had been replaced, all under Zed’s skilled hands.
Or she might share how much she enjoyed his quiet presence, how it was the perfect complement to their active house, bustling with rambunctious children and determined young adults. Zed seemed equally comfortable whether holding the baby or teaching Will how to swing a hammer or discussing how to install plumbing with Caleb.
There were oh so many things she could tell them about Zed, but Fanny knew that each little detail would reveal too much. Her words would tell them that she was growing attached to this man.
Fortunately, she was saved when Lovina jumped in.
“Come now, Dorcas, you’re asking Fanny to talk about someone behind his back, and gossip is a sin.”
“Is it gossip when we’re saying nice things?” Dorcas asked, her brows raised in a sweet expression.
“There’s not much to say about a man as quiet as Zed,” said Becca Yoder. “I’ve tried to get him talking a few times, but he’s silent as a stone.”
Some of us don’t need to fill the quiet spaces with chatter
, thought Fanny.
“There’s nothing wrong with a quiet man,” said Lovina.
“I wouldn’t know,” Mary Yoder said with a wink. “I can’t get my Eli to shut up.”
Their joking eased Fanny’s tension for now, but as the women chatted, she took note of the single women in the room who might be interested in Zed. Maybe she felt stirred out of a need to protect him, like an older sister taking care of her brother. Ya, that was it. A good sister—nothing more.
10
S eated in a lone chair that was surrounded by the thirteen-member nursing board, Meg felt as if she were facing the fire and fury of the Wizard of Oz. The panel of nurses and laypeople was intimidating due to the mere fact that they outnumbered her. Add to that the vindictive style of Peter, one of the registered nurses on the board, and Meg felt her knees knocking together under the table.
Surrender, Dorothy
.
Meg wiped her damp palms on her thighs, trying to calm herself with a little perspective. The inquisition was almost over; soon it would be behind her, and that would be a relief.
Only two weeks had passed since she’d left Halfway. On her way back to Pittsburgh, Meg had stopped in a gas station and put a call through to the state nursing board about scheduling a hearing. They had agreed to hold an emergency session, though the first possible date had been two weeks away, which had seemed like an eternity.
Ending the call, she had noticed a text message from an unknown number.
This is Jack Woods. Got your digits from Zoey. Tell me that’s okay or else I’ll bug off
.
Joy rippled through Meg from head to toe. Jack was geographically undesirable, but it was nice to be courted. Besides, she was in need of a friend. She texted back with news that she had just scheduled a hearing with the board and was eager to set things straight.
You go, girl
, he shot back.
And the truth shall set you free
.
That had been the first of Jack’s texts of wisdom. A few times a day, he sent her words of wisdom, Amish proverbs or Bible verses. He wrote things like
You can’t keep trouble from visiting, but you don’t have to offer it a chair
and
Let it shine!
Jack’s upbeat text messages lifted her spirits.
In response, she sent him photos of her kids—the babies she had delivered, who were now toddlers or in grammar school. Since she was unable to practice, she used the time to connect with the families she had served. It was always a wonder to see the older versions of the babies she had delivered, to see the toddlers as they learned to walk or the older ones as they tossed a football in the yard with siblings. That had made those two weeks fly by.
Although she kept sipping water, Meg’s mouth was dry and pasty. She wondered if the doctors on the medical board noticed the way her lips stuck together when she tried to speak, making a ridiculous smacking sound.
“We’ve gone over your statement, Ms. Harper.”
Or she might share how much she enjoyed his quiet presence, how it was the perfect complement to their active house, bustling with rambunctious children and determined young adults. Zed seemed equally comfortable whether holding the baby or teaching Will how to swing a hammer or discussing how to install plumbing with Caleb.
There were oh so many things she could tell them about Zed, but Fanny knew that each little detail would reveal too much. Her words would tell them that she was growing attached to this man.
Fortunately, she was saved when Lovina jumped in.
“Come now, Dorcas, you’re asking Fanny to talk about someone behind his back, and gossip is a sin.”
“Is it gossip when we’re saying nice things?” Dorcas asked, her brows raised in a sweet expression.
“There’s not much to say about a man as quiet as Zed,” said Becca Yoder. “I’ve tried to get him talking a few times, but he’s silent as a stone.”
Some of us don’t need to fill the quiet spaces with chatter
, thought Fanny.
“There’s nothing wrong with a quiet man,” said Lovina.
“I wouldn’t know,” Mary Yoder said with a wink. “I can’t get my Eli to shut up.”
Their joking eased Fanny’s tension for now, but as the women chatted, she took note of the single women in the room who might be interested in Zed. Maybe she felt stirred out of a need to protect him, like an older sister taking care of her brother. Ya, that was it. A good sister—nothing more.
10
S eated in a lone chair that was surrounded by the thirteen-member nursing board, Meg felt as if she were facing the fire and fury of the Wizard of Oz. The panel of nurses and laypeople was intimidating due to the mere fact that they outnumbered her. Add to that the vindictive style of Peter, one of the registered nurses on the board, and Meg felt her knees knocking together under the table.
Surrender, Dorothy
.
Meg wiped her damp palms on her thighs, trying to calm herself with a little perspective. The inquisition was almost over; soon it would be behind her, and that would be a relief.
Only two weeks had passed since she’d left Halfway. On her way back to Pittsburgh, Meg had stopped in a gas station and put a call through to the state nursing board about scheduling a hearing. They had agreed to hold an emergency session, though the first possible date had been two weeks away, which had seemed like an eternity.
Ending the call, she had noticed a text message from an unknown number.
This is Jack Woods. Got your digits from Zoey. Tell me that’s okay or else I’ll bug off
.
Joy rippled through Meg from head to toe. Jack was geographically undesirable, but it was nice to be courted. Besides, she was in need of a friend. She texted back with news that she had just scheduled a hearing with the board and was eager to set things straight.
You go, girl
, he shot back.
And the truth shall set you free
.
That had been the first of Jack’s texts of wisdom. A few times a day, he sent her words of wisdom, Amish proverbs or Bible verses. He wrote things like
You can’t keep trouble from visiting, but you don’t have to offer it a chair
and
Let it shine!
Jack’s upbeat text messages lifted her spirits.
In response, she sent him photos of her kids—the babies she had delivered, who were now toddlers or in grammar school. Since she was unable to practice, she used the time to connect with the families she had served. It was always a wonder to see the older versions of the babies she had delivered, to see the toddlers as they learned to walk or the older ones as they tossed a football in the yard with siblings. That had made those two weeks fly by.
Although she kept sipping water, Meg’s mouth was dry and pasty. She wondered if the doctors on the medical board noticed the way her lips stuck together when she tried to speak, making a ridiculous smacking sound.
“We’ve gone over your statement, Ms. Harper.”
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