Hot Topics for Couples by Steve Chapman

Author:Steve Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736952385
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

Nine

A day later Luke marched into the house ahead of his sister and headed up the staircase to his room, still wearing his coat and boots. Rebecca looked from him to Naomi, who was unwinding her black scarf.

“What did the doctors say?” asked Rebecca.

Naomi shrugged, her face tight. “They’re happy with Luke’s progress. To a point. They felt the BZD regimen should have loosened his tongue by now. So they’re talking about stronger medication that can have severe side effects. Or shock treatment. I said no to both. And so they tell me I have doomed my brother to a lifetime of silence.”

“Did they speak with Luke himself?”

“Ja. As well as they could.”

“Did he respond at all?”

“Ja, sure. When they talked about stronger pills he got up and left the room.”

“Ah. So then you’re doing what he wants.”

“And what I want. But not what the doctors want.”

“How bad can the side effects be?”

Naomi’s face grew more rigid. “Bad.”

“Then you’ve done the right thing. We have prayer. And love. And faith. Let’s see how far those will take us.”

“I hope they’ll take us a lot further than we are right now.”

Naomi spotted Micah in the parlor doorway, winter jacket buttoned to his neck, flecks of hay on the arms and collar, coffee in his hand, listening to her. Their eyes met and remained on one another. A warmth suddenly spread through her entire body from head to foot. He drained his cup and came and put it by the sink. Stepping past her, he opened the door and headed outside. A final look from him caused a flush to sprout from her neck up over her face.

Rebecca smiled. “Even in silence our men can tell us things.”

Naomi put a hand to her cheek, embarrassed by the heat she could feel there. “So it would seem.”

“There may be a bann against you two eating together or speaking together, but no Ordnung can ban my brother from being your husband or from loving you. I see by the way he looks at you that he’s proud of you—of how you’re standing by Luke, of the strength God has given you, and of the grace in your heart. Ja, he’s proud of you in a good way.” She returned to her pan of cinnamon buns, using a butter knife to spread frosting over their tops. “Proud. And in love. More in love than most husbands in our community.”

Naomi’s face flamed a deeper red and cut at her skin with a stronger heat.

“When did you say the bishop and ministers are dropping by to pray with Luke?” Rebecca asked to change the subject.

“Oh.” She continued to stand in the doorway. “It will be after lunch.” She crossed the floor and sat at the kitchen table, still wearing her coat. “It’s not just to see Luke. They will talk to me about the cards and letters. Perhaps they’ll even wish to see Micah, to ask if he’s had a change of heart. Of course I could ask the same of them.

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