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

was paying she noticed a small flyer on a bulletin board behind the cash register. It was for a cabinetmaker in Presque Isle, the largest city in Aroostook County. The phrase that caught her attention was “handmade cabinet pulls and knobs produced by local artisans.”

“Mr. Meriwether, could I have that card?” She pointed out the one. “I’d like to write down their contact information.”

He pulled the thumbtack out and handed the flyer to her. “The fellow’s name is Ray Jackson. He comes here once or twice a month. I can easily get another one.”

“Thank you. Is he local?”

Mr. Meriwether shook his head. “He’s from Portland. He owns a couple of stores there, and one in Presque Isle. He comes out to get wood from your bishop. The one who makes backyard sheds and those ridiculous little houses. Bishop Schultz gets his wood from an Amish fellow who runs his own sawmill.”

“Thank you again.” She left the store and headed home. Perhaps Willis could sell his handmade cabinet knobs and pulls to this man. If he came to New Covenant monthly, Willis might not even have the expense of shipping his products to Presque Isle or Portland. She would suggest it. Perhaps the bishop could introduce the two. Feeling quite pleased with herself, Eva walked briskly all the way home.

Her brother was sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of milk and a sandwich. She grinned at him. “A man who knows how to make his own supper is a welcome addition to any household. I think I may have found a place for Willis to sell some of his ironwork.”

Danny had an odd expression on his face. He didn’t ask about her discovery. Instead, he held out an envelope. “You have a letter from Gene.”

She put the brown paper bag with her groceries on the kitchen counter and took the letter from him. Was she being summoned home? She looked at Danny. “I don’t want to read it. I don’t want to go back to Illinois.”

“I understand that but I’m not sure Gene will.”

“Why? Why can’t my life come first for a change?”

“I can tell you what he will say. Because we are commanded by our Lord to care for others. There isn’t a commandment to make thyself happy first.”

“There should be. Is there anything else?”

“A packet from a school in Maryland.”

“Goot. Those must be the records for Otto and Harley.” She laid her brother’s letter on the counter. She picked it up and turned it over so she couldn’t see her brother’s handwriting. “I don’t have to read it right away.

“I’m not going to be the one who tells you what to do. I can see how much you love—it here. I like it here.”

She sat down at the kitchen table and clasped her hands together. “I appreciate that.”

“So you found someplace for Willis to sell his ironwork?”

She turned away from the letter and smiled. “I saw this flyer in the grocery store. It is for a cabinet-making business. They have hand-wrought hardware. It would be helpful to the family if Willis could sell items on a regular basis and not just when a horse throws a shoe or a potato digger has a broken nose.”

“Potato diggers have noses?”

“Sure.” She put her hands together in front of her face. “It’s the part that pushes into the ground underneath the potatoes and brings them up to the surface.”

“Since when are you an expert on potato diggers?”

“I read about them when I knew I was going to come to this part of Maine. The potato is their main agricultural crop, but I don’t want to talk about potatoes. I want to talk about finding a market for Willis’s skills.”

“I grant you the man knows how to work metal. I was thinking of taking some of his pieces back to Illinois to see if our company would be interested in using them. The downside of that will be the shipping cost. Finding a local market is a much better idea. And now you’re going to open that letter from your brother so that I don’t have to stay in suspense any longer.”

“Very well, but if he wants me to come home, I’m not going to do it. I have a contract with the school board to be their teacher.”

“I heard it was month-to-month, not a full year.”

“So what? It’s a contract.” She stood up and picked up the letter. She slipped her finger under the envelope lip and ripped it open. She read the brief missive and burst into tears.

Chapter Thirteen

“Eva, please. You know I can’t stand to see a woman cry.” Danny was pushing a box of tissues into her hands. Eva dabbed her eyes with a handful and then blew her nose.

“Gene says I must come home at the end of this month. Corinne’s mother is in a rehabilitation hospital. They expect her to return home by then.” Eva struggled to control her sobs. “A month. That’s all I have? It isn’t fair.”

“No one said life would be fair. I’m sorry. I really am. I think you would make a marvelous teacher.”

“If I only have a month, then I will be a marvelous teacher for one month.” She wiped her eyes and threw the tissue at the trash can. She missed. She bent over, picked up the tissue and dropped it in.

She pressed her lips together and looked at Danny. “Nee, I’m not going back. Gene will have to hire someone to take care of Corrine’s mother. I will write him today and explain my reasoning.”

“He’s not going to like that. When have you ever known our brother to spend a penny more than he has to?”

Eva’s bravado faded. “He can’t force me to return.”

“He can put a lot of pressure and guilt on you. Are you prepared for that?”

“I can’t believe Gott would lead me all the way up here to simply send me home at the end of thirty days.”

“I admire your spunk, but Gene won’t.