“I’ve cleaned the house top to bottom. There is some mud back on the living room floor from people going in and out, but that’s to be expected. I’ll wait until everyone is settled later tonight, then I’ll make sure to clean the floors again. I’m wondering if this rain is ever going to stop.”
Jayce sneaked out of the room. Esther couldn’t blame him. The girl had the energy of a toddler loaded up on caffeine. Maybethis was a good time to talk to Rose about her sleepwalking and ask her if it was a normal occurrence.
“I also cleaned that man’s cottage. I saw he was gone, so I thought it the best time to tidy up his place.” She scrunchedup her nose. “It was awful. Terribly dirty. He has a cat. Did you know that? I didn’t know if that was allowed, but he wasa sweet fellow—the cat, that is. Do we wash Mr. Gus’s clothes? I didn’t know, so I gathered them all up and put them in thebasement. It was a lot of clothes, but I’ll start on them shortly. And—”
“Stop.” Lizzie blinked a few times as she held up a hand to shush Rose. “You cleaned Gus’s haus and hauled all his dirty clothes here?”
“Ya. I didn’t go to the daadi haus since you said a couple lived there. I assumed they take care of their own home.”
Lizzie bent at the waist and laughed until Esther thought her sister might cry. Straightening, she looked at Esther. “I’lllet you deal with Gus.” Then she turned to Rose and winked at her. “Gut job, dear.”
Esther eyed the pies. Suddenly talking to Rose about her nighttime adventures didn’t seem appealing. But a large slice ofpie did. She’d need strength when Gus showed up. She’d been surprised when she saw his truck was gone earlier. He’d be fitto be tied when he got home.
“Ach, and one more thing.” Rose took a piece of paper from her apron pocket. “I hope I didn’t take a liberty I shouldn’t have, but I noticed while I was in the barn that the light on the answering machine was blinking, so I checked the message. There was only one. It was from a woman named Evelyn, asking for Jayce to call her.” She handed Esther the number on a small slip of paper. “If it’s the same Evelyn I met, she’s really nice.”
“Danki, dear.” Esther turned off the burner under the percolator, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“Should I take the number to Jayce?” Rose’s face radiated with spunk and energy, as if she hadn’t missed a wink of sleep orhad a worry in the world. But Esther had seen how quickly the girl could shift into another mood and break down in tears.Then again, almost burning down someone’s house could do that to a person.
“Nee, you’ve done plenty. I’ll get this to Jayce. You’ve been busy today. Why don’t you go take some time to yourself.” Estherslid a slice of pumpkin pie onto her plate.
“Are you sure? I can go into the basement to start running clothes through the wringer, although . . .” She tapped a fingerto her chin. “We don’t really have anywhere to hang them, do we? I wonder how long it’s supposed to rain. Back home, me andmamm would drape clothes over the backs of chairs and even had a makeshift clothesline in the mudroom. But with so many peoplehere, I’m not sure that’s practical. But I can still start on the clothes if you’d like me to, or—”
“Nee, dear. You just go rest and take some time to yourself.” Esther tried to smile before she forked a bite of pie.
Rose finally agreed and went to her temporary room, closing the door behind her. The good Lord was raining down mercy on Esther when Mr. Clarkson and his crew headed upstairs. All was quiet. Esther savored the moment and enjoyed her pie. She’d take Jayce Evelyn’s message and number shortly, which added a layer of concern to everything else the day had brought.
Thankfully, with help from Jayce, Amos, and even Rose, things were beginning to calm down. Until Gus got home. Esther cringedwhen she thought about him walking into his clean cottage. He was going to go crazy. She flinched at the thought of Rose takingon the filthy task. Esther would explain to the girl later that housekeeping didn’t include Gus’s cottage.
She might not be able to cook, but so far, Rose appeared to be a tornado when it came to cleaning.
* * *
Jayce sat on his bed staring at the phone number Esther had given him and listening to the constant dripping of water intothe metal pan. The tarp had helped, but the roof was still leaking. He set the piece of paper on the bed and went to the bathroom,returning with a small hand towel to put in the bottom of the pan. He hated to add more laundry to the growing pile in thebasement, but the towel softened the sound so Jayce didn’t feel like he was enduring some sort of water torture.
He dialed the number on the slip of paper and waited. After three rings, a man answered.
“Uh, I might have the wrong number, but I’m trying to reach Evelyn.” Jayce studied the slip of paper, pretty sure he hadn’tmisdialed.
“Nee, you’ve got the right number. Hold on just a minute.”
After about five minutes, Evelyn was finally on the phone. “Sorry it took so long,” she said, sounding out of breath.
“I didn’t think your people used phones. The only one Lizzie and Esther have is in the barn and strictly for business.” Jaycestood, walked to the bucket, and pushed it to the left with his foot when the leak in the roof seemed to shift.
“It’s mei bruder’s phone. David is mei oldest bruder. Daed doesn’t like the use of mobile
