Pennsylvania Patchwork by Kate Lloyd Page A

are ya okay?” He wore a dour expression, his brows drawn down.
    â€œYah, fine as ever.” Mamm’s hand tentatively patted her forehead. “Pay no heed to the bandage. It looks worse than it is.”
    â€œBut your wrist,” Holly said. “Why the ace bandage?” She and Armin stood nearby. “Mom, what happened?”
    Esther noticed the table had been righted and the doll stood on the mantel, the figurine a conspicuous contrast to its surroundings. “A small accident—a few stitches and possibly a sprained wrist,” Esther said.
    â€œLarry?” Holly’s jaw dropped. “What are you doing here?”
    He rushed over to hug her. “I told you I might drop by.”
    She gave him a one-armed, unenthusiastic hug. “You said you had an uncle in Philadelphia—”
    â€œAnd that I’d always wanted to see Amish country!”
    Holly’s hands rose to cover her cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Esther had never seen her look so perplexed. “How did you know where to find me?” Holly said.
    â€œRemember, I asked for your address?”
    â€œI thought you might send a postcard or letter, not show up.”
    He wiggled his brows. “I have a surprise I decided to bring in person.”
    â€œLarry kindly drove your grandmother and me to the hospital,” Esther said. “Would you please introduce him?” She could understand Holly’s feeling bamboozled.
    â€œUh—sure.” Holly’s eyes were veined pink and her lids swollen. “Larry Haarberg, I’d like to introduce you to Nathaniel and Armin King.” Then she excused herself to use the bathroom.
    Larry put out his hand to shake Nathaniel’s. “Hi, there,” Larry said.
    â€œGut ta meet ya.” Nathaniel’s gaze took in Larry’s attire.
    â€œLikewise.” Then Larry shook Armin’s hand, long and hard.
    â€œHullo.” Armin’s stare bore into Larry’s eyes.
    When the two men finally parted, both seemed to puff out their chests like a couple of roosters. Esther chuckled under her breath. Men were such funny creatures, she thought. Not that her Nathaniel would lower himself to such prideful behavior. Maybe he was keeping his distance from her because a stranger was in the house. Their engagement had yet to be published; it wouldn’t be official until the bishop or a minister announced it to the community at church.
    â€œI’ll get supper on the table,” Mamm said. She swiveled toward the sitting room; her toe caught on a rag rug.
    Esther raced to the end of the rug, holding it in place, and took Mamm’s good arm. “No, you don’t, Mamm. We’ll make up a tray for you and bring it in to the Daadi Haus.”
    â€œYah, Anna, your arm looks like it needs resting.” Nathaniel stepped to Mamm’s other side and the two shepherded her into the Daadi Haus. Esther could always count on Nathaniel. Ach, how had she survived so long without him?
    Holly came out of the bathroom with a freshly scrubbed face, all traces of smudged makeup removed. “I’ll get the food out,” she said. Esther could hear Holly explain to Larry that supper would be leftovers—plenty of cold cuts, cheese, and homemade bread.
    â€œSounds good to me,” Larry said. “I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”
    â€œThink I’ll stay, too, if you’ll have me, Holly,” Armin said. “A meal other than horseflesh does sound good.”
    â€œNot literally eat a horse,” Larry said. “Holly and I go way back, did she tell you that, Marvin?”
    â€œIt’s Armin. Armin King.”
    Their voices muted as Esther and Nathaniel escorted Mamm to her bedroom on the first floor of the Daadi Haus, its door opening into the front hall. They guided Mamm onto her bed and covered her legs with a quilt. Nathaniel lit a fire in the heat stove. “We’ll get