The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (all ebook reader .txt) 📕

She wasn’t sure what he thought was funny. “Not to change the subject but why are you here?”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Corinne’s mother suffered a stroke two days after you left.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Unlike Corinne, her mother was a kind and hardworking woman.

“She’s still in the hospital and very weak. The doctors say she’ll need a lot rehabilitation, but she should be able to come home at some point. Unfortunately, she has lost the use of her right side. Her husband isn’t going to be able to take care of her alone. Corinne wants them to move into the daadihaus on our farm.”

“That should make it much easier for Corinne to help.”

“Well, that’s the rub. Corinne doesn’t feel she can do it by herself. Gene agrees.”

Comprehension dawned and Eva’s heart sank. “He wants me to come home and take care of her parents. That’s why he sent you.”

Eva turned away and walked to the end of the porch. She wanted to pound her hands on the railing. Her family needed her again, but she had already accepted the teaching job. She didn’t want to leave New Covenant. She was making friends here even if one of them was imaginary. She bit down on her thumbnail as she wrestled with her conscience. What should she do?

“You don’t have to make a decision today.”

“Gene knows I want to do this. Why can’t he get help from someone else in our family or from Corrine’s?”

“Eva, you are under no obligation to return home. I think it’s time Corinne stepped up and took care of them. They are her parents.”

“But I’m the one with the most experience caring for the elderly.” It was true. She’d had many years of practice. She could already visualize the things that would be needed.

“I don’t know what to say. I know I should return but I don’t feel that I can. I have made a commitment to this community. I have a house and it has been filled with furniture donated for my use. I have the loan of a horse and cart. I’ve even received three new kapps in this congregation’s style. The people here have welcomed me with open arms. How can I walk out on them after everything they have done for me?”

“If you feel that strongly you should stay.”

She spun around to face Danny. “Do you really think so? Is Gene adamant that I come home?” What was the right thing to do?

Danny shook his head. “He didn’t insist that I bring you back.”

“Yet.” She supplied the missing word.

“It would be easy for me to tell you what to do, but you are going to have to decide for yourself. Either way, the woman is still in the hospital. There’s no rush to make a decision. She may recover better than expected.”

“But there is a rush. If I decide to leave, the school board will have to start searching for a teacher all over again. The more advance notice I can give them, the better.”

She didn’t want to leave. She knew exactly the kind of life that would be waiting for her at home. She would return to working in the background, caring for someone who could no longer care for themselves, reading about adventures rather than having them. If she went back to Illinois she wouldn’t hear what Bubbles was up to each day. She wouldn’t have a chance to help Otto or to see Willis again. The thought dragged her spirits lower. What should she do?

Danny came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, Eva. I am here simply to visit my sister and have her show me around the wild woods of Maine. Are there really bears?”

He dismissed her decision so easily. If only she could do the same. “There are and also moose. I haven’t seen a moose yet, but I understand they are plentiful and can be as dangerous as a bear. If you go hiking in the woods, take bear repellent and give moose a wide berth.”

“Listen to you with your backwoods lore. I will tell you one thing, Eva, I have missed your cooking. Corinne’s cooking is passable. That’s the kindest thing I can say about it.”

“If you can’t say something nice it’s best not to say anything.”

He chuckled. “Words of advice that Corinne never took to heart. She thinks you moved away simply to make things more difficult for her.”

Eva stared at him, aghast. “Did she say that?”

“She has. More than once.”

“Well, perhaps I did hope that she would take on more responsibility around the house if I wasn’t there.”

“Gene spoiled her at your expense. You deserve a life of your own. How many times have I told you that?”

“Often enough.” She glanced across the street at the Gingrich home. “Now that I have had a taste of it, I’m not sure I can give it up.”

“I like Eva a lot, don’t you, Willis?” Maddie was pulling the pepperoni slices from her pizza and stacking them on the edge of her plate for Bubble. One by one, she slipped them over the edge of the table to Sadie who was lying under her chair.

“Sure, I like her.”

“Bubble says if you ask her to marry you she’ll say yes. I wish she could eat with us. Can I go invite her?”

“Not today. She wants to visit with her brother. What did she say his name was?” He ignored the suggestion that he should marry Eva. She wouldn’t have him even if he asked. She would want a smart husband. One who used fine words and read books.

“Her brother’s name is Danny. He’s nice, too. I think Sadie would like more pizza.”

“Sadie has had enough. Did Eva’s brother say why he was here?” It seemed odd that a family member would visit when she had been here less than two weeks.