Change of Heart (4 page)

Daed paused for a moment with his hand on his chin.

Becca struggled to keep silent. Would he agree with Mamm? It would be an answer to her prayer if he did.

His eyes looked from Mamm to Ruth and to Becca. “I agree with your mamm. We'll write and visit you once in a while.” He bit his upper lip. “Ruth, I'm sorry we didn't come and support you during your time of sorrow. We should have been here to comfort you when Caleb died. We hoped you would return to Berlin.”

Ruth met his gaze. “I understand.”

Becca stood and held open her arms.

The Yost family circled in a hug.

Grace joined them.

Becca hugged herself. Her life was moving forward and falling into place. Her parents had agreed to visit, and they showed how much they loved them by making this decision to bend Amish law for them. She could move on with her life with peace in her heart. She no longer had to fret about not seeing them again. She stepped back. “You've been traveling all day. Are you hungry? We have a pot of vegetable soup in the icebox. I'll warm it for you.”

Her parents and Grace followed her into the kitchen. Ruth made a fresh pan of biscuits and Becca heated the soup. She wiped a tear from her eye, as she listened to Daed's prayer of thanks. What a great day.

Mamm and Grace answered Becca's and Ruth's questions about their friends and what was going on at home. Mamm shared that she'd been doing her usual chores, cooking for community suppers and sewing dresses for her friends.

Grace chatted about the boppli she had helped come into the world with Hester.

Ruth shared with Mamm and Daed more details about her mending shop. She paused and rested her hand on Becca's arm. “Talk about what you've learned while working with Matt.”

Becca curved her lips in a wide smile. “I've learned how to treat serious open wounds, apply stitches, fill syringes with medicine, and administer shots. I could go on and on explaining what I've learned, but it would take all day. I love nursing. One patient, Clyde Peterson, didn't want an Amish nurse in the room with him. I asked him to let me stay and help Matt treat him. When he left, he apologized for his behavior and offered me tomatoes.” She chuckled.

Her parents threw her a wry grin. Their comments were few. Her new life went against their beliefs. Maybe she and Ruth shouldn't have been so forthcoming.
No
, if they were going to visit, she and her sister needed to be open and honest about their life here. Would they agree to visit Ruth's Mending Shop and meet Matt before they went home?

Becca readied the third bedroom for them. She spread sheets and a blanket on the sofa for Grace and then joined her family and Grace in the kitchen. “Your beds are ready.” She folded her hands in front of her. “Would you like to visit Ruth's shop and meet Matt in the morning before you go?”

She held her breath. Her sister stiffened and kept silent. She might have gone too far. Maybe she shouldn't have suggested it. She couldn't read either one of her parents' faces.

Mamm looked at Daed with pleading eyes.

Daed raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, but it must be quick. I want to get home before dark.”

Grace pulled Becca aside. “My parents won't be happy about you leaving our Amish community, but I'm sure they will let me write to you. Maybe they will let me kumme to town with your parents again when they visit you. I'll miss you, but I'm happy for you. I'm excited about meeting Dr. Carrington.”

Becca valued her best friend. Grace had always loved her unconditionally. “I was hoping we could write letters to each other. I would love it if you could come with my parents when they come to Massillon. Follow me to my room. I have something for you.”

Grace followed her.

She opened a drawer, pulled out a quilt, and passed it to Grace. “I made you another pocket quilt.” She patted the pocket on the quilt tied closed with string. “Wait to read the letter tucked inside until you arrive home and are alone.”

Grace hugged the quilt to her chest. “I'll treasure this always. It will remind me of the memories we've created together, like the first one you made me.”

She carried another quilt to the kitchen and handed it to her mamm. “I wrote you a letter and put it in this pocket.”

Mamm accepted the quilt. “I'll read it to your daed when we get home. It will comfort me until we meet again.”

Her parents' dedication to the church and Amish order had been apparent to her since she was a child. They had compromised their values by not following the Amish rules for the sake of their daughters. Grace had agreed to do the same for the sake of their friendship. She loved them. She would never forget this day.

