Ellie’s first inclination was to wander over there, but she wouldn’t embarrass Cheryl or herself. While she didn’t approve of Cheryl’s relationship with her brother, it was rather jolting to see her batting her eyes at this new fellow.

Just then Cheryl glanced her way and waved. Now she was coming toward her, leaving the young man behind to look at the hand-rolled soft pretzels.

“Ellie . . . wow. May I, uh, talk to you?”

Ellie hardly knew what else to say. “Okay.”

“You must wonder what I’m doing with . . . him.” Cheryl looked over her shoulder but didn’t wait for Ellie’s response. She lowered her voice. “I thought of coming to visit you but doubted . . . um, that you’d appreciate what I had to say.” She looked sheepish.

“Why’s that?” Ellie was very curious.

“After you told me Evan was missing, I lost so much sleep, crying and feeling the way I did when Jack was MIA. It’s been rough . . . and I hated the constant not knowing.” She paused, like she wasn’t sure she could say more. “In the last weeks, I decided I would try to get out more to get my mind off everything. And . . . well, the guy I’m with today, I met only recently. I had no thought of being more than friends with him, but . . .” She cleared her throat, looking down at her feet for a moment. “As you may have noticed, we’ve become fond of each other.”

“Jah, I did notice, in fact.”

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” Cheryl paused and frowned. “I realized I couldn’t endure the waiting—not knowing—maybe never knowing. I decided I had to move on with my life.”

You betrayed my brother, Ellie thought, wondering how Evan would feel if he knew. What if just knowing she’s waiting for him is what’s giving Evan the courage to stay alive?

Yet standing there, Ellie realized she couldn’t blame Cheryl for any of it. Truth be told, Evan might have chosen the same path even without his interest in her, or her influence. After all, he’d become attracted to Cheryl once he was already running around with her brothers and other Englischers.

“Ellie, please excuse me,” Cheryl said, seeing her new boyfriend waving her over.

Ellie bid her good-bye and watched her hurry back to him. She assumes Evan’s dead like Jack, thought Ellie somberly, then turned to find Mamm.

The following week, Dat and Mamm moved into their new house next to Dawdi’s. Now two smaller homes sat connected to the big farmhouse, and it was a happy day for Ellie and Sol as they made the main structure their own. Ellie had suggested they move into her parents’ spacious bedroom on the second floor, more comfortable temperature-wise during the winter and summer months.