“At least you have another whole month here with us,” Elisabeth added.

Ellie was staring at Evan now. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

Elisabeth looked like she might cry.

In a short while, Evan slid off the bench and headed upstairs.

Lyle couldn’t help seeing Ellie’s lower lip quiver.

Elisabeth slipped her arm around her. “May the dear Lord help our family,” his wife whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

Upstairs, a door closed, and Lyle reached for Elisabeth’s free hand, shut his eyes, and breathed a prayer very different from the table blessing.

Later, after supper, Lyle picked up the letter with the ominous and official-looking letterhead. Correspondence from the world, he thought as his eyes fell on the date for Evan’s military physical and induction in Harrisburg. Then, leaving the letter where he’d found it, he exited the stifling kitchen, needing some fresh air. Much as he wanted to, he wouldn’t go upstairs to talk to Evan, secluded in his room and likely as resistant to conversation as he’d been since the night of the lottery drawing.

No point in it, Lyle thought.

He plodded outdoors and headed toward the orchard, gazing at the sky, still bright. How did we get here, Lord?

After a time, he returned to the side yard and wondered if Daed might be back from his brother’s place. Going to the Dawdi Haus, Lyle opened the screen door and called to him, but there was no answer. Then walking over to the carriage shed, Lyle saw that the spot for the spring wagon was still vacant.

Looking up the hill toward the Bontrager farm, Lyle was drawn to it. He wanted to talk to another man—a father who’d successfully reared his sons in the faith. Sighing several times, he meandered through his own meadow as if in a stupor. He tried to keep his wits enough to pray a significant prayer, but when that became a struggle, he realized he was already tramping through the next neighbor’s cornfield. At all costs, he wanted to avoid walking along the road, weary of church members averting their gaze as they passed by, even a few of his and Elisabeth’s kinfolk here lately.

The breeze at that moment was a welcome respite from the heat, and Lyle pushed his straw hat forward to shield his face from the sun’s rays as the clouds moved in.

———

Ellie had seen her Dat wandering through the pasture, his shoulders slumped and his gait heavy and slow. She’d asked her mother if he was all right, and Mamm had shaken her head. “I daresay we’re all in pieces” came her reply.

Ellie recalled what Dawdi had said about Evan while they drank root beer at his house. “He might need to know that your love for him is constant in spite of his poor behavior.” She mentioned this to Mamm.