The Days of Redemption (63 page)

After a long, judgmental look, Daniel picked up his crowbar. “We got a lot of work to do. We better get busy.”

“Sure. Fine.” He probably shouldn't have even brought up Elsie's disability or his feelings about her. But talking about it out loud made him realize a few things.

A few pretty important things about himself.

Though the tension between him and Daniel had returned, Landon knew it would eventually blow over. They were brothers first.

And even if things did stay tense for a few days, he was okay with that. In fact, for the first time in days, he felt at peace. Now, at least, Landon was making plans for a future that he could be proud of, not be ashamed of.

And that was something he could live with.

When Elsie's
daed
escorted her
mamm
inside, the household erupted in celebration—even Goldie. Elsie found herself chuckling as Goldie bounded toward her mother with a series of happy barks.

Leaning down, her mother gently patted the dog between her ears before smiling at the family that surrounded her. Her blue eyes looked bright and her cheeks pink. To Elsie, she looked perfectly beautiful.

“I've never seen such a commotion about something so little,” Mamm marveled.

“You being in the hospital wasna something ‘little,' Marie,” Lorene said. “All of us were worried about you.”

“Mighty worried,” her husband, John, added.

Still holding Daed's elbow, Mamm's expression softened. “Well, worry no longer. I'm home now.”

“Thank goodness,” Viola said. “And Mamm, just so you know, you aren't allowed to get sick again. We can't take it.”

“I'll certainly do my best not to.” Mamm walked toward the kitchen table and oohed and ahhed over the amount of food set out. “What a feast!” Leaning forward a bit, her eyes brightened. “Is that a coconut cream pie?”

“It certainly is,” Beth said. “Amanda and I made it and whoopee pies this morning.”

“It all looks
wunderbaar
. My goodness, you all have been busy.” She gestured to the spotless counters, the sparkling-clean windows, the polished furniture. “The
haus
looks beautiful.” With a mock frown, she added, “I didn't know you all could clean so well.”

“We had no choice,” Sam said. “Mamm might be a great-grandmother, but she hasn't lost her touch for ordering us about.”

Elsie chuckled as her grandmother attempted to look fierce but couldn't quite manage it.

“After a little bit of direction, you all did
gut
,” she said. “I'm proud of you.”

“Does that mean we can finally eat something?” Aden asked after a moment. “I'm starving.”

Like locusts, the crowd of people grabbed paper plates and swarmed the table. There was much joshing and teasing as Elsie's uncles vied for position in line, as if they were small boys instead of grown men.

With everyone occupied, Elsie walked to her mother's side. “I am glad you're back home, Mamm. We were worried about you.”

Gently hugging her, her mother said, “I'm glad to be home, too, my sweet Elsie. After all the hustle and bustle ends, you and me are going to have to catch up.”

There was only one thing that her mother could be referring to, and that was Landon. “Of course,” Elsie said awkwardly.

“Maybe we could speak later on this afternoon?”

Thankfully, her father interrupted before Elsie could reply. “Marie, let's feed you before everyone eats all the food.” Her mother looked chagrined, but let herself be guided back to the table.

Not hungry, Elsie moved to the kitchen. It was so nice to have her
mamm
home, and somehow it finally made it feel right to have all the family cluttering up the house. But as she gazed out the kitchen window, a sadness claimed her chest. While she hoped that her new friendship with Landon meant that the dreams of her heart might be coming true, she couldn't deny that her life might be far different from her mother's, her grandmother's, or even Viola's. If she never married or had children, she'd never have moments like this.

She'd never have a husband to fuss over her after an illness or on a special day.

She might never have a noisy house full of children and grandchildren eager—or not so eager—to do her bidding.

She might be doomed to staying in the background. As the
blind
daughter. The
needy
aunt. The
frail
great-aunt who required extra help.

Nothing sounded worse.

