A Simple Faith: A Lancaster Crossroads Novel (8 page)

“Charlotte is a brave girl. I’m glad her wounds will heal, but sometimes a trauma like that can cause wounds inside that also need treatment.” Dylan went on to describe his outreach program in the community, and his healing therapy. He gave Irene a card, and asked her to call and set up an appointment. “There would be no charge for patients like you and Charlotte.”

“Me? Why would I need treatment?”

“Don’t you suffer from stress and anxiety?”

Irene let out a deep sigh, then chuckled. “I do. Indeed, I do.”

When they looked over at Charlotte, she had tied the scarf under her chin, Hollywood-style.

“If I had some big dark sunglasses, people might think I’m Lady Gaga,” she said.

“I bet they would,” Haley agreed. “But honestly, you’re a lot cuter.”

When Charlotte looked up at her and smiled, it was all worthwhile. Let Swanson make her rewrite her clinical reports. Let Mrs. Pendergrass monopolize her time. If Haley could actually help someone in the course of her day, she could put up with the petty problems.

By the time they finished with Charlotte and Irene, it was nearing the end of Haley’s shift.

“Thank you for that,” Haley told Dylan as they approached the nurses’ station. “It’s nice to feel like I’ve made a difference, and I think I learned a lot from listening to you.”

“Really. What did you learn?”

“You didn’t need my help getting through to Charlotte. You wanted me to be there to distract the patient so that you could get her mother to open up.”

He crossed his arms in a defensive gesture. “So … you’ve been studying my methodology.”

“I’ve been studying, all right. That’s about all I do these days. My grades are just so-so, and if I lose this scholarship, I’ll be out of nursing school.”

“That would be a shame.” There was real compassion in his eyes. “You’ve got a wonderful way with patients, Haley. You’ve got the potential to be a fine nurse.”

“Would you tell Dr. Swanson that?”

One side of his mouth turned up in half a grin. “I just might.”

“And I have another question for you.” Since she was on a roll, Haley figured she would go for it. “Some of us are going out to Snyder’s after the shift. Appetizers are half-price today. Do you want to come along?”

“I’d better not.”

“Come on,” she persisted. “Everyone wants a chance to talk with the elusive Dr. Monroe.”

“Really.” He rubbed his square jaw. “Is that the scuttlebutt?”

She nodded. “Yup. And I think it’s time to cut loose a little. Take off your tie and unbutton that collar. Talk to people and eat some spicy wings. Go wild.”

He almost grinned. Almost. “I like you, Haley. I appreciate your candor. But … not tonight.”

“Okay.” She folded her arms. “Some other time? Or should I back off?”

“Some other time,” he said.

That was the first time he’d smiled at her.

This was progress. Most of all, he had given her hope. He liked her. Haley waited until he disappeared into the elevator before she broke into a happy dance. He liked her!

7

“
I
t was a good thing, coming here,” Dat told Elsie Wednesday afternoon when their meetings with the Englisher vendors had finished. They waited under the red awning near the bright sign for Reading Terminal Market. This was the drop-off and pick-up point, probably because the market was a popular spot for Amish folks to sell their wares in the city.

He tapped the satchel of paperwork that Elsie had brought along. “I see now how our store will make much more profit by letting these businessmen sell our merchandise outside of Halfway.”

“And at the same time, we’ll be helping Plain folk sell their crafts,” Elsie said. “It’s a deal that could benefit many people.”

“A smart business deal. I’m glad you’re using the brain that Gott gave you, Elsie. I’m going to put you in charge of the store, make it official. That way I can spend more time at home, fixing up the old house and setting up the carriage house for the new business.”

Dat’s words warmed her inside—a very good thing on this chilly
January day. “I’m so very happy it all worked out.” She knew she was grinning from ear to ear, and if she wasn’t in such a public place, she would have skipped out of the market. She had worked many hours to expand their little Country Store through outside vendors.

Tom touched his beard as he eyed the small white box in her hands. “What’s that you got? A snack for the way home?”

“I bought some cupcakes for the little ones. The one for Will is decorated with a green frog. The other one, a purple horse.”

“Who ever heard of a purple horse?”

“I know. I laughed when I saw it, but something told me Beth would like it.”

“She’ll certainly like eating it. Those two have quite a sweet tooth.”

“Most children do,” Elsie said, “but I don’t think I ever grew out of mine.”

Dat’s eyes were thoughtful as he glanced down at her; how rare it was for the two of them to be alone like this. From the way he cleared his throat, Elsie sensed that he had something important to say.

“Maybe you’ll grow out of it when you have children of your own,” he said. “But I don’t mean to put the cart before the horse. You need to find a good Amish man and marry first. If you just give it a chance, some young fella is going to come courting. Give the young men a chance to know you. No one can resist your sunny disposition. Of all my children, you’re the one who can turn any frown upside down.”

