Eventually, Leah gathered the strength to change into her nurse
outfit and went off to work. As she roamed the hospital halls helping out
many of the doctors, she couldn't help but think about Mr. Longacre's
health and the life she left behind in Nappanee.
"Good morning Leah. Wonderful day isn't it? I love to breathe in the fresh, cool morning air!" Dr. Barlow was a very happy doctor who loved doing his job every day.
"Morning Doc! Yeah... Wonderful indeed!" Luckily Dr. Barlow did not catch Leah's sarcasm behind it. "Umm... doc. About Mr. Longacre... is he okay? Health-wise? He's not dying or anything right?" Leah has been holding in her curiosity for days now but she couldn't bear it anymore. Along with her nightly dreams of her bitter sweet past with Ethan, she has been worrying about Ethan's father's health.
"Leah... you know that I have to obey my doctor-patient confidentiality agreement. You know better than to ask..." Dr. Barlow was a very easy- going person but when it came to his work, he can be very serious on the matter.
"Right... I'm sorry. Forget I asked," said Leah very disappointedly.
Touched by her disappointment and letdown, he couldn't live with Leah's sad face. "Tell you what! Since you seem to be a friend of Mr. Longacre and you are the nurse who helped me, I can cut you some slack." He smiled kindly. "His health is fine for now. However, he seems much stressed and after working on the farm for so many years, it's paid a toll on his health and not to mention his age! The Amish people are very different! I keep telling him that he should rest and entrust the farm work and responsibilities to his sons but he won't listen." As the doctor continued telling Leah about Ethan's father's condition she began to wonder if the Amish would ever change their ways, especially when it comes to their actual health.
As the day continued, she began to ponder more and more about her past. In between her shifts, she often found herself walking the halls with tears rolling down her face, reminiscing about the days she was held by Ethan's strong arms, his soothing voice that made her knees go weak and melt, and the touch of his velvet lips every time they kissed.
Weeks later, Dr. Barlow asked Leah into his office. "Leah, please have a seat. I have to ask you about something."
She sat down in confusion and asked, "Is something wrong doc? It's not Mr. Longacre right? He's still healthy right?" Anxiety and worry began to bubble in her body as she waited him to explain why he had asked for her.
"Don't worry Leah. He's still fine." Relief rained on her as she began to listen intently. "A colleague of mine who works in a small town a few kilometres away has been diagnosed with the first stage of lung cancer. She has asked me to take over her practise while she undergoes treatment. She is unsure of when she will return, or return at all. I plan to go to her town and take Belinda with me. But I also need another back-up with me in case we need any extra hands. I would graciously appreciate it if you come with us. I will pay for all the expenses and materials and my wife and two children will be there also. I can also write you an excellent reference letter or even put in a good word for you at the university. Your help would be very valuable. Will you come with us?" He smiled optimistically, hoping Leah would agree.
Leah was hit by another bombshell. Where was she? The war front? If she went with him and his family, she might be able to busy herself enough to not think about her past. Then again, she greatly enjoyed the city and the last time she went to a town, she left it broken-hearted. With mixed emotions, she was confused and unsure of everything. "I am honoured with this opportunity. It's a very big decision and I will need time to think about it. I'll tell you tomorrow morning Doc!"
Two weeks later, she found herself packed and ready for another adventure. Her mom had agreed with her that it would be a good change, a good distraction from all her thoughts about her past. She started the engine of her not-so-new red convertible and drove behind the Barlow's' van and the trucks carrying all their possessions and she was set on another adventure again.
After driving for about one hundred and twenty miles from Indianapolis, she slowly reached the horizon of the small town she would spend the next while in. As she followed the trucks, she began to think to herself. This seems very similar? Why am I feeling this odd, churning sensation at the pit of my stomach? And boom! She found out why! As she drove down the road, she came upon a sign and her mind simply went blank.
Welcome to the Township of Nappanee
Please Enjoy Your Stay!
She was in complete and utter shock, even when she turned onto the driveway of her new home. Mrs. Barlow came up to her convertible with a curious face. "Leah dear, are you feeling alright? You seem a little pale. Is everything okay?"
