4

That Sunday was Mother’s Day. Ellie made a large skillet omelet for everyone at breakfast and gave Mamm a handcrafted card, Evan presented her with a card he’d purchased in town, and Dat marked the day with a large tray of her favorite pansies for her flower garden. They weren’t for making much fuss over either Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, but Dat had always led the way in doing a little something special for Mamm.

Later that morning, Ellie enjoyed attending the baptismal instruction class and then the Preaching service, where she noticed several families absent. Of course, they might have been visiting other church districts in Bird-in-Hand or Ronks, spending the day with elderly mothers.

By the time Singing rolled around that evening, Ellie couldn’t have been happier when Evan, as he often did, offered to take her there in his black open carriage. The sky was still light and the day warm as they rode to the big two-story barn a mile and a half away. Busy as Evan had been in the orchard, they’d spent little time with each other these past three days since the barbecue on Ascension Day, and she was pleased at how talkative he was.

When they arrived at the farm hosting the Singing, Evan pulled partway into the long dirt lane and halted the horse right there, the driving lines still in his hands. “Have yourself a gut evening, Ellie.”

She was startled, if not confused. “Ain’t ya comin’?”

Evan shook his head slowly. “Meeting someone.”

“Oh,” she said softly.

“I already asked Sol to give ya a ride home if you don’t go out ridin’ with someone. Figured since he lives up the road from us, he wouldn’t mind.”

“Well, what if he asks someone out, though?” She was thinking of Cousin Ruthann.

“Sol seemed fine with it, so I wouldn’t worry ’bout that.”

Leah’s younger brother had always been neighborly toward Ellie—and they’d played together as children, especially when Evan was around—so she guessed it was all right.

“Denki for not askin’ Menno,” she said, indirectly admitting he was indeed the boy she liked. When and if the time came, she preferred it be Menno’s idea to offer her a ride home.

Evan nodded and smiled. “Oh, and I’d appreciate it if ya didn’t tell Dat I didn’t stay. It would only worry him all the more,” he said as Ellie stepped down from the buggy. “I’ll be home at the usual hour.”

“Okay.” Ellie nodded in agreement but felt strange about it, realizing Evan was likely going against Dat’s wishes even after that stern talk last month. Concern snaked through her as she made her way up toward the dirt lane leading to the back of the bank barn.

Inside the newly swept haymow, die Youngie talked and mingled about. Leah spotted Ellie as she entered and hurried over to sit with her on one of the wood benches beside the long tables. “I’ve been wanting to tell ya somethin’,” Leah said in a hushed tone, her dark eyes serious.

Ellie was hungry for some good news, but the way Leah’s mouth turned downward, she wasn’t sure she should expect any. “You okay?”

Leah leaned closer. “My beau an’ I won’t be seein’ each other anymore.”

“Ach, no.” Ellie was shocked.

“Josh and I broke up Thursday morning.” Leah looked down at her folded hands.

So that was why she seemed so glum at the barbecue? “I’m sorry to hear it,” she said, feeling so sad for Leah. She’d been sweet on Josh since the fifth-grade spelling bee.

“And there’s somethin’ else.” Leah paused and glanced away, like what she had to say next was harder than what she’d just revealed. “Ach, I hope ya won’t be too upset, Ellie.”

What could be worse?

“I’ve decided to accept a live-in job with a young English mother who really needs the help. Her husband left her after returning from the war, maimed and very troubled.” Leah paused and chewed the inside of her lip. “The thing is, though, it’s in Chambersburg.”

Ellie couldn’t make her lips move to speak. Leah had never showed any interest in moving away, let alone so far. And to live with an Englischer!

Leah gave her a faint smile. “I know it seems like a sudden decision, but the timing seems right to me. And I’ve already met the woman—Carolyn Madison, a cousin of Cheryl Herr’s. Carolyn’s parents live in Tennessee, so she’s alone with the children. With her husband gone, it’s more than she can handle. She needs to go back to her nursing job.”

Ellie was still too flabbergasted to speak.

“When I heard about it from Cheryl recently at the fabric store, I had a strong feeling I was s’posed to contact Carolyn.” Leah’s brown eyes glinted in the corners. “Have ya ever felt like that?”

Nee. And the only thing Ellie could think about at the moment was Leah’s going away. It felt like a bee sting to her heart.

