The Caregiver Read Free

to someone you don’t know.”
    “People do on the train.”
    Her logic was giving him a headache. “Hush now.”
    “But—”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “Fine.” She turned her back to him, and squirmed and fidgeted.
    While she did that, Calvin turned his mind back to Lucy.
    What, he wondered, had set her off? Had he said something that could be misconstrued? Replaying their brief conversation in his mind, he could think of nothing untoward. Perhaps she just hadn’t felt like talking.
    After another bout of restlessness, Katie curled up in a ball under a thick blanket and finally stilled.
    Peace at last!
    Though it was a bad idea, Calvin took the opportunity to pull a worn letter from his jacket’s inside pocket. In the relative privacy of his seat, he smoothed out the creases, rubbing his thumb against the folds . . . and over the words he had memorized six weeks ago. But couldn’t seem to let go of.
    His last letter from Gwen.
    There was no reason for him to still have the note. He knew why Gwen had broken up with him. Everyone in Jacob’s Crossing knew. She’d fallen in love with one of his friends and had been too full of herself to even tell him in person.
    No, she’d written him a letter.
    Which he still kept, much to his embarrassment.
    Dear Calvin , the letter began. I fear I must finally be honest with you . . .
    She’d feared. “Finally . ” Each word and phrase hurt him anew. Calvin blinked, then, like an addict, focused on the words again, farther down the page.
    Will and I, we can’t help our feelings, you see . . .
    As the words swam in front of him, he remembered the conversation with his brothers.
    “Why don’t you go to Indiana for a spell,” his youngest brother, Graham, had said. “There’s no need for you to witness their courting.”
    But running away had seemed weak, and he’d told them that.
    His brother Loyal had simply laughed. “What does it matter if people think you’re weak or strong? All that matters is how you feel. And for the record, I think you have every right to feel betrayed.”
    “Jah,” Graham added. “They went and fell in love right under your nose, Calvin. Get away from here for a week or so. Clear your head.”
    “Or better yet, take Katie,” Loyal added.
    “Katie?” he’d asked in surprise and, admittedly, with trepidation.
    “Yes, that would be a mighty gut idea,” his youngest brother said. “She’s been pestering Mamm something awful these days. Mamm would be terribly grateful if you got her out of her hair for a bit.”
    But though his brothers’ advice made perfect sense—and though his mother had wholeheartedly supported his vacation—Calvin had hemmed and hawed. He’d stayed up many nights and prayed for answers. For the right answers. But the only advice that rang true to him was in his brothers’ words.
    That there was no shame in being hurt.
    So, with his little sister in tow, he’d left Jacob’s Crossing and journeyed west to Indianapolis. There, they visited Uncle John, who’d become an Englischer when Calvin was just a child.
    While in Indianapolis, the three of them visited the city’s children’s museum and sampled ice cream on park benches. They’d walked city blocks and ridden bicycles. Slowly, Calvin began to feel less depressed about his reasons for being there and had begun to take comfort in the blessings he was given. He admired the tall buildings and the intricately designed gardens. He bought a dozen postcards to show his brothers. And Katie’s indefatigable spirit brightened his days.
    Just as they were preparing to leave, John surprised the both of them by saying he wanted to accompany them back. “I’ve been gone for too long. For twenty years; since I was eighteen,” he said, speaking of Geauga County and their many relatives.
    “We’ll be glad to have you near,” Calvin had said, but inside, his mind was spinning. All he’d ever heard was that John had moved away and never looked back. That