Leah tried to put her thoughts into words but couldn't. How could she be back! How was she so dumb not to ask the Doc WHICH town they were going to!!! Panic and disbelief clouded her brain and she didn't know what to say or do. "I... err..."
Soon Dr. Barlow came up beside her wife. "Leah? You look like you're going to be sick." He began snapping his fingers sequentially to try to get her attention. "Leah! Earth to Leah! You okay?"
After the ninetieth or twentieth snap, she was brought back to reality. "Err... what Doc? I'm sorry... I was paying attention. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately." She quickly shook back to herself and realized the entire Barlow family and Belinda, the other nurse, were looking at her in concern. "I'm fine! I just need some sleep! Don't worry about me!"
Belinda walked towards her and touched her forehead with the back of her palm to check if she had a fever. "Well... dear. If it's just lack of sleep, go to bed earlier tonight. We don't have to open the office until Monday and it's only Saturday afternoon."
"Err... right! I will." She was mixed up with different emotions - confusion, shock, disbelief, anxiety, sadness, excitement.
Leah rested the entire weekend in her bedroom she shared with Belinda in the new house that Dr. Barlow had bought before they came. She occasionally went downstairs for meals and some fresh air on the porch.
Late Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Barlow was unpacking with the help of her two children - Brian who was 12 years old and Maxine who just turned 16. As Leah slowly descended the stairs, her smile and renewed energy was met with a rush of conversation from everyone asking about her how she felt, how much they liked the town, and even the wonderful weather.
Belinda came out of the kitchen and immediately smiled at Leah. "It's wonderful to see you smiling again! I need to buy some things at the grocery store. Would you like to accompany me? You can get some fresh air." She was so persuasive that Leah could not resist.
As they began to walk along the side of the road, Belinda was trying to follow a map that Dr. Barlow's colleague had left them. "This map... this colleague of his has chicken scratch as writing! I don't even know which way the map should be held!"
Leah smiling and said, "Belinda, you don't need a map. We keep walking until we reach the gas station then we turn left and walk for a bit and we'll see the large sign pointing to the grocery store. Come, come!!!" Leah skipped off as if she was a little school girl. Leah laughed and was happy, something she hasn't felt for a long time. This made her wonder if being back in the town had brought her happiness because of its familiarity and hospitality.
"Good morning Leah. Wonderful day isn't it? I love to breathe in the fresh, cool morning air!" Dr. Barlow was a very happy doctor who loved doing his job every day.
"Morning Doc! Yeah... Wonderful indeed!" Luckily Dr. Barlow did not catch Leah's sarcasm behind it. "Umm... doc. About Mr. Longacre... is he okay? Health-wise? He's not dying or anything right?" Leah has been holding in her curiosity for days now but she couldn't bear it anymore. Along with her nightly dreams of her bitter sweet past with Ethan, she has been worrying about Ethan's father's health.
"Leah... you know that I have to obey my doctor-patient confidentiality agreement. You know better than to ask..." Dr. Barlow was a very easy- going person but when it came to his work, he can be very serious on the matter.
"Right... I'm sorry. Forget I asked," said Leah very disappointedly.
Touched by her disappointment and letdown, he couldn't live with Leah's sad face. "Tell you what! Since you seem to be a friend of Mr. Longacre and you are the nurse who helped me, I can cut you some slack." He smiled kindly. "His health is fine for now. However, he seems much stressed and after working on the farm for so many years, it's paid a toll on his health and not to mention his age! The Amish people are very different! I keep telling him that he should rest and entrust the farm work and responsibilities to his sons but he won't listen." As the doctor continued telling Leah about Ethan's father's condition she began to wonder if the Amish would ever change their ways, especially when it comes to their actual health.
As the day continued, she began to ponder more and more about her past. In between her shifts, she often found herself walking the halls with tears rolling down her face, reminiscing about the days she was held by Ethan's strong arms, his soothing voice that made her knees go weak and melt, and the touch of his velvet lips every time they kissed.
Weeks later, Dr. Barlow asked Leah into his office. "Leah, please have a seat. I have to ask you about something."
She sat down in confusion and asked, "Is something wrong doc? It's not Mr. Longacre right? He's still healthy right?" Anxiety and worry began to bubble in her body as she waited him to explain why he had asked for her.
