Amish Promises (25 page)

Charlie stepped down and started toward the house. Eve rapped on the window and shook her head. He threw up his hands. She shook her head again. Charlie turned toward Shani, who jumped out of the van and hurried to the door.

Eve opened it, tears spilling down her face. “I can't see him,” she said. “Tell him I'm sorry.”

Shani pulled Eve and the baby into an embrace. “I didn't realize . . .” she said, “that you two felt this way about each other.”

“I never meant to hurt him.”

“Shh,” Shani said. “None of us can help who we fall in love with.”

Eve swiped at her eyes. “But we can help how we act on that love.” She'd feared, at first, that her attraction to Charlie was simply that he was Englisch. First because he was safe. Then because he reminded her of her past. She knew that wasn't true now. He was attractive because he was kind and confident and good with the kids. Because he listened. Because he cared. For her.

Shani hugged her harder. “Something will work out. Charlie wants you to call—tonight.”

“I can't.” Tears flowed from her eyes. “Ask him to forgive me,” she said, letting Shani go as the baby began to fuss in her arms again.

The next day after the church service in Gideon's shed, Eve turned Trudy over to Lila and walked toward the bishop's house. Monika was at the hospital, but her girls had come to church. She gave Jenny a hug, and they headed toward the kitchen to help. “How's your Dat doing?” Eve asked.

“Better. They're doing a procedure today—with a stent.”

“Sounds like he has blockage,” Eve said.

“Jah, that's what Mamm said.”

Gideon's daughter, Sarah, had everything under control in the kitchen. She was a quiet girl but capable and efficient. She had Reuben in charge of moving the benches into the house, and he'd recruited Simon and Daniel to help. As Eve put the bread in baskets, she noticed Lila standing in the doorway to the living room, holding the baby. Trudy's blanket fell to the floor, and Reuben quickly picked it up, handing it to Lila.

Eve watched the two. Reuben was four years older than Lila—a
significant gap at their current ages, but it wouldn't seem so wide in a few years. He was a nice boy. Kind and considerate. Not as outgoing as Gideon, but he had some time before he was a man. He'd probably be a lot like his father when he was full grown.

Lila smiled at the boy as she tucked the blanket around her sister.

Eve didn't see Tim or Gideon until toward the end of the first sitting for the meal. Tim came in first and sat down beside Simon, rumpling his hair as he did. Eve couldn't see Simon's face, but Daniel sat across from his brother, and she could clearly see his frown. Gideon came in a few minutes later, and Eve dished up a bowl of bean soup for him.

“Denki,” Gideon said, looking her in the eye.

Her face warmed.

“I appreciate you taking charge of the kitchen,” he added.

“Sarah's in charge,” Eve replied. “I'm just helping.”

Her awkwardness grew as he continued to stare.

“How about a piece of bread?” She took a step toward the baskets. “And some apple butter. Monika made it.”

He stepped around to the other side of the counter. “Speaking of, I was wondering if you'd like to go the hospital with me. This evening.”

Eve swallowed.

“I know Monika would like to see you.”

Eve exhaled, wondering if he was testing her. “Let me check with Tim,” she managed to say.

A pained expression passed over Gideon's face. Thankfully Lila approached with Trudy, who had begun to fuss. “Have you eaten?” Gideon asked Lila.

She shook her head.

“Take my soup,” he said. “I'll take the baby.”

A couple of minutes later, with Trudy asleep in his arms, Gideon sat down next to Tim. The boys left the table, leaving the men to talk. As the second group entered to eat, Eve caught Tim looking at her a couple of times. Once the rest of the members were served, Eve went to take the baby from Gideon.

“Denki,” she said as he scooted Trudy into her arms.

Tim leaned back on the bench. “He has a way with the little ones, jah?”

Eve nodded.

Tim sat up straight. “I didn't help Abra enough when Simon and Rose were babies. It's time I learned now. Starting tonight.” He fixed his eyes on Eve. “Go with the bishop to the hospital. Nothing would make Monika happier, I know.”

Eve nodded. It was true Monika would be pleased to see her. But she grew anxious at the idea of going with Gideon.

“I'll be by around four,” Gideon said.

“Better get the kitchen cleaned up so we can go home,” Tim said. “I'll take the baby.”

Eve slid Trudy into his arms. She expected the baby to protest, but she didn't. She settled against her Dat, turning her face against his chest. When Tim smiled down at the little one, Eve realized she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen a positive expression on his face. She wasn't sure if it was the comfort Trudy brought or the fact he'd manipulated her into going with Gideon.

Monika was delighted to see Eve, especially with the bishop. She said their arrival took her mind off Deacon King. “How's the baby?” Monika asked. “Did she miss me today?” Before Eve could answer, Monika cooed, “Who's watching her now?”

“Tim,” Gideon replied.

“Oh, good for him,” Monika said. “Now we just need to find that man a wife. Then everything will be as it should.”

Deacon King was a little groggy but was happy to see Gideon. He nodded toward Eve, but that was all.

The nurse came in and said he needed a break. “Let him rest,” she said.

“Let's go out to the waiting room,” Monika said. “The bigger one, where I can get a cup of coffee.”

