The Storekeeper's Daughter (3 page)

“I’m okay. And you?”

“Great, now that I’m away from our crowded restaurant for a while, but you look kind of down. Is everything all right?”

Naomi shrugged. “As all right as it’s ever gonna be, I guess.”

Ginny looked around the store. “Is your dad here?”

“No, he’s out runnin’ errands.” Naomi motioned with her hand. “There’s no one else in the store right now, either. Except me and Zach, who’s asleep in his playpen in the back room.”

“Sorry to hear the little fellow’s taking a nap. He’s such a cutie, and I love to watch him play.”

Naomi nodded. “He is a sweetheart, even though he does get into things when I let him crawl around during the times there are no customers in the store.”

“Is he walking yet?” Ginny asked.

“Nope. He turned one last Saturday, and we were all hopin’ that would be the big day.”

“Wish I could have been at his birthday party. Zach is always so friendly toward me.” Ginny snickered. “I think the little guy would go with a total stranger if given the chance.”

Naomi opened her mouth to reply, but Ginny cut her off. “Since nobody’s here except you and me, you can bare your soul.” The young English woman took hold of Naomi’s arm and led her to the wooden stool behind the counter. “Take a load off your feet and tell Dr. Meyers your troubles.”

Ginny moved to the other side of the counter and leaned her elbows on the wooden top. She always seemed so enthusiastic and sure of herself, completely opposite of Naomi. Ginny attended college in Lancaster part-time, and when she wasn’t in school, she worked at her parents’ restaurant. Even so, she seemed to find time for fun and recreation. Last week, she’d come by the store and invited Naomi to go to the movies. Of course, Naomi refused. She knew her people viewed going to shows as worldly and not something parents wanted their children to do. Still, many young people like Naomi who hadn’t joined the church yet often went to shows. Naomi wished she were brave enough and had the time to sneak off with Ginny, even for a little while.

“Don’t sit there staring into thin air,” Ginny said, snapping her fingers in front of Naomi’s face. “Spill it!”

Naomi chewed on her lower lip. How much should she tell Ginny? Would the young woman understand the way she felt, her being English and all? “Well,” she began hesitantly, “Caleb Hoffmeir was here earlier, and he wanted me to go to a singing this Sunday night.”

“What’d you tell him?”

“I said I was sure my daed wouldn’t allow it, but Caleb thought otherwise, so he was foolish enough to ask Papa outright.”

“What’d your dad say?”

“He said no, as I figured he would.”

Ginny clicked her tongue. “Why is it that parents think they can control their grown kids?” She drew in a deep breath, and when she released it, her bangs fluttered above her pale brows. “My mom and dad are bound and determined for me to take over their restaurant someday. That’s why they insisted I go to college and take some business classes.”

That made no sense to Naomi. She’d been helping at the store ever since she was a young girl, and she’d never had more than an eighth-grade education.

“I’ve got other plans, though,” Ginny continued. “As soon as I get my degree, I’d like to buy my own health club. Instead of serving a bunch of tourists plates full of artery-clogging food, I’ll be helping people stay fit and trim.”

Naomi studied her English friend a few seconds. Not only was Ginny blessed with a pretty face but also a healthy, robust body. Ginny had told her that she worked out several times a week, and it showed.

Of course,
Naomi reasoned,
I’m in good shape from all the chores I have to do here and at home. I don’t need any fancy health club to make me strong.

Ginny leaned across the counter. “You want to know what I think?”

Naomi shrugged her shoulders.

“I think you should stand up to your father and tell him you’ve got a life to live, which doesn’t include baby-sitting his kids seven days a week or cooking and cleaning from sunup to sunset.”

Naomi’s cheeks burned hot as she considered that option. Papa would have a conniption fit if she ever talked to him that way. She’d been raised to be respectful of her elders, and even though she might not agree with everything her father said, she’d never speak to him in such a disrespectful tone. Besides, she had an obligation to fulfill.

“You won’t get what you want out of life if you remain silent and keep doing what everyone else thinks you should.” Ginny shook her finger. “Determine to stand up for yourself, and then just do it.”

“I’ve a family to care for,” Naomi mumbled. “So even if I could stand up to Papa, I wouldn’t be able to get away.”

Ginny reached over and patted Naomi’s hand. “Don’t you think you deserve to do something fun for a change?”

Naomi blinked. Of course she deserved it, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“I’m planning a camping trip sometime this summer with a couple of friends. I’d like it if you could figure out some way to go along,” Ginny announced.