"Don't worry Leah. He's still fine." Relief rained on her as she began to listen intently. "A colleague of mine who works in a small town a few kilometres away has been diagnosed with the first stage of lung cancer. She has asked me to take over her practise while she undergoes treatment. She is unsure of when she will return, or return at all. I plan to go to her town and take Belinda with me. But I also need another back-up with me in case we need any extra hands. I would graciously appreciate it if you come with us. I will pay for all the expenses and materials and my wife and two children will be there also. I can also write you an excellent reference letter or even put in a good word for you at the university. Your help would be very valuable. Will you come with us?" He smiled optimistically, hoping Leah would agree.
Leah was hit by another bombshell. Where was she? The war front? If she went with him and his family, she might be able to busy herself enough to not think about her past. Then again, she greatly enjoyed the city and the last time she went to a town, she left it broken-hearted. With mixed emotions, she was confused and unsure of everything. "I am honoured with this opportunity. It's a very big decision and I will need time to think about it. I'll tell you tomorrow morning Doc!"
Two weeks later, she found herself packed and ready for another adventure. Her mom had agreed with her that it would be a good change, a good distraction from all her thoughts about her past. She started the engine of her not-so-new red convertible and drove behind the Barlow's' van and the trucks carrying all their possessions and she was set on another adventure again.
After driving for about one hundred and twenty miles from Indianapolis, she slowly reached the horizon of the small town she would spend the next while in. As she followed the trucks, she began to think to herself. This seems very similar? Why am I feeling this odd, churning sensation at the pit of my stomach? And boom! She found out why! As she drove down the road, she came upon a sign and her mind simply went blank.
Welcome to the Township of Nappanee
Please Enjoy Your Stay!
She was in complete and utter shock, even when she turned onto the driveway of her new home. Mrs. Barlow came up to her convertible with a curious face. "Leah dear, are you feeling alright? You seem a little pale. Is everything okay?"
Leah tried to put her thoughts into words but couldn't. How could she be back! How was she so dumb not to ask the Doc WHICH town they were going to!!! Panic and disbelief clouded her brain and she didn't know what to say or do. "I... err..."
Soon Dr. Barlow came up beside her wife. "Leah? You look like you're going to be sick." He began snapping his fingers sequentially to try to get her attention. "Leah! Earth to Leah! You okay?"
After the ninetieth or twentieth snap, she was brought back to reality. "Err... what Doc? I'm sorry... I was paying attention. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately." She quickly shook back to herself and realized the entire Barlow family and Belinda, the other nurse, were looking at her in concern. "I'm fine! I just need some sleep! Don't worry about me!"
Belinda walked towards her and touched her forehead with the back of her palm to check if she had a fever. "Well... dear. If it's just lack of sleep, go to bed earlier tonight. We don't have to open the office until Monday and it's only Saturday afternoon."
"Err... right! I will." She was mixed up with different emotions - confusion, shock, disbelief, anxiety, sadness, excitement.
Leah rested the entire weekend in her bedroom she shared with Belinda in the new house that Dr. Barlow had bought before they came. She occasionally went downstairs for meals and some fresh air on the porch.
Late Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Barlow was unpacking with the help of her two children - Brian who was 12 years old and Maxine who just turned 16. As Leah slowly descended the stairs, her smile and renewed energy was met with a rush of conversation from everyone asking about her how she felt, how much they liked the town, and even the wonderful weather.
Belinda came out of the kitchen and immediately smiled at Leah. "It's wonderful to see you smiling again! I need to buy some things at the grocery store. Would you like to accompany me? You can get some fresh air." She was so persuasive that Leah could not resist.
As they began to walk along the side of the road, Belinda was trying to follow a map that Dr. Barlow's colleague had left them. "This map... this colleague of his has chicken scratch as writing! I don't even know which way the map should be held!"
Leah smiling and said, "Belinda, you don't need a map. We keep walking until we reach the gas station then we turn left and walk for a bit and we'll see the large sign pointing to the grocery store. Come, come!!!" Leah skipped off as if she was a little school girl. Leah laughed and was happy, something she hasn't felt for a long time. This made her wonder if being back in the town had brought her happiness because of its familiarity and hospitality.