In the morning, Ruth and Becca got up early and cooked eggs and warmed homemade bread for their guests.

Becca's heart raced when her parents commended Ruth on how well she had decorated her home. Her sister's face beamed.

They walked to Ruth's shop together, and Mamm and Grace accepted Ruth's gifts of plain dark blue, gray, black, and white fabrics and thread. Her sister introduced them to Margaret, and they had a pleasant conversation.

After leaving Ruth's shop, Becca ushered them inside the medical office. She introduced them to Dorothy. Becca stifled her chuckle when Dorothy circled them each in a hug. Mamm was at a loss for words then recovered quickly and returned the gesture. Becca grinned. Grace seemed to like Dorothy. It showed in the way she talked to her. Her friend and Dorothy chattered on and on as they got acquainted. Becca hadn't met a person yet who didn't like Dorothy.

She searched for Matt and found him in his office. “My parents and a friend are in town for a visit. They're in the other room talking to Dorothy. Matt, I told them I will not be returning home. I'm going to remain in Massillon. They've agreed to bend the Amish rules and write and visit Ruth and me now and then.”

Matt eyes widened. “Becca, I'm happy for you and for me.”

She laughed. “I found it difficult to share my decision with them, but they accepted it much better than I anticipated. We better not keep them waiting. Will you come and meet them?”

“Yes, of course.” He walked out and offered his hand to her daed. “I am Dr. Matt Carrington, Mr. Yost. Call me Matt. It is nice to meet you. It is a pleasure to work with your daughter and my patients adore her.”

Becca left them alone. She glanced over her shoulder and listened to Matt speak to her daed. He treated her daed with respect. She had trusted him enough to bring her daed to meet him. She wasn't disappointed.

Joseph Yost shook Matt's hand. “Becca's always been a hard worker. She has a gut heart. The outside world and working for you is exciting for her. My dochder isn't used to cruel or unkind people. She's bound to run into a few. Please take gut care of her.”

“I am fond of your daughter, sir, and I assure you I have honorable intentions toward her. I will take good care of her and Ruth.”

“My dochders claim you are a fine mann. After meeting you, I agree with them. I'm sure we'll meet again. We're planning to visit now and then.”

“Your dochders must be delighted. They make it no secret how much they care about you and Mrs. Yost.”

“It was nice meeting you.”

Her mamm joined her daed and Matt.

“I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Yost. I was telling your husband how much I appreciate Becca and the hard work she does for me in the office. I am also rather fond of her.”

Becca wanted to shout with glee. Matt and her parents had a great first meeting. They liked him. She read their faces. She never imagined them meeting Matt, let alone accepting him. Her pulse raced. He'd told Daed and Mamm he was fond of her.

Grace nudged her arm. “May I meet Dr. Carrington?”

Becca grasped her friend's hand. “Of course. Come with me.” She approached Matt. “Matt, I would like you to meet Grace Blauch.”

“You must be Becca's best friend. She told me what a valuable friend you are to her. It's nice to meet you.”

Grace's cheeks pinked. “Her friendship means a lot to me, too. I hope you will take gut care of her.”

“Rest assured. I will. I hope you will visit us again soon.”

“I hope to kumme with Mr. and Mrs. Yost when they visit. I'll write to Becca and keep in touch.”

They bid Matt and Dorothy farewell and walked home.

Grace hooked her arm through Becca's. “He is handsome and kind. I can tell he loves you. It's the way he looks at you.”

“There is no doubt in my mind. I love him. I can't help it.” Daed had arranged for her to wed David. She didn't know him. Would she have liked him? Would she have fallen in love with him? Those questions had flashed in her mind often before David left her alone on their wedding day. David had done her a favor. She and Matt had gotten to know each other. She liked and loved Matt. “He listens to me and offers good advice. He's good-looking, smart, kind, and he has a good sense of humor. I respect and admire him as a person and as a doctor.”

Grace smiled. “I'm happy for you.”