Going camping did sound like fun, and there was something about being with Ginny that intrigued Naomi. Maybe it was her friend’s perky attitude and determined spirit. Or it could be just the idea of spending time with a worldly English woman that held so much appeal.

Naomi thought about how she and her siblings used to camp out by the creek behind their home when they were younger, but they hadn’t done that in some time. Maybe when the weather turned warmer, she could talk Papa into letting them pitch their tent and sleep outside one Friday night. It wouldn’t be as exciting as going camping with a bunch of English women, but at least it would be a reprieve from their normal, busy lives.

The bell above the door rang again, and two Amish women walked in. Ginny turned to go. “I’ve gotta run, but think about what I said. I’ll get back to you when the camping trip is planned, and if there’s any way you can go, let me know.”

Naomi nodded as a ray of sunlight burst through the window she still needed to wash. “Jah, okay, I’ll think on it.”

Jim Scott leaned over to kiss his wife. “I should be home by six, so if you have dinner ready by then, we can go shopping for baby things after we eat.”

Linda looked up at him and frowned. “What for? We already bought a crib and set up a nursery in the spare bedroom, but we still have no baby.”

“Not yet, but our lawyer’s working on it.”

With a look of defeat, she folded her arms. “We’ve heard that before. Max Brenner had a baby lined up for us twice, and both adoptions fell through.”

Linda’s blue eyes filled with tears, and with a feeling of compassion, Jim stroked her soft cheek. “We need to be patient, honey. You believe in fate, don’t you?”

She lifted her chin. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“When the time’s right, we’ll have our baby. Just wait and see.”

Linda’s gaze dropped to the kitchen floor.

Jim bent his head, entwined his fingers through the back of her soft, golden curls, and kissed her on the mouth. “See you after work.”

She offered him a weak smile and reached up to tousle his hair. “You’d better stop and get a haircut on the way home. You’re beginning to look like a shaggy bear.”

He shrugged. “Aw, it doesn’t look so bad yet.”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Yep, whenever I brush my teeth. And the other day, I noticed a couple of gray hairs poking through my dark tresses.”

She studied him intently, until he broke out laughing. “I had you worried there, didn’t I?”

Linda playfully squeezed his arm. “I wouldn’t care if you turned prematurely gray—just don’t lose these hunky biceps.”

He kissed her again. “Don’t worry; as long as I keep on painting, I’ll have muscular arms.”

Jim stepped out into the garage and opened the door of his work van. He knew Linda wanted him to stay, but if he didn’t leave now, he’d be running late. Jim had owned Scott’s Painting and Decorating for the past six years, and they’d been living in Puyallup, Washington, a year longer than that. Jim’s business provided them with a good living, and he’d recently hired three new employees, which gave him a crew of six. He and Linda had everything now—a successful business, a nice home. The only thing they lacked was a child, and Linda wanted that more than anything.

With each passing day, Jim had watched her sink slowly into depression. They’d been married eight years, and she hadn’t been able to conceive. At first, Linda believed there was something wrong with her; but after she and Jim both went to the doctor, it was determined he was the reason she couldn’t get pregnant. He tried not to feel guilty about it, but Linda wanted a baby, and Jim couldn’t give her one. Two years ago, they decided to adopt. They’d hired a lawyer who specialized in adoption cases, but so far everything had fallen through. Now they were in limbo again, waiting and wondering if it would ever happen.

As Jim backed out of the garage, he waved at Linda and mouthed the words, “I love you.”

She lifted her hand in response and stepped into the house.

If only I could make her smile again.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Jim’s head.
Maybe I’ll call Mom in Ohio this morning and see if she can find Linda an Amish quilt. She’s wanted one for a long time, and it might
make her feel a little better.

Jim snapped on the radio.
On second thought, maybe I’ll see about taking some vacation time so the two of us can go to Ohio for a visit. I’ll take Linda on a tour of Amish country, and she can buy that quilt herself.
He smiled.
Besides, it’ll be nice to see Mom and Dad again.

Naomi scrubbed at the spot on the bathroom floor where Mary Ann had recently vomited. “Ick! I’d rather slop hogs than clean
kotze
.”

She didn’t see how her life could get any busier, but for the last several days, things had been even more hectic than usual. Her two younger sisters were both sick with the flu and had to stay home from school. Since Naomi needed to care for them, she couldn’t go to the store, which she knew did not set well with Papa.