Unable to help herself, she stewed on that bleak future while she brewed tea and coffee. When the family moved to the hearth room, surrounding her mother, Elsie still wasn't ready to be a part of the crowd. Instead, she occupied herself with clearing the table, throwing out paper plates, and washing a few of the dishes.

Eventually, Beth, Viola, and Amanda joined her. She chatted with them a bit as they continued to wash and dry dishes. But though she enjoyed the girls' conversation, she kept finding herself listening for her mother's laugh. Then, she would know her mother was truly back.

Elsie smiled as she listened to her mother's melodic voice, followed by a low chuckle. It felt as familiar as an old, comfortable robe and as precious as the quilt her grandmother had made her when she was a little girl.

Some things were like that. Perfect just the way they were.

Then, all too soon, Elsie heard her father firmly announce that the party was over and it was time for her
mamm
to get some rest.

As if she sensed Elsie's feelings, Viola walked to her side and linked her hand through her arm. “It feels
gut
to have Mamm home, ain't so?”

“Jah.”

Stepping a little closer, Viola lowered her voice. “Elsie . . . are you all right? You look a little blue.”

“I'm fine. There's simply a lot going on, you know?”

“I know,” Viola said. Her words were agreeable, but everything about her body language said that she wasn't buying Elsie's weak excuse. Tilting her head to one side, she stared at Elsie intently. “Is that all that's wrong?” she prodded. “We can talk later, if you want.”

“I don't need to talk about anything. I'm fine.”

“All right, if you're sure?”

“I'm positive.” No way was she going to share her depressing thoughts with her sister. Viola had so much to be happy about that Elsie feared she'd only make her twin feel guilty about how she was blessed with good eyesight and a future that looked bright. Viola was preparing to make her own way in the world as a missionary's wife in Belize. Her future couldn't be more different from Elsie's.

Less than an hour later, Aden, Rachel, Beth, and her children had left, anxious to get back home to Indiana. On their heels, Aunt Lorene and her husband, John, had also gone home, along with Sam, his wife, and their three children.

Amanda had taken Regina to her room for a nap, Roman was out in the barn with their
daed
to feed and groom the horses, and Viola had gone upstairs, a new letter from her Edward in her hands that the mailman had just delivered.

Things felt almost . . . normal.

When Marie woke from her nap and insisted that she didn't want to sit alone for another minute, Elsie and her grandparents pulled three chairs into the bedroom.

Marie had slipped on a fluffy blue robe and looked almost like her old self propped up on a pile of down pillows.

“Tell me about everything, you three,” she said. “I couldn't keep up with all the talking and chattering when the whole family was here.”

“What do you want to know?” Elsie asked. “Daed said that he filled you in on the latest news when you were at the hospital.”

“Oh, he did. But you know how your father is. Why give me a paragraph when he could shorten a story into two sentences?”

Elsie chuckled. That was true. Her father never had been much of a storyteller. “That sounds like you, Dawdi.”

Her grandfather's cheeks brightened. “Perhaps that's where Peter got it from?”

As Elsie had hoped, her grandmother took over the announcements, and steadily filled her mother in with all the latest news. Little by little, she found herself relaxing as her grandmother shared stories about Regina and the other great-grandchildren.

They talked a little about the idea of a wedding party for Roman and Amanda, but Elsie noticed Lovina didn't sound too enthusiastic about it.

“Mommi, I would have thought you would have enjoyed planning a party for Roman and Amanda,” Elsie said.

For the first time, her grandparents looked uncomfortable.

Before her mother could speak, Elsie blurted. “What's wrong?”

“Well,” Lovina answered. “There is something we need to tell you all.”

“What is it?” her mother asked.

Dawdi cleared his throat. “Lovina and I wanted to wait to tell you until you'd had a chance to settle in.”

“It sounds serious,” Marie said.

After yet another slow, meaningful glance at her grandmother, Dawdi sighed, resolved that the time to share his news had come. “Lovina and I are heading to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning.”

Her mother looked as startled as Elsie felt.

