An Amish Kitchen, page 10
The message was clear. Whatever Hannah couldn’t handle, her brother would.
Her mother went on to talk about how she had run into Eve Bender at the market earlier when she went to pick up a new pack of needles. She prattled on about how tall Eve’s fifteen-year-old sons, Elias and Amos, were getting and how polite they were to carry her groceries to the buggy.
“Hannah,” her mother said, her expression lifting. “I ran into Sarah Glick at the market too.”
“Oh?” Hannah wondered why that was so exciting.
“Her son Jason was asking about you.” Mamm’s grin widened. “I wonder if he’s going to invite you to a singing.”
“Jason’s nice.” She’d had a crush on Jason Glick when she was twelve, but he’d never shown any interest in her.
“He’s handsome too.”
Hannah wished her mother would stop playing matchmaker. She listened to her mamm talk about other members of the community during the rest of the meal.
When the meal was over, Hannah helped clear the table. She heard the scrape of a chair on the linoleum and noticed her daed struggling to stand. She dropped a dish into the warm soapy water and rushed over to him.
“Let me help you.” She took his left arm, but he pulled it away.
“I’m fine,” he mumbled. “Just want to go to the schtupp and read The Budget.”
Although she was determined to help him, Hannah nodded. “Call me if you need me.”
“Ya,” he said, his voice gravelly.
This was her father’s nightly routine. However, she hadn’t seen him struggle as much as he did tonight. He moved slowly, and his frown illustrated the effort each step took as he shuffled toward the small family room. She watched until he was safely in his favorite chair in front of a small table.
Hannah gathered up more dishes and moved to the sink beside her mamm. “Daed is having a hard time, ya?”
“Ya.” Her mother focused on scrubbing a pot. “I need to talk to Fern Zook about him. I’ve heard she has some gut herbal remedies for strength and balance.”
Fern lived with her grandmother, a homeopathic healer, and many sought her out before going to an Englisch doctor. But Hannah suspected her father needed more than an herbal remedy.
“There could be another reason why he’s getting weaker, Mamm.” Hannah brought the glasses to the counter. “The doctor said Daed may have had some mini-strokes.”
“No, no.” Her mother shook her head. “He just needs some new herbs. I’ll go to Fern soon.”
Hannah could see her daed staring down at the paper on the end table. She was always amazed that he found ways to do his favorite things despite his disability. Although he was losing his bodily strength, he still harbored a great spirit. “I’m worried about him.”
“You fret too much.”
Hannah raised her eyebrows at the irony of that statement. “He may need a wheelchair.”
Her mamm grimaced. “Your daed would never agree to a wheelchair. He’s determined to remain independent. Stop talking narrisch.”
“But his safety is more important than his independence.” Hannah tapped her fingers on the counter for emphasis. “We need to tell him we’re worried about him. He’s a reasonable man.”
“No. Fern will know how to help him. A wheelchair would break his spirit, and I couldn’t live with that.” Her mother rinsed the last of the utensils. “Don’t be so negative, Hannah Mary. Your daed will be just fine. Remember the verse from our devotions the other night? ‘I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.’”
“Ya, Mamm. You’re right.” Hannah forced a smile, but she would ask God for direction on this. While the Scripture verse offered comfort, it didn’t address the issue at hand, which was her father’s safety. Yet Hannah knew that once her mother had her mind made up, there was no use arguing.
Later that evening Hannah curled up in bed with her Bible to continue reading 1 Kings. Her eyes moved over chapter 7, which was today’s chapter.
The reading was about a widow who provided a room for Elijah. The widow fed him and took care of him, and in exchange, Elijah saved her sick son from death. The story spoke to her. What was God trying to tell her?
Then a thought hit her: Had God sent Stephen to Hannah, like He’d sent Elijah to the widow?
A shiver danced up her back. Closing the Bible, Hannah dismissed the thought. Why would God send Stephen to her? What could Hannah offer this stranger? The idea was preposterous. She was content—no, more than content, she was happy—to run the inn and help support her parents. Right? She had never dreamed of living her life any other way.