Naomi didn’t enjoy home chores nearly as well as the tasks she did at the store, but there was little she could do about it. Her brothers Matthew, Norman, and Jake had to work in the fields; and Samuel, the youngest boy, complained how unfair it was for his sisters to stay home when he had to go to school. To make things worse, Zach was cutting another tooth and fussed continually.

“I’m sorry I’m sick and my kotze didn’t make it to the toilet.”

“It’s not your fault you got sick.”

“But I should have been faster to the bathroom.”

Naomi washed her hands at the sink, then turned to face her six-year-old sister. “Come here.” She opened her arms.

Mary Ann snuggled into her embrace. “You aren’t mad at me?”

She shook her head. “How could I be mad at someone as sweet as you?”

The little girl leaned her head against Naomi and sobbed. “I hate bein’
grank.
I’d rather be in school.”

“It’s never fun being sick, but soon it will go better.” Naomi felt the child’s forehead. “Your fever seems to be gone. That’s a gut sign.”

Mary Ann’s dark eyes looked hopeful. “Sure hope so.”

“Jah.” Naomi gently tapped the little girl’s shoulder. “Now, back to bed with you.”

“Okay.” Mary Ann scampered out of the room.

Naomi sighed.
Maybe in another day or so, things will be back to normal.

By Friday, Naomi felt frazzled and wondered if she, too, might be coming down with the flu. Every bone in her body ached, and she had a splitting headache. Of course, the headache might have been caused from listening to her younger sisters whine or from hearing the baby’s incessant howling. Naomi’s achy body could have been the result of doing so many extra chores. She’d had to change her sisters’ sheets every morning since they’d taken sick, as the girls left them drenched in sweat after each night of feverish sleep. Then there were dishes to be done, cooking that included several batches of chicken soup, and the chores Nancy and Mary Ann normally did. When the children took their naps, Naomi longed to do the same, but she had to keep working. If she didn’t, everything would pile up, and she’d have even more of a workload.

Since Naomi was home all day, her brothers decided they could come to the house whenever they felt like taking a break from their work in the fields. Those breaks always included a snack, which they thought Naomi should furnish.

Naomi popped two willow-bark capsules into her mouth and swallowed them with a gulp of cold water, hoping they might take care of her headache. “Air is what I need. Fresh, clean air to clear my head and calm my nerves.”

The girls and baby Zach were sleeping, so if she hurried and cleaned up the kitchen, there might be time to take a walk to the creek, where she could rest and spend a few moments alone. The sound of gurgling water and the pleasure of sitting under the trees growing along the water’s edge had always helped Naomi relax. She hadn’t made a trip to the creek in many weeks, and she’d missed it.

Ten minutes later, with the kitchen cleaned and straightened, Naomi stepped out the back door. Free at last, if only for a short time.

Abraham wiped the sweat from his brow as he finished stocking another shelf with the kerosene lamps that had been delivered on Tuesday. It had been a long week, working at the store by himself. He’d had a steady stream of customers from the time he opened this morning, with barely a break so he could eat the lunch Naomi had fixed for him at dawn.

“Sure wish the girls hadn’t come down with the flu,” he grumbled. “I really could have used Naomi’s help this week.” Abraham knew his oldest daughter was needed more at home than at the store right now, but that didn’t make his load any lighter. He hadn’t been able to take a single nap these past few days. How could he, when he had to attend to business and there was no one to take over when he became tired? He’d been sleeping a lot since Sarah’s passing. Maybe it was because he felt so down and depressed.

He glanced at the clock on the wall across the room. It was two in the afternoon, and for the first time all day, he had no customers. This was the only chance he’d had to restock, which was why the lamps had been sitting in the back room for the last two days.

Abraham reached into the box for another lantern when the bell above the door jangled and in walked Virginia Meyers. She was not one of his favorite customers, as the sassy young woman seemed to have a bad attitude. She had a way of hanging around Naomi, bombarding her with a bunch of silly questions, and insinuating she should explore some of the things found in her English world. Virginia probably thought she was being discreet, but Abraham had overheard her speaking to his oldest daughter on more than one occasion.

“Is Naomi here?” Virginia asked as she sashayed across the room.

He shook his head. “She’s been home most of the week, takin’ care of her sisters. They’re down with the flu.”

Virginia pursed her lips. “That’s too bad. Sure hope Naomi doesn’t get the bug. She’s got enough problems without taking sick.”

