I have something else to share. Carolyn is getting serious with Roger. The timing of this is perfect, Ellie. I mean, they might actually be married before Reuben and I are! Which will work very well, as I’ll be giving my notice well in advance of my wedding.

“Wunnerbaar!” Ellie exclaimed into the air, then glanced around her on the porch, hoping she hadn’t awakened Evan. He was resting upstairs. Things are surely workin’ out for Leah, she thought, longing to see her friend again.

Sitting there on the steps, she glanced at the cloud-laden sky. Within a moment, rain sprinkled her bare feet. She recalled the time she knew Leah was to be her close friend. We both loved sitting on the porch when it rained, she mused. Who’d ever have thought that would be a clue to our future as friends?

Controlled though he usually was, Lyle could not stay away from the main house over the next few days. He checked on Evan morning and evening, realizing his son must be exhausted—though he sometimes found him on the floor of his room doing one-arm push-ups.

Surely his fatigue was a normal response to the radical surgery he’d had, even these many weeks ago. But was he also depressed? Evan’s reluctance to talk might mean he was still processing all the adjustments he was making, and Lyle wouldn’t think of pressing him. If anything, it was important to give him the time he needed to rest and heal, and Lyle was glad Ellie was keeping a close eye on him. Daed had mentioned that Evan would be residing with him soon, and both Lyle and Elisabeth agreed that was an ideal plan all around.

Ever since Evan’s return, Lyle’d had fleeting moments of disappointment about his youngest son’s future. He was no longer torn about the right path forward for the orchard, though. Sol and Ellie had been the right choice. His disappointment was related more to the fact that Evan’s Rumschpringe choices had brought him so many difficult consequences.

He needs a routine, Lyle thought, wondering if Evan’s living with his elderly Dawdi might become monotonous over time. Evan wanted to begin working in the orchard again in a few more days, but would that be satisfying enough in the long run?

Ellie made a point of helping Evan with his shoelaces every morning, double-knotting them so he wouldn’t have to worry about them coming undone.

Today, she’d also agreed to stand by while he carefully climbed into his courting buggy. “We might need to dust it off,” she said as they stood in the carriage shed doorway, looking at it.

“I’ll never be able to hitch up on my own.”

“Two can hitch up better anyway. Besides, you’ll always have someone nearby to ask. Workin’ together is our way, ya know.”