Wednesday, Mary read over Adeline’s signed release papers with trembling hands, hoping and praying they were doing the right thing. Mary, Natalie, and Levi had adjusted their schedules to take her home from the hospital that afternoon.
Natalie had taken off work today, but it wouldn’t be an option for her to miss too much or she wouldn’t be able to pay her bills, so weekends were still the best times for her to stay with Adeline.
Mary’s family told her to do what she needed to do for Adeline, but that she was expected to be at Lydia’s wedding the following day. Despite her sister’s resistance, the wedding was still happening. Mary halfway expected her sister to bolt from the ceremony.
Mary packed up the few things Adeline had accumulated during her stay at the hospital. A toothbrush, toothpaste, and a few other toiletries. Lastly, she put a vase filled with flowers from Natalie’s father near the other items. Natalie had balked at the gift, but it pleased Adeline, and that’s what mattered.
When a nurse came in to explain the medications, the best way to help Adeline bathe when she could no longer do it herself, and all the other duties a caregiver would need to provide, Mary wondered again if they were doing the right thing by taking Adeline home. What if they did something wrong or caused her more harm than good?
The hospital provided a wheelchair and walker for them to take home, saying something about it being covered by Medicare. When a hospital employee came for Adeline, she frowned at the wheelchair and the young man dressed in blue scrubs.
“I don’t need this just yet.” Adeline raised her chin and pressed her lips together.
“Hospital policy,” he said, winking. “And if you behave yourself, I won’t pop any wheelies down the hall.”
Adeline still scowled as she eased herself into the chair, but then she looked up at the man and said, “I think I’d enjoy the wheelies.”
“Hold on to your purse,” he said as he rushed out of the room. When Adeline laughed, Levi, Mary, and Natalie rushed into the hallway, and the orderly did indeed have the wheelchair up on the back two wheels.
Mary smiled, hoping there would be lots of laughter for however long Adeline had left.
Natalie carried the small grocery bag of Adeline’s things, Levi held the vase of flowers, and Mary had a large bag of medications and a folder with instructions for Adeline’s care.
Adeline dozed off in the front seat of the car on the way to her house, lightly snoring, so everyone stayed quiet. They were all surprised to see a second horse and buggy in front of Adeline’s house when they pulled in the driveway. As Mary got out of the car, a man walked onto the porch, closing the door behind him.
Mary gasped and ran to him. “Daed, what’s wrong? Why are you here? Is everything okay?”
Her father nodded. “Ya, ya. All is well at home. Adeline might say she is used to no air-conditioning, but she’s not. And she’s sick. I went to the electric company and explained the situation, and I paid her bill.”
Mary brought a hand to her chest. “Daed . . .”
Natalie stepped forward carrying the flowers and small bag. She introduced herself to Mary’s father, while Levi helped Adeline out of the car. “I tried to find out about her electricity, but they wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“I’m not sure why. Maybe because I went there in person and told them that Adeline was ill,” he told Natalie before he turned to Mary. “The air-conditioning just needed Freon so I found an AC company to come out earlier. The house is cooling nicely.”
Mary threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Danki, Daed.” She fought not to burst into tears again.
He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re welcome, mei maedel.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “Don’t get too used to all this luxury.” He grinned, then turned to Adeline and Levi when they approached.
“Adeline, you should lock your doors.” Mary’s father smiled, then hugged Adeline.
She hung on to him for a long time. “Not much to steal these days.” She chuckled a little. “What are you doing here anyway?”
Levi walked up and extended his hand before Mary’s father could answer. “I’m Levi.”
“I suspected as much.” Her father smiled, and Mary recognized approval when she saw it.
Mary thanked her father again before he left and told him she’d get a ride home from Natalie. He encouraged her not to be out late or oversleep in the morning. She nodded, hoping the wedding would take place and actual vows would be exchanged.
Everyone’s mood lifted when they walked into a cool living room and Adeline’s surprise scurried to meet them. She brought two hands to her chest and drew in a deep breath, smiling. “Come here, my precious little friend.” She scooped the cat into her arms, then looked at each of them. “He’s mine?”
