The Selfless Act (2 page)

Berlin, Ohio

Using one crutch under her arm for support, Doris stood at the stove, scrambling eggs. She’d been able to do a few more things on her own lately and wanted to have breakfast ready for Brian when he came in from doing chores.

She finished the eggs and was about to put them in the oven to keep warm, when Brian entered the kitchen. His grim expression let Doris know something was amiss. “What’s wrong? You look
umgerennt.
”

“I am upset, and you will be too when you hear this news.” He removed his knitted cap and hung it on a wall peg, then took a seat at the table, motioning for Doris to do the same.

“What is it, Brian? You’re scaring me.” She hobbled across the room and lowered herself into the chair across from him.

“I stopped at the phone shack to check for messages and found one from John.” Deep wrinkles formed across Brian’s forehead. “Their house caught fire last night. They lost everything.”

Doris’s spine stiffened. She clutched the edge of the table. “
Ach
, that’s
baremlich!
Was anyone hurt?”

“No, but there’s nothing left of the house. John said they spent last night at Arlene and Larry’s. I’m guessing that’s where they still are.”

“We ought to be with them. They need our support right now.” Doris grabbed her crutch and started to stand.

“Let’s eat breakfast first.”

“I…I don’t think I can.” She felt as if a lump was stuck in her throat. “I feel sick about this.”

“Same here.” Brian drew in a deep breath. “There’s more, Doris.”

“Wh–what do you mean?”

“When Larry and Arlene took Scott to the hospital last night, they found out his appendix had ruptured.”

“Oh, no!” She covered her mouth and fell back in her chair, dropping her crutch to the floor.
Lord, why are so many terrible things happening to our family?
she prayed.
How much more can we take?

Dover, Ohio

Elsie stood in the hospital waiting room, sobbing as she hugged her sister. “What a horrible Christmas this has turned out to be for all of us.”

Arlene’s tears wet Elsie’s dress as she gently patted her back. “I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I can’t imagine how it must feel to have lost your home and everything in it.”

“It’s a small thing compared to the loss of a loved one. I hope and pray Scott’s going to be okay.”

“Same here.” Joel stepped up to them. “The little guy doesn’t deserve this.”

“Loss and illness are hard,” Larry said. “But with God’s help and with support from each other, we’ll all get through this.”

“I brought him a gift, but it’s at your house. Guess I can give it to him when he gets home.” Joel glanced down the hall. “I don’t suppose he’s up to company yet.”

Larry shook his head. “He’s sleeping and needs his rest. Let’s sit down and visit while we’re waiting for him to wake up.”

Arlene drew in her bottom lip. “I’ll sit a few minutes, but then I’m going back to his room. I want to be there when he wakes up.”

Elsie and Arlene sat beside each other while the men pulled up chairs facing them.

“You’re welcome to stay at our house for as long as you like.” Arlene lightly stroked Elsie’s forearm as she spoke in a quiet tone. “But it might work better for your family if you moved into Dad’s old place until you’re able to rebuild. There’s more room there, and you can all spread out.”

“True, but Aunt Verna and Uncle Lester are staying there now, as well as Glen.” Elsie massaged the back of her neck, contemplating things. “Once they return to their home in Burton, John and I can take the downstairs bedroom, which would free one of the upstairs rooms so Blaine and Glen wouldn’t have to share.” It was difficult to look at the positives right now, but bemoaning their situation wouldn’t change a thing. They would have to make the best of their situation and be grateful they had a warm place to stay.

Joel glanced at his cell phone and scratched his jaw. “The Weather Channel has issued a warning for a snowstorm that will hit the area within the next hour.” He turned to Elsie. “I think we should go now, before the roads get real bad, or we could end up stuck here overnight.”

“You two go ahead. I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure Scott’s out of danger,” Arlene was quick to say. “Larry and I spent last night here, and we’ll stay as long as needed.”

“That’s right,” her husband agreed.

Arlene offered Elsie a tired-looking smile as she leaned her back against the chair. “
Danki
for bringing Larry and me a change of clothes.”

“You’re welcome. I feel bad you’ll have to spend another night trying to sleep in a chair, when you ought to be home in your own bed.”

“We’ll be okay.” Larry stood. “I’m going to the vending machine to get some coffee. Would anyone else like some?” He looked at Joel. “Maybe you’d like a cup for the road.”

“No, that’s okay. Vending machine coffee’s not for me. I like mine fresh.”

Elsie made no comment as she slipped on her outer garments. She wished she could stay at the hospital with Arlene, but John and the children were waiting for her. After the trauma they’d all been through on Christmas Eve, her place was with them.

H
allich Neiyaahr,
Mama!” Hope stepped up to Elsie and gave her a hug.

“Happy New Year to you, too.” Returning the hug, and forcing a smile, Elsie patted her youngest daughter’s head. It was good for the children to be optimistic, but Elsie felt as though her world had been turned upside down. These were the times when being a parent and trying to hold things together could be daunting. She was thankful to be staying in Dad’s old house but missed her own place, where she and John started their life together nearly twenty-two years ago. So many memories had been made there—all gone up in smoke. At least none of the animals had been affected by the fire. They’d been brought over to Dad’s place, but with his horses taking up most of the stalls in the barn, they had to do a bit of shifting to make room.

“Are we gonna do anything special today?” Hope looked up at Elsie with expectancy.

“I don’t think so.” Elsie yawned and sat down in her dad’s recliner. “I’m feeling kind of
mied
this morning.”

