A Time to Heal(10)

"Well, I think you might be exaggerating there but we'll abide by your decision," Phoebe said, and she looked at Matthew for confirmation.

He sighed. "Okay."

"Of course, if you feel worse at any time, no matter how late it is, you need to tell us so we can get you some relief," Phoebe said.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Joshua, could you go get a tube of burn ointment in my medicine cabinet?"

"Schur," he said. "Be right back.

He started to tell her they didn't need to go to any trouble but stopped when she looked at him. "Thank you." Nodding, she picked up the percolator and went to the sink to pour out the small amount of liquid inside. Then she set about making fresh coffee, making sure the pot sat on the back burner so no one could accidentally knock it off the stove.

Hannah pulled out several plastic storage bowls and filled them with the leftovers from dinner, trying not to watch how Chris's chest and shoulders rippled as he pulled on a buttonfront shirt and let it hang open while he returned the ice pack to his chest.

Jenny re-entered the room and sat down at the table.

"Is Mary okay?" Phoebe asked.

"Yes. I told her it was an accident and that no one blamed her for it. She'll be down in a minute to do the dishes."

"Let me do them," Chris said.

"No, you're a guest in our home," Matthew told him. "Ach, there you are, Mary."

Hannah watched her niece walk into the room and give Chris a shy smile. "Thank you for keeping me from getting hurt," she told Chris.

"You're welcome."

Mary glanced at her, seeking approval, and Hannah smiled.She loved being invited over for supper here. She missed living here and taking care of her nieces and nephew since Matthew had remarried. Once a week, she and Phoebe walked over from the house they shared next door and visited for supper.Hannah loved those evenings.

"Chris, where are you staying?" Jenny asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know. When I started here, I thought I'd play it by ear, look for a place after I stopped here to visit with you. I didn't count on falling asleep in the hayloft, or taking up so much of your time at supper."

"Don't say that. We loved having you," Jenny told him.

Hannah glanced at the kitchen window. It had grown dark outside while they lingered over supper.

"He can stay in the dawdi haus tonight."

Everyone looked at Matthew.

Hannah stared at her brother, not believing her ears. What a turnaround he'd made after his earlier suspicion of Chris.When he glanced over and saw her expression, Matthew shrugged, tilting the cup in his hand and silently sending her a message. He was obviously grateful that Chris had saved Mary from a bad burn.

She looked at Chris and her cheeks reddened when she realized he watched her.

"Dawdi haus?"

"It's an addition to the house that grandparents use when they've sold the farm to a son."

"That's very generous of you, but I wouldn't want to put you out," Chris spoke up.

"You're not putting us out," Jenny said, sending her husband a smile. "And besides, you might not thank us after you see it. Matthew hasn't finished his renovations yet."

Joshua returned with the burn ointment and then dashed up the stairs when Jenny reminded him of bedtime.

The floor thumped above their heads. Jenny and Matthew glanced upward, then at each other.

"Your turn," she murmured. Her husband headed upstairs.

She turned to Chris. "C'mon, I'll show you where you can stay tonight."

But before they could leave, Matthew called down the stairs for her.

"I'm coming!" she called.

She turned to Hannah. "Would you mind showing Chris the dawdi haus?"

"Schur."

She stood and watched Chris lift his backpack. As he did, he couldn't hide the wince of pain that crossed his face.

"You'll need bedding," Phoebe said. "I'll get some." She went into another room and returned with an armful of folded sheets.

Taking the bundle from her, Hannah turned to Chris."Ready?"

"Got your back."

"What?"

He smiled slightly. "Sorry, it's just an expression from my Army days."

"Oh."

As Hannah opened the connecting door to the dawdi haus, she said, "No one's used it in a long time."

They stepped inside.

"Matthew's done some work in the kitchen but he doesn't have much time until the winter when he isn't working in the fields. It's kind of small—just a living room, the kitchen, a bathroom, and this is the bedroom."

She walked into it and placed the bedding on the dresser, pleased that the place didn't smell musty from being shut up.

Chris looked around and nodded. "This is like what we call a mother-in-law apartment."