A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould

Author:Leslie Gould
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Fiction;Christian Fiction;FIC053000;FIC042100;FIC042040
ISBN: 9781493429967
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2021-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

AFTER DEREK DROPPED ME OFF, I slipped into the house and went straight up to my room. Hot and weary, I slumped across my bed.

When I woke up, my sisters were standing over me.

“Are you okay?” Ruth asked.

“Jah.” I sat up. “Why?”

“It’s after five.” Beth took a step away from me. “Mamm is fixing supper in the kitchen by herself.”

“Is everyone coming over tonight?” I thought that was once a month, not every Sunday.

Ruth responded, “Just our families.”

“Oh.” I stood. “Mamm didn’t tell me.”

Beth crossed her arms. “She said you’ve been up here all afternoon.”

Feeling light-headed, I sat back down. I hadn’t had any lunch, nor had I drunk any water since morning. That was foolish of me.

They both put their hands on their hips, eyeing me critically.

I guessed they thought I was faking being ill too. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

Once they’d left, I felt in my apron pocket for my phone. I had one text, from Karin. Thank you for coming by today. That was kind of you. Jasper texted me. The sheriff’s department refused to release the dash video of Mateo’s arrest, but Jasper said he’ll petition the decision. Thank you again for recommending him.

I texted back, You’re welcome. Loneliness swept over me. It would only be worse when I went downstairs. Any chance you want to hang out tonight?

Karin texted right back. Sorry, I need to stick around home.

I was tempted to text Derek. But part of me was afraid that he’d text back that he had plans too. I guessed my truth was more than Derek could handle. Sure, he wanted to know, but without meaning to, he would most likely distance himself from me now.

All of those same feelings of anxiety and being trapped rose up inside of me, just like the night I had fled to Elkhart.

I stood slowly, slipped my phone back into the pocket of my apron, and shuffled to the door, which my sisters had left wide open. I couldn’t go downstairs. I just couldn’t.

I had a doctor’s appointment in Elkhart the next day. I could just go back tonight. Check on the community garden. Sleep in my bed. Go to the appointment in the morning and then return to Nappanee in the afternoon. Maybe I’d be doing well enough that I wouldn’t need to. Maybe I’d just stay in Elkhart.

But then I wouldn’t find out what happened to Mary and her Dat, Lemuel and Ellen and Honora and her two boys. Or what happened with Mateo. Well, I guessed Karin would text me and let me know. But Jane couldn’t.

For all my angst about coming home, I had found some community back here. Jane. Derek. Karin. Was I ready to give it up already?

I started down the stairs to the living room, my feet feeling heavier with each step. I turned around. Maybe I wasn’t ready to give up the community I’d found here, but I was definitely going back to Elkhart for the night. I stopped in

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