The Restoration (40 page)

“It doesn’t matter. David’s gone, and I’m glad. He was trying to come between us, Priscilla.”

“Now you sound like my mamm.” Priscilla frowned. “I don’t think he was doing that. Maybe he was…” Priscilla’s voice trailed off. “I’m tired and I’d rather not talk about this right now.”

“I understand. Just the trip home from the hospital must’ve worn you out.” Elam pushed back his chair and stood. “I probably should go so you can sleep.” He started for the door but turned back. “There’s something you should know.”

“What’s that?”

“The reason I wanted to take you for a buggy ride Saturday night was so I could ask you an important question.” Elam paused to see if she would ask him what question. When she didn’t, he said, “I was going to ask if you would marry me. But, of course, David being there ruined my plans.”

More tears spilled out of Priscilla’s eyes.

He came closer. “If you’ll have me, I still want to marry you.”

“I’ve waited a long time to hear you say that, but I can’t give you my answer right now, Elam. I need time to think about things and focus on getting well.”

“I understand.” He bent and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “Once you’re feeling better, we can talk about this again.”

“Okay.”

“Get some rest now. I’ll come by soon to check on you.”

As Elam headed out the door, he felt a little better about things. Priscilla hadn’t said no to his proposal, and David was out of the picture. If the Englisher hadn’t come back to Arthur in the first place, none of this would have happened. The only good thing that had come from Priscilla getting burned was David had left, even though it was a cruel twist of fate.

L
eah had begun giving Cora a reflexology treatment, when Cora said, “You look tired and like something might be bothering you. It’s not Amy again, I hope.”

“No, she’s fine about the boppli now. The problem is with my friend Priscilla.” Leah frowned. “She got burned in a kitchen fire a few days ago.”

“That’s terrible! How badly was she burned?”

“Her arms, hands, chest and shoulders all received second-degree burns.”

“I assume she was taken to the hospital?”

Leah nodded. “She was supposed to come home today. Her mother will be taking over her care, using B&W ointment and burdock leaves.”

“I know about that particular treatment, and I’ve heard good things.”

“So you’re not opposed to it?”

“Not at all. Why would you think I’d be?”

“You’re a nurse, and some people who practice traditional medicine don’t agree with or understand using more natural methods.”

“Since I grew up in an Amish family, I’m well acquainted with holistic medicine. I know it can often bring good results—even where traditional medicines have failed. And sometimes a combination of both healing practices can be helpful.” Cora paused to stifle a yawn. “Oh my, excuse me.”

Leah giggled when she yawned, too. “I guess it’s right what people say about yawning being contagious.”

Cora smiled and nodded. “Back to our topic. I was surprised when I learned that the doctors at the clinic where I work often suggest natural methods as an option if the patients prefer to use them rather than conventional ones.”

“Yes, in our community it’s important to have a doctor who isn’t opposed to other methods, and it’s the reason we go there when the need arises.” Leah poured more lotion on Cora’s feet. “I’m glad you have an open mind about this, too.”

As Leah worked on Cora’s feet, they talked about other things—Leah’s pregnancy, the warm spring weather, and Cora’s precious granddaughters.

“Maybe you’ll have a boy.” Cora spoke in a bubbly tone. “I’ll bet Adam would enjoy having a son.”

“I’m sure he would. However, he’s already made it clear he’ll be happy with a boy or a girl.” Leah grinned. “To tell you the truth, I get the feeling Amy’s eager for the boppli to be born so she can fuss over it and pretend she’s a little mother.”

“Either way, we will all be happy once the baby comes. Even Jared is excited about it.”

“How’s he doing these days?”

“Quite well. I don’t think he’s completely gotten over Chad’s death, but he spends a lot of time outdoors at our new place. His friend Scott comes over every chance he gets.”

“Friends are so important. I can’t tell you how many times my good friends Elaine and Priscilla have always been there for me, and I want to be there for them, too.”

“How is Priscilla doing?” Elaine asked when Iva let her into the house the following day.

“As well as can be expected—maybe a little better than normal.” Iva’s lips compressed. “Since we started using the B&W ointment, her pain is less, but she’s
verleed.

“Is she depressed because she can’t do much of anything right now?”

“Being immobile is part of it, but she’s still worried about the prospect of permanent scarring.”

“Many people who have used B&W end up with little or no scarring at all. The stories I’ve heard about its effectiveness are amazing.”

Iva nodded. “I am doing everything the way I was shown by a natural healer in our area, so I’m hoping for a good outcome.” She gestured to the living-room entrance. “Priscilla’s in there. Why don’t you go on in? While you two visit, I’ll fix a snack.”

As Iva headed to the kitchen, Elaine went to the living room. She found Priscilla stretched out on the couch, her hands, arms, and what she could see of her chest and shoulders had been covered with burdock leaves, wrapped with gauze. She looked miserable.

