Truth be known, Sadie’s own two daughters were mighty busy with their large families these days, and there was little time for the long talks of years gone by. How she missed those one-on-one hours—her girls were young grandmothers themselves now. But she also loved being with her grandchildren and little great-grandchildren, too, each one just as respectful and God-fearing as any Amish Mammi could hope for. So far, every one of the grands who was old enough had either followed the Lord in holy baptism or was taking instruction to do so—heartening to any grandparent.

Seeing Anna heading this way now, Sadie smiled, wanting to hear about the interview, if Anna chose to tell her about it. She had even tucked in a little prayer earlier around the time she guessed Anna might be sitting down with Evelyn.

The familiar screech of the back door meant that her guest had come inside, and Sadie quickly went to meet her.

Chapter 4

While admiring Sadie’s flower garden, Anna had noticed a sloping expanse of land between the Dawdi Haus and the wooded area to the northeast. Several paths overlapped one another like shoestrings before disappearing into the distance. As she entered the back door and was ushered into the kitchen, she washed her hands at the sink. While she reached for the hand towel, Sadie urged her to take a seat, saying she was not to lift a finger for this particular dinner.

Does she think I was offered the position? Anna wondered, thinking she should set the record straight right away.

After Cousin Glen prayed silently over the meal, Anna spoke up. “Evelyn is going to let me know one way or the other about the job. She’s interviewing a couple of others, too, but I’m still hopeful.”

“Oh, there’s no question in my mind you’ll get it,” Sadie said while dishing up a large portion of chicken and noodles on Anna’s plate. She then passed the bowl of buttered lima beans she’d frozen last summer, and next the dish of chow chow.

Glen chuckled, then quickly cleared his throat. “Let’s not count on it, dear,” he advised his wife. “Anna should know for sure soon enough.”

“Jah . . . true. But still.” And here Sadie beamed at Anna, seated across the table from her.

Anna could sense they were both waiting to hear more, so she described much of what Evelyn had told her. Then she added, “And there was a nice young man, too, who showed me around the place. Maybe you know of him—Martin Nolt? He’s worked there for a while. A Mennonite fella.”

Glen salted his noodles, then set the saltshaker down and glanced at Anna. “Well now, there are any number of Martin Nolts round here.”