Allison's Journey (30 page)

Gabe rested his hand on Aaron’s slumped shoulder. “Don’t you remember how things were with Melinda and me during our courtship? There was a time when I didn’t know if she was going to remain true to the Amish faith, or if she would choose to go English and become a vet.” He shook his head. “Don’t think that wasn’t stressful. Believe me, I know more of how you’re feeling than you can imagine.”

Aaron knew his friend was probably right, but it didn’t relieve his anxiety any. It had taken a lot for him to get past his feelings about marriage and start courting Allison. Knowing they might never be together hurt worse than a kick in the head by an unruly mule.

“Have you had supper yet?” he asked, feeling the need to change the subject.

“Melinda and I had an early supper,” Gabe replied. “But feel free to go have your meal. I’ll get started on the dog run, and when you’re done, you can join me. If you don’t have anything else to do, that is.”

“I’m not all that hungry, so I’ll go inside and tell my mamm I won’t be joining them at the table this evening. Then I’ll come back out to help you with the dog run.”

Gabe clucked his tongue. “You’ve got to eat, Aaron. Pining for Allison and starving yourself won’t solve a thing.”

Aaron knew his friend was only showing concern, but it irked him. He didn’t want anyone’s sympathy, and he didn’t need to be told what to do.

As he opened the shop door and stepped out, a blast of hot, muggy air hit him full in the face. He grimaced. “Sure wish it would cool off and rain again. I’m sick of this sweltering weather!”

He kicked at the stones beneath his feet.
I hope I get a letter from Allison soon. I really do miss her
.

Allison thought she had prepared herself for this moment, but the sight that greeted her when she and Papa stepped into the house made her stomach clench. Aunt Catherine lay on the sofa with a wet washrag on her forehead and a hot water bottle on her stomach. Her skin had a grayish-yellow tinge, her eyes were rimmed with dark circles, and she looked skinny and frail. This wasn’t the robust, healthy woman Allison had seen three
months ago. It made her wonder how long Aunt Catherine had been sick and hadn’t said anything. She might have been in pain for some time. That could be the reason she’d been so crabby much of the time.

Allison approached the sofa, and her aunt struggled to sit. “That’s okay. Don’t get up on my account.” Allison leaned over and took hold of Aunt Catherine’s hand. Aunt Catherine squeezed it in return, but there wasn’t much strength in her fingers. A tear trickled down Allison’s cheek, and she sniffed.

“We’ll have no tears around here. You shouldn’t have come home.” Aunt Catherine’s words were clipped, and if it hadn’t been for the knowledge that her aunt was hurting, Allison would have felt offended. “I told your daed not to write that letter, but he insisted on bringing you back to take care of me.”

Allison wasn’t sure if Aunt Catherine didn’t want her here because she didn’t like her, or if her harsh words were because she felt bad about Allison having to leave Missouri. It didn’t matter. Allison was home now, and she had a job to do. Many times in the past she’d let Aunt Catherine’s sharp tongue bother her, but with God’s help, she would care for her aunt’s physical and spiritual needs without complaint.

“Have you heard anything from Allison?” Melinda asked Mary as she and Katie stepped into Mary’s living room for a quilting bee.

Mary nodded. “I got a letter this morning.”

“How’s she doing? I’ve only had one letter, and that was right after she first got home,” Katie said.

“She’s doing all right, but she’s very busy keeping house, cooking, and taking care of her aunt.”

“Is her aunt’s health any better?” Melinda wanted to know.

Mary shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Allison said Catherine is still refusing any kind of treatment other than some pills for her pain.”

“That’s a shame,” Melinda’s mother, Faith, put in from across the room. “It seems that so many people have cancer these days.”

“If only there wasn’t so much pain and suffering in this world,” Melinda said, taking a seat in front of the quilting frame. “It breaks my heart to see even the animals I care for when they suffer with some incurable disease.”

“Sickness and death were brought into this world when Adam and Eve sinned,” Vera Esh spoke up. Her eyes misted. “But someday, God will wipe away all our tears.”

“And there will be no more pain and suffering,” Mary said, reaching for her well-used thimble. “In the meantime, we can do our part to alleviate some of the misery our friends and family must endure by being there for them and lifting them up in prayer.”

All heads nodded in agreement, and Mary lifted a silent prayer on behalf of her brother-in-law, Herman, and the whole Troyer family.

“If you keep jabbing that pitchfork the way you’re doing, you’ll put a hole in the floor instead of spreading straw in the places it needs to be spread,” Peter said when he stepped into the stall Herman had been cleaning.

Herman set the pitchfork aside and straightened. “I guess I
was
going at it pretty good.” He reached around to rub a sore spot in his lower back and grimaced.

