By the time Leah arrived at the Groffs’, Sharon had already completed the checkup. “I’ve already explained that turning a baby may result in premature labor, but Matthew and Rachel have agreed to take that chance.”
Leah followed the other two women into the bedroom, and Sharon showed her how to use her hands to turn the baby to a head-down position. Moving firmly, but gently, she coaxed the baby into place.
Leah pictured Kyle’s face if he found out about this procedure. He’d probably think it was dangerous and recommend that Rachel have a caesarean at the hospital. She imagined the two of them arguing over the best choice.
When Sharon finished, she cautioned Rachel, “Some lively babies flip themselves over again during the next few weeks, so we’ll keep an eye on you. Also let us know if the baby starts kicking anywhere other than your ribs or upper abdomen. I’ll stay a few hours to be sure labor doesn’t begin, but once I leave, call me right away if you have any pains.”
Rachel turned shining eyes to Sharon. “I will and thank you for everything.” She insisted on giving Sharon and Leah each a coffee cake she’d baked that morning.
“Would it be all right if I spend some time discussing the procedure with Leah?” Sharon asked.
Rachel nodded and gestured to the kitchen table. “Make yourselves at home. I need to go down to the basement to do laundry.”
Sharon brushed damp wisps of hair from her forehead and smoothed them back into the bun at the back of her head. A white lace prayer veiling covered her bun, much smaller than Leah’s heart-shaped kapp. “The procedure I did in there is called ECV, or external cephalic version. You’ll also hear it called version. I want you to look it up in the textbooks when you get home.”
Leah wrote down the names so she could read more about the procedure. Sharon believed hands-on demonstrations followed by book learning would cement the lessons in her assistants’ minds, and Leah had found she was right.
“I wanted to wait until thirty-seven or thirty-eight weeks,” Sharon explained, “because ECV is best done when the baby can still move freely in the fluid. But the pregnancy needs to be close to term in case the procedure causes labor to begin. We want to be certain the baby is fully developed. If we do the procedure any closer to delivery, though, the baby doesn’t have much room to move.”
She paused to give Leah time to record the information before continuing. “There are a few risks, but I think they outweigh the danger of a breech birth. Read up on the possible complications so you can explain them to the parents. Give them an informed choice. I’ve found most Amish parents are willing to take the chance of an early delivery.”
An early delivery? Kyle would certainly not want to take a chance on that. He’d use that as an argument for a hospital birth. For some reason, his voice kept echoing through her mind.
Jotting notes as fast as she could, Leah tried to get down as much information as possible.
“It’s also important to know where the umbilical cord is. We can’t take a chance if it’s around the baby’s neck or likely to be. Rachel had an ultrasound yesterday so I knew it would be safe. I recommend having the mother do that so I know exactly what I’m dealing with.”
“What if the umbilical cord isn’t in the right position?”
“Depending on where it is, I might recommend a hospital birth.”
Kyle would approve of that. Leah couldn’t seem to keep her thoughts from straying to his reactions.
“Or if it doesn’t appear to be dangerous,” Sharon said, “I’ll take charge of the breech delivery. I’ve had very few of those in my twenty-five years as a midwife. If I do have one, I’ll call you to help me. You should learn how to do it.”
As much as Leah would like to see how Sharon did it, she wouldn’t wish a breech birth on anyone.
Sharon went on to list many other ways women used to turn breeches. Most of this information wouldn’t be in her textbooks, so Leah took detailed notes, ever conscious of how Kyle would glower if he heard some of these backcountry and unscientific methods.
Leah’s hand cramped, and she stretched it before resuming her copious pages of notes. By the time Sharon finished, Leah had filled a thick section of her notebook with information, and the sky had darkened. Ben would be back home milking the cows and feeding the horses by now. Leah sighed. He’d be upset to miss her two days in a row, but she had to admit she was more relieved than sad. She wasn’t looking forward to their conversation. How did you explain to someone that you’d completely forgotten about them?
Truth be told, she’d spent more time thinking about Kyle than she had about Ben. That should never be. Ever since she’d met him, Kyle kept popping into her mind, evaluating her every decision, following her everywhere she went.
On the way home, sharp twinges in her abdomen alerted Leah that her once-a-month bout with intense pain was about to begin. She’d take a spoonful of that calcium-phosphorous supplement after dinner and hope it helped. She’d also drink some of the herbal blend they sold in the store for cramps.
