The Days of Redemption (73 page)

Daniel had actually made it all sound so simple, and maybe it was. All that really mattered was that there was love between a couple. Love and friendship and a willingness to work hard on a relationship.

If they had those things, other things could be worked out.

What was going to be a lot harder, of course, was finding a way to rectify the complete mess he'd made of everything.

He needed to find a way to talk to her again. And then, once she agreed to see him face-to-face, he was going to need to find a way for her to trust him again.

And then?

Then he was going to have to find a way to get her to fall in love with him.

Just thinking about all the ifs made his head spin. It was obviously going to take a lot of backpedaling. And a lot of understanding from Elsie. And a lot of luck. And a lot of prayer.

Luckily, he believed that with God and prayer, all things were possible.

To Lovina's surprise, Lorene and her husband, John, were waiting for them at the house when the English driver dropped them off from the German Village.

“Why are you here?” Lovina asked, already worried that another crisis had occurred.

Their daughter rolled her eyes. “Mamm, it's
gut
to see you, too.”

“We're tired and worried about everyone, daughter,” Aaron said sharply as he stepped forward and gave Lorene a gentle hug.

Lorene looked surprised by the spontaneous affection, but after a moment's hesitation, she returned her father's hug. John stood off to the side, looking concerned, but just as relieved as Lovina felt. It was past time for all of them to have a warm and loving relationship.

Looking bemused, Lorene stepped away, then turned to Lovina. “Mamm?”

Lovina opened her arms, too, and felt tears prick her eyes as she hugged her daughter tight. “I missed you, Lorene,” she said.

“We missed you, too.”

“Lorene talked about you quite a bit,” John said with a wry expression. “It seems she was used to having her parents around to tell her what to do.”

“Is that true, daughter?”

“A little,” Lorene said with a smile. “John is right, though. You were missed. Both you and Daed.”

“We missed being here.”

John walked them around to the
dawdi haus
entrance, carrying their two heavy bags like they were small sacks of flour.

When they got inside, Aaron walked right over to the stove and set to brewing a pot of coffee.

After she washed her hands and added cream to her cup, they sat down at the kitchen table.

“Perhaps you can now tell us where everyone is?” Aaron said.

“Roman took Amanda and Regina out to lunch and shopping. He wasn't going to go because you were coming in, but we persuaded him to take some time off for his family,” John explained.

“I agree. Amanda and Regina need to see him when they can. Preaching and working the farm gives a man little spare time,” Aaron murmured.

“Where are Peter and Marie?” Lovina asked.

“Marie had a doctor's appointment today.”

She exchanged a glance with Aaron. “Oh?”

“It was just a follow-up,” Lorene hastily explained. “To make sure she is still improving.”

“That is
gut
. And the girls?”

“Viola is working, and Elsie asked to go with her to Daybreak. She said she wanted to visit with Atle, Edward's father, and the rest of the folks there.”

“I am glad she is doing that.” But she also thought it a bit strange. She had to admit that her feelings were a bit hurt. Of everyone in the family, she was closest to Elsie. She would have hoped Elsie would have been as eager to see her as she was to see her precious granddaughter. “I'm a bit surprised, though. When I called here yesterday, she said she was going to be here waiting for us.”

“I think she was wanting to keep busy,” Lorene said. “To keep her mind off her troubles.”

“Troubles?” Aaron set his coffee cup on the table. “What kind of troubles?”

Lorene and John exchanged glances. “Elsie's been having a time of it,” Lorene hedged.

Finally, they'd discovered the root of the tension in the air. “What is wrong with Elsie?” Lovina prodded as she did her best to keep her patience. Honestly, it was like pulling teeth to get a bit of information from these two.

After sharing a look with Lorene, John answered. “Quite a bit. First, Elsie went to Dr. Palmer, who said she was a
gut
candidate for a corneal replacement surgery. If she did that, there is a chance she could see.”

Lovina reached for Aaron's hand. “I didn't know such things were possible. When will this take place?”

“It won't,” Lorene said quietly. “She has decided to not have the surgery.”

“No surgery?”

“No. Even though the bishop gave his approval,” Lorene said.

“Perhaps she'll change her mind,” Aaron said.

“I think not,” Lorene said. “See, she already told Landon about this.”

“And?” Lovina prodded.

“It seems that when she told him about her choice, he made a choice, too. He said he didn't want to court her no more. Now she's terribly upset.”

“I didn't know they'd gotten so close.” Lovina exchanged a confused glance with her husband.

“Perhaps you could back up a bit,” he said.

John explained everything in a shorthand, no-nonsense way. Through it all, Lovina felt her heart race for Elsie's decisions, and her disappointments, too.

When John finished, she sighed. She hated to hear all what Elsie was going through, but what else could they do?

“I think we should say something to Landon,” Aaron said. “He's obviously too dumb to realize how special Elsie is.”

Lorene shook her head. “That is not a
gut
idea. We can't do that.”

