Love's Abundant Harvest (34 page)

“Why, what do you mean?” Lucy couldn't imagine her sister being intimidated with
just about anything.

Then it came to her. “The doctor.”

Fannie crossed her arms over her chest.

“That's it. You're fond of him.”

Fannie shook her head. “That's a silly notion.”

Lucy finally had a good reason to smile, and it made her feel a hundred times better.
“You know how fortunate we are to be with someone we truly have feelings for instead
of just taking in a man we don't even like?”

Fannie blinked and bent over to pick up Rhoda. “I brought my things to stay the night,
but it seems plans have changed.”

“
Jah
, I think the doctor was discharging us, but didn't finish with Manny taking
off like he did.” It pained her heart when she said his name and remembered his face
as he left. “I wish he was here.”

“
Jah
, but he has to come back for more milk.”

Bottle feeding wasn't common but in their case necessary to care for two babies,
another difference that Lucy didn't like, but in this case she was glad about it.

She smiled. “
Jah
, I guess he does.”

W
hen Manny left the clinic, he had gone to his friend Harvey Graber's
haus
. It had
been a good visit with his old friend, and now he was ready to go back. Manny loved
his little family and would make sure they were going to get through the obstacles
before them. He loved each and every one of them. Hearing the news about Rhoda had
been hard to take, but deep down he resolved to make the best of the situation and
help his daughter become everything she could be.

He wished he could contact Lucy; they didn't have phones, but he sure wished he did
right at this moment. She was familiar with Harvey and his family who lived in the
area, but he knew she probably had her hands full with Rhoda. They might even be
getting ready to leave, after what the doc said. The thought of their being discharged
prompted him to go back to the clinic.

Manny sat beside Harvey in his buggy, thankful they had taken him and Timmy into
their
haus
. Everyone was kind enough not to ask too many questions, but Manny felt
that Harvey deserved an explanation. “
Danke
for picking me up and taking us back.
Mighty nice of you.”

Harvey forced a smile and nodded once. “I'm glad to, but I am concerned about you
and the family. You all right?” His plump, cheery face made him look even friendlier
than he was.

Manny's excuse of needing some air away from the
clinic was obviously not persuasive—not
that he wanted to make it so—but he didn't want to share any more than needed. “Things
have been difficult lately, ups and downs.” He turned to look at him. “Sorry for
the sad story, but you did ask.” He grinned in an effort to make light of it.

“We had some troubles early on too. It'll get better. Doesn't sound like you've had
time to settle in or had a honeymoon.” He winked.

The minute Timmy started to fuss, Manny reached for the bottle he'd warmed. He only
had one left, which was also why he was going back.

But then again, he could understand how Lucy must have felt those years with Sam.
He was a wicked man, a term Manny didn't like to use, but the longer he was with
Lucy, the more he knew about the goings-on between them—things he found unthinkable.
He'd tried not to pry into her thoughts while she was absorbing Sam's sudden death
and then the birth of her babies . . . their babies . . . a responsibility that he'd
grown to love and which seemed to bring them together.

As they pulled up to the clinic, Manny noticed a group of young boys playing at the
park nearby. It was a place for families and their children to spend time outdoors
together while staying at the clinic. He had taken Timmy there a couple of times
when Rhoda was wailing so much Timmy couldn't take his nap.

“
Danke,
my friend.” Manny pumped Harvey's hand, and Harvey messed Timmy's brown hair.

“Stop by on your way home and say
hallo.”

“We will.”

As soon as Manny turned around, he heard laughter and a woman's voice between a couple
of young men.

He picked up his pace and found Lucy pushing her way to the clinic. She would take
one step and then turn another direction to avoid them. They chuckled and said a
few things he couldn't hear well enough to understand, or they may have been English
slang words he didn't recognize. These were the times he wished he knew a bit more
about the English so he could understand their ways.

The next thing he saw was Lucy's
kapp
. Her face was pale and her body rigid. Manny
ran as fast as he could with little Tim bouncing against his side. He wished for
her to run. Manny didn't know why she stayed put until he caught a glimpse of Rhoda's
baby seat behind Lucy. He picked up speed and didn't stop until he was face-to-face
with her.

“Are you all right?” His quick breaths broke up his words as he looked at Lucy and
then Rhoda. “What happened?”

“Nothing really.” She hadn't met his eyes, just stood and held a hand to her scar
and stared at the young men who were walking away.

Manny knew there was more to it but wanted to get his family out of danger before
diving into the situation. Taking her by the arm, he walked toward the room where
they had been staying and got everyone settled.

The minute he tucked Timmy in, he turned to Lucy.

She moved close and wrapped her arms around him. “I'm sorry, Manny. That was tough
news to hear from the doctor. But you missed hearing about the positive side of things.”

“Shh.” He held up his hand and touched her lips with his finger. He inclined his
head and touched his forehead against hers. “Now, tell me what happened.”