“Yep.” Natalie stepped forward to pet the animal already purring in Adeline’s arms. “He was chasing mice in Mary’s barn, and we thought he’d be happier here. And since we adore kitties . . .” She gave the animal a final scratch, then nodded to the couch, coffee table, and end tables. Adeline had been so excited about the cat rushing to her, she hadn’t noticed the furniture or that it was cool in the house.
“When I told my mom that sometimes Mary and I might be here at the same time, she insisted you have this furniture.” Natalie walked over to the couch and sat down. “It makes into a bed, so one of us can sleep in the bedroom with the twin bed, and one of us can sleep on the couch.” Grinning, she said, “And no springs poking out in the back. The old couch is in the basement. I’m the one who left the door open so my friends could bring it in. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course.” Adeline carried the cat to the couch and sat while Levi folded up the wheelchair and walker. Adeline had asked him to put them in a closet somewhere, that she didn’t want to see those things until she needed them.
“How lovely of your mother to do this, Natalie.” Adeline nuzzled the cat with her nose, then looked at Mary. “And I believe your father gets credit for the air-conditioning. How nice of him to take care of that.” She grinned. “Just as I was getting used to living like the Amish.” She scratched the cat behind its ears. “I’m glad my electricity came back on so we can enjoy your father’s efforts. I knew I paid that bill.”
Mary just smiled.
They had lunch in the parlor, but instead of chicken salad, it was a pizza they’d picked up on the way.
“Thank you, Mary, for the pizza.” Adeline took a big bite, and by looking at her, you wouldn’t think anything was wrong. Maybe the doctor was incorrect. Or maybe God was already giving them the miracle they were praying for.
“I-I’d like to still come on Saturdays.” Levi glanced at Mary before he looked at Adeline, who grinned.
“I’d like that.” Adeline picked up her second slice of pizza.
Mary said she’d like to come on Saturdays, too, so they could all have at least one day to be together. She bit her bottom lip, then sighed. “Mei schweschder is getting married tomorrow. If you all could pray for her and Samuel, I’d be grateful.”
“Aw, hon,” Adeline said. “I know this isn’t an ideal situation for young Lydia and Samuel, but God will lead them.”
Mary wanted to believe that. “Lydia is confused about her feelings for Samuel. Both families are practically forcing them to get married. That wouldn’t happen in the Englisch world.”
Natalie huffed. “Are you kidding me? It does happen. Ever heard of the term ‘shotgun wedding’? Believe me, it happens.”
Mary took a bite of pizza, her thoughts all over the place. Her heart ached for Lydia. She was worried about providing the proper care Adeline would need. And selfishly, she wanted some time alone with Levi.
After they finished eating, everyone confirmed their plans. Natalie had created a schedule on her computer, and she gave everyone a copy. “Notice on that Saturday in September that I need to be at a work thing, another training class.” She rolled her eyes. “Another class on a weekend that I don’t get paid for.”
They were all silent and probably wondering the same thing as Mary. Would there still be a need for a schedule next month?
“Mary. Levi. Natalie.” Adeline looked at each of them. “There will come a time when I won’t be able to think clearly. And based on the information I was given at the hospital, there’s no telling what I might say or do.” She paused, and the familiar knot formed in Mary’s throat. “So, I need to tell you how I feel.” She blinked, scratched the cat behind the ears, and went on. “Percy and I always wanted a family in this house, and as you know, it wasn’t in the Lord’s plan.” She smiled. “But then at the eleventh hour of my time on earth, He gifted me with a family. I love all of you very much.”
A tear trickled down Mary’s cheek.
“No, no, no.” Natalie slapped a hand on her knee from where she was sitting next to Adeline. “No tears. I have a surprise for everyone.” She glanced at Mary, Levi, then Adeline.
Mary wiped away the tear as she nibbled on her pizza, but she was also getting more anxious to spend time alone with Levi.
Natalie grinned from ear to ear. “I know we’re all planning to be here Saturday. Mary and Levi, can you both be here at nine o’clock?”
They nodded. “Where are we going?” Mary asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
Adeline chuckled. “Another surprise?” She drew in a quick breath and held her mouth open for a few moments. Mary feared one of her spasms was coming on, even though the doctor at the hospital gave her a different medication that should make them subside altogether.
“What is it, Adeline?” Mary leaned forward.
Adeline held up the cat. “We need a name for this fellow. He has such a unique coloring, all white with those black circles around his eyes.”
