“The meal lasted longer than I anticipated,” Gabe remarked as if to apologize. “They’re such fine folk . . . have been helpin’ me with Emmie from day one since my wife died.”

“They’re certainly a comfort to your daughter.” She didn’t say that Emmie surely saw a lot of her mother in her aunt Barbara.

“Jah, a comfort for both of us,” Gabe agreed, then casually pointed out one of his tree houses they passed on the way back to his house.

“I understand you built the tree house at Glen Flaud’s farm, where I’m staying,” Anna said, making small talk.

“For Luke’s Kinner, jah, and what a gut family.” Gabe looked over at her. “So, how’re ya related to Glen and Sadie?”

“Sadie’s my Mamm’s distant cousin.”

Gabe was still, as if thinking about that. Then he said, “So evidently someone in your family jumped the fence—or, as we might say, left the Amish.”

“My parents haven’t told me a whole lot about that,” she said, not wanting to delve into this with him.

“Ach, didn’t mean to pry.”

“Es allrecht,” she said in Deitsch by mistake. “I mean—”

“Nee, it’s gut ya forget and talk Amish sometimes.” He was smiling. “Emschtlich.”

“You say seriously, but I’ve been speaking Pennsylvania Dutch more lately since moving in with Mamm’s cousins.”

“You fit in with them, ain’t so?” he said more softly.

As she made the turn into his lane, she wondered why he’d mentioned this. “I’m still getting accustomed to their Old Ways.”

He nodded. “I s’pose it is quite different from your upbringing.”

“In some respects, very much so,” she was quick to say.

“Well, I appreciate the ride, Anna.” He gave her a big smile. “I’ll see ya next Friday mornin’.” He got out of the car, made his way toward the house, then turned and waved.

She backed the car out toward the road. During the drive, her thoughts sifted through the past months—first meeting Gabe that June afternoon, his seeming eagerness to have her observe the work at Peaceful Meadows, then her being assigned to his cousin Dottie to learn to become a volunteer and Emmie’s side walker. And now, dinner today with Aden and Barbara Mast. More family.

Why hadn’t she seen the signs? Gabe was almost certainly interested in her; she was ever so sure now.

Suddenly, the memory of Mamm’s warning resounded in her mind.

Having supper at Katie’s Kitchen with Mart got Anna’s mind off her conversation with Gabe, though she told Mart in passing about helping with Emmie on Fridays. “She’s making a real connection with me. Her father thought it would be beneficial for me to spend more time with her, and it seems to be paying off.”

“I’m sure you’re a blessing to the little girl,” Mart said with a quick smile.