Amish Promises (28 page)

“Out to the living room.”

“Want me to come?”

“No,” he answered, shuffling toward the door, his cane thumping against the floor. “You should sleep.”

Shani's dad left the Saturday after New Year's, and on Monday, Shani and Joel drove to Philly. Joel worried it was too close to Shani's due date for them to travel that far, even though it wasn't much over an hour. He worried the roads might get bad and they wouldn't make it back before Zane got home from school. He worried the doctor would have bad news.

Shani found Joel's despondency harder and harder to take. “Let's make an appointment with a mental health provider while we're at the VA,” she said as she maneuvered through traffic.

“I told you I don't need to see a shrink.”

“It's no different than seeing a doctor for your leg.”

“My brain isn't broken, Shani.” He slumped against the seat and closed his eyes.

After the medical exam, the doctor said that the leg was healing. “There'll be more healing as far as the nerves and muscles. It's never going to be perfect though. You'll always walk with a cane, but you can start driving when you feel up to it.”

Shani asked Joel if he wanted to drive home. He said he didn't feel ready.

They reached home a half hour before Zane did. Joel collapsed in his recliner and fell asleep and didn't do anything the rest of the day.

The next morning he didn't do much either, besides watch TV. When Shani left for work, she told him there was soup in the cupboard and sandwich meat in the fridge. He grunted and said they'd be fine.

The next day she asked him to drive himself to physical therapy, but he said he'd rather not go if she wasn't going to take him. She ended up going, but her resentment grew.

That evening Zane was grumpy too. She couldn't get him to talk, but finally at bedtime he said he'd ventured into the Lehmans' yard on the way home from school, and Tim had told him to go on home. “Daniel and Lila were at the new chicken coop, and they both stared at me.”

Shani gave him a hug.

“They looked so sad,” he said.

“We're all sad,” Shani answered.

“Except for Tim. And, well, Dad. I mean, he's sad but not because he misses the Lehmans—except maybe Trudy.”

Shani sighed. The only time Joel had seemed positive about their baby was when Trudy had been around. Now he fretted about their little one more than ever.

The next morning she asked Joel if he'd help around the house. “Like empty out the wood stove,” she said. “The ash has really built up.” She didn't think lifting the bucket would be any harder for him than it was for her.

“I'll get to it,” he said.

By afternoon Shani felt tired and took a nap. When she woke, she could hear voices. Zane was home.

It seemed extra dark. She glanced at the clock,
4:10.
She decided a storm was blowing in. Thankfully she didn't have to work the next day. The baby shifted, and she put her hand on her belly, trying to feel a foot or elbow. Tears filled her eyes. Another couple of weeks and Baby Boy Beck would arrive. What would Joel do then?

She shuffled out to the living room. All the lights were off except for the TV. She turned on the lamp.

Zane still had his coat on.

“How was school?” she asked.

“Fine.” He was becoming as uncommunicative as his dad.

But then he perked up a little. “Anthony said we might get an ice storm,” Zane said.

Joel stared at the TV. “That's what they're saying on the news too. By this evening.”

Every few years, when she was growing up, Seattle was hit by ice storms. It shut down the entire city. She wondered if the same thing happened in Lancaster County. It didn't matter. They'd hunker down. None of them needed to go anywhere.

She called in a pizza order, doubling it. If there was going to be a storm, they'd need leftovers. They were watching the local news
when the ice started to fall. First it pinged against the windows and then the roof.

Shani gathered candles, matches, and flashlights and put them all on the coffee table. “Zane, go get more wood for the stove,” she said.

“I let the fire die down,” Joel said. “So I could clean out the ashes.”

It wasn't as if they used the wood stove to completely heat the house. Her grandparents had installed electric heaters way back when, but Shani preferred the wood stove. And they'd need it if they lost power.

“This would be a good time to do it,” Shani said, heading to the bathroom. She'd get a shower now, in case the lights went out. She didn't want to do that by candlelight.

As she turned off the water, the lights flickered but didn't go out. But a cracking noise from outside startled her. Probably a tree branch. She hoped they wouldn't have too much clean up to do after the storm. She dressed in a hurry.

When she came out of the bathroom, Zane sat on the couch with a slice of pizza in his hands.

“Where's Dad?” she asked.

“Taking out the ashes.”

“Put the pizza back. We'll all eat together.” She started down the hall to the bathroom to dry her hair. She didn't want to catch a chill. “Tell Dad to get a fire started. In case the electricity goes out,” she called out over her shoulder.

When she came out again, Joel and Zane were working on building a fire. She moved the pizza from the kitchen to the coffee table, along with plates and napkins. Before they were ready to eat, Zane asked if he could say the prayer.

