can’t hide in here forever. I’m going to be working with the man. I’ve got to get a handle on my emotions.” Standing up straight, she added, “Right? Can do!”
Bucked up by her personal pep talk, Amber exited the room.
Phillip also took the time to wash up and sternly remind himself that he and Amber shared a professional relationship. He couldn’t allow it to become anything else.
Unfortunately, it was easy to forget that when he looked into her compelling eyes. Determined to stick to his professional standards of behavior, he left the washroom.
Amber was waiting for him but avoided looking him in the eyes. Together, they walked out of the E.R. and took the elevator to the lower level of the hospital.
Stepping out, they walked without speaking down a short hallway to a wide set of double doors. Amber pushed one open to reveal a small, cozy room where a dozen round tables were covered with red-checkered tablecloths. Several Amish men sat at one of the tables near the back of the room. They glanced up, then resumed their quiet conversation.
Phillip said, “This doesn’t resemble any hospital cafeteria I’ve eaten in and I’ve eaten in plenty.”
“It is homey, isn’t it?”
The smell of fresh-baked bread and fried chicken filled the air. A young Amish woman wearing a dark maroon dress under a white apron with a white organdy cap on her head stood behind the low counter.
Amber approached her. “Hello, Barbara.”
“Hello, Amber. How’s Martha Nissley doing?”
“She’s still in surgery. Can we get a couple cups of coffee?”
“Sure. Have a seat anywhere and I’ll bring some out.”
Phillip realized he was hungry. The half sandwich he’d shared with Amber hadn’t been enough to fill the void in his midsection. He pointed to a chef’s salad under glass in the serving area. “Let me have one of those and give Miss Bradley anything she’d like.”
“I’ll take one of your wonderful cinnamon rolls, Barbara.”
“Icing or no icing?”
“Are you kidding? The icing’s the best part.”
Phillip eyed her petite figure in surprise. “It’s refreshing to meet a woman who isn’t afraid of a few calories. Shoofly pie and now a cinnamon roll?”
Amber giggled. “Oh, Barbara doesn’t put any calories in her rolls, do you?”
Smiling shyly, the Amish waitress shook her head. “Not a one.”
While she went to get their order, Phillip led the way to a table near the back corner. As he sat down, the elder of the two Amish men approached him. Phillip recognized him as Martha’s husband.
“I thank you both for your kindness to my wife today. Gott was gut to send you in her hour of need.”
Phillip nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m glad we were still in the office when your son arrived. He must have run like the wind.”
“He wanted to help his mama. He felt bad about the accident but it wasn’t his fault. Also, I want to tell you we are praying for your grandfather. He has done much for the Plain People hereabouts. We praise Gott for bringing him to us.”
A lump rose in Phillip’s throat, making it hard to speak. He had been harsh in his judgment of these people and he had been wrong. “Thank you.”
Barbara arrived with their food. Mr. Nissley nodded to them and returned to his own table. After Barbara set the plates down, Amber asked her, “How is your Grandmother Zook doing? Is she taking her heart medication like she should?”
“Mammi is gut. She has more energy every day.”
After the waitress left, Phillip watched Amber dig into her steaming roll. “Do you know everyone around here?”
“Not everyone, but many of the Amish. I delivered Barbara’s two youngest sisters.”
“It must be odd.” He cut a hard-boiled egg in half and forked it into his mouth. “What?”
“Knowing everybody. Having them know you.”
“Why do you think that’s odd?”
He shrugged. “It just is. Can I try of bite of your roll? It looks good.”
“Sure.” She pushed her
Bucked up by her personal pep talk, Amber exited the room.
Phillip also took the time to wash up and sternly remind himself that he and Amber shared a professional relationship. He couldn’t allow it to become anything else.
Unfortunately, it was easy to forget that when he looked into her compelling eyes. Determined to stick to his professional standards of behavior, he left the washroom.
Amber was waiting for him but avoided looking him in the eyes. Together, they walked out of the E.R. and took the elevator to the lower level of the hospital.
Stepping out, they walked without speaking down a short hallway to a wide set of double doors. Amber pushed one open to reveal a small, cozy room where a dozen round tables were covered with red-checkered tablecloths. Several Amish men sat at one of the tables near the back of the room. They glanced up, then resumed their quiet conversation.
Phillip said, “This doesn’t resemble any hospital cafeteria I’ve eaten in and I’ve eaten in plenty.”
“It is homey, isn’t it?”
The smell of fresh-baked bread and fried chicken filled the air. A young Amish woman wearing a dark maroon dress under a white apron with a white organdy cap on her head stood behind the low counter.
Amber approached her. “Hello, Barbara.”
“Hello, Amber. How’s Martha Nissley doing?”
“She’s still in surgery. Can we get a couple cups of coffee?”
“Sure. Have a seat anywhere and I’ll bring some out.”
Phillip realized he was hungry. The half sandwich he’d shared with Amber hadn’t been enough to fill the void in his midsection. He pointed to a chef’s salad under glass in the serving area. “Let me have one of those and give Miss Bradley anything she’d like.”
“I’ll take one of your wonderful cinnamon rolls, Barbara.”
“Icing or no icing?”
“Are you kidding? The icing’s the best part.”
Phillip eyed her petite figure in surprise. “It’s refreshing to meet a woman who isn’t afraid of a few calories. Shoofly pie and now a cinnamon roll?”
Amber giggled. “Oh, Barbara doesn’t put any calories in her rolls, do you?”
Smiling shyly, the Amish waitress shook her head. “Not a one.”
While she went to get their order, Phillip led the way to a table near the back corner. As he sat down, the elder of the two Amish men approached him. Phillip recognized him as Martha’s husband.
“I thank you both for your kindness to my wife today. Gott was gut to send you in her hour of need.”
Phillip nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m glad we were still in the office when your son arrived. He must have run like the wind.”
“He wanted to help his mama. He felt bad about the accident but it wasn’t his fault. Also, I want to tell you we are praying for your grandfather. He has done much for the Plain People hereabouts. We praise Gott for bringing him to us.”
A lump rose in Phillip’s throat, making it hard to speak. He had been harsh in his judgment of these people and he had been wrong. “Thank you.”
Barbara arrived with their food. Mr. Nissley nodded to them and returned to his own table. After Barbara set the plates down, Amber asked her, “How is your Grandmother Zook doing? Is she taking her heart medication like she should?”
“Mammi is gut. She has more energy every day.”
After the waitress left, Phillip watched Amber dig into her steaming roll. “Do you know everyone around here?”
“Not everyone, but many of the Amish. I delivered Barbara’s two youngest sisters.”
“It must be odd.” He cut a hard-boiled egg in half and forked it into his mouth. “What?”
“Knowing everybody. Having them know you.”
“Why do you think that’s odd?”
He shrugged. “It just is. Can I try of bite of your roll? It looks good.”
“Sure.” She pushed her
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