A Cousin's Prayer (9 page)

“I wish I could stay and visit awhile longer,” Eunice said, rising from the sofa. “But since there’s a break in the rain, I’d better get home before it starts up again.”

“That’s probably a good idea. I’ll get the rest of your pie for you to take home,” Fern said, heading for the kitchen.

“No, that’s okay. You can keep what’s left of the pie.” Eunice looked over at Freeman and smiled. “Maybe I’ll bake another pie when you come over for supper on Saturday.”

“That’d be nice.”

Eunice started for the door but turned back around. “Oh, I almost forgot ... I left my dress hanging in the bathroom. I’d better check and see if it’s dry so I can give you back your dress, Eunice.”

“It’s probably still wet, but you can wear my dress home. I’ll get it from you later in the week.” Fern gave Eunice a hug. “I’m glad you were able to join us for supper.”

“Me, too. Well, I’ll get my dress and put it in a plastic bag, then I’ll be on my way.” Eunice hurried down the hall to the bathroom.

When she returned to the living room a short time later, she was disappointed to see that Freeman wasn’t there.

“Freeman’s outside getting your horse hitched to the buggy,” Fern said. “You might want to wait in here until it’s ready.”

“It shouldn’t take him too long, so I’ll wait out on the porch.

“Thanks again for supper. It was delicious.” Eunice smiled and scooted out the door.

She was pleased when Freeman brought the horse and buggy close to the house and called, “He’s hitched up for you and ready to go!”

Eunice left the porch and hurried up to Freeman, who stood by the horse stroking it behind the ears. “Seems like a nice mare,” he said. “What’s her name?”

“Dolly.”

He grinned. “Did you name her that, or did she already have the name when you got her?”

“Dolly was her name when my daed bought her for me.” Eunice put her purse and the bag with her dress in it inside the buggy; then she turned to face Freeman. “I appreciate your getting my horse and buggy ready. Danki.”

He pulled his fingers through the sides of his hair and gave a quick nod. “Sure, no problem.”

She hesitated, hoping he might say something more, but he just stood, scuffing the toe of his boot on the ground.

“Guess I’d better go.” Eunice stepped into the buggy and took up the reins.

“I’ll see you next week,” he called as she turned toward the driveway.

She smiled and lifted her hand with a wave.

When Freeman returned to the house, he found Fern sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea.

“Would you like another piece of pie?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“How about some tea?”

“No thanks.”

Fern motioned to the chair beside her. “Then have a seat, and we can visit while I drink my tea.”

Freeman bristled. He didn’t care for her bossy tone.

As if sensing his irritation, Fern said in a much softer tone, “Please, have a seat. I’d like to talk to you a minute.”

The chair scraped against the linoleum as Freeman pulled it away from the table. “What’d you want to talk about?”

“Eunice.”

“What about her?”

“I think she’s nice, don’t you?”

He nodded.

“She’s very pleasant and easy to talk to.”

Freeman propped his elbows on the table. “Are you trying to make a point?”

Fern took another sip of tea. “Grandma and I were talking the other day, and we’re both hoping you’ll join the church this fall.”

“Uh-huh, I probably will.”

“We’re also hoping that you’ll find the right girl, and that you might—”

“Get married and settle down?”

“Jah.”

“Don’t tell me—you think Eunice is the girl I should marry.”

Fern nodded. “From what I can tell, I think she’d make a good wife.”

Irritation welled in Freeman’s chest. He didn’t appreciate his sister trying to choose a mate for him. If and when he felt ready for marriage, he’d do his own choosing.

He glanced at the clock above the refrigerator. “It’s getting late. Shouldn’t Grandma be home by now?”

Fern shook her head. “She told me this morning that after she was done eating supper with her widowed friends, she’d be going to Sharon Hershberger’s to spend the night.”

“How come?”

“Because Sharon’s feeling very lonely—it’s only been a month since her husband died. Some of Sharon’s friends and relatives have been taking turns spending the night with her. Tonight is Grandma’s turn.”

“Oh, I see. That’s nice of her.”

Fern nodded. “Getting back to Eunice, what did you think of her pie?”

“It was good. If you’ll recall, I had two pieces.” Freeman pushed his chair away from the table. “I’m tired; think I’ll go on up to bed.”

Fern opened her mouth as if to say something more, but Freeman hurried from the room.

Katie squirmed in her chair as she sat beside her mother in a waiting area outside the emergency room at the hospital in Goshen, awaiting some news on her dad’s condition.

