Love's Abundant Harvest (21 page)

She had taken a long whiff of the purple flowers and now looked up at him. “What
do you mean?” Her face tightened as if concerned.

“Not in a bad way. I'm not sure what I feel.” His eyes met hers. “What about you?”
There it was, out there, at least a little something to find out how they felt about
each other. But her expression concerned him. Either he had taken her off guard or
she didn't like the question.

“I like to be with you, Manny.” She opened her mouth but then shut it as if she'd
bitten her tongue.

That was a good start but not quite what he wanted to hear. On the other hand, he
wasn't giving any better answers.

“I do too.” He was relieved when she smiled and took in another deep smell of the
flowers. Then she started for the
haus
.

He took their basket and followed her, not sure whether there was anything else he
could say at this point. His original reason for visiting her this morning was to
talk about the future, but her hands were full, and her mind was on the baby, as
it should be. He could wait.

When they got closer to the
haus,
the voices of her
mamm
and sister were still raised
but not quite as badly as before. “What are they upset about?”

“
Mamm
is in torn between my
daed
and me. Fannie is upset that
mamm
doesn't think
she can take care of me while she goes home to take care of
Daed
.”

“So what's the answer?”

“My
daed
's a gentle man, but if he were here, he would
put a stop to their bickering
and tell them what was to be done, and that would be it.” She sighed. “I wish he
was here right now.”

The wheels started turning, and Manny justified getting a little outside help. “Would
a phone call suffice?”

Lucy lifted her brows and nodded once. “
Jah
, if the bishop agrees.”

Manny wasn't particularly looking forward to asking permission for Lucy to use the
phone, but technically Deacon Ruben could give him the nod. Manny knew from personal
experience that the bishop doesn't easily bend the rules. Even when Glenda's life
was at stake, the bishop wouldn't bend the rules to accept the
Englischer
's way of
treating cancer. It was probably futile now for Manny to think that yet another round
of chemo would have saved Glenda's life, but he felt the decision should have been
his and no one else's. In the end the doctor confirmed that chemo would not have
helped, but the bishop's reaction was still something Manny struggled to forgive.

“All right, then, I'll talk to the deacon.” He watched as her eyes filled with tears.

She wiped them away as quickly as they came. “
Danke
, Manny.” She pressed her lips
together as if to keep more words unsaid.

“I didn't mean to upset you.” He let Lucy get herself together. “Even if it is for
a good reason, I don't want to be known for making a pregnant woman cry.” He grinned.

She laughed through the tears and nodded. “Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.” Then
she put a hand on his shoulder. “It would mean a lot to me to hear my
daed
's voice
about now. I haven't talked to him in weeks. And the letters are sparse, with him
feeling poorly.”

“Well, it's time to talk to him again then. It'll be good for all of you.” He started
walking, holding onto her elbow. She was out of sorts, and he didn't want her to
stumble. “As a matter of fact, after I walk you to the
haus,
I'll head over to Deacon
Ruben's.”

She nodded, seemingly overwhelmed by the sequence of events that had just taken place.
The unusual small talk between them helped make the walk back seem a little shorter.
But when they got to the
haus,
Verna was flipping pancakes so furiously, it was a
sure bet she and Fannie had gone head-to-head again. Before anyone got a word in
edgewise, Manny announced he was going to set up their use of the phone.

“Fannie and I had just decided the same thing.” Verna wiped her hands on her apron
and turned off the stove. She stormed out with Manny and Lucy following. When they
got to the barn, Fannie had the buggy hitched up and was about to take the driver's
seat. Verna grunted and got in the back with Lucy.

Manny wasn't about to sit shotgun. There were some things he wouldn't do, and this
was one of them. Fannie and he stood staring at each other until she let out a sigh
and moved over. He climbed in, and they were on their way. The drive wasn't far,
but it seemed longer due to the tension between Verna and Fannie. Manny knew not
to ask, and Lucy didn't utter a peep.

“Here we are, ladies.” He set the brake and hopped out to help Lucy, and then took
the lead up to Ruben's
haus
. “How was the ride?” he asked as Verna and Fannie started
in again.

“We don't all need to be here,” Fannie said offhandedly but directing the comment
to her
mamm
.

Verna glanced over her shoulder. “You don't have to be here for this nonsense, Manny.”

“
Nee
, but it turns out I'm here, so I may as well stay.” Once he knew Lucy had a
moment with her
daed
, he'd bow out. This was too much for him and for Lucy, in his
opinion.

As soon as the deacon opened the door, Verna and Fannie started in. He held up a
hand. “Ladies, please step inside.” He winked at Lucy and took her hand. “You look
radiant, Lucy.”

Lucy smiled slightly and then leaned closer to him. “I'm sorry for this. I just want
a moment on the phone with my
daed
, is all.”

The deacon grinned. “Then that's what we'll do straight away.” He nodded to Manny.
“I'm so very glad you're here, Manny. Will you distract Verna and Fannie, and I'll
take care of Lucy.”

“Most definitely.
Danke
for stepping in.” He went over to the two women, who were
being greeted by Ruben's wife, and Manny joined the conversation. He watched as Ruben
took Lucy by the hand and spoke briefly with her. Then he directed her to the office
where he worked and gave her permission to use the phone. Time seemed to stall, which
was good for Lucy, but not so much for Manny. The one good thing was that Verna and
Fannie had to be polite to each other while in the deacon's home.

When Lucy finally came out of the office, her face was relaxed and her color was
good. She walked over with ease but let Ruben do the talking.

