AR01 - A Road Unknow Read online

  “I’ve never been anywhere else.”

  He raised his brows. “This was a big step for you, then.”

  The baby closed its eyes and stopped sucking on the bottle. “Has it had enough?”

  She touched the nipple to the baby’s mouth and it roused a little and drank a bit more. Then Elizabeth set the bottle down, covered her shoulder with a clean cloth and placed the baby on it. She patted his back gently and a loud burp sounded in the quiet kitchen.

  “Nice work,” she murmured to him, then looked at Saul and smiled at him.

  “We say ‘nice work’ now, and in a year or two scold them for burping.”

  “Ya,” she agreed. She turned the baby in her arms and wiped a drop of milk from his mouth with the cloth.

  “You’re good with him.”

  “I should be,” she muttered.

  “How many kinner in your family?”

  “Nine.”

  “I’ll fix you a cup of coffee and hold him while you drink it.”

  She nodded and watched him pour it and bring it to the table. As he did, he heard his stomach growl.

  “Well, we know it wasn’t little Daniel’s stomach.”

  Saul grinned. “You must be getting hungry, too.”

  “A little.”

  He held out his hands. “Give him to me and drink your coffee.”

  She leaned over and transferred the baby to his arms. As she did his hand accidentally brushed her arm and her eyes flew to his at the contact. He watched her blush, then turn her face away once he safely had the baby.

  He was used to holding a boppli. People in his community loved children, saw them as a gift from God, so there were always kinner around. He and Lavina had talked about having kinner but it was over now and they had decided they weren’t suited.

  He wasn’t worried. After all, he was only twenty-six. But he couldn’t help thinking about how recently he’d thought he would be getting married in the fall, settling down, and maybe starting a family in the next year or so.

  If anyone who didn’t know them walked in right now they might have thought they were a family sitting like this around the table, sharing coffee and watching a baby sleep.

  “If you’re really hungry, I’m sure Miriam wouldn’t mind if you fixed yourself a sandwich or something.”

  “True,” he said. “Do you want something?”

  She shook her head. “I can wait. I think Leroy’s parents will be here soon, don’t you?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “I wonder what’s wrong with her,” Elizabeth said, biting her lip.

  Saul reached into his pocket and checked his cell phone. “I guess it’s too soon to hear anything yet.”

  “Maybe I should go pack a bag for the baby. You know, so he’ll have everything he needs at his grosseldre’s house. They might keep Miriam at the hospital.”

  She didn’t say it, but the words hung unspoken on the air: she might not come back.

  Elizabeth stood. “I’ll go get them.”

  She found little sleepers, a pack of newborn disposable diapers, wipes, and toiletries and placed them in the diaper bag she found hanging on a peg. The room was furnished simply, as was the Plain way, but love was evident everywhere from the hand-carved crib Saul had given them, to the baby quilt folded over the side, to the rocker set in the corner.

  When she returned to the kitchen, a buggy was pulling into the drive. Soon an older man and woman were rushing inside.

  “Elizabeth, this is John and Linda, Leroy’s parents.”

  Linda stared at the baby for a moment and tears filled her eyes. She touched his hand. “Grossmudder’s here. I will take care of you.”

  Saul carefully handed the baby to her.

  “Where’s Leroy?” the man asked Saul.

  “He went with Miriam to the hospital.”

  “I don’t understand how they felt Miriam was well enough to come home and now she’s back at the hospital.” Tears rushed into the woman’s eyes.

  John patted her back. “I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

  “I packed some of the baby’s things for you to take home,” Elizabeth said. “The tote bag from the hospital there on the counter has enough formula to last for a day or so.”

  “Danki.”

  “Elizabeth is helping us at the store while Miriam’s out on maternity leave.”

  “Samuel and Saul have been gut to Miriam,” Linda said with a nod.

  “Well, we should be getting home,” John said as he opened the door.