“Natalie said it looks like he’s wearing sunglasses.” Mary squinted, peered at the cat. “Or is it a she?”
“No. It’s a he,” Adeline said as she lifted the cat up again.
For the next hour, they bounced around names and Levi played the piano for Adeline while Mary sang the songs she knew.
She and Levi shared a love of music, but the last time they talked, they had both started to think they’d been gifted the privileges for a season, a season that would end when Adeline left this world. Mary had stopped listening to some of the songs she didn’t think her parents would approve of. Even as Levi played now, beautiful as the music was, Mary sensed that something was different for both of them.
When Levi was done and had rejoined the group, Adeline smiled. “I have the perfect name for our new friend.”
They waited.
“Let’s call him Maxwell. He looks like a spy wearing sunglasses, and Maxwell Smart was a spy.”
Mary, Levi, and Natalie waited for more explanation.
“Ah, never mind. That show was way before your time.”
They had already decided that Levi would stay with Adeline tonight and the next two days, then they’d all be back together on Saturday. From then, they would adhere to the schedule Natalie drew up, plus all be at Adeline’s house on Saturdays.
“I can’t wait for our surprise on Saturday.” Mary couldn’t imagine what it might be. “But we probably need to go,” she said to Natalie, who nodded. Both women hugged Adeline and kissed her on the cheek, promising to see her Saturday.
“Mary, I hope all goes well with Lydia and Samuel tomorrow.” Adeline smiled. “They might surprise everyone.”
That’s what Mary was worried about—that Lydia would surprise everyone by disappearing overnight or refusing to say her vows.
“I’ll walk you out,” Levi said before turning to Adeline. “Be right back.”
Out on the porch, Natalie dug her keys from her purse. “I’ll be in the car and let you two say your goodbyes. But remember, you’ll see each other Saturday, so let’s keep the smooching to a minimum, and I’ll try not to watch and lament about how I have no one to cuddle with.”
After Natalie was in the car and looking down, presumably at her cell phone, Mary reached into her purse and handed Levi a phone. “Mei daed got this for you. I know it’s against the rules where you live, but Adeline’s home phone doesn’t work, and you wouldn’t even be able to call 9–1–1 if something happened. So please accept it as a gift, and you can return it after . . .” Mary blinked back tears.
Levi pulled her into his arms and cupped the back of her head, drawing her close. Mary wanted to stay in the comfort of his embrace forever. God had brought together an unlikely family. A grandmother for Natalie, a friend for all of them. Two people from very different Old Order districts who likely wouldn’t have met if not for Adeline and Percy. And Adeline had the family she’d always wanted. Gott is gut.
Levi slid the phone in his pocket and cupped Mary’s face in his hands and kissed her. “I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”
Mary smiled. “Me too.”
Then he stepped back a little and took the phone from his pocket. “I’m not sure I know how to use this.”
Mary gave him a quick lesson, then he kissed her again when Natalie honked the horn.
“Are you clear on Adeline’s medications?”
Levi nodded. “Gott’s blessings tomorrow that all goes well for Lydia and Samuel.”
“Danki.”
“I’ll see you Saturday.”
Mary twirled the string on her kapp, giggling. “What do you think Natalie has planned?”
“I have no idea. I hope it’s not something that will get us in trouble or make us go against the Ordnung.” Levi flinched. “Any more than we already have.”
“I don’t think she’d do that, at least not knowingly.”
One more quick peck on the lips, and Mary went to the car.
She took a deep breath. She’d just have to get through tomorrow, then she would have Saturday to look forward to.
Levi added water to his horse’s bucket. Adeline had an old lean-to next to a storage building. Levi had brought hay that morning and got the horse settled before Natalie picked him up. It wasn’t too far out of the way for her to pick up Mary, but it was a haul to Levi’s house, even though they’d done it the other night.
When he went back inside, Adeline’s head was against the back of Percy’s chair, Maxwell was in her lap, and her eyes were closed.
“Adeline!” He hadn’t meant to yell so loud.
She jumped enough to send the cat toppling off her lap. “Good grief, Levi. I must have dozed off. I’m not dead yet.”
Levi opened his eyes wide. “I-I’m sorry.”
Adeline chuckled. “Don’t look so worried. If we can’t laugh about this from time to time, then . . .” She shrugged and yawned. “But I do need to go take my nap.”
