Plain Again by Sarah Price Page B

and turned her back toward the kitchen. “Alejandro!” she said happily as she answered the phone.
    There was a brief pause. “Amanda, it’s Carlos.”
    It took her a minute to realize that the voice on the other end was not her husband’s. “Is everything all right?” she asked in a moment of panic.
    “Sí, sí,” he reassured her. “Alejandro asked me to contact you.”
    “Oh.” She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice. It was almost two in the afternoon. She imagined that he was already engaged in interviews before the concert that evening. Certainly he was busy; he always was before a concert in a new city . . . even on Sundays.
    Carlos cleared his throat on the other end of the phone. “He asked me to call you as he needs you to come to New York for the week.”
    New York? Amanda glanced over her shoulder at her parents, both of whom were watching her with apprehension and great interest. She shook her head, indicating that nothing was wrong, before she turned around again and lowered her voice. “I . . . I can’t,” she started. “My daed just came home. My mamm will need my help. And my sister isn’t to arrive until Tuesday for dinner.”
    “He has hired a nurse to help. He needs you in New York,” Carlos said, his voice matter-of-fact. “I have arranged for a car to arrive Tuesday at eight in the morning.”
    “I . . .” She didn’t know what to say. If she was to leave on Tuesday morning, her sister would be there later to help her parents. Although Anna and her husband were not to arrive until dinnertime, surely her mamm could handle Daed for a day alone. And Harvey would be there in case of an emergency.
    Her heart fluttered inside her chest. Part of her worried about the family’s reaction to her leaving just before Anna arrived, but the other part longed to see him. “For how long?” she heard herself ask.
    “A week,” Carlos responded. “For the holiday.”
    After she ended the call, she took a minute to collect her thoughts. Was it possible that Alejandro missed her half as much as she missed him? Her thoughts turned back to the way she had been treated at church, more a stranger than a former member of their g’may . After so many weeks apart, she felt relief at the realization that in less than forty-eight hours, she would be reunited with her husband.
    “Wie gehts?” her mamm asked.
    “Hmm?” Amanda turned around and tried to smile. “Oh, that was Alejandro’s assistant.”
    Lizzie made a face but did not speak her thoughts. She didn’t have to. Amanda could read her expression loud and clear.
    “He’s busy, Mamm,” Amanda said defensively.
    “I see,” was Lizzie’s only reply.
    She walked into the room and sat down on the sofa, her eyes drifting out the window. The fields were empty, the sky gray. With bare trees and a light breeze blowing dried leaves across the grass, it looked barren and unfriendly out there. Her mind returned to New York City, the bright lights and constant noise. She imagined that, even in winter, it was still an amazing place.
    “He wants me to join him for the holiday,” she finally admitted. Shifting her weight, she tore her eyes from the window and looked at her parents. “Tuesday.”
    Lizzie pursed her lips and glanced at Elias. He was tired, and when he was tired, it was harder for him to talk. Lizzie spoke for both of them. “Anna is due home on Tuesday night, Amanda,” she said slowly. “Do you think that it is the right thing to do, then?”
    “It’s only for a week,” Amanda offered. “She’s home for two weeks, ja ?”
    Lizzie didn’t respond, obviously disappointed with Amanda’s answer.
    “I miss him, Mamm,” she continued. “It’s been weeks.”
    “I understand that,” Lizzie said, her eyes betraying her true feelings. “But Anna—”
    “ Nee , Mamm,” Amanda interrupted her. “I came home in order to help Anna as well as to be here for you and Daed. But he is my husband, and I want to be