And she wondered why she felt so happy about that.

Anna was met by Sadie at the back door as Anna returned from Peaceful Meadows.

“Your church friend Heidi Denlinger dropped by a little bit ago,” Sadie told her.

“Ach, sorry I missed her.” Anna set her purse on the wood bench by the table. “Did she come by just to visit?”

“Well, she was hopin’ you’d go swimming with her and some of the other young women from church.”

“I wish I’d known they were planning something,” Anna said, thinking about the upcoming picnic with Mart. “Maybe next time. Also, don’t forget that I won’t be here for the noon meal.”

“Oh, I remembered,” Sadie replied with a knowing smile.

Anna grinned and headed to her room to go over her notebook tallying tours and tips, as Mart had suggested. I’ll see him soon! she thought, taking time to freshen up.

Long’s Park was an eighty-acre haven of beauty on the northwest side of Lancaster. Anna was happy to be there with Mart, wanting to get better acquainted with him, one to one. Besides a large cooler and Thermos from his mother, he had brought along tennis balls and two racquets.

“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve played,” Anna admitted when they were settled at a pavilion picnic table.

“I’m out of practice, too,” Mart said. “So, we’ll play just for fun. No keeping score.” He removed the lid on the cooler and set out an array of food—chicken salad sandwiches on homemade hamburger buns, a pea salad with diced cheese and chopped sweet pickles, and potato salad made with mustard and eggs.

Anna eyed the food. “Your mother outdid herself,” she said, also noticing the chocolate glaze on the individually wrapped cookies. “Please thank her for me.”

“Mom loves to cook.” Mart handed a paper plate and plastic utensils across the wooden table to Anna.

“My Mamm does, too.” She felt silly saying it, since all the Plain mothers she knew seemed so inclined. “My sister and I used to cook together all the time before she left home to start her new life with her husband, Conrad. I miss those days.”

He nodded. “My married sisters like to come over and help Mom make jam and put up vegetables and dried meats. They always have a great time together,” he said, folding his hands just then. “Shall I ask the blessing?”

She bowed her head, touched again by the picnic lunch Mart’s mother had taken time to make for someone she didn’t even know.

I should do something for her in return. . . .