A Place at Our Table Read online

  “I don’t mind helping.” Jamie put the plug in the drain and added dish detergent before turning on the hot water.

  Laura set the dishes on the counter and touched his arm. “Go help Mark.”

  “You and Cindy always do the dishes. I’ll help today.” He set the stack of plates in the sink.

  Laura studied him, her eyes narrowing. “What are you up to?”

  “Nothing. Would you like me to wash or dry?”

  Laura glanced toward the table and Jamie followed her lead. Cindy still lingered there, slowly putting utensils in a mug. Then Laura swiveled back to Jamie, placed her hand on her hip, and lowered her voice. “Just talk to her.”

  “I’ve tried.” Jamie hated the thread of desperation in his voice.

  “Try again. Washing dishes isn’t going to help.” When Jamie hesitated, Laura shoved him toward their younger sister. “Go on.”

  Jamie crossed the room and stood in front of Cindy. “I can’t stand this silence between us any longer. Would you please talk to me?”

  Cindy kept her eyes focused downward.

  “Please, Cindy,” he pleaded with her. “We’re family. We need each other, especially now.”

  To his surprise, Cindy looked up and met his gaze. “I just can’t right now.” Her voice wavered. “I need time.” Then she picked up the mug of utensils and headed to the sink. In another few seconds she was washing dishes.

  Jamie stared after her, silently debating what to do.

  Shaking her head, Laura pointed toward the mudroom as if to tell him to let it go for now.

  Jamie left with disappointment and regret bogging his every step.

  NINETEEN

  Kayla’s stomach flip-flopped as she stood on the Riehl family’s back porch between Eva and Nathan. She gripped a bowl of salad in her hands and lifted her chin as Nathan knocked on the door.

  The day had flown by at lightning speed at the restaurant. Between the breakfast and lunch rushes, she and Eva had prepared the Swedish meatballs and then baked them in one of the restaurant ovens in the afternoon. Kayla and Eva were ready by the time the restaurant closed and their driver arrived. Kayla’s parents started cleanup before going home with Junior for the evening. They said they didn’t mind, even though Nathan had asked to join Kayla and Eva so he could see Jamie again.

  It seemed Nathan really had become attached to Jamie, just as she had. Kayla smiled at the thought before a wave of alarm came over her. She couldn’t set herself up for heartache, especially if there was a chance Nathan would get hurt in the process. She couldn’t deny she was happy to see Jamie again, but she had to keep their relationship a friendship only, no matter what her family thought.

  After a few moments, the door opened. Laura stood before them in a green dress, a black apron, and a bright smile. The sight of her new friend calmed Kayla’s apprehension.

  “Wie geht’s? Danki for bringing supper.”

  “Gern gschehne. We’re froh to be here,” Kayla said. “I hope you and your family like Swedish meatballs and egg noodles.”

  “And cherry pie and rolls and salad,” Eva chimed in. She was holding the pan with the Swedish meatballs and egg noodles. Nathan had the pie and rolls.

  “Oooh!” Laura clapped her hands. “That sounds amazing! I haven’t had Swedish meatballs in a long time.”

  “It smells amazing too,” Nathan added. “My stomach has been growling since we left the restaurant.”

  Laura chuckled as she held out her hands. “What can I carry for you?”

  “We have everything.” Kayla took a step toward the door. “We might just have to warm up the Swedish meatballs and egg noodles a little bit.”

  “I’ll turn on the oven.” Laura motioned for them to step inside. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day long. Please come in.”

  Kayla followed Laura into the kitchen, where Cindy was setting the table. “Hi, Cindy.”

  Cindy smiled. “Wie geht’s? It’s so gut to see you!” She took the bowl from Kayla and turned toward Eva and Nathan. “Willkumm!”

  “How are you?” Eva asked.

  “I’m okay, danki.” Cindy set the bowl on the counter. “How are you?”

  “Gut, gut,” Eva said. “Busy, right, Kayla?”

  “Ya, that’s true,” Kayla agreed as she took the pie plate from Nathan.

  “Is Jamie outside?” He jammed his thumb toward the back door.

  “Ya. He’s with mei daed and Mark in the barn. You can go see them.”

