The Stubborn Father (6 page)

Elsie gave Doris a hug. “Maybe you and Brian should consider adopting a
boppli
.”

Tears pooled in Doris’s eyes. “I’d like to, but Brian says if God wants us to have a baby, it will happen in His time. He won’t even talk about adoption.”

Elsie wanted to say more, but she didn’t want to upset Doris further or cause her to be late for work. “Always remember, I’ve been praying for you and will continue to do so.”

“Danki. That means a lot.” Doris took a tissue from her purse and dried her eyes. “I’d better get going. Unless you hear differently, Brian and I will join you for supper. Oh, and before I forget, can I bring anything to add to the meal?”

“All you need to bring are your hearty appetites.” Elsie grinned.

As Doris walked away, Elsie paused.
Heavenly Father, if Doris is never going to have any children of her own, please soften Brian’s heart on the subject of adoption.

Sighing, she headed for the bakery. As soon as she stepped inside, her senses were greeted by the sweet aroma of cookies and pastries. The place was already busy with tourists looking around and trying some samples. Elsie walked by the bakery cases to check out what might interest her. The lemon fry pies looked good. But so did the frosted lemon cookies. Most anything lemon Dad would like.
Maybe I’ll get some of each,
she decided.
Dad can take home whatever we don’t eat for supper tonight. That way he and Aunt Verna can snack on them later this week.

As she stood in line, waiting to pay for her things, Elsie noticed an English woman and a young girl ahead of her. The girl had turned to face Elsie and kept staring at her, even though the child’s mother told her several times to turn around. When the woman finished paying, she turned to Elsie and cleared her throat. “I apologize for my daughter’s behavior. This is our first trip to Amish country, and she’s curious about the clothes you’re wearing.”

“It’s okay. I understand.” This was not the first time Elsie had caught someone staring at her. What she didn’t appreciate was when they took photos without her permission. While some Amish might not care too much, the district she belonged to frowned on having their pictures taken.

After Elsie paid for the cookies and fry pies, she went outside to her buggy and put her things up front. She’d also picked up an éclair to nibble on during her journey. After she untied her horse and climbed in the buggy, she grabbed the bakery bag and took out the tasty treat. Now she was ready to stop by Dad’s for a quick visit and to invite him and Aunt Verna for supper tonight.

Charm

“How’d ya sleep last night?” Eustace asked his sister as they sat at his kitchen table eating breakfast.

“Other than my sneezing spell, I slept just fine. Can’t think of any reason I wouldn’t have, though. It’s nice and
friedlich
here.”

“I can’t argue with you; it is peaceful.” Eustace reached for the ketchup and squirted some on his scrambled eggs, as well as the hash browns Verna had made. “What got ya to sneezing all of a sudden?”

“I must be allergic to the goldenrod. It’s blooming at home as well.” Verna wiped her nose with a tissue, then went to the sink to wash her hands. “I’d planned on going to the doctor to see if he could give me something, but haven’t gotten there yet.” She sat down again.

“It’s most likely the ragweed making you sneeze,” Eustace explained. “Although goldenrod is often blamed during allergy season, it doesn’t have airborne pollen and doesn’t cause allergic reactions like ragweed does.”

“You learn something new every day.” Verna smiled, looking at Eustace over her glasses.

“I read recently that goldenrod’s pollen is stickier, and instead of it blowing in the wind, it’s spread by the butterflies, ants, and bees.”

“That’s interesting. Sure hope I’m not sneezing the whole time I’m here.” Verna spread some jelly on her piece of toast. “It seems to come in spurts.”

“Are you ready to go to the auction today? Maybe you’ll feel better there—at least for a while.”

She tipped her head. “What did you say?”

Speaking a little louder this time, Eustace repeated his question.

“Jah.
I’m looking forward to it.” She drank some orange juice. “Will you be looking for anything in particular?”

“Nothing special. Sometimes I don’t know what I want till I see it.”

Verna chuckled. “I’m the same way whenever I go shopping. Makes Lester a nervous wreck, which is why he doesn’t go with me too often.”

Eustace sighed. “Effie used to go to auctions with me. It was her time to socialize while I bid on whatever things caught my fancy. I’ll never forget the look on her face when I carried a box of old cowboy boots out to the buggy one day.”

“What were you planning to do with them?”

“Didn’t really know at the time, but I ended up planting some flowers in them.” Eustace grinned. “Afterward, Effie kind of liked them.”

Verna smiled. “I’ll bet you still miss her a lot.”

“Jah. There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t think about my
fraa
.” Eustace glanced out the window at the line of trees behind his house. “The tree house I’m building is in memory of Effie.”

Verna’s eyes widened. “How nice! I did notice you were working on something when I arrived yesterday afternoon, but I was so excited to be here, I didn’t pay much attention to what you’d been doing. How far have you gotten on it?”

“Not much—just built the platform so far. My grandson Doug wants to come help again, and his little
bruder
Scott will probably do whatever he can as well. Course, he’s only eight years old, so he’ll mostly be handing us whatever tools we need. He can be our little gofer.”

“If my seventy-five-year-old body could still move like it once did, I’d be right in there, helping you build the tree house.”

Eustace grunted. “My sixty-five-year-old body doesn’t move as it once did, either, but I figure as long as I keep using my limbs, they’re less apt to stop workin’ for me.” He winked at her. “You’ve heard the old saying ‘Use it or lose it.’”