“Sure,” Joel said.

Shani expected him to recite the prayer they usually said but instead he said, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food and how you take care of us. Please keep us safe. And please make things right with our neighbors.” He paused, as if there was something else he wanted to add, but simply said, “Amen.”

Zane took his half-eaten piece of pizza from the box and then said, “He works things for good, right? That's what Eve says.”

“Oh, I don't know,” Joel said, patting his bad leg. “I'm still waiting to see what good he works from this. And I can't fathom how he'd work good from Samuel . . .” His voice trailed off and he turned toward the stove.

Zane wrinkled his nose, started to say something, but then kept quiet.

Joel held a piece of pizza in midair. “Son, it's good to trust God. I have nothing against that. But God wants us to take action too—he doesn't want us sitting around doing nothing.”

Shani cringed. That's all Joel had been doing—sitting around.

Zane sat up straight. “What should we do to make things right with the Lehmans?”

Joel shook his head. “That's just it—you have to figure out what you have control over and what you don't. We don't have any control over Tim Lehman.”

Shani quickly added, “So we have to leave it up to God.”

Zane frowned.

“Thanks for making the fire,” Shani finally said to her husband and son. Neither responded.

After dinner Shani felt crampy but chalked it up to the pizza. She didn't have problems with indigestion, but there was always a first time. She decided to go to bed early. Zane went out to check on the ice and said everything was coated with it. “There's no way there will be school tomorrow.”

“You might have a late start,” Shani said. “It could melt in the morning.”

“Not according to the news,” Joel said. “They're predicting more—a lot more.”

“Go to bed on time anyway,” she said to Zane, grabbing one of the flashlights to take with her, just in case.

When she woke it was pitch-black. No lights from the alarm clock. No crack of light under the door.

Her heart raced. Something was wrong. She was wet. And in pain.

“Joel,” she said, patting the bed beside her. He wasn't there. “Joel,” she called out. Still nothing.

It was dark but not quiet. The ice still fell, pinging the windows and side of the house.

She swung her legs out of bed, pulling the quilt around her. A contraction tore through her. She grasped her belly, in pain. They'd have to call 9-1-1. She couldn't drive, not in the ice, not while having contractions. And Joel shouldn't attempt it either.

The last thing she wanted was for the baby to be born in the van on a freezing cold night.

Fumbling for the flashlight, she turned it on and then made her way out of the room and down the hall. When she reached the living room she swung the beam of the flashlight to the couch. Zane was sprawled out on it. She moved the light to the recliner. Joel stirred.

“The baby's coming, Joel.”

He bolted upright. “What?”

“My water broke. I'm having contractions—close together.” She held her belly. Another one tore through her. “And they're strong.”

“I'll go scrape the van.”

“No, call for an ambulance. I'll get changed.”

A minute later, Joel came down the hall. “The landline's down,” he said. “I went out on the porch and tried to get service, just in case, but of course couldn't.”

“Send Zane to the Lehmans', to call from their phone.” As she spoke, Zane appeared in the doorway of the bedroom, another flashlight in his hand. “Sweetie,” she said to him, “if their phone doesn't work, ask Eve to come help me.”

Joel shook his head. “Do you think Tim will let her help?”

Tears filled Shani's eyes. “He has to.”

 26 

E
ve stood at the crib, patting Trudy's back, singing “Jesus Loves Me” in German.
“
Jesus liebt mich, dies weib ich.”
She sang just loud enough for the baby to hear her.
“
Denn die Bibel sagt es mir.”

The ice hit the window as she sang. It had been a few years since they'd had a bad ice storm. She'd been dreaming about Charlie when Trudy's cries woke her. The storm had most likely woken the baby.

She still thought about Charlie all the time. She kept hoping she'd stop. Eventually she'd stopped thinking about Patrick. He'd given her the ultimatum to leave Lancaster County with him or be done with their relationship for good, but Abra had just found out she was pregnant and was still in shock. Eve had chosen to support her friend.

It had been difficult for Eve to tell Patrick good-bye. She mourned not hearing from him after he left Lancaster County without her, but she never regretted her decision. At least not any longer than a day or two. Still it had hurt.

It wasn't as if Charlie had given her an ultimatum. She'd given
it to herself. She thought of that night in the hospital, two days before Abra had passed, when she'd gripped Eve's hand and over the beeps of the medical equipment whispered, “Promise me you'll take care of my children.”

“Of course,” Eve had said.

Abra squeezed her hand harder, searching Eve's eyes.