She arrived back at the shop to find the door unlocked and the lights on. Surprised, she stepped inside and met her daed’s glare.
“Daed,” she faltered, “what are you doing here?”
“Doing your job and trying to find out what happened to our big shipment.”
“Ach, I forgot all about that.” Lately, her midwife calls pushed everything else from her mind. Yesterday, Ben. Today, the order. “I’m so sorry.”
“Jah, vell, according to the company, their driver dropped the shipment off between three and three thirty. Those boxes have vanished.”
They couldn’t have lost the whole shipment. They’d prepaid for it, and if the company insisted they’d delivered everything, they’d not only lose that money, but also all the customers who had placed orders would be upset. Daed couldn’t afford to replace this order. “Is it possible they made a mistake? Maybe delivered it elsewhere?”
Daed shook his head. “They can track the truck from their headquarters, and they verified his stop here. All the rest of the driver’s deliveries arrived as scheduled. The only discrepancy they found was how long he was at this spot. I’m guessing that’s because he was waiting for someone to open the shop.”
His glower made it clear who should have been there to open the shop. “They tried to talk directly to the driver, but he’s not answering. He has off until Monday.”
“I’m sorry.” Her apology wouldn’t bring back the missing merchandise. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Stay where you belong and stop running off during store hours.” Daed stalked toward the door that opened into the kitchen. “If your mamm is feeling up to it, we’ll have a family meeting to decide whether or not you can continue to help Sharon if it’s going to take you away from your duties here. Meet us upstairs after you’ve closed the shop.” His tone brooked no argument.
When six o’clock came, Leah closed out the cash register, locked the store, and pulled down the blinds. Daed and Mamm would have already eaten the meal her sister brought over tonight. Wishing she had time to grab a bite to eat and take something to ease the pangs shooting through her, Leah scurried upstairs. Daed valued punctuality, and she didn’t want to do anything to cause further upset.
As she mounted the stairs, Daed’s worried voice carried down the hall. “How will we ever afford to replace this shipment?”
The loss was all her fault, but how could she ever repay him? From time to time, people slipped her a little money when she assisted Sharon. Money that she turned over to Daed, as all unmarried children were expected to do until they turned twenty-one. The only way she could repay him was to work in the shop during the posted hours, a duty that she’d failed at twice this week. If she’d been where she should have been, she’d be checking in boxes of products right now, and Ben wouldn’t be upset with her either.
“Did you have a good day, dochder?” Mamm asked when Leah entered the room.
How should she answer that? It had been a wonderful day up until she’d arrived home. Now it had turned into a disaster. “Earlier I did,” she mumbled. “I’m so sorry, Mamm and Daed.”
“Jah, it worries me how we’ll make up these losses.” Daed pinned her with a serious look. “I’m also concerned about the shop being closed so often. I understand it was shut most of the day yesterday.”
“I received an emergency call, and Sharon wasn’t available.”
“She has other assistants. They should be helping her during the day.”
“Enos Fisher called and asked me to come. I couldn’t turn down his request for help.” Her daed always stressed helping others. Surely he’d understand she not only wanted to go, she also could never ignore a plea for assistance.
Daed’s pursed lips conflicted with the softness in his eyes. “I suppose not,” he conceded.
“And the Fishers have a healthy new son,” Mamm reminded him. “Leah needed to be there.”
Actually, Caleb had jaundice, but that would be gone soon. She didn’t contradict Mamm—not the way she’d contradicted Kyle. Her fists curled at her sides remembering his insistence on taking both babies to the hospital. He’d taken up residence in her mind, and she couldn’t seem to shake his voice or comments.
“Leah, did you hear me?” Daed stared at her, his brow creased.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” She’d been so busy combatting Kyle’s arguments from yesterday she’d missed Daed’s comments.
He blew out an exasperated breath. “I said I’d like you to tell Sharon—”
Mamm interrupted him. “I wonder if we should come up with an alternate solution. I believe Leah is needed in the community. Sharon isn’t able to handle all the work.”
“That’s what she has assistants for,” Daed snapped, but immediately looked contrite. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so short-tempered.”
