The Wonder of Your Love - By Beth Wiseman Page 0,61
your business.” She closed her one good eye and winced, clearly in pain.
“Are they giving you something for the pain?” Martha shifted her weight slightly, thankful that she didn’t seem to be experiencing near the discomfort as this poor child.
“I guess.” Danielle opened her eye and stared at Martha for a few months. “Is Arnold your boyfriend?”
“He used to be.” She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. I guess maybe he will be again.”
“You’re not very nice to him.”
Martha pressed her lips together, raised one brow, and prepared to lambaste this child. But when the girl grimaced in pain again, Martha said simply, “I’m a lot nicer than whoever beat the snot out of you.”
Danielle stared up at the ceiling, and they were both quiet for a while. Martha hoped the nurse would return with some food soon.
“So . . .” Danielle turned to face Martha again. She could barely move her swollen lips as she spoke, and Martha strained to hear her. “That woman who was here . . . she’s Amish, huh?”
“Yes. Her name’s Katie Ann.”
Come on with some chow, nurse. Martha glanced toward the door and sighed.
“Those people are weird.”
Martha turned to face her, semi-glad that a conversation was ensuing. “The Amish are the gentlest and kindest folks I know.”
She turned her attention to the door when it swung open.
The same young nurse smiled and entered. “The McDonald’s downstairs was still open, so here you go.” She placed a bag on the nightstand by Martha’s bed.
Martha breathed in the aroma of French fries and wanted to hug the woman’s neck. “Honey, my purse is right there inside that drawer . . .” She started to reach for the drawer of the nightstand, but gasped when she pulled against her incision.
“Now, now. You lie back,” the kind woman said. “No need to pay me.”
“Yes, I need to pay you. I insist.” Martha opened the bag with the burger and fries. “You are my hero.”
The woman chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but just pay it forward. Do something nice for someone else.” Before Martha could respond, the nurse walked toward Danielle. “Can I get you anything, Danielle?”
Danielle just shook her head.
“Okay.” She turned to leave. “I’m here until six in the morning, so let me know if either of you needs anything.”
Martha dived into her burger and moaned with delight. Then she glanced at Danielle. “French fry?”
Danielle shook her head. “Those people are holy, aren’t they?”
“What people?” Martha asked around a mouthful.
“The Amish. They’re like all into God and everything, right?”
Martha swallowed. “They have a very strong faith.” She popped a fry into her mouth. “Good folks, the Amish.”
It was quiet for a while, only the low buzz of the television, some late-night talk show, and the beeps and sounds from the other side of the door. Normal hospital sounds. Martha was glad she was going home tomorrow, back to her own bed. And surely Katie Ann was at home making her some creamed celery. She smiled.
“I don’t believe in God.”
Martha snapped her head to the right. “What?”
“You heard me, Martha. There is no God, and people who waste their time praying to Him are doing just that . . . wasting their time.”
Martha thought her heart might break. If this girl needed anyone, it was surely the Lord. “How old are you, child?”
“Seventeen.”
“Not very smart for your age, are ya?”
Danielle squinted her eye at Martha and spoke slowly through half-opened lips. “Just because I don’t believe in God, that makes me stupid?”
“Correct.” Martha shoved the last bit of burger in her mouth.
“You don’t know anything about me. I used to make straight As in school, and I even graduated early.”
“Micky D’s wouldn’t normally be my first choice for a meal, but this is the best burger I’ve ever had.” Martha stuffed her trash into the bag and carefully eased it onto the nightstand, careful not to twist too quickly.
“Did you hear me? I’m very smart.”
Martha didn’t look at Danielle. “Yeah. I heard you.”
“People just wrote all that stuff in the Bible to keep us from killing each other.”
Martha turned to Danielle and lowered her chin. “Really?
Wow, hasn’t that worked well.”
“You know what I mean. It’s all made up, something to keep the masses in order.”
“If that’s what you choose to believe.”
“It’s the truth.”
“If you say so.”
They were quiet for a while, and Martha was starting to feel like she could sleep, but when Danielle spoke again, Martha heard the Lord calling her loud and clear.