He understands I want to spend as much time with Evan as possible, she thought, smiling at her brother as he reached for a high branch. She waited for him to speak first, keeping her focus on the harvesting for a good ten minutes before he finally did.

“I came off rude the day we went to town makin’ deliveries together. I’m sorry, Ellie.”

She nodded her acceptance. “It was gut we could talk even for a little while.”

Evan smiled. “Jah, and I do think it’d be nice to have plum and cherry trees, so ya should talk to Dat ’bout it.”

“I’ll sure miss pickin’ with ya out here,” she said, feeling the urge to tell him important things before he left instead of waiting to write them in a letter.

“I’ll miss ya, too, Ellie.” Her twin placed two peaches in the harvesting box strapped to his shoulders. “But I won’t be gone forever.”

She dared not ask if he meant he’d be coming home to live, concerned he might instead continue his relationship with Cheryl Herr and join the ranks of the fancy folk.

“Remember, we have right now,” Evan surprised her by saying.

“I’m so glad.” She moved around the other side of the peach tree. “And I wanna make the best of it.”

She paused to take in God’s masterful work of fruit trees and sun and sky as a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. She realized there was peace right here in the midst of this heavenly sort of place, despite the unpredictable storm churning around her family.

16

Lyle opened the door to his barn office the next morning and headed outside, across the yard to the side entrance of the house. Elisabeth had been on his mind ever since he’d noticed how withdrawn she was at breakfast, not herself at all. So he’d suggested Ellie go to market with Rudy in her stead.

He found his wife chopping celery in the kitchen, looking a bit pale. When she glanced up, he noticed puffy little pockets under her blue eyes. She offered him something cold to drink, but he declined and sat at the head of the table. “Kumme, sit with me,” he said. “Rest a little.”

She set down the knife and wandered over.

“I’m concerned ’bout ya,” he said as she sat and leaned her elbows on the table, sighing.

“I’d be fine if I could just get a full night’s sleep,” she replied softly.

He nodded, in tune with his bride of thirty-eight years. “Evan’s on your mind, ain’t?” Lyle reached for her hand. “The Lord knows the beginning and the end, and He’ll take care of our boy.”

“Even though Evan’s outside the fold?” Her eyes were gleaming as tears threatened.

“Like Daed says, we must give this to God.” He squeezed her hand. “Worryin’ could make ya sick, love.”