With a gentle smile, Mamm kept her response soft. “I understand Leah is the assistant she trusts most, so Sharon calls on her more than the others. I also think Leah wants to learn as much as she can. Maybe we could make different plans for the store.”
“You want to close it?” Daed asked incredulously. “I thought we’d already decided to keep it open for the community even if we barely make a profit.”
“I didn’t mean we should close it, but we could come up with an alternate plan.” Mamm held up a hand when Daed started to protest. “I don’t mean cutting the hours. I know how you feel about that.” She hesitated a minute. “Maybe it’s time to mend fences with Joel.”
Daed’s face darkened, and he stood for a few minutes, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Leah wished Mamm hadn’t brought up Joel. The one issue that roused Daed’s ire was his only son who’d left the family and the Amish community. Although he’d never forbidden them to talk about Joel, his anguish—and often his fury—when the subject came up made Mamm and Leah hesitate to mention Joel’s name.
Mamm leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. The fire left Daed’s eyes, and he stood staring helplessly at her.
Poor Mamm. They shouldn’t have tired her out.
Mamm opened her eyes and said in a shaky voice, “I blame myself. Working in the shop should have been my job. Leah should be free to be a midwife.”
Leah rushed over to the bed and took Mamm’s hand. “No, Mamm. Please, please don’t blame yourself. It’s my job, and I’ll do it, even if it means giving up midwifing.”
“If God is leading you to be a midwife, then we should support you in that decision.” Her mamm glanced over at Daed. “Don’t you think so?”
He harrumphed but didn’t answer.
“You know,” she said in a quiet voice, “Joel’s been struggling financially. He lost his job a few weeks ago. He’d probably be willing to…”
Daed’s glower silenced her. “If he chooses to live in the Englisch world, then he must pay the consequences.”
“I know you don’t mean that.”
Under Mamm’s steady gaze, he lowered his head and stared at the floor. “Perhaps we should save this discussion for another time.” Shoulders slumped, he walked over to the window and gazed out at their back pastures as dusk turned to night.
Daed blamed himself for Joel leaving. If only there were some way she could comfort him. The best way would be to help her family in the store. Swallowing hard, Leah said, “I won’t leave the shop again during business hours.”
A distressed look crossed Mamm’s face. “What about helping Sharon?”
“I’ll tell her I can do it only after hours.”
“That would be best.” Daed didn’t turn around. “Especially as we’ll have to pay for this shipment. If you find working with Sharon in the evenings is overtiring you, I expect you to put the shop first.”
Daed had laid a heavier yoke on her shoulders than the one he used for the oxen in the field. If she set aside time after hours to be with Ben and to study, she’d have little opportunity to accompany Sharon. With babies being so unpredictable, how likely was it they’d be born during her free hours? Daed hadn’t forbidden her to be a midwife, but his requests curtailed her chances.
* * *
Kyle pulled into the parking lot beside the store. He’d forgotten how dark Amish houses became at night. A dim solar bulb hung over the door to the shop, barely illuminating the hours. The blinds on the windows indicated the business had closed for the night. No lights shone in the house, either upstairs or down.
Wishing he hadn’t agreed to do this favor, he circled the lot to turn around. A glow from a back window sent a faint patch of light onto the fields beside the barn. Someone must be there. He hated to disturb them, but he needed to get rid of the boxes before he took the red-eye that night. He pulled the car close to the store entrance and emerged into the frigid air. He knocked on the door, shivering as he waited. Hands thrust deep in his pockets, he paced the sidewalk. When nobody answered his second knock, he strode toward the back of the house, where he’d seen the light.
The window was dark. Maybe he’d mistaken that glimmer of light. Esther or Martin would have to bring the delivery back tomorrow. Kyle hurried to the car, eager to turn on the heater and get out of the cold. He unlocked the door and was stepping inside when a small beam of light bobbed inside the store. A flashlight. Someone was coming.
The bells jangled on the door, and Leah raised the blinds and peeked out. How pretty she appeared in moonlight.
Enough, Kyle. Unload the delivery and get out of here. Go back to the city. You’ll forget this attraction soon enough.
“Kyle?” Leah’s voice wavered. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped from the car. “I, um…” Why did seeing her drive all other thoughts from his head?
She glanced behind him, and her eyes narrowed as they focused on him. “Are those boxes in your car yours?” Without waiting for an answer, she plunged on. “You took our delivery. I thought you didn’t believe in herbal medicines. Why did you take them?”
