The PIECES of SUMMER Read online

  When Jonah arrived at Meredith’s, he was surprised to see her out working in the garden. After nearly losing the baby a few months ago, he was under the impression that she would need to take it easy right up until the baby was born.

  Once Jonah had Socks secured at the hitching rail, he hurried across the yard to the garden, where Meredith was pulling up weeds.

  “Should you be doing that?” he asked after he’d said hello. “It might be a little too strenuous for you.”

  Her lips pursed as she stared up at him, the sun making the sides of her strawberry-blond tresses look like golden threads. It was all Jonah could do to keep from reaching under her head covering and touching her hair.

  “I’m not overdoing,” Meredith was quick to say. “The exercise is good for me, and if I don’t get these weeds pulled, I won’t have a garden.”

  “Ungraut rope aus em gaarde is ken gschpass,” Jonah said, kneeling on the grass beside her.

  Her face relaxed a bit. “I guess you’re right. Weeding a garden would be more fun if I wasn’t doing it alone. Laurie’s back from Florida now, and she was going to help me, but she’s busy washing clothes at the moment.”

  “It’s not a problem, because I’m here now, and I’m more than willing to help.” Jonah dug his fingers into the dirt and snatched up a weed.

  Meredith wrinkled her nose. “Don’t you want a shovel or a spade to do that? It’s much easier on your fingers and nails.”

  Jonah chuckled. “Working on buggies the way I do with my daed is harder on my hands than pullin’ weeds. But if you have another hand shovel I can use, that might make it easier to dig out the roots of these nasty ungraut.”

  Meredith motioned to the small shed near the barn. “You’ll find several sizes of shovels in there.”

  “Great. I’ll go get one.” Jonah rose and strode across the yard to the shed.

  “My sister and Alma think you’re really a nice man,” Meredith said when he returned with a small shovel and started pulling weeds.

  “What about you, Meredith? Do you think I’m a nice man, too?” he asked, glancing over at her.

  Meredith’s cheeks warmed. “Of course I do. I’ve always thought you were nice. You’ve been more than helpful to me since Luke died, and I appreciate it very much.”

  Jonah smiled. “Guess it’s just in my nature to be that way. Least that’s how it’s been ever since a kid I didn’t even know cared enough to save me from drowning when I was just a boy. Since that time, I’ve had a new appreciation for life, and whenever I see someone who has a need, I try to help them as much as I can.”

  Meredith returned his smile. “That’s a good way to be, because it’s what the Bible teaches us to do.”

  He nodded as he shook the dirt loose from the clump of weeds he’d just pulled out from between some pea plants. “Jah, that’s so true.”

  They worked for a while in companionable silence, until the clip-clop of horse’s hooves interrupted their quiet. Meredith shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun, gazing across the yard to see whose buggy it was.

  A few seconds later, Luke’s mother, Sadie, stepped down from the buggy and secured her horse at the hitching rail. A frown creased her brow as she approached the garden. Was she upset about something? Had she come with bad news?

  “Wie geht’s?” Meredith asked.

  “I’m fine,” Sadie said curtly. “I just came by to see how you’re doing.” She glanced at Jonah, frowned slightly, and then quickly looked away.

  Meredith thought Sadie’s behavior was a bit strange; she was usually quite warm and friendly.

  “I’m doing okay,” Meredith said. “Jonah stopped by awhile ago, and he’s helping me pull some weeds.”

  “I can certainly see that.” Sadie motioned to her buggy. “I brought you some of Luke’s baby clothes, thinking you could use them when the boppli gets here. Should I take the box inside?”

  “I’ll get it for you,” Jonah offered, rising to his feet. Before Sadie could respond, he’d sprinted to her buggy. While Jonah hauled the box to the house, Meredith and Sadie visited.

  “Isn’t Alma here with you today?” Sadie questioned.

  “No, Laurie’s here today. She’s in the basement, washing clothes.”

  As if on cue, Laurie came around the house, carrying a basket full of laundry. She smiled at Sadie as she walked by. “It’s nice to see you.”

  Sadie smiled in return. “Same here.”

  “Do you need my help hanging the laundry?” Meredith asked.

  “No, that’s okay, I can manage. Just enjoy your time visiting with Sadie.” Laurie hurried away and began clipping the clothes to the line.

  When Jonah came out of the house, Sadie turned to Meredith and said, “Should we go inside and look through the box of baby things now?”

  “That’d be fine,” Meredith replied, “but I may not be able to use all of Luke’s baby clothes.”

  Sadie’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why not?”

  Meredith placed her hands against her bulging stomach. “I don’t know yet if the boppli’s a bu or a maedel.”

  Sadie nodded. “That’s true, but many of the sleepers and blankets are in neutral colors, so you should be able to use those for either a boy or a girl.”

  “I’ll pull the rest of these weeds while you two go look at the clothes,” Jonah called as Meredith and Sadie headed toward the house.

  Meredith stopped walking and turned to face him. “There isn’t too much left to do, and I appreciate all the help you’ve already given me, so you really don’t have to finish the job. I can do it later.”

  Jonah shook his head with a determined expression. “There’s no need for that. It’ll only take me a short time, and then I’ll be on my way home.”

