AR01 - A Road Unknow Read online

  “I told you I was one of nine children. I helped deliver two of them when the midwife didn’t make it to the house on time.”

  “You’re not—you’re not saying she’s going to have the baby here?!” he squeaked.

  “No.” She rolled her eyes. Men! They thought they were so big and brave. Manly men, her brother John would say.

  Then an imp of mischief took over. “At least, I hope not.”

  He lost even more color. “What’ll we do?”

  “Have you got something—some paperwork or something—so she has to sit down to do it? Maybe once she sits for a few minutes she’ll realize she’s not just having back pain from being on her feet.”

  “An order form. I’ll get her to talk to me about an order form in the break room. Will you be all right out here by yourself for a few minutes?”

  “Schur,” she said, mimicking the Pennsylvania Dietsch word she’d heard used here.

  “You promise she won’t have the baby while I’m back there with her?”

  “If she tries to, just yell.” She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. Miriam might think her back pain was just discomfort but Elizabeth suspected once she sat down for a few minutes she’d either realize she needed to leave for the hospital or the back pain would ease and not be labor.

  “Count on it,” he muttered.

  Picking up the paperwork he’d been studying, he walked over to Miriam and said something to her. Elizabeth watched the two of them walk to the back room and then turned her attention to the front of the store when the bell over the door jangled.

  A few minutes later, the customer gone, Elizabeth ducked back to the break room and found Miriam getting off the phone.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said when she saw Elizabeth. “I’m not going to be able to train you any more today. The doctor wants me to go to the hospital and get checked out. I just called and arranged for a ride there.”

  “I still think you need to go there by ambulance,” Saul said.

  Miriam thrust out her chin. “There’s plenty of time. Doctor said first babies take a long time arriving. And if these are contractions they’re still far apart.”

  “I think I’ll go wait at the front of the store, sit in one of the rockers.” She heaved herself up, shaking her head at Saul’s offer to help her. “Don’t worry, I won’t get stuck in the rocker. I just sat in it yesterday.”

  “I would never suggest—”

  Miriam patted his arm. “I know. I was just teasing you. There’s no need to worry.”

  “I’ll feel better when you’re at the hospital. You’re sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

  “No need. John should be there in an hour or two. He was working out of town today.” She got her purse out of the cabinet, took her jacket from the peg, and began walking out of the room.

  Elizabeth watched her and was reminded of how her own mother had waddled like that the day or two before she gave birth.

  “Why don’t you go sit with her until her ride comes?” he said. “I’ll take care of any customers that come in.”

  She nodded. He looked so frazzled she didn’t have the heart to tease him more.

  So she took a break and sat in one of the rockers and chatted with Miriam. The chairs were obviously made for parents to sit and rock a baby. They featured wide arms to rest an elbow crooked to hold the baby safely.

  “If you get anyone looking at these be sure to mention Amos makes a very special rocker for newborns. I’ll show you a photo of it.” She started to get up.

  “Just tell me where you keep it.”

  “On the shelf there.”

  Elizabeth found the photo. The rocker had just one arm; in the place of the other a small cradle had been attached. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “It’s a reproduction of an antique,” Miriam said, looking at the photo with her. “You’d never see one in an Amish home. Too impractical. How long would a baby be able to sleep in it? A couple of months? But every so often someone comes in, orders it, and he makes it for them. Look at the price. Can you imagine?”

  Her eyes widened. “No, I can’t imagine anyone spending this much money on anything.”

  Miriam nodded. “My grossmudder used to say it takes all kinds.” She glanced at Elizabeth. “You know, you did just fine today. And not only with the customers.”

  “Oh?” Elizabeth looked at her warily. Had Saul told her they’d talked about her?

  “Saul has never wanted me to talk about an order form. It only happened after you went over and had a conversation about a quilt. It was nice to be asked my advice.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Silence stretched between them. Miriam looked out the window, then turned her shrewd eyes on Elizabeth.

