The Amish Bride (42 page)

I told her I would.

“Ella?” she said after I told her goodbye.

“Yes?”

“I mean it. Thank you.” She hung up then, while I held the phone at my ear, feeling emotionally spent.

“You’re going to take care of your dad?” Ezra leaned back against the arm of the couch.

I nodded. “Can you give me a ride?”

“Sure…”

I found Aunt Klara in the kitchen. I told her what I needed to do. She hugged me and said, “I’ll be praying.”

“Thanks,” I answered. “I’m praying for Ada too.”

T
en minutes later Ezra pulled into the driveway of the cottage. He turned sharply, positioning the bike perpendicular to the walkway that led to the front door. It was obvious he didn’t plan to come in with me.

“Where are you going?” I pulled the helmet off my head and straightened my head covering.

“Bishop Fisher’s house. To talk to him about us.”

I blushed.

“About you joining the church, all of that. We’re still planning on that, right?”

I nodded. “But what if Will needs you tonight?”
What if I need you?

Ezra smiled. “He won’t. Alexander’s there. And everyone else. They’ll be fine.”

I cleared my throat.

“I’ll come by in a couple of hours. To check in.”

“Thanks…” I expected him to be more of a help. A year ago, he would have done better.

He flashed me his killer smile. “Your dad doesn’t need me around, right? Neither does Ada. I’ll be back. I promise.” He waved and then sped
away. By the time he reached the highway, a car was pulling into the driveway. Most likely Izzy’s driver.

I climbed the steps and let myself in.

Izzy was huddled on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Mom had said she didn’t feel well, but clearly that was an understatement. Izzy looked terribly ill—and I said as much to her now.

“I know. I have a fever and my throat is killing me. I just hope I didn’t expose Zed.” As an afterthought, she added, “And I hope it’s not strep.”

I wrinkled my nose. It had come on pretty quickly, which I knew strep could do.

“Guess I’ll find out soon. The driver is taking me straight to the doctor.”

“Good idea,” I said.

“Your mom wrote out all the instructions. They are on the counter. He’s having a hard time getting out of bed. You’ll have to help him.”

I must have wrinkled my nose again because she said, “Don’t worry. He’s still getting himself to the bathroom. Your mom said the aide will start tomorrow.”

“So I’ve heard,” I said.

“Freddy’s sleeping now. He has a bell to ring when he needs something.”

After she left I found a can of disinfectant under the kitchen sink and sprayed it everywhere. Then I ventured upstairs to my old room. Zed’s clothes were on the pegs, but the quilt
Mammi
had made me was still on the bed and the rag rug was on the floor.

I noticed Lexie’s suitcase in the corner, zipped up tight.

I headed back downstairs and settled into the wingback chair in the living room, not wanting to risk any of Izzy’s lingering germs on the couch. I fell asleep immediately.

When I awoke, the cottage was dark, my cell phone was ringing, and a faint sound from a bell tinkled from faraway.

I pulled the cell from my apron pocket as I made my way to Zed’s old room.

“How are things?” It was Mom on the phone.

“Good,” I said. “I think Freddy just woke up. How’s Zed?” I passed through the kitchen and rapped quickly on the bedroom door just off of it.

The ring of the bell grew louder. I eased the door open.

“He was awake again for a little bit. He asked about you.”

My eyes filled with tears. “When will you be home?” I stood in the doorway of what had been Zed’s room, not wanting to go any farther.

“Late,” Mom said.

“Izzy?” Freddy’s voice sounded confused.

“I’d better go,” I said to my mother. “Call me back.”

I took a deep breath as I stepped into the room.

It smelled stale with a hint of antiseptic. Freddy squinted up at me in the dim light from a hospital bed.

He was bald, his hair probably taken from him by the chemo. His skin was pale, and he was thin. I searched his face, looking for some sort of resemblance. Had I inherited his chin? His eyes? I couldn’t see anything noticeable. Zed looked far more like him than I did. No sense of connection swept over me. I felt absolutely numb as I stared at the man who had fathered me.

“You must be the home health nurse.”

I hesitated for a moment. I could tell him I was filling in for Izzy without ever admitting who I was. I took a step toward the bed. “Actually—”

He looked spent.

“The aide is coming tomorrow. I’m just filling in.” It wasn’t a lie. Not at all.

“Could you help me?” He slipped his feet over the side of the bed and sat up straight. He wore sweatpants and a long-sleeved nightshirt, even though the room was warm.

I pretended he was
Mammi
, the way she was a few years ago, and put my arms around him, set my feet, and lifted. I could feel his shoulder blades through his cotton shirt. I waited until I felt him catch his balance and then let go. He shuffled toward the door where Zed’s closet was. Except it wasn’t a closet anymore—it was the new bathroom. I followed, walking behind him, in case he started to fall.

I thought of Luke saying that to truly forgive someone meant to no longer resent them. I sighed as Freddy closed the door behind him. I was beginning to understand what Luke meant—but I wasn’t there yet.

After Freddy came out of the bathroom, he crawled back into bed. I asked him if he wanted something to eat.

He nodded. “And my pain medicine.”

