Harvest of Hearts (32 page)

Lord, send an aspirin. Now.

She never should have come home. Her being here had put too much stress on Daed.

***

Matthew came outside to finish the chores he’d started before dinner. He did a double take when he saw Shanna sitting in the driveway, with Levi half sitting, half lying there, holding her hand. Matthew started running toward them. “Shanna? Levi?”

“We need an aspirin,” Shanna said, her tone authoritative. “Adult. Break it in half. Hurry!”

Matthew spun around and sprinted back to the house and rushed to his room, where he retrieved a bottle of aspirin from his toiletries. He ran back outside, working on the lid. Stopping beside Shanna, he dumped a pill into his palm, broke it in half, and handed it to her.

Shanna put the two pieces into Levi’s open mouth. “Chew, Daed. They’ll get into your system faster.”

A siren wail pierced the silence. Moments later, a fire truck pulled into the driveway, followed by an ambulance, lights flashing.

Deborah came flying out of the house. “What’s going on? Levi? Oh, nein.”

Shanna stood up. “He’ll be okay, Mamm. They’ll take him to the hospital, and he’ll be fine.”

“You’ll need to step back.” One of the emergency medical technicians approached, carrying an oversized medic kit, while several other EMTs hoisted a stretcher out of the back of the vehicle. “We’ll need the room to work.”

The EMT knelt next to Levi and slipped an oxygen mask over his face. “Sir, I’m going to hook you up to a monitor and take your blood pressure, and then we’ll get you to the emergency room.”

The EMT standing near Deborah asked her, “Does he have any allergies?”

“Nein.”

“Any history of heart problems?”

“Nein.” She wrung her hands. “I want to ride with him.”

The EMT shook his head. “It’d be better if you found a ride.”

Shanna looked on intently. She whispered something to another EMT, probably giving him information regarding Levi’s condition. Then, she stepped aside to make room for the stretcher.

Deborah cried as the EMTs worked and talked quietly among themselves. Matthew put his hand on her arm. He wished he could comfort Shanna, as well.

“I’ll drive you, Mamm.” Shanna stepped toward her. “If you want.”

“Jah. You shouldn’t have been fighting with him.” Deborah glared at her.

Matthew swallowed, wanting to defend Shanna. He clenched his fists but quickly released them. Shanna and her daed were prone to arguing. And maybe they had been. He didn’t know, since he’d arrived on the scene too late to see whatever had triggered Levi’s heart attack.

Shanna opened her mouth for a moment, then shut it and nodded.

“Matthew, will you keep an eye on the children?” Deborah looked at him. Her eyes were red, the skin around them puffy. “When Joseph gets home, send him to the bishop, so the word can get out to the community.”

“I will. Don’t worry.” He nodded, watching as the EMTs loaded Levi onto the stretcher, then slid him into the ambulance. He wished he could go along to support Shanna, but she certainly seemed to be holding up well, in spite of the tension. “I’ll be praying, too.”

“Danki.” Deborah squeezed his hand briefly. “I’d best get ready to go.”

“I’ll bring the car around.” Shanna glanced at Deborah, then caught Matthew’s gaze. There was a wildness in her eyes that he’d never seen before. Maybe she wasn’t as calm as she seemed.

An expression akin to regret passed across her face, and she looked away. “Danki for taking care of my siblings, Matthew. We’ll keep you updated.” She glanced at the ambulance, siren wailing as it turned onto the road. “Okay, time to get the car. Keys. I need the keys.” She turned toward the barn.

“Shanna.” He waited until she looked at him. “It’ll be okay.” He probably shouldn’t have stated that assurance; he didn’t know how it’d end. He sucked in a breath. “If you need me, or just want me to come, call my cell. I’ll be there.”

She nodded. “Danki, Matthew.” She backed away. “I need to go.” The same strange, wild look was back again.

“I’m praying.”

She didn’t respond.

***

Shanna hurried to her apartment and quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She didn’t want the hospital staff treating her like an idiot because she was dressed differently. It would be bad enough to see them treating Mamm that way.

However, she wasn’t sure Mamm wanted her there. After all, she blamed her for Daed’s heart attack.

Tears burned Shanna’s eyes as she realized it probably had been her fault. She’d argued with Daed enough in the past that Mamm had good reason to believe she’d done it this time. And Daed had been obligated to discuss her recent behavior with her. That couldn’t have been easy for him, knowing her tendency to react defensively.
Lord, forgive me
, she prayed.

Coming home had been a bad idea from the beginning. In addition to prompting Daed’s heart attack and the ensuing pain for her family, she’d gotten Matthew, a good Amish man, in trouble. Dragged him into the mud with her. Messed with his heart.

And torn hers wide open in the process.

He deserved a good Amish girl. Not her. Never her.

A tear escaped the corner of her eye.

Shanna wiped it away and swallowed the lump in her throat. Then, she grabbed a duffle bag and stuffed it full of clothes. After shoving her driver’s license in one pocket and a wad of cash in the other, she picked up her cell phone, swung the duffle bag over one shoulder, and grabbed her keys.

She’d leave the rest here, until she’d found a place to stay. Then, she would sneak back here on a church Sunday and retrieve her things while the family was at services.

This time…. This time, she wouldn’t write. No one would beg her to come home, because no one would know where she’d gone.

It was best that way.

