The day was lovely, in the mid-seventies with a light breeze and partly cloudy—only one week till June. Rudy had suggested they all sit out on the back lawn, so he and the other men had brought out lawn chairs from the barn, and Ellie and Mamm gathered some old quilts to spread on the grass for the smallest children.

Dat and Dawdi had made several batches of strawberry ice cream on Friday, so it was ready to serve. Ellie and her sisters-in-law helped dish it up so Mamm could sit outside enjoying the grandchildren. Lydia stayed out there, too, getting help with the little ones from her own daughters, Ida, now nine, and Verna, eight, as well as Jonah’s oldest child, nine-year-old Lucy.

While the three younger women worked together in the kitchen, Lovina asked, “Is Mamm under the weather?”

“I think she’s mostly missin’ Evan,” Ellie replied.

Lovina sighed. “Ach, no wonder.”

Ellie handed the next bowl to Priscilla as she dug the serving spoon into the ice cream.

“We pray for Evan every day,” Lovina told her. “Caleb and little Mary don’t understand where he is, but they bow their heads and fold their hands. It’s the most precious thing.”

Ellie could imagine tiny Mary mimicking her older brother during prayer. She glanced out the window and spotted Rudy holding the drowsy child while he sat talking with Jonah. She smiled at the endearing sight and told Lovina, who seemed relieved.

“That’s gut,” she said. “Mary was awful fussy earlier because of teething, but she did nap a while in the buggy on the way over here.” Ellie handed Lovina the next bowl, and after counting the bowls that were already full, she said, “We’re getting close to enough now.”

Priscilla found three trays in one of Mamm’s cupboards and began placing some bowls on one of them. Lovina put the rest of the bowls on the other two trays, and Ellie held the side door open for all of them as they made their way out.

Ellie returned to the kitchen and found enough spoons in the utensil drawer for everyone, including the toddlers. Then she hurried back outside, carrying the spoons in her long white apron.

She sat in the only vacant chair left, next to Mamm, who thanked her for the help. Soon, Alma came over to sit in the grass near Ellie’s bare feet.

“Was hopin’ I could be near ya,” Alma said, grinning.

“What ya been up to?”

“Mamm learned me how to do some stitchin’.”

“For quilting?”

Alma nodded, big-eyed. “Gonna try an’ make my first patchwork square.”

“That’ll be fun!”

“Jah, an’ I’ll show ya when it’s done, okay?”

“You’d better.” Ellie smiled, always enjoying how expressive Alma was. She reminded her of Cousin Ruthann.