His New Amish Family Read online

  Clara realized she must’ve dozed off when she heard Paul’s voice close beside her calling her name. She sat up and blinked several times to clear her vision. The clock on the wall said it was nine thirty in the evening. “Paul, what are you doing here?”

  “I brought some help for you.” He gestured to a tall, blonde Amish woman standing beside him. “This is my cousin Samuel’s wife, Rebecca. She has had nursing experience. She will spell you so that you can get some sleep and if Sophie wakes up, she will have someone here who understands her Deitsch.”

  “Have you had anything to eat?” Rebecca asked. She had kind eyes and a gentle smile.

  Clara shook her head. “Not since breakfast.”

  “Then my first nursing order is for Paul to take you down to the cafeteria and get you something hot to eat. You need to keep up your strength. But I don’t really need to tell you that, do I? You’ve been through this before. You must let me know if there is anything I need to do.”

  Clara hated to leave but Rebecca was right. “Make sure that she keeps her oxygen mask on. She has a tendency to knock it aside.”

  “I will do that. We have also brought a pager. It has fresh batteries in it. If I need you, I or the nurse can call the number from the phone in here.”

  Paul moved to the door. “The pager will buzz no matter where you are. It will even reach outside for several hundred yards.”

  “How do you come equipped with a pager?” Clara glanced between Paul and Rebecca in astonishment.

  “The Bowman men are all volunteer firefighters and have pagers to notify them when they are called out to fight a fire. This is one of the extras they keep on hand. Paul thought of it. He’s not usually so bright.” Rebecca smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye, taking any sting out of her words.

  “I’m actually smarter than I look,” he said in a hurt tone.

  The women shared a speaking glance. Clara rose from her chair and walked past him. “I reckon I’ll have to take your word for that until I see some solid evidence.”

  Paul held the door open for her and glanced back at Rebecca. “I’ll see that she eats something.”

  They stopped at the nurses’ station to let the staff know Clara had a pager and then they took the elevator to the lower level of the building. The cafeteria was almost empty. Clara chose a salad and a bowl of hot vegetable stew. Paul carried two cups of coffee to an empty table and settled across from her.

  “How is she doing?” he asked.

  “Her bilirubin level is climbing but the doctor believes the lights can keep it under control. I’m not so sure.”

  “They are prepared for that other treatment you mentioned if the lights don’t work?”

  “They are. Thank you for bringing your cousin’s wife with you. That was very thoughtful.”

  “I had to. She insisted. If you don’t know anything else about Rebecca, know that she gets her way when she sets her mind to something.”

  “I don’t know how I can thank you for everything.”

  “We’ll work something out. I like peach pie but apple will do in a pinch if there is ice cream.”

  She smiled at his teasing tone. “Why is it hard to get a serious answer out of you?”

  “Because I don’t have a serious bone in my body.”

  “I find that hard to believe. How is Toby?”

  “He’s worried. He feels badly but I put him to work taking care of our horses and that helped. He needed to be busy. He fell asleep on his cot before I had a chance to tell him a scary story tonight. My aenti Anna is keeping watch in case he wakes up while I’m gone.”

  “I’m thankful for that.”

  “I promised he could call you tomorrow and that I would bring him along when I come to visit. That should make him feel better.”

  It would make her feel better, too.

  He pointed at her bowl. “Eat before your stew gets cold.”

  She did, only realizing after her bowl was half-empty just how hungry she’d been. She gazed at Paul and tried to separate the emotions swirling through her. There was gratitude but there was something else. Something more. Having him with her was comforting. She liked him. Maybe more than she should. Twelve hours ago, she had been wondering if she could trust him. Now, she couldn’t imagine going through this without his help.

  “Paul, I want you to know how much—” Her words were cut off by the sudden vibration of the pager in her pocket. She pulled it out and read the message that scrolled across the small screen. Fear clutched her heart.

  Come to Sophie’s room right away.

  Chapter Six

  Clara rushed toward the elevators with all thoughts of food forgotten. Paul was close behind her. She managed to catch the elevator door as it was closing. It opened revealing two nurses inside with trays in their hands.

  “What floor?” one of them asked.

  Clara couldn’t recall the number.

  “Three,” Paul said, holding the door until she was inside and then stepping in beside her. “Clara, what’s wrong?”

  “The message said come to the room right away. I shouldn’t have left.”

  When the elevator opened again, they hurried out and down the hall. Rebecca was waiting just outside the ICU doors.

  “What is it? What’s happened?” Clara pressed a hand to her heart, trying to stem her panic.

  “Sophie spiked a fever and that led to a seizure. They were able to stop the seizure with medicine but they are concerned about her rising bilirubin levels.”

  “They will need to start plasmapheresis. Does the doctor know that?”

  “Is that the blood exchange?” Rebecca asked. “That’s what they are getting ready now.”

  “Can I go in?” Clara had been kept out of the ICU before when Sophie was ill in the past but she needed to be with her baby girl.

  “You can go in. I just wanted to prepare you for what was happening. The doctor is pretty busy right now.”