They arrived at Ruth's. Her parents and Grace gathered their belongings, and Becca and Ruth followed them outside.

Mamm tied her bag. “Becca, do you need anything from home?”

“I don't. Grace can go through my room and take what she wants.”

Grace's brown eyes danced. “I would be delighted to have your things. I will think of you when I wear your clothes and kapps.”

“You can drop whatever of mine you don't want in the charity box.”

“I will share your dresses with two other women who are our size.” She put her hand on Becca's shoulder. “Do you want me to share your news with Hester, or will you write to her and tell her yourself? She'll be excited to learn about Dr. Carrington.”

“I'll write her a letter and explain everything.”

Grace put her hands on Becca's shoulders. “I was hoping you would. She would be hurt if she didn't hear your news from you.”

“I understand.” Becca squeezed Grace's hand and then left to help Daed ready his buggy and horse. Then they joined Mamm and Ruth standing outside. Becca and Ruth bid their loved ones farewell and waited until they were out of sight before heading inside the house.

“I'm surprised they came, Ruth. They accepted my leaving much better than I anticipated they would.”

“They did not flinch when you told them your news. I suspect they had already guessed you might stay, since you had not written and told them when you planned to come home. The fact we love God with all our hearts must also make this a little easier for them. At least I can tell it did for Mamm. I am relieved they have agreed to visit. It is truly a miracle.”

Becca removed her kapp and smoothed her hair. “I never thought our parents would bend the Amish rules. What a relief. I suspected Grace would support my decision. I'm glad she came with them. Writing letters back and forth with Grace and our parents makes my decision to live here much easier.”

 

 

The next morning, Becca awoke to the sweet aroma of fresh baked cinnamon rolls and coffee. She washed her face and hands and dressed. She joined Ruth for breakfast. “I'm going to get fat if you keep making these delicious cinnamon rolls.”

“We need to celebrate this morning. I have my family back. Something I had not imagined possible. It is a great day.” She waved her hands.

Becca moaned and bit into a soft gooey roll. She drank milk. “Yes it is.” Her sister had reason to celebrate. They both did. The fear of never seeing their parents again had been erased.

Ruth glimpsed at the clock. “It is late, and I have got to get to work. I have a load of fabric being delivered today.”

“I'm running late too. I'll see you tonight.” Becca headed for the office. As she got closer, she squinted when a woman held her protruding stomach and groaned. A man opened the door to Matt's office. She hurried to help them.

Inside, Dorothy rushed to the couple. She stepped back when she saw Becca.

The woman cried out. “Please, help me. My baby is coming.”

Becca and the man supported the woman as they escorted her to the exam room and helped her lie down. The stench of vomit, sweat, and blood from the woman's clothes filled the air. The pregnant woman's gown clung to her body. Damp hair matted to her head framed her sickly white face.

Dorothy fretted in the doorway. “Please meet Mr. and Mrs. Piper. What do you want me to do?”

She liked them at first sight. Both were short, medium build, and could have been mistaken for brother and sister with their small frames, dark hair, and round, pale faces. “I'm Becca Yost. Please call me Becca.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Dorothy, where's Dr. Carrington?”

“He is not here yet. He had some errands to run this morning.” Dorothy twisted her fingers. “Do you want me to find him?”

“No. I'll be fine taking care of Mrs. Piper. Would you mind making us some fresh coffee?” She didn't want Dorothy to worry and, at the same time, wanted her to feel useful.

The man wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. “My wife, Gretchen, has been in pain all night. I fear something is wrong with the baby.”

“I'm an experienced midwife. Dorothy makes great coffee. Go relax and have a cup with her while I examine your wife.”

Color returned to his face. He kissed his wife's forehead before he hurried to leave.

When he shut the door behind him, she stifled a chuckle. He was obviously relieved to escape. Dorothy would keep him occupied until his bundle of joy made his or her appearance. His absence would allow her to fully concentrate on Gretchen. She missed helping mamms birth their boppli. How exciting. She pulled clean sheets from a drawer. “How long have you been having severe pain?”