The Courtship Basket (23 page)

Dear Rachel,

I left a message with your
mamm
on Saturday, and I was hoping you'd call me back. I'm sorry I missed you at the shop. I didn't realize you were looking for me. I would've met you out front if I'd known you were there.

I'm also sorry I didn't get to talk to you Friday night.
Mei dat
was very ill, but I never meant to neglect you.

I'd like to make it up to you. Would you please come over for supper Friday night? I'll cook. I promise we'll have a
gut
time. We can sit on the porch and eat ice cream sundaes. Let me know if this sounds
gut
to you. I miss you.

Sincerely,
Mike

Rachel's breath hitched as she studied the words “I miss you.” The note sounded so genuine. It was as if he'd written it from his heart. So then why was Mike having an intimate conversation with a pretty redhead when Rachel had seen him at the shop?

She closed her eyes and took deep breaths in through her nose. She couldn't allow Mike to manipulate her any longer. She had to be strong. She had to be John's teacher, not Mike's close friend. It was time to be professional.

Rachel gripped her pen and wrote a response.

Mike,

Thank you for your note. I apologize for missing your call on Saturday. I wasn't feeling well.

John had a
gut
day today. He's improving his work on multiplication, and he's starting to read at a higher level. I've told him to take his time while completing his math worksheets. I'm certain he'll master the multiplication before school ends next month.

Thank you for the supper invitation. Unfortunately, I won't be able to come Friday night. I have plans with my family.

I hope your
dat
is feeling better. I'm sorry he's had such a tough time lately.

Sincerely,
Rachel

She closed the journal and nibbled on the end of her pen. Why was it so painful to turn down Mike's invitation? She looked across the room to John, who was reading aloud from his primer. She'd felt guilty for not bringing a meal for his family today. Why did she allow herself to become so attached to John? Her chest ached when she thought of Mike, John, and Raymond sitting down to supper tonight and not having one of her meals.

Rachel knew it was silly to feel guilty when John had his family members to care for him. Maybe the pretty redhead would prepare a meal for them tonight. The thought caused her shoulders to tense, but she had to let it go. She had to concentrate on her students and not worry about the Lantz family.

But if Rachel's feelings for Mike were wrong, then why was it so difficult for her to let go of them?

M
IKE
'
S CHEST CONSTRICTED AS HE STUDIED
R
ACHEL
'
S NOTE
. He read it for the fourth time, taking in the cold and disconnected way she responded to his invitation to supper. She also hadn't sent home a meal tonight, which was unusual. He didn't expect the meals, but she had insisted on preparing them.

Mike was also surprised Rachel hadn't returned his phone call from Saturday. Was she angry he didn't spend more time with her on Friday? If so, then why hadn't she accepted his apology? Rachel didn't seem like the kind of
maedel
who would hold a grudge. They were taught to forgive at an early age, so then why hadn't she forgiven him?

Questions and worry swirled through Mike's mind. He'd thought he and Rachel had formed a close relationship. Where had the sweet Rachel gone? What had Mike done wrong?

“
Was iss letz?
” John asked, his little voice startling him from his thoughts.

“Nothing, nothing.” Mike forced a smile as he set the journal beside his dinner plate.

“Did Rachel write something about me in the journal?” John's eyes were wide with concern.

“She didn't write anything negative about you at all.” Mike lifted his piece of fried chicken. “The note was all positive today. You're doing well with the lessons on multiplication.”

“Oh.” John studied Mike with suspicion. That boy never missed a beat.

“Eat your supper,” Janie instructed. Then she pushed a loose lock of her red hair behind her ear.

“Is Rachel coming for supper Friday night?” John asked with a mouthful of chicken.

“Please don't talk with your mouth full, John. No, she said she has plans with her family.” Mike's words were hollow and cold, much like his soul. “We'll invite her again another time.”

“Why don't we invite her for a picnic on Saturday?” John suggested, choosing another chicken thigh from the platter in the center of the table. “She seemed to like that, right?”

Mike paused to take a sip of water. From the tone of Rachel's note, Mike assumed she would turn down any invitation he made. Deep within his soul, however, Mike hoped he'd misread the tone of Rachel's note. Perhaps she'd had a bad day or she didn't want to write anything personal in the school journal because Malinda might see it.

“I can take care of your
dat
on Saturday if that will help,” Janie offered while spooning some peas and carrots. “You can go on a picnic, and I'll be here. I'll see if Marie can come over, too, so we can continue working in the garden.”