  “So, how long are you staying?”

  “Until you come back from maternity leave.”

  “You know what I’m asking.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I really don’t.”

  Miriam sighed. “I hope you find the answers you need. I’ll pray for you.”

  She felt tears burn behind her eyelids. Her mother had said the same thing just before she left. Here Miriam, about to become a mother, was saying it, too.

  “Danki.”

  “There’s my ride,” Miriam said as a vehicle pulled up in front of the store and the driver honked the horn.

  “I’ll say a prayer for you as well,” Elizabeth said, standing and reaching down to help Miriam rise. “And come see you tomorrow after you have the boppli.”

  “So sure I’m having it today, eh?”

  “I’m never wrong,” Elizabeth assured her with a smile as she walked outside with Miriam and watched her get into the van.

  6

  Twins!” Elizabeth couldn’t help staring as she shook hands with Katie, then Rosie.

  Katie looked at Rosie. “Saul didn’t tell her. Guess he wanted to surprise her.” She glanced around. “Where is he? In the back?”

  “Yes.” She studied the two women who appeared about her age. They looked identical: brown, center-parted hair beneath their identical kapps and bonnets. Both wore the same dark green cape dresses.

  How would she tell them apart?

  “I see you’ve met the twins,” Saul said when he walked out of the back room a few minutes later.

  “How do you tell them apart?” she whispered.

  “You’ll see,” he told her with a grin. “Watch out, they like to confuse you at first.”

  They did, twice giggling when Elizabeth approached to ask Rosie something and used her name and finding out she was talking to Katie instead and then thinking she had it right the next time and finding she talked to Rosie instead.

  “I figured it out,” Elizabeth told Saul proudly a little later. “Katie loves to be the leader and likes to talk and Rosie’s a little shy. And Katie has a dimple when she smiles.”

  “That was fast,” he said, nodding.

  Elizabeth’s mother suspected she carried zwillingboppli—twins—once and Elizabeth felt guilty now remembering how glad that there was one boppli, not two. She couldn’t imagine taking care of two at once. God gifted a number of families in her community with twins. Elizabeth overheard the nurse at the hospital telling her mother that the more children a woman bore and the older she was, the more chance of a multiple birth.

  Elizabeth shuddered at the thought.

  The shop door opened near closing time. Elizabeth glanced up from taking an order at the counter and saw another surprise: Paula!

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were here. You didn’t have to come in.”

  “I wanted to. I’ve never been in here.” Paula picked up a pale green candle with a simple carved wooden base. “This would look great on the fireplace mantel. I’ll take it.”

  “You don’t have to buy anything,” Elizabeth whispered. She didn’t want Saul to think she discouraged sales.


  “I want to. Besides, I haven’t bought anything for the apartment in ages.” She handed it to Elizabeth and rummaged in her purse for her wallet. “Listen, I have a kind of surprise for you. I figured I should let you know.”

  “I’ve already had a surprise today, thanks,” Elizabeth muttered, remembering Miriam changing the way the day had gone, when she left for the hospital to see if she was in labor.

  “Huh? What?”

  “We’ll talk later.” Elizabeth ran the credit card, handed Paula the slip to sign and began wrapping the candle and its holder in tissue.

  Saul came out with the bank deposit bag under his arm. “Gut-n-Owed.”

  Elizabeth handed the shopping bag to Paula and introduced her to Saul.

  “She bought a candle and holder,” she told him. “Did you want to add it to the day’s total?”

  He shook his head. “Just stick the slip in the register drawer and I’ll put it on tomorrow’s slip. Paula, I’m glad you can give Elizabeth a ride home.”

  “Me, too. Although I’ll have to be careful not to come in the store each time,” she said, lifting the bag. “I’ll go broke.”

  He chuckled. “She’s quite a saleswoman.” He looked at Elizabeth. “Next time give her the employee discount.”

