“Well, I have decaf, too, and tea and hot cocoa,” he said, opening a cupboard and showing her the options. “At least you’ll have something to sip on while we talk.” It did her heart good to see how happy he was as he puttered around the kitchen.

“Decaf coffee’s perfect. Denki.” She sat down at the table as he insisted on serving her, bringing the teakettle over and pouring the hot water into her cup, making instant decaf coffee. “I’m afraid you’re spoiling me,” she said, scooting her chair closer.

“I’ve become very familiar with this kitchen these past couple of years,” he said. “But I’m not a very gut cook, which is why Barbara has us over for meals. I do know how to make oatmeal and pour cold milk over cereal, though.” He chuckled.

She smiled as he sat down with his own cup at the head of the table.

Gabe began to mention all the places he wanted to take her during their time together, including, should the Lord lead, to meet his parents and siblings in Indiana, too, which opened the door for Anna to say she wanted him to meet her parents at some point, as well.

Gabe also brought up that he’d already talked with his bishop to discuss what would be expected from Anna before they could court properly, within the ordinance of the church.

She listened intently, watching his face, the way his eyes shone . . . his beautiful blond hair. What a handsome man God handpicked for me, she thought.

“Imagine my surprise when Bishop said that, since you have an Anabaptist upbringing, he would give us the go-ahead to court before you join my church.”

Pleased, she told him how much she looked forward to all that was ahead, even though she knew it held its own set of challenges. “What about my car?” she asked, fairly certain what he would say.

“Before ya start baptismal classes next spring, you’ll want to sell it.”

He didn’t say need to, she thought with a smile. “It might happen before then,” she said, wanting him to know she was fully on board with everything that would be expected of her.

“That can all be worked out in time, along with other things you’ll learn.” He revealed that one of their preachers let it be known that the hardest thing he ever gave up to join church was his wheels.

They laughed about that, and she asked Gabe if he had ever driven a car.

A mischievous smile skittered across his face. “I really shouldn’t have, not havin’ any training. But one of my cousins went a little wild durin’ his Rumschpringe and bought a car, and he let me drive it out on the backroads a couple times.”

“Why was that?” she asked, fairly amused.