Matthew checked his pocket watch. It seemed like hours had passed since Shanna and Deborah had left for the hospital. In actuality, less than an hour had elapsed since then.

The news concerning Levi had spread fast. Within ten minutes after Shanna and Deborah’s departure, one of their neighbors stood at the door with a shoofly pie, curious about all the activity. Soon, casseroles and other dishes showed up in the arms of other concerned folk, all of them wondering if he’d heard any updates on Levi.

With all the visitors’ questions, Matthew barely had time to check on the younger children.

Thankfully, an older woman who had started a pot of coffee on the stove had offered to read a story to the little girls and get them ready for bed. It was early for sleeping, but this mammi was convinced that a bath and a story would calm them down after all the activity. Sounded wise to Matthew. A bath and a story might go a long way toward calming him down, too. Instead, he paced the floor and whispered prayers for Levi and Shanna.

Some of the men had gone out to the barn to do the evening chores. Everything was getting done, but Matthew felt misplaced, with nothing to do. Nothing but pray and pace.
The most important things.

Matthew was pouring himself a cup of coffee when yet another knock sounded on the door. One of the neighbor ladies opened it, and there stood Bishop Sol, his wife, Bertha King, and their granddaughter, Ruth.

“Any news yet?” The bishop cut straight to the point while Bertha set a casserole on the table.

“Nein.” Matthew eyed the food, wondering where it would go. The refrigerator was completely filled with meals others had brought, and they’d already eaten supper.

The bishop tugged at his beard. “I called a driver to take us into Springfield to sit with Deborah in the hospital. He’ll come here to pick us up. Would you like to go, Matthew? Ruth can sit with the kinner until Joseph gets back, which should be anytime now. One of the wives has offered to stay overnight in case something is needed.”

He’d already had several offers and had politely turned them down. “Jah, I’d be grateful,” Matthew told the bishop, remembering Shanna’s wild expression. “I’d like to be there.” He didn’t mention the women and men who still filled the house and barn. Only a few had gone home. This community was more generous than he’d realized.

“Ser gut.”

Ruth walked over to the table. “Have the kinner eaten?”

“Jah. Shanna made stew.” Matthew looked at the bishop. “I would appreciate you taking me into Springfield with you. Danki.”

The bishop nodded.

The door flung open, and Joseph burst in. “What happened to Daed? People are saying he had a heart attack. Was he arguing with Shanna again?”

Ach, Matthew hated hearing her be accused. Declared guilty without representation. And yet, he kind of blamed her, too. He went to the door to retrieve his shoes. “I don’t know. He was having a talk with her when it happened, so it’s likely.” That might explain the wild look he’d seen in her eyes. He bent to tie his shoes, hoping he’d be able to take Shanna in his arms and comfort her the way he’d longed to. She needed him. That look….

“We’re going into Springfield to sit with your mamm,” the bishop said. “You’re welkum to join us. Leah Troyer will be spending the nacht here.”

“Jah, I’ll kum.” Joseph nodded. “Let me take care of the buggy and horse.”

“The driver should be here any minute.” The bishop walked over to the window and glanced out. “Jah, I see his van coming.”

“I’ll hurry.” Joseph ran out the door.

Matthew blinked the tears out of his eyes. He was thankful the bishop had arrived and taken charge. He might not be able to hold Shanna, not with the bishop watching, but he could be there to support and comfort her. He might help calm her some. And he’d be there to hear any updates firsthand.

***

The hospital bustled with activity, yet the waiting room remained eerily quiet. Doors whooshed open and closed as nurses and technicians dressed in scrubs entered and exited. But there’d been no word on Daed since a nurse had whisked him away, leaving Mamm with a clipboard of forms to fill out. Shanna sat two seats away from Mamm, wishing she’d dared to sit closer. Wishing she could throw herself into her arms and weep. Tell her that she hadn’t meant to kill Daed, if she had actually done so. They didn’t know yet.

A television played in the corner, the station set to a cartoon show, and several children sat around a table in the play area nearby. The other adults seated in the room talked on their cell phones or thumbed through magazines.

Shanna didn’t know how they could concentrate. It was all she could do to keep from crying and demanding admittance to wherever they’d taken Daed. She’d been in this hospital before for a clinical rotation and was certain she could find her way around.

Mamm was crying. And, seeing her head bowed, Shanna knew she was saying prayers, as well.

Ach, if only she weren’t to blame for this. If only she could comfort Mamm and be able to reassure her. But they’d sat in silence the whole drive into Springfield, neither one saying a word. Mamm hadn’t even sat in the passenger seat next to her. She’d crawled into the back. As far away from her as she could get, like Shanna was her chauffer and not her daughter.

Jah, it had hurt.

Just when she’d begun healing the relationship with Daed, Mamm had practically accused her of murder. So many times before, Mamm had been her defender and her comforter. And now, it seemed she wanted nothing to do with Shanna.

She wiped another tear away.
Lord, please spare Daed.
She shouldn’t try to strike a deal with God—she’d been taught not to—but it was still tempting to promise Him she’d be the best Christian ever if He allowed Daed to live. He shouldn’t have to die because of her mistakes.
Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me for all my sins.

She squirmed in her seat and glanced at Mamm. If she couldn’t offer her emotional comfort, perhaps she could at least help with a physical need.

“Do you want some koffee, Mamm?” Shanna asked, getting to her feet. “Or hot tea?”