“But we should do something,” Lovina said reasonably. “She needs us to get involved.”

John stood behind Lorene and placed both of his hands on her shoulders. Then he shook his head. “Forgive me for saying this, but I think all of us here know that interfering in another couple's romance isn't always the best thing to do.”

Lovina felt her cheeks heat. But this wasn't the same thing at all. This time, she had legitimate reasons to get involved. She was sure of it! Plus, it was to make Elsie happy. “But—”

“You're exactly right, Lorene,” Aaron interrupted quickly. “I don't intend to interfere in romances ever again.”

Lorene raised a brow. “Mamm?”

“I won't interfere, either,” she said grudgingly. “But for the record, I want to say that Landon Troyer is being a hard-headed mule.”

Slowly, John smiled. “Though I was thinking of a bit different descriptor, I have to say that your words are true. That is something we can all agree on.”

Peter paused outside the barn. Elsie was holding three newborn kittens on her lap, smiling softly as the little furballs climbed over her apron, mewing and meowing, their little ears twitching and turning.

When one batted at the string of her kapp, like it was a new ball of yarn, she laughed.

Peter found himself smiling, too. He tried to hold times like these when she was doing something so Elsie-like forever in his heart. She'd always been special to him, had always looked at the bright side of things, even in the toughest situations.

Now, she was managing to smile and find joy in a litter of newborn kittens even though he was very sure she was hurting inside.

Funny, he'd been so certain that letting her become independent was a big mistake . . . until he realized someone else was thinking that!

Now, he wanted to argue with Landon and tell him that there was nothing Elsie couldn't do as well as, if not better than, any other Amish woman.

More than even that, he wanted to give Landon a piece of his mind. He'd just tossed away the opportunity to have wonderful relationship with a very special girl. They all had their faults—he knew that for sure.

And while it was true that her poor vision was going to create a few problems, he realized that there were so, so many other things that she could be afflicted with—such as Landon's obstinate nature!

Peter was torn between wanting to yell at the man and giving thanks that his sweet daughter hadn't wasted any more of her time on him.

“Daed, are you ever going to come in and join me?” she asked, her voice light and infused with a fair touch of humor.

He stepped in. As his eyes adjusted to the barn's dim interior, he murmured, “You caught me, huh?”

“Jah.”
She set one of the kittens on the ground, and it carefully started walking toward him. “I may not be able to see all that well, but I sense things better than most. What have you been doing? You were standing there so still.”

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

After scooping up the tiny orange-striped kitten in one hand, he sat beside her. “The kittens seem like they're doing
gut
.”

“I think so. Now that their eyes have opened, they are learning their way around and giving their mother a little break.” As another jumped at a sister or brother, misjudged the distance, and tripped, they both chuckled.

Elsie scooped it up again and set it carefully in the middle of her apron. “There are few things more precious than tiny kittens.”

Only children, he thought to himself. His mother had said once that she hadn't completely understood God's infinite love until she'd had children. As soon as Roman was born, he'd understood what she meant. His love for his three children was limitless. He held out his hands and took one of the squirming fur balls, chuckling when it meowed, then snuggled closer.

“So, Daed, are you doing all right now?”

She'd managed to catch him off guard. “Me?”

“
Jah
. Do you feel better, now that you went to the clinic?”

Ah, yes. “I do.” He exhaled. “Elsie, I tell ya, I'll always be full of regret for what I did. I'm sure I'll also always be filled with regrets for what my addiction drove me to do. But I have to also admit that some good things came out of it.”

She gazed at him. “What did?”

“Well, for one thing, I feel easier inside.”

A brow lifted. “Inside?”

“
Jah
. It's as if I can finally breathe deeply now. Like before I always had so much other stuff in my lungs and body that there wasn't enough room for fresh, clean air. Now, though, each breath I take is fresh and new.”

“I never thought about it like that.”

“I didn't, either. It's amazing how I didn't know how far gone my addiction was until I got better. It's like I had to see myself at my worst, through other people's eyes before I could make changes.” It hurt to talk about his faults, especially to the one person he wanted to always think well of him.

But perhaps she was the person who he needed to be the most honest with?

“Elsie, all I can say is that I am sorry for what I put you through. For what I put all of you through.”

“You don't need to apologize.”

“I may not need to, but I want to.”

“I am glad you're better, Daed.”

Another kitten, this one almost pure white, scampered toward him. He carefully picked it up and smiled when it licked his finger with a scratchy tongue. “Elsie, I came out here because I was worried about you. We're all worried about you. And sad about what happened with Landon.”

“I thought my news would make its way through the family rather quickly. Did Viola talk to you?”

“A little. But perhaps things aren't completely over between the two of you. Maybe Landon will change his mind.”

“I doubt he will. And once more, I don't think he should. If he is truly worried about whether I can even be home alone, then he hasn't really gotten to know me.”

“That is true. But, ah, I hope you won't be too terribly hard on him if he comes back and apologizes.”

