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  Alice pointed to her mother. “We brought a hamburger pie casserole and brownies. You can save them for your supper so you don’t have to cook tonight.”

  “Danki so much.” Elaine smiled, but doubt pricked at her. Would her new friends always be happy she was there? Or would that change like her friendships in New Wilmington had?

  “That is so kind.” Mamm gestured for them to enter the house. “Please come in. This was Mary Liz’s parents’ daadihaus. It’s small but cozy. Abram plans to build a haus, but he needs some time to look for land.”

  “Mary Liz mentioned your husband had a dairy farm in New Wilmington,” Dorothy commented as they all walked into the small kitchen.

  “Ya, that’s right,” Mamm said as the women set their dishes on the counter. “Abram and I met many years ago when he came to New Wilmington to visit some cousins on his mother’s side. We wrote letters after he came back to Bird-in-Hand. Then he made a few trips out to visit me, and when he proposed, mei dat invited us to live with him and mei mamm on his dairy farm and take it over someday. My parents passed away about fifteen years ago.”

  Mamm gave them a wistful smile. “A dairy farm is so much work, and for the last couple of years, Abram had been talking about selling it and finding a new profession. Over the years, Mel asked him more than once to move back here and help him run the family shed business. And since my parents are gone, and I don’t have siblings, we thought it would be nice for us to move closer to his family here.”

  “We know what you mean about a dairy farm,” Dorothy said, and Feenie nodded. “The work doesn’t end.”

  Mamm glanced at the dishes they’d brought. “This food smells so gut.”

  “I’ll put the casserole in the fridge.” Elaine picked up the dish and set it on the bottom shelf of the propane-powered refrigerator.

  “We also want to know how else we can help you today,” Alice said. “We can unpack or do chores . . . You just got here a few days ago, right?”

  Mamm nodded. “Well, we do still have a lot of packed boxes in the small barn outside. They’re filled with more kitchen items, laundry items . . .”

  “Alice and I can do that,” Sharon said. “What else can we do? Maybe some cleaning?”

  “Mary Liz cleaned before we came, but with all the dirt we tracked in as we moved furniture and boxes—the doors wide open—we were just about to clean the bathroom, scrub the floors . . .”

  “I’ll clean the bathroom,” Dorothy said.

  “And I’ll clean the floors,” Feenie added. “But we’ll both dust first. I’m sure you have other things you need to do, Lovina.”

  The two women made it clear Mamm shouldn’t try arguing with them.

  Elaine divided a look between Alice and Sharon. “I’ll show you where the boxes are.”

  For the next two hours, Elaine, Alice, and Sharon emptied boxes and washed cookware, and then they further organized the kitchen for maximum use of the few cabinets and shelves, plus the small utility room.

  While they worked, Alice and Sharon asked Elaine about her life in New Wilmington. She gave them vague answers. She never shared how, at the end, she’d been on her own in the unmarried women’s section at church services, nor how her lifelong friends were so taken in by the lies they’d been told about her that they’d started excluding her from all their activities.

  After the three of them broke down the empty boxes and shoved them in a corner of the barn, Elaine asked, “Would you like to stay for lunch?”

  “I suppose we could,” Sharon said as they turned toward the house.

  Alice lifted an index finger. “That sounds lovely, but we should check with our mothers.”

  When they entered the kitchen, they found all three mothers scurrying around, pulling out dishes, rolls, lunchmeat, condiments, and the iced tea Mamm had made earlier.

  “Oh, there you are,” Dorothy said. “We just finished our chores, and we’re going to have lunch together before we leave.”

  Sharon smiled at Elaine. “I think that answers our question.”

  Elaine felt a sudden comradery with Sharon, but then she cautioned herself to keep her distance. She’d fallen for that with Rhoda.

  “I’m so glad Mary Liz picked up some groceries for us,” Mamm said as she sliced a tomato. “Elaine, would you please grab those folding chairs and the extra table?”

  “We’ll help you,” Alice said.

