The Caregiver

CHAPTER 12





“Lucy! You’re here!” Mattie exclaimed, all smiles as her mother, Lucy’s Aunt Jenna, led Lucy through the front door after a long embrace. “I can’t believe you finally made it.”

Lucy rushed to Mattie’s side. As she did, she quickly took notice of her cousin’s pale skin and the new lines around her eyes. The stress of the past month had already taken its toll on her body.

“Finally is right,” she said with a smile before enveloping her cousin in a gentle hug. “For a while there, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see your front door.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Mattie replied. “Mamm and I must have looked at the clock a thousand times, wondering if you’d ever make it here.”

“I’ve had a time of it. But it doesn’t matter. I would have gone through much worse in order to see you. Besides, you did the same for me, and more than once.”

A new awareness entered Mattie’s eyes as she looped her hand around Lucy’s elbow. “Indeed, I did.”

“I’ve never forgotten how much I appreciated you coming to see me after Paul died,” Lucy said.

“Well, of course I would be there.”

“I feel the same way now. It is a blessing to have the chance to help you.”

A shadow entered Mattie’s gaze. “I wish it wasn’t for this reason.”

“I know. But we’ll get through it.”

As Mattie led her into the front room, Lucy felt her cousin’s eyes on her. She felt like she was getting inspected. “Well, how do I look?” she teased.

“Much better.” Mattie tilted her head. “Especially given your trip here. I’ve been imagining the worst. It had to have been difficult, sitting by yourself for hours and hours on the train, and then later in the train terminal.”

“It wasn’t so bad.”

“No?” She paused. “Hmm. Now that I think of it, whenever you left a message on the phone line you didn’t sound too aggrieved.”

“The train breaking down and the storms were scary, but the whole time wasn’t a trial.”

“I’m so glad.”

Lucy was relieved Mattie didn’t need to ask more questions, because she knew exactly why things hadn’t been as bad as they could have been—because she’d been with Calvin Weaver.

As she thought of him and his sister, Lucy knew she would always be grateful for their companionship. For a few hours, she’d thought of herself as a woman again, not just the shell of one.

Actually, she had begun to think that the Lord had known exactly what He’d been doing when He had placed her in Calvin’s company. He had encouraged her to have fun, and to think in the present.

Being with them had felt so freeing. For a brief time, no one was telling her what to do. Or asking about Paul.

No one was causing her to remember things she didn’t want to. Or asking her to help mind her brothers and sisters. No work had begged for her attention. Instead, the journey’s time had been all her own. A true gift.

Yes, her day with them had been wonderful . . . until she’d witnessed his temper.

“Well, you’re here now, and that is all that matters,” Aunt Jenna said as she bustled out of the kitchen, a dish towel in one hand, a mug of hot tea in the other. “Lucy, dear, it is time you did some relaxin’ just like our Mattie here. Now, take a seat and sip some tea, why don’t you?”

Lucy took the mug from her aunt and inhaled deeply. The spicy orange-cinnamon aroma smelled like heaven. But she still felt obligated to remind her that she hadn’t come to Jacob’s Crossing simply to relax. “I came to help, Aunt Jenna, not be waited on.”

“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll make sure you are put to work tomorrow,” she said with a wink and a smile. “But you can’t work and catch up with Mattie at the same time. Tonight will be a time to talk and enjoy each other’s company, jah?”

“Jah,” Mattie said instantly. “I must admit that I’m terribly interested in all that you’ve been doing.”

Before Lucy could utter a word, Aunt Jenna nodded her approval. “That’s settled, then. While you two catch up, I’ll bring you some snacks. Are you hungry, Lucy?”

“I am.” Then, noticing her wrinkled dress with some dismay, she murmured, “But soon, I’m afraid, I’m going to need to take a hot shower and get to bed.”

“We can offer you a bed and shower,” Mattie replied with a smile, “but not yet. First, let’s go to my sitting room and visit. I’m in no mood to let you out of my sight.”

They walked through the entryway, past the quiet family room. After crossing another threshold, they entered a beautiful room, lit with two kerosene lamps. One whole side was composed of sparkling clean glass, while another had windows that were open. The warm spring breeze fluttered through the screens, filling the room with the blissful aroma of fresh flowers and cut grass.

Even after they took a seat, Mattie still held her arm. Lucy used the opportunity to take another look at her cousin.

Careful inspection revealed faint smudges under her eyes. She also seemed to hold herself stiffly, as if she was in pain. And underneath her cousin’s bright smile and positive attitude lay something that Lucy could sense . . . a wealth of worries.