I returned with a ramekin of homemade custard I found in the fridge and his pills a few minutes later. His hand shook as he lifted the spoon to his mouth, and then he laid back, his head on his pillow, extending the empty cup for me to take. I waited a moment and then held the glass of water, positioning the straw so he could take his pills.

As he swallowed, his eyes met mine. He coughed a little and then said, “So you’re just filling in?”

I nodded. “Just for today. Because Izzy is sick.”

“When will Marta be back?”

“Tonight,” I answered.

“Do you know how Zed is?”

“Better,” I answered. “He was awake again not too long ago.” I knew Izzy would have told Freddy about Zed having come out of the coma. I glanced at the bell beside the bed. “Ring if you need anything.”

He put the glass down and settled his head back on his pillow. “If Marta calls, tell her I want to talk with her before she comes home. I want to ask her something about Ella.”

“Ella?” I tried to keep my voice even.

“Our daughter,” he said. “She doesn’t want to see me.” He took a deep breath and held it for a moment, startling me, and then he exhaled and turned away. “She’s out in Indiana right now.”

“Oh?” So Mom hadn’t told him I’d returned.

He didn’t answer for a long moment. Finally he said, “Just let me know if Marta calls.”

I stepped out of the room, my heart racing.

I scrubbed the kitchen counters and then started a pot of soup, using a ham bone I found in the refrigerator. Next I baked a lemon chiffon cake, Zed’s favorite. I’d take him a piece the next day, God willing.

I was scrubbing the mixing bowl when I heard the bell. I rinsed my hands, flung the dishtowel over my shoulder, and went to see what Freddy needed.

“I can’t seem to get comfortable,” he said.

All I could think of to do was fluff his pillows. Then I remembered the nurse changing Zed’s position every few hours.

“How about if we raise the bed a little and put a pillow under your knees?”

“The pain is definitely worse,” he said.

“I’m sorry.” I genuinely was. I wished I could help him. Maybe the next time the hospice nurse came, she could increase his meds.

He wiggled his legs under the covers and then flopped his head to the side, away from me.

I started toward the door, at a loss of what to do, but then I stopped. Maybe talking would help distract him.

“I heard you haven’t been in Lancaster long,” I said. “Where did you come from?”

He turned his head back toward me and squinted. I wasn’t sure if he was going to answer me or not, but finally he spoke.

“I was working near Chicago, doing construction, lucky to have a job at all, when I started feeling bad. The doctors thought it was one thing and then another. An allergy. Acid reflux. Then an ulcer. I’m an alcoholic, and although I hadn’t had a drink for a few years, I thought maybe I was paying the piper for all of that. Soon I was missing work and could hardly keep any food down. That’s when I decided to come back here.”

He took a shallow breath and then exhaled slowly. “I was a fool. Such a fool. Do you know my family very well?”

I shrugged.

“Marta was what I needed, but I couldn’t see that. Instead, I was off chasing anything I could, Plain or fancy. I did exactly what my dad did—but worse.” He paused again.

“I left. Even after Marta forgave me,” he said. “What’s amazing is she’s forgiven me again. And Zed. I asked them to, that first night I saw them, and they did. And…” His eyes filled with tears. “They have taken me in.” He was crying.

I pulled a tissue from the box and handed it to him, thinking I should pat his hand or something, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

He sighed. “I thought Marta would blame me for Zed getting hit. I know he was rushing back because of me.”

Or because of Izzy.

“But Marta hasn’t held anything against me.” He blew his nose. “I just wish my daughter would give me a chance.”

I took a deep breath. The room was too warm. I wiped my hand on my apron and then raised it to my forehead. I’d just spun quite the little web by deceiving him.

He leaned back against the bed. “I finally understand God’s love. Marta and Zed have shown it to me.” He closed his eyes and was quiet for a long moment. Finally he said, “Thanks for listening,” he said. “I’m going to try to rest now.”

“Ring when you need me.”

Ezra came back as I was taking the cake out of the oven. I offered him a bowl of soup, but he said he’d eaten with the Fishers. He leaned against the counter. “So the bishop says you need to go to the bishop in this district. Or else move over to ours.”

“Okay…” Not even
Mammi
was in Ezra’s district.

“I was thinking that maybe you could live with Will and Ada.”

I grimaced. “I can’t imagine Will being open to that.”

“I think he would. Once he knows you’re going to join the church for sure.”

“Let’s wait. I’m thinking Mom will need me here…” Soon we’d have Zed to take care of too, if Freddy lasted until he came home.

The handbell began to ring again.

“Want to come meet Freddy?” I put the oven mitts back in the drawer.

“Nah. I already have.”

“Really?”

“
Ya
, a couple of times.”

My stomach knotted. And he hadn’t told me.

“I’m going to stop by my friend Jason’s house. He’s interested in buying the bike.”

“Could you stay? Freddy seems pretty sick.”

“Your mom will be home soon, right?”

I explained that she would be getting home late as the bell rang again.

“I’d better go see what he needs.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ezra gave me a quick hug.

“I’ll be at
Mammi
’s.”

“So will I,” he said, starting toward the living room. “To see my new niece or nephew.” He glanced over his shoulder, grinning at me, as if his
smile alone could make everything all right. The sad thing was, I used to think that was true.

I heard the front door close as I stepped into Freddy’s room.