“It’s the saddest thing, really,” Leah continued. “She has three small children—a four-year-old boy and three-year-old twin girls.”

Ellie’s stomach knotted. “You’ll be so far away,” she said in protest as words came to her at last.

“I know, but we’ll write to each other, jah?” Leah looked more cheerful now, but Ellie knew her well enough to suspect she was only trying to make this easier on her.

Don’t be so selfish, Ellie scolded herself, thinking of the plight of the young woman and her children. But she couldn’t pretend it would be easy with Leah so far away, and it would be hard to think of her living with an Englischer, considering the attachment Evan had obviously developed with a non-Amish family.

“You’ll always be my dearest friend,” Leah said, attempting to reassure her.

Yet Ellie wondered how that would be possible now. “We were gonna be baptized together this fall, remember?”

“Believe me, I thought of that. Guess I’ll be continuing with Rumschpringe for a while yet.”

Like Evan. “Did ya forget our childhood dreams for a double wedding?” she whispered.

“We still might have that. Who knows?”

But how? Ellie sighed.

Ellie really needed a drink of water, but she didn’t want to go over to the refreshment table. So instead, she walked to the barn door and slid it open. Leah followed her out and down the long slope toward the well pump in the backyard.

“I tried to think when would be best to tell ya,” Leah was saying as she hurried to keep up with Ellie. “I guess I should’ve waited till after Singing, but I figured you’d go ridin’ with one of the fellas, and then there’d be no time to talk much before I leave.”

Ellie realized Leah must have already been thinking this through during the Ascension Day barbecue. And she cared too much to cause her friend more distress. “How soon must ya go?” she asked, pumping the handle hard. When the water came, she cupped her hands and drank.

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Tuesday? Ach, so soon? When will ya return home?”

Leah’s lip quivered. “Not sure. Could be months. But it’s a gut opportunity to bring in some extra money for the family.”

Ellie lightly shook her hands in the air to dry them. “I wish things could stay the same.”

“You always say that, Ellie.” Leah touched her arm. “You hate change.”

She’s right, she thought, still trying to make sense of all this as she wrapped her arms around herself. “S’pose you’ve already talked to Bishop Mast ’bout not continuing on with baptism classes.”

“Not yet, but I will. And please keep this a secret—at least for now.”

The parent sponsors were coming across the yard toward the barn, and Leah waved at them. “Denki for hostin’ Singing tonight,” she had the manners to say.

Ellie waved, too, not wanting to seem aloof or ungrateful. But she felt sick at the thought of losing Leah. This wasn’t supposed to happen!

They headed back up the hill and around to the haymow door, where Leah’s very handsome twenty-year-old cousin Menno Bontrager was about to enter. Seeing them, he quickly stepped aside and waited.

“Denki,” Ellie said, finding her voice at last. She recalled the first time the rather shy Menno had ever spoken to her—maybe five years ago now. She’d been waiting in the rain for Dat to pick her up from market when Menno came running outside and handed her a big black umbrella. “I don’t need it,” he’d said before dashing across the field toward home in the drenching downpour.

She smiled at the memory—ah, those golden-brown eyes!

“Nice night, ain’t?” Menno said presently, his light brown bangs all fluffy and clean beneath his straw hat.

Ellie nodded, surprised he’d spoken to her.

“You’re practically late,” Leah said, scolding him.

“Well, I stopped to give a hitchhiker a lift.”

“Oh,” Leah said kindly, like she regretted chiding him.

“That was gut of ya,” Ellie said, wondering if the hitchhiker was one of the many wounded soldiers all over the county. They were everywhere across Lancaster, it seemed, military boys who’d returned home injured. And then there are those like Jack Herr who never made it home at all.

Ellie followed Leah inside and sat at the long table with her. Our last Singing together for now, she thought wistfully, remembering how she’d felt at their first-ever Singing three years ago. She’d been nervous at the thought of being invited to ride with one of the fellows in his courting carriage. She would have preferred to stay home, actually, spending the evening talking with Mamm or reading a good book. Over time, though, she’d become accustomed to attending Singings and other youth activities. Having Leah there most of the time helped.

Now the fellows were wandering over to the table, preparing to stop visiting and sing. But Ellie’s heart—and her singing voice—was far from ready to join in. With Evan skipping out tonight and Leah suddenly moving away, Ellie felt as limp as days-old lettuce.