  “Danki.” Nathan turned toward the door and then looked at Kayla. “Let me know when it’s time to leave.”

  “Time to leave?” Laura raised her eyebrows as she looked at Eva and then Kayla. “Aren’t you staying to eat with us?”

  Kayla glanced at Eva. They had discussed delivering the meal and then leaving, not wanting to intrude on the Riehl family’s time together. But secretly Kayla had hoped they would invite them to stay. They’d brought plenty of food.

  Cindy’s eyes widened. “Were you going to just drop off the meal and leave?”

  “We didn’t want to impose,” Kayla said.

  “Don’t be gegisch!” Laura exclaimed. “We all have been looking forward to a visit.”

  Has Jamie been looking forward to seeing me? Kayla fingered her apron.

  “We want you to stay,” Laura continued. “We always have a place at our table for our freinden.”

  “Ya.” Cindy’s eyes seemed to plead with Kayla. “Please say you’ll eat with us.”

  Kayla turned toward Eva, who nodded in agreement, and then she looked back at Cindy. “We’d love to stay for supper.”

  “Gut. It’s settled then.” Laura pointed to the table. “We were just about to grab some extra chairs.”

  “Nathan can get the chairs for you before he goes out.” Kayla turned toward him. “Right?”

  “Ya, of course.” Nathan stepped toward the table.

  “Danki.” Cindy motioned for Nathan to follow her to a room off the kitchen. “We keep the extra chairs in the laundry room.”

  Laura slipped the meatballs and noodles into the oven. “Did you have a busy day at the restaurant?”

  “Ya, we did.” Kayla walked over to the counter and leaned against it. “We had a bus stop by with a large group of tourists.”

  “Really?” Laura folded her arms over her apron. “How many were in the group?”

  “I think there were about two dozen, right, Kayla?” Eva asked, and Kayla nodded.

  Laura clicked her tongue. “I’m sure you were hopping with their orders.”

  “We were.” Kayla pointed to the cabinets. “May we put out drinking glasses for you?”

  “Ya, that would be great.” Laura showed Kayla which cabinet to open, and Kayla and Eva set glasses on the table just as Cindy and Nathan returned with three chairs.

  “Do you need me for anything else?” Nathan asked after the table was set.

  “No, you can go,” Kayla told him.

  Nathan disappeared into the mudroom and they heard the back door open and close.

  Laura chuckled. “He couldn’t stand one more moment with the maed, could he?”

  Kayla laughed. “No. He begged my parents to let him come too. I think he wants to talk some more with Jamie about firefighting.”

  Eva gave Kayla a sad smile. “Ya, and I think he misses Simeon.”

  “That’s true too.” Kayla sighed. We all do. “Can we do anything else to help?”

  “How about bowls for the salad?” Eva suggested.

  “Ya, I’ll get them.” Laura pulled the bowls out and Eva set them on the table.

  Laura set the rolls in a basket and brought them to the table as well. “I think we’re all set. Let’s sit for a few minutes and then I’ll check on the meatballs.” She gestured toward the table.

  Kayla chose a seat near the center of the table and looked at the chair to her right. Would Jamie sit beside her? Her pulse skittered at the thought of sharing a meal with him. Maybe they’d sha
re many more in the near future. She gnawed her lower lip as hope grew no matter how many times she warned herself.

  Laura slipped onto the chair to the left beside Kayla, and Cindy sat down across the table, next to Eva.

  Eva folded her hands on the tabletop. “So how are you all doing really?” She looked at Cindy and then Laura. “How are you coping?”

  Laura pushed the ribbons from her prayer covering over her shoulders. “We’re taking it day by day. It’s difficult because the loss is so palpable. I keep expecting to see Mamm behind me or hear her voice. I feel her loss. The haus is just too big and too empty, but I’m trying to keep moving forward.”

  She paused. “But at the same time, I’m trying to be strong for mei daed. He’s taking it so hard. I heard him crying last night and he napped most of today. I can see the grief in the lines of his face. He only left the haus a little while ago to see what Jamie and Mark were doing outside. We have to keep the haus running and try to bring some sense of normalcy for him.” She reached across the table and touched Cindy’s hand. “Right, Cindy?”