  “Danki.” Elaine led them to the utility room, just big enough for a wringer washer and a couple of shelves. The table and chairs barely fit leaned against the far wall.

  Once the food was ready, they all sat down, and after a silent prayer, they built their sandwiches. The mothers fell into a discussion about recipes, and Elaine searched her mind for something to say to Alice and Sharon.

  “We’re hosting another group of Englishers for supper at mei haus tomorrow night,” Sharon said. “You know, the suppers I told you about when we met? My family and Alice’s family both host them quite often for some local inns and tour companies. We enjoy having them, and it’s a wonderful way to make a little extra money. I believe we’re having a dozen people this time.”

  “Wow.” Elaine picked up her turkey sandwich. “That’s a large group.”

  “We’ve had larger,” Alice said. “We had twenty once at mei haus.”

  Sharon nodded. “That was just a few weeks ago.”

  “What did you make for them?” Elaine asked.

  Alice tapped her chin. “If I remember correctly, we made a few pans of vegetable lasagna, along with homemade brot and a huge salad. Several desserts.”

  Elaine shook her head. “That’s a lot of work.”

  “It is, but like I said, we enjoy it.” Sharon dabbed at her mouth with a paper napkin. “The best part is singing.”

  “It was your great idea,” Alice said, then turned to Elaine. “Sharon started our tradition of singing hymns when a guest asked some rude questions. It was brilliant. She completely redirected the conversation.”

  Elaine’s shoulders relaxed. “What a clever idea.”

  Sharon picked up a potato chip and pointed it at her. “Do you like to cook as well as quilt?”

  “Ya, I do.”

  “You should come tomorrow,” Alice said. “We usually get together around four so we have plenty of time to finish preparing the meal and set up. The maed cook, and the buwe manage the tables and chairs. They’ve learned how to set each place too.” She turned to Sharon. “Did you already go shopping for the chicken pasta casserole ingredients?”

  Sharon nodded, then swallowed. “Ya, Mamm and I went yesterday. Are you still bringing pies?”

  “Ya. I’m glad our mothers finally agreed to let us bring something if we want to. After all, they share the profits with us. Darlene said she’s going to make a couple of kuchen.”

  Sharon looked at Elaine again. “We’d love for you to come.”

  Elaine shook her head. “Maybe next time.”

  Sharon’s smile faded. “But we really could use your help with the singing. You have such a schee voice, and our voices blended so well together on Sunday.”

  Elaine gestured around the room. “We still have a lot to do here.”

  Alice wagged her finger. “We’re not giving up on you, Elaine.” Then she turned to Sharon. “Do you think I should make another shoo-fly pie or something different?”

  Elaine contemplated Alice’s words. Would these women really not give up her? Or were they just being nice—for now?

  Chapter Three

  “It’s a shame Elaine didn’t want to come tonight,” Alice said while wiping down one of the folding tables in Sharon’s kitchen.

  Cal stopped sweeping the floor and turned. “You invited her?”

  “Ya. Sharon, our mamms, and I went to her haus yesterday. We encouraged her to join us, but she said no thank you.”

  “You went to her haus.” For some reason, Cal was stuck on that detail.

  Sharon turned from where she washed a se
rving platter at the sink. More often than not, Alice and Sharon sent their mothers off to put up their feet after they’d all eaten the leftovers once the supper guests left. After all, Dorothy and Feenie usually did most of the cooking and took the lead. And even with Sharon’s younger sister, Ruby Sue, visiting a sick friend this evening, they had enough help.

  “Alice and I spent the morning helping Elaine unpack boxes and organize their kitchen while our mamms cleaned,” Sharon told him.

  Darlene gathered another stack of dishes from the Lambert family’s kitchen table, still shoved against one wall. “I wanted to go with you yesterday; I even made a fruit salad. But I needed to help mei mamm. Although her cancer is in remission, she’s still so tired some days.”

  “We understand.” Alice smiled at her.

  Cal fingered the broom as he recalled Elaine’s adorable freckles. “Did she give you an excuse for not coming?”

  Alice shrugged. “Not really. We told her we could use her voice when we sing, but she just said she had a lot to do and maybe next time.”