Hannah snuggled under the sheet and quilt while the meaning of the Bible story swirled in her head. Then she remembered the prayer she’d said for Stephen before supper. Did God want her to help Stephen overcome his sadness? Her pulse leapt at the thought. She was open to doing God’s will, but He’d have to tell her exactly what to do. And what is making Stephen so sad, Lord?
CHAPTER SIX
STEPHEN STARED OUT CURT WILSON’S VAN WINDOW and clenched his jaw. After visiting several farms and businesses, he hadn’t managed to get one job offer. His grand plan to settle into his new surroundings was proving more difficult than he imagined. Perhaps he should have stayed in Sugarcreek, continued working at his uncle’s plumbing company, and somehow learned to stomach the daily reminder of the pain he’d caused. Is that what a real man would have done? Persevered? Was he a coward?
“Do you want to go anywhere else?” Curt asked, giving Stephen a sideways glance from the driver’s seat.
Stephen studied the piece of paper with a big X crossed through every farm and business listed. “No, I don’t think so. I may have made a big mistake by coming here.”
Curt turned down the radio and looked at him. “Don’t give up. The Lord wouldn’t have led you here if He didn’t have a plan for you.”
Stephen hoped the older man was right. He again looked out the window at the vast patchwork of farms beyond the winding road and thought of Lillian. He had to make peace with what had happened. Hadn’t he been taught that the Lord forgives us in the moment of our transgressions? Why was it so hard for him to forgive himself?
You are My beloved son.
Stephen looked over at Curt, who had turned up the radio and was singing and tapping on the steering wheel. He obviously hadn’t heard anything.
Lord, is that You speaking?
Stephen remained quiet until the car turned into the driveway at Paradise Inn. What would Hannah think of him when he told her he wasn’t able to find work? Probably that he was a failure, and she’d be right. He’d failed at protecting Lillian when he took the buggy out in the pouring rain. It was his fault that she was dead.
Stephen pushed the memory away. He had picked up supplies in town so that he could fix the toilet and caulk the shower in the upstairs bathroom. He wondered if he should ask Hannah’s brother for permission first instead of going ahead with more repairs after Hannah had asked him not to. He wished he’d thought of that sooner.
He turned to Curt. “Do you know Hannah’s brother, Andrew?”
“Yes. I drive for him too.”
“Does he live nearby?”
Curt pointed toward the intersection and slowed to a stop. “He’s a few miles away. Do you want me to take you to him?”
“Ya. I’d like to meet him.”
After a few more twists and turns on the two-lane roads, the van bounced up a rock driveway toward a large, white two-story house. A sprawling white barn sat behind it with a herd of three smaller barns nearby.
Curt stopped the van by the large barn. “Do you want me to wait or come back later?”
“I’ll ask Andrew where to find a phone shanty and call you when I’m finished,” Stephen said, opening the door.
“Sounds good.” Curt smiled. “Have a good visit.”
“Danki.” Stephen climbed from the van, adjusted his straw hat, and walked toward the house. As he approached the front steps, he heard a voice call behind him.
“Wie geht’s!” A tall man with light hair, a beard, and brown eyes approached from the barn.
Stephen immediately noticed the family resemblance—the high cheekbones and light complexion.
“Wie geht’s,” he echoed, walking toward the man. “I’m looking for Andrew King.”
“I’m Andrew.” He stuck out his hand.
Stephen shook Andrew’s hand, and the warmth in the man’s eyes made Stephen feel an immediate kinship with him. “Nice to meet you. I’m Stephen Esh. I’m staying at your parents’ bed-and-breakfast.”
“Willkumm to Paradise. How long are you staying?”
“I’m not sure. I’m visiting from Sugarcreek, Ohio.”
“I was in Sugarcreek a few years ago when my fraa went to visit her cousin. It’s a nice place.”
Stephen nodded. “Ya, it is. I was out running errands today, and I wanted to meet you. Hannah speaks very highly of you.”
