So that was it? She’d put it all behind her? He didn’t believe it. “Please ... Anna.”
“I can’t do this now, Joshua.” She blinked in rapid succession. Her words hushed.
He’d hurt her. Again. He shouldn’t press her about it. But now that he’d seen her, had touched her ... he needed more time. “Would your father welcome a visitor? I only have a few days before I need to head back to the university.”
Her gaze darted around the crowd as she hesitated. “I’m sure Dad would love to see you.”
“This afternoon then?” Patience had obviously left him today.
“That would be fine. As long as he isn’t sleeping.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Uncle Josh, I’m hungry.” Caleb was at his side, tugging on his jacket. The rest of the world had disappeared for the brief moments with Anna.
Anna’s light laugh was exactly like he remembered it as she looked down at his nephew. “Uncle Josh better get you home to feed you.” Her gaze shot up to meet his again, but her eyes were guarded. “You need to be with your family. I’ll let Dad know you’re coming to see him.” She climbed up into her carriage and drove away.
He allowed Caleb to walk him to the family wagon but couldn’t get the look on her face out of his mind. He’d hurt her.
What if he couldn’t fix it?
Anna brought a tray in for her father. “Louise, you can take a break and get something to eat. I left the pot of stew on the stove. I’ll feed Dad.”
“Thanks, Miss Lakeman.” The younger woman headed toward the door with her needlework.
“I’ve asked you a hundred times to call me Anna. No need to stand on ceremony here.”
“Oh, but I’m not allowed. My parents said that I must use the best of manners while in your employ.” She bit her lip. “Thank you again for the work. My family and I appreciate it.”
The Bowden family was loved and respected in their little community. Feeding a family of fourteen had to be expensive. The three eldest worked to help out. “I appreciateyou, Louise. You’ve been a great help to us over the years, and now that Dad is laid up, I can’t imagine what I’d do without you. This stew smells delicious, by the way.”
A blush crept up into the girl’s cheeks. “Thank you. I’ll be quick to eat and clean up the kitchen while I’m at it.”
“No need to rush, I’ll be here.”
Only four years separated them and yet Anna felt ancient compared to Louise. Perhaps it was the weight of her father’s illness. Or the fact that her friend still had the fresh look of hope on her face.
She’d had that same expression. Before Joshua left. After the shock of seeing him this morning wore off, she’d convinced herself that it didn’t matter. She didn’t love him anymore.
What a lie.
This wasn’t getting her anywhere. She banished the thoughts. “Dad?” With a slight touch to his shoulder, she shook him a bit to wake him.
“Hm?” Several slow blinks and then he focused on her. His mouth tipped up in a slight smile. “Anna.” His speech had been slower as he had to breathe often, but Doc Walsh came by early this morning and said that prayerfully they could get his heart to return to a normal rhythm. He was still researching, but the little bit of hope had boosted her spirits.
She would do anything and everything she could to see Dad recover. No matter what it took.
His heart beat so fast that he was in a constant state of exhaustion. So they had to help him eat since moving the slightest made him feel like his heart would tear out of hischest. This was only the second day. Chin up, she could do this. “I brought you some lunch.”
He dipped his head in a slight nod, trepidation in his eyes. To survive, people had to eat. But it clearly humiliated her father to have to be fed by someone else.
“Guess who I saw at church this morning?” She made her best effort to keep her voice light and perky.
One of his eyebrows lifted.
She spooned some of the stew into his mouth and waited for him to chew and swallow. Then she wiped his mouth. “Joshua Ziegler. He’s home for a few days from school and is coming by to see you this afternoon.”
Dad’s right hand reached for hers. “You ... all right?”
