“Let’s!” Annabelle said. “There’s a German deli on the corner that has wonderful sausages and the largest pretzels you’ve ever seen.”

“Do they serve overpriced mustard with the pretzels?” Maude asked.

Elaine’s jaw stiffened, but she said nothing as she tied the ribbons on her bonnet. Her father also ignored the jibe as he rolled down his sleeves and buttoned his cuffs. Her mother must have taken the silence as consent to continue.

“I only ask because I know a place that has all sorts of fancy sauces no ordinary deli is likely to have. Although spending hard-earned money on imported mustard seems a ridiculous—”

“Would you please shut up!” Elaine screeched as she ripped off her bonnet and threw it on the floor. “I found a wonderful man, and all you can do is prattle on about his awful mustard. Mustard! You’re trying to make me disapprove of a man of character and compassion because of mustard!”

Maude lifted her chin. “Trust me, it’s not the mustard I object to.”

“Then don’t ever mention it again,” her father said firmly.

Annabelle caught her breath. Maude normally led the family while her father was the mild, quiet man in the background. Not today, and she prayed her mother would listen.

Nobody said anything for a long moment, and Elaine managed to regain control of her temper.

“For a long time I wished I had died after I became blind,” she said in a ragged voice. “I felt useless, with no purpose and nothing to offer the world. I didn’t know why God had left me alive to be a miserable burden for everyone around me, but I’ve finally figured it out. Yes, Walter is a lot older than me, but he is the rock on which his entire family depends. He is strength and optimism and fortitude. He employs a dozen people in his store. Someday he will be too old to lead the family anymore, but that’s where I will come in. By then I will be able to run the store. I will care for Walter as he ages and needs someone to lean on. I want to be a pillar for that family when Walter is no longer able, and he wants that for me too. I never wanted to be blind, but if it’s the price I must pay to have found Walter Talbot . . . then I’m glad it happened.”

Her parents stood in stunned silence, but Annabelle had never been prouder, for Elaine had finally found her purpose.

Annabelle went for a walk with her father after returning from the deli. There had been no more backbiting after Elaine’s outburst, but things were still tense, and Annabelle’s battered spirit needed a reprieve.

“Thank you for reining Mother in,” she said as soon as they were out of earshot of the open window of the apartment.