The Gift (14 page)

“Okay girls, we don’t want to disturb the chipmunk, so we’ll have to be gentle when we place the rest of the sticks we gather on the top,” Leah said. “When we’re done, we’ll go inside and see if we can find something to feed to the chipmunk. How’s that sound?”

“I can’t wait!” Carrie clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Let’s name the critter, ‘Chippy.’”

“That’s a good name for the chipmunk.” Leah breathed a sigh of relief. This little critter might be just what the girls needed to bring a little happiness into their lives. She watched as Carrie and Linda quickly went about to get the rest of the sticks. Leah had to admit Adam’s yard looked a lot better. Adam had seemed so preoccupied earlier, she wondered if he really would notice.

Leah glanced back at the porch and spotted Coal sitting beside Amy. She was stroking the dog’s back. Coal closed his eyes and leaned against the child’s knee. It was amazing how Coal seemed to have honed in on Amy’s feelings, as though he were trying to make her feel loved and comforted.

Chicago

“What do you mean you don’t have time to talk? This is your day off, isn’t it?” Cora’s voice rose as she sank to the couch, clenching her cell phone.

“You’re right, it’s my day off, and Emily and I are about to head out.”

There was an edge of impatience to Evan’s voice that Cora recognized all too well. If she was going to say what was on her mind, she’d better do it quickly.

“I won’t take up much of your precious time.” She shifted the phone to her other ear. “I just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of moving, and—”

“Why do you want to move? Is the house too big for you to handle?”

“It’s not that.” Cora fanned her face. “For that matter, it’s much easier to keep clean with just Jared and me,” she added dryly. “Not so much clutter lying about.”

“Well, what’s the problem then?” Evan asked, ignoring her sarcasm. “I think you ought to forget about selling and stay put.”

Cora plucked at a piece of white lint that had stuck to her dark skirt. “You don’t understand, Evan. My wanting to move has nothing to do with this house.” After being married to Evan almost twenty years before he dumped her for another woman, Cora figured he ought to know her well enough to figure things out.

“What does it have to do with then?”

Cora heard him take a deep breath and exhale in irritation. She felt like making this phone call last as long as she could, just to make his precious new wife wait for him.

“As I’ve mentioned before, our son has become rebellious, and I think he needs a better environment,” she continued.

“You’re being ridiculous, Cora. Jared’s just going through a phase. He’ll come out of it sooner or later.”

“It’s not a phase.” Cora clenched her teeth. What did Evan know? He hardly came around anymore. “Jared hasn’t handled the divorce very well. Now he’s running around with some boys who are leading him astray.”

“You worry too much. Just cut our son some slack. Give him a chance, Cora. You shouldn’t have to feel pressured to move.” Evan paused. “Now, if that’s all you have to say, I really do need to go.”

“Wait, Evan. I need to ask you something.”

“For heaven’s sake, Cora, what is it?”

Cora cringed. “If we did move, would you be okay with it?”

“I guess so; just don’t move out of the country. I’d like to see my boy once in a while.”

“Really, Evan! Of course we won’t leave the country,” she snapped. “I just want to move to some rural area where Jared won’t be faced with so many temptations.”

“Yeah, okay. Do whatever you want. Just make sure you let me know where you are so I can keep in touch with Jared.” Evan hung up.

Cora’s eyes burned as she clicked off her phone. Slapping her forehead, she scolded herself. Why did she need Evan’s approval? It was obvious that all he cared about was being with Emily and pleasing her. Cora didn’t know why she let Evan’s indifference bother her so much.
Was I hoping he’d beg us to stay?
she wondered.
Since Evan obviously doesn’t care, I’m going to take that as a sign that it’s meant for Jared and me to move. Maybe someday he’ll realize what he lost.
She picked up her phone.
I’m definitely calling my Realtor. Then I’ll go online to look for a job.

Arthur

A
dam sank into his recliner with a groan. The day had been exceptionally busy, and he was exhausted. He’d been relieved when, half an hour ago, the girls had gone willingly to bed themselves, because right now, he didn’t have the energy to climb the stairs to their bedroom. It had been a week since Dianna had begun watching the girls during the day, and he was grateful for that.

Yesterday had been an off-Sunday for their church district, which had given both him and the girls a little more time to rest and get better acquainted. Many Amish in the area visited another church district on their in-between Sundays, but Adam rarely did. In addition to the fact that he wasn’t much for socializing, he needed that every-other-Sunday as a time to rest and reflect on things.

Hearing voices coming from upstairs, Adam gritted his teeth. His nerves were on edge this evening. “You three need to go to sleep,” he called, cupping his hands around his mouth. Adam valued his peace and quiet and hoped this kind of thing would not go on every night, because he didn’t have the patience for it.

“I’m not sleepy!” Linda’s high-pitched voice floated down the stairs.

“You’ll never feel sleepy if you don’t quit talking! Just lie down now, and please be quiet.”

“Why?” Amy chimed in.

“Because I said so.” Adam hoped that would put an end their idle chitchat.

When no one responded, he reached for the glass of milk he’d placed on the coffee table and took a drink. He wished he had some cookies to go with it, but the girls had eaten the last of the ones Dianna had brought over when she’d come to watch the kids last Friday. Adam knew he should limit their sweets, but while trying to make them happy, he didn’t always do the right thing.