Please, God,
Katie prayed,
don’t let my daed die.

Tears stung her eyes, and she could barely swallow because her throat burned so much. Even though this wasn’t the same hospital she and her cousins had been taken to after their accident last fall, she felt as if she were reliving the moment. She could see herself sitting in the waiting room after she’d been given the news that Timothy was dead. She could hear Loraine’s voice as she tried talking to her, and she remembered how unresponsive she’d been.

Katie could almost smell the hospital smells and feel the cold metal of the chair she’d been sitting in. She’d withdrawn into her own little world and hadn’t emerged until she’d move to Florida to be with Grammy and Grandpa.

Mom touched Katie’s shoulder. “Did you hear what I said?”

“What was that?”

“I asked if you’d like something to drink.”

Katie shook her head. “I just want to know how Dad is doing. I hope he’s not going to—” Her voice faltered, and she nearly choked on a sob.

Mom grasped Katie’s hand. “We have to trust God and keep praying for your daed.”

I prayed for Timothy, and what good did that do?
Katie thought bitterly. She glanced at the clock on the far wall. It had been almost two hours since Dad had been taken in to be examined. What could be taking so long?

At the sound of a siren approaching, Katie jumped up. She went to the window and looked out. An ambulance had pulled up to the emergency room entrance. Two paramedics rushed in, pushing a man on a gurney. He was covered in blood!

A rush of heat flooded Katie’s face, her heart thudded, and a wave of nausea rolled through her stomach. Everything felt unreal—as if she no longer existed. She could see and hear what was going on around her, but it felt as if it were all a dream. She whirled around and raced out the door.

Leaning heavily against the side of the building, she closed her eyes and gulped in some air. Her legs wobbled, and she felt weak and light-headed, as if she might pass out.

The rain had stopped, and a cool breeze blew, but it didn’t help at all. She wanted to run and keep on running but didn’t know where to go.

“Katie, are you all right?”

Katie’s eyes snapped open, and she blinked a couple of times. She could see by the pinched expression on Mom’s face that she was worried about her.

“I ... I’m fine. The sight of all that blood made me feel woozy.” No point in telling Mom about the feeling of unreality that had converged on her. Mom wouldn’t understand. Besides, the strange feelings Katie had experienced were too difficult to explain.

Mom slipped her arm around Katie’s waist. “I just spoke with one of the doctors.”

“What’d he say?”

“He said your daed has a mild concussion, but he’s going to be okay. The doctor wants to keep him overnight for observation, so I’ll call our driver to take us home, and then we’ll come back tomorrow to get your daed.”

Katie nodded as a sense of relief flooded her soul. Dad wasn’t going to die. At least one of her prayers had been answered. Now if God would only answer her most recent prayer and take away the anxious feelings she’d been having since she had returned home.

The month of June brought hot days and humid nights, causing Loraine to feel wet and sticky. That, coupled with nausea, made it hard not to be cross. But this morning, as she returned home from her doctor’s appointment, she felt better than she had in days. Her heart pulsed with joy as she held both hands against her stomach. She was carrying Wayne’s child. In seven months she was going to be a mother. She could hardly wait to see Wayne and share the good news.

Loraine was tempted to go out to the taxidermy shop where Wayne was working with his dad, but she didn’t want to disturb them. Besides, what she had to say was for Wayne to hear in private. He had the right to know he was going to be a father before his parents heard the news. She hoped he’d be as happy about becoming a parent as she was but was worried that he might not feel ready to take on the responsibility. With their business slacking off some in the last few weeks, he might feel that they couldn’t afford to have a baby right now.

Well, it’s too late for that,
Loraine thought as Marge Nelson pulled up in front of the house. She paid Marge for the ride, said good-bye, and hurried up the stairs.

When Loraine entered the kitchen, she found Ada filling a cardboard box with dishes and towels. “What are you doing?” she asked.

Ada smiled. “Since Crist and I will be moving next week to the little house we found to rent, I figured I’d better get some things packed up.”

“Are you getting tired of waiting for your new house to be built? Is that why you’ve decided to rent?”

Ada nodded. “That, and we came to the conclusion that it’s time for us to leave you and Wayne alone to enjoy each other and raise your family without us in the way.”

“You’re not in the way,” Loraine said with a shake of her head.

“That’s nice of you to say, but we feel that moving into the rental will be best for all.” Ada pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. “How’d your doctor’s appointment go? Did you find out why you’ve been feeling sick to your stomach so often lately?”