“I know why you’re tired,” John said when he entered the living room. “You got up at the crack of dawn.” He took a seat in the chair beside her as Hope scampered out of the room.

Elsie yawned a second time, stretching her arms over her head. “I’m used to our queen-size mattress and couldn’t sleep any longer in that small bed.”

“Lester and I can move upstairs and let you have your daed’s old room.” Aunt Verna spoke up from across the room, where she sat in the rocking chair near the fireplace.

Elsie shook her head. “It’s better for you and Uncle Lester to sleep downstairs. With his arthritis, climbing the steps would be too hard.”

“Well, it’s only for a few more days.” Aunt Verna smiled. “I read in the paper that there’s no snow in the forecast for several days, and I called one of our drivers. He’s coming to get us Monday afternoon, so we’ll soon be out of your hair.”

“You don’t have to be in a hurry to leave.” John spoke loudly, no doubt compensating for Aunt Verna’s hearing loss. “We’ve enjoyed being with you over the holidays and appreciate all you’ve done to help out.”

“We were glad to be here, but it’s time to head home.” Aunt Verna glanced toward the kitchen, where her husband had gone to refill his coffee cup a few minutes ago. “Lester is eager to get back to the comforts of our own home.” Her voice lowered. “He’s not used to so much activity. I think the kinner get on his
naerfe
sometimes.”

Elsie didn’t respond because she didn’t want to hurt her aunt’s feelings, but living under the same roof with Aunt Verna and Uncle Lester this past week had gotten on her nerves a few times, too. In addition to practically yelling so her aunt could hear, Elsie had kept busy following behind Aunt Verna to close the refrigerator and cupboard doors. Her aunt was easily sidetracked, and a few times when she’d been cooking something on the stove, she’d wandered off to do something else and nearly burned whatever had been in the pot. Then there was the matter of Uncle Lester trying to do things he shouldn’t and having to listen to Aunt Verna get after him.

“It’s good to know Scott’s home from the hospital now and is doing quite well,” Elsie said, deciding they needed a change of subject.

Aunt Verna cupped one hand around her ear. “Did you say something about Scott and a bell?”

Elsie cleared her throat as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “No, I said, ‘It’s good to know Scott’s home from the hospital now and is doing quite well.’”

“Jah. That boy gave us all quite a scare.”

Uncle Lester entered the living room empty-handed. “Where’s the coffee you went after?” John asked.

“I sat at the kitchen table and drank it,” he replied. “Wanted to read
The Budget
and see if any of the scribes from our home area had written anything interesting.”

John quirked an eyebrow. “Did they?”

“Nope. At least nothin’ I thought was interesting.” Uncle Lester took a seat on the couch beside John. “It was mostly about the weather and who the visiting ministers were at their last church service.”

The topic of church made Elsie realize that, as long as they lived in Dad’s house, they’d go to every-other-week services in his district, rather than their own, since it was much closer. Once the weather improved, they would visit their own church district whenever possible.

“What did you say, Lester?” Aunt Verna called from across the room.

He flapped his hand. “Nothing, Verna. It’s not worth mentioning.”

“You must have thought whatever you said was worth mentioning, or you wouldn’t have said it. I wish you’d speak a little louder and slower when you talk. Sometimes I can’t keep up, because you talk too fast.”

Uncle Lester glanced at Elsie and lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug. Then, speaking slow and loud, he repeated what he’d first said.

The knitting needles Aunt Verna held clicked noisily. “I always find it interesting to read about what other people are doing. Every little detail is fascinating to me.”

“You would say that. Maybe you ought to see about becoming one of the scribes. Then you could write whatever you want.”

Aunt Verna looked at Lester and wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a writer; I’m a reader.”

Just then, Mary burst into the room. “Hope tripped and fell over something. Now she has a bloody nose.”

Elsie groaned.

“It’s okay. Stay where you are.” John rose to his feet. “I’ll take care of it.”

Elsie leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She hoped things would go better in the coming year.

Akron, Ohio

“Happy New Year! It’s so nice you could join us for dinner today,” Kristi’s mother said when their new youth pastor, Darin Underwood, entered the house.

He smiled and handed her a bottle of sparkling cider. “After last night’s New Year’s Eve party with the teens at church, it’s nice to be someplace where it’s a little quieter.”

Mom motioned toward Kristi. “You remember my daughter, don’t you?”

Darin nodded before stuffing his gray gloves into his coat pockets. “It’s nice to see you again, Kristi.”

“It’s good to see you, too.” Kristi blinked a few times and smiled. “Can I take your jacket?”

“Sure. Just give me a sec.” He removed his jacket and gave it to Kristi.

After hanging it in the hall closet, she led the way to the living room, where Dad sat reading the newspaper.

“Glad you could make it.” Dad rose from his seat and shook Darin’s hand. “JoAnn and Kristi made pork and sauerkraut for dinner. Sure hope you like it.”

“It’s a recipe I got from an Amish cookbook I bought before Christmas,” Kristi said.

Darin sniffed the air. “So that must be what I smell. It’s hard to hide the tangy odor of sauerkraut.”

“I hope you’re not opposed to eating it.” Dad gestured to the kitchen. “My wife should have asked ahead of time if your taste buds lean toward sauerkraut.”

“I’m fine with it. Whenever I get a hot dog and sauerkraut’s available, I always put some on.” He wiggled his brows. “Think I could eat a good hot dog every day.”