Emma started setting up a buffet in the kitchen practically the moment she walked in her front door. Though she usually asked the girls to help her, she knew they were excited about having company over and restless after having to sit quietly during the service at church. Therefore, she’d simply asked them to play outside with Frankie.
As Frankie, whose favorite game was playing tag with the girls, barked and howled while Annie laughed and squealed, Emma finally relaxed. Her youngest could make even the cloudiest days seem brighter. She had certainly lifted Emma’s mood after that upsetting conversation with her mother. Feeling back on track once again, Emma got to work with a new sense of peace.
Out from the refrigerator came the salads and two Mason jars filled with pickles that she’d jarred a few months back. Next came a tall pitcher of lemonade. She was just reaching into her small pantry for the bags of potato chips when Mandy wandered into the kitchen, leaned against one of the counters, and sighed.
“Mandy, why aren’t you outside playing with Frankie?”
“’Cause I’ve got something to ask you.”
Impatience warred with curiosity. Then, seeing as how Mandy had that look on her face that said she was settling in for a good long while, Emma stopped and faced her daughter across the counter. “What is it, dear?”
“Mommy, I don’t see why the boys have to come over,” Mandy said, pouting.
Emma was surprised—and curious as to what had brought this on. But she couldn’t resist teasing her middle girl a little bit before she got her answers. “That wasn’t a question . . .”
“I know.” Mandy plopped both elbows on the counter and rested her head in her hands, as if she were an old lady.
“What is wrong with the boys?”
“Boys are gross.”
Well, this was certainly a new opinion for her six-year-old.
“Boys are not gross, and you like William, Mark, and Ben,” Emma said. “Plus they have all been mighty nice to you. You shouldn’t speak about them that way.”
“I’m only telling you the truth.”
“No, you’re being mean,” Emma retorted, deciding to nip her six-year-old’s sudden, contrary mood in the bud. “I don’t know what brought this on, but you have picked a bad time to start being unneighborly.” Before Mandy could begin another outburst, Emma pointed to the stack of paper goods on the kitchen table. “Now help me put all the paper plates, napkins, and cups out.”
“Mamm, you said we didn’t have to help.”
“I also said I wanted you to go out and play with your sisters and Frankie and Mark, who just arrived. You chose not to do that. Therefore, you can do this.”
“I’m gonna go right now.” Then, before Emma could chastise Mandy for ignoring her directions, Mandy darted out the door, just as Tricia, Ben, and Beverly came in the same way.
“Whoops!” said Beverly with a grin. “Someone is in a hurry.”
That “someone” also knew how to behave far better than she was. If she’d been alone, Emma would have marched outside and told Mandy what she thought about her behavior. But if she’d been alone, Mandy would have likely not been causing so much trouble. Which, of course, was part of the problem, Emma realized. This situation was just as new and nerve-wracking for Mandy as it was for her mother. She should have thought about that and prepared the girls better.
Suddenly Emma felt exhausted by the weight of all of her responsibilities. Sometimes she was just so tired of trying to do everything. It was impossible. That knowledge, of course, brought back all of her worries and doubts. She was pretty good at pretending she was fine, though. And that was definitely what she needed to do now.
She smiled brightly. “Hello! Wilcom!”
“Hiya, Emma,” Ben said as he led the way to the kitchen. “We saw the girls in your yard so we came on in. My daed and William are out there now, too.”
“I’m glad you all could come over.” Then, noticing that all three of them had full hands, she said, “What did you bring?”
“Berries,” Ben said. “Blackberries and strawberries, too. My brothers and I picked them just this morning.”
The fruit was in a medium-sized white stoneware bowl. As soon as he pulled the white dishcloth off the top of it, the delectable scent of fresh fruit floated across the kitchen.
She closed her eyes and sniffed deeply in appreciation. “They look wunderbaar. Danke.”
“It was nothing. We already washed them, too.”
“Perfect! Would you mind setting the bowl over there with the other food?”
While Ben went to do that, Beverly stepped to her side. “That is quite a spread, Emma. Were you cooking all night?”
“Nee. Just a little bit.”
Tricia chuckled. “That’s not what Lena said. At church she whispered that you were cooking most of yesterday and this morning, too.”
“Lena does like to talk. Let me see what you ladies brought.”
“I baked banana bread. I think it turned out well, but Beverly’s cake is what I can’t wait to try,” Tricia said.
Because truly, Beverly’s cake was a thing of beauty. Three layers, covered with a thick, homemade chocolate frosting . . . it looked delicious. “Oh, Beverly. You honor us.”
Beverly shrugged off the comment, acting as if she baked three-layer cakes from scratch all the time. Which, of course, she probably did. “It was nothing. You know how I like to bake.”
“Tell me how the inn is going,” Emma said as she waved Tricia and Ben back outside.
“It’s going,” Beverly said as she turned to watch Tricia and Ben go back out through the sliding glass door. “We’re busy, which is a blessing.”
“Sadie’s shared that she often visits your inn for teatime.”