“I'm mighty surprised,” Marie said. “How long have you been planning this?”

“Only a few days. We wanted to wait until you were better, but we're anxious to get back there.”

Elsie frowned. “I thought you both had finally come to peace with your past?”

Looking uncomfortable, her grandmother faltered with her reply. “Dawdi and I decided it is high time that the two of us face some things that happened long ago. It's past time, if you want to know the truth,” she added in a rush. “And we need to see Sara, too.”

Her grandfather nodded. “We need to pay her a visit.” Clearing this throat, he added, “We should have visited her long ago.”

Her mother gazed at them for a long moment, then shrugged. “All right. I wish you safe travels.”

Elsie gaped at her mother. That was it?
Safe travels?
That was all the questioning she had? She couldn't see well, but even she could tell that both of her grandparents looked like they were hiding yet more information.

Well, she, for one, was not satisfied with these vague answers. “Dawdi, how long are you going to be gone?”

“I'm not sure. At least a couple of days.” He scratched his head. “Maybe even a week? Ten days? As long as we need to, I suppose. I'm sure the Lord will let us know when the time is right to stay . . . and to go.”

“It feels so sudden.”

“Well, we didn't tell anyone of our plans because we didn't want to leave when you were in the hospital,” Dawdi said. “Once we heard you'd recovered, we didn't want to wait any longer.”

Her grandmother frowned. “To be honest, now doesn't seem like the best time, either. You're not on your feet yet, Marie.” Then she looked at Elsie's grandfather. “However, I fear we have no choice. We've paid for the tickets. Plus, if we don't go now . . .”

“We might postpone it yet again,” Dawdi finished. “It is time to head north. I'm sorry, Marie.”

“There's nothing to be apologizing for,” her mother said. “Believe me, I understand. And yes, it is time.”

“Mommi, who is going with you and Dawdi?”

“Why, no one,” her grandmother said.

“But don't you need help?”

“Not at all. We aren't so old that we can't travel without assistance, Elsie.”

“I didn't mean that. But don't you want some support? Maybe you will need someone with you to lean on.”

Her grandfather looked at her pointedly. “Are you offering, Elsie?”

“Yes, if you would like me to come with you.”

“Oh, Elsie. You would go, wouldn't you?” her grandmother murmured. “It's kind of you to offer, but you can't come, dear. Aaron and I have to do this on our own. We must.”

There it was again, that vague sense that there was more to their story than they were sharing. “Why?”

Mommi's eyes narrowed. “It's not your place to question, Elsie.”

“You're needed here, Elsie. As is everyone else,” her grandfather said. “Besides, I don't think this is something for the family. It's only for your grandmother and me.” He stood up. “Now that we've told you, Marie, I'm going to tell Peter and Roman. Then we're going to need to finish packing and get ready.”

“Our bus leaves bright and early in the morning.” Mommi stood up and shook out her skirts. “Thank you for understanding, Marie.”

As her grandparents shuffled out of the room, Elsie reached for her mother's hand. “Mamm, I can't remember a time when this family has been coming and going so much.”

“That's because there hasn't been a time. But I guess that's to be expected. Life brings challenges. Some wonderful-
gut
, like Roman and Amanda getting married. And others like my illness. You can't plan for it all.”

Her mother's words gave her the courage to share her own news. She knew her family had probably clued her in but she knew her
mamm
. She'd want to hear it all from her directly. “Mamm, Landon Troyer took me out for a buggy ride last weekend.”

“I heard a little about that. Did you have a
gut
time?”

“I did.” She bit her lip. “I'm kind of surprised that I haven't heard from him since, though. I would have thought he'd stop by again.”

“Perhaps he doesn't want to seem too eager.”

“You think?”

“Maybe. Men are silly like that.”

It struck Elsie that this was the first conversation she'd actually had about dating. “Mamm, you're the first person not to tell me that I shouldn't have gone.”