  “Oh, you’ll need the baby’s car seat, too.” She rushed back to the baby’s room, retrieved it and carried it to the kitchen.

  “We never had these when the kinner were growing up,” the woman said, handing it to her husband. “Well, we’ll be going.”

  Saul followed everyone out and locked the door behind him.

  “How are you getting home?” John asked. “I don’t see your buggy.”

  “My driver was called away for an emergency, but he’ll be back soon,” Saul told them. “We’ll just wait out here for him.”

  He gestured for Elizabeth to sit in one of the rockers lined up on the front porch, then sat in one beside her. “Are you going to be warm enough?”

  She buttoned the jacket she’d worn into work. “I’m fine.” She waved at Leroy’s parents as their buggy headed down the road. “Phil will be here soon.”

  He nodded, stretched out his long legs, and tried to focus on something other than his growing hunger. “Nice night.”

  “Was that your cell?” she asked him.

  He pulled it out. “No. I could text him but I think I’ll wait a little longer.”

  “My mamm always said ‘no news is good news’ but I’m having a little trouble with it.”

  “Phoebe would say worry is acting like God doesn’t know what He’s doing.”

  “Phoebe?”

  “A friend of mine.” He rocked for a moment. “Elizabeth, has anyone invited you to attend church?”

  She stiffened, and it seemed to him a shutter came down over her expression. “No.”

  “I just thought maybe you missed it. I could pick you up.”

  “Danki, but . . . nee.”

  “I—okay,” he said slowly. He didn’t know what to say. A refusal was the last thing he’d expected. Why didn’t she want to go to church?

  Or was it she didn’t want to go with him?

  Car headlights approached. The van pulled into the drive.

  Saul stood. “It’s been a long day. It’ll be good to get home, get something to eat, and relax.”

  “Ya,” she said fervently.

  “And even better, to hear how Miriam is doing. Thank you again for helping. I’m not sure Leroy or I would have known what to do if you hadn’t been there to notice something was wrong.”

  He glanced at her as they walked down the porch steps. “Did you ever think about becoming a midwife?”

  Elizabeth stumbled, and he reached out to grasp her arm and steady her.

  “Have you ever thought about it?” he asked her as they approached the van.

  “No,” she said with such vehemence his brows went up.

  “No,” she said more quietly. “I’ve never been interested in it at all.”

  As held open the door to the van, he felt at a complete loss.

  Paula looked up as Elizabeth walked into the apartment.

  “You’re home! Is everything all right?”

  Elizabeth set her purse down on the sofa and sat down. “We still don’t know. What do you think is wrong with Miriam?”

  She hesitated, biting her lip. “I don’t want to worry you.”

  Elizabeth frowned. “Now you’ve got me worried.”

  “It could be anything from something minor to something major. Anemia, infection, blood clot. I really wouldn’t want to speculate. I’m just a nursing student, not a doctor.”

  “I’ve been at the hospital when my mother went in to have the last two babies. T
he nurses seemed to know as much as the doctors.”

  Paula grinned. “I can’t wait to tell my instructors you said so. Listen, Bruce called. I told him I wasn’t sure when you’d be in.”

  “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

  “Is everything okay between the two of you?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “We had fun at the movie.”

  “Have you had dinner?”

  “No. I’m starved.”

  “Well, you’re in luck. Mom and Dad stopped by. They brought a pan of her lasagna. I kept some warm for you.”

  “Oh, I’ll get it,” Elizabeth said when Paula started to get up.

  “It’s no trouble,” Paula told her. She looked at Elizabeth. “Do you find it hard to let someone do something for you?”

  Surprised, Elizabeth nodded.

  “Well, I haven’t been on my feet all day like you and then had to help with an emergency. C’mon, I’ll keep you company while you eat.” She chuckled as she pulled the food from the oven. “I’ll just have another little piece. Well, maybe not so little. Mom’s lasagna is one of my favorites.”

