42

Hope ya still like your eggs over easy,” Ellie said to Evan in the kitchen the next morning as she finished making chocolate chip pancakes for him and Sol.

Evan nodded and smiled. “You’re spoilin’ me, Ellie—it’s been so long since I had a choice.”

Sol poured coffee for the three of them, mentioning that the peach trees would be putting on their pink dresses in another day.

“In time to celebrate Evan’s return,” Ellie said, wondering what her brother might say.

“The Lord sure knows how to throw a party,” he replied, stirring sugar into his coffee.

Ellie laughed softly. Her brother must’ve had a good night’s sleep, because he seemed a little more perky this morning.

“I’ll be visiting Bishop Mast after breakfast,” Evan said, taking a sip of coffee before setting down his mug. “Want to tell him how God changed my mind about a few things.”

Ellie smiled as she carried over the platter filled with the eggs and pancakes, all piping hot, just like Mamm served them. She sat down as Sol bowed his head and folded his hands for the table blessing, and then Ellie realized that Evan couldn’t fold his hands anymore. Tears came to her eyes.

After the prayer, Evan told them he wanted to compose a letter to Cheryl Herr, telling her about his change of heart toward being Amish and following the Lord. “But I’ll break it to her gently.”

“Might not need to be too gentle,” Ellie said. She looked at him while salting her eggs. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell ya, but she’s been seein’ someone else.”

Evan seemed to take this in. “Well, I quit writing to her weeks before the explosion. So I guess it isn’t too surprising. I had no interest in the world any longer, but at the time, I didn’t know how to tell her.”

Ellie took a bite of her eggs and studied her brother. “‘When God changes our hearts, He changes our desires,’ Dawdi says.”

“He’s been sayin’ that since I was little.” Evan offered a smile.

Sol nodded. “Hezekiah’s our resident minister.”

Ellie agreed and was thankful Evan didn’t have to suffer yet another hardship at the news of Cheryl’s moving on. And relieved, too, that Cheryl wouldn’t pose a problem for his return to Amish life and the faith.

As Ellie was working with Sol in the barn office, Dat came in and mentioned that the peach trees they’d planted three years ago were blossoming.

“They might actually produce fruit this year,” he said, glancing at the ceiling as if deep in thought. “Planted them the year before Evan was called up for the draft.”

Sol nodded. “I remember helpin’ with that block of trees.”

“Say, I’ll be headed over to meet with George Stewart at his place this afternoon. Interested to know what’s on his mind.”

“He wrote ya back?” Ellie asked.

Dat shook his head. “Actually, he approached me at the post office this mornin’. He must’ve heard the postmaster mention my name—oddest thing.”

“Well, just think of all the cherry and plum trees we could plant if ya make an offer and he accepts,” Ellie replied, delighted at the prospect.

“I’m curious, though. Surely he’s had other offers.”

Ellie had a few ideas about why the man might have waited to talk with Dat, but she wouldn’t say—not till everything played out.

She wondered if her father would bring up Evan’s visit to the bishop and how that might impact his decision for future management of the orchard. But he just sat down at his end of the desk and began to work.

“The never-ending cycle of keepin’ an orchard,” he said to Ellie, who was contemplating what she should say to him about Evan’s rightful place in the business.

After Sol left to run an errand, Ellie continued to work on the books. Then an hour or so later, Evan surprised her by coming into the office, grinning.

“How was your visit with the bishop?” she asked as he pulled one of the chairs toward him and then slowly eased himself into it.

“He was as kind as I remembered.”

Ellie swiveled her chair around to face him. “I knew he’d be glad to see ya.”

“His eyes lit up when I talked about taking baptism classes this summer.”

“I think Dat’s must’ve, too, when ya first told him.”

Evan scratched his head, suddenly serious, then sucked in his breath hard. “Bishop Mast and I talked about Sol’s attack last year—his hearing loss and all the weeks without the use of his right hand. Bishop was the one who first wrote to me about it, ya see.”

She could tell Evan’s heart had been pierced—either because of what Sol had suffered or that she hadn’t been the one to tell him about the attack. Maybe both.

“To think Sol suffered so terribly right here at home, and for doin’ the right thing . . .”

Nodding, Ellie said, “I didn’t tell ya ’cause I didn’t want to saddle ya with all that.”

“I was knee-deep in the jungle at the time,” Evan said pensively. “Maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t, but both the bishop and Jonah mentioned it later in their letters.”

Ellie shared further about what had happened that horrible day and specifically how worried she’d been about Sol’s concussion and his initial symptoms. “I realized then how much I cared for him. It was a clear turnin’ point for both of us.”

Evan’s expression was still solemn. “Has Sol’s hearing improved in that ear?”

“Not really. But he’s learned to compensate over time.”

“Like I have to,” Evan said quietly, glancing toward what was left of his arm. He sat there for a moment, like a hundred thoughts were flying through his mind.

“Not to offend ya, Evan, but would it maybe help if I trimmed off the one shirt sleeve and hemmed it? Less to get in the way?”

He looked down for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you, Ellie. It really would.” He looked longingly out the window. “You know, I think I need to get back to work in the orchard. I can’t do much, not like before, but I can do some things. Just slower.”

“Speakin’ of the orchard,” she began, “Sol and I were talkin’ last night, and I’ve been thinking ’bout something since you returned. You’ve prob’ly guessed that Dat’s been training Sol and me ever since we married so we can manage things when he retires.”

Evan nodded. “Wise choice.”

“But since you’re makin’ plans to move forward with baptism and all, Sol and I are willin’ to back out of the business agreement with Dat.”

“Why would you do that?” Evan frowned. “No, Ellie. Even though it’s just like you to offer, you and I both know I don’t deserve it. And you must promise me not to approach Dat about it.”

“Won’t ya at least think ’bout it, Bruder?”

Evan shook his head. “You were the faithful twin. And with God’s blessing, you and Sol will succeed.” His expression grew even more serious. “I’ll be perfectly content to work alongside you both, once that time comes.”

She knew better than to argue with Evan. He was her elder brother, if only by several minutes. But even so, he was fiercely determined. And that was likely one of the reasons he’d survived in Vietnam. “All right. I won’t say anything to Dat. And I’ll let Sol know that you and I talked this over.”

A satisfied smile appeared. “Just so ya know, I have decided to take Dawdi up on his invitation to move over there, but I’d like to stay in my old room for another few nights.”

“Of course,” she replied, glad she’d have him under their roof for a little longer.

Evan continued. “I’ll be honored to look after Dawdi in his twilight years. That will help Dat and Mamm, too,” he said, his voice cracking. “I owe so much to my family.”

“Only love,” Ellie whispered, enjoying this precious time together.

“‘The greatest of these . . .’”

The natural way Evan spoke the Lord’s words brought joy to her heart. “I’ll be glad to have both you and Dawdi over for meals, and I s’pect Mamm will, too. So yous might never have to cook,” she said. “You could rotate between the two houses at mealtimes and never be lonely.”

“Sounds like a wonderful-good life to me.”

“For all of us, really.” A lump rose in her throat, seeing him there beside her—a dream come true.