As she reached for the reins, she watched as James headed toward his car. He stood by the driver’s side and lifted a hand to wave. She nodded but didn’t wave back. As she drove out onto the road, her thoughts turned to her family and most particularly her father, who wouldn’t be pleased that she was late for supper.
She spurred Daisy into a quick trot and drove home in record time. As she steered the mare into the barnyard, her sister Leah came out of the house to greet her.
“Dat’s been wondering why you’re late,” Leah said as the two sisters walked toward the house.
“I was helping Dr. Pierce at the veterinary clinic.” Nell stiffened. “Didn’t Bob Whittier get word to you?”
“About a half hour ago.”
“Ach, nay,” Nell said with dismay. “I didn’t know he’d wait until that late. I called him hours ago.”
“He sent word with Joshua Peachy but Joshua got sidetracked when he saw an accident on the stretch of road between Yoder’s General Store and Eli’s carriage shop. A truck hit a car and there were children...”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is everyone all right?”
“Joshua didn’t know.”
“Is Dat angry with me?”
“Nay, Joshua told him what happened and why he couldn’t get word to us earlier.”
“But?”
“But he expected you sooner, and I don’t think he was too happy that you stayed to help out James Pierce.”
“Leah, you should have seen the waiting room. It was noisy and crowded, and there was no staff to help him. Both Michelle and Janie were out and he was alone. I believe that God wanted me to help him.”
Her sister smiled. “Then that’s what you tell Dat. He can’t argue with the Lord.”
As she entered the kitchen, Nell saw her other sisters seated at the table with her parents. She nodded to each of them then settled her gaze on her father. “Dat,” she said. “I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t expect to be gone so long.”
To her surprise, her father nodded but didn’t comment.
Nell took her place at the table, and Dat led them as they gave thanks to the Lord for their meal. Nell’s sister Charlie started a conversation, and all of her sisters joined in as food was passed around.
As she reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes, Nell caught her dat studying her with a thoughtful expression. She felt suddenly uneasy. Her father might have seemed unaffected by her lateness, but she could tell that after supper he would want to talk with her, and she had no idea what he was going to say or how she would answer him. The truth was, she had enjoyed her afternoon at Pierce Veterinary Clinic too much to be sorry that she’d decided to stay.
“Tell him what you’ve just told me,” her sister Leah had advised her.
I’ll tell him how I felt...that God had wanted me to stay and help James. Dr. James Pierce. She only hoped that Dat understood and accepted her decision as the right one.
James admired the beautiful scenery as he drove his silver Lexus deeper into Lancaster County Amish country. Farmhouses surrounded by acres of corn dotted the landscape. Cows and sheep milled in pastures near Amish residences. Flowers bloomed in riotous color in gardens next to white front porches, while lawns were a splash of verdant green from the summer rains that had showered the earth recently. Familiar dark and solid-colored clothing flapped in the breeze, bringing back memories of James’s teenage years living in an Amish community.
Seeing the Amish woman Nell again reminded him that it had been too long since he’d visited his mother and stepfather, so instead of going back to his apartment as he usually did, he turned in the opposite direction, toward the farm where he’d lived from the age of fifteen until he’d left Lancaster County at eighteen to attend college in Ohio.
His stepfather and mother’s farm loomed up ahead. The beauty of it nearly stole his breath even while he felt suddenly nervous.
He didn’t know why. He knew they both would be glad to see him. It wouldn’t matter to them that he’d moved into the area over two months ago and had stopped by only once. He’d set up his practice here because he’d wanted to be closer to his family. Yet, for some reason he’d stayed away.
He drove over the dirt road that led to his stepfather’s farmhouse and pulled into the yard near the barn. He didn’t see the family buggy. He parked out of the way of the barn door, in case whoever had taken out the vehicle returned.
There was no sign of anyone in the front or side yard as James turned off the engine and climbed out of his car. He paused a moment with the door open to stare at the house that had once been his home.
It had been hard moving into this house after his father had died and his mother had married Adam. It wasn’t that he didn’t want his mother to be happy. But he’d missed his dad. Grief-stricken, he’d been a terrible son, bitter and angry and difficult to control. But Adam was a kind man, who seemed to understand what James was going through. Because of Adam’s understanding, patience and love, James had grown to love and respect his stepfather.
James shut the car door. He was here, and he would wait for everyone’s return, not run like the frightened teenage boy he’d been when he’d first moved into Adam Troyer’s house. He wandered toward the backyard and saw a woman taking laundry down from the clothesline.
“Mom?” He hurried in her direction.
She stiffened, then with a garment in her hand turned slowly. She was too young to be his mother although the resemblance to her was striking. His eyes widened. “Maggie?”
“Ja, bruder.” Her mouth firmed. “You finally decided to pay us a visit.”
It had been too long since he’d seen his younger sister. He felt a rush of gladness that quickly turned to hard-hitting guilt.
“You weren’t home when I last visited.” He regarded her with affection. “It’s good to see you, Mags.”
“Nobody calls me that but you.” She dropped a garment into a wicker clothes basket.
He grinned. “Yes, I know.”
Warmth entered her expression. “So you really did move back to Happiness.”
“I did—close to two months ago.” He held up his hand. “I know. I should have come again sooner. I’ve been struggling to grow my veterinary practice but...” He sighed. “It’s no excuse.”
He gazed at his little sister who was now a woman. He regretted missing her teenage years. He hadn’t been here for her while she was growing up. He’d left home, driven to follow in his late father’s footsteps. He’d attended college in Ohio, then went to Penn Vet for veterinary school. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”
She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “I have a gut life. Mam and Dat are wonderful and Abby—” Her eyes widened. “Have you seen our little sister yet? You won’t recognize Abigail, James. She’s eighteen now.”
Regret overwhelmed him, and James closed his eyes. “I missed too much.”
“You’re here now,” she reminded him softly. She was quiet a moment as she studied him. “You’ll have time to see her now.”
“And Matt and Rosie?” he asked of his stepsiblings.
Maggie smiled. “They are doing well. You wouldn’t recognize them either.” She studied him silently. “Matt is nineteen and Rosie’s sixteen.” She eyed him with curiosity. “Are you