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from Joe-Joe and told him to go ahead. “He’s looking to pick a fight with the Mosiers,” I said to Daed as I held the basket in front of me.
    Daed looked from Timothy to me and then back to Timothy. He shook his head. “No fighting, son—you hear? Sure, some things can’t be fixed, but you let those be. You understand?”
    I glared at Timothy. “Like a mantel?”
    He shot me an angry look.
    â€œWhat’s this all about?” Daed took a step toward Timothy.
    â€œHe broke a mantel Jonathan Mosier made. I gave all the money I made today to Martin and Mervin to help pay for it.”
    His bushy eyebrows shot up. “Jonathan Mosier . . . Would that be Dirk’s son?” It was as if Daed hadn’t heard the last part of what I’d said.
    I shrugged. “He’s Martin and Mervin’s cousin.”
    Daed took a deep breath. “Did you pay for it, son?”
    Timothy’s eyes narrowed.
    â€œI just told you, I did,” I answered. “Although I’m sure I didn’t pay enough.”
    â€œPay her back,” Daed ordered.
    Timothy nodded, with no trace of his earlier bravado.
    â€œAddie, come here,” Mutter called out. Joe-Joe was beside her now, trying to hold her hand.
    As I approached, she whispered, “What were you telling your father?”
    â€œIt’s nothing.”
    Her voice grew louder as she spoke. “You were talking about the Mosiers. Did those twins do something?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI knew I shouldn’t have let you go.”
    â€œIt’s nothing to do with me. Honest.” I passed her, shifting the basket to the side and taking Joe-Joe’s outstretched hand, pulling him alongside me into the Haus.
    I sniffed, but all I could smell was the lemon scent of the polish I’d put on the wood floors the day before. Aenti Nell hadn’t started dinner. I stopped in the middle of the kitchen, sliding the basket onto the tabletop. There was leftover chicken from the night before, unless they’d eaten it for lunch.
    â€œAddie.” Mutter limped through the back door. “What’s going on?”
    â€œDinner,” I answered. “That’s what’s going on—or not.” I’d so looked forward to a break from cooking that I couldn’t stop the disappointment in my voice. I opened the refrigerator. The chicken was gone.
    Mutter sat down in her chair.
    Aenti Nell cleared her throat from where she stood in the doorway to the quilting room. “I lost track of time.”
    â€œI see.” I placed my hand atop my Kapp, as if the gesture might keep my emotions in check. Clearly it was time for me to take charge.
    Mutter picked up a pair of pants, stabbing her needle into the fabric. “The Mansleit will need to eat soon.”
    The menfolk would eat when the food was ready.
    I’d put two pounds of cooked hamburger into the freezer the day before, so I could make a quick spaghetti sauce. Ipoured Joe-Joe a glass of lemonade and then told him, as he downed it, “Go get me four jars of tomatoes—one at a time—and an onion from the cellar.”
    He drained his glass, handed it to me, and started toward the basement door. “After you do that I’ll tell you what to pick from the garden.”
    We had lettuce, spinach, and radishes ready to use, and I’d baked bread the day before.
    Aenti Nell picked up the basket. “How many potholders did you sell?” she asked as I pulled the sealed bag of hamburger from the freezer.
    â€œNearly all,” I said. I motioned for her to come closer to me, and as I turned toward the sink, lowered my voice so Mutter wouldn’t hear. I explained briefly what happened as I plopped the plastic bag of hamburger in the sink and ran warm water over it to defrost it.
    â€œAch, Addie, that’s a shame,” she said. “For you.” She shook her head. “That Timothy. I hate to see this