  Cindy sniffed. “Excuse me.” She rushed out of the room and soon they heard a door click shut.

  “Ach, no.” Eva gasped, cupping her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to upset her. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “It’s okay.” Laura shook her head and wiped her eyes. “Cindy is having a really tough time. I’ve tried to talk to her about what happened, but she won’t even discuss it.”

  Kayla’s eyes stung, and she cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry, Laura.”

  “Danki.”

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” Eva grabbed a napkin from the holder in the center of the table and wiped at her own eyes. “I know how hard it is to lose someone. I lost my husband last year, and I always appreciated it when people listened.”

  “I’m so sorry about your husband.” Laura shook her head. “That had to be so difficult for you, especially since you were expecting a boppli.”

  “It was, and it still is.” Eva wiped away another tear trickling down her cheek. “Some days are more difficult than others.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward tonight by bringing up the subject. I was only trying to be a gut freind and offer my sympathies.”

  “I know that, and Cindy does too.” Laura touched Kayla’s arm. “We appreciate your friendship. I’m so glad God brought you all into our lives.” She squeezed Kayla’s arm and then released it. “I mean that.”

  “I am too.” Kayla also took a napkin as tears trailed down her cheeks. “I think about you and your family often. Jamie has shared how he’s been struggling.”

  “He blames himself for Mamm’s accident, and Cindy hasn’t made it any easier telling him it was his fault.” Laura fingered the edge of the table as she spoke.

  “Why does he think it’s his fault?” Eva asked.

  While Laura explained about the banister, Kayla stared at her lap and tried to hold back tears. She recalled the pain and heartbreak she’d witnessed in Jamie’s eyes and heard in his voice as he spoke about his mother that day in the basement, and again at the funeral. How she longed to help him through this difficult time.

  “Jamie tried to discuss it with Cindy earlier today, but she told him she wasn’t ready to talk to him.” Laura kept her voice soft. “I tried to talk to her after Jamie went out to do his chores, but she wouldn’t talk to me either. She ran off to the bathroom, like she just did.”

  Laura ran her thumbnail over the edge of the table. “I can’t stand the tension in the haus. My siblings and I have had our disagreements, but it’s never been like this. I feel like I should fix it since I’m the older maedel, but I don’t know how if Cindy won’t talk to me. We used to be able to talk about anything, but she’s completely shut herself off. I thought about discussing this with mei daed, but he’s grieving too. We all are, and he doesn’t need any extra stress right now. It’s just so tough.”

  “Jamie shared with me how Cindy won’t talk to him.” Even to her own ears, Kayla’s voice sounded thin. “I promised him it would get better, but I know from experience the words feel so empty when you’re the one who’s suffering.”

  “They’re not empty.” Laura smiled at Kayla. “It will get better, and you’re helping Jamie more than you know.”

  “You think so?” Kayla could hear the thread of hope in her voice.

  “Ya, I do. I can tell your friendship means a lot to him, and I’m thankful he found you.”

  “I am too,” Eva chimed in with a smile.

  Laura pushed her chair back. “I’m going to go check on Cindy. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll see if the meatballs are ready.” Kayla started toward the oven. She hoped their supper would in some small way help the Riehl family heal.

  Jamie stepped out of the barn and breathed in the warm evening air. He looked toward the pasture fence, where Dat and Mark stood talking to a neighbor. Turning toward the back porch, he grinned as Nathan ambled down the steps and waved.

  Nathan is here, which means Kayla is here.

  “Hi, Nathan!” Jamie waved.

  “Wie geht’s?” Nathan shook his hand. “Kayla, Eva, and I brought supper over.”

  “That’s wunderbaar. Danki.” Jamie rested his hands on his suspenders. “I’m glad you came with them.”

  “Laura and Cindy invited us to stay for supper.”

  “I’m so glad to hear it.” Jamie smiled at the prospect of talking to Kayla alone again.

  “How was the rest of your night? Did you have any more calls?”

  “No, we didn’t.” Jamie sat down on a bench by the garden, and Nathan plopped down beside him. “It was an unusually quiet night. I actually got some sleep.”