  “Danki, Jonah.” Meredith smiled; then she followed her mother-in-law into the house.

  When they entered the living room, Sadie turned to Meredith with a deep frown wrinkling her forehead. “How often has Jonah been coming around here? He seems awfully familiar with you.”

  Meredith stiffened. “What are you getting at, Sadie?”

  “I just don’t think it’s right for him to be here—especially when you’re a young widow, expecting a boppli.”

  Meredith sighed deeply. “Jonah is just a good friend, and all he wants to do is help out. I’m sorry if you don’t think he should be here, but I won’t hurt his feelings by telling him not to come over anymore.”

  Sadie opened her mouth, but then she snapped it closed and folded her arms.

  “Let’s look at Luke’s baby clothes now,” Meredith suggested. “I appreciate you bringing them over.”

  When Sadie arrived home later that morning, she found her husband, Elam, sitting on the front porch with a glass of lemonade.

  “How was your visit with Meredith?” he asked, taking a sip of the refreshing drink. “Was she glad to get the baby clothes?”

  “I think so,” Sadie replied, “but that buggy-maker’s son, Jonah, was there.”

  Elam quirked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “Jah, and I don’t think it’s right that he’s been hanging around there so much. I’m afraid he’s trying to take Luke’s place, and it’s way too soon for Meredith to be seeing another man.” She placed her hand on Elam’s shoulder. “I think you should do something about it, and the sooner the better.”

  “What do you want me to do, Sadie?” Elam asked, shrugging his shoulders. “Am I supposed to barge into the buggy shop and demand that Jonah stay away from Meredith?”

  “That might not be a bad idea,” she said with a nod.

  Elam looked at her and frowned as he slowly shook his head. “If Jonah and Meredith are meant to be together, there’s nothing either one of us can do about it.”

  Sadie’s lips compressed while she tapped her foot. “We’ll just have to see about that.”

  CHAPTER 4

  As the cooler days of spring turned into warmer days of summer, Meredith grew weary of everyone doing things for her. It was the middle of June, and her stomach had grown much bigger. She missed the physical work she could no longer do because she was so top-heavy. This morning, she felt almost worthless, wishing she could do more than sit and sew.

  She moved from the kitchen to stand in front of the screen door and drew in a deep breath. The sweet smelling scent of the lilacs blooming along the property line wafted up to her nose. The butterflies obviously liked them, too, she noticed, as they glided from one bloom to the next.

  Meredith smiled, watching the birds in her yard flitting from the trees to the feeders she kept filled for her enjoyment as much as providing for the birds. Jonah had come by a few weeks ago and repaired a couple of the feeders that had been damaged during a strong wind they’d had in the middle of May.

  Jonah had been so kind to her and helped out in many ways. Mom had her hands full, taking care of the children still living at home. Dad kept busy with his stands at the markets, not to mention the chores he had to do at home, so he didn’t have much free time at all. Luke’s folks helped out sometimes, too, but they were getting up in their years, and Meredith didn’t feel right about asking either of them to do a lot—especially with some of the heavier things that needed to be done. So with Jonah helping Meredith, she didn’t have to call on anyone else too often.

  Meredith enjoyed Jonah coming by; he was easy to talk to. She felt more comfortable in his presence than she had at first. He listened and seemed to understand the way she felt about things. At first, she’d been a bit uneasy about him doing things around the place to help out, but that was getting less awkward, especially as she grew in her pregnancy. Jonah had shared some things with her about his twin sister, Jean, and how it had been for her when she’d lost her first husband. He had tried to help her as much as possible and had been there to listen and offer support whenever she’d needed a shoulder to cry on. It seemed obvious to Meredith that Jonah was not only a good brother but also a friend she could count on.

  Meredith’s one concern, which was never far from her thoughts, was her financial situation. Her home-based business of making head coverings for Amish women was helping some, but it was hard to stretch her budget every month, even with the money her parents and Luke’s folks sometimes insisted that she take. There had also been a charity auction in their community last month, and she’d been given some of the money from that to help with expenses. Every little bit helped, but how long would it last? Others in the community needed help, too, and Meredith wanted to be able to make it on her own.

  She was glad Dad hadn’t taken on another stand at the Crossroads market, like he’d talked about doing a few months ago. He worked hard enough as it was, and it was difficult for the family to have him gone so much. It was important for a father to spend time with his wife and children, not only for the family’s sake but for his own, as well.

  Thinking about fathers and their children caused Meredith to choke up. Her precious baby would never know his father. But she would make sure the little one knew all about Luke and what a wonderful husband he had been, and how she’d loved him so much. Meredith tried not to dwell on the past or reflect too much about the future. She didn’t even want to think about how she would make it through the days ahead. It was best just to take one day at a time and trust the Lord to meet all of her needs.

  Meredith’s thoughts shifted to her sister Laurie. She’d been back from Florida for almost two months and still hadn’t told their parents about Kevin. Meredith kept reminding Laurie that the longer she put it off, the harder it was going to be, and Laurie kept promising she would say something soon.

  What is she waiting for? Meredith wondered. It will be a lot worse if our folks hear the news from someone else.

