The SILENCE of WINTER (2 page)

Alex frowned and covered his ears. Awhile ago, some kid at the back of the bus had gotten the brainy idea to do a sing-along. Most everyone had joined in, even the adults. It was bad enough when they started singing “Oh! Susanna” and “The Wheels on the Bus” with all that swish-swishing, beep-beeping, and clink-clinking. Now it was even worse. They were singing “The Ants Go Marching.” Alex thought he would go crazy if he heard one more rendition of that stupid song. It seemed to go on forever.

When that song was finally over, the kid who’d started the sing-along noticed that Alex was the only one not participating, so he got some other stupid song started about being a party pooper, and on and on it went.

Sure can’t wait to get off this bus
, Alex thought, twisting his body toward the window and away from the sounds of that unwanted chorus.
If I had some duct tape, I’d go back there and slap it over that kid’s big mouth!

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nurse Susan Bailey had just gotten off the phone with her sister, Anne, as they finalized their plans for the evening. Anne worked at the same hospital as Susan, but Anne was a physical therapist in the rehab center, while Susan worked in the critical care unit.

Susan’s morning had been busy, making rounds and tending patients. She finally found the time to take a break at eleven and couldn’t believe how fast the morning had gone. She’d started her twelve-hour shift at 4:00 a.m. and had missed her early morning break, so the hunger pangs she felt now told her it was definitely past time to eat.

As Susan headed down the hall to the hospital cafeteria, she figured there wouldn’t be too many people there yet, and hopefully it would be quiet. During her thirty-minute break, she planned to start a grocery list. Last night before bed, Grandma Bailey had given her a small list of things she needed from the store, as well, so all Susan had to do was add what she wanted to her grandmother’s list and stop by the store on the way home. Buying groceries was just a small way of showing appreciation for all that Grandma and Grandpa had done for Susan and her sister over the years.

When Susan opened her small cooler, she frowned.
Sure wish I’d thought to pack more than yogurt and celery sticks this morning. I’ll just have to make due until I meet Anne for supper this evening, because I don’t want to buy a big lunch here and ruin my appetite for tonight.

Even though Susan and her sister lived with their grandparents in Darby, just outside Philadelphia, their jobs kept them so busy they didn’t see each other that much. Since they both had tonight off they’d decided to meet at a new Mexican restaurant for dinner at six thirty. Susan looked forward to biting into a zesty taco and whatever else she decided to order.

Seeing that there were only a few people in the lunchroom, Susan took a seat at one of the tables closest to the big window where she could look out at the rock garden that had been recently established by a local Boy Scout troop. This part of the cafeteria had lightly tinted glass windows that went from floor to ceiling. No matter where you sat, you could view the scene outside. The hospital had beautiful gardens all over the grounds. Different rocks of all shapes and sizes were displayed in this one, and among them sat various statues of wildlife. A squirrel statue perched on a flat rock, and a bunny rabbit sat near the edge by the grass. A family of deer gathered at the far side of the display, and a wooden wishing well sat in the center of it all. On top of the wishing well balanced a small statue of a cardinal.

Susan smiled when a real cardinal landed near the resin one then quickly flew away. It was a lovely display, and the Scouts had done a great job, but she’d heard that it wasn’t quite finished. The boys were supposed to return in the spring to plant flowers among the rocks and in the bucket of the wishing well.

A little bit of color will be the perfect touch.
She had just opened her container of yogurt when she was called back to the nurse’s station. “Oh, my! So much for my break,” she murmured, putting her hand on her stomach as it growled in protest. “Guess the grocery list will have to wait, too.”

She headed back to the nurse’s station, where she learned that one of the CCU nurses had taken ill and left early and a new patient who’d been badly injured would be arriving on her floor soon.

At home, Susan tended to be a bit disorganized as a means of relaxing and letting down. Here at work, however, it was a totally different story. She made sure no stone was left unturned. The patients’ needs were first and foremost in all that she did, and in return, the patients loved and appreciated her. Even the doctors held Susan in high regard for the dedication she displayed on the job.

Susan wanted to make sure the room was ready, and as she quickly and skillfully did her job, she sent up a prayer on the new patient’s behalf.

M
eredith had left the midwife’s office that morning feeling like she was walking on air, despite the heavy mist and icy roads that made traveling so miserable. Her suspicions had been right—she and Luke were going to be parents. She was about to burst, wanting to share the news with her folks, as well as Luke’s, but it wouldn’t be right to tell them without first telling Luke. She felt like pinching herself to be sure she wasn’t dreaming. In July, they would be celebrating the birth of their first baby.
Oh, what a blessing from God that will be!

After Meredith’s appointment, she’d made a few stops to pick up some groceries and other things she needed. Because of the roads, she had kept her horse, Taffy, at an even, slow pace, and so far her outing had been uneventful. She hoped when Luke called from his uncle’s this evening that she could hide her excitement about the baby. She wanted to wait and tell him their great news when he came home and she could do it face-to-face.

Meredith was excited to see Luke’s reaction and felt sure he’d be as happy as she was. With the prospect of his new headstone-engraving business and a baby on the way, everything seemed to be falling into place at last.