Kyle was uncertain which question to answer first, but she gave him no chance to explain.
Sucking in a breath, Leah put her hands on her hips. “You took them so we couldn’t sell them, didn’t you? You planned to destroy them.”
Kyle held up a hand, but he couldn’t stop Leah’s words.
“I know you think they don’t work as well as your medicines, but are you trying to bankrupt our family? Daed paid a lot of money for them. Please let us have them back.”
“Leah,” Kyle said, managing to wedge a word into her nonstop accusations. “Wait a minute. You’re not being fair here. You haven’t let me answer even one question. Let me explain.”
“Fine.” Leah pinched her lips together, but her eyes still condemned him.
“Earlier today Esther Hess asked me to come by to pick up a few things.” Kyle reached into his pocket and pulled out the wrinkled list.
“Like you’d agree to come to a natural products store for anything.”
“Leah?” He used a low, sharp tone. “Are you going to let me tell you?”
“Sorry,” she muttered, and she remained silent as he described the delivery and how he had rescued the boxes.
“You did it to help us?” Leah appeared to be struggling to accept his version of the story. “But, but—”
Kyle couldn’t help being a little hurt. “You don’t believe I’m capable of doing something nice?”
“No, I mean, yes. Of course you are. I just didn’t expect you to do it for me.”
“Why?”
Most of the fight leaked out of her, and her words, when they came, were tinged with sadness. “I thought you hated me and everything I stand for.”
“I don’t hate you.” Quite the opposite. “Just because I disagree with you about treating patients doesn’t mean I’d let that affect what I do. You wouldn’t hold a grudge like that, would you?”
“Of course not.”
“But you thought I’d be petty enough to destroy your merchandise?”
“I’m so sorry. I do have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions. Please forgive me.”
Kyle nodded. “Now, do you want me to bring the boxes in?”
Leah hung her head. “This is my fault.” She headed toward the car. “You don’t have to carry them in. I’ll take care of it. You’ve done enough already.”
“Now we’re going to argue over who carries in the boxes, and meanwhile they’ll all explode if they’re out in the cold any longer.”
Leah burst out laughing. “I told you I’m argumentative.”
“No, you didn’t. You said you jump to conclusions.”
Leah reached the car door before Kyle. “I do both, and I’m also stubborn.” She yanked the door open and grabbed a box.
“Maybe you’ve met your match.” Kyle reached in and hefted two boxes. “Because I’m not going to let you do this alone.”
After Leah hung her battery-powered lantern in the store so they could see, they unloaded the car in silence, with Kyle bringing in two or three boxes for every one of Leah’s. Twice, he noticed her bend over and wince.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “I can get the rest of the boxes if these are too heavy for you.”
Leah crossed her arms over her stomach and turned away from him. She sounded as though she were speaking through clenched teeth. “I’m fine.”
Kyle wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her. She slowed down, made several stops, and bent over with her hands gripping the boxes when she thought he wasn’t looking. He unloaded the boxes even faster to keep her from having to do so much when she appeared to be in pain.
He walked through the door with the last two boxes to find her hunched over, her eyes squeezed shut. The minute the door jangled shut behind him, she forced herself to a standing position and managed a stiff smile.
“You’re hurting.” He could be as stubborn as she was, and he refused to take her denials as truth when his practiced eye had detected a problem.
Leah waved a hand to brush away his concerns. “I’ll be fine.” Her cheeks, already rosy from the cold, deepened to scarlet.
He had a suspicion about what was wrong. If he guessed right, she’d never admit it to him as a man and an Englischer. “Do you want me to help you unpack the boxes?” He hated to leave her alone to cope with all these cartons.
“No, no, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Kyle racked his brain for an excuse to stay longer. “It’s pretty chilly outside. Would it be all right if I wait until my hands warm up?”
Leah looked as if she wanted to say no, but she said, “Certainly. I should have”—she took a deep breath—“asked if you wanted…some tea or coffee…to drink.” A quick indrawn breath revealed she was fighting a sharp pang.
He disliked asking her to do anything when she’d be better off in bed, but he wanted to keep an eye on her. “Tea would be great.” That would give him time to see if he’d diagnosed her correctly.