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you, Mamm. We’ll visit you soon.” She gave her a quick hug, and while Amanda and Elizabeth said their goodbyes, Kathryn hurried back to the table and loaded a tray with the dirty forks, mugs, and napkins.
    Kathryn was washing the mugs and forks when Elizabeth came up behind her.
    “What was really on your mind during Mary Rose’s visit?” Elizabeth asked.
    Wiping her hands on a rag, Kathryn faced her. “I think God spoke to me today.”
    Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “When?”
    “While you and Amanda were preparing the cake and coffee, Mary Rose spilled her heart to me, telling me how much she’s been thinking of Anna Mae and wishing she could see her and know she was doing well.”
    Elizabeth gasped. “Oh my.”
    Kathryn dropped the rag on the counter and grasped Elizabeth’s sleeves. “This is the sign I prayed for. I asked God to give me a sign that I’m doing the right thing by helping Anna Mae come for a visit. This was the sign, Mamm. He answered me, and I’m going to listen.”
    Elizabeth smiled. “So it seems that God does bless this visit from Anna Mae.”
    “I guess so,” Kathryn said. “Would you walk out front with me?” She led her mother to the front counter. “Do you think I should make a reservation for them at the Paradise B&B so they have privacy? They may want to get away from the family at night and be alone.”
    Elizabeth nodded and fished the phone book from the pile of papers on the desk. “That’s a great idea. I’ll find the number for you.” She pointed out the number, and Kathryn’s heart pounded as she dialed.
    While the phone rang, she hoped David would forgive her for going behind his back and that God would lead the family to a joyous reconciliation in honor of His Son’s birth.
    On Sunday, Kathryn carried a pitcher of water from her sister-in-law Vera Zook’s kitchen to the large family room where the rows of tables were set for the noon meal after the church service. Keeping with tradition, the service had been held in the large room with the moveable walls pushed out in order to accommodate the backless benches for the members of the church district. Families within the district took turns hosting the services every other Sunday during the year. A schedule was set up in advance so that each family would know when it was their turn.
    After the four-hour service, the benches were transformed into tables, and the women retired to the kitchen to prepare the food and serve the men first. Each family provided a dish.
    Pennsylvania Dietsch echoed throughout the room as Kathryn made her way around, refilling cups and nodding to friends and family. Her eyes moved to a small table in the back of the room, off on its own away from the crowd, where an English couple, friends of her sister Beth Anne, sat chatting.
    That’s where Anna Mae and Kellan would sit—by themselves, away from the family.
    The thought came to Kathryn before she could stop it. Her thoughts had been with Anna Mae during the service. Instead of concentrating on the bishop and ministers who had been preaching the Word, Kathryn found herself glancing over toward the English couple sitting in the back, off by themselves, during the service.
    If Anna Mae and Kellan were to visit and attend a service, they too would sit alone, away from the family, like strangers—perhaps not strangers, but more like visitors instead of members of the family.
    Finding her pitcher empty, Kathryn stepped back into the kitchen where Anna Mae’s three sisters, Barbie, Vera, and Fannie, were flittering around the kitchen, preparing to bring out the cakes and cookies for dessert. Kathryn wondered how they would react to seeing their youngest sister again. Would they welcome her with open arms despite the pain of her leaving? Or would they be standoffish, giving her a mere nod and cold greeting when she arrived?
    “Kathryn,” Vera said, holding out a plate of cookies. “Would you take these out?”
    “Of course,” Kathryn