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patients and asking the nurses what they had seen during the day regarding each one. While the nurses served the supper trays, Astrid stopped in the office to see what absolutely required her attention. She picked up the list of needed supplies and sent the two Indian women home for the night, leaving Corabell on duty. Astrid went to Elizabeth’s to drop off some papers, said good-night, and headed home. Sure enough, it was seven thirty. But that was earlier than some other nights.
    The sun was setting, with a fine line glowing on the western horizon. The evening star, holding back the true dark of night, was already smiling down at her. A bullfrog announced his availability, while the others sang the melody, and a mosquito whined in her ear. Somewhere over in the tents, a baby cried and was hushed, a dog barked twice, and she could see the kerosene light on her front porch, backed up by the lighted windows.
    Their house did look friendly, one of Astrid’s requirements when she and Daniel had discussed the plans. She mounted the steps to the back porch, the lamp flickering in a slight breeze. A nip in the air reminded her that fall might be a bit late this year, but it was coming soon. Even the air smelled like fall, a tang to it that summer didn’t have.
    â€œI’m home.”
    â€œI’ll be right there.” Amelia bustled through the door into the kitchen. “I have your supper in the warming oven.”
    Astrid had given up saying “You needn’t do that.” Amelia, like her son, would do what she felt was right, and she saw her place in Blessing as taking care of her son and his doctor wife. And her rose garden, which was known and admired far and wide. The work of her hands graced the registration counter at the boardinghouse, Penny’s mercantile, the church on Sunday morning, and Thorliff’s house.
    Astrid set her bag in its appointed place by the door and, after washing her hands at the sink, allowed herself to finally sink down in a chair at the table.
    â€œYou look tired.”
    â€œI shouldn’t after a nap like I had.”
    â€œOne nap can’t make up for all the short nights.” Amelia set a plate with baked squash, potatoes, and baked chicken in front of her. “Would you like a roll? I’ll warm it for you, since it was baked yesterday.”
    Astrid stretched her neck, tilting her head from side to side. “Thanks, but this is plenty.” Amelia was already slicing tworolls. Astrid shook her head for what little good her opinion counted. Amelia buttered them and laid them in a frying pan, then pulled it to the hotter section of the stove.
    â€œThat’s okay. I wanted one too. All of a sudden that just sounded good. I thought tea might be good too.” She fetched two mugs from the cupboard and set them on the cooler end of the stove, then poured water from the steaming kettle into the rose-trimmed teapot. The fragrances of tea and hot butter waltzed across to the table.
    Astrid smashed her potatoes and added butter, all the while shaking her head. She and Daniel would certainly not be this well cared for without Amelia. And the lady had worried she would not be useful.
    â€œHow are your English classes going?” she asked.
    Amelia smiled. “I think I’ll add one on Saturday afternoon for some of the men who are too tired in the evening and for any of the wives who want to come. I have ten, no, eleven pupils in the class during school. Two hours every morning is not really enough to catch them up with the others. We need people to tutor those who are so far behind in school.”
    â€œThat’s an interesting thought. Like my two Indian nurses. Mor is helping them with English, and while they can read, just barely, she is helping with that too.” Astrid paused. “Perhaps that is too much for her right now.” Just the thought of her mother’s grief brought her own crashing back down on her. Far was gone