The Atonement (20 page)

Truth be told, he had no idea what went through his eldest daughter's mind anymore. Even so, he knew one thing for sure: It was altogether beneficial for her to attend the Thursday night meetings. The group's warm reception of her might just give Lucy some confidence again.

Lucy heard Dale's pickup pull into the driveway, right on time. She had been sitting on the porch, watching the barn cats romp in the high grass behind the corncrib, waiting for him.

He waved to her, and she smiled.

Just then, the screen door flew open, and Mamm stood there. “Lucy . . . dear?”

She greeted her mother and said that Dale was giving her a lift to Lancaster.

Frowning, Mamm reminded her, “The People don't ride in a vehicle on the Lord's Day, Lucy. Just ain't right.”

“I know, Mamm, but this is a one-time exception,” she assured
her. “I really need to find Kiana, the young homeless woman I told you 'bout. I have important news for her.” She didn't spell out that Kiana had an opportunity for a job interview tomorrow afternoon.

“I wish you'd heed the
Ordnung
all the same. It's the Lord's Day, after all,” her mother said, upset.

“I wish it was any other day, Mamm. I truly do.” She didn't know how to further justify this. “Please, Mamm . . . I won't make it a habit.”

Mamm looked miserable but made no move to stop Lucy as she hurried past, going inside to get her black jacket. A glance into the kitchen showed her father sitting at the table with his German
Biewel
open, head bowed. A thought crossed her mind, but she shook it off.
I wish they wouldn't worry I was going to fall
for another
Englischer.

Turning, she opened the door and made her way down the porch steps to Dale, who walked to meet her in black dress pants, crisp white shirt, and black tie.

Feeling guilty, Lucy turned back toward the house to wave to Mamm, but she was nowhere in sight.

Just as Lucy had feared, Kiana and Van were no longer staying at the most recent shelter Kiana had mentioned, and when Dale inquired of them at the front desk, the receptionist suggested other possibilities, including the Water Street Mission. The helpful woman reached for a notepad and jotted down the locations.

Dale thanked her and escorted Lucy out the front door amidst strange looks. Back in the pickup, they drove to the first two shelters but quickly discovered that Kiana and her son were not there, either.

Is this a wild-goose chase?
Lucy wondered, attempting to draw courage from Dale's determination and hope.

At the Water Street Mission, the last of the suggested locations, Dale asked again about Kiana and her son. This time, the well-dressed woman in charge confirmed that Kiana and Van were indeed registered in the program, which offered temporary housing, food, and medical care.

Lucy fidgeted while they waited for Kiana to come downstairs, hoping her friend wouldn't be too shocked at having been tracked down this way.
Surely she'll be pleased.

Dale smiled encouragingly. “I'm looking forward to meeting Kiana.”

“Thanks for bringing me here,” Lucy said. “She and others like her just need someone to take an interest and truly care, and you've done exactly that.”

Dale nodded but waved off her compliment.

In a few moments, Kiana appeared in the doorway, her pretty eyes wide when she spotted Lucy, who introduced her to Dale and wasted no time in filling her in about the job interview at the craft store.

“Are you serious?” The young woman brushed away tears. “Do you really think they'd
want
me?”

“You can only try,
jah
?” said Lucy.

“Oh, believe me, I'm up for trying. I've filled out many applications, but it's hard to get a job unless you're already employed . . . and not having a permanent address has been a stumbling block, too.” She folded her arms against her tiny waist. “But, hey, they can't
all
turn me down, right?”

Lucy felt heartened by Kiana's optimistic response, and Dale gave her the contact information for the country store.

Kiana shook her head repeatedly. “How can I ever thank you two?”

“Let's just hope something
gut
comes of this.” Lucy smiled at Kiana, then at Dale, who nodded.

When Dale offered to pick her up for tomorrow's interview,
Kiana said the center would arrange for transportation, as well as some appropriate clothing. “They'll even look after Van while I'm gone—there's a daycare on site. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the best.”

Kiana's anticipation tempted Lucy to reveal her plan for a down payment on a used car, but she bit her tongue.
First things first,
she thought, feeling as happy as Kiana looked.

Dale gave Kiana his cell phone number to report back on how the interview went. “I'll keep you in my prayers,” he added.

Kiana blinked away tears. “I need all the help I can get.”

On the ride back to East Lampeter, Lucy thanked Dale several times. “Do you think she'll land this job?”

“Well, considering her attitude and ambition, she has a decent chance. Even if she doesn't end up with this position, I believe the Lord has something in mind for her.” Dale chuckled. “I can see you're already on to Kiana's next hurdle.”

“And what a hurdle 'tis!” Lucy joined in the laughter, but inwardly, she was holding her proverbial breath that poor Kiana might get this break.

D
ALE
W
YETH
'
S
A
GUT
MAN
,
Lucy thought early Monday morning as she stared ahead to the spot up the road from Ray and Martie's where the buggy had overturned. She steered her scooter onto the steep lane leading to the striking white farmhouse high on the hill, thankful again that Abe and his children had gotten safely home.

Lucy hugged her nephews as she came into the kitchen, and Martie called a greeting to her from down cellar.

“Aren't you bright-eyed today?” Lucy said to Jesse, seeing that Josh was content in his Pack 'n Play.

Martie was in a hurry to have Lucy help her get the second load in the washer and then hang out the first load, already washed. “I want to beat the rain that's comin',” she said, then asked if Lucy had brought her raincoat.

Lucy assured her that it, along with a few snacks, was in her scooter basket on the porch. “Dat never said anything 'bout rain. Where'd ya hear?”

“Well, Eppie Stoltzfus dropped by right after breakfast this mornin', warning of a big storm a-brewin'.”

Lucy waved it off. “Ah well, you know Eppie.”

