The Bishop's Daughter (10 page)

When Jim entered the living room after changing from his swimsuit into his sweatpants, he spotted Jimmy sitting on the couch, his head bowed and eyes closed.
The kid’s just like his mom
, he thought as irritation welled up in his chest.
Every time he turns around, he’s praying about something
.

Jim cleared his throat, and Jimmy opened his eyes.

“I’m glad you’ve come inside because I need to ask you something, Dad.”

Jim took a seat in the rocking chair across from Jimmy. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you were able to call that lawyer in Maryland today.”

Jim groaned inwardly. “Nope. I was too busy. I’ll do it later in the week.”

“Are you sure?” Jimmy’s expression was as stoic as a statue.

“Of course I’m sure. And don’t start pressuring me. You know how busy we’ve been at work.” He stood and moved toward the door leading to the hallway.

“Where are you going?” Jimmy called after him.

“Out to the kitchen to get a beer so I can unwind.”

“I thought that was why you had gone in the hot tub.”

Jim whirled around. “It was, but it wasn’t enough to make me relax.”

Jimmy grimaced. “You shouldn’t have to drink in order to relax, Dad. I don’t think you realize how much you’re drinking these days. I’m worried that you’ll lose your business if you don’t get some help. Maybe you should consider going to AA.”

“Alcoholics Anonymous?”

Jimmy nodded.

“You’ve got to be kidding!”

“I’m serious, Dad. There’s a lady from church who’s a recovered alcoholic, and she says she’s gotten a lot of help from AA. She spoke to our young adult Sunday school class last week and told us that, even though she’s been dry for years, she still goes to those meetings as often as she can.”

“If she’s recovered, why would she need to keep going?”

“Partly to remind herself that she is and always will be an alcoholic. But I think the main reason she goes is to help others who are new to the group and need some support.”

“Each to his own, I guess.”

Jim had almost made it to the hallway door when Jimmy called out, “Would you like me to see when and where the next meeting is going to be held?”

“No!”

“How about going to church with me this Sunday? I can introduce you to—”

Jim squinted as he looked over his shoulder at Jimmy. “What part of
no
don’t you understand?”

“If it weren’t for me and Ed covering your back at work much of the time, you might have lost your business by now. Have you considered that?”

Jim whirled around. “I’m not an alcoholic—and with or without Ed’s and your help, I would not have lost my business!”

As Leona prepared for bed that night, her head pounded like a herd of stampeding horses.
I should have listened to Mom when she suggested I not go to school today. It was good to see the kinner again, but I’m not sure it was worth the headache I’m left with now
. She moved across the room to stand in front of her bedroom window.
If I had stayed home, Papa wouldn’t have felt the need to ask Abner to give me a ride, either
.

She leaned wearily against the window frame.
I can’t believe he actually thought I might be interested in courting someone when it’s only been a few months since Ezra died
.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Leona glanced into the yard below. There sat Cinnamon, staring up at her as if begging to be let in. Leona opened the window and leaned her head out. “You know you can’t come inside the house. You’d better go out to the barn or find a comfortable spot on the porch to sleep.”

Woof! Woof!

“Hush up, Cinnamon. You’ll wake Papa and Mom with all that barking.”

Woof!

“Okay, okay, you win. I’ll be right down.” Leona smiled as the dog wagged its tail and swaggered toward the porch as though she’d won a prize.

Grabbing her cotton robe from a wall peg, Leona slipped quietly out of her room, tiptoed down the stairs, and hurried out the back door.

A chilly wind met her as she stepped outside. She shivered, wrapping her arms around her chest. It might be plenty warm during the day, but nighttime was another matter.

Cinnamon pranced up to Leona, licking her hand as she bent to pet
the dog. “I can’t stay out here long, but we can sit awhile and listen to the crickets sing if you promise to be real quiet.”

The dog answered with a soft whine, then flopped down beside Leona when she took a seat on the top porch step. Without an invitation, Cinnamon laid her head in Leona’s lap.

“Did you miss me today, girl?” Leona asked, scratching the dog behind its left ear.

Cinnamon released a quiet grunt.

“I missed you, too.” Leona closed her eyes and reflected on the days of her youth when Cinnamon had been her constant companion. With her sisters and her brother being several years older than she, Leona had little in common with Peggy, Rebecca, and Arthur. Sometimes Leona had felt like an only child, especially after both sisters had gotten married and moved to Kentucky. Arthur always seemed to be busy helping Papa with the painting business. Truth was, even if he had been around home more before he married Doris, Leona was sure he wouldn’t have wanted his little sister tagging after him all the time. So, from the time Papa gave her Cinnamon, Leona and the dog had been best friends. Leona rather liked it that way. A dog wasn’t likely to place demands on you the way people sometimes did. And a faithful dog loved unconditionally, which was more than could be expected from a lot of folks.

As Cinnamon’s heavy breathing turned to soft snores, Leona opened her eyes and stared at the sky. The silver pinpoints of stars overhead reminded her of the Lone Star quilt on her bed. She sat there several minutes watching the stars twinkle, talking to God, and wondering what her future might hold.