“Why is that?”

“Because sometimes men aren't as smart as they need to be. We're all mighty imperfect, you know. Your mother's said she's been tempted to hit me on the head a time or two, just to knock some sense into me.”

Elsie chuckled. “Maybe not too many times, Daed. You're a wonderful-
gut
man.”

His heart melted—just like that. “Only because of my family. You all have made me a better man.”

They sat for a while longer, leaving off the serious discussions in favor of watching the kittens' antics instead. Little by little, Elsie scooted closer. And soon they were joking like they used to, when it was so easy to make her happy.

“I'll be all right, Daed. I'm just sad.”

“I know you'll be all right. But I'm still going to keep my eye on you,” he said lightly. “It's a father's job to worry, you know.”

She simply smiled. A melancholy one.

Which made his resolve to go calling on their neighbor even stronger.

W
hen Landon saw Elsie's father walking up his front walk, he mentally groaned. He knew he had a lot to make up for. But he didn't want to talk to Peter Keim before he talked to Elsie.

But when her father knocked on the door, then entered, his entire body looking ready to go into battle with him, he resigned himself to the inevitable.

They were going to have a discussion about his behavior right now. Whether he was ready for it or not.

“Good evening, Peter,” Landon said. “What brings you here?”

He raised a brow. “I can't imagine my being here would be much of a surprise, Landon. Over the past few weeks, you've single-handedly managed to make my daughter the happiest I've ever seen her in years . . . and the most depressed.”

He felt his cheeks heat. Suddenly, it was as if he were six years old instead of twenty-six. “I'm sorry to hear that. It wasn't my intention to make her feel that way.”

“It doesn't matter. You still did.”

“Does Elsie know you're here?”

“
Nee
. She wouldn't be too happy about it, neither. She would tell me that her relationships are none of my business.”

Landon knew that Elsie was a smart woman. “But you decided to pay a call anyway?”

“I did. Because, Landon, I've found over time that some things canna be put off. Sometimes if you do, it doesn't make them better, they only fester and get worse.” He eyed him knowingly.

And as the man had probably expected, Landon squirmed under his direct gaze.

“I am sorry I've made her upset.” After a second, he added, “However, I don't think our relationship is over yet.”

Peter scratched his head. “I must be getting old, because I don't know what you mean.”

“I, uh, have been rethinking some things.”

“Such as?”

“Such as how I might have been a bit shortsighted, as far as Elsie's vision was concerned.”

“Might?”

“Was. I realized I was wrong about Elsie.” He paused, wanting to keep the rest of his thoughts what they were—private. To himself. But Peter's gaze was unwavering and it was easy to see that he wasn't going to let Landon off with a few vague words.

As he thought about it, it made all the sense in the world, too. Elsie was a special woman. Special and a bit delicate. And not just because of her vision problems, either. No, she had a way about her that was more vulnerable than most women. She wore her heart on her sleeve. There, ready for anyone to do damage to it if they weren't careful.

And he hadn't been.

“I spoke to my brother earlier today and he reminded me of how love isn't something to be taken for granted,” he finally said. “Love is hard to come by, and even harder to recognize. I should have realized that my feelings for Elsie were stronger than anything that could keep us apart.”

A look of new understanding appeared in Peter's eyes. “So you have strong feelings for her?”

“I love her.” Of course, the moment he said the words, he felt guilty. No woman wanted her father to hear those words before she did.

“You look pained, son.”

The “son” reference was an encouraging one. “I need to tell Elsie that instead of you.”

To Landon's further amazement, Peter grinned broadly. “Well, of course you do. Elsie won't want you saying those sweet words to me.”

Peter was now joking with him? The quick change of emotions was incredible. “Peter, I need you to keep what I just said a secret, just between you and me.”

“Well, now, that depends on something.”

“On what?”

“On when you decide to pay her a visit and tell her yourself.”

“Now?”

Elsie's father looked shocked. “I think not. You look like something that's been dragged behind a horse and left to rot.”

“That good, huh?”

“I suggest you come over tomorrow afternoon. After you talk to Elsie, you may stay and have supper with us.”

Landon was tempted to point out that supper with the Keim family still wasn't quite the romantic gesture he'd hoped for. He had a feeling he was going to have to do a lot of apologizing and coaxing even to get her to agree to see him. He certainly didn't want to do that with witnesses!

“I suppose there is no other way to see Elsie?”

“Nope. You may come when it is convenient for us or you may stay home. All by yourself.”

Landon stood up and held out his hand. “I'll see you tomorrow, then.”

“And you'll come prepared?”

Landon wasn't sure what that meant, but he figured he would by tomorrow night. “Of course.”

“Gut,”
Peter said. Then he turned around and walked out the door.

Landon could have sworn he heard something under the other man's breath that sounded a lot like “young pups” but he couldn't be sure.

That was probably best, anyway. He had enough trouble, he didn't need Peter Keim adding to the pot.