The Stubborn Father (10 page)

Kristi would have gotten paid yesterday,
he thought.
I wonder if she put any money in our bank account. If so, I might be able to take out a bit more.

Joel admitted he had put himself at risk taking money from their account the first time. Sooner or later, Kristi was bound to find out what their balance was. Because the statements came to Joel’s house didn’t mean she wouldn’t ask at the bank the next time she made a deposit.

“I’m playing with fire,” Joel muttered as he climbed into his truck. “I need a way out, and I need it soon.”

Akron

When Kristi got ready to leave the church that evening, she had mixed emotions. While she’d enjoyed the seminar and learned a lot, it wasn’t the same without Joel. He needed to hear what the guest speaker said about marriage and the importance of good communication. He’d stressed the need for honesty between a couple and talked about spending quality time together. While Kristi and Joel got together fairly regularly, lately she felt as if his mind was always on other things. The fact that Joel couldn’t take a few hours off tonight really bothered her—maybe too much. But couldn’t Joel have gone to work earlier this morning so he could attend the seminar?

Kristi was almost to the door when she bumped into her mother. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you and Dad standing there.”

“No harm done.” Mom touched Kristi’s arm. “Where’s Joel? I thought he was coming with you tonight.”

“He was, but he had to work late.” Kristi dropped her gaze. She didn’t want to let on how disappointed she felt or mention that she thought Joel might have used work as an excuse not to come.

“I’m sorry he couldn’t be here,” Dad interjected. “He sure missed out on some good stuff.”

Kristi held up the packet of information they’d been given, along with the notes she’d taken. “I’ll be sharing all the information when I see Joel tomorrow.”

“Good to hear.” Dad gave Kristi a hug. “If Joel’s gonna be my son-in-law someday, then he needs to know how to take care of my daughter.”

Avoiding her mother’s gaze, Kristi smiled at Dad. “I’m sure he will, Daddy. Joel’s a good man.”

Charm

M
onday morning, Eustace was up at the crack of dawn. He ate a quick breakfast and got all his outside chores done so he could work on the roof. Several shingles were missing, and with rain in the forecast, he needed to get some patching done or he could be in for a few leaks.

It was a good thing Eustace wasn’t afraid of heights, because his two-story house had a steep roof. He might have asked one of his sons-in-law to help, or even some of the boys, but Eustace enjoyed working and liked to keep busy, so he didn’t view it as a chore. He couldn’t see asking any of his family for help. They had their own responsibilities to keep up with. This way, he could work at his own pace. Any work he did on this home that he loved so much gave him a sense of satisfaction. At Eustace’s age, completing tasks, such as fixing the roof, meant by tonight, every bone in his body would ache. Even so, it was fulfilling to see the results of the work he could still do.

If Effie were here now, she’d be standing beneath my ladder shaking her finger at me and saying I ought to come down and let someone younger take care of this chore,
Eustace thought after he’d climbed the ladder and gotten settled on the roof. Of course, Effie had always worried about him, often saying he took too many chances.

Eustace remembered one time he’d made a huge kite, and Effie was sure it would lift him into the air and carry him away. It hadn’t, of course, but it probably could have if the wind had been strong enough.
Now, wouldn’t that have been something—me sailing through the air like a bird?

Soon after Eustace became rich, he’d bought a trampoline for his grandchildren to enjoy when they came to visit. Effie was certain it wasn’t safe and worried one of the kids might get hurt jumping on it. To put her mind at ease, Eustace had climbed onto the trampoline and jumped as high as he could. When no great tragedy occurred, he even did a few flips. Of course, he’d been a few years younger then. He’d also added a safety net around the perimeter of the trampoline to ensure his grandchildren’s protection.

Eustace chuckled as he began patching the roof. As his father used to say, “We only live once, so we may as well have a little fun and take a few chances, or life will become boring.”

After he’d worked a while, Eustace began to sweat.
Should have brought some
wasser
up here with me.
He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.
Sometimes I can be so forgetful. Guess it comes with age.

He was about to climb down, when he spotted Elsie’s rig coming up the driveway.
Oh, good. I can ask her to get me the water.

“Hey, Elsie,” Eustace called after she’d gotten out of the buggy and secured her horse to the hitching rail. “Would you mind goin’ in the house and bringing me a glass of water?”

Elsie looked up, and her mouth opened wide. “What are you doing up there, Dad?”

“Some of the shingles are missing, and I’m replacing them before I end up with a leak in my roof. Since fall is here, we’re bound to see more rain.”

“John could have replaced shingles for you, Dad. All you needed to do was ask.”

“It’s okay. I’d rather do it myself. Besides, John’s a bricklayer, not a roofer.” Eustace chuckled. “That’s why so many folks around here call him ‘Brick-layer John.’”

“You’re not a roofer, either, and you’re up so high. What if you fell and no one was here to help?”

Eustace flapped his glove at her. “Stop pestering me. I’m not afraid of heights, and being on the roof is no big deal. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of the job, and I have everything under control. I’ve done things like this for years. Today is no different.”

“But Dad, don’t you realize—”

“Are you gonna bring me a glass of wasser or not?”

“Will you come down here to drink it?”

“Why? Are you afraid to climb the leeder?”

“No, I am not afraid to climb the ladder.” Elsie huffed. “But there’s no place to set a glass of water on the roof, now is there?”

“I wasn’t gonna set it down. I was planning to drink it.”

“Okay,” Elsie finally conceded. “I will bring it up the ladder, and then I’ll wait there till you drink it.”

