ach, Tabby, the singing goes well.”
Tabitha turned to gaze with gratitude at Letty. “It is the first singing since Rob’s gone away.” She frowned. “February seems like such a long month.”
“It’s the shortest month of the year.” Letty bit into a soft cookie.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” She sighed. “Still, I am glad for this time of togetherness. It keeps my mind busy. I do miss him so.”
Letty reached out her short, plump arms to give Tabitha a hug. “Ya, I know it’s been hard.”
Tabitha cringed at the selfish pang in her heart. While it was difficult for her to be separated from Rob, she knew he had to be struggling, caring for his ill grandfather in Ohio. They were especially close, and Rob had been devastated when the news of his grandfather’s accident had reached him.
“Have you heard from him?” Letty asked, before polishing off the rest of the cookie.
With a quick shake of her head, Tabitha replied, “Not yet. But I’m sure I will soon. He needs time to get settled. This isn’t easy on him.”
“It says much for your man’s character that he went to care for him.”
That made Tabitha brighten a bit, and not only because Letty had used such personal terms to describe her and Rob’s relationship. Rob was loyal to his family and hadn’t hesitated to be a help to his grandfather, despite having to take a leave of absence from his job. And leaving me. Yet such a man would make a good husband and a wonderful father.
Letty gave Tabitha a quick squeeze, then stepped back and smiled. “But soon, perhaps next winter, you will not have to miss him because you will be married.”
Tabitha couldn’t help the blush that stained her cheeks or the nerves assaulting her stomach. Courtship, then marriage. The very idea of being the girlfriend, then wife, of the oh-so-handsome and older Rob Yoder filled her with a mixture of anxiety and excitement, though Letty’s words made her smile. “Meanwhile, we will find someone for you,” she told her friend.
Letty laughed with good humor, making a gesture to her short, stout frame. “Me? I must catch a man through his stomach and then his heart, but you, with your blonde hair and eyes like a summer sky, will make one like Rob a happy man.”
Tabitha opened her mouth to protest the compliment when she noticed a single Amish man slip in through the front door. She recognized the tall frame in its heavy black overcoat with dark hat and even darker hair, and thoughts spun in her head. Here was John Miller, Rob’s best friend—Ach, perhaps he’s heard from Rob. She knew that Rob shared everything with John—probably including talk of a romantic relationship with her. Yet John was a gentleman and known in the community as discreet.
But she was still surprised to see John tonight. She’d thought, at twenty-six to Rob’s twenty-three, that he was a sworn bachelor, as he now rarely attended youth social events and in the previous year had made the subtle switch to sit with the bearded, married men in church. Yet here he was. Of course, he could have simply stopped by to pick up his younger siblings who were present. He probably bore no message from the one who made her heart beat hard in her throat.
She watched John hang up his coat and hat, then wend his way with easy grace through the welcoming crowd until he reached her Aenti Beth. He bent to greet the old woman. Tabitha would have joined them, but she felt a touch on her arm and looked round to see that Letty had disappeared and Henry Lantz, the tallest and one of the most attractive youths in the community, was standing near her.
“Tabby, you look well tonight in blue,” he murmured with a smile. “Truth be told, you look well in anything.” On the last word of his compliment the tops of his ears turned crimson.
She nodded her thanks as she watched him swallow. The words were nice, but she felt nothing but irritation at being detained. She planned to use the excuse of her hostess duties as an opportunity to greet John—and possibly secure news of Rob.
“It’s supposed to snow tonight—narrisch weather,” Henry went on with haste as if sensing her desire to be gone. “And there’s no church service tomorrow. I was wondering if you would like to come with me on a sled ride. Might be one of the last of the season.”
Tabitha’s heart sank. Sledding was always fun, but she had no desire to give Henry Lantz a reason to think that she liked him. No one but John and Letty knew for sure that Rob and she were courting, but it was only right to keep that a secret.
“Well, I . . .” she began, only to be cut off by a deep masculine voice that for some strange reason sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.
“Nee, I fear she cannot go sledding with you, Henry.”
She turned in slow amazement to stare up at John Miller. He had to have been watching her in order to know that Henry was asking her on a date. She continued to look up at him as he regarded her with steady blue eyes. Steady seemed to describe John perfectly.
“Tabitha, your aenti Beth, only a moment ago, gave me an invitation to dinner tomorrow. I’m sure she will need your help with the extra cooking and serving.”
Tabitha felt the blood throb in her temples as hope grew within her. Aenti Beth was known for her hospitable nature, but inviting John for a meal was random, even for her. Had he wangled the invitation in hopes of imparting news about Rob? Personal news? Her heart did a tiny flip at the tantalizing thought. She sought to dismiss Henry as nicely as possible so that she might speak alone with John—she couldn’t wait until tomorrow afternoon. She turned to nod at Henry, who, to his credit, looked suddenly like he’d rather be anywhere else. No doubt he was intimidated by John Miller due to John’s older age and authoritative stance. She spread her hands helplessly. “I’m sorry, Henry, perhaps another time.”
