“I miss her so much. Some days when I’m at the house and the baby is asleep, I think I hear her call my name.” Gloriana shook her head. “I close my eyes and imagine she’s there, and I answer.”

Mrs. Sedgwick nodded. “It’s to be expected. You were very close.”

“Sometimes I still can’t believe how quickly she passed. It seemed that one day she was in good health and the next day, dead. How these things can possibly happen baffles me.” Gloriana licked her bottom lip. “I’m sorry that I haven’t given your feelings much consideration. I know it must be terribly hard on you to have lost her. I know how much you relied on each other.”

“I never got to say good-bye,” Greta murmured. “I was going to bring a pie for you and your father that day. I had planned to visit with her and see how I might help, but before the pie was done, my husband returned to say your mother was gone. The children too.”

“They did go very fast. The doctor said it wasn’t at all the usual way of the disease. He thought perhaps there was an infection in the heart and lungs.” Gloriana shook her head, not wishing to dwell on the memory. “And now Papa is gone as well.” She sighed. “And the house seems so empty sometimes.”

“Perhaps it would be good to move away from the memories. I understand Luke is building a new house.”

“Yes, he is. But that’s his house—not mine.”

Mrs. Sedgwick smiled. “Gloriana, I believe that young man is in love with you. With the way you two have borne each other’s sorrows, helped each other care for the baby and JT . . . well, I believe it’s just a matter of time until he proposes.”

Gloriana felt her cheeks warm. “It’s happened without my even noticing it. At least at first. Luke was just like an old friend or family member who showed up to help in a time of need. I feel like I’ve known him all my life.” She marveled at her feelings. “It just happened so naturally—as if it was always meant to be.”

“Perhaps it was. You both suffered loss, and that brought you together to share the pain,” Mrs. Sedgwick said, her voice tender. “God knew your need.”

“Ah, yes. God.” Gloriana sampled the tea again. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about my anger toward Him.”

“And what conclusions have you come to?”