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hay.”
    Henry laughed. “There’s an awful lot here for you to go through. My good friend was quite the hoarder.”
    “How well we know,” Elsie and Arlene said at the same time.
    “Well, I won’t keep ya. If I don’t get goin’ soon, Peaches will probably wake up and start howling.”
    Elsie leaned closer to Arlene and whispered in her ear. When her sister nodded, she stepped up to Henry and said, “Ben Yoder came by earlier, with a pheasant he’d stuffed for Dad. How would you like to have it, in remembrance of him?”
    “Are you sure? You already gave me his old straw
hut
.”
    “The hat won’t hold up forever,” Arlene said, “but you can put the pheasant somewhere in your house, and it should last a long time.”
    “Jah, probably a lot longer than me.” Henry’s eyes misted and he gave them both a hug. “I’d be happy to take the pheasant. Oh, and when I get to Florida, I’ll remember to send you both a postcard.”

    Berlin
    “What would you like for supper this evening?” Aunt Verna asked when she entered the living room.
    Doris turned the corner of the page down from the book she was reading. “I believe there’s a package of ground beef in the refrigerator. Maybe you could make a meatloaf.”
    The older woman’s gray eyebrows squished together. “You want me to fix ground peas?”
    Exasperated, Doris heaved a sigh. For most of the day, her aunt had misinterpreted what she’d said.
Her hearing is probably getting worse. It would make things easier if she would get a hearing aid.
“Aunt Verna,” Doris said loudly and as patiently as she could, “I suggested that you make a meatloaf for supper, using the ground beef in the refrigerator.”
    Aunt Verna moved her head slowly up and down. “Sure, I can do that. Should I get started on it now?”
    “If you like.” Doris made sure to speak loud enough. She felt worn out from repeating herself so many times throughout the day.
    “All right then. Give a holler if you need anything.” Aunt Verna turned and shuffled off toward the kitchen.
    Even though Doris appreciated the extra help, she’d rather it be one of her sisters doing the cooking and cleaning for her. In addition to Aunt Verna’s inability to hear things well, she often became sidetracked, like when she’d left the refrigerator door open after lunch. Doris discovered it when she’d hobbled out to the kitchen for a glass of water. Fortunately, she had caught it before anything spoiled.
    Another time, Aunt Verna turned on the water in the kitchen sink and forgot to turn it off because she’d gone outside to fill the birdfeeders. Doris heard it running all the way from the living room.
    She shut the book, placing it on her lap, and closed her eyes.
I wouldn’t even be in this predicament right now if I hadn’t fallen down the stairs.
Tears seeped from her eyes.
I can’t do much of anything around the house. I have to rely on others to help me. Their support is appreciated, but I feel helpless and don’t like being this way.
She sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
My clumsiness caused me to lose the child I so desperately wanted.
    Opening her eyes, Doris placed both hands on her stomach. “I’m sorry, so sorry,” she sobbed. Even though the baby was gone, she spoke as though it was still there. “This is all my fault. I’m the reason you were never born.”
    Doris rubbed her nose, breathing slowly to calm herself.
Will I ever conceive again?

C HAPTER 6
Charm
    T here’s a postcard and a couple of bills lying on the table. I went out and got them when the mail came earlier.” Aunt Verna unwrapped a piece of peppermint candy and popped it in her mouth.
    “Who’s the postcard from?” Elsie questioned.
    “Go ahead—take a look.”
    Elsie picked up the card and smiled. “It’s from Dad’s friend Henry Raber. He says he and Peaches are doing well, and enjoying the warm weather in Sarasota. They’ve been going to the beach quite a bit, and Henry often visits