“I just think she’s missing an opportunity to share her knowledge and get some help.” He explained his suggestion that Dok should start bringing the resident doctors along on her house calls, even to the Amish. “If people see that Dok trusts them, they’ll accept the new doctors.”
Birdy didn’t look sold.
“Go ahead,” he said, bracing himself. “Say it.”
“I’ve heard a few stories about those resident doctors...”
“If they’re from Sarah Blank or Hank Lapp, I’ll pass.”
“No, from Dok herself,” Birdy said, crossing her arms. “She’s wrestling withhowto bring them into her practice, especially with her Amish patients.”
“But—”
“David, she’s spent years building relationships with the Amish. She listens to them, not just about their ailments, but their lives.”
“But—”
“And I know you hate hearing this, but a lot of women in our church don’t feel heard. Not by their husbands, definitely not by authority figures like you, the bishop, or the ministers. Sometimes even by older women with narrow views.”
He had a “but” loaded up, but it just sat there.
“Dok is very protective of her patients. All of them. She’s doing the best she can under the circumstances. Why, it was just a week ago that she first learned she was suddenly supervising not one but two residents! Give her time, David.”
David could see where this was going. One of the many things he loved about Birdy was how she made him see what he was missing. And, as always, it left him feeling grateful and humbled. Often, very humbled. “Birdy,” he said, “I hope you know that I think what you say is important. I’m listening.”
Her face softened into a smile.
He patted his lap. She sat down, resting her head against his neck. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he said.
“Happily,” she murmured, “you don’t have to.”
Early the next morning, Evie came from the bathroom into the bedroom she shared with Wren to find her holding up the pager Dok had given to her. She froze.
“I heard something vibrate and foundthisin your suitcase.” Wren held it up in the air. “Dr. Stoltzfus gave it to you, didn’t she?”
Slowly, Evie nodded.
“That really takes the cake.” Wren shook her head like she’d just bitten into a sour lemon, her lips tight with distaste. “Unbelievable.”
“Um, can I have the pager? I need to know what Dok said.”
“She’s coming to get you in five minutes.” Wren glanced at her watch. “Four.”
Evie grabbed the pager out of Wren’s hand and started scrambling to get dressed for the day, pulling clothes out of her suitcase. While brushing her hair with one hand and applying mascara with the other, she could feel Wren’s eyes on her. “Something on your mind?”
“I just don’t get why Dok has more faith in you than in me,” Wren said, clearly annoyed.
Honestly, Evie had no good response because, well, she kind of agreed. Wren radiated confidence and competence in everything she did. Even in pajamas, she appeared commanding, sophisticated, elegant.
Evie? Not so much. A thousand other words came to mind: average, ordinary, dependable. “Elegant” was definitely not one of them.
She hurried downstairs, bolted out the door, and made her way down the driveway to wait for Dok. Halfway down, she glanced back at the farmhouse and caught sight of Wren at the bedroom window, watching her. What could be going through her mind? Nah, on second thought, Evie didn’t want to know.
Every once in a while—especially in moments like this—Evie wondered if she’d made a big mistake coming to Stoney Ridge instead of going to Alaska with Darcy. She was sharing a room with someone who clearly didn’t like her. Charlie? Hardly saw him, other than Fern’s morning buggy rides to Dok’s office. He was holed up in Dok’s basement most days, hammering away at something or other. At least, Evie thought with a wistful sigh, he wasn’t spending time with Wren.
Wren spent all her spare time in the buggy shop, studying for her boards—just in case, she said, Dok ever let her treat a patient. A bit of an exaggeration, but not much.
On the other hand, Evie was definitely getting varied and unique experiences with patients. She loved the peace and quiet of Windmill Farm. But the best perk of all was Fern Lapp.