S
ure is nice that you and your family could join us for supper tonight,” Abraham said, thumping his friend on the back as they followed Lydia and Leona toward the house.

“I’d never pass up a free meal.” Jacob chuckled. “Especially not when one of Fannie’s delicious turkey potpies is involved.”

“We’re having banana cake for dessert,” Abraham announced. “So be sure you don’t eat too much supper.”

Lydia glanced over her shoulder and smirked at him. “Oh, you can be sure my husband will eat more than his share this evening.” She laughed, along with the others.

When they entered the house, Abraham noticed that Fannie and Mary Ann were scurrying around the kitchen like a couple of excited chickens.

“What can I do to help?” Leona asked, stepping up to Abraham’s youngest daughter.

Mary Ann smiled and motioned to the table. “The glasses need to be filled with water.”

“Okay.”

“And what would you like me to do?” Lydia questioned.

“How about cutting some radishes? They’re fresh from the garden,” Fannie replied.

“Sure, I can do that.”

Abraham leaned close to his wife. “Call us when supper’s ready.”

“Jah, we sure will,” she said with a nod.

Abraham brushed Jacob’s shoulder as he pointed to the living room. “Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll go round up my youngest sons.”

A short time later, Abraham sat at the head of the table with Jacob
at the other end. The women took their seats on Abraham’s left, and his twin sons, who would turn fifteen in the fall, found their way to the bench on the other side of the table. All heads bowed for silent prayer. When Abraham finished his prayer, he cleared his throat and said, “Now, let’s eat ourselves full!”

“I know I’ll eat my share,” Titus announced. At least Abraham thought it was Titus. Sometimes, when the boys were in a teasing mood, they would pretend to be the other twin, wearing each other’s clothes and answering to the other brother’s name.

He leaned to the left, hoping to get a good look at his son’s eyes. Titus had one eye a little bigger than the other.

The boy turned his head before Abraham could get a good look and confirm which twin was speaking. “Say, Bishop Weaver, I’ve been wonderin’ about something.”

Jacob forked a couple of Fannie’s homemade bread-and-butter pickles onto his plate. “What do you want to know, Timothy? It is Timothy, right?”

“Nope. I’m Titus.”

“All right then. What do you want to know, Titus?”

Timothy snickered, and Titus jabbed him in the ribs. “Knock it off!”

Fannie gave both boys a warning glance, and Abraham did the same. “You two had better quit fooling around and eat,” he said sternly.

“I was eating ’til my
mutwillich bruder
decided to stick his bony elbow in my ribs.”

“Jah, well, it hasn’t only been your brother who’s been playful—you’ve been pretty rambunctious yourself all day, and I’ve had enough of it.” Abraham passed the platter of radishes over to Titus. “Why don’t you have a couple of these? They ought to cool ya down some.”

“No thanks. I’m sure they’re too hot for me.”

Jacob chuckled behind his napkin. “Now what was that question you had for me, Titus?”

“I was wonderin’ if you’re too poor to put a front window glass in your buggy?”

“Don’t be rude, son,” Abraham said with a shake of his finger. “You surely know that a missing front window is one of the things that distinguish a bishop’s buggy from others in this community.”

“Are ya
dumm
?” Timothy asked, giving his twin a sidelong glance.

“I ain’t dumb,” Titus shot back.

Timothy looked over at Jacob and said, “Say, I’ve got a question of my own.”

“What’s that?”

“I was wonderin’ if anyone’s ever fallen asleep during one of your long sermons.”

Jacob slid his finger down the side of his nose and squinted. “Hmm. . . Well, there was this one time when Harley King dozed off. Deacon Paul sat near me, so I leaned over and whispered in his ear, ‘Would ya please wake up the brother who’s fallen asleep?’ ”

Timothy plunked his elbows on the table and leaned slightly forward. “What happened then?”

Jacob grunted. “The helpful deacon looked me right in the eye and said, ‘It was you who put him to sleep, so you’re the one who oughta wake him up.’ ”

A round of laughter went around the table.

“I’d like to know something else,” Titus piped up.

“That’ll be enough with the questions.” Abraham stared hard at his son, for this time he had a clear view of the boy’s eyes. Neither one looked any bigger than the other did, so he knew it must be Timothy sitting closest to him, not Titus. “Say, are you two tryin’ to pull a fast one?”

“What do you mean, Papa?” Timothy asked, rather sheepishly.

“I know which of you is which, so you can quit trying to fool everyone. And since you’ve been actin’ silly all day, you can both clear the table and wash the dishes after we’re done eating.”

Titus opened his mouth to protest, but another jab to the ribs from his brother kept the boy quiet.

Abraham stuck his spoon in his potpie and popped a piece of turkey into his mouth. There were times, like now, when he wanted to throttle his youngest sons. Even so, he was glad the good Lord had given him and Fannie such a miracle when the twins were born. They hadn’t taken Zach’s place, but they’d sure filled a big hole in his heart, and he loved them dearly.