The Healing (14 page)

Esther was about to say something, but Suzanne spoke first. “We’re celebrating Marla’s birthday tonight. Titus said he told you about it.”

Samuel’s face turned bright red as he looked at Marla with a guilty expression. “Happy birthday.”

She smiled, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Did she realize that her father had obviously forgotten about her birthday supper? It was certainly evident to Esther.

“We’re just about done here,” Esther said, “but there’s still some food left, so if you’d like to take a seat at the table, we’ll wait until you’re done eating before we cut the birthday cake.”

“No, that’s okay. Go ahead and serve the cake. I’m not that hungry anyway.”

“You’re gonna have a piece of birthday cake, aren’t you, Daadi?” Marla asked, turning to her father with a look of anticipation.

“Jah, sure.” Samuel took a seat and leaned his elbows on the table. He looked tired and a bit befuddled. Esther was even more sure that he’d forgotten today was Marla’s birthday.

“Bonnie made this beautiful cake,” Esther said, placing it on the table in front of Marla.

Bonnie smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without Esther’s help, and I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

“Esther’s a great teacher, so I’m sure the cake will be delicious,” Suzanne said.

All heads bobbed in agreement. Everyone’s but Samuel’s, that is. He sat staring at the empty plate in front of him as though in deep thought.

“Now for the candles,” Esther said, placing nine candles in the center of the cake. Then Titus lit a match to light the candles, and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” while Marla beamed from ear to ear. When the singing ended, she closed her eyes and blew out the candles with one big breath.

“Did ya make a wish?” Leon asked his sister.

“I did, but it’s a secret, and I can’t tell ya what it is or it won’t come true.”

“You can’t get what you want from blowin’ out birthday candles and makin’ a wish,” Samuel mumbled. “If you could, I’d bake a cake myself and put a hundred candles on it.”

The room got deathly quiet, as all eyes became fixed on Samuel.

He lifted his shoulders in a quick shrug. “I’m just saying … I don’t believe in wishes.”

Marla’s chin trembled, and so did Penny’s. Esther figured if she didn’t do something quick, she’d have a couple of crying girls on her hands.

“Let’s cut the cake now so we can taste how good it is,” she said, taking a knife from the kitchen drawer. “Suzanne, would you get us some dessert plates?”

Suzanne hurried over to the cupboard and took out enough plates for everyone at the table. Then, as Esther cut the cake and handed each one a piece, Suzanne served up scoops of vanilla ice cream.

“Umm … This cake is
appeditlich
,” Titus said, smacking his lips.

All heads bobbed again—even Samuel’s this time. “It is delicious, and you did a good job making it,” he said, looking at Bonnie with a grateful expression.

Bonnie smiled. “Thank you, Samuel.”

Esther couldn’t help but notice how comfortable Samuel seemed to be around Bonnie. Not like when he was with her—stiff, as though he could hardly stand to look at her.

Esther mulled things over as she ate her cake.
Why would an Amish man be more comfortable around an English woman than he is with an Amish woman? Is there something he finds more appealing about Bonnie than me?
Esther picked up her glass of water and took a drink, forcing her troubling thoughts aside. This evening, she needed to keep her focus on Marla and on making her birthday special.

When everyone finished their cake and ice cream, Suzanne gave Marla her gift.

“Danki. I like it,” Marla said after she’d opened a box with two puzzles in it. Then Titus presented Marla with a sled, which he said Suzanne had helped him pick out. Marla seemed quite happy with that gift as well.

Next, Esther handed Marla the present she’d bought. When Marla opened it and removed the drawing tablet and colored pencils, she fairly beamed. “Danki, Esther! Now I can draw a whole bunch of pictures.”

Esther smiled. She was pleased that she’d given Marla something she liked.

“Now it’s my turn.” Bonnie pushed away from the table and returned with the beautifully wrapped gift she’d brought into the house before supper. “I hope you like this,” she said, handing it to Marla.

Marla quickly tore off the pink tissue paper and gave Bonnie a happy smile when she pulled out a cute little doll dressed in Amish clothes. “Danki. I really like it. I like everything I got.” She turned and looked expectantly at her father, as though waiting to see if he had a gift for her, too.

Esther held her breath, wondering what Samuel would do.

Samuel, feeling guilty and stupid for forgetting his daughter’s birthday, didn’t know what to say or do. Truth was, he didn’t have anything to give Marla.
Elsie would never have forgotten one of our kinner’s birthdays
, he thought.
What’s wrong with me?

Suddenly, an idea flashed into his head. There was that box in his room with Elsie’s things that he hadn’t gone through yet. “I’ll be right back,” he said, rising from his chair.

“Where ya goin’?” Penny called as he started out of the room.

“To get your sister’s present.”

Samuel hurried to his room, pulled the box away from the wall, and flipped open the flaps. After a bit of searching, he located one of Elsie’s favorite teacups. Thinking Marla might like to have something that belonged to her mother, he returned to the kitchen and gave it her. “This was one of your mamm’s favorite
kopplin
,” he said.

Marla smiled and lifted the delicate china cup to her lips, as though pretending to drink from it. “Danki, Daadi. Knowin’ this was Mammi’s makes it my best gift of all.”

“Let me see it.” Penny reached across Jared, and he turned his head sharply, bumping Marla’s arm and knocking the cup out of her hand. It landed on the floor, shattering into several pieces.

Marla gasped and burst into tears.

“Now look what you did!” Samuel pointed at Penny. “You not only took away your sister’s birthday present, but you broke your mamm’s favorite cup!”

