The Divided Family (8 page)

Akron

Kristi sat beside Audrey’s bed, silently praying while she held the elderly woman’s hand. Audrey was going downhill so fast and was often unresponsive. It broke Kristi’s heart when she thought how sad it was that no one other than herself and the other staff members visited Audrey.

Last week, knowing how much her patient loved flowers, Kristi had bought a Christmas cactus in full bloom and placed it on the table beside Audrey’s bed. “Thank you,” Audrey had whispered tearfully. “You’re an angel, Miss Kristi.”

Kristi would make sure to water the cactus as needed and hoped it would continue to bloom all the way past Christmas.

Audrey’s eyes opened, and she offered Kristi a weak smile. “Oh, it’s you—my angel of mercy. How long have you been sitting here?”

Kristi glanced at her watch. “Fifteen minutes or so. I haven’t said anything because I didn’t want to wake you.”

Audrey lifted a shaky hand, letting it fall close to the edge of her bed. “You spend too much time with me. Don’t you have other patients to tend to?”

“Yes, I do, and they are all taken care of.” Kristi took Audrey’s hand, holding it gently. “You slept most of the morning, and I’ve been worried about you.”

“I’ll be going home soon, and then you won’t have to worry anymore,” Audrey murmured. “I will be safe in the arms of my Lord.”

In an attempt to hold back tears, Kristi pointed to the cactus. “It’s doing well. I think it likes it here in your room.”

Audrey gave a feeble nod. “I believe there will be lots of flowers in heaven.”

Kristi swallowed hard, barely able to speak around the lump in her throat. “According to what I read in the Bible, there will be lots of beautiful things in heaven for us to enjoy.”

“Yes.” Audrey’s eyelids closed, and Kristi could tell from her steady breathing that she had fallen asleep.

Slipping quietly from the room, she started down the hall. When she entered the break room a few minutes later, her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out to see who was calling. It was Joel, so she let it go to voice mail, as she had done since their breakup.

“How’s Audrey?” Dorine asked, joining Kristi for their afternoon break.

“Not well. She’s failing fast, but she did wake up and talk to me for a few minutes.”

Dorine fixed herself a cup of coffee. “Audrey’s your favorite patient here, isn’t she?”

“It’s not that she’s my favorite, exactly, but she definitely needs me the most, and not just in a physical sense.”

“I understand what you’re saying. The poor woman has no family to sit beside her bed and offer comfort. You’ve done that for her, Kristi. And the cactus you bought is proof of how much you care.”

“Audrey’s a special lady, and she’s ministered to me along the way, too.” Kristi took an orange from the fruit bowl on the table and sat down. Before peeling it, she glanced at her cell phone and decided to listen to the message Joel had obviously left.

“Hey, Kristi, this is Joel. I hope you’re doing well.” There was a short pause. “I’m faced with an unusual situation right now and could really use some advice.” Another pause—this one followed by a groan. “The thing is, my dad’s will was finally located—in his freezer of all places. But I don’t know how much my share of the inheritance is because Dad wrote a ridiculous stipulation. He expects me to do some kind of a good deed—he called it a selfless act. And until I do it and it’s accepted by my sisters, as well as my aunt, neither me nor my siblings can open the envelopes he left us, which will let us know how much we are entitled to. So what I need to know is what kind of good deed would be considered a selfless act. Since you’ve done many good deeds working as a nurse, I figured you’d be the one to ask. When you get this message, I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a call.”

Kristi sat, staring at her phone, trying to process all Joel had said. Could it be true, or was it just another attempt to get her to call so he could try to convince her to take him back?

If it is true,
she thought,
Joel’s father made a wise decision, for Joel surely needs to think of someone other than himself for a change. But if he does a good deed only to get the money he wants so badly, then nothing will have been gained.

Kristi hoped for Joel’s sake, as well as for his family, that he would come to realize the importance of putting other people’s needs ahead of his own. But in order to do a true selfless act, he would need to first get right with God.

J
oel had spent the last few days wracking his brain, trying to come up with something he could do to earn the right to open the envelope Dad left for him. This morning he’d come up with a plan, and as soon as he finished working for the day, he headed to the schoolhouse where Anna taught. Hopefully the scholars would be gone by the time he arrived. If things were as they had been when he was in school, the teacher would still be there.

When Joel pulled his truck into the schoolyard, he saw a few children milling about. It was a good indication that they’d been dismissed for the day. He popped a breath mint in his mouth and got out of the truck. As he walked toward the door, his nephew Scott stepped out, carrying a lunch box in one hand while adjusting his straw hat with the other.

“Hey, Uncle Joel! What are you doin’ here?” Eyes wide, the boy looked up at Joel and grinned.

Joel raked his fingers through the back of his hair. “I … umm … came by to talk to your teacher.”

Scott tipped his head, looking quizzically at Joel.

“It’s just a little grown-up talk.” No way was Joel about to explain the reason for his visit with Anna.

“Are ya comin’ to the school Christmas program tomorrow evening? Me, my brother, and my sisters all have parts.” The boy moved his head slowly up and down. “We’ve been practicin’ for the last couple of weeks.”

“I bet you have.” Joel remembered how excited he used to get when he was a boy and the class would prepare for the program their parents and other family members would be invited to attend. He’d always tried to do his best so he wouldn’t embarrass his folks.

Joel flinched when he thought about Christmas, only a few days away. He’d been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his buddy, Tom, but Christmas Day he would be by himself. He’d thought maybe one of his sisters would invite him to spend the holiday at her house, but after the scene he’d created when Dad’s will was read, he wasn’t surprised no one had asked.
I wonder what Kristi will be doing this year. I sure miss spending time with her. It seems odd not to have bought her a gift.
Joel was giving in to self-pity, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He felt like a ship without an anchor these days.

