The Courtship Basket (13 page)

John nodded.

They made small talk about the weather and a few mutual friends while they finished the chicken potpie and then ate dessert. Once their plates were empty, Rachel helped Mike and John carry them to the counter.

“I'll take care of the dishes later,” Mike said. “I need to fix the sink.”

“You're going to finally fix the leak?” Raymond asked.

“
Ya, Dat
. I know I've been talking about it for six months,” Mike said, his tone holding an edge of self-deprecation.

“Well, we don't want to rush into these things.” Raymond had a twinkle in his eye, and Rachel chuckled.

Mike gave her a feigned looked of annoyance. “Don't encourage him.”

“I'll try not to.” Rachel touched her lips while suppressing another smile.

“I think I'm ready to read in the
schtupp
.” Raymond tapped the armrests on his wheelchair.

Rachel gripped the handles on the back of the wheelchair. “I'll push you in there.”

“
Danki
, but I'll take him.” Mike stepped over to her. “He'll need—”

“No, no.” Raymond shook his head. “You get started on the sink, and Rachel can take me into the
schtupp
.”

Mike looked back and forth between Rachel and his father. “But she can't lift you into the chair,
Dat.
”

“It's fine.” Raymond smiled up at Rachel. “She can hold the wheelchair steady while I move myself into the recliner. That's how I do it when the
maed
are here taking care of me.”

Mike hesitated, but then turned toward Rachel. “Call me if you need help.”

“You worry too much, Mike.” Raymond pointed toward the doorway leading to the family room. “Let's go.”

Rachel looked at Mike, who still seemed surprised. “I'll be right back.” She glanced at John. “You can get my tote bag and pull out the books. We'll get started on your work as soon as I get back.”

She pushed the wheelchair into the family room and stopped in front of the recliner. She locked the wheels and then held Raymond's arm as he shakily shifted his body into the chair. She parked the wheelchair in the corner and then handed him the newspaper.

“
Danki
.” Raymond smiled at her and took her hand. “You're a
wunderbaar maedel
. I can see the difference you're making in both Mike and John. I'm so
froh
the Lord sent you to us.”

Rachel blinked as tears threatened her eyes. “I enjoy helping John.”

“You're helping Mike too.” Raymond released her hand.

“I am?” The question leapt from her lips before she could stop it.

“
Ya
, you are.” A knowing smile slipped across the older man's lips. “He seems to relax a bit when you're around. He's been uptight ever since I was diagnosed with this horrible disease. I'm glad you started coming by. You're definitely a
gut
influence on my two sons. And I appreciate the
appeditlich
meals too.” He opened the paper on his lap.

“I'm so glad you enjoy the meals. Call if you need anything,” she said.

He nodded and then began to read the paper. She turned toward the doorway as Raymond's words echoed in her mind. She'd been helpful to both Mike and John? How could she have possibly helped Mike by coming over? He didn't seem very relaxed when she observed him. Perhaps Raymond saw something she didn't.

Rachel found John sitting at the kitchen table studying the math worksheets he'd retrieved from her bag. Mike had disappeared.

“Okay,” Rachel said as she sat down beside him. “Which math problem would you like to start with?”

John pointed to one in the middle of the page. They began talking through it, and soon Mike reappeared with a small toolbox and started to work on the sink. She found herself sneaking glances at him while he worked, and a couple of times he was looking at her at the same time. Her cheeks warmed when their eyes locked, and she quickly looked down at the math paper.

After all ten problems were completed, Rachel asked John to read aloud from the book she'd brought. He read slowly, sounding out words. She rubbed his back and quietly encouraged him. When he finished the chapter, she clapped.

“You did a
gut
job, John,” Mike said, beaming like a proud father. “Your reading is
wunderbaar
.”

John puffed up like a proud rooster. “Do you want to hear me read some more?”

“
Ya
, I do.” Mike leaned a hip against the counter. He raised his eyebrows and touched his chin as John began to read again, stopping occasionally to sound out a word.

Rachel smiled at Mike and then leaned over to see where John was on the page.

After he finished two pages, John leaned back in the chair. “I'm tired. I think I need to rest.”

Rachel chuckled. “You did great.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost two thirty. “This is the perfect place to stop. My driver will be here in a few minutes.” She gathered up the worksheets and books and slipped them into her bag. “You're going to be the top student in the class with the way you're improving.”

“Really?” John's eyes widened as he gasped.

“
Ya
, I mean that.” Rachel retrieved her basket and serving dishes from the counter. “I'll see you on Monday, John.
Danki
for inviting me to come over.”

“I'll walk you out.” Mike looked at John. “I'll be right back.”

“I'll go check on
Dat
and see if he needs anything.” John said good-bye to Rachel before walking into the family room.