“
Danki
, Janie,” John said. “Let's invite Rachel for a picnic again. That was so fun. Maybe her
schweschder
can come and teach
us how to skip stones. Maybe
Onkel
Tim can also come and we can fish. Wouldn't that be fun?”

“That would be fun, but I don't know if we can get everything together on such short notice.” Mike felt a pang of regret as enthusiasm glimmered in his brother's eyes. This was exactly why Mike had been afraid to get close to Rachel; he had feared John would wind up hurt if their relationship didn't work out. He couldn't stand the thought of disappointing John, but he also couldn't force Rachel to spend time with them.

Everything Mike had tried to avoid had come true. Things hadn't worked out between Rachel and him, and now John was disappointed.

“I really want to go fishing,” John continued.

While John prattled on, Mike heard his father's deep, chesty cough rattling from his bedroom. He looked at Janie, and her brow furrowed with concern.

“I had hoped the antibiotics were working,” Janie said softly. “The doctor said he gave him the strongest oral medication he could. If that cough continues, I'll call him.”

“
Danki
.” Mike gave her a curt nod. He thought
Dat
would sound better by now. Why was the illness lingering?

“What are you talking about?” John glanced between Janie and Mike.

“The doctor gave your
dat
medication for his cough,” Janie explained. “He has what's called an upper respiratory infection, which means it's affecting how he breathes and gives him that cough. But the doctor will take care of him.”

“Oh.” John's forehead crinkled with concern.

“You don't need to worry,
mei liewe
,” Janie said, placing her hand on John's slight shoulder. “I'll make sure the doctor is doing everything he has to for your
dat
.”

John smiled up at Janie, and Mike's stomach eased slightly. He could do enough worrying for both of them; he didn't want John to worry too.

John spent the rest of supper talking about school and how much he enjoyed math. When they were finished eating, John climbed the stairs to take his bath. As Mike took dirty dishes to the counter, Janie started filling the sink with water.

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” Janie glanced over her shoulder at Mike as he gathered utensils from the table. “I can tell something is bothering you besides your
dat
's health.”

Mike stacked the utensils on a serving platter as running bath water hummed above him. He considered telling Janie nothing was wrong, but his cousins knew him too well to let something like this go.

“I think I've lost Rachel's friendship,” he admitted. “Her note in the journal was cold and distant, and she never returned my call over the weekend.” He explained what had happened Friday night and then how he'd missed her on Saturday. “I don't know how to explain to John that Rachel may not want to go on picnics with us anymore. It's going to be difficult for him.”

“And also difficult for you.” Janie gave him a sympathetic but knowing smile. “I can tell you care about her. I think you should write her a note and invite her for a picnic. Maybe she had an off day.”

“That's what I was thinking.” Mike's shoulders relaxed at her suggestion. He brought the platter to the counter. “I'll write another note.”

“
Gut
. Don't give up hope.” Janie nodded toward the table. “I'll finish cleaning up. You can write your note.”

“
Danki
.” Mike sat at one end of the table and opened the journal to a blank page. He hoped he still had a chance with Rachel.

“D
O YOU THINK YOU CAN GO ON A PICNIC WITH US ON
Saturday?” John's expression was full of hope as Rachel stood with him on the playground the following afternoon. “Mike wrote you a note and asked you, but I thought I'd ask you too. We can go fishing, and maybe your
schweschder
can teach us how to skip stones.”

Rachel fingered the skirt of her dress while John talked on about his hopes for a large family picnic on Saturday. She couldn't stomach the notion of turning him down, but she also couldn't stand the idea of not being Mike's only girlfriend.

“My cousin Janie said she'd stay with
mei dat
while we go on our picnic,” John continued. “
Mei dat
has a bad infection, but she said she'll make sure the doctors take
gut
care of him.”

“Wait,” Rachel said, holding up her hand, stopping his explanation. “What did you say? What's wrong with your father?”

“He has a bad infection,” John repeated. “I heard Mike say he was up most of last night with him because he was coughing.”

Concern washed over her. “I'm so sorry to hear that.”

“
Danki
.” His eyes pleaded with her. “So will you come on a picnic with us and see if your
schweschder
can come too?”

Rachel paused. She didn't want to hurt John, but she also didn't want to cause herself more pain. “I'm sorry, John, but this weekend is going to be very busy for me. Maybe I can come another time.”

John blanched and then took a step back. “All right.” He trotted off toward the swing set.

Rachel shook her head and leaned back against the fence.

“What was that about?” Malinda appeared at her side.

“John asked me to go on a picnic with him and Mike on Saturday. I told him no.” Rachel hugged her arms to her middle. “I can't stand hurting him, but I have to take a step back.” She turned toward Malinda. “You were right.”