  They walked outside and Saul locked up the door. “Thanks again for the help with Miriam, Elizabeth. Paula, nice to meet you. Have a good evening.”

  Paula watched him stroll to the van waiting to drive him home. “What’s he talking about?”

  Elizabeth started to tell her and then saw a man getting out of Paula’s car. Paula followed the direction of her look.

  “That’s the surprise I was going to tell you about,” she said.

  “A little late now,” Elizabeth said under her breath. She smiled as he approached. “Hello.”

  “Hi. Hope you don’t mind I tagged along once I found out Paula was coming to pick you up.” He opened the passenger door for her with a flourish and smiled at her.

  Elizabeth found herself basking in the warmth of his gaze as she slid into the front seat.

  “So, who’s the Amish dude who came out of the store with you two?” he asked as he climbed into the back seat.

  “My boss. Why?”

  “Hmm. He sure was giving us the eye as they drove off.”

  She looked at Paula.

  “We’ll talk later,” Paula told her.

  Puzzled, Elizabeth fastened her seat belt.

  Bruce leaned forward. “What do you think about going to a movie? Maybe have a pizza after?”

  “Paula?”

  “I have to write a paper tonight,” Paula told her.

  “Oh.” She turned to Bruce. “You don’t have to write one?”

  “I’m not taking the class. C’mon, I’ll even let you choose as long as it’s not too much of a chick flick.”

  “Chick flick?”

  “Girl movie. Boy, you really have been out of the loop,haven’t you? How many movies have you actually seen?”

  “One. Years ago.”

  “Well, Elizabeth, it’s time you caught up.”

  He tapped at the screen of his phone and began reading off movies and times and giving little mini stories to describe them. When Elizabeth looked helplessly at Paula, she nodded.

  “Bruce, it’s not fair to talk her into some cops and robbers chase movie or a shoot-’em-up Western.”

  “Chick flick, huh?”

  “Chick flick,” she said firmly.

  Bruce rolled his eyes, but then he sent a charming grin at Elizabeth and with their faces so close together, she got the full effect.

  The freedom of doing something fun after work instead of rushing home to help with babies and chores felt heady. Elizabeth relaxed in the plush seats in the movie theater and munched popcorn dripping with butter—it felt like such an indulgence to have her own bag—and stared spellbound at the action playing on the big screen. She wrinkled her nose as the fizz from her soft drink tickled it and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

  Then she noticed a couple sitting a few rows down. They were teenagers and the girl kept shaking her head and resisting his attempts to get friendly with her. Elizabeth watched how he yawned and stretched and casually draped his arm along her shoulders. She gave him a look and he removed it with great reluctance. A few minutes later, he did the same thing and once again she wouldn’t have any part of the intimacy. The third time he did it, he got an elbow in the ribs.

  She couldn’t help smiling and then she glanced at Bruce.

  “You’re supposed to be watching the movie,” he whispered in a mock stern tone.

  But she saw the twinkle in his eye. She blushed and hoped he couldn’t see in the dark theater. Was he going to try what the teen boy had? Like the teen girl, she wasn’t ready for that, either.

  “Enjoying yourself?”

  Nodding, she took a sip of her drink and replaced it in the cup holder on the arm of the seat.

  “You sure you don’t want a box of candy?”

  She giggled. “No. Have to save room for pizza.”

  Actually, she didn’t even care if they got pizza. She’d eaten enough popcorn for two people and didn’t want the movie to end. Bruce had promised Paula he wouldn’t try to persuade Elizabeth to see a “guy” movie and kept his word. This was a film of a couple falling in love while they explored Venice, Italy, a place with so much water and mystery and romance. The country was more beautiful than anything Elizabeth could have imagined.

  Movies were like a world unto themselves.

  When it finally ended, she sat there, transfixed, and didn’t move.

  “Liked it, huh?”

  “Yes, very much. You?”