Adam reminded himself that at least the girls were functioning better in the new life they’d been forced to accept. At night no more muffled crying came from behind closed doors, as it had during the first few weeks they’d been here. Adam had wanted to rush into the girls’ room and gather them into his arms, but they had been keeping him at arm’s length and he feared their rejection. So when he’d heard his nieces crying themselves to sleep, he just stood there, with his forehead pressed against the side of their door, letting his own tears fall along with theirs. Other times, he’d stand there, barely able to breathe, until the girls’ whimpers were replaced with even breathing, letting him know they’d fallen asleep. Then he would quietly enter and tuck them in before heading downstairs to his room in the hopes that he could sleep. Linda and Carrie shared a room and slept in the same bed. Adam had set up a cot in their room for Amy so they could all be together. He figured that later, if Amy wanted her own room, she could sleep in the one across the hall from her sisters.

Last night he’d gone into the girls’ room after they’d fallen asleep. When he’d pulled the blanket up to cover Carrie and Linda, Carrie had mumbled sleepily, “Good night, Papa.” The poor little thing still didn’t seem to understand that her parents weren’t coming back.

At the supper table this evening, Adam had felt like his head was going to explode. Linda and Carrie talked nonstop about the chipmunk they’d discovered that lived in the brush pile out back. Dianna had apparently brought some popcorn with her today, and they’d placed the popped kernels on the ground in front of the branches. Linda was excited that Chippy, as she’d named the critter, had peeked out a short time later and filled his pouch with as much popcorn as possible before storing it back underneath the branches. Adam had to admit, it was kind of cute when Carrie puffed out her cheeks, trying to show him how Chippy had looked. After hearing their stories, Adam had joined the conversation long enough to suggest that they save some apple peels for their newfound friend.

It was good to see Linda and Carrie smiling once in a while, but Amy was another story. While her younger sisters jabbered on and on about Chippy, Amy sat quietly, toying with her food. Adam continued to hope that something would bring Amy around and give her a reason to smile, but he’d begun to think that might never happen.

He rubbed his forehead, making little circles above his brows.
Mary should have picked someone else to raise her children
,
not me. I don’t know how to relate to them
,
and I’ll never be able to take their mamm and daed’s place.

“Uncle Adam, Carrie’s hogging the covers.” Linda’s shrill voice scattered Adam’s thoughts. A few seconds later, she padded into the room.

Adam grimaced, wondering if he was ever going to have any peace. There was another empty bedroom upstairs, and he thought about suggesting that Linda move into that room, so she’d have her own bed, but the girls had indicated they didn’t want to be separated. “Come on, Linda,” he said, rising from his chair. “I’ll walk you back up to your room and tuck you into bed.”

“Will you tell Carrie she can’t have all the covers?”

He nodded. “Jah, sure.”

As Adam followed Linda up the stairs, he thought about the challenges that lay ahead for him. The only way to deal with the situation was to take things as they came, because if he looked too far ahead, he’d feel even more overwhelmed. He thought once again how grateful he was that Leah’s mother had agreed to watch the children while he was at work. Having a woman’s influence to help guide them in areas where Adam couldn’t was a huge relief. At least that was one phase of this challenge he didn’t have to worry about right now.

“How did things go over at Adam’s today?” Leah asked her mother.

Mom’s lips compressed as she set the magazine she’d been reading aside. “Adam’s nieces are well behaved, and they do whatever I ask, but they’re having a hard time adjusting. Losing one’s parents at any age is difficult, but when a child loses both parents at the same time, I believe they may feel a sense of abandonment.”

“Do you think the girls are angry at their mamm and daed for dying?” Leah questioned, seating herself beside Mom on the couch.

Mom gave a slow nod. “That’s possible—especially Amy. And the fact that their uncle is gone so much due to his job isn’t helping things any.”

“But you’re there for them during the day, and Adam’s with them in the evenings and on weekends.”

“True, but it’s not the same as having two parents, and a mother who’s at home with them during the day. That little chipmunk is about the only thing that seems to have made those two younger girls happy.” Mom smiled. “This morning we put some of that old popcorn I took over in front of the pile of branches. Then we all stood back and watched until Chippy came to investigate. He must have liked it, because back and forth he went, storing the kernels underneath there somewhere, where he’ll no doubt eat them later.”

“Sounds like a positive distraction that gives the children some joy,” Leah said. “At least they have you to share it with them.”

“True, and while I like the girls, I’ll never have the bond with them that their mother had. And Adam… well, he’s their uncle, and a bachelor at that, so unless he gets married someday, the girls might never feel as if they’re part of a complete family.”

“I doubt that Adam will ever find a woman who’d be willing to marry him.”

“Why do you think that?”

“He’s too set in his ways.” Leah popped a piece of gum into her mouth. “No woman I know would want to marry a man who thinks he’s right about everything.”

Just then Leah’s father entered the room with a grim expression.

“What’s wrong, Alton?” Mom asked. “Was there a problem in the barn when you were feeding the horses?”

“It’s not the horses.” He took a seat on the other side of Mom. “I just came from the phone shack. There was a message from your brother-in-law James. Guess your sister is having a hard time with her pregnancy, and the doctor’s worried she may lose the boppli, so he put her on bed rest.”

“That’s going to be difficult.” Mom looked at Dad and then touched Leah’s arm. “Since James and Grace moved to Wisconsin and have no family close by, I should go there and help out.”