Loraine’s face flamed. “You know about that?”

Ada chuckled. “You can’t hide things like that from a woman who’s had a boppli herself.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“So what’d the doctor say?”

“I’d like wait and talk to Wayne about my appointment before I say anything to you and Crist,” Loraine said.

“I understand. Sorry for putting you on the spot like that. Sometimes I shoot off my big mouth before I think about what I should say.”

Loraine smiled. Wayne’s mother had changed in the last several months. There was a day when Ada wouldn’t have admitted to any of her shortcomings. She wouldn’t have spoken so kindly to Loraine before, either.

“How’s Crist adjusting to his new hearing aid?” Loraine asked. “I haven’t had the chance to ask him about it.”

“He’s hearing much better these days, although there are times when I think he turns it off so he won’t have to listen to me.”

Loraine chuckled. Ada had even developed a sense of humor that she hadn’t had before.

She took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. “Do you think Crist will move the taxidermy shop to one of the buildings on your property when your new house is finally finished?”

Ada shrugged. “I don’t think so. Crist mentioned keeping the shop here because it’s closer for Wayne. After all, he’ll be taking it over someday.”

“Did Wayne tell you that?”

“Tell me what?” Wayne asked as he stepped into the kitchen.

“We were just talking about the taxidermy business,” Loraine said. “Your mamm mentioned you’ll be taking it over someday.”

“Maybe so, but there’s still a lot I don’t know about the business, and I hope Pop will be working with me for a long time.” Wayne joined Loraine in front of the sink. “How’d your doctor’s appointment go? Did you find out why you’ve been feeling so tired and queasy?”

Loraine glanced over at Ada, hoping she wouldn’t say anything about what she suspected.

“Think I’ll leave you two alone while I take something cold to drink out to your daed.” Ada opened the refrigerator and removed a container of lemonade. Then she grabbed two paper cups and scurried out the door.

Loraine motioned to the table. “Let’s have a seat, and I’ll tell you what the doctor said.”

Wayne pulled out a chair for Loraine, and after she sat down, he seated himself in the chair beside her. “You look so solemn. Please don’t tell me there’s something seriously wrong.”

She shook her head. “No, no, I’m fine.” She placed both hands on her stomach. “I’m in a family way, that’s all.”

Wayne’s eyebrows met between the bridge of his nose, and he stared at her with a look of disbelief.

Loraine wondered if he was unhappy about becoming a father. She remembered how reluctant he had been to marry her after he’d lost his leg. Maybe he was afraid his disability would keep him from being the kind of father he felt he needed to be.

“Are you disappointed?” Her question came out as a squeak.

Wayne shook his head. “Of course not; I’m just surprised. We’ve only been married a few months, and I didn’t think we’d be starting our family so soon.” He sat motionless for several seconds, then reached for her hand. “I’m glad you’re with child. I can’t wait to be a father.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief. Now they could tell the rest of their family.

As Freeman sat on the Bylers’ back porch with Eunice’s twelve-year-old brother, he couldn’t help but smile. The boy was a regular chatterbox, and he couldn’t sit still for more than a few minutes. Freeman remembered Fern mentioning that she’d had trouble dealing with Richard in class. Watching the way the boy carried on, Freeman could understand why. He didn’t envy Fern her job as Richard’s teacher.

“Sure is hot out tonight.” Richard swiped at the sweat rolling down the side of his face. “Makes me wish I could go swimmin’ in our pond.” He frowned. “I’ll probably have to spend my whole summer workin’ for Papa in the fields. Probably won’t get to do much swimmin’ at all.”

“I’m sure you’ll get some time off so you can have a little fun.” Freeman leaned back in his chair, put both hands behind his head, and rested his head in his palms. He knew how important it was for a young boy to have some time to himself. Even though Freeman had enjoyed working in his uncle’s bike shop when he was a teenager, he’d anxiously awaited his days off so he could fool around and have some fun.

Freeman reached into his pocket and pulled out a long, slender yellow balloon. Andrew had come by the bike shop a few days ago and taught Freeman how to make a few simple animal balloons, like a giraffe and a weiner dog.

Richard tipped his head. “Whatcha doin’ with that balloon?”

“I’m gonna blow it up and make a giraffe for you.”

“Oh, ya mean like Andrew Yoder does?”

Freeman nodded and stretched the balloon. “It takes a lot of air to blow one of these up, but it helps if the balloon’s stretched well first.”

“I’ll bet I could blow the balloon up without stretchin’ it.”

