“Tea’s fine.” Tessie sat on the wooden bench on this side of the table and sighed audibly. She eyed the cards with the fabric inserts. “What are these for?”

“Oh, just some cards I’m making to sell at market.”

“I’ve seen them here and there round the neighborhood,” Tessie said. “Looks like you must’ve been the one who sent them.”

Nodding, Sadie smiled. “Chust a little hobby, but Lillian thinks it oughta be something more.”

“Ah, Glen’s sister’s got big ideas.”

Sadie moved the finished cards and materials down toward the other end of the table to make way for some refreshments.

“Heard yous have a boarder,” Tessie said.

“Well, Anna’s family,” Sadie said as she took out the pitcher of tea and poured some into tumblers for both of them. She brought the tea over and took a seat across from Tessie, wondering now if she had come just to ask about Anna.

“Any chance she’ll go with yous to Preaching next Sunday?” asked Tessie, reaching for her tumbler. She took a quick sip.

Sadie shook her head. “Anna’s found a church already. Seems to be quite settled.” She took a long drink from her own glass.

“That’s gut for her sake.” Tessie’s expression melted into a sorrowful frown. “Not sure how to say this, but I dropped by Molly’s with a pie for her and Eva this mornin’. Poor Molly was in tears.”

Sadie’s throat tightened.

“Seems Eva didn’t recognize Molly this morning . . . kept askin’ who she was. Dear Molly was beside herself, and who can blame her?”

“Ach . . . that’s too bad. Far as I know, this is the first time,” Sadie said, expecting her niece would have told her otherwise. “I was just there visiting her and Eva last Friday.” She gave a long sigh.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later.” Tessie shook her head again. “What a dreadful disease.”

“For certain,” Sadie said. “It breaks Molly’s heart every day, seeing her Mamm’s decline happening before her eyes.” Sadie wished she could comfort Molly somehow. “I’ll go over there again this weekend.”

“I’m sure she’d appreciate it,” Tessie said. “Sorry to bring sad news.”

A part of Sadie wished Tessie hadn’t told her, but she also wanted to be supportive of Molly and continue to show compassion to Eva, even if her older sister wasn’t aware of it. But she didn’t think she would invite Anna along to visit again, since it would only remind her of her own dear Mammi Eliza’s condition.

As they drank their tea, Tessie moved on from that topic back to Anna, and Sadie just let her talk.

“I’m kinda surprised a Beachy Amish relative would choose to live with ya. A bit unusual, ain’t?”

Sadie shrugged, not wanting to comment one way or the other.