Ellie smiled as she carried over the platter filled with the eggs and pancakes, all piping hot, just like Mamm served them. She sat down as Sol bowed his head and folded his hands for the table blessing, and then Ellie realized that Evan couldn’t fold his hands anymore. Tears came to her eyes.

After the prayer, Evan told them he wanted to compose a letter to Cheryl Herr, telling her about his change of heart toward being Amish and following the Lord. “But I’ll break it to her gently.”

“Might not need to be too gentle,” Ellie said. She looked at him while salting her eggs. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell ya, but she’s been seein’ someone else.”

Evan seemed to take this in. “Well, I quit writing to her weeks before the explosion. So I guess it isn’t too surprising. I had no interest in the world any longer, but at the time, I didn’t know how to tell her.”

Ellie took a bite of her eggs and studied her brother. “‘When God changes our hearts, He changes our desires,’ Dawdi says.”

“He’s been sayin’ that since I was little.” Evan offered a smile.

Sol nodded. “Hezekiah’s our resident minister.”

Ellie agreed and was thankful Evan didn’t have to suffer yet another hardship at the news of Cheryl’s moving on. And relieved, too, that Cheryl wouldn’t pose a problem for his return to Amish life and the faith.

As Ellie was working with Sol in the barn office, Dat came in and mentioned that the peach trees they’d planted three years ago were blossoming.

“They might actually produce fruit this year,” he said, glancing at the ceiling as if deep in thought. “Planted them the year before Evan was called up for the draft.”

Sol nodded. “I remember helpin’ with that block of trees.”

“Say, I’ll be headed over to meet with George Stewart at his place this afternoon. Interested to know what’s on his mind.”

“He wrote ya back?” Ellie asked.

Dat shook his head. “Actually, he approached me at the post office this mornin’. He must’ve heard the postmaster mention my name—oddest thing.”

“Well, just think of all the cherry and plum trees we could plant if ya make an offer and he accepts,” Ellie replied, delighted at the prospect.

“I’m curious, though. Surely he’s had other offers.”

Ellie had a few ideas about why the man might have waited to talk with Dat, but she wouldn’t say—not till everything played out.

She wondered if her father would bring up Evan’s visit to the bishop and how that might impact his decision for future management of the orchard. But he just sat down at his end of the desk and began to work.