“Do you need help?” Levi took a few steps her way, his hand outstretched.
Adeline gently slapped it away. “You’ll know when I need help. Until then, you don’t treat me any differently.” She gave a taut nod. “Now, go play your piano, Percy, and lull me to sleep.”
Levi didn’t move as Adeline shuffled toward her bedroom. Was it a slip of the tongue? He sat in Percy’s chair and stared at the piano. He’d been praying that the magnetic pull would lessen. And it had a little. Maybe it was because his desire to play was being fulfilled. Or maybe his longing to play the piano for all these years wasn’t intended to hurt him, but to prepare him for this leg of his journey. After a while he went into the kitchen and stared out the window, his thoughts scrambled like overdone eggs.
Mary awoke to a flurry of activity Thursday morning. She’d overslept, and their kitchen was probably already filled with women preparing the meal for the wedding today. She dressed in a hurry, then rushed downstairs.
Most weddings in their area had around a hundred attendees. She’d heard that in larger communities there were as many as four hundred sometimes. Today they were only expecting about fifty people for Lydia and Samuel’s wedding since it was such short notice.
“There you are.” Mary’s mother maneuvered around two women pulling bread from the oven. “I was just going to check on you. You never sleep this late. Are you sick?”
“Nee, just tired.”
Her mother touched her arm. “It’s going to be a lot of work for you and your friends to take care of Adeline, even though you are doing it in shifts. After your schweschder has moved out and settled, I’ll help with Adeline.”
Mary didn’t say anything, but she wasn’t going to let that happen unless there was a situation that she, Levi, or Natalie couldn’t handle. It would feel intrusive to have anyone else there during the precious time Adeline had left. But she nodded anyway.
She tried to picture Lydia and Samuel living in the daadi haus on his family’s property. Samuel’s grandparents were deceased, and his parents weren’t ready to give up the main house, so it made sense for now, at least until Lydia and Samuel’s family outgrew the daadi haus. Assuming they had more kinner. Samuel was already the sole provider for his family, and now he was adding a wife and a baby to the mix. Thankfully, he would keep his job working for Mary and Lydia’s father. Mary had overheard her father telling her mother he gave Samuel a raise.
“Where is Lydia anyway?” Mary scanned the kitchen. Has she already snuck out?
“She was here a minute ago. Maybe she’s in the bathroom.” Her mother waved an arm around the kitchen. “I don’t know, but there is a lot to do.”
“Let me go check on Lydia, then I’ll be back to help.”
Mary found her sister in the upstairs bathroom with the door locked. “Just let me in, okay?”
“I’m busy. Do you mind?”
“Then I’ll just wait.”
The door opened a little, and Mary walked in. Lydia was sitting on the toilet seat wearing her wedding dress, a blue dress that didn’t look much different from what they wore daily, but it was made especially for this event.
“Your kapp is on crooked.” Mary straightened it, then squatted in front of Lydia and put a hand on her leg. “Everything is going to be okay, mei maedel.”
“I don’t know. I am sixteen years old, marrying a man I’m not sure I love, and I’m going to be a mudder.” Lydia looked into Mary’s eyes, as if expecting Mary to offer an argument, words of wisdom, or a way to help her hightail it out of there.
Mary was almost nineteen, and she’d never done more than kiss a boy. She wanted to ask how Lydia and Samuel had let this happen, but now wasn’t the time.
“You and Samuel will have a special bond with the child you’re carrying. Love is confusing, and maybe you will feel differently after you’re married and Gott has blessed the union.”
Lydia shrugged, then stood. “Maybe. But one thing is for sure. I am never letting Samuel touch me again, not even for a kiss.”
It was an immature thing to say, and probably not true, but Mary’s sympathies shifted in Samuel’s direction. “That’s not a marriage.”
Lydia pressed her lips together and smiled before she said, “Then I just won’t get married.” She stormed past Mary and ran down the stairs.
Mary sat on the commode and sighed. She prayed and then dragged herself downstairs. For the next hour, the women continued with food preparations, and the men set up the living room in the same way they did for worship service—men on one side, women and children facing them on the other side, and the bishop and deacons in the middle.
Finally, it was time for everyone to take their places. Lydia had made it this far. But would she actually go through with the wedding?