“I promise,” Eve added. “You have my word.”

She'd honored her promise, but she couldn't seem to make herself stop obsessing about Charlie, no matter how hard she tried.

Trudy sighed and wiggled a little. Eve kept patting her back. She wondered if the storm was hitting Philly too and hoped Charlie was safe at home. She'd seen his truck go by the day after Thanksgiving, down the lane to the Becks', and had hoped beyond hope that he'd stop to see her. He hadn't. And what would she have done if he had? Begged him to take her with him?

No.

A pounding startled her. Was it a branch against the house? No, it sounded like a knock. Surely no one was out in the storm. She lifted her hand from Trudy's back. The baby stayed still.

Eve grabbed her robe, slipped it on, and hurried down the hall. The pounding grew louder. By the time she reached the kitchen the back door was open and the beam of a flashlight blinded her.

“I can't see,” she said, covering her eyes.

“Sorry.” The beam fell to the floor.

“Zane?”

He closed the door. Ice hung from his hood and eyebrows.

“What's wrong?”

He was breathless. “Mom's in labor and our phone won't work. I need to use yours.”

“To call for help?”

He nodded. “Mom doesn't want to drive in this.”

“Of course not. No one should.” Except an ambulance driver. “I'll go out with you.” Eve said a prayer as she pulled on her boots and slipped her cape over her robe. “Come on,” she said to Zane.

He led the way down the steps, waving the flashlight back and
forth. Eve moved slowly and carefully. The world had turned into a sheet of slippery glass, although it didn't seem to slow Zane down.

“Wait,” she called after him. Her ankle had healed, but she feared spraining something else on the ice.

He stopped and turned toward her, putting out his arm for her. He'd grown taller and broader since she last saw him. With his help, she made it to the barn as the ice pelted them and the wind howled through the trees. Zane pushed the door open and shone the light on the stoop. Eve stepped over it. One of the horses nickered and a cow mooed. Tim had put all of them in the barn when the ice began to fall.

Zane led the way to the office, and then Eve took the phone off the receiver and lifted it to her ear. There was no dial tone. She pressed down the receiver and let it back up. Nothing.

“I should have brought Mom's cell phone and gone to the highway,” Zane said.

Eve shook her head. “It's too dangerous,” she said. “I'll go back with you. We'll figure it out.” She'd been with Abra for the delivery of all of her babies, and as a nurse Shani would know what to do.

“Help me back to the house,” she said to Zane.

Zane took her arm as they reached the barn door. Tim wasn't going to be happy with her. She'd take the baby with her and Lila too, just in case it took all night.

When they reached the house, she woke up Lila first and told her to dress. “And pack a couple of bottles for Trudy.”

Eve dressed herself and then lifted the baby from the crib and wrapped her tight in two blankets. When she reached the back door, Lila had the diaper bag ready and already had her boots, cape, hat, and mittens on. Eve handed her the baby.

She decided to leave Tim a note. There was no way she'd wake him up to tell him where she was going. As she grabbed a notebook and pen from the drawer, she didn't hear his footsteps. Just his words. “What's going on?” He stood in the middle of the kitchen in his long underwear.

“Shani's in labor. Neither of our phones are working—I'm going to help.”

Tim's eyes narrowed, and he started to speak, but Eve stopped him. “She needs an ambulance.”

He crossed his arms.

“Take the sleigh to the gas station. Maybe the pay phone is working.”

He shook his head. “I don't have a quarter.”

“There are some quarters in the box of Abra's things we brought home from the hospital.”

He tugged on his beard.

“You'd want someone to help Abra, wouldn't you? If she was in labor on a night like this.”

Tim said nothing, just crossed his arms again.

Exasperated, Eve said, “Could you at least try to help?” She blew her breath out slowly and then added, “Remember, the Lord told us to love thy neighbor as thyself. What better way to love the Becks than to help Shani and her baby right now.”

Tim tugged on his beard but then headed back to the hall. He reappeared a few minutes later with a flashlight as Eve fastened her cape. He had a couple of quarters in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. “I'll go call,” Tim said, holding up the coins.

“Denki,” Eve said, wondering what else he'd found. It didn't matter. She was just relieved he was willing to help. She slung the diaper bag over her shoulder and reached for the baby. Lila took the flashlight, while Zane carried the garbage bag of blankets and sleepers and offered his arm to Eve. She took it.

It was slow going down the steps and then along the driveway. Lila slipped and almost fell.

“Hang on to me,” Zane said, offering his other arm. He nodded toward the field. “It's less slippery that way.”