But she couldn't, not right away. She let a tear fall. “Sam
used to tell me my scar
was ugly, just like those boys did just now.”

A burning sensation spread within him, and he clenched his jaw. “They're ignorant
young men, Lucy. Don't give them a second thought,” he said, although he was thinking
something completely different. It was probably best he hadn't been there earlier
or he might have gone against the vow of no resistance. When it came to his family,
he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

Her weary eyes peered into his. “You're a
gut
man, Manny.” Her lower lip trembled.
“From the minute you left, I wished you were here. I knew you needed some time to
think, but I missed you.”

He touched her lips and then her scar. “Christ wore His scars, His sacrifice to us.
Wear yours boldly.” He watched her eyes widen at the name of Christ and nestled in
against his chest. “Our being together is
Gott
's
wille
; only the love of
Gott
can
keep us together. I believe that's what He wants for us and our family.”

“I love you so much, Manny. I really do.” She shook her head, avoiding his stare.
“And the way you've taken in the babies . . . ”

“I wish I could have heard that earlier.” He grinned, and she half-smiled in response.
He had a good feeling neither of them would be eager to be away from the other again.
She had tested her will, as he had his own.

He guided her to the bed and sat next to her. “It's been hard for you to let go of
Sam's mistreatment. But if you would stop putting yourself down, you'd see yourself
the way I do, the way our Savior does.”

He felt her breath against his neck, slowing down to a gradual rhythm. As he looked
around the room, at the
babies in their seats and Lucy by his side, he knew he was
in the place
Gott
wanted him to be. It wouldn't be easy.
Gott
never promised that.
What He did expect from a godly man was to care for his family, no matter what might
come. And these two little people were as much his as they were Lucy's.

A knock at the door drew him out of his thoughts. “Hi, Doc. Rhoda is sound asleep,
for a change.” Manny shut the door behind him and leaned against the doorjamb, feeling
the fatigue set in.

Doc nodded. “I'm actually here to see Lucy.”

Manny stood straight and furrowed his brow. “What about?”

“I heard there was an altercation and her scar was mentioned.”

“Word travels fast.” Manny wasn't surprised, as it was a public scene, but was impressed
at the doctor's quick response.

“Fannie came looking for Lucy, and when she saw what was transpiring, she came to
me.” Doc turned his attention to Lucy. “I might be out of line here, but I know
of a doctor who can take care of that scar for you if that's what you want. I'm not
suggesting this for any reason other than wanting to give you the option.”

“Is there any risk?” Manny stood straight. Everything he'd said to Lucy, he meant.
His eyes went straight to hers, waiting for her response. She kept her eyes on the
doctor and then glanced at Manny, just long enough for him to see in her what he
predicted.

“An honest doctor should never rule it out, but with a case like this, no, it would
be plastic surgery, not internal, so less of a chance for any problems.”

“I fell when I was a child and my cheek hit on my
daed
's hoe. The doc was away so
Mamm
put some salve on it. It took a long time to heal, and when it did it left this
scar. It's been there so long now, I barely remember what I looked like without it.”
She paused as if in thought.

Doc held a hand up to her cheek and examined the piece of pinkish skin that Manny'd
come to know as what defined her and the burdens she had borne. “I can't make a guess.”
He leaned back and looked into Lucy's eyes. “What would you like to do?”

Lucy stared for what seemed much longer than it probably was, turned to the doctor,
and finally answered. “
Nee
, but
danke
.”

Manny let out a breath and smiled. When their eyes met, he knew she was at peace
with her decision, and he was elated. He let out a small grunt to hide a laugh when
he thought about how strongly he'd felt about the tiny part of Lucy that had become
so relevant to their journey together.

T
he grounds around the clinic were packed with people, booths, food, drinks, and
more. A large tent took up most of the green grass on one side of the clinic that
was crammed full of Amish who came from all over the northern area to support the
auction.

“I think I'll take a go at the corn-hole.” Fannie's eyes narrowed as she tried to
make out the sign next to the covered area near the picnic tables.

“Do you always squint when you look far away?” The doctor asked as he walked up behind
Fannie. She turned around quickly as a warm pink spread onto her cheeks.

Lucy grinned to see her sister so affected.

Fannie smoothed out her dress and adjusted her
kapp
before she answered. “
Jah
, I
suppose I do. But I didn't ask for an examination,
danke
very much.”

The doctor grunted and gave a small smile. “Just making an observation.” He turned
his attention to Manny and the twins. Lucy felt sure she saw his eyes water just
a bit. “They look healthy.”

Lucy nodded, knowing that was as close to a sentimental comment as she would hear
from him, but understood perfectly. He was tough on the outside, but all soft on
the inside. “Timmy is as healthy as a horse, and Rhoda can sit on her own now. After
a year of therapy, time, and money, she is making her way, thanks to the people here
and this auction.” It was still hard for Lucy to believe how
much progress Rhoda
had made in the year since they'd first visited the clinic.