“I was right about what?” Malinda searched her face for an answer.

“I never should've gotten so involved with Mike and John.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

Rachel breathed in the warm May air while gathering her thoughts. Then she told Marie about taking dinner over to the Lantz farm Friday night and what she saw when she went to see Mike at work on Saturday.

“You told me not to get too close to John and his family, but I didn't listen,” Rachel said. “I followed my heart instead of my head.”

“I'm sorry.” Malinda placed a hand on Rachel's arm. “I was hoping I was wrong. You seemed so
froh
when Mike picked you up last week and took you out for ice cream.”

“
Ya
, I was, but when I saw him with another
maedel
on Saturday, I realized I had let myself fall in love with him too quickly.” Rachel shook her head as she gazed across the playground where John was swinging with two other children. “I have a bad habit of thinking with my emotions instead of my head. That's how I wound up with a broken heart with David. I've done it again, but at least I know the truth this time. I just have to pick myself up and move on. I'll find the right person. It will just take time.”

She saw a gold-and-orange butterfly fluttering nearby, and her breath caught in her throat.
If I turn my attention to other things,
happiness will come and sit quietly on my shoulder . . .

Malinda gave her a sad smile. “
Ya
, just give it time. Don't rush yourself.”

“I won't.” A sharp stab of sadness pierced Rachel's heart as she watched John talk to the boy on the swing beside him. She'd hoped to be a big part of his life, but instead, she would only enjoy being his teacher until he transferred back to the school in his district.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling at the back of her mind that God had brought her into John's life for a purpose beyond only being his teacher. But what could that purpose be if her relationship with Mike had ended so abruptly?

M
IKE SAT UP RAMROD STRAIGHT ON THE SOFA AND SCANNED
the family room, which was cloaked in darkness. He turned toward his battery-operated digital clock on the end table and read two thirty-seven. The room was deathly silent, but something had jolted him out of a deep sleep. What was it?

He shoved the blankets from his legs and stood, the cool wooden floor creaking under his weight. As he moved toward the doorway leading to his father's bedroom, Mike shrugged his shoulders and moved his neck side to side in an attempt to release the aches and twinges. Sleeping on the sofa was tough on his back and neck, but Mike couldn't risk sleeping in his room upstairs and missing
Dat
's calls for help. Not when he'd been so ill.

Mike leaned into the bedroom doorway and saw the outline of
Dat
's thin body under the sheet. A loud, rattling cough was followed by a sputter and then gasping sound, and Mike ran to his father's bedside. Crouching down, Mike touched
Dat
's face. His skin was hot and clammy. Mike flipped on the lantern and saw that
Dat
's lips were tinted blue. His heart nearly exploded with fear.
Dat
needed help.

“
Dat, Dat
,” Mike whispered with urgency. “Can you hear me?”

Dat
wheezed and gasped again. He was having trouble breathing.

“I'm going to call for some help,” Mike said, his words rushed.

Mike dashed up the stairs and knocked on the guest room door. “Marie, Marie!
Dummle!
Wake up! I need help!”

A rustling noise followed by footsteps sounded and then the
door swung open, revealing Marie clad in a robe, her brown hair mussed.

In an instant, her brown eyes were wide with alarm. “
Was iss letz?
Is it
Onkel
Raymond?”

“
Ya
,” Mike said, adrenaline roaring through his veins. “He's having trouble breathing. I'm going to call nine-one-one. Would you sit with my
dat
?”

“
Ya, ya
. Of course.”

Marie followed Mike down the stairs. As she veered off into his father's room, Mike grabbed a lantern from the mudroom and ran out the back door to the barn.

When his feet hit the cold ground, he realized he'd forgotten his shoes. He dialed nine-one-one and begged the operator to send an ambulance as soon as possible. When he jogged back into the house, he found Marie applying a compress to
Dat
's forehead.

“He's burning up with fever,” she said softly, her face creased with anguish. “I thought this might help.”

Dat
's skin was gray and his eyes were closed. He shuddered and then convulsed with another deep, rattled cough and wheeze.

Mike paced at the end of the bed. “I should've called the doctor last night. I should've insisted the doctor admit him to the hospital.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “I thought he was getting better.”

“It's not your fault,” Marie insisted. “The rescue squad will be here soon.”

Sirens sounded in the distance, and Mike ran out the front door. He stood on the porch and directed the ambulance to the back of the house, glad that John was such a sound sleeper.

The next thirty minutes were a blur. As the EMTs took vital signs, Mike stood at the back of the room beside Marie. He felt as if he were eighteen again and the EMTs were working on his stepmother instead of his father.

