The Healing (30 page)

When Samuel had arrived home from work, he’d taken some aspirin before showering and changing his clothes, but the headache hadn’t let up. Now, thanks to the rain beating down, he was having a hard time seeing out the front window of the buggy. He hoped the kids were ready to go when he got there, because he was anxious to get back home. Due to the nasty weather, he knew they wouldn’t be having a picnic supper this evening and was sure the kids would be disappointed, same as him. He’d begun to realize why his kids liked Esther so much. She was sweet, even-tempered, and real smart, too. And she cared about them as if they were her own. He’d been fortunate to have found someone like her to oversee the children when he was at work.

Samuel’s stomach rumbled noisily, and he pressed his hand against it. “Sure wish I didn’t have to fix supper tonight,” he mumbled, taking his thoughts in a different direction. It wasn’t easy working all day and then going home and having to cook a meal—especially when he wasn’t that great of a cook.
Maybe we’ll just settle for sandwiches
, he decided.

When Samuel pulled into Bonnie’s yard, he was greeted by her yappy little dog. “Don’t you have the good sense to get in out of the rain?” Samuel muttered when Cody started running back and forth, barking at his horse and leaping into the air like he was half crazy. The mutt sure had a lot of energy, and he liked to bark at nearly everything he saw. Samuel was surprised Bonnie didn’t get rid of the dog. For that matter, he wondered what had possessed her to even take the stray in. Well, he guessed it was none of his business. He had enough to deal with when it came to Lucky.

Samuel climbed out of his buggy and hollered at Cody to get in the barn. It took several more times of him ordering the dog to go, but when the critter finally did as he was told, Samuel secured his horse to the hitching rail and hurried across the yard.

“Daadi, guess what?” Marla said excitedly when Samuel entered the house.

He bent down to give her a hug. “What?”

“Since it’s raining, Esther said we could have our picnic supper in the kitchen.”

“Is that a fact?”

She bobbed her head. “Please say we can stay, Daadi, ‘cause she’s fixed lots of good food, and I’m hungerich.”

Samuel smiled despite his throbbing headache. “I guess we’d better stay then, ‘cause I wouldn’t want any of my kinner to starve to death, and I’m sure that whatever Esther’s fixed for supper will be a whole lot better than the cold sandwiches I was going to make if we went home and ate.”

“I get sick of sandwiches, so I’m glad we’re not goin’ home to eat.” Marla tugged on Samuel’s hand. “Esther’s got everything ready now. Let’s go in the kitchen so we can eat.”

Esther smiled when Samuel entered the room holding Marla’s hand, and she was pleased to see that Marla was smiling, too. “Since it’s raining, I thought we could have our picnic in here.” She motioned to the table, which was fully set.

He gave a nod. “So I’ve been told.”

Everyone took their seats, and after the silent prayer had been said, Esther passed the food around. There was chicken, fried golden brown; tangy potato salad; carrot and celery sticks; savory, maple-flavored baked beans; and spicy deviled eggs. She’d even thought to cover the table with a red-and-white-checkered tablecloth, so it seemed more like they were having a picnic. It did her heart good to see the children’s smiling faces. This might not be the picnic they’d planned, but at least they were all together, and she was glad Samuel had agreed to stay. She hoped they’d have time after the meal to sit and visit while the children played.

Esther had just taken a bite of chicken when the telephone rang. She excused herself and took the portable phone that was usually in Bonnie’s kitchen into the hall so she wouldn’t disturb the conversation going on at the table. When she realized it was someone wanting to make a reservation at the B&B, she took a seat at the desk near the front door and wrote down the information in the reservation book.

Esther hung up the phone several minutes later and was about to return to the kitchen, when the phone rang again. “Bonnie’s Bed-and-Breakfast.”

“Esther, is that you?”

Esther recognized her mother’s voice and she smiled. “Jah, Mom, it’s me.”

“How are you doing? Are you still running the bed-and-breakfast by yourself, or is Bonnie back from Oregon now?” Mom asked.

“I’m still on my own. Bonnie will probably be gone another four weeks,” Esther replied.

“Are you managing okay by yourself? You’re not tempted to watch TV, I hope.”

“No TV, and I’m getting along fine and keeping busy.” Esther wasn’t about to tell Mom all the trouble she’d had since Bonnie had left. Mom would be concerned, and she didn’t need one more thing to worry about.

“How’s Dan doing?” Esther asked.

“I’m sorry to say he’s no better. He still tires easily, and he’s using a wheelchair most of the time now.”

“That’s too bad. I’m sure he appreciates you and Dad being there.”

“Jah. I know both Dan and Sarah are real glad we came to help out.”

They talked awhile longer; then remembering her guests in the kitchen, Esther explained that she needed to go. She’d no more than hung up the phone, when the middle-aged couple who’d checked into the B&B earlier came down the stairs asking for directions to one of the restaurants in Hopkinsville. By the time Esther finished talking to them and returned to the kitchen, Samuel and the kids were done eating.

“I’m sorry for taking so long,” Esther apologized. “But I’m glad you went ahead and ate without me.”

“It was very good.” Samuel pushed back his chair. “I hate to eat and run, but I think we need to get home.”

Marla’s brows puckered. “Do we hafta go? We haven’t had dessert yet, and I wanted to stay and visit with Esther awhile.”