  “Why don’t we go outside and enjoy the sunshine for a bit?” Alma asked, joining Meredith at the screen door and interrupting her thoughts.

  “I really should be at the sewing machine right now,” Meredith replied, “but I guess I can do that after we’ve enjoyed the warmth of the sun for a while.”

  Philadelphia

  As Susan made her rounds in ICU that morning, she felt a keen sense of disappointment. Eddie, her John Doe patient, had been moved to rehab two weeks ago, and she missed seeing him every day. As luck would have it, though, her sister, Anne, had been assigned as Eddie’s physical therapist, so she saw him several times a week and always gave Susan a full report on how he was progressing. During supper last night, she’d told Susan that she’d been working with Eddie to regain the strength in his legs. He’d been confined to his bed for so many months, and even though they’d exercised his legs when he was in a coma, he’d been left unable to walk on his own.

  Another therapist worked with Eddie vocally. Serious damage to his vocal cords had left him unable to speak for a time, but he was now talking again—although his voice sounded gravelly and hoarse and would probably always be that way. He was also receiving memory-training therapy, but so far Eddie’s mind remained a blank.

  I think I’ll stop by the rehab center when I get off work today, Susan told herself. I’d like to see for myself how Eddie is doing and let him know that I’m still praying for him.

  Eddie groaned and clicked the button to change the channel on the TV above his bed. One of the nurses had shown him how to work the remote, because he’d had a hard time trying to figure it out. The programs seemed strange to him, too—like he’d never seen them before. Maybe I didn’t have a TV, he thought. Or is that just another thing I’ve forgotten about?

  Susan, the nurse he’d had before they moved him for therapy, had said he’d been found in the bathroom of the bus depot in Philadelphia, wearing nothing but a pair of dirty blue jeans and a holeyT-shirt. She’d also told him that he’d been beaten up pretty badly and might have died if he hadn’t been found in time.

  Eddie. The nurses all call me that, but they say it’s not my real name. Who am I, really, and how did I end up in the hospital in such bad condition?

  Eddie didn’t remember anything at all about his life before waking up in the hospital. It was frustrating to have so many unanswered questions swimming around in his head, as if he’d just been born, knowing nothing at all.

  What was I doing in the bus station? Was I traveling somewhere? he wondered. Who beat me up, and why? There was so much to figure out, and he didn’t know how to piece any of it together. His head hurt when he tried to think. If I could just remember who I am and what my life was like before coming here. Did I have a job in the city? If so, what did I do for a living? Was I married? Did I have children? Or was I some poor man on the street with no home or family of my own?

  “I’m hungry,” Eddie murmured, breaking free from his troubling thoughts. He pushed his call button, but no one responded. He waited awhile and pushed it again. Still no reply.

  He frowned. Guess I’ll get up and head down to the nurses’ station.

  Holding on to the side rail, Eddie crawled out of bed. As soon as his feet hit the floor, a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over him. He’d been told that due to the severe head injury he’d sustained, he might have trouble with headaches and wooziness for quite some time. He stood still until his head quit swimming then took a step forward. The room started spinning again, and everything visible whirled into one. The TV blended in with the window, and then the window merged into the picture hanging on the wall. He closed his eyes to try to regain his balance, but his legs felt like rubber. Try as he might, Eddie couldn’t walk on his own. Instead, he wobbled and dropped to the floor with a groan.

  Bird-in-Hand

  I’m glad Elam’s visiting his friend Joe today, Sadie thought as she hitched her horse, Daisy, to the buggy. If he knew I was going over to confront Jonah about seeing Meredith, he’d probably tell me I shouldn’t go and that it’s none of my business what Jonah does.

  Sadie had wanted to pay a call on Jonah sooner but hadn’t had the chance until today. The last week of April, she and Elam had gone to watch their granddaughter Mary Beth’s end-of-the-year school program in Gratz. From there they’d made a trip to Wisconsin to see Elam’s brother Sam, who had been in the hospital after suffering a stroke. They’d stayed until he was out of the hospital and had returned home only two days ago. After running into Meredith’s mother at the grocery store yesterday and hearing that Jonah had continued going over to Meredith’s on a regular basis, Sadie decided it was time to pay him a visit.

  As Sadie headed down the road with her horse and buggy, she rehearsed what she would say to Jonah. She wouldn’t beat around the bush or make light of the situation. She’d get right to the point and tell him in no uncertain words how she felt about things.

  When Sadie arrived at the Millers’ place, she stopped at the buggy shop, thinking Jonah would be working there. But then seeing a CLOSED sign in the shop window, she headed straight for the house.

  Jonah’s mother, Sarah, answered the door. “It’s nice to see you, Sadie. Can I help you with something, or did you just drop by for a visit?” she asked.

  “I came to see Jonah,” Sadie replied stiffly. “I need to speak with him about something.”

  “Today is Jonah’s day off, and he’s out in the barn getting his horse ready because he’ll be going fishing soon.”

  “Oh, I see. I’ll go out there and speak to him then.” Without waiting for Sarah’s response, Sadie turned and hurried off toward the barn. She found Jonah about to lead his horse out of the stall.