After the meal, followed by coffee, dessert, and lingering conversation, Dawdi excused himself and headed to the Dawdi Haus for his afternoon nap. Dat and Jonah continued talking in the front room. Every now and then, a word or phrase about the future of the orchard drifted to the kitchen and caught Ellie’s attention. What will Dat do?

Once the kitchen was all redded up and the children had run outdoors to play, she, Mamm, and Priscilla sat in the kitchen, sipping more coffee. Ellie enjoyed hearing her sister-in-law talk about patching her grandmother’s old quilt.

After Jonah and his family left for home, Ellie decided to walk up and see if Leah was free to visit now. The day’s high temperature was supposed to be thirty-nine degrees, but the air felt a little warmer due to the sunshine and lack of wind. Even so, Ellie was glad for her black coat and warm headscarf.

She felt fidgety as she strolled along, going out of her way to walk in the fallen leaves, the crunching sound a sweet reminder of her and Evan’s jaunts up to see Sol and Leah when they were children, kicking the leaves and laughing as they went.

Oh, she could hardly wait to lay eyes on Leah again. She recalled how, nearly every Thanksgiving Day since she was school-age, she and Leah had met halfway between their homes after the family meal to walk together—sun, rain, or snow. Afterward, they usually returned by way of the orchard, which for Ellie was like the frosting on a cake any time of the year.

Ellie heard quick footsteps coming this way, and when she glanced up, there was Leah walking on the opposite side of the road. Her face shone with delight. “Happy Thanksgiving, friend!”

“I was just headin’ up to see ya,” Ellie replied, grinning as she crossed the road.

Leah’s laughter rang out in the chilly air. “And I was on my way down to visit you.”

Ellie fell in step with her friend as they walked hand in hand back toward the orchard. “I’m so glad you could get home.”

“Me too. It’s been the best Thanksgiving. I’ve missed bein’ here ever so much. And I’ve missed you, Ellie.”

“Could ya stay longer, maybe?”

“Oh, I wish.” Leah sighed. “But I’ll be home longer at Christmas.” She glanced at Ellie like she had something more to say.

They were nearly to the orchard when Leah finally said, “How’re ya doin’ . . . I mean, with Evan gone?”

“Well, it’s not easy, but it helps that he’s writing to us.”

“Des gut.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure how we’d bear it otherwise.”

“I’m so sorry.” Leah squeezed her hand. “I truly am.”