“Honestly, it feels like I’m s’posed to be here, and maybe not just for the job,” Anna told her in the stillness of the kitchen. She didn’t let on how, since her breakup with Atley, she had longed to begin anew . . . someplace different from home.

“I s’pose that’s one way to say you’re hopin’ for a beau,” Sadie said, glancing at her. “Ain’t so?”

Anna only smiled, wanting to let all this newfound happiness settle down—her job, her growing friendship with Mart, and her unexpectedly comfortable relationship with her kind and welcoming host and hostess.

Sadie changed the subject, mentioning that, for their Old Order church district, this Lord’s Day was a “between Sunday,” which meant no Preaching service. “We’ll be goin’ round visiting some of Glen’s relatives, if you’d like to join us,” Sadie invited her.

“Well, I plan to attend the fellowship in Bird-in-Hand,” she told Sadie, pleased to discover that the church had been founded by a Beachy Amish bishop.

“It’s up to you where ya worship, of course.” Sadie wiped her brow with a hankie she’d taken out from beneath her sleeve. “Our house is your house . . . you may come and go as you wish.”

Anna appreciated that, looking forward to the next service and even the party later that day. It would give her another chance to make new friends.

After supper, Anna helped clear the table, knowing Sadie and Glen’s son and daughter-in-law and children would be arriving soon. Besides Glen’s homemade ice cream, there was a cake that Sadie had tucked away on a pretty cake plate with a cover.

While Sadie quickly washed the dishes, Anna swept the floor, moving the chairs and the wooden bench on the side closest to the sink to do a thorough job. “That was a wunnerbaar-gut meal,” Anna said. “The meatloaf was so moist and tasty.”

Sadie smiled. “I put tomato juice in the meat mixture. What about yous?”

“Mamm likes steak sauce or catsup, either one.”

“That so?” Sadie said without turning around, still hurrying through her work.

“I’ll come and wipe dishes as soon as the floor’s swept,” Anna promised.

Sadie placed the last plate on the dish rack and drained the sink. She dried her hands on her white work apron, then reached inside the cupboard below to remove two tea towels.

Anna took the second towel, and in just a few minutes, they had everything dried and put away.

Sadie glanced over her shoulder, as if checking to see if her son and his family might be arriving. “We’ll have us a real nice time.”

“I hope the baby’s not shy around me,” Anna said. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him.”

“He’s a happy little one. You’ll see.”

“Aw . . .” Anna felt sure it would be a lovely gathering.

———