came to see me right after you heard about Paul’s death?”
“Of course.”
“And do you remember when you knocked on my door to see if I needed help?”
After a moment, realization dawned. “And I discovered the bruises and faded marks on your skin?”
Lucy nodded.
“I remember.”
“I remember you telling me that perhaps I shouldn’t waste too many more tears on a man who had made me look so bad.”
Mattie’s lips curved up. “And, oh, but you did look bad, Lucy. And I told you so.”
“Sometimes honesty is what we need to hear, Cousin.”
“So you think I should let this Miss Beverly cut off my hair?”
“I do. It will make things easier, I think. And perhaps it will be something else you can cross off your list to dread.”
As if on cue, Mattie’s door opened and an attractive Englischer lady carrying a bright pink tote bag appeared in the doorway. “Knock, knock,” she said with a smile. “May I come in?”
Lucy looked to Mattie.
After a moment’s pause, she nodded. “Please.”
“My name is Beverly.” She paused at the foot of Mattie’s bed. “I’m a volunteer here. For years, I owned my own hair salon. Now I help patients in any way I can.” With a compassionate look, she murmured, “The nurse said you might have need of my services. Do you?”
With a feeling of fate, Mattie nodded, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She knew that if she looked Lucy’s way, she would dissolve into tears. Steadying her voice, and speaking as calmly and stoically as she possibly could, she said, “This is a wonderful-gut service you offer.”
The hairdresser’s cheek dimpled. “My sister is a cancer survivor. Years ago, after she recovered, I mentioned to her that I wished I could have done more to help others in some way. She suggested this. I’m trying to make a difficult situation just a bit easier.”
Mattie focused on the lady’s words as she pulled out her scissors; and Lucy held her hand as the first snip was made next to her ear. Then Mattie gave in to temptation and let her eyes close when the electric clipper was plugged in and Miss Beverly began to shave off the remains of her hair.
“Focus on the future,” Lucy murmured. “Focus on the future, not what is happening now.”
Mattie didn’t need to be told that Lucy was drawing on her own personal experiences for that advice.
However, at the moment, she couldn’t see a future. Instead, it was just a looming, dark cloud. Dark and foreboding and thick. And not allowing even a patch of sunlight to peek through.
Chapter 23
Calvin and Graham were sitting on Mattie’s front porch when the van dropped them off.
“What are they doing here?” Mattie asked Lucy, her voice cracking. “Why did they come?”
“I’m sure they just want to see how you are doing.”
“Obviously not well,” Mattie said bitterly.
Through the open door, Lucy glanced at the men. They were looking at Mattie, specifically her bald head. Before he could hide it, a flash of pain entered Graham’s eyes.
After Lucy paid Charlie and helped Mattie out, she leaned close to her cousin. “Would you like me to ask them to leave? I can . . . if that’s what you want.”
But before Mattie could reply, both men were at their side. Graham placed one arm around Mattie’s waist, offering support. Calvin was reaching into the back and picking up their suitcases. “Don’t make us leave,” Graham said to Lucy. “We saw your aunt at the market earlier today. She’s the one who told us you two were due back around two this afternoon.”
Mattie hung her head.
When both men looked at her in alarm, Lucy attempted to smile. “Here, it is almost four! Have you been waiting this whole time?”
Calvin nodded. “Pretty much.”
“That was mighty kind of you,” Lucy murmured, looking hesitantly Mattie’s way.
Mattie still stayed silent, her head toward the ground. Her kapp looked strange and loose on her bald head.
Wordlessly, Lucy looked at the men, aching for them to say something comforting but having no idea what they could possibly say to make things better.
Then, to Lucy’s amazement, Graham placed one finger under Mattie’s chin and raised it until he was looking directly into her eyes. “Mattie, you know I wouldn’t be able to stay away. I wanted to see your new look.”
Calvin stiffened. “Graham,” he chided.
Lucy was just about to pull her cousin away, to quickly shuttle her inside—and away from Graham’s hurtful tongue—when the most surprising thing happened. Mattie stood up straighter.
“I canna believe you