Elaine took a seat in the chair closest to Priscilla, reaching over to gently stroke her friend’s forehead. “How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do for you right now?”

Priscilla shook her head. “Just sit and visit awhile. It might help take my mind off the predicament I’m in.”

“I’m sorry you have to go through this. I can’t imagine how hard it must be not to be able to use your hands.”

Priscilla sighed. “I feel so
nixnutzich
right now.”

“You’re not worthless at all. Once your hands heal, you’ll be able to do things again.”

“
If
they heal.” Priscilla frowned. “I even have burns between my fingers. That’s the reason Mom has them straightened like this.” She glanced toward the window. “Look how nice it is outside. I can think of a hundred things I could be doing in the yard if I wasn’t in this predicament. But no, I can’t do any of it right now.”

“Try not to think about all the things you’d like to do. You need to rest and concentrate on healing.”

“Now, Elaine, you’re starting to talk like my mamm.”

“I care about you.” Elaine smiled. “After the burns on your fingers begin to heal, you’ll have to exercise them. Otherwise, they could become stiff, and you sure don’t want that. And don’t forget, I’ll need your help hosting dinners.”

Priscilla stared at her hands. “I won’t be doing anything like that for quite a while. I can’t even feed myself right now, let alone cook or wash the dishes. You’ll need to find someone else to help you with the dinners.”

“I already have. Sylvia and Roseann Helmuth came to help me with the dinner I hosted last night, but it took both of them to equal one of you.”

“Puh! You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

Elaine shook her head. “It’s true. They were more than willing to help, but neither of them was as fast as you. I had to keep reminding them what to do.”

“I’m sure they’ll get the hang of it after they’ve helped with a few more dinners.”

“Maybe, but I’ll only use their help until you get better.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind and decide to keep them working for you, it’s fine with me.” Priscilla closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath, then she opened them again. “I need you to do something for me, Elaine.”

“Anything. Just tell me what.”

“Would you write a letter for me?” Wincing, Priscilla lifted her hands. “I’d do it myself, but as you can see, it will be some time before I can do much of anything with these.”

“Of course. Who’s the letter going to?”

“David.”

Elaine’s eyebrows puckered. “Why would you write to David when he lives right here in our town?”

Priscilla shook her head. “Not anymore. He left a note in our mailbox, saying he was going back to Chicago.”

“How come?”

“He blames himself for my accident, so he left.” Tears formed in Priscilla’s eyes and ran down her cheeks.

Elaine wiped Priscilla’s face with a tissue. “I’m sorry. I know you think a lot of David.”

“Jah. He’s a good friend.”

“Okay, tell me what to say, and I’ll write the letter.”

After Priscilla had told Elaine what to say to David, she felt a bit better. She hoped once David read her letter he would return to Arthur. Even if nothing serious came from their relationship, at least they could still be friends. “Why should David give up his plans of becoming Amish because he forgot to turn off the stove?” she murmured. “It’s ridiculous!”

“If David comes back, then what?” Elaine asked.

“Hopefully things will go back to the way they were. He’ll take classes and continue to learn what he needs to about our ways, and this fall he can join the Amish church.”

Elaine tipped her head, looking at Priscilla dubiously. “Mind if I ask you a personal question?”

“Course not. You can ask me anything.”

“Are you in love with David?”

“I’m not sure. He’s kind and gentle, and he treats me like I’m special.”

Elaine’s eyebrows squeezed together. “What about Elam? I thought you were in love with him.”

“I am. I’ve loved Elam for a long time.”

Elaine shook her head. “You can’t love two men at the same time, Priscilla.”

“I never thought I could, either, but after spending time with David…” Priscilla’s voice trailed off. “It doesn’t matter anyway. If David doesn’t come back, there’s no chance of us having a future together.”

Priscilla was on the verge of telling Elaine about Elam’s marriage proposal but changed her mind. This was something she had to think about and work through on her own. She’d waited a long time for Elam to propose, and now that he finally had, she wasn’t ready to give him an answer.

“How’s it going, son?” Jonah’s dad asked when he entered the buggy shop after running some errands.

“Things got busy after you left. Two people came by with new buggy orders, and three others had buggies needing to be repaired.” Jonah motioned toward the back of the shop. “Timothy’s started on one of those, while I’ve been trying to get caught up on some paperwork.”

Dad pulled out a chair beside Jonah’s desk and sat. “I’ll chip in and help as soon as I get the things I bought in town for your mamm unloaded at the house. She needed a few things for the boppli, and I also picked up some groceries she asked me to get.”

“I appreciate you taking care of all those things.” Jonah smiled. “You and Mom have been a big help since Sara died. Don’t know what I’d do without you. Makes me glad you left Pennsylvania and moved here to be my partner.”

Dad put his hand on Jonah’s shoulder. “We’re glad to be here, too—not just to help out in your time of need, but because we enjoy being with you. It’s good for us to be working together again, too.”