It was during the noon meal that I became convinced that Gabe was winning my father over. To my surprise, the two began to discuss Scripture verses that had ministered to them through the years. My prayerful hope that, given time, Dat would come to appreciate Gabe was already coming true.

While passing the creamy, buttery mashed potatoes and thick chicken gravy, I noticed that Emmie was eating particularly well today, enjoying Mamm’s good cooking. Mamm had also been thoughtful to set Emmie’s place right next to mine.

Truly, I had so much to be thankful for. To think that Gabe had been willing to come the distance to spend this special time with my parents and me. I’m falling more in love with him every day, I thought, catching his gaze.

Deep autumn’s winds and frost swept away the last of the dazzling leaves, and with December’s cold and snow, my schedule at the information center slowed to three days a week. On my days off, I stayed indoors with Emmie, teaching her easy tasks like making basting stitches, wiping dishes, making her bed, and helping to sort the laundry. Helping Gabe with Emmie during the daytime made sense, and I kept her busy while he drew up blueprints for more tree houses.

On Christmas afternoon, Gabe surprised Emmie with a beautiful palomino pony named Splash. Thereafter, on the mildest days, Gabe and I assisted her as she rode back and forth down the driveway.

So much has changed since I first met them, I thought, excited to see how well balanced and secure Emmie seemed to be on the pony with only her father’s help.

All winter long, my bond with Emmie grew like a flourishing flower. I took her everywhere I could, either in the car or around the neighborhood in the buggy, which Gabe had taught me to drive. Of course, I was still getting used to hitching up, but my goal was to complete that chore with ease before the bumblebees flew in early spring. When we’ll start going barefoot again, I thought, wondering if Mammi Eliza might just be smiling down from above, seeing as how I’d fallen for an Old Order Amishman.

In early May, when the lavender redbuds and white and pink dogwoods blossomed, Gabe asked me to take him to the spot in the stone wall where I’d found Eb’s love letter. It was a superbly sunny morning, with only a few thin clouds over near the green hills to the north. Emmie had gone to spend the morning with Barbara’s sons, so it was just Gabe and me walking along the row of black walnut trees. Before today, I hadn’t returned to the spot where I’d found the grass-covered tree stump, so it was a bit of a challenge to locate it.