“Would you like to come in?”
“Danki.” Stephen followed Andrew up the porch steps to the house.
“My fraa and the kinner went to see her mamm, so it’s quiet today,” Andrew said while walking into the kitchen.
Stephen admired the spacious room. “How many kinner do you have?”
“Two. Mei sohn is three, and mei dochder is five.” He moved over to the counter. “Anna Ruth left kichlin. Do you like chocolate chip?”
“Ya.” Stephen sat at the table and ran his fingers over the smooth wood. “This is a nice table. My daed was a carpenter. He did work like this.”
“Anna Ruth’s daed is a carpenter too.” Andrew set a dish of cookies on the table. “He made the table as our wedding gift.” He returned to the counter and poured two glasses of meadow tea.
Stephen continued to run his fingers over the table and thought of his daed. Homesickness stung inside him. “Your father-in-law does great work.”
“Ya, he does.” Andrew placed the glasses of tea on the table.
“Danki.” Stephen sipped the cool tea. “You have a nice farm.”
Andrew sat down across from him. “It’s a lot more work than I ever imagined when we bought it, but it’s a labor of love.” He broke a cookie in half before taking a bite. “What brought you here?”
Stephen shook his head. “I needed to make a new start, and the Lord led me here.”
Andrew nodded. “That must have been a tough decision.”
“It was.” Stephen fetched a cookie from the plate. “But I’m doubting it now.” He placed his marked-up list on the table. “I haven’t been able to find any work so far.”
Andrew peered down at the list. “You visited each of these places?”
“I did. I’ll have to start hitting Yankee businesses tomorrow.”
“What skills do you have?”
“I worked for my uncle’s plumbing business and helped out in my daed’s carpentry shop.” Stephen wiped his hands on a napkin.
Andrew was silent as he tapped his fingers on the glass in front of him. “I imagine you’ve noticed my parents’ inn and farm need some attention.”
Stephen smiled. “That’s why I came here. I picked up supplies to fix the toilet on the first floor and caulk the shower. But I didn’t feel comfortable doing the jobs without your permission, since I’m only a tenant.”
“Mei schweschder and mamm have their hands full.” Andrew sighed. “Since mei daed had his stroke, he can’t handle the upkeep, and mei mamm has to care for him. I wish I could do more, but I have my hands full here too.”
Stephen thought of the chores he used to do on his parents’ farm and a wave of guilt hit him. “Farming is a lot of work.”
Andrew broke another cookie in half. “Would you be interested in working at my parents’ inn and farm for a wage?”
“Absolutely.” Stephen couldn’t believe his good fortune. Thank You, Lord.
“Gut. I’ll pay you to care for the bed-and-breakfast, the grounds, and the animals.” He stopped and looked at Stephen. “Don’t feel pressured to accept. I just thought it might help us both, since you need a job and my parents need help.”
“I’ll do it.” Stephen stood up and extended his hand.
“Wunderbaar! You’re helping my family. I’m very grateful.”
“I am too.” Stephen grinned. For the first time since he arrived at Paradise, he felt that God had made His purpose clear. He vowed to do his best for them, and he hoped the job would ease the pain in his heart.
Hannah stepped into the inn’s kitchen after helping clean her parents’ house. She placed the bucket and mop in the laundry area and then crossed to the refrigerator while contemplating her supper menu. Andrew and his family were joining her and her parents tonight at the daadi haus. Her mamm insisted she invite Stephen so they could meet him. She was examining choices in the freezer when she heard a loud noise coming from the bathroom off the kitchen. She moved quickly toward the source of the racket.
Looking in the bathroom, Hannah found Stephen crouched over the commode while working on the mechanism in the tank. “What are you doing?”
“I’m fixing this pipe. Did I startle you?”
She nodded and wondered again why he was so determined to fix everything that was broken here. Whatever he was running from, she wished she knew how to help.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I dropped the wrench.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t see you get back from town.”