“Dat …” Elsie looked around awkwardly. Some of the other passengers were nearby. Cousin James, just a few years older than Elsie, was talking with Ruben Zook, a large young man who hunkered into his coat against the cold. Three older Amish men waited inside the lobby, watching through the window. Elsie knew them all, and
she didn’t want to share such a personal matter with members of their church. Gossip was frowned upon, but that didn’t keep people from indulging. “Someone might hear.”

Her father held up one hand, stopping her objections. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about. Fanny tells me to leave it be, but now that the horse is out, we might as well plow the whole field. Your
Rumspringa
has been a very quiet time, and here you’re already seventeen.”

“I am,” she said, forcing cheerfulness in her voice that belied her wariness. She could see where this was heading, and if she wasn’t careful she would paint herself into a corner.

“The thing is … well, I never had to push your brother or sister into rumspringa. Emma would have dragged a team of horses behind her to get to a singing. But I’ve noticed you don’t go. And the youth gatherings … the volleyball games and bonfires. How is it that you’re always going to bed early when those events come around?”

She tipped her head to the side, glancing over at some passing shoppers to avoid looking in her father’s eyes. “Just tired, I guess.”

“Is that so? Every time?” He stroked his beard. “Something tells me you’re a late bloomer. There’s no shame in that. To everything there is a season, that’s what the Bible says. Your season will come, Elsie.”

She bit her lower lip, touched by her father’s loving words. Her dat loved her so much, he truly believed that she could have a life like other girls, that a bit of socializing at a singing would lead her to find a young man. He thought she would be able to fall in love and marry and have a family like other Amish girls.

Dear Dat! His love for his daughter made him blind to who she really was.

The white van that pulled up was a welcome distraction from their conversation.

“There’s George.” Elsie was relieved to end their conversation, to see George Dornbecker, their driver, jump out of the van and open the rear doors for cargo. She knew Dat wouldn’t talk about personal things inside the confines of the van.

“And it’s a good thing,” said Dat. “January weather wasn’t meant for standing around.”

Alvin Yoder peered through the glass of the marketplace. A moment later the door popped open and the three older men emerged, John Beiler talking all the way. Jacob Fisher plodded along slowly. A great-grandfather, he was probably seventy or eighty for all Elsie knew, but he liked working on the business end of the family bakery.

Ruben and James waited respectfully for the older men to climb into the van.

“Hold on there, Elsie,” George said, appearing with a plastic footstool in hand. He placed it on the pavement in front of the door. “There you go.”

“Thank you, George.” She cradled her white box carefully as she stepped into the van and took a seat at the window, right behind the driver. It wasn’t often that Elsie got to ride in an automobile, and she enjoyed peering forward to watch the world race toward her at a remarkable speed. So much faster than the fastest horse!

Dat decided to take the seat in front, beside George, and Elsie watched the others board, hoping her friend Rachel would get to sit beside her for the trip home.

Lizzy King went to the seats in the very back row, and her husband, “Market Joe,” followed. They rode in George’s van nearly every day so that they could run the King family’s cheese concession at the Reading Terminal Market. Today, their helper was Rachel King, who took the empty seat beside Elsie.

“Did you have a chance to meet with Claudia?” Elsie asked quietly.

“I did.” Rachel’s eyes glimmered. “I’ll tell you all about it when we get going.” She fastened her seat belt and watched as Zed Miller took a seat in the back row, behind the older men. A handsome man in his late twenties, Zed had just returned to Halfway after years of being shunned.

“Mmm.” Rachel’s eyebrows lifted. “Two more empty seats, and one beside me. What are the chances that James will be sitting with me?”

Elsie smiled. Her cousin James had been courting Rachel for a few months, and the chance to sit beside him for a van ride was an unexpected treat. “I think your chances are good.”

Just then the door was blocked by the bulk of Ruben Zook. He paused in the opening, and then lowered himself into the seat beside Rachel. “This seat is just fine for me,” he said. His eyes were lazy slivers as he watched Rachel react with uneasiness.

Ruben had a reputation as a joker, though Elsie didn’t always find his pranks to be so funny.

“Ruben.” Elsie leaned across Rachel, getting his attention. “I think there’s a lot more room for your long legs in the back row.”

“Ach, but the view of Rachel squirming is so much better from here.”

Rachel frowned, crossing her arms as James appeared in the doorway. He took in the situation quickly, and smiled. “Looks like I’ll be sitting on your lap, Ruben. Unless you want to move.”

Ruben heaved a sigh. “Some people just can’t take a joke.” He rose, careful not to bump his head on the padded ceiling as he moved back.

“That’s better.” James settled in, buckling his seat belt. “I don’t like to get that close without at least going on a buggy ride first.”

Rachel and Elsie chuckled as James beamed. “How was your day in the city? I can tell you, I spent a lot of time riding in cars on
crowded streets, just to pick up a part for the tractor. I’ll be happy to get back to Halfway, back to my horse and buggy.”

Elsie smiled and readjusted her hands on the bakery box. George had closed up the doors and turned up the heat, and though the warmth seeping into the van felt good, she didn’t want her cupcakes to melt or get smashed. She would hold them close, right in her lap for the ride.