9
Annie Fisher glanced around the crowded waiting room. The workday had just started and it was already one of those mornings where everyone needed Dok’s attention, all at once, right now. Three mothers with fussy children, an elderly man with a walking cane, and two noisy teenagers filled the small space. Hank and Edith Lapp had just walked in the door, asking if Dok could squeeze them in.
If only! Dok was running late and hadn’t arrived yet. Annie sighed, sensing it was going to be a long day.
The basement door swung open and Charlie appeared at the top, soaking wet, dripping water. “Annie, I wonder if you might know of a plumber?”
Annie followed him back down to the basement. She hadn’t been down there since Charlie had finished carting away all the things that had been stored in the basement. Now, wall studs were up, and an actual door to the exterior had been installed, replacing the slanting cellar door that you had to duck under. Impressive! Everything except the large puddle of water that was spreading across the floor, gushing from a geyser in the small bathroom. “What happened?”
“I was branching in a new pipe with a fitting,” Charlie said,brushing wet hair from his forehead, “and, unfortunately, the original pipe broke at the shut-off valve.”
Eyeing the mess, Annie sighed.Oh no.Squinting, she put her hands on her hips. “Does that mean there’s no running water in the entire office?”
Charlie’s face scrunched up in an apology. “Not until we get a plumber here.”
With that, the door creaked open, and Hank Lapp hollered down the stairwell. “ANNIE! What’s this about needing a PLUMBER?”
That man! He could hear like an owl when he wanted to. Annie waded over to the bottom of the stairs and looked up at Hank. “Charlie said a pipe broke.”
“Old pipes,” Charlie said, wringing water out of the ends of his shirt. “I should’ve known.”
“I’ll have a LOOK,” Hank said, in the way that men do, assuming they can fix everything.
Annie started up the stairs. “I think I’ll just make some calls and try to find a plumber.”
Hank chuckled, shaking his head. “NO NEED! I’ve got PLENTY of experience with plumbing. I know JUST how to fix this.”
Oh dear. Dok wouldn’t like this. “I think I’d better call a real plumber.”
Hank looked hurt. “I’ve run into more BROKEN PIPES in this town than any REAL plumber. Ask EDDY! She’ll tell you.”
No way was Annie going to ask Edith Lapp anything, not if she didn’t have to. That woman terrified her. She bit her lip, glancing over at the rapidly spreading water. They were in a bind, and Hank sounded like he knew what to do to fix it. On the other hand, Hank always sounded like he knew what to do and he rarely did.
“You need WATER to keep the office open, RIGHT?”
“Right.”
“THEN I’ll fix this in the BLINK OF AN EYE.”
It wasn’t like Annie had many options at the moment. Maybe she could let him fiddle around with it while she called around for a plumber. “All right, Hank. If you think you might be able to fix it, give it a shot. But please be careful. Do no damage.”
“Don’t you WORRY, Annie. THIS BOY and I will have running water for you in no time.”
Annie stepped aside to let Hank pass on the stairs, watching as he approached the problem with a determined look. She leaned over the railing to see him crouch down to examine the pipes, muttering to himself in a voice loud enough for all to hear. After a few moments, he started tinkering with the fittings, his hands moving with surprising deftness.
Annie’s skepticism slowly gave way to hope. Maybe Hank really did know what he was doing. She doubted it, but she might be wrong.
Back upstairs, she found Wren had arrived at the office. The last couple of days, she hadn’t been coming in with Charlie and Evie in the mornings. Dok didn’t even seem to notice.
“Annie,” Wren said, “I’d like a few minutes to talk to Dok.”
“You could if Dok were here—” Before Annie could finish the sentence, a commotion erupted from the corner of the waiting room.
Mary Yoder, an elderly woman with a kind face, was clutching her chest, struggling to breathe. Her wheezing filled the room, causing everyone to turn and look.
Annie rushed over to Mary.
Wren was right behind her. “Everyone, please step back and give her some space.” She knelt beside Mary Yoder. “I’m Dr. Baker. I’m here to help.”