“If I've learned anything over the last few months, it's that it's time to stop judging and guessing and advising. Sometimes the Lord just wants us to listen and offer support. He gives us two ears and just one mouth, you know. Now, has your time with Landon made you happy?”

“It did,” she said quickly.

“If it made you happy, then you deserve to be happy. That's enough for me.”

Elsie felt tears prick her eyes. She really needed someone to believe in her. She'd needed someone to be happy for her.

“I'm so glad you're back home, Mamm.”

“No one is happier than me, dear.” She smiled weakly, then closed her eyes. “But I am a little sleepy.”

“I'll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

“There's no need.”

“I'm happy to sit with you.”

“You always have been the best daughter,” her mother said sleepily.

Elsie laughed. That phrase had been something their mother had said time and again over the years to her and Viola.

Maybe things really were getting back to normal.

A
s Peter watched his father's slightly stooped form exit the barn, he picked up the old broom and gave it a hard swipe across the dusty ground. “Just when I think everything's back to normal, something else happens. Now your grandparents are off to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning.”

Roman shrugged his shoulders. His son always did seem to keep his wits about him, no matter what happened. It allowed him to stay out of the drama that seemed to always plague Peter's complicated family.

“I'm going to worry about them something awful. If they would have waited a bit, Sam or I could have gone with them.”

“So you could help them . . . or find out what they're going to do?”

Peter chuckled as he placed the broom against the wall. “Both, I suppose. Ever since we discovered your grandmother was once English I've felt like I don't really know my parents at all. Now I want to do everything I've never dared to do before. I want to ask them prying questions and learn everything I can.” He gave the ground a couple more hard swipes with the broom.

“I guess we'll have to hope they feel like telling us their news when they get home.”

“I'll be disappointed if they use this trip as another excuse to keep secrets.”

“I think we're beyond that, Daed, don't you think?”

“I hope so.” Though it wasn't all that hot out, Peter realized he'd broken out in a sweat. He wiped his brow. “I must have gotten out of shape in that treatment center. I'm feeling winded already.”

Roman nodded, but then his eyes narrowed as he gazed over Peter's shoulder. “Hold on. I cannot believe he had the nerve to show up here.”

Peter turned around and looked out the open barn door. “Who are you talking about?”

“Landon.”

“Ah. So he has returned.” With a faint smile, he murmured, “Hmm. I wonder who he came to see . . . you or Elsie?”

“It better be me,” Roman said. “I went over and talked to him a couple of days ago.”

“What about?”

“About Elsie. I told him that she was going blind.” He shook his head in obvious frustration. “I thought he understood that I didn't want him to see Elsie anymore.”

Though Peter had been concerned about Elsie seeing the young man next door, he was focused on trying to convince Elsie to change her mind—not talking to Landon.

“You shouldn't have done that, son.”

“Why? Elsie needs someone looking out for her.”

“But you weren't doing that. You were getting into her business. There's a difference.”

Roman shrugged off his warning hand. “Daed, remember it was Elsie who got on the phone and called Amanda and invited her and Regina out here. It's a little too late for you to worry about us getting involved in each other's lives. It's obviously what we do.”

“That was different, Roman,” he warned. “That was to help your relationship, not put on the brakes.”

Still watching Landon, Roman's voice rose a bit. “Look at that, he isn't even walking over this way. He's going directly to the front door, just like he's been invited or something. I better go see what he wants.”

“Roman, if you're not careful, you're going to get them both upset with you.”

“They might be upset now, but they'll each thank me one day. I'm doing the right thing, Daed.”

As Roman marched out the door, Peter picked up the broom, but after a halfhearted swipe, he set it against the wall. He was far more interested in Roman's trek to the house, where he was undoubtedly getting ready to stick his nose into things that weren't his business.

Imagining the words that were about to be exchanged, he whistled low. He had a feeling things were about to get ugly, indeed.

What had happened to his even-keeled son who always kept to himself?