“You’re right, of course. Miriam and Sadie haven’t lived here a year, but still, it would break my heart if they moved away.” Her hands moved nervously, her fingers knitting into one another. “I try not to think that I deserve a family, but I feel that I do. Miriam told me just the other day how much she likes teaching at Caster Elementary, and Sadie’s happy in school. She adores Tyler and Melissa. Already she thinks of them as cousins. Every night, I pray that God will keep us together.”

“Well, I suggest we wait and see what happens. Ben might never contact Miriam.” Hannah was eager to engage them on the topic of Zachary. “Can we talk about Zachary now?” she asked.

“Certainly. Tell us what you and Max have decided to do,” Grace asked. “But first, let me get a big plate of bread, butter, and marmalade while the bread’s still warm and crusty.” She rose and hurried away.

Amelia and Hannah sat silent, while from the kitchen came the sounds of a drawer opening and closing, silverware clinking, plates taken from the cabinet. Grace reappeared carrying a tray, and Hannah stood and moved a small table to the center of their circle.

Grace set the tray down. “We have orange marmalade and plum jelly and, of course, grape and strawberry.”

“Orange marmalade.” Amelia twisted the top of one of the jars. “My favorite.”

“Mine too,” Hannah said.

Amelia extended the open jar to her. “Help yourself.”

“After you,” Hannah replied.

Amelia bit into the bread. “This is so good. You’re such a good cook, Grace.”

Hannah nodded agreement.

Grace relaxed, relieved that the tension between her dearest friends had evaporated. She wished such tensions never stirred, but this was yet another matter over which she had no control.

After a time, Hannah said, “Max and I have decided that we can’t just sit by and tolerate Zachary’s mean-spirited, rude behavior. After Sarah was born, he softened and acted like a human being. It sure didn’t take long for him to slip back into being obnoxious, and his accident on the mountain seems to have been the catalyst to unlock the meaner parts of his nature again.

“Poor Sarina’s in tears more often than not about something he’s said or done. Anna and I are fed up, and Max is ready to kick him out. We want to try one last thing, to confront him, get him to face up to the effects of his behavior on Sarina and everyone else.”

“How do you plan to do that?” Amelia asked. Since returning from New Mexico she had been busy developing her photographs and Zachary had slipped off her radar.