“So are ya comin’ to the Christmas program?” Scott tugged on Joel’s jacket.

“Maybe. If I get off work in time to drive down here.”

“Sure hope you can make it.” The boy continued to look at Joel. “Guess I’d better head out. Doug, Martha, and Lillian went home already. I stayed after to practice my part a bit longer.”

Joel gave Scott’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll try to be there to see you perform.”

“Okay! See you soon, Uncle Joel.”

Joel watched his nephew head out on his bike, then turned and went into the schoolhouse. He found Anna at the front of the room, sitting behind her desk and going over paperwork. When Joel cleared his throat, she jumped.

“I—I’m surprised to see you, Joel. If you stopped by to see one of your nieces or nephews, they’ve already left.” Anna’s cheeks were bright pink, and her blue eyes as vivid as ever.

“Well, I … uh … was visiting with my nephew Scott outside, and he mentioned the Christmas program tomorrow evening. I told him I’d try to make it to the holiday performance, but I actually came here today to see you.”

“Oh, what about?” Anna placed her pen beside the papers on her desk.

Joel leaned on her desk, hoping he wouldn’t lose his nerve and would be able to say the right words. “See … the thing is … I came to apologize.”

Fingering her paperwork, Anna murmured, “For what, Joel?”

“For hurting you when I broke things off and left the Amish faith.” There, it was out. If she accepted his apology he’d stop by Dad’s place and tell Aunt Verna what he’d done. Telling Anna he was sorry would surely be considered a selfless act.

She blinked a couple of times, and the color in her cheeks darkened. “What brought this on all of a sudden? Have you changed your mind about being English?”

He shook his head. “I’m happy living with modern things. I … I’ve been thinking about us, though, and wanted you to know that I feel bad about the way things ended.” Joel leaned a bit closer. “Will you accept my apology?” Remembering how his dimpled smile used to temper Anna’s mood whenever they got into a disagreement in the past, Joel thought he’d go that route and see if it would work on her now. So he gave Anna his deepest smile, gazing into her eyes. Hoping to ensure success in his endeavor, Joel placed his hand on hers and gave her fingers a tender squeeze.

Blushing further, Anna gave a slow nod. “I … I appreciate you coming by. It means a lot to me.”

“Good.” He moved away from her, shuffling his feet and feeling a bit guilty for coming here with an ulterior motive. He hoped she hadn’t gotten the wrong impression.

Joel hadn’t actually lied to Anna; he did feel bad for hurting her in the past. But if not for the stipulation in Dad’s will, he probably never would have apologized.

“Guess I’d better go and let you get back to whatever you were doing. See you around, Anna.” Joel turned from the desk.

“Remember, if you’re not doing anything tomorrow evening, you’re welcome to come to our Christmas program,” Anna called sweetly.

He lifted his hand in a parting wave. “I will try to be there.”
I’ll only be coming for Scott.

Charm

Feeling rather pleased with himself, Joel whistled a tune he’d learned as a boy and turned onto the road leading to Dad’s place. He felt good about his visit with Anna and was confident that when he told Aunt Verna, she’d be impressed. If she agreed what he’d done met the condition of the will, then surely his sisters would, too. Since Anna was Doris’s friend, Doris would no doubt be pleased to learn of Joel’s apology.

As Joel sat in his truck on the hill above Dad’s house, he was tempted to get out and wander around, reflecting on his childhood a bit. He could sit on his old rock-seat and daydream awhile, but it was really too cold for that. Besides, Joel was anxious to speak with his aunt.

Turning the steering wheel, he drove down the driveway and parked his vehicle near the barn. When he stepped out and heard the horses whinny, he was tempted to lead them into the barn, as he’d done for a good many years while growing up. But it wasn’t his job anymore. Glen was staying here, and he’d take care of the animals when he got home from work, if he wasn’t here already.

Shaking his thoughts aside, Joel hurried up the front porch and knocked on the door. He waited several seconds, and when no one answered, he knocked again, a little louder this time. If Aunt Verna was here, she may not have heard him.

A few more seconds passed. Joel was about to try the door when it suddenly swung open. Aunt Verna, wearing a black scarf on her head, looked at him quizzically. “This is an unexpected surprise. Have you been working in the area today?”

“No, I …” Joel paused and moistened his lips. “Is it all right if I come in?”

She cupped her hand around one ear. “What was that?”

Joel repeated himself, a little louder this time.

“Of course you may.” She opened the door wider, and Joel stepped inside. “Should we go in the kitchen? I was about to fix myself a glass of buttermilk. Would you like some?”

His lips puckered, thinking about the soured milk his dad used to drink. Apparently Aunt Verna liked it, too. “No thanks. I’ll take a glass of water, though.”

“No problem.”

He followed her to the kitchen and took two glasses from the cupboard. After handing one to her, he filled his glass with water and took a seat at the table. Once Aunt Verna had her buttermilk, she joined him. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” she asked.

Joel took a quick drink and set his glass on the table. “I just came from the schoolhouse in Farmerstown.”

“Oh? Did you see your nieces and nephews there?”

“I talked to Scott for a few minutes, but I didn’t see the others. I went there to speak with their teacher, Anna Detweiler.”

Aunt Verna peered at Joel over the top of her glasses. “Are you two getting back together?”

Joel shook his head. “I went there to tell Anna I was sorry for the hurt I caused when I broke up with her seven years ago.”

“Could you repeat that, please?”

“I went there to tell Anna I was sorry for the hurt I caused when I broke up with her seven years ago.”

Aunt Verna took a sip of buttermilk. “Has it really been that long?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“I apologized, and she forgave me.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s always good when a person realizes they’ve wronged someone and tries to make amends.”