Gloriana hadn’t meant to speak the words aloud, but she ignored them and gathered up the supper dishes. She poured heated water into the basin and chipped off pieces of soap to melt in the water.

“I suppose I’ll be going, but first can I help you by drying the dishes?” Luke asked.

“That’s fine, if you like. JT is working on some homework from school.”

“How’s he doing with all this?”

She frowned, remembering how late JT had been getting home throughout the week. “I think he’s keeping things tight inside. He’s been late from school most every night, but when I try to question him about it, he tells me not to worry so much.”

“Sometimes boys need time to process their thoughts.”

“Girls do too.” She smiled. “It’s just never been like him to keep things from me.”

“Maybe he needs the time to think. I can’t imagine being a boy of eight and losing my father. My mother died when I was just three. She died in childbirth, and I was too young to remember much. My father remarried the next year to Scott’s mother. She was a good stepmother and loved me like her own. She’s gone now too.”

“Did she die when you were young?”

“No.” Luke picked up a dish towel. “When I was twenty. About ten years ago. I mourned her passing greatly. Scott was devastated. She was all kindness and generosity. Where my father failed to have feeling, she more than made up for it.”

“She sounds like my mother. Although my father never failed to have feeling. He was such a good man. He was generous to all. If anyone ever needed help, my father was the first to volunteer. Mama used to say he loved mightily.” She smiled at the memory. She pushed the thought aside. “Speaking of fathers, have you heard from yours regarding Scott’s death?”

“Not yet. I sent him a letter giving as much information as I could. I didn’t say anything about the baby and Sally, however. It was enough that he had to deal with the death of his son. It didn’t feel fair to add to that grief.”

“Still, he’ll have to be told.”

“Yes.” Luke looked as though a heavy burden had just been placed upon his shoulders. For a short time, no one spoke.

Gloriana wasn’t sure what was bothering him regarding telling his father of Sally’s passing and the new baby, but she decided against pressing him on it. “I want to thank you for the new rug. It has warmed the front room considerably, and I’m sure Sally will enjoy crawling on it when she’s older.”