He hugged his arms to his middle as his body shook with fear.
How could this be happening again?

As if reading his mind, Marie placed her hand on Mike's arm.

“Everything will be fine.” She leveled her gaze with his, but apprehension flickered in her eyes. “You get dressed. You'll need to ride in the ambulance with him, and I'll stay here with John. I'll bring John to the hospital tomorrow if you let me know when that's okay.”

Mike nodded. “All right.” As the EMTs prepared to load
Dat
onto a gurney, he ran up the stairs, praying
Dat
would make it through this and not leave him and John orphaned.

“M
R
. L
ANTZ
?” A
MAN CLAD IN GREEN SCRUBS AND A WHITE
coat approached Mike as he sat on a cold, vinyl chair in the emergency room waiting area.

Mike had been absently staring at a news program flickering on a large flat-screen television attached to the wall above him. It seemed as if it had been hours since
Dat
had been deposited in the emergency room. The sky had been pitch black when Mike entered the waiting room, but now the sun was starting to rise, bathing the sky in vivid streaks of orange, pink, and yellow.

“
Ya
,” Mike said, running his hand down his face. “I'm Michael Lantz.”

The man sat across from Mike and folded his hands in his lap. The rest of the waiting area was quiet except for a middle-aged couple sitting huddled together on the other side of the room. The only sound was the occasional telephone ringing and the
whoosh
of the electric doors when someone walked in or out. The aroma of cleaning solution assaulted Mike's nose.

“I'm Dr. Richmond,” the doctor said, the corners of his mouth turned down in a frown. “Your father is very ill. He has pneumonia.
You gave us permission to do whatever is necessary, and we've had to put him on a ventilator to help him breathe.”

“A ventilator?” Mike's eyes misted with tears. “This is serious.” The words were more a statement than a question.

“Yes, I'm afraid it is.” Dr. Richmond sighed. “Your father is very weak. The kidney failure has taken a toll on his body.”

For a moment, Mike's words were trapped in his dry throat. He nodded slowly to avoid breaking down in front of this stranger. Then he took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Can I see him?” “Yes.” The doctor nodded. “Once we have him comfortable, you can see him. We've moved him to the intensive care unit.” He tilted his head. “Do you have any other questions?”

Mike cleared his throat again. “How long do you think he'll be in the hospital?”

Dr. Richmond shook his head. “I'm not sure. It depends on how he responds to treatment.”

Mike wiped away an errant tear. “Thank you for your help.”

“You're welcome.” The doctor pointed toward the desk. “I'll have one of the nurses come to get you and take you to see your father.”

Once the doctor was gone, Mike stared out the window, taking in the beauty of the brightening sky. The promise of a gorgeous spring day seemed to mock his bleak mood. He wondered if Marie had told John about
Dat
. How had John taken the news? He hoped his family would arrive soon. He longed for companionship.

He longed for Rachel.

But why would he think of her when
Dat
was lying in a hospital bed with a ventilator helping him to breathe? Rachel's notes from school remained cold and professional, proving she had rejected his friendship, but he still missed her. He missed the closeness they had shared the day they went on the picnic and the day they went for ice cream.

If only he had a loving girlfriend or wife to hold his hand and
tell him everything was going to be all right. If only that person could be Rachel.

He sagged in the uncomfortable chair, closed his eyes, and tried to push those thoughts away as the low hum of the television penetrated the waiting room.

“Michael?”

Mike turned toward the exit doors as his aunt Sylvia and uncle Timothy rushed toward him. Relief overwhelmed him as he stood and his aunt pulled him into a hug.

“We got here as soon as we got Marie's phone message,”
Onkel
Tim said, squeezing Mike's arm.

Mike sniffed as tears threatened his eyes. “I'm so glad you're here.”

They sat down, facing each other in a circle of chairs.

“How is he?”
Aenti
Sylvia's eyes sparkled with tears.

“It's pneumonia.” Mike shared the doctor's diagnosis, and his aunt choked back a sob, covering her mouth with her hand.

“We'll go with you to see him,” Tim said.

“
Danki
,” Mike said. “How's John?”

“Marie said John wanted to go on a picnic, but she convinced him to have one in the backyard so they can stay near the phone. She said she'd wait to hear from you before calling a driver to bring them here.” Sylvia touched his arm.

Mike shook his head. “I don't think John should see
mei dat
hooked up to a ventilator. It would be too confusing and frightening for him.”

“I agree.”
Aenti
Sylvia studied Mike's eyes. “You look exhausted. You should have our driver take you home so you can get some sleep. Tim and I can stay and wait to hear more news.”

