and sell machines?”
“I know it sounds strange to you right now, but it’s work we can do together as a family. It’ll be much easier on your joints. We’ll be closer to doctors and pharmacies and—”
“Sylvia, honey,” Mamm interrupted him. “Kumm.”
Sylvia stood in the doorway, apron on and prayer Kapp in place, looking at him as if he were a monster.
“Did we wake you?” Daed closed his watch and put it back into his pocket.
“No.”
“Gut. I saw that new calf and her mama. They both look strong and healthy. You’re doing great.”
“Denki.”
Aaron was sure she would continue doing great, until Daed wore her out. Then again, Daed acted different with Sylvia. Kinder. Gentler. Was it just an act?
Mamm set the casserole on the table. Sylvia stared at Aaron, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe the kind of man he was. Guilt tried to climb into the pit of his stomach and steal his appetite, but he had nothing to feel bad about. His parents were his responsibility. She was merely the hired help, and he didn’t owe her anything.
Sylvia went to the cabinet and grabbed a serving bowl, then dumped peas from the stovetop into it. After a flurry of activity, with the two women getting items from the fridge, oven, and stovetop to the table, all four of them bowed their heads for silent prayer.
His Daed shifted, letting everyone know prayer time had ended. Then he sliced the meatloaf and passed the platter to Sylvia. She took a serving and passed the plate to Aaron. Bowls of vegetables were swapped back and forth until everyone had a full plate.
Sylvia put a napkin in her lap. “We have ten heifers on track for calving between now and September. With any luck we won’t lose a heifer or a calf in the process. Then we can get the mamas back in with the milking population and have a few bull calves we can sell.”
Aaron had put a new venture on the table for his Daed to consider, and now this girl was casually filling his head with false hope, talking about the herd as if they were turning milk into gold. She’d done a remarkable job on the farm. He wouldn’t argue that. But it wasn’t enough. When it came to the Blank dairy farm, it’d never be enough.
He downed his drink, wishing she wasn’t there so he and his Daed could really talk.
“With that kind of progress, I’m sure we won’t need to sell,” his Daed said.
Aaron set his glass on the table. “Daed, we should talk about that privately.”
“Sylvia’s worked here from before sunup to after sundown for four months, and although milk production still has a long way to go, she’s helped turn things around. She loves this farm the way I’d always hoped you would and the way I still hope my grandson will one day. It’s worth hanging on to for Ivan.”
“Ivan, Daed. Really?” Aaron tried to keep the disrespect from his tone. Ivan hadn’t even begun school yet, and when he graduated, years from now, Aaron was confident he wouldn’t be interested in farming. Grey hadn’t been. Over the years Grey had pitched in if they were in a bind, but he’d never considered quitting his work at the cabinetry shop to make his living on this farm. And Aaron’s sister had never asked him to. Their son was like Grey. Even with his disability, he loved woodwork and carving. Aaron believed Ivan would follow in his father’s footsteps. Besides, with the financial mess the farm was in, his parents couldn’t afford to hold on to it until Ivan was old enough to be of real help.
The hurt in Daed’s eyes lasted only a moment. “I won’t talk of selling, especially behind Sylvia’s back.”
Aaron propped his forearms on the table, staring at her. “She’s a hired hand, not someone who should’ve worked her way into your hearts and loyalties.”
“Don’t you talk to me about loyalty, Son.”
“Daed, I’m—”
“We’re not discussing this.”
“No, of course not.”
Daed passed the DairyAll bill to Sylvia. “Aaron saw
“I know it sounds strange to you right now, but it’s work we can do together as a family. It’ll be much easier on your joints. We’ll be closer to doctors and pharmacies and—”
“Sylvia, honey,” Mamm interrupted him. “Kumm.”
Sylvia stood in the doorway, apron on and prayer Kapp in place, looking at him as if he were a monster.
“Did we wake you?” Daed closed his watch and put it back into his pocket.
“No.”
“Gut. I saw that new calf and her mama. They both look strong and healthy. You’re doing great.”
“Denki.”
Aaron was sure she would continue doing great, until Daed wore her out. Then again, Daed acted different with Sylvia. Kinder. Gentler. Was it just an act?
Mamm set the casserole on the table. Sylvia stared at Aaron, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe the kind of man he was. Guilt tried to climb into the pit of his stomach and steal his appetite, but he had nothing to feel bad about. His parents were his responsibility. She was merely the hired help, and he didn’t owe her anything.
Sylvia went to the cabinet and grabbed a serving bowl, then dumped peas from the stovetop into it. After a flurry of activity, with the two women getting items from the fridge, oven, and stovetop to the table, all four of them bowed their heads for silent prayer.
His Daed shifted, letting everyone know prayer time had ended. Then he sliced the meatloaf and passed the platter to Sylvia. She took a serving and passed the plate to Aaron. Bowls of vegetables were swapped back and forth until everyone had a full plate.
Sylvia put a napkin in her lap. “We have ten heifers on track for calving between now and September. With any luck we won’t lose a heifer or a calf in the process. Then we can get the mamas back in with the milking population and have a few bull calves we can sell.”
Aaron had put a new venture on the table for his Daed to consider, and now this girl was casually filling his head with false hope, talking about the herd as if they were turning milk into gold. She’d done a remarkable job on the farm. He wouldn’t argue that. But it wasn’t enough. When it came to the Blank dairy farm, it’d never be enough.
He downed his drink, wishing she wasn’t there so he and his Daed could really talk.
“With that kind of progress, I’m sure we won’t need to sell,” his Daed said.
Aaron set his glass on the table. “Daed, we should talk about that privately.”
“Sylvia’s worked here from before sunup to after sundown for four months, and although milk production still has a long way to go, she’s helped turn things around. She loves this farm the way I’d always hoped you would and the way I still hope my grandson will one day. It’s worth hanging on to for Ivan.”
“Ivan, Daed. Really?” Aaron tried to keep the disrespect from his tone. Ivan hadn’t even begun school yet, and when he graduated, years from now, Aaron was confident he wouldn’t be interested in farming. Grey hadn’t been. Over the years Grey had pitched in if they were in a bind, but he’d never considered quitting his work at the cabinetry shop to make his living on this farm. And Aaron’s sister had never asked him to. Their son was like Grey. Even with his disability, he loved woodwork and carving. Aaron believed Ivan would follow in his father’s footsteps. Besides, with the financial mess the farm was in, his parents couldn’t afford to hold on to it until Ivan was old enough to be of real help.
The hurt in Daed’s eyes lasted only a moment. “I won’t talk of selling, especially behind Sylvia’s back.”
Aaron propped his forearms on the table, staring at her. “She’s a hired hand, not someone who should’ve worked her way into your hearts and loyalties.”
“Don’t you talk to me about loyalty, Son.”
“Daed, I’m—”
“We’re not discussing this.”
“No, of course not.”
Daed passed the DairyAll bill to Sylvia. “Aaron saw
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