The oldies were all new to him, she supposed. Well, most of them anyway. Bruce Springsteen? Who would have guessed? And what other secrets lay hidden beneath his hat?

****

When Tessa arrived at the farm the next afternoon, she spotted Rebecca perched on the front porch rail.

Propped on his elbows, Jonas sprawled on the stairs below.

The girl leapt into a bed of impatiens and dashed across the yard. “Tessa! My cat had five kittens!”

She stuck her head out the window and waved. “How wonderful.”

“The kittens were born in a box under my bed, and they are so tiny. Jonas says I can’t show them to you until they’re bigger. Their eyes are still sealed shut.” She squeezed her eyes and opened them wide again. “He promised to watch them when I go to Ohio, but Pumpkin will be very sad when I go.”

“Pumpkin is your cat?”

The girl nodded. “She’s an excellent mother.” She wrapped her fingers around the open window, stepped onto the wheel, and peered inside. “This is a funny car. It’s nothing like the van we take to the train station. Jonas said you have drawers with buttons and a pop-top on top. Our spring wagon is open on top, and I sometimes sleep in blanket nests in the back, but it’s not the same.”

Jonas opened the passenger side door.

Rebecca flew around and hopped inside in a flash. “Can I go for a ride?”

“Not today.” He tugged her sleeve. “Your mother needs help with the baking. Now go, before she gets angry.”

“She’s always angry.” Rebecca furrowed her fair brow. “Even about Ohio she’s angry. I said, ‘what’s to be angry about a train ride,’ but she just got more angry. Don’t forget to tell Tessa all about Ohio while you build her gazebo.”

He lifted the wee fairy from the passenger’s seat, kissing her atop the head. “Go make your mother smile. I’ll see you for supper.”

Rebecca twirled and skipped away.

Jonas took her place in the van, tucking his toolbox under the dash.

She slid him a wry look. “You told her about the pop-top?”

With a shrug, he kicked dirt from his boots. “She asked why your car looks so funny. Now, she’s taken to calling the buggy a pop-top. Nora…well, you can imagine how Nora feels about that.”

“I think I can.” Tromping the clutch, she popped the van into gear. “You know, I’ll take Rebecca on a ride anytime she’d like. If she’s allowed, of course.”

He nodded, switched on the radio, and cranked up the volume.