Smiling, Eustace nodded. “You’re a good daughter. Now hurry inside.”

A few minutes later, Elsie returned with a plastic bottle. She made her way up the ladder and handed it to him. “I put water in this bottle instead of a glass. If it gets dropped, it won’t break.”

Eustace took the bottle, opened the lid, and drank. “Danki. Sure hits the spot.” He started to hand it back to her but changed his mind. “Guess I’d better keep the bottle with me in case I get thirsty again.”

She remained on the ladder, with lips pursed as she looked up. He figured she was about to plead with him to come down and let John finish the job. So before she could say anything, Eustace spoke. “There’s a pile of sullied clothes in my bedroom needing to be washed. Would you mind doing ’em for me?”

Elsie hesitated at first, but finally nodded. “Sure, Dad. I’d be happy to take care of the laundry.” She started down the ladder, then suddenly yelled out.

Eustace crawled to the edge of the roof to make sure his daughter was all right. “What happened, Elsie?”

“I missed one of the rungs and almost fell.”

“Are you okay?”

“Jah. My legs are kind of wobbly on the ladder right now.”

Wiping his brow, Eustace felt relief. Thank goodness she was all right. “I’m holding my end of the ladder till you get down. Now take it slow, one rung at a time.” He watched as Elsie went the rest of the way down. What was wrong with him? He should have known better than to ask his daughter to bring him water. Elsie was only forty-two, but it was a risk for anyone climbing a ladder this high. The last thing he wanted was to put any of his loved ones in danger.

Guess I should have been thinking about that the day I asked Elsie to climb the tree and rescue me. But then, Verna went up in the tree house, and so did the boys.

When Elsie’s feet touched the ground, she turned and looked up again. “I’ll check on you as soon as I get the clothes washed and ready to hang. Please be careful, okay?”

“I’m always prudent.”

Elsie shook her finger, reminding him of Effie. “No big words, now, Dad. I want you to take it easy.”

Eustace promised. When the screen door shut, he smiled.
Now maybe I can finish my task without interruptions. My daughter means well, but like her mamm, she worries too much. But then, how can I blame Elsie for being concerned? Look what almost happened to her.

Eustace was nearly finished with his chore when Elsie came out to hang the wet clothes. “How’s it going?” she called before heading over to the line.

“Almost done. I’m gonna sit here a spell and enjoy the sights. You can see forever from up here.”

He heard Elsie sigh. Then she headed out to the line and began hanging some towels, as well as his clothes.

Eustace looked out across the pasture, watching his beautiful buggy horse running about in the field. He chuckled as the horse kicked up his heels like a frisky colt and some of the other horses followed, doing the same.

His gaze went to the oil wells, going at a steady speed.
I’m a fortunate man to have all of this.
He drank the last of his water.
Someday, when I’m gone, I hope each of my kinner appreciates what they will eventually receive.

By the time Eustace climbed down from the roof, Elsie had gone back inside. After putting the ladder and his tools away, he entered the house. When Eustace stepped into the living room, he was surprised to find Elsie going through a stack of mail piled up on an end table near the couch.

“What are you doing?” he inquired.

“I was sorting, to make sure there was no important mail before tossing all the ads and catalogs.”

Eustace vigorously shook his head. “No, don’t do that! I’m keeping all of those.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “Whatever for?”

“I may want to order something. I’ve been so busy building the tree house I haven’t had time to go through all my catalogs.”

Elsie sighed. “Okay, Dad, whatever you want.”

Eustace was glad he’d caught her in time. If he’d come in a few minutes later, she may have thrown all the mail in the trash. Then he wouldn’t have been able to order anything.

“Say, Dad, it’s getting close to noon. Why don’t I fix you something to eat?”

“Only if you’ll agree to eat with me. It would be nice to have some one-on-one time for a change, and eating by myself is not much fun.” Eustace chuckled. “I kinda got used to your aunt’s constant chatter.”

“Of course I’ll stay.” Elsie smiled. “What would you like to eat?”

“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you make a salad, and I’ll grill some steaks? It would be nice to have someone to share the meal with, because I’ve never gotten used to eating alone.”

She gave him a hug. “I understand, which is why I don’t understand your insistence on living here by yourself.”

“I feel close to your mamm in this home, Elsie. Sometimes, when I look at her rocking chair or some of the clothes she used to wear, I feel like she’s still here, watching over me.”

“But you know she’s in heaven with God, right? And no matter where you are, whether it’s at home or someplace else, she’ll always be here.”

He nodded as Elsie pointed to her heart. “I look forward to joining her in heaven someday.”

Elsie slipped her hand through the crook of Eustace’s arm as they walked toward the kitchen. “We don’t want it to be anytime soon, which is why you need to be careful.”

He patted her hand, thankful for his daughter’s love.
Too bad Joel doesn’t care much for me. I hope he regrets his actions someday.

The following morning, after Eustace had enjoyed his first cup of coffee, he opened the back door and stepped onto the porch. The humidity was high, with the smell of rain accompanying a light breeze. Wrinkling his nose, the air actually smelled like earthworms. He glanced at the rocks, where years ago, Effie had meticulously positioned them to border the flowerbed. Her “Suzies” were still in bloom but would soon be dropping their seeds. She always loved those Black-eyed Susans, and now they were Eustace’s favorite flower, too. He could see the slimy trails from slugs where they’d crawled across the bordering rocks and into the landscaping.
Guess I better look for something soon to get rid of those slugs before they eat Effie’s flowers.