Henry gobbled an affirmative response, then slipped off into the crowd. Tabitha now turned back to John with a ready smile, eager to hear any word about the man she hoped to marry one day soon.
“John Miller, we shall have the pleasure of your company and . . .” She gathered her courage. “Was there—anything else?” She struggled not to reveal how anxious she was to have a word from Rob.
John kept his dark blue gaze on her, as if he were studying her—or taking her measure? Then he simply shook his head. “Nee, Tabitha. There is nothing more than to share a meal with you and your aenti.”
Tabitha bit her lip in disappointment, and it took all of her composure to give him a demure nod. “Then if you’ll excuse me, John, I have the apple cider to serve.”
“Ya,” he murmured. “I will see you tomorrow.”
She slipped away, heading for the icebox. No word from Rob? Since he hadn’t contacted her, shouldn’t he at least have sent word to John? What did that mean for their relationship? Letty already had her married off—but little did her friend know that Tabitha was filled with doubt. Or perhaps this was how relationships worked. She wasn’t exactly experienced. She sighed, her heart yearning for the man she loved. Please, dear Gott. Calm my spirit. . . and whatever Rob is doing, I hope he is thinking of me.
John watched Tabitha disappear into the crowd at the singing and felt like he’d run a mile in a sodden field. It’s a gut thing I came tonight—that Lantz kid could be a problem.
He decided that he was addled with the burden of his promise to Rob and then realized that he’d lied to Tabitha in an effort to fend off the would-be affections of Henry Lantz. That gangly upstart of a youth. . . now I’m going to have to get Beth Beiler to invite me to dinner. He was confused by exactly how to go about this when a coy feminine voice spoke up behind him.
“John Miller?”
He turned to see Bishop Esch’s daughter, Barbara, staring up at him with cool, narrowed, green eyes. She looked like a hawk that never lost its prey, and he had the sudden and sinking realization that coming here to check on Tabitha was also a signal to other single girls that he might be looking for a bride—which he definitely was not doing. He suppressed a groan as he tried to figure out how to extricate himself from Barbara’s presence.
She wasn’t making it easy. With quick steps she closed the space between them, standing so near he could count the stitches in the fabric of her kapp. “I overheard you talking to Tabby and that you plan on attending dinner here tomorrow,” she said, her tone resembling a cat who’d finished off a bowl of cream. “But I wondered—I’ve heard you might have a new cutter sled and I thought, perhaps, if you’re free tomorrow afternoon . . .” She trailed off suggestively.
Ach, how he wanted to run. But then it occurred to him that Barbara Esch might be a temporary useful cover to allow him to watch over Tabitha without things being too obvious. He assumed a cordial expression.
“Ya, Barbara, your company would be a pleasure, if the snow lays and if you like sledding.”
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. “Ya. I like sledding very much.”
He resisted the urge to cancel his hasty invitation. This girl will probably eat me alive if I’m not careful, but my promise to Rob is worth the risk.
“Danki, John.” Barbara lifted her chin and smiled. “You may pick me up at two.”
He nodded with grim satisfaction as she walked away, pausing to give him another cheeky smile over her shoulder. He let out a heavy breath and realized that watching over Tabitha might not be as easy as the proverbial pie. He turned and made his way back to Tabitha’s aenti, determined to use all his methods of persuasion to successfully angle and secure an invitation to dinner.
Elizabeth Beiler had only been treated to a taste of romance once in her life, but she still recognized when a man was after something. She looked up at John Miller, who had surprisingly—and insistently—invited himself over for dinner. Since the man seemed to want to come over with as much desperation as a working man wanted water, she wouldn’t keep him waiting. “Of course we’d be happy to have you join us, John.”
“Danki,” he said, then cleared his throat. “What time should I arrive?”
“Noon will be fine.”
He nodded in almost visible relief, then slipped off through the crowd.
Elizabeth smiled to herself as she watched him walk away. Then she glanced at her niece. Ach, Tabitha. Her niece was beautiful in both frame and spirit, and John Miller was a fine man, to be sure. She shouldn’t be caught off guard that he was interested in Tabby—except his committed bachelor status was well known. What was he up to? She supposed she’d find out tomorrow.
She navigated her chair through the crowd and glanced thoughtfully up at the recipe box on a shelf in the pretty kitchen. She’d made a vow once, to the woman who’d raised her, to only give the secret of the box to a girl in true love with a man of devout character. Would that couple be Tabitha and John? The pairing had never crossed her mind, but God often worked in unexpected ways.
“We will see,” she murmured aloud, then reached to fill her tray once more.