Before Jay could fashion a reply, Will walked right inside. “There was no reason. My father was being a worrywart.”
After bending down to greet Frankie, Jay said, “Is your mother around?”
“Oh, jah. She’s sewing me a new dress.” Pointing to her ankles, Lena added, “I’m growing.”
“Actually, I’m right here,” Emma said as she joined them at the door. Smiling brightly, she said, “Come on in.”
Jay shut the door behind him just as William edged closer to Lena and whispered something in her ear.
The little girl grinned. “Mamm, can William and I go in the backyard with Mandy and Annie?”
“Sure, that is fine. Don’t forget to look after Annie, Lena.”
“I won’t.”
After the children disappeared, Emma clasped her hands in front of her waist. “How are you, Jay? Seeing you here is a nice surprise.”
“I’m fine.” Feeling more awkward by the second, he added, “Um, I hope you don’t mind that we came by without an invitation.”
“You now are officially invited to come over anytime you would like. Would you like to sit down?”
“Oh, sure. And since we’re here anyway, I was hoping to talk to you about something. If you have time, that is.”
“Of course I have time.” She walked over and perched on the edge of a beautiful cherrywood rocking chair. After she smoothed a wrinkle in her violet dress, she smiled.
Jay sat down on her couch, liking the thick white canvas cover on it. He couldn’t help but wonder, however, how in the world she kept a white couch clean with three little girls and one busy beagle.
Realizing she was patiently waiting for him to speak, he said, “It’s about school and William.”
“Yes?”
He wasn’t sure how to begin. “I thought about sending William to the elementary school near the farm, but there aren’t many Amish kids who go there. Mark and Ben are done with their schooling, so I decided to ride with William on the SCAT every morning and take him to Pinecraft Elementary.”
“Since it’s an Amish school, I can see why you would make that decision. I saw William yesterday when I dropped off the girls. He seemed happy enough.” Looking at him closely, a new concern entered her expression. “Or are you not happy with it?”
“I’m plenty happy with the school. I think it’s going to be fine. Miss Meyer seems to be competent.”
“I think she does a gut job. There are almost thirty kinner in the classroom and she handles everyone from first to fifth grade well.” She paused. “Does William not care for Miss Meyer? Some kinner don’t do as well in a one-room school, you know. Around here, many Amish children simply go to the regular elementary schools, if that’s what you’re worried about. All of the English kinner are accepting of them. He’ll make friends in no time.”
“Nee, he seems to like Miss Meyer and the school, too. It just looks like he’s a little bit behind in his reading and math. Miss Meyer thinks that he’ll get caught up in no time, but he’s going to need some help.” Stumbling forward, he finally broached the idea that had been floating around in his head. “I wondered if you knew of someone I could talk to about helping him with his homework. Sometimes he needs a little extra help or explanation.”
“That doesn’t seem like too much to ask.”
Now he was embarrassed. Emma was probably thinking he was the worst sort of father, a man who was not even willing to take the time to help his child when he needed it. “Here’s the thing. I’ve got my hands full with the farm and the house and the produce stand. In order for us to start making a profit, I need to plant some fresh crops and see if there’s a way to salvage some of the berry bushes and citrus trees that are already bearing fruit. All this takes time, you see.”
“To be sure.”
“I can do all that and help William, but I can’t help him right after school, which is when it would be best for him. He gets tired after supper, and I know from experience that trying to get him to do homework that late is a recipe for disaster.”
“That sounds like my Mandy. When she gets tired, we all try to stay away from her until she falls asleep.”
He sighed in relief. “So you can understand why I’m asking?”
“Yes and no.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“Jay, why don’t you simply ask me for help?”
He was confused. “I did. I’m asking you for names of tutors.”
“Ask me to look after William after school. I’m home and I don’t mind.”