  “But you promised her you weren’t going to give up on her,” Sharon added. “And neither will we.”

  Boy, did he agree with that. He couldn’t get Elaine out of his head even though she seemed to be avoiding him. He was determined to get her to talk to him and find out why. He shook his head as he returned to sweeping.

  “You okay, Cal?”

  He looked up at Darlene. “Ya. Why?”

  “You seem to be contemplating something.” Then her eyes twinkled as she gaped. “You like Elaine!”

  “Shh.” He glanced around. Thank goodness the other guys were all busy stowing the folding chairs and Sharon and Alice were deep in conversation. “Don’t say that too loud.”

  Darlene glanced around and then took a step toward him. “We all want Elaine to feel welcome here, and we want to be her freind. So don’t worry. We’ll figure out how to get her to join us for singings and these suppers.” She lowered her voice even more. “And your secret is safe with me.”

  “Danki.” Cal smiled as a determined hope lit in his heart.

  * * *

  A week after the Lambert and Blank women had come to help them unpack and clean, Elaine strode into the Bird-in-Hand Dry Goods store. A bell chimed above her head. They’d run out of some kitchen supplies, and they needed some art supplies too.

  “Gude mariye,” a familiar voice sang.

  “Good morning.” Elaine glanced down the main aisle toward the counter, then gasped when she found Darlene sitting behind the counter. “Hi. Is this your family’s store?”

  “It sure is!” Darlene rubbed her hands together. “What are you looking for?”

  Elaine pulled Mamm’s shopping list out of her apron pocket and examined it. “I need some dish detergent and sponges.” She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “We also lost some of our stamping supplies during the move, and it’s almost time to start making our Christmas cards. Do you have stamps and ink?”

  “Oh ya.” Darlene waved for Elaine to follow her. “They’re in aisle three. And we just got in some stamps for the Christmas season and more green and red ink.”

  Elaine picked up a shopping basket and then followed Darlene to the shelves packed with everything she could possibly need. “I’m sure you can find what you want here.” Then Darlene pointed toward the end of the aisle. “The dish detergents and sponges are two aisles to the right.”

  “Danki.”

  Darlene started walking backward. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be working on paperwork at the counter. For some reason, mei dat likes me to do it on Thursdays.” She grinned, then swung around and left.

  Elaine began examining the stamps, trying to recall what she and Mamm had used for their Christmas cards in the past. She’d just gathered most of what she thought they needed when she heard the bell on the door ring again, announcing another customer.

  “Gude mariye!” a male voice called.

  “Hi.” Darlene’s greeting sounded warm. “What brings you here this morning?”

  “Just picking up a few things for mei mamm,” the man said.

  “Oh. Well you, uh, picked the perfect day to come.” Darlene’s emphasis seemed strange. And the man’s voice sounded kind of familiar.

  Elaine stepped into the aisle Darlene said held cleaning supplies—where she collided with Calvin King, slamming her basket into his side. “Oh! I’m so sorry.” Guilt came on like a flood, followed by humiliation.

  He gave a snort as he rubbed his side. “Fancy crashing into you here.”

  Knowing her face had to be turning red, she set her basket on a nearby shelf and then reached for his side. But she pulled back. “I didn’t see you in time. Are you okay?”

  He chuckled. “I will be.” He looked down and grimaced. “I might have a bruise, though.”

  “Ach.” Elaine glanced down the aisle at Darlene, who apparently had come to stare at them. “Do you have an ice pack, Darlene?”

  “No, no.” Calvin held up his hand. “I’m joking, Elaine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Ya.” Then he smiled, and her pulse fluttered. She could easily lose herself in the blue-gray pools of those eyes. He lifted his golden eyebrows as if questioning her expression, and she looked down at her feet.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  She met his gaze once again. Flustered. Anxious. Self-conscious. “I’m okay.”

  He looked in her basket. “Making something?”

  “Mei mamm and I want to start making Christmas cards for my parents’ freinden back in New Wilmington.” She spotted laundry detergent in the basket at his feet. “Did I hear you say you’re running an errand for your mamm?”