“Let me help you.” Mike took the basket from her. “
Danki
for another great meal. You're really spoiling us.” His smile was genuine and also seemed a little shy. Did he feel as self-conscious around her as she did around him?

“
Gern gschehne
.” She pulled on her sweater and adjusted the strap of her tote bag on her shoulder. “I'm sure your cousins cook nice meals for you too.”

He nodded. “They do.”

They stood together by the driveway. She glanced toward the road, looking for the van.

“You're doing an incredible job with John,” Mike said. “I'm
astounded by how well he reads. He refused to read aloud when he was at the other school, and his teacher had no patience with him. You're a very talented teacher. I'm so grateful you're working with him. I can't thank you enough.” The genuine admiration in his eyes surprised her. “Did you mean it when you said he'll be the best in the class?”

“Of course I did,” she said. “I would never lie to him.”

“
Danki
.” Mike looked relieved. “John needs someone he can count on.” He glanced over his shoulder at the house as if checking to make sure they were still alone. “The situation with
mei dat
is scary, and John needs to know he can depend on you,” he said softly. “You're one of the most important adults in his life.”

“He can always depend on me.” Rachel said the words slowly to emphasize her commitment to them.

“
Gut
.”

Mike's expression grew more serious, and Rachel suddenly felt something in the air shift between them. Was he attracted to her? Was that what his father had alluded to in the family room? Alarm bells blared in her mind. She couldn't risk her heart again. Besides, he was the guardian of one of her students; therefore, a relationship with him would be inappropriate. She took a step back as if putting more space between them would snuff out the attraction she felt electrifying the air around them.

“You seem to have an amazing effect on
mei dat
too,” Mike continued, seemingly oblivious to the attraction she felt growing between them. “It's been months since I've heard him chat and joke like he did during lunch today. He really likes you.”

“I enjoy talking with him,” Rachel said, hefting her tote bag higher on her shoulder. His father's words echoed in her mind, and she was thankful she could help his family.

The rumble of an engine drew Rachel's attention to the end of the driveway as her driver approached.

“That's my ride,” she said, even though it was obvious.

“Thanks again for coming over,” he said. “Maybe you can come again next Saturday?”

“
Ya
,” she replied, at the same time wondering why he wanted her to come again. Was it only for John? Or was it so she could spend time with Mike and Raymond too?

Mike set the basket on the back floor of the van and then said hello to Rachel's driver. Rachel hopped into the front passenger seat and smiled at him. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

“You do the same.” Mike waved as the van rumbled down the driveway.

Rachel sucked in a breath and then smiled. She finally felt as if she were becoming friends with Mike, and she was grateful.

But she definitely did not want their friendship to become anything more.

M
IKE STOOD IN THE DRIVEWAY AS THE VAN STEERED TOWARD
the road. Rachel had the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. In fact, she was the prettiest girl he'd ever met with her dark hair and chocolate eyes.

He groaned, covering his face with his hands. Was he falling for her?

No, no, no!

He couldn't allow himself to think that way about her. After all, she was John's teacher, and Mike's life was already too complicated with all his obligations. Besides, why would Rachel want to have a relationship with someone who was responsible for his father and younger brother?

Not that Mike even wanted to get married. Why would he even consider marriage at this point in his life? He had to worry about his father, not try to figure out how to be a good husband.

Mike shook off the thoughts of Rachel and marriage as he made his way back into the house. He found his father and brother talking in the family room.

“And I read the whole chapter,” John was saying. “She said I did a
wunderbaar
job. In fact, she said I'm going to be the top student in the class.”

Dat
patted John's arm. “You're such a
gut bu
.”

Tender tears sparkled in his tired blue eyes, and Mike's chest seized.

“I'm going outside,” John announced as he started toward the
door. “I'm going to feed the chickens and then play on the swing set.” He disappeared through the kitchen.

“Don't forget your jacket, John! It's still cool out there.” Mike leaned on the doorframe and looked at his father. “Do you need anything?”

“No, I'm fine.”

Dat
smiled.

“You know, Michael, Rachel is a
wunderbaar maedel
.”

Mike nodded, and a vision of her beautiful eyes filled his mind. He tried to ignore the memory, but it continued to haunt him.

“You should find out if she has a boyfriend,”
Dat
prodded.

“
Dat
,” Mike began with exasperation, “you know I don't have time to date.” John had already confirmed Rachel didn't have a boyfriend, but that didn't matter. Mike had enough obligations to juggle.

“You shouldn't be alone.”
Dat
's smile crumpled with a look of concern.

“I'm not alone. How can I be alone with you and John here?” Mike tried to joke, but
Dat
didn't smile again. “I'm fine,
Dat
. We need to be concerned with your health, not my social life. May I get you a glass of water?”

Dat
cleared his throat. “
Ya
, that would be
gut
.”