“Still, the livestock seem mighty riled up.”

Lucy distributed the clothes evenly into the wringer washer, then followed her sister upstairs, the wicker basket overflowing with damp clothes. Smiling at Jesse, she leaned over to watch him color at the kitchen table.

“Dat wants me to help him in the barn later on,” Jesse said, eyes sparkling.

“Oh?”

“
Jah,
gonna learn to sweep.”

“Startin' young,” she said, patting his shoulder.

Ray wants to help Martie out, too, no doubt,
Lucy guessed.

The rain had yet to materialize when Lucy left for the hospice. Dorothea was significantly weaker this visit, but Clinton said she wanted to be read to from the Bible, which Lucy did while Clinton left to run a few errands. It occurred to Lucy that Dorothea was not long for this world.

Later that afternoon, once Lucy was home again, her shoes damp from a light and steady rain, she took time to redd up her room and put away the clothes Lettie and Faye had taken down from the line and folded so neatly earlier. She'd made a point of going down to thank her sisters before heading back upstairs. Lettie had nodded abruptly, but Faye smiled, saying it was awful nice to see her home this soon.

She went out to collect the eggs, then returned to the barn to help feed and water the livestock. Faye came too, eventually, but Lettie remained inside with Mamm to peel potatoes for supper.

“Dat said his friend has started to build his chicken coop,” Faye told her as they worked.

“Dale?”

Faye nodded. “I guess Dat went over to his place and took a look at the diagram.”

“Sounds like he's making some good steps toward living the way he's been wanting to.” Lucy wondered if Dale had decided yet how he planned to heat his home this coming winter.

“Dat says Dale ain't the only one talking like this. Quite a number of folk are worried 'bout unexpected interruptions in the national grid.” Faye frowned and stopped to wipe her cheek with the back of her hand. “Know anything 'bout that?”

Lucy shrugged. “Maybe you could ask Dale next time we see him.”

“Or maybe you could.” Faye looked serious. “Heard he picked you up yesterday and took ya somewhere downtown. On a Sunday to boot.”

Lucy quickly told her about Kiana, then added, “Dale's just a casual friend.”

“Friendly's how it always starts, right?”

Lucy was a bit startled by Faye's pointed remark.

Dale's pickup pulled into the lane after supper, and suddenly buoyed, Lucy grabbed her jacket and headed out to meet him. As she rounded the corner of the house to the driveway, she stopped abruptly, feeling foolish—most likely Dale was coming to see her father.

She turned and headed back to the house and was just reaching for the back door when Dale called to her. “Lucy, I have some news from Kiana. She left a message on my phone.”

“Did she get the job?” Lucy held her breath, hoping.

Dale shook his head, coming up the porch steps toward her. “Mind if we talk?”

She motioned for them to sit on the rockers. “How'd Kiana sound?”

“Frustrated.”

Lucy shook her head. “I wonder what happened.”

He explained. “Evidently she didn't get the job because she wasn't well versed on yarn and fabrics.”

Lucy groaned. “Why didn't I think of that? I could've filled her in a bit.”

Dale took out his phone. “It's not the end of the world. There are many more options in the classifieds, which is another reason why I dropped by. If you have some time, let's look and see what might be a good fit for Kiana.”

Lucy agreed. “Do you know any of the retailers listed?” she asked, thinking he might, since he was in that line of business.

“None of them rings a bell. I can certainly do some more poking around.”

“Kind of you.” She paused and wondered if she ought to bring this up, then went ahead. “Faye mentioned that you've started buildin' your chicken coop.”

“Yes, and it's not easy, let me tell you.” Dale also volunteered that he'd returned Abe's clothing. “When I stopped by, Abe gave me some info on the going price for goats.”

Recalling Dale's “new look,” as Clinton had described it, Lucy smiled.

“I see why the Amish grapevine works so effectively,” he said, grinning and rocking a little. “And I could
really
get used to these. How hard is it to build a rocking chair?”

Lucy laughed. “My Dat has the plans, so just ask.”

“I'll do that.” He smiled again. “Might be a good idea to build two, though.”

“Or even more,” she said, mentioning how often her family sat out there together. “I've been thinking 'bout doing something special for Kiana,” she added.

“You already are by helping arrange interviews and encouraging her,” he replied. “And praying, too, which is vital.”

Lucy had thought he might say that. “Well, I mean something concrete . . . like helpin' her purchase a used car.”

Dale stopped rocking, studying her. “You're really something, you know that, Lucy?”

She paused, embarrassed at his remark. “I really believe it's something I'm s'posed to do.”

He shook his head, clearly taken aback. “Kiana will probably view it as a God-thing, if she thinks along those lines. You're a witness to the Lord's loving care.”

She shrugged, blushing.

“You are, you know. According to the apostle James, pure and faultless religion is taking care of widows and orphans. That's straight out of Scripture, and I'd say Kiana and her son fall into that category.”

Pure religion?
Lucy had never heard it stated that way.

Suddenly, Dale turned. “You know what? We could go looking at some used car lots—I found my pickup at one.” He grinned. “Not that I'd expect Kiana to drive a car that needs a paint job.”

“I guess if it runs well and has some life in it, she wouldn't mind. Sure, let's do that.”

He asked when would be a good time.

Lucy was stymied. “I'm busy all week, but after supper Wednesday could work, maybe . . . if it's not too late in the day.”

“Better yet, we could pick up something to eat and get an even earlier start.”

She thanked Dale enthusiastically, thinking of her high hopes for Kiana. It would be wonderful to find something.

“I'll come by for you around four o'clock. How's that?”

“You'll be just in time to help gather eggs,” she joked.

“It's a deal.”

Watching him leave, Lucy thought how very fortunate she was to have a friend who was as eager as she to help others.

Maybe
Dale's
the God-thing.