“If you’re back’s actin’ up, why don’t you let me take over?” Peter offered.

“Actually, I think I’m hurting in here more than here.” Herman touched his chest, and then his back.

“Because of Aunt Catherine, you mean?”

“Jah, that and the fact that Allison had to cut her time short in Missouri in order to come back and care for things here.”

“I think the two of us could have managed okay on our own,” Peter said. “It’s Aunt Catherine who needs the most looking after right now.”

Herman nodded. “I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse. Have you noticed the determined set of my sister’s jaw when she tries to do something? She attempts to cover up her pain, but I’m no
narr
.”

“Of course you’re not a fool, Papa.”

Herman grimaced. “That sister of mine is hurting more than she’ll admit, but I sure wish I hadn’t had to ask Allison to come home. She’s been so sad since she arrived. I don’t think it’s just because she feels bad about Aunt Catherine’s condition, either.”

“You think she’s missing Aunt Mary and her family?”

“Jah, and maybe a few others besides.”

Peter tipped his head to one side. “You don’t think Allison found a boyfriend while she was there, do you?”

Herman shrugged. “I can’t be sure, but from the way she’s been acting, it’s my guess that she’s missing more than just her family in Webster County.”

Peter stabbed a chunk of straw with the pitchfork and dropped it to the floor. “Allison hasn’t had very good luck getting boyfriends in the past, so if she did find one while she was visiting Aunt Mary’s family, she’s probably none too happy about giving up that relationship.” He stuck the pitchfork into the pile of straw again. “Want me to ask her about it?”

Herman shrugged. “She might not appreciate it, but if you feel so inclined, go right ahead.”

“I think I will,” Peter said with a nod. “As soon as I figure out the best way to ask.”

Over the next several weeks, Allison established a routine. Up early every morning to fix breakfast so Papa and Peter could get out to the milking barn. Clean up the kitchen. Take a tray of hot cereal up to Aunt Catherine, who now ate most of her meals in bed. Do the laundry whenever it was needed. Dust, sweep, and shake rugs in every part of the house. Bake bread and desserts, while making sure that each meal was fixed on time.

Allison had to squeeze in a few minutes before bed at night to read her Bible. And she had been negligent about letter writing. She’d only written to Aaron twice, once to let him know she’d arrived home safely, and another letter earlier this week to tell him how her aunt was doing and that she missed him. She’d also written to Aunt Mary and Uncle Ben, as well as to Katie and Melinda. Aunt Mary had sent several letters in return, and she’d had two letters from Katie, but only one from Melinda. Allison figured that was because Melinda had recently given birth to a baby boy, which she’d learned about when she’d received a letter
from Aaron last week. He had also said he missed her and had been praying for her aunt.

“I wish I could see that boppli of Melinda’s,” Allison said with a yawn. For that matter, she wished she could see all her friends and family back in Missouri—especially Aaron, whom she missed more than she was willing to admit.

A knock sounded on Allison’s bedroom door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened, and Peter stuck his head inside. “I was hoping you were still awake.”

“I was just getting ready to read a few verses from the Bible before I go to bed,” Allison replied.

“Mind if I come in so we can talk awhile?”

“Be my guest,” Allison said, motioning him into the room.

Peter stepped inside and took a seat on the end of Allison’s bed. “I’m worried about you, Allison.”

“Why would you be worried about me? Aunt Catherine’s the sick one here.”

His forehead wrinkled. “I know that, but you’ve been working hard night and day. I’m afraid if you don’t slow down some you’re going to collapse.”

She shook her head. “You sound more like Papa now, and not my little bruder.”

“I’m not your little brother, Allison. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m two years older than you.”

“I know, but you’re my youngest brother, just the same.”

Peter smiled, but then his face sobered. “I wish you hadn’t felt it necessary to come home so you could take care of us.”

“I love you and Papa, so I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She shrugged. “Besides, I wanted to be here for Aunt Catherine
during her time of need.”

Deep wrinkles formed in his forehead. “I don’t think she’s got long for this world, do you?”

Allison shook her head. “Short of a miracle, Aunt Catherine’s going to die soon, and I want to be sure she knows Jesus in a personal way before she goes.”

“How can you care so much after all the mean things she’s said to you over the years?”

“The way I felt about Aunt Catherine changed after I accepted Jesus as my Savior.”

Peter nodded slowly. “You have changed a lot since you came home from Missouri.”

Allison stared at her Bible, lying on the table beside her bed. “I used to feel faceless, like my life had no purpose. But after Aunt Mary explained to me that God sent Jesus to die for my sins and that He does have a purpose for my life, everything changed.” She smiled. “I’m planning to be baptized and join the church this fall.”