“She does come over for tea almost every day.” Smiling softly, she added, “She’s so friendly and welcoming to my guests, I’m grateful that she joins us.”
“I think she also enjoys your baking.”
“I always bake too much, so I’m glad she does.”
“I’m jealous. I’m going to stop by one day, too,” she teased.
“I hope you will. My guests love to visit with locals.”
Emma noticed that she said the last while gazing out into the backyard but Beverly was frowning, too. “Is everything all right?”
Beverly nodded. “Oh, sure. Fine. I’m just a little worried about Tricia and Ben.”
That took Emma by surprise. “Why is that? I think they seem mighty happy together.”
“Oh, they’re happy. But I’m a little worried that they might be forgetting to be cautious.”
“What do they need to be cautious about?”
“Everything.”
Emma smiled before she realized that Beverly was being completely serious.
As if she sensed Emma’s confusion, Beverly said, “Because Tricia is my niece and not my daughter, I worry about meddling. I want to help her, but I don’t want to overstep my place, either.” She sighed. “That said, I have some experience having my heart broken. Tricia needs to tread carefully and not let her emotions get the best of her.”
“How would that happen?”
“Well, I’m worried she has already fallen in love with Ben.”
“Would that be a bad thing?” Emma couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. If she’d learned anything after Sanford’s death, it was that love was a wonderful thing and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“I think so.”
Though Ben wasn’t her child, Emma felt protective of him. “He’s a fine young man. She could do far worse.”
“I agree that he does seem nice. But it takes time to really know a person. Don’t you agree?”
If that was the case, then Emma really didn’t know what to think about the feelings she’d been experiencing around Jay. “I’m not sure,” she said at last.
“It’s different for us. We’re older. They’re so young, Emma.”
“Luckily, their relationship is out of our hands.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
Emma felt sorry for Beverly’s worries but she agreed that Ben and Tricia’s relationship was out of their hands. If Beverly didn’t realize that the couple was old enough to know how they felt—and that the Lord was already watching over them—Beverly wasn’t going to want Emma adding her opinions, too.
Therefore, it was time to switch topics. “You know what, I think everything is ready. Let’s go tell everyone.”
“Good idea.”
As they walked outside, Emma’s attention was immediately drawn to Annie, who was sitting on the ground crying. Jay was kneeling next to her, obviously trying to comfort her. “What happened?” She brushed a strand of Annie’s baby-soft hair away from her forehead. “Annie, are you hurt?”
Annie nodded, and Jay answered. “I think she’s all right. She simply had a little scare. She tripped when she was playing.” Jay’s expression was tender as he looked down at her youngest. To Emma’s surprise, she noticed that Annie was staring back at Jay with trust in her eyes.
“You better, Annie?” Emma asked gently. After Annie nodded again, Emma helped her to her feet. “All right, everyone, lunch is ready!” she called out. “Go on inside, fill your plates, and come back out here to eat.”
Right away, the small crowd followed her directions. Lena raced to the house by William’s side, Mark following on their heels. Ben and Tricia walked more sedately, looking oblivious to everyone around them. Beverly followed, holding Mandy’s hand.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief. It looked as though Mandy had gotten over whatever she’d been upset about earlier and Beverly had decided to put aside her worries for the time being.
Just as she was about to follow and make sure everyone had what they needed, Jay clasped her elbow. “Wait a minute, Emma. They’ll be fine. You, on the other hand, look like you could use a moment’s rest.”
Emma knew he was right. She did need a moment’s peace. Besides, the only person there who would need help was now perched on Jay’s lap. She pulled over one of her metal folding chairs and sat down next to him and Annie. “Thanks,” she said, feeling a little sheepish. “I guess I am looking a little frazzled.”
“You don’t look frazzled at all. I simply hate the idea of you running yourself ragged for all of us.”
“I’m not ragged.” When his eyebrows rose, she giggled. “Okay, maybe I am a little ragged, but it’s not your fault.”
“What happened? Life?”
She nodded. “I like how you said that. I think God was simply reminding me this afternoon that even best-laid plans can come tumbling down.”
“In spite of our best intentions.”
She nodded. “I should have known that, too.” Shaking off her mood, she said, “By the way, those berries look delicious. Danke for bringing them.”
He grinned as William and Mark popped back outside, their hands filled with heaping plates. “It’s the least we can do. My boys don’t get lunches like this too often. Obviously, they’re happy about it. Thank you for inviting us.”
“I’m glad you could come.”
Tilting his head down to peer at Annie, he spoke gently. “What do you think, Miss Annie? Are you ready to get some lunch?”
“Uh-huh.”
Jay stood up and set her on the ground. “We’d better get our plates before everything’s gone.”
Annie nodded, then to Emma’s surprise, slipped her hand into Jay’s. He gave her a little smile before leading the way inside.
Watching them, Emma silently gave praise. Here she’d been so nervous and worried about the number of people, the amount of food, and how everything would look. But God had shown her time and again that it was the special people in her life who she needed to concentrate on the most. And today was no different.
Everything else would be just fine.