Mike left to get the water and then returned.

“
Danki
.”
Dat
took a long drink and then placed the glass on the end table beside him. “I'm going to nap.”

Mike felt sadness swell inside of him. He remembered the days when
Dat
worked late in the evenings at the store. Some days
Onkel
Tim would have to insist
Dat
go home for supper. Perhaps Mike had gotten his stubbornness and workaholic tendencies from his father.

Mike missed the days when
Dat
was active and stubborn. Instead, he napped in his chair all afternoon from the exhausting combination of his kidney disease and dialysis.

“I'm going to clean up the kitchen,” Mike finally said. “Call if you need anything.”

As he stepped away, Mike again thought of Rachel. He would be honored to date a feisty, smart, and beautiful
maedel
like her, but he knew he wasn't worthy of someone as special as she was. He was better off alone. This was where he belonged, and he was thankful for his
dat
and
bruder
.

“N
OW
I
WANT TO HEAR YOU READ THIS CHAPTER ALOUD ALL
by yourself,” Rachel said, pointing to the books. “I know you can do it.”

Mike stood by the fence and rested a hammer on the slat beside him. He'd been determined to fix the fence today, but he couldn't stop his eyes from moving to the porch where Rachel worked with his brother. When John had shared that Rachel was going to come over to help him with his math and reading today, Mike actually smiled. He found himself thinking about her all week and hoping she would come over again this Saturday.

Why was he torturing himself with thoughts of her? She was only here to help John, not to get to know him.

John read the chapter aloud, clearly saying each word and only looking at Rachel for guidance once or twice. Whenever his young brother glanced up at Rachel, she gave him an encouraging smile and told him to try to sound out the word.

Mike tore his glance away from Rachel and John and began repairing the fence. He forced himself to put any thoughts of Rachel out of his head as he hammered in the posts.

After a while, he wiped his brow with his hand and glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds had been gathering all day, and the faint scent of rain drifted through the air.

After Mike finished repairing the fence, he stowed his tools in
the barn and walked toward the porch, where John was working on a math worksheet. His tongue stuck out of his mouth and his brow was crinkled with concentration. Rachel looked up at Mike and smiled. He returned the expression as he tried to ignore the warmth rushing over him. He couldn't allow himself to like her, but the feeling was overwhelming.

“I think I got it.” John pointed the pencil at the paper. “Is that right?”

“
Ya!
” Rachel clapped and then hugged his shoulders. “You got it, John. You're doing fantastic.” She glanced up at Mike. “I need to see what time it is. I asked my driver to pick me up at three today.”

“Cancel your ride,” Mike said without thinking it through. She raised an eyebrow with surprise. “Stay for supper.”

“
Ya!
” John jumped up from the rocking chair. “Mike and I will cook for you since you've cooked so much for us.”

Rachel looked back and forth between them as if debating her response.

“Please stay,” John asked, his eyes pleading with her.

“All right,” she said. “I'll stay. I'll just need to cancel my ride and let my family know I'm going to eat here.” She started toward the phone in the barn, then spun to face Mike, her black sweater fluttering around her slim body. “What time should I ask my driver to come by?”

“I'll take you home.” The words slipped from Mike's mouth before his brain had engaged. What would he discuss with her while they were alone in his buggy? Not only was it several miles, but it had been years since he'd taken a
maedel
home alone, and he was actually nervous. He felt as if he were eighteen again.

Rachel studied him with a hesitant expression before she nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“What are we making for supper?” John asked after Rachel disappeared into the barn.

“Pot roast.” Mike touched John's straw hat. “Do you want to help me cut up the vegetables?”

John shrugged. “Sure.”

Mike walked into the kitchen with John in tow. Mike washed his hands and then pulled out the ingredients for the pot roast. He was grateful Marie had picked up all the supplies he needed when she did the grocery shopping on Friday while
Dat
was at the dialysis center.

“You can start peeling the potatoes if you'd like,” Mike said, placing potatoes on the counter. He fetched the peeler from a nearby drawer.

John pushed a chair over to the counter and stood on it. After washing his hands, he began trying to peel the potatoes. The peeler slid across the potato, and he narrowly missed slicing his fingers.

“Hang on a minute, buddy,” Mike called from the other side of the kitchen. “I'm trying to find the big pot. Janie said she put it in the pantry.”

John dropped the peeler on the counter and groaned. “I can't do it.” He stomped his foot on the chair.

“May I help?” Rachel appeared behind John. “What are you trying to do?”

“Peel these potatoes, and it's not working,” John whined. “The peeler is broken.”

Rachel looked as if she were trying to suppress a smile. She was adorable. “I don't think the peeler is broken. Would you let me try?”

“
Ya
.” John handed her the peeler.