“You’re absolutely right. It’s best to keep moving.” Verna pushed away from the table. “As soon as I get the
gscharr
done, I’d like to see where you’re building the tree house.”

“Sounds good to me. Only, let’s leave the dishes and go look at it now.”

Verna didn’t have to be asked twice. Like Eustace, she’d always been eager to try new things and was a spur-of-the-moment kind of person. Eventually, the dishes would get done, but they could soak in the sink until they got back to the house.

Slipping into her black sweater and putting a tissue inside her sleeve, Verna headed out the door with Eustace right behind.

When Elsie pulled her horse up to Dad’s hitching rail, she heard voices in the distance. Apparently Dad and Aunt Verna were somewhere outside.

After securing the horse, Elsie stood and listened a few seconds. Then, realizing the voices came from the trees out back, she headed in that direction.
I’ll bet Dad’s showing Aunt Verna where he plans to build his tree house.

As Elsie approached the spot, her mouth dropped open. In the week since she’d been here, Dad had built a platform in the tree that once held his suspenders captive. But the work he’d accomplished in such a short time wasn’t what surprised her the most. The real shock was seeing both Dad and his sister sitting on the platform.

“Wie geht’s?”
Aunt Verna called down to Elsie. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I’m doing fine, and apparently so are you.” She tipped her head back, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun peeking through the tree branches. “I never expected to see you and Dad up there.”

“What was it you said?” Aunt Verna leaned her head forward.

“I never expected to see you and Dad up there.” Elsie repeated, a little louder this time.

“You never know what we old retired people will do.” Aunt Verna grinned. “Or maybe I should have said, ‘What we tired old people will do.’”

“I brought her out to see what I’ve accomplished so far,” Dad explained. “And she got the bright idea to climb up the ladder to admire the view.”

“That’s right.” Aunt Verna bobbed her head. “Your daed was trying to describe to me what he wants for this tree house. Maybe a little porch on the front or back and some windows with good views. I can’t wait to see the finished project.” She stood and rubbed her back. “And what a view it is from here. Why, I can see clear back on your daed’s property where the oil wells are located.”

Elsie frowned. She’d never mentioned anything to Dad, but she was none too happy about those oil well monstrosities. They’d given Dad more money than he knew what to do with, but money didn’t bring true happiness. Truth was, Dad hadn’t been happy since Joel left home. Mama dying a few years ago had only added to his despair.

“Why don’t you come on up?” Aunt Verna called. “There’s room for three of us up here.”

“No thanks.” Elsie shook her head. “I just stopped by to drop off some cookies and lemon fry pies and see if you two would like to join the rest of the family for supper at my house tonight. Maybe Dad could bring his harmonica along and play some music for us after we eat.”

“Sounds good to me,” Verna shouted.

“We’ll be leaving for the auction soon, but should be back in plenty of time,” Dad added.

“I hope I get to see Joel while I’m here. Is your bruder coming tonight?”

“No, he will not be joining the family,” Dad answered before Elsie could respond. “Joel doesn’t want anything to do with us. But I will bring my harmonica tonight.”

Aunt Verna stared down at Elsie, who couldn’t help wondering what Dad’s sister was thinking. Did she realize how bitter Dad felt about Joel?
If I did invite Joel to supper, would he come?

Akron

N
ot more than two minutes after Joel left a job in Canton, his cell phone rang. Since he hadn’t started the truck yet, he answered the call.

“Hi, Joel. It’s Elsie. Are you busy right now?”

“Uh, no. I’m done working for the day and am getting ready to head home.” He rolled down his window to get some air flowing.

“I won’t keep you, but I wanted to tell you Aunt Verna came down from Burton to spend some time with Dad. We’re all having supper at our house this evening, and I was wondering if you’d like to join us.” Elsie paused. “I’m sure Aunt Verna would love to see you.”

Yeah, well, she’d probably be the only one
. Joel drew in a sharp breath. He had fond memories of his aunt, but Dad would be there. After their last confrontation, Joel wasn’t about to put himself in a similar situation. Most likely, Dad would give him the cold shoulder all evening, or they could end up having angry words again.

“Sorry, Elsie, but I can’t make it tonight,” Joel responded. “Would you tell Aunt Verna hello for me?”

“Of course I will, but I’m sorry you won’t be able to join us.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Guess I’d better let you go.”

“Okay. Thanks for calling. Bye, Elsie.” Joel grabbed his bottle of water from the cooler on the floor and took a drink. It was good to get in some work today. Tomorrow looked promising as well. Putting his water in the cup holder, he realized his cell phone was still in his grasp. After he put it away, he sat in his truck for a while, staring out the front window. He was glad his sister hadn’t pressed him further when he’d declined her invitation. Sometimes Joel felt like a buggy without a horse, no longer being close to his family. But it was a choice he’d made. He only wished he felt free to visit without harsh words between him and Dad. Deep down, Joel figured there might come a day when he’d regret all this. He wouldn’t have the memories his sisters had of family events, get-togethers around the holidays, and other fun times. If only his family would be more accepting of the choice he’d made for his life. Didn’t he deserve to be happy, too? If they had accepted his choices—especially Dad—maybe he’d feel more comfortable around them.

Of course,
Joel reasoned,
it’s partly my fault because I asked him for money.
He tapped his knuckles against the steering wheel, wishing once more his father wasn’t so stingy.