“Maybe some other time,” Samuel said. “I’ve been fighting a sinus headache for the last several hours, and I need to go home and lie down.”

“I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling well,” Esther said. “Would you like some aspirin or willow bark capsules?”

He shook his head. “I took a couple of aspirin before coming here, but it hasn’t helped. Think I just need to lie down awhile.”

“Of course. I understand, and I’ll just send the strawberry-rhubarb pie I made for dessert home with you.” Esther was disappointed that she’d have to eat a cold supper by herself, but she felt bad about Samuel’s headache.
So much for a fun evening with Samuel and the kids
, she thought with regret. The way things were going, it didn’t look like she and Samuel would ever have a chance to really sit and visit.

W
hen Esther woke up the following morning, she felt disoriented. It had rained most of the night, and the constant
Ping! Ping! Ping!
against the window in the guest house bedroom had kept her awake for several hours. Some of the time it had rained so hard that she thought the roof might cave in.

She’d also been unable to sleep because she’d been thinking about Samuel and wondering how he was doing. When he and the children had left after supper, he’d looked exhausted. She knew that even though he had a headache, he’d have to do his evening chores and see that the children were put to bed. What Samuel needed was a wife who could help raise his children, but then Samuel might have other thoughts about that. Some widowed Amish men she knew had found another wife within the first six months, and they didn’t even have any children. To be widowed and trying to raise four children by himself had to be very difficult for Samuel. Of course, he did have her and also Titus to help with the children, but if he had a wife …

Now don’t let your thoughts take you where they shouldn’t go
, Esther told herself as she climbed out of bed. It was dark in the room, so she lit the gas lamp and then ambled over to the window and lifted the shade. The rain had stopped, and the sun shone brightly, spilling its warmth into the room. Since today was Saturday, and she wouldn’t have Samuel’s children to watch, maybe she could get some gardening done. Of course, the first thing on her agenda was to walk over to the B&B and fix breakfast for her guests, who would no doubt be up pretty soon.

Esther turned toward the dresser, picked up the hand mirror, and frowned. There were dark circles beneath her eyes—an indication that she looked as tired as she felt this morning. It hadn’t been easy taking charge of things while Bonnie was gone. Esther knew Bonnie was where she needed to be right now, but she’d be glad when she came back and took over again.

What if she doesn’t come back? Esther thought. Maybe Bonnie will decide that her father needs her to stay there with him, and she’ll sell the B&B. Then I’d have no place to stay, because it wouldn’t be right to ask Samuel and the kinner to move out of Mom and Dad’s house. If they moved back with Titus, it would cause problems between him and Suzanne again, and they might end up not getting married. She splashed some cold water on her face from the basin she kept on the dresser, trying to clear her mind of the troubling thoughts. It’s best if I don’t worry about this. I just need to trust that Bonnie will come back. I need to trust God to work everything out
.

Shortly after Esther cleaned up the kitchen, her two B&B guests, a middle-aged couple from Tennessee, headed out to do some shopping and sightseeing.

Esther stepped outside with a plastic container for the produce she planned to pick and was halfway to the garden when Allen’s truck pulled in.

“I was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by and see how you’re doing,” he said when he got out of his vehicle and joined her on the grass.

“I’m doing okay.” Esther pointed to the garden. “I was just getting ready to pick some green beans and tomatoes.”

“Do you need some help with that?”

“Is your back healed well enough to be working in the garden?”

He gave a nod. “My mom went back home last week, and I’m good as new. She never would have left if I wasn’t doing better.”

“I’m glad to hear your back’s not hurting anymore. Falling down the steps like that, your injuries could have been even worse.” Esther thought of Samuel’s wife, who had died because she’d broken her neck when she’d fallen down the steps in their home. Allen was fortunate that his back hadn’t been injured seriously enough to leave him with any permanent disability.

“Since I have some free time this morning, I may as well help you,” Allen said.

“I appreciate that.” She handed him the plastic container. “You can use this and start on the beans if you like, while I go get another container for the tomatoes.”

As Allen headed for the garden, Esther went to the house. When she returned a few minutes later, she found Allen kneeling beside a clump of beans.

“Have you heard anything more from Bonnie? Do you know when she’ll be back?” he asked, looking up with a hopeful expression. Was Allen concerned about Bonnie or just making polite conversation?

“She called a few days ago.” Esther moved toward a row of tomatoes. “Said her dad’s getting along pretty well, but it’ll be awhile before he’s out of his casts.”

“I imagine he’ll need some physical therapy after the casts come off.”

“I hadn’t even thought about that.” Esther picked a couple of ripe cherry tomatoes and placed them in her container. “I guess that means Bonnie might stay in Oregon longer than six weeks.”

“That will probably depend on whether her dad can manage on his own when the casts come off.” Allen wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “Whew! Sure is a hot, humid day. And look at the birds drinking from the birdbath over there.” He pointed across the yard. “I’ll bet they’re feeling about as hot as I am right now.”

“Are you thirsty? I could run back to the house and get you some water,” Esther offered.

“Not right now. I haven’t picked enough beans to earn a break yet.”

She chuckled. “A quick drink of water wouldn’t be much of a break.”

“It would be if I drank it and then plopped down in that.” He motioned to the hammock suspended between two maple trees in the front yard.

She smiled. “It does look inviting.”

“It’s been a long time since I kicked back and rested in a hammock.”