child. This is the women’s side of the table. He must sit across from us. I will sit by you as soon as I get some food on. Husband, would you like something?”
“A slice of your fresh bread with butter.”
“ Kaffi, too?”
“Ja.”
As his mother went to the counter and began cutting a loaf of bread, Caleb rounded the table and pulled out the chair on his father’s right-hand side.
He had almost forgotten how fully Amish traditions permeated every aspect of life. His father sat at the head of the table, with his wife on his left. Sons sat on his right-hand side, from youngest to oldest down the table; daughters sat beside their mother in the same fashion. Caleb knew without a doubt that his chair had been empty since he left home. An empty chair was a pointed reminder to everyone about who was missing.
“Bread and butter will be fine for me, too, Mamm, but no coffee.”
“Lemonade, then?”
“Sure.” She wouldn’t be satisfied until she had made a special effort to please him. If he let her, she would cook a feast. It was late, but he knew that tomorrow mounds of food would be set in front of him. Cooking was his mother’s way of showing her love.
She soon had thick slices of fresh baked bread slathered with peanut-butter spread for Joy, and butter for him and his father. She gave Ike his coffee and Joy a mug of milk, then she set two glasses of lemonade on the table. Still smiling, she took a seat beside Joy.
Her hand shook slightly as she tucked a strand of Joy’s hair behind her ear. “I have wanted a granddaughter for a very long time. I am so happy that Gott brought you to us.”
Joy gave her a beaming peanut-butter-smeared smile. “Daddy said you would like me. I like you, too. I had another mammi. I called her Nana. She went to heaven.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You must miss her. She is with Gott now, so we must be happy for her.”
“Who is Gott? ” Joy asked around a mouthful of bread.
“God,” Caleb translated.
“Tomorrow, you can tell me all about her. It’s getting late. It’s time for a little one like you to be in bed,” Maggie said.
“Can I sleep here?”
Maggie nodded. “I have a room upstairs that’s just for you. Finish your bread and your milk. I will show you the way.”
Caleb rose from his place and headed for the door. “I’ll get our suitcases.”
Outside, he paused to watch his breath fog in the cold evening air. He missed the warmth of the Gulf breezes. He’d forgotten how hard the cold could bite his face and make his eyes water. How long would he have to stay? How soon would Joy adjust to life among the Amish? Would she adjust? Was he expecting too much? Even with Leah to help guide her, it was going to be a difficult transition.
Hunching against the cold, he hurried down the steps and gathered enough of their things to make it through the night. Tomorrow would be soon enough to unpack the rest.
He unplugged his cell phone from the car charger and put it in his pocket. His truck battery would be the only source of electricity for keeping his phone charged while he stayed on the farm. His parents wouldn’t like the fact that he was bringing a phone into their home, but he needed it to maintain contact with his attorney.
Back in the house, he saw his mother had already taken Joy from the room. His father was sitting quietly at the table. A troubled frown marred his brow. “I’m afraid to ask because I think I know the answer, but I must hear it from you. Are you here to stay, sohn? ”
“ Nee, Daed. Only for a while.”
“It breaks your mother’s heart to see your place at the table empty.”
“Perhaps having Joy here will ease some of her pain.”
“Your child cannot heal what is broken in this family.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stay.”
“We have forgiven you. Rhonda has forgiven you. Wayne will forgive you in time.”
“That would be nice if there was anything to forgive. I’m not the father of Rhonda’s child. I
“A slice of your fresh bread with butter.”
“ Kaffi, too?”
“Ja.”
As his mother went to the counter and began cutting a loaf of bread, Caleb rounded the table and pulled out the chair on his father’s right-hand side.
He had almost forgotten how fully Amish traditions permeated every aspect of life. His father sat at the head of the table, with his wife on his left. Sons sat on his right-hand side, from youngest to oldest down the table; daughters sat beside their mother in the same fashion. Caleb knew without a doubt that his chair had been empty since he left home. An empty chair was a pointed reminder to everyone about who was missing.
“Bread and butter will be fine for me, too, Mamm, but no coffee.”
“Lemonade, then?”
“Sure.” She wouldn’t be satisfied until she had made a special effort to please him. If he let her, she would cook a feast. It was late, but he knew that tomorrow mounds of food would be set in front of him. Cooking was his mother’s way of showing her love.
She soon had thick slices of fresh baked bread slathered with peanut-butter spread for Joy, and butter for him and his father. She gave Ike his coffee and Joy a mug of milk, then she set two glasses of lemonade on the table. Still smiling, she took a seat beside Joy.
Her hand shook slightly as she tucked a strand of Joy’s hair behind her ear. “I have wanted a granddaughter for a very long time. I am so happy that Gott brought you to us.”
Joy gave her a beaming peanut-butter-smeared smile. “Daddy said you would like me. I like you, too. I had another mammi. I called her Nana. She went to heaven.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You must miss her. She is with Gott now, so we must be happy for her.”
“Who is Gott? ” Joy asked around a mouthful of bread.
“God,” Caleb translated.
“Tomorrow, you can tell me all about her. It’s getting late. It’s time for a little one like you to be in bed,” Maggie said.
“Can I sleep here?”
Maggie nodded. “I have a room upstairs that’s just for you. Finish your bread and your milk. I will show you the way.”
Caleb rose from his place and headed for the door. “I’ll get our suitcases.”
Outside, he paused to watch his breath fog in the cold evening air. He missed the warmth of the Gulf breezes. He’d forgotten how hard the cold could bite his face and make his eyes water. How long would he have to stay? How soon would Joy adjust to life among the Amish? Would she adjust? Was he expecting too much? Even with Leah to help guide her, it was going to be a difficult transition.
Hunching against the cold, he hurried down the steps and gathered enough of their things to make it through the night. Tomorrow would be soon enough to unpack the rest.
He unplugged his cell phone from the car charger and put it in his pocket. His truck battery would be the only source of electricity for keeping his phone charged while he stayed on the farm. His parents wouldn’t like the fact that he was bringing a phone into their home, but he needed it to maintain contact with his attorney.
Back in the house, he saw his mother had already taken Joy from the room. His father was sitting quietly at the table. A troubled frown marred his brow. “I’m afraid to ask because I think I know the answer, but I must hear it from you. Are you here to stay, sohn? ”
“ Nee, Daed. Only for a while.”
“It breaks your mother’s heart to see your place at the table empty.”
“Perhaps having Joy here will ease some of her pain.”
“Your child cannot heal what is broken in this family.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stay.”
“We have forgiven you. Rhonda has forgiven you. Wayne will forgive you in time.”
“That would be nice if there was anything to forgive. I’m not the father of Rhonda’s child. I
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