Sadie hadn’t expected this, although Glen’s observation rang true. All the same, perhaps he didn’t understand her growing motherly connection with Anna or the joy it brought her. “Well, to tell the truth, I’m delighted that Anna seeks me out and shares as openly as she does.” It’s just what I need right now, she thought.

He nodded without saying more and turned to go into the house.

Glen enjoyed spending time with Anna, too, as I recall, Sadie thought. Glen had given Anna a tour of the turkey barn recently, showing her where, in March, the day-old poults were cared for in the large brooder. Those March turkeys would be ready for a summer harvest later this month. Soon, the new crop of tom and hen poults would arrive and go through the same growing process till Thanksgiving season.

Sadie glanced toward the main farmhouse and inhaled deeply. Once it had been the home where she and Glen had lived and welcomed each of their precious babies, taking care to instruct them in the Old Ways of their forefathers and with daily readings from the Good Book.

A house is a tangible thing built with wood or stone or brick, she thought. But it takes time and memories made to create a home.

Sadie set down the watering can and walked over there for a quick visit with Marianna, heeding her husband’s suggestion.

Chapter 22

Anna returned to Flauds’ from Peaceful Meadows and took time to freshen up and change her clothes, preparing to go with Mart and his friends to Hershey. As she brushed her waist-length hair and redid the thick bun, she recalled the many things she had learned today. Dottie was pleased with her progress, and several of the volunteers had come up to Anna, even more friendly than before, saying how good it would be to have her on board as a side walker starting next Saturday.

It’s going to be so much fun! Anna thought, setting the brush down on the dresser and realizing how often her thoughts turned to the therapy program. It occupied her mind almost as much as her work as a tour guide.

“I’ve never been so invested in two completely different things,” she murmured, looking at herself once more in the hand mirror before heading out through the kitchen to the back porch. There, she waited for the church van to arrive, noticing that Sadie was nowhere around. She likely had gone to run an errand or to visit Eva.

I need to keep helping make her cards for market, she thought, eager to see Sadie reach the fifty mark.

Just then, a white van turned into this side of the lane. Seeing Charlotte waving at her from inside, Anna walked down the sidewalk.

The passenger door slid open, and Mart stepped out wearing tan khakis, light brown loafers, and a short-sleeved blue shirt.