  “I am. Dat doesn’t mind if I dash out for her once in a while, when we’re not too busy with the horses.” He picked up the basket. “I didn’t see a horse and buggy out front, and there weren’t any cars. Did you walk?”

  “Ya.” She shrugged. “Mei haus isn’t far from here.” She glanced down the aisle and noticed Darlene had disappeared. Calvin’s finger brushed her hand, and she jumped with a start.

  “What else do you need?” He stood closer to her now, leaning down as he read the list in her hand.

  She breathed in his scent—a masculine, musky scent—and her heartbeat seemed to skip a beat. She had to find a way to fight her growing attraction to him.

  “Dish detergent and sponges, huh?” He pointed to the shelf. “Do you like this kind of detergent?”

  She nodded, and she was careful to not allow their hands to touch as he handed her the bottle.

  “Sponges.” He glanced down the aisle. “What size?”

  “Those.” She slipped past him and grabbed a package. “Danki.” Then she started toward the counter. “I need to get going. I have a lot of chores to do.”

  She was aware of his eyes on her as he followed her to the counter, where she set down her basket and smiled at Darlene. “I think I have everything.”

  “Great.” Darlene began ringing up the items on a battery-operated cash register.

  Calvin sidled up to Elaine, then set his own basket on the floor before leaning his hip against the counter.

  Elaine glanced at his side and inwardly cringed as she recalled their collision. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

  He gave a little grin. “I’m fine, Elaine. Really, I am.”

  Elaine nodded and then caught Darlene giving Calvin a little smile that seemed to hold a hidden meaning. Was she missing something? Darlene and Andrew were dating, so why was she giving Calvin a look like that? It seemed almost flirtatious.

  Elaine’s stomach turned as she recalled how her former best friend, Rhoda, and Lewis had shared special looks—no doubt before but certainly after Lewis broke up with Elaine, eliminating the need for secret meetings with Rhoda. She dismissed those thoughts and tried to think of something to say.

  “How long has your family owned this store?” Elaine asked Darlene.


  “About twenty-five years. Mei dat opened it just before my older schweschder was born. He’d been working for a construction company, but mei mamm wanted to run a business that would keep them both at home. They got a loan from mei daadi and took a leap of faith that worked out well.” She finished putting Elaine’s items in a plastic bag and gave her the total.

  Elaine pulled out her wallet and gave her some bills. “Danki.”

  “Gern gschehne.” Darlene handed her a receipt and her change. “I’m so glad you came today.”

  Elaine slipped her wallet back into her purse.

  “Would you like a ride home?” Calvin said.

  Warning bells sounded in her head.

  “No, danki. It’s not a far walk, and I enjoy being out in the fall weather. I know a lot of people say Christmas is their favorite time of year, but the entire autumn season is my favorite.”

  Calvin’s grin widened. “Mine too.”

  Elaine nodded. She turned toward Darlene and was almost certain she spotted another look pass between her and Calvin.

  “Elaine, Alice and her mamm are hosting a supper at their haus tonight,” Darlene said. “You should come.”

  “Oh.” What excuse could she make this time?

  “It’s a lot of fun,” Calvin said with an encouraging tone.

  “Danki, but I can’t. Mamm and I plan to start making the Christmas cards I bought these supplies for this evening. It’s never too early.” Elaine lifted her bag. “It was nice running into you both.” She cringed as she glanced at Calvin. “Not literally.”

  He chuckled, and she enjoyed both his smile and the sound of his laugh. But when she took a step away from the counter, his smile faded.

  “I’ll see you both at church,” she told them.

  “Have a gut day, and tell your parents hello,” Darlene said.

  “I will.”

  Elaine started for the exit, glad for the easy escape.

  * * *

  Cal’s hope deflated as Elaine disappeared out the door.

  He’d been shocked when Darlene mouthed Elaine is here and then pointed toward aisle three. It felt like a sign from God, telling him he was supposed to talk to Elaine today.