The Amish Midwife - By Mindy Starns Clark Page 0,126

me,” James whispered, his green eyes dancing. “I think we’re being filmed.”

Zed used my phone to call his mom, and then rode with us to Mammi’s. I drove while James chatted away, asking Zed about himself. After a few minutes James turned his head toward the backseat and then glanced at me. “Boy,” he said. “You two look related.”

Zed and I both smiled.

“What?” James asked.

“I’m adopted too,” Zed explained.

“Oh, well. Guess there’s lots of blond hair and brown eyes in the family either way.”

I asked James what his plan was, admitting how shocked I was at his arrival. It wasn’t like me to agree to drive off somewhere without knowing exactly why.

“I have no idea if it will work or not, but it’s worth a try,” he said.

“What? What’s worth a try?” I turned off the main highway.

“Just a little session.”

“Like group therapy? Or family therapy, rather?” Inwardly, I groaned, thinking how very James-like of him to approach the situation this way.

“More like an intervention.”

This time my groan was audible. He grew silent, and when I glanced at him, I could see that he was both surprised and hurt by my reaction.

“Look,” he said, holding up both hands, “I know you find much of what you consider my ‘psychobabble’ tiresome, Lexie, but this is different. This is for your sake. To find your story and settle all of this once and for all. That is what you really want, isn’t it?”

I turned down the lane, startled by the sternness in his voice and suddenly humbled by the truth of his words. He was right. Someone had to take charge and get everyone together and finally talking. More importantly, he knew that such a difficult and significant encounter would be unwise without an outside party present, one who had been trained in psychology.

To my mind, that person would also need to be someone who was intuitive and kind and safe. Someone truly special. I glanced again at James, knowing he was all of the above. Silently, for the first time ever, I thanked God that this man was exactly the way he was—psychobabble and all.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I said simply, hoping that later I could more fully convey my gratitude.

The cows in the field ambled toward the white fence. Alexander stepped out of the barn and took off his hat. Marta had already arrived, and she and Ella were just climbing from their car as I pulled to a stop beside them. As we climbed out, Ella took a good look at James and then flashed me a broad smile.

Heart pounding, I ignored her, watching as James moved around the car to introduce himself to Marta. After exchanging names and handshakes, he motioned her aside, and much to my surprise she went willingly. Standing about ten feet away, the two of them spoke quietly together, their voices nearly inaudible. Seizing the opportunity, Ella moved in on me.

“Is that really James?” she whispered excitedly. “You didn’t say he was so hot. He’s even hotter than Sean! Are all the guys in Oregon that cute?”

I rolled my eyes, wishing she would be quiet so I could listen.

“Girls,” Zed moaned under his breath, shaking his head at both of us.

Marta and James seemed to conclude their brief but private conversation, and then she turned toward me.

“Lexie, take James to meet Mammi. I’ll send Ada out and then try to talk to Klara. Ella and Zed, you go with Lexie and James.”

Without waiting for a reply, Marta turned and moved briskly toward the house. After I introduced James to Ella, the four of us headed up the walk in the same direction, though we weren’t moving nearly as fast. Alexander met up with us before we reached the turnoff to the daadi haus.

“Lexie,” he said, and then he nodded to Zed and Ella.

I introduced James to Alexander, who said hello and then looked away, kicking at the ground with his rounded-toe work boot. Each time I saw him, his shyness caught me by surprise.

“Marta went in the house to talk to Klara,” I explained.

Alexander glanced up at me. “I’d best go in there too, then.”

He started toward the back door and we followed, veering off toward the daadi haus at the split in the walkway.

As it turned out, Ada was already there, sitting near Mammi, who was lying back in her recliner chair, eyes closed, resting. Ada stood as we came inside, a smile overtaking her face. Her color looked much better as she