Grabill, Indiana
“I can’t believe that Vic and I will be moving to Pennsylvania in the morning.” Eleanor Lapp choked back tears as she stood in the Schwartz family’s yard and gave her friend Doretta a hug. “You and I have been good friends for such a long time, and I’m going to miss our special times together.”
Doretta teared up. “Oh, my dear friend, I shall miss you too, but a new adventure awaits you and Vic in what I’ve heard is the beautiful state of Pennsylvania.” She paused to wipe the moisture on her cheeks. “Our friendship will remain strong, because we’ll keep in touch through lots of letters and some phone calls. I’ll write to you often, I promise.”
“I will send you letters as well, but it won’t be the same as getting together for long chats and doing fun things together, the way we have since we were kinner.” Eleanor glanced toward the barn, where her husband of one week had gone to say goodbye to Doretta’s brother, Glen.
Days prior, Vic and Eleanor had packed up all their belongings with some help from her family. With the exception of their wedding gifts and Eleanor’s personal things, the newly married couple didn’t have a lot of items to bring along on their move. But maybe that was a good thing, since it would make moving easier and a little less stressful. Soon after Eleanor accepted his marriage proposal, Vic had purchased a home for them in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and he’d recently bought a few pieces of furniture, so that when he and Eleanor arrived they wouldn’t have to sleep or sit on the floor. He had taken care of that when he’d gone home for a few weeks before his and Eleanor’s wedding. Eleanor looked forward to helping her husband pick out the rest of their furnishings, which they planned to do within the first few days of their arrival.
Doretta gave Eleanor’s back a few gentle pats. “Your place is with Vic now, and you knew before you married him that his plan was always to return to the area where he grew up.”
Eleanor gave a slow nod. “I’m excited to go and start my new life, but it’s going to take a little time to adjust to being apart from my family and friends. Don’t worry about me,” she quickly added. “I’m sure I’ll be fine once we get there and have settled into our new home. I love Vic very much, and I won’t let anything about this move come between us.”