Letters to Katie (23 page)
Sawyer was just finishing cleaning up the shop when Adam Otto walked in. “Always nice
to see you, Adam. But in case you didn’t notice, we’re closed.” He grinned.
“I noticed. That’s why I came by. Emma would like you to come over for supper.”
Sawyer ran the broom over the sawdust-covered floor. “That’s nice of you, but I was
just there. Anna does feed me, you know.”
Adam nodded. “I’m sure she does.” His expression grew serious. “Actually, it wasn’t
Emma’s idea. It was Leona’s.”
“Oh?”
“She wants you to bring your grandmother.”
Sawyer stopped sweeping. “Why?”
Adam shrugged. “I don’t know. Leona didn’t explain—just told me and Emma that she
wanted both of you to come.”
“When?”
“Before Laura gets back. How about tomorrow night?”
Sawyer leaned the broom against the wall. “I’m not sure.”
“Not sure you want to come over?”
“Not sure
she’ll
come.” He put his hands on his hips. “Still, it might be a good idea. I’ve been trying
to explain to Cora why I’m joining the church. She doesn’t understand it.”
“I take it she doesn’t have faith.”
“I’m positive she doesn’t.”
“Well, I know from experience that no one can force you to accept God’s role in your
life. I ran away from that for so long. Good thing God didn’t give up on me.” He grinned.
“Or Emma either, for that matter.”
Sawyer nodded. “I have to admit, I get where Cora’s coming from. When I first came
here, I didn’t understand anything about this way of life. But she’s a tougher nut
to crack.”
“Maybe talking to Leona would do her some
gut
.”
“If I can convince her to come.”
Adam slapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. We’ll see you
both at six.” He started to leave.
“Hey, Adam,” Sawyer said.
Adam turned around.
“Ya?”
“You and your
daed
wouldn’t happen to have any extra work on your farm? Johnny came by a few weeks ago.
I know he’s looking to pick up a few jobs here and there.”
Adam shook his head. “Not right now. Come harvest we will. Tell him to talk to me
in a couple of months.”
“Thanks.”
Just as Adam left, Lukas came out of the office in the back of the shop. “I’ll be
glad when Laura gets back,” he said. “I really don’t like doing that paperwork.”
“Have Tobias help you out.”
“You know better than that.” He scratched his chin. “Did I hear you right? Johnny’s
still looking for work?”
“I think so. Have things changed around here?”
Lukas shook his head. “
Nee
. Tobias left at lunch today because there wasn’t much to do.”
“Are you worried?”
“This has happened before. God will provide. He’ll give us what we need while we’re
slow, and when it’s His timing, business will pick up again.”
“You really believe that?”
Lukas’s dark eyes met his. “Don’t you?”
Sawyer stopped sweeping. “Yes. But I wish there was something we could do for Johnny.”
“As soon as we have more work than we can handle, I’ll hire him on.”
“Thanks. But I hope he finds work before then.”
“I heard he bought some property awhile back.” Lukas wiped sawdust off one of the
tables. “I was talking to his father at church the other
daag
. A horse farm, apparently.”
Sawyer frowned. Johnny hadn’t mentioned the farm to him. “I didn’t know he wanted
to raise horses.”
“Neither did his
vadder
. Seems like Johnny might be in over his head financially with this one.”
Sawyer nodded. Now his friend’s desperation made sense, and it made Sawyer more eager
to help him. But he didn’t have much money to spare, and what he did have he was saving
for a house for him and Laura. Besides, he knew Johnny wouldn’t take a handout.
Still, there had to be a way to help him.
“You ready to
geh
home?” Lukas turned off the gas lamps in the shop.
“Yeah. Cora’s waiting for me.”
Sawyer had pondered all day what he would say to her. After their conversation last
night, he was more concerned with her soul than with getting it through her head that
he wasn’t leaving Middlefield.
But Sawyer had no experience talking to anyone about God. He didn’t know how to go
about convincing his grandmother that it was important not only to have faith but
to walk in faith. Lukas had taught him that by example, as had many other Amish friends
in his district. He’d also learned a lot by attending church services. But he couldn’t
quite imagine Cora sitting through a three-hour service in a barn.
However, a conversation with Leona—now, that was different. Maybe God was providing
a way through Emma’s grandmother. All Sawyer had to do was convince Cora to go to
supper tomorrow night.
A task easier said than done.