  Elizabeth poured them both a glass of iced tea and took a seat at the kitchen island.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Paula remarked a few minutes later. “Quieter than usual,” she amended. “You seem sad.”

  “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

  “You sure?”

  Elizabeth put her fork down and swiveled in her chair. “It’s just it reminds me of why I left Indiana,” she blurted out.

  “Okay,” Paula said slowly. “Tell me.”

  “You’ll think I’m an awful person.”

  Paula’s eyes widened. “I wouldn’t think that of you. What could you have possibly done?”

  Elizabeth pressed her hands to her face, then dropped them into her lap. “Everyone back home—everyone Amish—they love babies and see them as a blessing from God. But I got to where I felt . . . smothered. All I did was help Mamm with them and the chores.”

  Her throat felt dry. She took a sip of tea. “Working at the fabric store was an escape.”

  Paula looked at her sympathetically. “I’m sorry. I always wanted a brother or sister, but I guess if you feel you have too many and you’re a babysitter, it’s no fun, either.”

  “I felt so guilty—so selfish—about wanting to get out for a little while,” Elizabeth confessed, reassured Paula wasn’t judging her. “We’re supposed to help each other.”

  “You didn’t have anyone to talk to about it?”

  She shook her head. “Not after I graduated from school. So it just built and built inside me. I had to get away.”

  Paula took the plates and loaded them into the dishwasher. “You want some pineapple upside-down cake? Mom brought some.”

  “Maybe later.”

  “C’mon, let’s go sit in the living room.”

  Elizabeth took her glass of tea and sat on the sofa. She glanced at the laptop Paula had been working on. “How’s your paper going?”

  “Almost finished. I’m taking a break, and then I hope to get the draft done before bed. It’s due day after tomorrow.”

  “How did you decide you wanted to be a nurse?”

  Paula smiled. “I’ve wanted to be one since I was a little girl. My dolls were always covered with Band-Aids and getting their arms splinted.” She studied Elizabeth. “Why do you ask?”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “Saul asked me if I’d considered becoming a midwife, because I seemed good at knowing something was wrong with Miriam.”

  “You don’t sound happy about him suggesting it.”

  “I wasn’t,” she said flatly. “It’s the last thing I want to do.”

  “Then you shouldn’t. You have to love what you do or work is unpleasant. And who needs someone unhappy around them when they’re having a baby? I’m curious. When you were a kid, did anyone ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?”

  “My teacher did, but we don’t have as many choices as you do in the Englisch world.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and stood. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go on to bed and let you get your paper finished.”

  “Okay.” Paula said. “Let me know if you want to talk about it. You don’t have to . . . settle . . . if you don’t want to.”

  “I will.” She started to walk away and then turned. “Paula?”

  She looked up from her laptop. “Yes?”

  “Thanks.”

  Paula smiled. “No need for thanks. I’m glad you’re here.”

  8

  Elizabeth was finishing up with her last customer of the day when Bruce walked into the store.

  She fumbled with the shopping bag she was handing to the customer but managed to recover and smile at her.

  Bruce strolled up to the counter and grinned. “Hey there. Thought I’d stop by and see if you wanted to get something to eat, maybe do something.”

  Elizabeth glanced around. Saul. Where was Saul? Then she remembered. He’d gone into the back room to work on ordering supplies. “I can’t. Paula’s coming to get me.”

  “I could call her,” he said as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

  “I can’t. We’re having supper with her parents. I haven’t met them yet.”

  “But—” he began.

  “Bruce, I’m at work. I can’t talk to you now.”

  “It’s nearly time to close,” he said as he checked his watch. “There can’t be any harm—”

  “Bruce!” She saw Saul enter the store space and smile at a customer. She needed to get rid of Bruce. “Really, I can’t talk to you now. I’m new here and there’s my boss!”

  He backed away. “Okay, okay. But I can be a customer.” He turned and looked around at the shelves.

  “Everything okay?” Saul asked as he came to stand near the counter.