  “It was okay.” He grinned. “It was a chick flick. Tell Paula I listened to her.” He stood.

  “I’m ready for pizza. You?”

  She’d eaten a lot of popcorn, but pizza sounded good. Maybe she could squeeze in one slice. . . . “It sounds good.”

  Saul did a double take when he looked back and saw Elizabeth talking with a man as Paula stood nearby.

  The man seemed very friendly with Elizabeth . . . had she already gotten a boyfriend?

  No, it wasn’t possible. She’d only been in town for a few days, he reminded himself.

  Then again, he didn’t really know her. She’d been very close-mouthed about why she was on the bus, alone, and living here now with a female Englisch friend. She didn’t seem the type to have run from home to indulge in a rumschpringe of wild behavior. And she wore Plain dresses of unobtrusive colors and a kapp each day.

  But who knew what she did with her nights?

  He shook his head. What he had seen could be very innocent. The man could just be a friend of Paula’s.

  Why did he care?

  “Have a good day?” Phil, his driver, asked.

  Saul roused himself from his thoughts. “Yes. Did you?”

  “Can’t complain. Looking forward to vacation next week. I have my brother, Jake, lined up to take over for me. You remember me telling you about this?”

  “I do. I hope you have a good time.”

  “Need to stop anywhere on the way home?”

  “No, thanks.” What he wanted to do was follow the car Elizabeth had gotten into with Paula and the man. . . . He shook his head to clear it. Since when did he think like that?

  Saul sighed. Maybe he was thinking about her too much because he didn’t have anyone to focus on anymore. But he knew it wasn’t totally true. He and Lavina hadn’t communicated much the last month before he went to see her. There had been an emotional distance between them—not just a physical distance. They had drifted apart so much he didn’t think she’d been surprised when he called to say he thought they shouldn’t see each other any more.

  He checked the display on his cell phone. No word yet from Miriam. Maybe Elizabeth had been wrong about her being in labor.

  “Home sweet home,” Phil announced as he pulled into the driveway.

  “Enj
oy your evening,” Saul told him.

  “I’m ready to go home and do that,” Phil said. “I just have to hope I won’t be tortured by having to figure out math homework with my oldest.”

  His mother looked up with a smile when Saul walked into the kitchen.

  “Did you have a gut day?” she asked him as she turned from the stove.

  He nodded and looked over her shoulder to see what she was stirring in a pot.

  She shooed him away. “You are so nosy! You know you’ll eat whatever I serve. Why do you need to be seeing what it is before it goes on the table? Go wash your hands and call your father.”

  “No need for that, Waneta, my dear fraa,” he said, stepping into the room. “My nose called me here.”

  “It usually does,” she remarked dryly.

  Saul grinned as he washed his hands at the sink. The two of them had been doing much the same kind of talking for more years than he could remember although when his brothers and sisters had been around the table there had been so much going on it hadn’t been as obvious.

  “So how did Elizabeth do today?” his father asked after asking for a blessing over the meal.

  “Elizabeth? Who’s Elizabeth?” In the act of handing him the bowl of buttered noodles, Waneta paused and looked at Saul.

  Saul held out his hands for the bowl but she kept looking at him without giving it to him.

  “Someone we hired while Miriam is out on maternity leave.”

  She handed him the bowl and he served himself, then set the bowl on the table.

  “So, how did she do?” she asked.

  “Very well. She’s good with customers.”

  “Which Elizabeth is this?” Waneta wanted to know. “Isaac and Mary’s or John B. and Naomi’s?”

  “Neither. This Elizabeth’s from Indiana.”

  “Indiana? What’s she doing here, then?”

  Saul and Samuel exchanged a look. When his father put a big forkful of pot roast in his mouth and chewed slowly as he looked at him, Saul knew he’d been handed the conversational ball.

  “She’s filling in for Miriam while she’s out for maternity leave.”

  “Where is she living? Does she have relatives in the area? How old is she?”