In the meantime, it would be a challenge not to tell her family when she saw them next, for she knew how excited they would all be—even her sisters and brothers, whom she felt sure would enjoy having a niece or nephew to play with and dote upon. So as soon as Luke returned and had learned the news, they’d tell both of their families together.

Before Luke left for Indiana, he’d told Meredith that he thought he’d be home by the end of January, so Meredith didn’t think her pregnancy would be showing that much yet. She hoped Luke wouldn’t suspect any change in her looks before she had the chance to tell him.

As Meredith guided her horse and buggy down the driveway leading to their house, she sent up a prayer of thanks for getting her and Taffy safely home. The horse had done well on the slippery roads, but whenever a car passed her buggy, Meredith had clenched the reins so tightly that her fingers ached. It had been a good thing she’d been driving her docile mare and not Luke’s horse, Socks. She shuddered to think of how hard it would have been to control the spirited gelding on the icy roads.

Even though Luke wasn’t there, rounding the bend and having their house come into view was a welcome sight. It was a relief to be home again, where she could relax for the rest of the day. Not that she would do that. Meredith felt full of energy, and her mind swirled with so many plans. There was a lot to be done before the baby came, and she could hardly wait to get started.

First things first,
she thought as her stomach rumbled noisily. Meredith had been so nervous about her appointment that she hadn’t eaten much for breakfast. So after putting Taffy back in the barn and unloading the buggy, she went straight to the house to make something for lunch. Now that she knew for certain she was pregnant, she’d be sure to eat regular meals. After all, she would be eating for two from now on.

Cleveland, Ohio

Alex shifted restlessly in his seat, unable to find a comfortable position. This trip was taking forever, but at least the traffic was moving again, and that annoying singing had finally stopped. Even at a slower pace, it was better than not moving at all, like they’d been forced to do earlier that morning. Their bus driver was being cautious because now the frozen mist had turned into snow. The farther west they traveled, the heavier and deeper it seemed to be getting.

The storm had really played havoc for anyone in a moving vehicle, not to mention the road crews trying to keep the roads safe enough for travel. At this rate, Alex was almost certain the bus wouldn’t make it to South Bend on time this evening. But he guessed that was okay, because he really had no place else he needed to be right now. As long as the singing from the back of the bus didn’t start up again, he might be able to get some sleep. The sooner he got to Indiana, the better, but at least it didn’t appear the cops were after him. That gave him a measure of peace. He sure couldn’t complain, as he patted his pocket and smiled to himself, knowing he had plenty of money—more than he’d had in a long time. He could lie low in a new town, not to mention buy his next fix once he found the right dealer.

Staring out the window at the falling snow, Alex noticed that the bus was slowing down as it pulled into a parking lot. He figured this must be the lunch stop he’d heard one of the passengers mention about an hour ago, and he had to admit he was starving.

As the bus pulled in, Alex realized that, according to the sign out front, the diner had a bookstore in the basement. That seemed kind of weird, but then weirdness was everywhere these days.

When the bus came to a stop, Alex noticed the singsong kid from the back of the bus had jumped up quickly, wanting to be the first one off.
Now’s my chance to get back at the little runt.

Right before the boy ran past him, Alex stuck his foot into the aisle, just enough to make the kid trip and fall.

“Oh, sorry about that.” Alex gave a halfhearted apology as the boy picked himself up.
Serves you right, you little creep. Where’s your parents, anyway?

The boy didn’t seem to be too bothered by it, but he got back at Alex by saying, “You got big feet, mister.”

“Oh, yeah? Well you—”

“Where you headed, sir?” the elderly man across the aisle from Alex asked as they stood to get off the bus.

Glaring at the boy one last time, Alex grimaced. The last thing he wished to do was converse with anyone else, especially now that he’d have to act Amish. But it was his own fault for bringing attention to himself.

All Alex wanted to do was get something to eat, because once the bus headed back out on the road, it might not be stopping for meals again until it arrived in South Bend. Since Alex had plenty of money for a change, he planned to order something that would stick to his ribs.

“So, where you heading?” the old man asked again.

“I’m goin’ to South Bend,” Alex mumbled, followed by several wracking coughs.

“Ah, so I’m guessin’ you must live in one of the Amish communities around Middlebury or Shipshewana?” The man squinted his pale blue eyes as he looked at Alex curiously.

Alex gave a brief nod and hurried off the bus, hoping the few words he’d spoken hadn’t given him away. When he entered the café, he found a seat at the lunch counter and placed an order for chicken and stuffing with mashed potatoes and a cup of black coffee. He was tempted to order a beer but thought better of it since he was dressed in Amish clothes.

“Mind if I join ya?” the old man asked, taking a seat on the stool beside Alex.

“Suit yourself; it’s a free country,” Alex said with a shrug.
Sure wish this guy would leave me alone. Why me, anyhow? Why doesn’t he bother some other poor sucker?

The wrinkles in the man’s forehead deepened. “You know, you really don’t sound like any Amish man I’ve ever met. Where’d you say you’re from?”

“I didn’t.” Alex grabbed the newspaper lying beside him, hoping to put an end to this conversation.

“I’m from Mishawaka,” the man said. “But I know a couple of Amish families who live in Middlebury.”