“Looks good!” Teasingly, Jed reached out as if to grab Thomas’s plate. “What is that? Carrot cake?” he asked.
Thomas nodded and cradled his plate protectively. “It tastes good. Want me to get you some?”
“It looks delicious, but I’ll go over and get some myself—when your sister Sarah is ready for dessert.”
The boys turned to Sarah. “There are lots of cakes and pies, Sissy,” Timothy said.
Hearing her name on Jed’s lips infused her with pleasure. “I’m thinking about chocolate-cream pie,” she said. She could feel Jed’s regard, and although feeling a bit shaky, she managed to smile at him. “I’m ready for dessert. Shall we go?” She stood and smoothed out her apron.
Jed grinned and rose. “Chocolate-cream pie?” he asked as they headed toward the dessert table.
“Maybe,” Sarah said with amusement, “or maybe not. I won’t know what I want until I see it.”
He chuckled. “I’m thinking I’ll have more than one thing.”
“I may, too,” she replied with a sudden feeling of gladness. The day was bright and sunny, and life was good.
The lingering memory of Jed’s answering laughter did strange things to her insides as Sarah selected a slice of chocolate-cream pie and a piece of peanut-butter fudge.
Jed, she saw, chose peach cobbler and a piece of her cherry pie. His favorite kind of pie, she remembered, pleased.
Sarah enjoyed spending the day in Jed’s company. She liked seeing him with her family. She knew her parents well enough to know when they liked someone, and they liked Jedidiah. It was too bad that he lived in Pennsylvania. She reminded herself that this was simply a day to remember. Tomorrow Jed would leave and Sarah would never see him again. It was just as well, since she needed to be near for Mam.
Soon it was afternoon and the women had begun to clean the tables and collect the leftovers. Sarah rose. “Time to help Mary in the kitchen.” And it was time to check on her mother, who had gone inside moments earlier.
“I enjoyed spending time with your family,” Jed said, his brown eyes glowing.
Sarah averted her glance from the warmth in his gaze. “It was a nice day.”
“Sarah!” Mam stood at the screen door. “Would you please bring in the rest of the desserts?”
She smiled in her mother’s direction. “Ja, Mam.”
“Please see me before you leave,” Jed said. “There is something I’d like to talk with you about.”
Warmth curled in her belly as she nodded. “Is everything all right?”
“Ja, of course. I want to talk with you about the singing here this evening.”
A singing, she thought. It had been a long time since she’d attended a singing. But thoughts of her mother’s health tamped down her joy. How could she leave Mam? She heard Jed talking with her older brothers as she headed toward the house. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend a few more hours with him before he left for home?
Later, after the women had cleaned up after the meal and put away the food, Sarah came out of the Miller house and spied Jed seated in a chair on the front porch.
He stood when he saw her. “I spoke with your brothers. They are attending the singing tonight. Will you come?”
“I don’t know if I can.... Mam...”
Jed nodded as if he understood.
“I’d like to come,” she was quick to add. “I’ll be sorry to see the day end.” Then she glanced away as she wondered how he might have interpreted her words.
“The day is not over,” he said softly. “Your mother seems well today.”
“Ja, ’tis true.” Sarah wanted nothing more than to stay. “I’ll check with Mam to see if she needs me.”
“Your brothers will be there,” he told her. His voice dropped. “I’d like to take you home afterward.”
Sarah’s heart started to race. Wouldn’t it be exciting to go to the singing and be driven home by Jedidiah Lapp! “I’ll check,” she said and fled back into the house to ask her mother. Her heart beat wildly as she entered the kitchen and searched for Mam. It had been a long time since she’d gone to a singing. For months now, concern for her mam had kept her home.
But Mam had done surprisingly well this day. Was it possible that her mother would be fine and that she could attend?
She caught sight of her mother seated in a chair in the Millers’ great room. “Mam.” She approached, almost afraid to ask; she didn’t want to be disappointed. “There is a singing tonight—”
“Ja!” Mary Miller said. “It will be gut for you to go.”
Sarah didn’t want to miss it, but she wouldn’t put her wishes above her mother’s needs.
“Sarah,” her mam said with a smile, “you should stay.” She frowned as if it had just occurred to her how much her youngest daughter had missed during these past months. “It’s been a long time for you.”
“It’s all right,” Sarah assured her. “I’ll come home with you and Dat, but if you are feeling well enough, I’d like to return. Ervin and Toby are going. I can ride back with them.”
“Or you could stay and one of my sons can take you home,” Mary Miller said. “I’m sure P.J. would be happy to see you home.”
“I’d be happy to bring her home,” Jed said as he stepped into the room.
Sarah felt his presence immediately. It vibrated in the room, making her fully aware of him. She watched her mother study the young man and nod. “As long as you get home safely,” Ruth directed toward her daughter. “Where is your dat?” She stood, wobbling a little on unsteady legs before righting herself.
“Daniel is outside near the barn with Pete, Arlin and Ned Troyer,” Jedidiah offered. Someone called him from outside. “Arlin,” he explained with a smile before he left to return to the men who were gathered out in the yard. Sarah felt the loss of his presence.
“And what of the twins?” her mother asked. As if exhausted, she sat down again. “Have you seen them?”
“They are outside with my two youngest.” Sally Troyer reached back to retie her apron strings. “They are getting along just fine. Perhaps your boys would like to spend the night with my Joseph and John.”
Her heart gave a little lurch. Without the twins to wreak havoc on the house, Sarah could attend the singing, leaving her mother to rest quietly with her dat nearby.
“I think Timothy and Thomas would like that,” Mam said. She focused her gaze on Sarah. “You’d like to go?”
Sarah nodded. “Ja, but I can stay home if you need me.”
“Nay,” she said, “there is no reason for you to stay. I will be fine. Now, where did you say Daniel is?” Her eyes lit up as she spied her husband out the window. “Ah, there he is!”
“I’ll tell him we are ready to go,” Sarah said with quiet joy.
Mam frowned. “I thought you’d stay.”
Sarah shook her head. “I will see you settled before I return with Ervin and Toby.”
Her mam’s expression grew soft. “You are a gut daughter.” She stood a bit wobbly but managed to right herself without help. “I will come with you to get your vadder.”
“I can bring back clean clothes for the twins,” Sarah offered as she helped her mother across the room.
“No