  “That’s gut.” Nathan looked out toward the pasture, and his smile faded as if he were contemplating something.

  “Is there something you want to discuss?” Jamie prodded.

  Nathan gave him a sheepish smile. “My parents were really upset with me last night. Mei daed threatened to take away Simeon’s radio.”

  “Oh.” Jamie paused, considering how to approach the topic without alienating Nathan. “You do understand why he wanted to take the radio, right?”

  Nathan nodded. “Ya. What I did was reckless and dangerous. You don’t need to remind me.”

  Jamie ran his finger over the arm of the bench. “I have an idea that will satisfy both you and your parents.”

  Nathan raised his eyebrows. “I’m listening.”

  “You can visit me anytime you want, and I’ll answer all your firefighting questions—on one condition.” Jamie held up his index finger.

  “Okay.” Nathan lifted his hands. “What’s the condition?”

  “You only come to see me at the station and not on calls.”

  Nathan’s lips formed a flat line. “That point has been made very clear to me. Is that it?”

  “No, that’s not it. Your parents have to know where you are. I can tell you when I’m on duty, and you can come to the station as long as your parents say it’s okay. I’m sure Brody and the other guys would enjoy seeing you too. You’re always welcome there.”

  “Danki.” Nathan leaned his back against the arm of the bench. “That sounds gut.”

  “Great.” Jamie glanced toward the house. “How are your parents doing?”

  “Fine. They told me to tell you and your family hello. They’ve been thinking of you.”

  “That’s nice.” Jamie turned toward the pasture. Mark and Dat were still talking to the neighbor. “We appreciate that.”

  “They said they want to visit sometime soon. They couldn’t come tonight because they had to stay behind and clean up the restaurant after we left. Mamm is taking care of Junior too.”

  “I understand.” Jamie rested his right ankle on his left knee. “It’s very generous of you, Eva, and Kayla to come.”

  “It was Kayla’s idea to bring the meal.”

  Jamie couldn’t st
op a smile. He looked down at the ground and then over at Nathan.

  Nathan crossed his arms over his tan shirt and studied Jamie for a moment. “Do you like mei schweschder?”

  Jamie was caught. There was no point in evading the question. “Ya, I do. I like her a lot.”

  “Gut.”

  “Gut?” Jamie was stunned by the comment.

  “Ya, gut. Kayla likes you too.” Nathan’s expression darkened slightly. “Her last boyfriend broke up with her just two months after Simeon died. It was really tough on her.”

  Jamie gaped. “That’s horrible. Why would he do that to her?”

  “I don’t know what Abram was thinking, but it was . . . What’s the word she used? Devastating. Yeah, that’s what I heard her tell Eva. I’m froh she has you for a freind.”

  Jamie was so overwhelmed by Nathan’s words that his own were trapped in his throat for a moment. He simply nodded in response.

  “Nathan!” Dat called as he and Mark joined them by the garden. “Wie geht’s?”

  “How are you?” Nathan waved to them.

  “It’s gut to see you.” Mark shook Nathan’s hand. “I heard you brought us supper.”

  “Ya, I hope you like Swedish meatballs and egg noodles,” Nathan offered.

  “Oh, that sounds perfect,” Dat said, and Mark agreed.

  “Do you cook at the restaurant?” Mark asked.

  Nathan shook his head. “Not much. Mei daed and mamm are starting to teach me how to make a few of the meals, but I mostly bus tables and wash dishes.”

  As Nathan continued chatting with Mark and Dat, Jamie’s thoughts swirled with the information Nathan shared. Kayla dated someone named Abram who broke her heart shortly after Simeon died. Jamie had to tread lightly with her heart, but he also had to work on showing her how he felt about her. He would try to get her alone tonight and ask if he could visit her. He didn’t deserve a chance at happiness when his family was going through such a hard time, but he couldn’t fend off the hope that filled him at the thought of making Kayla his girlfriend.

  After a few minutes, Laura appeared on the porch. “Supper is ready!”

  “Let’s eat,” Mark said.

  Jamie walked with the other men into the mudroom, and the aroma of Swedish meatballs wafted over him. Through the doorway to the kitchen, he could see his sisters, Eva, and Kayla waiting by the table.