Ice clung to every blade of grass. The uneven surface meant it wasn't as slippery, but it also made for a rough walk. Eve's ankle turned, but Zane caught her before she fell.

Lila gasped.

“I'm okay,” Eve said.

Trudy stirred but didn't cry.

They continued on in silence, concentrating on each step. Finally they reached the Becks' house.

“Let's take the ramp,” Eve said. “We can hold on to the rails.”

Once she grabbed hold, Zane ran ahead, racing up the sheet of ice to the door. Lila followed him, although not as quickly. Eve took it slowly, a step at a time, gripping the baby tightly.

As Zane threw open the door and rushed inside, he yelled, “Their phone is down too! But Eve is here. And Lila and Trudy.”

A moment later he returned and headed back down the ramp, grabbing Lila's arm and helping her all the way up. Then he returned to Eve, taking the baby and her arm. “Mom's in her room,” he said. “Dad's with her.”

When Eve and Zane stepped into the house, Lila took Trudy from Zane and headed to the wood stove, bouncing her little sister. A single candle burned on the coffee table, casting shadows around the room.

“I'm here,” Eve said as she hurried down the hall. A dim light shone through the bedroom door, which was wide open. Joel stood at the end of the bed, leaning against his cane.

A flashlight sat on a low table. Shani knelt against the side of the bed. She wore a nightgown and her hair was caught atop her head in a loop. Eve knelt down beside her. “How far apart are the contractions?”

“Three minutes.”

“Okay.”

“Zane said Tim was going to go call for an ambulance.”

“Jah . . .”

“It's what we get for moving to the middle of nowhere,” Joel said, stepping to the window.

“He's not helping,” Shani whispered. “He used to be so good in a crisis.”

Eve stood. “Joel, go tell Zane to put some water on the stove.”

“The pump isn't working.”

Eve inhaled sharply. “You didn't fill pitchers or the tub when the storm started?”

“We didn't realize . . .” Shani said.

Eve shook her head. “It's not a problem. Zane can go get ice from outside and melt that. Joel—I need your help. Go give Zane the instructions.”

Maybe her tone got his attention. He stood up a little straighter and stepped into the hall.

“As soon as Zane left he got all worked up,” Shani explained.

“Hush.” Eve swept a strand of hair away from Shani's forehead. “Concentrate on the baby.”

“I can't believe this.” Her face contorted as she spoke, and then she took a deep breath.

“Did another one start?”

Shani nodded.

Eve picked up the watch on the bed in front of Shani. By the time Shani relaxed eighty seconds had gone by. That was pretty long.

Sweat beaded on her friend's forehead even though the room was freezing. Eve shuddered at the thought of trying to keep the baby warm.

“At least you know how all of this works. I know some of what to do, but make sure and give me suggestions,” Eve said.

“Oh, no. I'm great when it comes to taking care of other people—or even myself. But when it comes to my family, I'm a mess.” She took a sharp breath. “And apparently, this isn't about me. It's about this little guy . . .” She gasped. “Because I'm not coping very well.” By the expression on Shani's face another contraction had started.

Eve extended her free hand, and Shani grabbed it, squeezing tight.

When the contraction ended, Eve said, “I'll be right back.” She hurried into the bathroom and grabbed towels and washcloths from the shelf. When she returned, Shani still leaned against the side of the bed and had tensed up again.

“Another one?” Eve grabbed the watch.

Shani nodded, breathing heavily.

They were two minutes apart now. Eve watched the second hand in the dim light.

After ninety seconds, Shani said, “Done.”

“They're closer together and stronger,” Eve said.

Shani nodded. “I'm feeling a lot of pressure.”

“To push?”

Shani nodded.

Eve's stomach fell. Even if Tim had reached the phone booth and the line was still up, the ambulance wouldn't make it in time.

Another contraction hit before Shani could say anything more, and this time she yelled. “Sorry,” Shani panted. “It caught me off guard.”

“No reason to apologize.” When the contraction ended, Eve said, “I'll be right back.”

Joel, balancing himself with his cane, held the lid of the pot high, checking the water. Zane and Lila, holding Trudy, stood on the other side of the wood stove.

“I need a pair of sharp scissors,” Eve said. “And string.”

“Get it from Mom's sewing basket,” Joel said to Zane.

The boy pulled the flashlight out of his pocket and ran up the stairs.

“How's it going in there?” Joel asked, replacing the lid.

“Fast,” Eve answered.

Joel nodded. “I'll stoke the fire and be right in.” When Eve returned to the bedroom, Shani was in the middle of another contraction.

When it ended, Eve asked, “Do you want to get back on the bed?”

Shani shook her head. “This feels better.”