“He was in good spirits, but not able to talk long. He did have a question for you
both.” He gestured to Fannie and Verna.”

They both grinned, waiting.

“What was it?” Verna asked.

“He asked if he had to come down here in order for you two to get along.” The deacon
said, waiting as they looked at each other and then back to him.

Verna grunted. “He's not in good enough health.” She waved a hand as if to dismiss
the suggestion.

“I believe that's his point, Verna, Fannie.” Ruben looked from one to the other.
“Did he make himself clear?”

They both nodded like unruly schoolchildren being scolded. “
Jah
, he did,” Fannie
said, shaking her head as if disgusted with herself.

“Are you going to get along, ladies?” Ruben asked them as his wife walked into the
room with some coffee and peach pie. They both nodded as Ruben ushered Lucy to the
table and pulled out her chair. “There we are. Manny, are you hungry?”

Manny had started grinning as soon as the deacon told them what Lucy's
daed
had said.
“Starving. How about you, Lucy?” He was still smiling as he sat down next to her.

She looked over at him with wide eyes, obviously still absorbing what had just taken
place. “
Jah
, I believe I am.”

He squeezed her hand and then picked up his fork, looking forward to a bite of peach
pie in some peace and quiet.

I
f Lucy hadn't been so uncomfortable, she wouldn't have agreed to have the midwife
come to check on her. Her belly felt stretched to the limit. The only way her
mamm
would leave was if she had the last word.
Mamm
was insulted that Fannie had asked
the midwife to come, but neither was surprised that they didn't agree. Both women
had their own way of “helping” Lucy along with her pregnancy, whether Lucy liked
it or not. It didn't bother her enough to complain or add her own advice. She was
just glad they were there with her.

Rosy brought Lucy a cup of tea and sat down next to her on a kitchen chair. “Chamomile.
It will help calm your nerves.”

“Who says I'm nervous?” But she was. She just didn't like admitting it, which made
it seem more real. Only a few more weeks and she wouldn't have to wake up to an uncomfortable
night of sleep, backaches, and using the outhouse constantly. She felt her body had
aged, worn out over the months. She couldn't imagine how women had half-a-dozen children
or more. She dropped her head and stopped complaining, thankful she wasn't going
through this with Sam. Then she added a prayer of forgiveness. He was the
daed
of
her child after all.

“Someone's here.” Nellie had been watching through the window and now stood. She
glanced back when
Mamm
walked into the kitchen. “Midwife has arrived.”

Lucy hoped her
mamm
would behave herself. There were no guarantees, but it didn't
hurt to hope. Maybe this would give her
mamm
a little more confidence in someone
other than herself, since she wouldn't likely be here for the birth of the baby.
Her
daed
's unexpected spring of energy to set them all straight the other day seemed
to have made everyone a little more open to suggestions. How she wished he were here
with her now.

Mamm
crossed her arms over her chest with a straight face. She looked serious, but
not as stricken as Lucy expected her to be.
Daed
giving her such a firm direction
must have settled her down a bit. The last thing anyone wanted, including her, was
to get him upset.

When the door opened, Lucy leaned to one side to see who was there. To her surprise,
she heard a man's voice. Must be a neighbor, or Manny, she secretly hoped. Lucy wondered
what it would be like to have a man be the one taking care of her. She didn't think
it likely—not in a world of women midwives.

She grew more curious with each passing minute. “Who is it?” She didn't want to get
up until she had to but couldn't abide not knowing who was there.

A handsome, blonde-haired man walked into the kitchen. “You must be Lucy.” He glanced
at her middle and then to her face. He set down his bag on the table and pulled out
a stethoscope. “I'm Doctor Daniel Kauffman.” He placed the cold scope on her chest
and held up a finger when she started to speak.

Lucy waited until he was done moving the metal disk from place to place and had just
opened her mouth when Fannie stepped in. “
Hallo
. We were expecting a midwife.”

“Yes, your father called and asked for me . . . which was surprising . . . but I'm
willing to be your practitioner.”

“Willing? You're willing to be our doctor?” Fannie was obviously annoyed, but there
was also a gleam in her eyes. She always did like a challenge, especially with men.
She was a smart one who could keep the conversation going—the more so if it was something
she was passionate about, like her sister.

Without hesitation the doctor took out a glass tube and long piece of elastic and
directed his attention toward Lucy. “Have you come in contact with anyone with chicken
pox, the flu, or rubella?”

“The Zehr boy came down with the pox.” Manny walked into the room, answering his
question. After taking one look at the goings-on, he turned around and left.

“Are you immune?” He wrapped the elastic around her arm and nodded toward Fannie
to hand him the cotton and syringe by his bag. She frowned but did as he directed
and watched as he drew a vial of blood.

“
Jah
, she's had the chicken pox and been around the others.” Her
mamm
answered.
Mamm
was watching his every move, but not with her usual puckered face. She seemed to
be making sure he was doing what he was supposed to, but with favor, if Lucy was
reading her correctly.

“My
daed
called you?” Lucy finally got a word in edgewise. It was a good distraction
from all the prodding and poking. Although his bedside manner wasn't the best, he
seemed to be confident about what he was doing, and he could handle her sister.

“Yes, I met your father years ago when I was speaking to the community in Tennessee.”
He took out a rubber instrument and tapped her k
nee
. He stuck out his bottom
lip
and tapped the other k
nee
. “Any itching, dizziness, or heavy breathing?” He pulled
out a small flashlight and looked in her eyes, one after the other.