It was recognizable. Lucy herself had practiced that smile a lot during her marriage with Paul.

Mattie was not all right at all.

Moments later, Aunt Jenna carried in a finely crafted wooden tray loaded with a bowl of berries and two plates of zucchini bread. “Here you two girls go,” she said. “You enjoy, and relax. I’ll go put your bag in your bedroom, Lucy.”

Lucy stood. “Aunt Jenna, I’ll do that.”

“Nee. I will,” she said airily as she left the room.

“Tell me about your trip,” Mattie said when they were alone again. “What, exactly, caused your train to stop running?”

“I’m not precisely sure. It had an electrical problem or some such thing.” Lucy paused to sip her delicious tea. “At first, I was scared. The rain was pouring, and thunder and lightning ran across the sky. The lights in our car kept going off.”

“Lucy! And with you traveling alone, too!” Mattie set a thick slice of the moist bread on her plate and pushed it her way. “I bet you were terribly afraid.”

After taking a bite, Lucy spoke. “I was, at first. But then I soon realized that the only thing to do was make the best of it. Panicking and fretting didn’t solve any problems.”

“So what did you do? Crochet?”

“Nee!” Lucy replied with a laugh. “At first it was too dark to do much, and then I started talking to an Amish man and his sister.”

“Truly?” Her cousin mused. “I’m surprised about that, I must say. I didn’t think you ever spoke to men, especially to strange ones.”

“I usually don’t, but he was friendly . . . and then it turned out that we had something in common.”

“Oh?”

“He was from right here in Jacob’s Crossing.”

Mattie’s look of surprise mirrored the feelings Lucy had fostered. “Who is it?”

“Calvin Weaver.”

“Oh my word.” Mattie leaned forward, her eyes bright. “Lucy, our families have lived next to each other for years.”

“That’s what he said. I still can’t believe the coincidence.”

Looking at Lucy closely, Mattie said, “So tell me. How did you two get along?”

“At first, things were a little uncomfortable. He’s kind of a gregarious sort, and as you know, I am not.”

“All the boys in his family are,” Mattie said. “Though I would have to say that Calvin is the most outgoing. Loyal is slightly more serious; and Graham, well, Graham is a more introspective sort of person,” she added with a secretive smile. Playfully, Mattie nudged her. “Well, don’t be shy, now. What did you and Calvin talk about?”

“This and that.”

“Such as . . .”

“We just talked, I guess. About our families some.”

“Did you tell him about Paul?”

“Of course not. I didn’t even tell him I had been married.”

Mattie raised her brows.

Lucy rushed to explain. “There was no need, you know. It’s not like my past matters to him.”

Over the rim of her mug, Mattie’s eyes twinkled. “Perhaps you two will spend more time together here.”

“I don’t think so.” Her feelings for Calvin were too confusing. The last thing she wanted was to see him again.

“We are neighbors. Of course your paths are bound to cross.”

“He is not the reason I came to Ohio,” she said firmly, gently wrapping an arm around her cousin’s shoulders, enveloping her in a loose hug. “You are the person I want to spend time with.”

“All right.” Mattie clasped one of Lucy’s hands.

Lucy wrapped her other palm around Mattie’s, completely covering her hand. Oh, but Mattie felt so fragile and weak.

A lump formed in her throat. This girl was so different from the Mattie she’d known and loved every summer and Christmas when their families got together. That Mattie was boisterous and fun, almost a practical joker. Always the center of attention, whether she wanted to be or not.

This Mattie was quieter. Right then and there, Lucy made it her goal to help her cousin get back her old spark. “We are going to be busy, Mattie,” she said gently. “In between your doctors’ appointments and chemotherapy treatments, I’m going to make you laugh.”

The muscles in her throat worked as Mattie obviously tried to keep her voice light. “You may regret your vow.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m afraid I haven’t been the easiest patient. I’ve been moody and sullen.” With a thump, Mattie set her mug down. “At times, I fear my parents have not known what to do with me.”

“If you were easy, you wouldn’t be Mattie.”

When her cousin’s expression turned shocked, then offended, then very slowly turned to a spark of amusement, Lucy leaned back on the couch and grinned in relief.

Yes, getting Mattie through this difficult time was going to take all of her energy and a whole lot of prayer. But perhaps they would be successful.

It was just as well she wouldn’t be seeing Calvin Weaver again. She had no time for him.

No time at all.