Hands shaking, and forehead beaded with sweat, Samuel stormed out of the house.

I
’d better go talk to Marla and Penny,” Esther said after the two girls had gone tearfully to their room. “This was not a good way for Marla’s party to end, and I’m sure she and Penny both could use a bit of comforting right now.”

“I’ll stay here and clean up the broken cup,” Suzanne said.

“I’ll clear the table and do the dishes,” Bonnie spoke up.

Titus pushed his chair away from the table. “Think I’d better go outside and have a talk with my bruder. No doubt, he could use a bit of comforting, too.”

Esther glanced at the boys. Leon sat with his head down, staring at his half-eaten piece of cake. His father’s outburst had no doubt upset him. Little Jared, however, seemed unaffected by the whole ordeal. Wearing a grin on his chocolate-smudged face, he sat in his high chair happily eating the piece of birthday cake Esther had given him before Samuel stormed out of the house.

Esther gave Leon’s shoulder a tender squeeze. “Would you like some more ice cream?”

He shook his head. “I ain’t hungry no more. Think I’ll get ready for bed.” He leaped off his chair and hurried out of the room.

Esther sighed. Three upset children, and one angry father. What a terrible way for the evening to end. She wished now that she hadn’t even planned a party for Marla. But if she hadn’t made the effort, there probably wouldn’t have been a party at all.

Esther left the kitchen and hurried down the hall to the bedroom the girls shared. She found them both curled up on the bed, crying as though their little hearts had been broken.

“It’s all right,” she said, taking a seat on the bed beside them and gently patting their backs. “Don’t cry.”

Penny sat up and hiccupped on a sob. “Daadi’s m–mad at me. He thinks I—I broke the kopplin on purpose.”

Marla sat up and leaned against Esther. “He don’t love us no more.”

Esther slipped her arms around both girls’ waists, drawing them closer to her. “It was just an accident, and neither of you is to blame. I’m sure once your daed calms down he’ll realize that.” Esther hoped she was right, and she prayed that when Titus spoke to Samuel, he’d make him understand that it was just an accident.

Samuel paced back and forth in the barn for a while; then he plopped down on a bale of straw. He’d been stupid to give Marla one of Elsie’s cups. She was still a little girl and didn’t know how to take care of such a delicate thing.

But of course, he reminded himself, it wasn’t really Marla’s fault she dropped the cup. If Penny hadn’t reached across Jared, and if Jared hadn’t turned his head, he wouldn’t have bumped Marla’s arm and she wouldn’t have let go of the cup. I realize now that none of my kinner are old enough to be anywhere near such a delicate cup
.

Samuel leaned forward and let his head fall into the palms of his hands. He should have left all of Elsie’s things with Mama Fannie for safekeeping. Then when the girls were old enough, he could have let them choose whatever they wanted.

“I’m so stupid,” he muttered. “Seems like I always make bad decisions, especially where my kinner are concerned.”

A cold, wet nose brushed against Samuel’s hand, and when he lifted his head, he saw Lucky at his side.

“Go away!” Samuel pushed the dog away. “I don’t want to be bothered with you right now.”

The dog whimpered and dropped his head onto Samuel’s knee, looking up at him with understanding eyes. Did the critter realize Samuel needed some comfort, or was Lucky simply in need of attention? He figured it was probably a bit of both.

With a groan of resignation, he patted the dog’s head. After all, the poor critter had done nothing wrong. Truth was, sitting here petting Lucky’s silky head felt kind of nice. It was a good way to relieve some of his stress. Maybe he ought to pay the dog more attention from now on instead of always hollering at him to get out of the way or go lie down. In spite of everything, he knew Lucky had to get used to his new surroundings, just like the rest of them. The only thing left that was familiar to the poor dog was Samuel and the kids.

Lost in thought, Samuel sat for several minutes, scratching behind Lucky’s ears, until the barn door opened and Titus stepped in.
Oh, great. I hope he didn’t come out here to lecture me
.

“You okay?” Titus asked, taking a seat on the bale of straw beside Samuel.

Samuel motioned to Lucky. “I wasn’t until the mutt came and offered me some comfort. After sitting here petting him awhile, I’ve calmed down a bit.”

“You were pretty upset in there.” Titus reached over and put his hand on Samuel’s arm. “What happened with the teacup was just an accident, you know.”

Samuel nodded. “I probably overreacted, but I wanted to give Marla something special that belonged to her mamm, and I’d hoped it would mean as much to her as it did to me.”

“I’m sure it did. Didn’t you see the way her eyes lit up when you handed her the kopplin?”

“Jah. She’s probably just as disappointed as I am that it broke.”

“I know she is. She and Penny both ran crying to their bedroom after you yelled and stormed out of the house. I’m sure they both feel responsible for the cup being broken.”

“Guess I’ll need to apologize to the both of them, and then I should find something else to give Marla.” Samuel gently pushed Lucky aside and stood.

“Where are you going?”

“To the house, to talk to the girls.”

“Can it wait awhile? Esther’s in with ‘em right now.”

Samuel frowned, as irritation welled in his chest. “They’re my kinner, not hers. It ought to be me talking to them, don’t you think?” More annoyed with himself that he’d forgotten his daughter’s birthday and the fact that he’d been pushing everyone close to him further and further away, even their beloved pooch, had made Samuel feel more agitated when he’d heard that Esther was comforting the girls. Then again, why shouldn’t they be comforted by her? In their own little ways, all four of his children had tried reaching out to him, but instead of giving comfort to the children as a dad should, Samuel had once again reacted harshly. His children were trying to go on with life the best they could without their mother—why couldn’t he?