“You think so?”

Richard bobbed his head. “Sure do.”

“All right then.” Freeman pulled another balloon from his pocket and handed it to Richard. “Here you go.”

Freeman quickly blew up his balloon; then he sat back and waited to see what the boy would do.

Richard put the end of the balloon between his lips and blew. Nothing happened. He blew again and again until his face turned red. Finally, he stretched the balloon a few times and tried once more. The balloon still didn’t inflate.

Freeman chuckled. “Looks a lot easier than it is, doesn’t it?”

With a look of sheer determination, Richard blew again. Finally, the balloon inflated.

“Now watch what I do with my balloon and then try to do the same with yours.” Freeman twisted a bubble for the giraffe’s head. When that was done, he twisted several more bubbles, until the balloon looked like a giraffe.

“Whew! That was hard work,” Richard said once his giraffe had been formed. “Sure hope Mama and Eunice have supper ready soon, ’cause I’m more hungry now than I was before!”

Freeman laughed as he nodded his head. “Me, too. I’m lookin’ forward to trying out some of your sister’s cooking.”

“Sie is en gudi koch,”
Richard said.

“I’m sure she is a good cook. I had some of her strawberry-rhubarb pie last week, and it was wunderbaar.”

“Sure hope Mama don’t fix her green bean casserole.” Richard wrinkled his nose. “I don’t like green beans!”

Freeman leaned closer to the boy and lowered his voice. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure can, but if you’ve got a secret, then you’d better not tell Eunice, ’cause she blabs everything she hears.”

“I do not!”

Richard’s face blanched, and Freeman whirled around at the sound of Eunice’s shrill voice. He’d been so engrossed in his conversation with her brother that he hadn’t heard her come out to the porch. He’d never heard her shout like that, either. It made him wonder what kind of a mother she would make.

Eunice gave her brother a nasty look then quickly covered it with a smile in Freeman’s direction. “What was the secret you wanted to tell my little bruder?”

“It’s not really a secret,” Freeman said. “I was just going to say that I don’t care much for green beans.”

A look of relief spread across Eunice’s face. “No problem. There will be no green beans on the table this evening.”

Richard clapped his hands. “That’s a relief!”

“I came out here to tell you that supper’s almost ready.” Eunice looked over at Richard. “Run out to the barn and tell Papa that we’ll be ready to eat in five minutes.”

The boy frowned. “Can’t ya just ring the dinner bell? Freeman’s been showin’ me how to make an animal balloon.” He held up the giraffe. “And we’ve also been busy gabbin’.”

Eunice shot him another look. “Do as I asked or I’ll tell Mama that you’re being uncooperative again! You know how she feels about kinner who don’t listen. If you’re not careful you might get a
bletsching.
”

“Don’t want no whippin’, so I’ll be goin’ right away!” Richard jumped out of his chair, leaped off the porch, and raced for the barn.

Eunice shook her head as she lowered herself into the chair he’d been sitting on. “That ornery bruder of mine has a mind of his own.”

“I think most boys his age do,” Freeman said.

“Maybe so, but he’s more headstrong than most boys his age.” Eunice gave Freeman a heart-melting smile. “I’m glad you were able to come for supper this evening.”

He returned her smile. “I hear you’re a good cook, so I’m sure it was well worth the wait.”

“Are you sure you won’t change your mind and come with us to Ohio for my cousin’s funeral?” Mom asked when she stepped into the garden where Katie had been weeding.

Katie shook her head. “You and Dad will be gone several days, and someone needs to be here to run the stamp shop.”

Mom’s eyebrows furrowed. “We can close the shop if you’d like to come along. It’s not like we’re running a business that requires someone to be here all the time.”

“No, that’s okay; I’d rather stay here and keep working.”

Mom squatted beside Katie. “I’m worried about you staying here by yourself.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to some quiet time on my own.” Katie hoped Mom believed her. She needed her folks to think she was doing okay, and she was determined to put on a brave front. Besides the fact that Katie couldn’t deal with the thought of going to another funeral, she really did look forward to being alone for a few days. It would be a welcome relief not to have Mom fussing over her all the time, asking how she felt, and suggesting that she see a doctor or take some herbs.

Katie brushed the dirt from her hands and stood. “You and Dad go on to Ohio and stay as long as you need to. I’ll be fine on my own while you’re gone.”

As Katie thought about spending the next several nights alone, a ripple of apprehension shot up her spine.
At least I hope I’ll be fine.