He wiped his hands on a red rag. “Curt dropped me off, and I started working on the toilet. I’m going to caulk the shower upstairs when I finish here.”
“Caulk the shower?” She shook her head with confusion. “I thought you were going to find a job. Did you visit those businesses I recommended?”
“I did.” Stephen ran the back of his hand over his forehead. “I made a few extra stops too.”
“Did you find a job?”
“I did.” He nodded.
“When do you start?”
“I already have.” He made a sweeping gesture, motioning around the bathroom. “I’m in charge of keeping up the bed-and-breakfast and the farm. Andrew hired me.” He stood up, causing her to stare upward to meet his eyes.
“You spoke to Andrew? Did he come see you while I was at my parents’ house?”
“No, I went to see him after I finished getting rejected by just about every business in this town.” Stephen crossed his arms over his wide chest. “I wanted your brother’s permission before I made more repairs around here. Andrew said he regrets he can’t help you more. When I told him what I could do, he asked me if I’d like the job.”
Hannah was silent while she absorbed the news. A knock on the back door interrupted her thoughts. “Excuse me.” She hurried to the door and saw Jason Glick through the screen. “Jason, what a surprise. Please come in.”
“Mei mamm asked me to come by for eggs.” He stepped into the kitchen.
She pulled two cartons from the refrigerator. “Please have a seat. I baked some cookies early this morning.”
“Ach, no, danki.” He handed her money and took the cartons. “I need to get back to the store.”
Stephen appeared in the bathroom doorway, wiping his hands on a rag. He nodded at Jason. “Hello.”
“How rude of me.” Hannah felt her hands grow clammy. “Jason, I would like you to meet Stephen Esh. Stephen, this is Jason Glick. Jason and I went to school together.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jason shook Stephen’s hand. “I’ve known Hannah since before she could walk, isn’t that right?” Jason smiled at Hannah.
“That’s true.”
Stephen nodded slowly while he held his mouth in a thin line.
“Stephen just moved here from Sugarcreek, Ohio. Andrew hired him to do repairs and take care of the grounds here at the inn.” Hannah looked around the kitchen. “Andrew hasn’t had the time to help us, so there are a few things that need attention.”
“Oh.” Jason raised his eyebrows. “That’s gut that you can help out the King family.” He turned to Hannah. “I know that you’ve needed some help since your daed’s stroke. How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing gut, danki for asking.” She fidgeted with the corner of her apron. “May I at least get you a drink?”
“No, no.” Jason waved off the offer. “I really need to get going. Nice to meet you, Stephen.”
“Ya.” Stephen straightened his back.
Jason touched the brim of his hat. “Hannah, would you walk me outside?”
She followed Jason onto the porch.
“I volunteered to come and get the eggs because I’ve . . . been thinking of you.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d like to see you again.” He smiled, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. “Maybe you could let me take you to the next singing?”
“Oh.” Hannah’s eyes widened as her mind reeled. “Ya. I’d like that.”
“Wunderbaar.” Jason started toward the porch stairs. “I need to get back before mei mamm thinks I ran off. I’ll see you Sunday.”
Hannah waved as Jason guided his horse and buggy down the driveway toward the road. She stood on the porch until his buggy rounded the curve, thinking about the afternoon’s events. She had never received attention from any men her age in the district, and over the span of one week, she was spending time with two! Perhaps she could finally find a lasting relationship like some of her close friends had. She hoped a future with a husband and family was part of God’s plan for her life. But then what would become of the inn?
Before she had time to dwell on this, she remembered her mamm’s invitation for Stephen to join the family for supper. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the house to ask him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
HANNAH LISTENED WHILE STEPHEN SHARED A STORY about repairing a bench leg before church service only to have it collapse because he hadn’t secured it well enough. Her brother laughed and recounted one of his own blunders at the daadi haus.
“Mamm opened the door and the knob came off in her hand.” Andrew was laughing so hard his face was turning red. “There she was, holding the doorknob and looking so startled and confused.”