  “Danki.” Clara drew a deep breath to compose herself, pushed the button on the wall and went inside when the doors swung open.

  * * *

  Feeling helpless and useless, Paul watched the doors close behind Clara. He turned to Rebecca. The grim look on her face wasn’t reassuring. “Will Sophie be okay?”

  “That is up to Gott. Only He knows the answer. We must pray for the strength to accept His will no matter what it is.”

  “That’s what Clara said but it doesn’t seem fair that Sophie has to go through this. She is such a sweet child.”

  “All children are gifts from Him and precious in His sight. We are not meant to understand His plan in our time on earth. You are very concerned about them, aren’t you?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “It’s a little surprising. You’ve only known them a few days.”

  “It seems like I have known them for ages. I can’t explain it.”

  “She’s not your usual type, Paul.”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “What is that supposed to mean? What’s my usual type?”

  “Lighthearted. Very pretty. Intent on having a good time by sneaking off to see a movie or going to a barn party.”

  “So?”

  “Clara is anything but lighthearted. She has her hands full with the two children she has. She doesn’t need another boy. She needs a serious and steadfast man as a helpmate.”

  “Now see, that’s where you have it wrong. You think Clara and I have some kind of relationship going.”

  “Don’t you? You practically insisted that I come here tonight. You went out of your way to provide her with the pager. You are looking after her son since she can’t. That sounds like the actions of someone who cares very seriously about Clara and her children. Are you thinking of courting her?”

  “Rebecca, stop trying to make this into something it�
��s not. I’m glad that you and Samuel are happily married but not everyone is meant to wed. I’m working at the farm where Clara lives and that’s it. I happened to be with her when Sophie fell in the water. I know the kind of trouble Clara is having so I’m trying to be a friend.”

  “There isn’t anything wrong with showing someone how much you care or admitting how you feel.”

  He gave a dismissive wave with one hand. “This is the thanks I get for being responsible for once in my life? My family is ready to plan a wedding for me. Well, don’t set the date because I won’t be there.”

  “No one is planning a wedding for you. Samuel and I simply noticed you seem to be settling down and becoming more serious lately and we thought maybe Clara is the reason. Mark says you talk about her all the time.”

  Paul sighed. “If I don’t seem as carefree as usual it’s because I have troubles of my own and Mark is speaking out of turn. If I talk a lot about Clara it’s because, through no fault of my own, I’m selling the property she believes is hers. How would you feel in my shoes? I wish the place did belong to her.” He walked a few paces away and then came back. “I’d rather not talk about this now. How soon do you think we can see Sophie?”

  “You should ask at the nursing desk. They will know.”

  Paul left Rebecca and went down to the nurses’ station. Two nurses rushed past him and entered Sophie’s room. He walked to the main desk and spoke to a woman with clouds and rainbows on her pink scrubs. “How is Sophie Fisher doing?”

  “Are you a family member?”

  “I’m not.”

  “I’m afraid I can only give information to her family. I’ll have her mother come speak to you. There is a waiting room outside the doors. It could be a while.”

  “Don’t bother Clara. I’ll check back later.” There was nothing he could do for her or Sophie now anyway.

  He returned to Rebecca in the waiting area. “They won’t give me any information. I’m not a family member. Tell Clara I decided to go on home. Will you be okay?”

  “I’m fine. I will get word to you if anything changes. Jessica has agreed to be our messenger.”

  “Tell Jessica I appreciate her help.” He left the building and found his driver, one of his fellow firemen, still waiting outside.

  Later that night, as Paul lay in bed watching Toby sleeping across the room instead of sleeping himself, he kept replaying Rebecca’s comments in his mind. Were others seeing something in his friendship with Clara that he didn’t see himself? How did Clara feel about him?

  He knew she couldn’t stand him at first because he was working for Ralph but that wasn’t where things stood between them now. For his part, he wanted to help her and the kids. She deserved her uncle’s farm. She didn’t want it for selfish reasons. She was trying to save her daughter’s life. His need to pay off his trailer, repay Mark and improve his business paled in comparison to her goal. He needed the money the commission would bring but he would lose a lot less sleep over defaulting on his loan than he would over selling the farm with Clara’s big, blue eyes watching his every move.

  Early the following morning, he and Toby went down to his uncle’s office to call the hospital. The operator rang him through to Sophie’s room.

  “Hello?”

  The sound of Clara’s voice dispelled the gloomy mood he was in. “Clara, it’s Paul. How are things?”

  “Sophie is resting well and her fever is down. The antibiotics are doing their job and the blood exchange lowered her bilirubin level.” There was relief in her voice as well as an underlying weariness. Was she happy to hear from him?

  He wished he could see her face. “That’s the best news I could hear. How are you holding up?”

  “Trying to sleep in this recliner is like trying to sleep on a bed of rocks. They won’t put a cot in here for me. Some sort of hospital regulation in the ICUs. I’m more grateful than you can know for Rebecca’s company. I was able to go out and get some rest on the sofa in the waiting room while she sat with Sophie.”

  It pleased him that his actions had eased her way even a little. “I’m glad. Is there anything else I can do? Anything?”