  “It’s fine,” she said brightly. “I sold another quilt.”

  “Wonderful,” he said. “We had a good day. It’s time to close up. Why don’t you go on since your . . . friend is here?” he said, his attention clearly on Bruce.

  Elizabeth flushed with embarrassment. “I told him I can’t talk during work. I’m sorry, I didn’t ask him to come here. Paula is picking me up and we’re going to her parents for dinner.”

  “It’s allrecht, Elizabeth. But I meant it. You can leave now. Just turn the sign to closed as you go out.”

  “I’m not leaving until you do,” she said, lifting her chin. “I work a full day.”

  Saul lifted his hands and let them fall. “Have it your way. Go turn the sign around and lock the door. I’ll make out a deposit slip.”

  She did as he asked, and on her way back to the counter, Bruce stopped her. “Can you ring this up for me?”

  “You want a child’s wooden pull toy.”

  “Yeah. I’m getting it for a nephew. He’ll be one a few weeks after Christmas.”

  “You’re sure?”

  He handed it to her. “Yes. Do you have some moral objection to me starting my Christmas shopping early?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.

  She tried to hold back a smile but couldn’t resist his charm. “No, Bruce. Cash or charge?”

  “Charge.”

  Elizabeth stepped behind the counter to make the transaction. “I have one more sale for the day,” she murmured to Saul.

  “I see.” He nodded at Bruce. “Do you have children?”

  Bruce laughed and shook his head. “No, it’s for my sister’s boy.”

  “Saul, this is Bruce, a friend of mine and Paula’s.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Bruce said. “You have great stuff.”

  “Thank you.”

  Elizabeth handed Bruce the credit slip to sign, wrapped the toy in tissue, and tucked it into one of the store bags. She turned to Saul. “I guess I’ll go get my purse if you don’t need anything else from me.”

  “Actually, I do have a question for you,” Saul said. “Bruce, if you’ll excuse us for just a moment,”

 
“No prob,” Bruce said. “I guess I’ll be going.” He strolled toward the door.

  Curious, Elizabeth turned to Saul. “A question?”

  “I’m sorry I was late getting payroll together today,” he said. “It doesn’t happen often.”

  “It’s no problem.” She watched him open the cash drawer, withdraw an envelope, and hold it out to her.

  “It’s too late to get to the bank right now,” he said. “I can cash it for you if you like. Or you can take it to the bank tomorrow since you have the day off.”

  “Cash would be good. I haven’t opened an account here yet.”

  He nodded. “Just sign it and give it back.” He began counting out money and handed it to her after she handed him the check. “Just be careful, allrecht?”

  “I will.”

  “Did you think about going to church on Sunday?”

  She stood there, biting her lip. It was hard to say yes—not to the man, but to the idea of walking into a new church. She told herself it was church, not a date. It didn’t mean she had to commit to either for more than the three hours that the church service lasted. . . .

  Church had always been important to her. She’d left her home to find a place of peace for herself. Going to church might be the road to finding it here. She knew Saul and his parents. It would be three people she’d know. . . .

  She nodded and he smiled at her. Saul had such a nice smile. “I’ll pick you up.”

  Elizabeth went into the back room to get her purse. She remembered his caution about carrying the cash so she tucked the bills into her pocket instead of her wallet in her purse.

  When she emerged, Saul was zipping up a night deposit bag. “Have a good evening.”

  Elizabeth smiled and wished him one, too. Her steps were light as she walked toward the front door. Her first paycheck! she thought.

  Then she stopped. Her first paycheck here and she didn’t have to hand it over to anyone. Well, she owed some to Paula.

  But she didn’t have to hand the check over to her parents. A thought struck her and she headed down the aisle to a shelf near the front door. Smiling, she picked up the little carved wooden bird she’d been admiring and carried it back to the counter.

  “You okay?”

  She grinned at him. “More than okay,” she told him. “My money’s mine!”