Katherine opened her eyes and squinted at the bright fluorescent light on the ceiling.
Where was she? Her head pounded; she reached up and touched it. Where was her
kapp
?
She looked down. She was lying in a bed, wearing a strange-looking nightgown. Through
the fuzzy mess of her thoughts, she tried to remember what happened. But a thick fog
sealed her mind.
“Katherine?”
She turned her head to see her
mamm
sitting in a chair beside her bed. Her mother took Katherine’s hand.
“Thank God, you’re awake.”
Mamm
closed her eyes briefly, her lips moving in a silent prayer.
Katherine tried to sit up, but her arms felt like jelly. “What am I doing here?”
Her mother opened her eyes. “You passed out.”
“What?”
“At home, in the living room. You don’t remember?”
Katherine shook her head.
“You scared Bekah and me nearly to death. We had to call an ambulance, and they brought
you here. You have meningitis, Katherine.” Her mother sighed. “I should have insisted
you go to the doctor days ago. Those headaches weren’t normal. And you didn’t say
a word about your neck hurting. Ah,
lieb
, I should have paid more attention.”
Katherine tried to follow her mother’s line of conversation. Sure, she had a bit of
a headache now, but her neck felt fine. Yet her mother said she had neck pain. Why
couldn’t she remember that? “What are you talking about?”
Mamm
brushed her hand across Katherine’s forehead. “The doctor thinks it’s viral meningitis,
so they didn’t give you any medicine. Just an IV for fluids. You were a little dehydrated
from not drinking and eating enough.” Tears filled her eyes. “We were so frightened,
Katherine. When you first passed out, it took you awhile to wake up. But now you seem
to be doing better. Your
daed
will be so happy.”
“
Daed?
He’s here too?” She looked around the hospital room but only saw her mother.
“He was here earlier. He and Bekah went home to take care of the animals. But he’ll
be back tomorrow.”
Katherine leaned back against the pillow. She would have to stay here overnight? She
searched her mind, trying to remember what happened. But nothing was clear.
“And don’t you worry about anything. I talked to your boss at work. She said to take
off as much time as you need.”
Katherine nodded, despite barely hearing her mother’s words. Had she hit her head
when she fainted? She looked around the room. She’d never been in a hospital before.
“Where are my clothes?”
“We have them. When they release you, you’ll put on your dress and
kapp
. The doctor says you’ll need plenty of rest in order to heal.” She smiled. “I’ll
make sure you take it easy,
dochder
. You do have a tendency to overwork yourself.” She squeezed Katherine’s hand. “I’ll
let the nurse know you’re awake. You must be hungry. It’s past lunchtime.”
“How long was I asleep?”
“Since yesterday afternoon.”
Mamm
looked at her, tenderness shining in her eyes. Then she turned and walked out the
door.
She’d been here an entire day? Katherine tried to sit up again. Her gown slipped,
exposing her shoulder, but she didn’t care. When she finally reached a sitting position,
her body felt weak all over, as if she’d run the length of Bundysburg Road as fast
as she could. She brushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead just as she heard
a knock on the door.
“Ya?”
The door opened slowly. The first thing she saw coming through the crack was a bouquet
of flowers, followed by . . .
Johnny? His eyes were round, soft, filled with concern, his thick brows forming a
V above them. What was he doing here?
He moved a few steps into the room, holding the flowers at an awkward angle. They
were pretty—a couple of small sunflowers mixed with yellow and orange carnations.
“Is it all right if I come in?”
“You’re already in, aren’t you?”
He grinned, but she didn’t think she’d said anything funny. Nothing about this situation
was humorous. Just confusing. Hopefully the doctor would have more answers.
“Brought you these.” He thrust the flowers toward her.
She took them and held them in her lap.
“Danki.”
He nodded, shifting his weight first on one foot and then the other. His long hair
was molded against his head from wearing his hat. “They had a lot of flowers down
in that gift shop. Then I remembered you liked orange and yellow.”
She looked down at the flowers. Then it hit her. He remembered her favorite colors?
Since when did Johnny pay any attention to what she liked and disliked?
“That was . . . thoughtful of you.”
“It’s the least I could do. You know. After what happened.”
Katherine’s gaze shot up and met his. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” His eyes drifted to her bare shoulder, where the hospital gown
had slid down. She yanked it back onto her shoulder and shifted in the bed, pulling
the hospital blanket closer to her body. The flowers slipped to the floor.
“Remember what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