  “Sophie is worried about the cat. Can you check on Patches?”

  “Sure. Toby and I’ll be working at the farm most of the day. Tell Sophie not to worry, and tell her I miss her and...” He almost said “I’ve missed you” but stopped himself just in time.

  “And?” she prompted.

  “And I want her to get well quick,” he added lamely. “Toby wants to say hello.”

  He handed the boy the phone and shoved his hands in his pockets while Toby chatted happily about his new friend, Hannah, the kittens and standing on a stepladder to brush Gracie’s back. After a few minutes, Toby held out the phone to Paul. “Mamm wants to talk to you again.”

  Paul took the phone. “Toby’s grinning from ear to ear. It did him a world of good to talk to you.”

  “You have no idea how much good it did me to hear his voice. Paul, I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “I told you, peach or apple pie.”

  “You always find a way to make me smile.”

  “Then I’m doing my job. With all that is going on, don’t forget to take care of Clara.”

  “I will try. I have to go, Paul, the doctor just came in. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye,” he said but the line was already dead.

  He walked back up to the house with Toby skipping beside him. “What are we going to do today, Paul?”

  “We’re going back to your great uncle’s farm.”

  “Are you still going to sell it?”

  “I am.”

  Toby cast a sidelong glance at Paul. “I wish you wouldn’t. It makes my mamm sad.”

  “Ah, Toby, I wish I wasn’t the man Ralph hired for the job but I am. I must honor my commitment.”

  “Is it the right thing to do?”

  Out of the mouths of babes. “I’m not sure, Toby. Sometimes it’s hard to know what the right thing is. Why don’t you fetch Frankly from his stall. I’ll get him hitched to the buggy in a few minutes.”

  “I can harness him. I know how. Onkel Eli let me harness his horse.”

  Frankly was a docile fellow. He would be safe for the boy to work around. “Okay but be careful.”

  “I will.” He took off at a run but before Paul could caution him again, he slowed to a walk.

  Paul entered his uncle’s house to find his aunt packing a basket with food. His cousin Timothy’s wife, Lillian, was helping her. Anna glanced his way. “You look the worse for wear, Paul.”

  “I didn’t sleep well.”

  “Worried about Clara Fisher?” Lillian asked in a lilting tone that suggested she already knew the answer.

  “Is that so unusual?” He glared at the women in the room.

  “Of course not,” Anna said. “Lillian and I will relieve Rebecca and give Clara a chance to go home today if she wants. We are on our way to the hospital as soon as Jessica is free to drive us.”

  “Clara won’t want to leave her daughter.” Paul thought of the panic in her eyes when the pager had gone off.

  “We will be there to keep her company and to provide whatever help she needs. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to become acquainted.”

  “I appreciate you doing this.”

  The outside door opened and his cousin Luke Bowman came in with his wife, Emma. Behind Emma came her youngest brother, Alvin Swartzentruber. Luke and his wife ran a hardware store not far from Bowmans Crossing.

  “We heard about the little Fisher girl,” Emma said. “What can we do to help?”

  Paul looked at them in astonishment. “How did you hear about it?”

  Emma moved past him into the kitchen. “Janice Willard, the midwife, ran into Rebecca at the hospital last evening. Janice stopped at our
hardware store to get some lamp oil on her way home and shared what she knew. Anna, what do you need me to do?”

  Anna looked over her supplies. “I’ve made sandwiches for Isaac and the men but if I am not home by supper time, they will need something. They’re not very good at fending for themselves.”

  Luke chuckled. “They are much better than you think. As long as you believe they can’t fend for themselves, they don’t have to, and you will rush home to cook for them.”

  Anna looked taken aback. “In that case, I may stay away for a week.”

  Luke’s smile vanished as he realized the implications of that statement. “Please don’t.”

  All the women laughed at his discomfort. Emma walked over and patted his cheek. “Never fear. I won’t tell them it was your idea if she makes good on her threat.”

  Luke looked relieved. “Paul, are you going over to work on your farm-sale property?”

  Paul nodded. “I have to do it. I like the idea less and less but I’m stuck. The man owns the farm even if I wish he didn’t.”

  Alvin stepped forward with a cell phone in his hand. “Luke says I should help you today. Anna, I’m going to write down my number for you. That way you can call me and give us information without our having to stop work to run down and check the message machine at the phone shack.”

  Anna patted his face. “I do not approve of young people having their own phones. You know that but since you are not yet baptized I cannot forbid you to use it. In this case, I’m actually grateful that you are willing to share this with Paul. Please put it away before Isaac sees it. He has stronger feelings on the subject. Emma, could you run the gift shop while I’m gone today?”

  “I can. Luke will manage alone at the hardware store.”

  “Paul, if you see Mark tell him I have the plate glass windows he wanted installed. We’ll get them put in tomorrow.”

  Alvin kneeled and slipped the phone in his sock. He adjusted his pant leg and stood up. After writing down his number for the women, he followed Paul outside. Toby had Frankly tied to the corral fence and was nearly finished with the harness.