Onkel
Tim nodded. “That's a
gut
idea. You need your rest.”

“No.” Mike shook his head. “I can't leave him.” He covered his face with his hands. “What am I going to tell John? I have to find a way to be strong for him.”

“We'll help you, Michael,”
Aenti
Sylvia said gently. “You're not in this alone. We're your family, and we'll help you through this.”

Mike met his aunt's warm expression, and he gave her a sad smile. He was thankful he didn't have to bear this alone.

M
IKE STUDIED THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER
as machines hummed and clicked beside him. Every few minutes he glanced over at
Dat
, who lay silently in the hospital bed, his eyes closed and his skin still a grayish color.

The door opened, and his uncle Tim entered.

“Any change?” he asked, sinking into the chair across from Mike.

“No,” Mike said softly. “I keep waiting for him to wake up and let me know he feels better.”

“Have you seen the doctor yet this morning?”

“No.” Mike held up the paper. “I just keep staring at the front page and reading the same article. I'm not retaining anything. I can't think straight.”

“That's because you need rest,”
Onkel
Tim said, placing his ankle on his opposite knee. “You need to go home and get some sleep. You've been here more than twenty-four hours. Go home and come back tomorrow.”

“I can't leave him,” Mike repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. He hadn't left
Dat
's side except to go to the cafeteria to pick up something to eat or to go sit in the ICU waiting room while the nurses took care of his father. He was waiting impatiently for
Dat
to open his eyes and at least acknowledge him.

“How is John?”

“He's fine. Janie and Sylvia are with him now. He enjoyed the picnic in the backyard with Marie yesterday, and he went to church with Janie and Sylvia today.”
Onkel
Tim absently ran his
hand over his trouser leg. “He misses you, and he wants to see your
dat
.”

“I know. I talked to him on the phone last night.” Mike turned toward
Dat
. “I don't know if I should let John see
Dat
. I don't want to scare him.”

“He needs to know the truth.”

Mike opened his mouth to protest, but the door clicked open again. Dr. Richmond stepped into the room and greeted Mike and Tim before pulling the clipboard out from the slot at the end of the bed.

“How does it look for my father?” Mike asked, his voice thin and shaky. “I keep waiting for him to wake up and look at me, but he hasn't responded at all since he was admitted to the hospital yesterday.”

Dr. Richmond leaned against the wall and frowned. His expression sent a shiver of alarm through Mike. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“We've run several tests, and I'm sorry to tell you that your father is in a coma.” The doctor's expression became grimmer. “I told you yesterday that the kidney failure has taken a toll on his body. Well, the toxins in his blood stream have caused his organs to start to shut down, which caused the coma.” Dr. Richmond paused before going on. “I'm afraid I don't have good news. He most likely won't wake up, and you'll have to make some tough decisions.”

Mike blinked back tears. He turned toward
Onkel
Tim, who shook his head in dismay.

“That can't be,” Tim insisted. “My brother has always been determined. He'll fight this. He'll wake up.”

“What kind of decisions?” Mike asked, wiping his wet eyes.

“You'll have to decide if you want to turn off the ventilator.” Dr. Richmond hugged the clipboard to his chest.

Onkel
Tim gasped. “Turn off the ventilator? And let him die?”

Mike swallowed a sob.
This has to be a bad dream. This can't be happening. I can't lose
Dat
. Not now.
He stared down at his lap as dread grabbed hold of his throat and squeezed.

“I'm sorry,” Dr. Richmond said softly, his voice full of empathy. “My prayers are with you and your family.”

“We need to give Raymond more time,”
Onkel
Tim said. “We can't give up just yet.”

Mike wiped his eyes again and met his uncle's gaze. “I need to talk to John. I have to bring him up to see
Dat
one last time.” He looked at the doctor. “I know children aren't allowed in the ICU, but would you allow my six-year-old brother to come and see him?”

“Of course,” the doctor said. “We always make exceptions in situations like this.”

“Thank you.” Mike turned toward his uncle. “I need to go home and see John. Will you stay tonight?”

“Of course.”
Onkel
Tim took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.

“I
HAD FUN WITH
A
ENTI
S
YLVIA
, J
ANIE
,
AND
M
ARIE TODAY
,” John said as he sat on his bed. “We went to church and then we visited their neighbors. They have a barn full of cats and kittens. I sat with the kittens and rubbed their bellies.” He started to laugh and then stopped, the corners of his mouth turning down. “
Was iss letz?
You look
bedauerlich
.”