Abraham reached around to rub the kinks in his lower back. “If you’ve got something to say, Virginia, please say it.”

“Ginny. I prefer to be called Ginny.”

“What kind of problems do ya think my daughter has?”

She shrugged her slim shoulders. “Naomi works hard. Seems to me you ought to cut her some slack.”

Abraham frowned. “Some what?”

“Some slack. You know, give her a bit of space.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Let her do some fun things once in a while. Nobody should have to spend all their time doing chores and baby-sitting. Especially not a twenty-year-old woman who’s never even been on a date.”

He squinted. “How would ya know that? Has my daughter been whining about how unfair her daed is by makin’ her work so hard?”

Virginia shook her head. “Naomi’s too sweet to whine.”

Abraham was tempted to tell the English woman she didn’t know anything about his daughter, but he decided to change the subject instead. “What brings you to my store this afternoon? Shouldn’t you be at school today? Naomi’s mentioned you attend some fancy college in Lancaster.”

“I’m done for the day, and I came by to see if you have any new rubber stamps. I’m doing a scrapbook of my Christmas vacation to Florida.”

“Haven’t had anything new since the last time you came askin’ for stamps.”

“I see.”

“If there’s nothin’ else I can help ya with, I need to get back to settin’ these lamps in place.” He gestured to the shelf where he’d already put four kerosene lanterns.

A ripple of strange-sounding music floated through the air, and Virginia reached into her pocket and retrieved a cell phone. She wrinkled her nose when she looked at the screen. “That’s my dad calling. Guess I’d better head over to the restaurant and see what horrible things await me there. Tell Naomi I dropped by.” Virginia marched out the door, not even bothering to answer the phone.

Abraham bent down and grabbed another lamp. “If that girl was mine, I’d wash her mouth out with a bar of soap!”

Naomi gathered the edge of her dress so it wouldn’t get tangled in the tall grass and sprinted toward the creek. By the time she arrived, she was panting for breath but feeling more exhilarated than she had in a long time. She flopped onto the grass under a weeping willow tree, leaned her head against the trunk, and lifted her face to the warm sunshine. So many days Naomi used to spend here when she was a girl and life had been uncomplicated. She wished she could step back in time or make herself an only child so she wouldn’t have any siblings to care for.

“No point wishin’ for the impossible,” Naomi mumbled as she slipped her shoes off and curled her bare toes, digging them into the dirt. “I’m supposed to be satisfied, no matter what my circumstances might be.”

At their last preaching service, the bishop had quoted a verse of scripture from the book of Philippians, and it reminded Naomi she should learn to be content. The apostle Paul had gone through great trials and persecutions, and he’d been able to say in chapter 4, verse 11: “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Naomi sighed deeply and closed her eyes.
Heavenly Father, please give me rest for my weary soul and help me learn to be content.

Naomi awoke with a start. She’d been dreaming about camping with Ginny and her English friends when a strange noise woke her. She tipped her head and listened, knowing she shouldn’t have allowed herself the pleasure of drifting off. No telling how long she’d been down here at the creek. What if the kinner were awake and needed her? What if Papa had come home and discovered she wasn’t in the house taking care of his sick children?

She clambered to her feet as the noise drew closer and louder. What was that strange sound?

She looked up. “Oh no! Bees!”

Naomi ducked, but it was too late. It seemed as if her head were encased in a dark cloud. One that moved and buzzed and stung like fire. She swatted at the enemy invaders as they pelted her body with their evil stingers, and she shrieked and rolled in the grass.

It seemed like an eternity before the swarm was gone. When she was sure they had disappeared, Naomi crawled to the edge of the creek. She grabbed a handful of dirt, scooped some water into her hands, mixed it thoroughly, and patted mud all over the stingers. Her face felt like it was twice its normal size, and her arms ached where the buzzing insects had made their mark.
If Caleb could see the way I look now
,
he would surely change his mind about wanting to court me.

“I need to get back to the house and fix a real poultice,” Naomi muttered. She’d never had an allergic reaction to a bee sting, but then she’d never had so many all at once. Even if she wasn’t allergic, she had a homeopathic remedy that should help the swelling go down and take away some of the pain.

Naomi took off on a run. Beside the fact that the stingers hurt something awful, it had begun to rain. By the time she reached the back porch, raindrops pelted her body, while streaks of lightning and thunderous roars converged on the afternoon sky.