Gideon paid for Monika's coffee after she ordered it from the little stand, and then the three stepped into the waiting room.
In the back, Eve saw Karina and her in-laws sitting with Shani. Gideon saw her too and took Eve's elbow to direct her the other way, but she waved, and once Shani saw her she stood and hurried toward her.

Eve gave her a quick hug and then asked, “You remember Monika? From the auction?”

“Of course,” Shani said turning toward the woman. “Eve told me about your husband's heart attack. I'm so sorry.”

Monika gave Shani a one-armed hug.

Karina stood across the room and asked, “Would you join us?”

Eve glanced at Gideon. He nodded, although it seemed with some reluctance.

After all the introductions had been made and everyone crowded onto the two couches facing each other, and the side chairs, Gideon and Monika fell into a conversation with Karina's in-laws, while Shani explained that she'd just finished a half shift.

“Where's Charlie?” Karina asked.

“He went back to Philly today,” Shani said.

Eve hoped her face remained expressionless.

“Are you and Charlie dating?” Karina asked Eve.

Eve shook her head at Karina, and Shani mouthed, “I'll explain later.”

Gideon glanced over at the three women. Karina was rightly confused and said, “Sorry.”

“No worries,” Shani said. Eve's face grew warm.

Karina scooted to the edge of the couch, and said she was going to head back up to Samantha's room. Her in-laws stood too, just as a nurse hurried into the waiting room, her eyes falling on Monika.

“Mrs. King,” she said, motioning for Monika.

“Oh dear.” Monika stood.

“We'll go with you,” Gideon said.

Eve stood and put her arm around Monika, walking alongside her. Gideon led the way, passing Karina and her in-laws, who all had concerned expressions on their faces.

Gideon, Monika, and Eve didn't speak as they hurried down
the corridor to his room. When they reached the nurse's desk a woman Eve hadn't seen before stepped toward them. “He's coding.”

Monika fell into Eve's arms.

“How bad is it?” Gideon asked.

“They're working on him now.” She motioned toward the grouping of chairs. “Please wait.”

Eve held onto her friend, and Shani joined them. None of them said a word as Gideon stood watch. They sat like that for twenty minutes. Then another woman approached, and introduced herself as one of Deacon King's doctors. Her face was red, and she clutched a stethoscope with both hands. “I'm sorry,” she said.

He was gone. Monika turned white and gasped. Eve tightened her grip on her friend.

The doctor used some medical terms Eve didn't understand and then said she'd be back in a few minutes.

After the woman left, Monika shuddered. “How am I going to tell my girls? Jenny's so young to lose her Dat.”

Gideon stood, following the doctor.

“It's okay to cry,” Eve whispered to Monika.

Monika shook her head.

Eve pulled her close. “Don't feel as if you have to be strong,” she said. Shani leaned forward and put her hand on Monika's arm.

The tears began to flow. “Will I get to see him?” she asked.

Shani pulled a small packet of tissues from her purse. “Yes, in a few minutes.”

Monika dabbed at her eyes. “I didn't think it was that serious.”

“Something more must have happened,” Shani said.

Monika shuddered. “He was the one person I could trust completely. The only person I truly felt I belonged to. I should have been with him—”

Eve pulled her friend tight. Monika had been surrounded by family and friends her entire life, yet Deacon King had been the one who made her feel as if she belonged.

“You have so many people who love you, who care,” Eve said as Gideon approached.

“The doctor said you can go into the room,” he said.

Shani walked with them down the hall. When they reached the room, Monika took Eve's hand and started inside.

“You come too,” she said to Shani.

The three women stood at the end of the bed for a moment, and then Monika stepped forward and took her husband's hand. “Denki,” she said. “For loving me.”

Shani put her arm around Eve, and both women cried.

Finally, Monika moved away from the bed, and Eve and Shani stepped to her side, embracing her. Gideon cleared his throat from the doorway. “Eve and I could go tell your girls,” he said.

Monika nodded in agreement. “The older ones are all at the house with Jenny.”

“I'll stay here with you,” Shani said. “In fact, I'll stay until you're ready to go, and then I'll take you home.”

Eve was overcome with love for her new Englisch friend. “Denki,” she said, as she hugged Shani good-bye.

As Eve and Gideon rode with the hired driver to the King residence in silence, Monika's words kept replaying in Eve's mind.
“He was the one person
I could trust, completely. The only person I truly felt
I belonged to.”
That was it. She would never belong with Gideon. He
wa
s a good man, but she felt no connection to him.

After she and Gideon had told the girls, the driver dropped Eve off at home. Trudy had been cranky all evening and Tim was out of sorts, even more so after she told him Deacon King had passed. Finally, after Eve got the baby settled down and Tim had gone into his room, she put her cape back on. She had to talk to Charlie.

As she opened the back door, Tim's footsteps fell across the kitchen floor. “I thought you'd been sneaking out,” he said.

“I'm just going to get some fresh air.”

Tim continued forward, stopping a foot from her. “You'll stay in this house.”

“So I'm a prisoner now?”

“You will not call the Englischman.”

Eve crossed her arms, defiance surging through her.

“If you go out that door, you won't come back inside.” Tim's face reddened with each word. “And you'll never see the children again.” As he spoke the rain started again, coming down all at once in torrents.

Tim reached around her and slammed the door shut.