“Let's try it this way.” Rachel leaned in close to John while she demonstrated how to use the peeler. “See? Now you try.”

Mike located the pot and lifted it from the bottom of the pantry. He brought it over to the sink and consulted the recipe in his mother's favorite cookbook.

“What are we making?” Rachel asked.

“It's
mei mamm
's favorite pot roast recipe.” Mike pointed to the cookbook.

“I love pot roast.” She looked down at John. “Do you like pot roast?”

John's head bobbed up and down. “
Ya
. Mike does a
gut
job when he makes it. It's almost as
gut
as Marie's pot roast.”

Mike shook his head, and Rachel laughed. He enjoyed the sound of her laugh, and the way her face lit up with her mirth.

Then she clamped a hand over her mouth. “I'm sorry.”

“It's fine. Feel free to laugh at my expense.” Mike chuckled.

“You should laugh more,” she said. “You have a great smile.”

“
Danki
.” He admired her pretty face before she turned back to the potatoes.

They worked side by side as they discussed their favorite meals and desserts. Mike sliced the carrots and celery while Rachel and John finished the potatoes. Then Rachel quartered a large onion. Once the roast was cooking, Rachel helped Mike clean the counters.

“Could we have the rest of your chocolate pie for dessert?” John asked, sweeping the floor.

“Of course we can.” Rachel said, wiping the counter clean. “If I had known you wanted me to stay, I would've brought something else to share.”

“We don't expect you to feed us all the time,” Mike said. “We're just thankful you came to visit again.”

A crash sounded outside the window, and they all jumped.

Mike looked out the window just as lightning flashed. “Looks like we're going to get our first spring storm. If
Dat
's still asleep, I hope it doesn't wake him up.”

Rain pounded on the windowpane as another clap of thunder sounded.

“Let's play a game,” John suggested. “Hey, should I get Scrabble from the closet in the
schtupp
? We have the one they make for kids, Rachel! I think my reading is good enough now for me to play it.”

Mike glanced at Rachel and she nodded.

“That sounds like fun, and you'll be practicing your spelling,” Rachel said. “We haven't gotten to your spelling yet today.”

Mike grinned. She truly was a great teacher. “John, you grab the game, and I'll check on
Dat
. I want to make sure he's okay.”

Mike left the kitchen. When he peeked into
Dat
's bedroom, he found him snoring.

For the next hour, the three of them laughed and joked as they played Scrabble. Mike silently marveled at how Rachel went out of her way to talk to John and help him. She almost seemed like his guardian angel.

When John grew tired of Scrabble, they moved to card games and continued to play as the thunder rumbled, the lightning sparked, and the rain beat against the windows. When the room grew dark, Mike gathered two Coleman lanterns and set them on the table. The aroma of the pot roast filled the kitchen as the afternoon wore on. Mike slipped a tray of dinner rolls into the oven and then put a pot of carrots on a burner beside the roast. He set the timer and then returned to their card game.

When the timer rang signaling that the rolls were ready, Mike stood. “I'm going to make a salad. Johnny, you put the game and cards away.”

“I'll set the table,” Rachel offered, pushing her chair back. She located the dishes and utensils and began her task.

Mike set the roast on a serving platter and then gathered the ingredients for a salad.

“Let me help,” Rachel said, coming up beside him. “I can make the salad if you need to go help your
dat
get ready for supper.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Of course I am. I'm an expert salad maker.” She chuckled, and he enjoyed the sound of her sweet laughter.

“
Danki
.” Mike padded into his father's room and found him sitting in a chair beside the bed. “When did you get up?”

“A few minutes ago. The pot roast smells heavenly. My stomach was actually growling.”
Dat
pointed toward the wheelchair. “I thought I'd try to walk out to the kitchen, but my legs wouldn't agree to it. I've been sitting here thinking about how to get over to the wheelchair.”

“Why didn't you call me?” Mike asked, pushing the wheelchair over to his father. He stopped the chair and locked the wheels.

“I wanted to do it myself.”
Dat
looked determined. “I need to try to walk, don't I? The doctor said I should do things for myself sometimes so I don't lose all my strength.”

“That's true, but I don't want you to fall.” Mike took his father's arm and lifted him. “I just don't want you to get hurt.”

As Mike pushed the wheelchair toward the kitchen, they could hear John's and Rachel's voices.

“John, would you please put glasses and the pitcher of water on the table?”

Dat
grinned up at Mike. “Is Rachel still here?”

Mike nodded. “
Ya
, I asked her to stay for supper.”

“Did you ask her to be your girlfriend yet?”
Dat
's voice was hopeful, and Mike felt a twinge of annoyance.

“Shh. No, I haven't asked her, and I'm not going to,” Mike whispered with a frustrated sigh. “She's only my
freind
, and she's John's teacher.”