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pilots. I was born in ’22 and went up for the first time when I was five, strapped into my mother’s lap. I was eight when I first handled the controls by myself, still in my mom’s lap. The family became an act at shows all across America. The Whetstone Family Fliers. We did barnstorming, air shows, stunts of all kinds. It’s how we made a living for years.”
    Joshua hadn’t returned to his plate of food. “That sounds reckless.”
    “We took every precaution.”
    “But what good did it all do?”
    “The crowds loved it. They cheered so loudly everywhere we went. It gave them joy for a few hours.” Becky lifted her head despite herself and the two young men were treated to a dazzling smile that struck right through both of them. “You should have seen the kids. How excited they were when we took them up for a couple of dollars and they saw the world the way an eagle sees it every day.” She looked at Moses. “My dad told me your grandfather went up with him and shouted praises to God.”
    Moses was startled. “My grandfather? I never heard of such a thing.”
    “He loved it. Dad reckons he would have been a flier too if the Amish hadn’t decided to ban planes at the same time they said no to cars and electricity.”
    Moses took this in.
    “So then you also learned to fly?” Joshua still hadn’t returned to his food. “You are a pilot? A woman?”
    Becky surprised herself by laughing instead of growling. “Yes. A woman. God’s woman. Up there with the angels and the eagles and the swans—I did see a flight of white swans once.” She drank her lemonade, her eyes gleaming over the rim of the glass. “I flew alone for the first time when I was fifteen. It was while we were in Kenya.”
    “And the Caribbean?” asked Moses. “What happened there?”
    “More flying. Talking to people about the love of God. Medical supplies. Food. Clean water. Such beauty in the Caribbean. Flying over it all like a cloud. Or like the trade winds. That mission was one of the greatest blessings of my life.”
    Joshua ran a hand through his straw-colored hair. “Now I know why you are Ausnahme .”
    Moses grinned. “An exception. And exceptional.”
    Becky smiled at him. “Thank you, Moses.”
    “With all of that you must be ready to settle down now, ja ? Is that the good news? Becky Whetstone has returned to Paradise for good?”
    “Oh, I don’t know anything about that. I’m pretty sure we’re just here for the summer. After that, I have no idea.”
    Moses’ eyes settled into a dark green like Becky had often seen in deep water off the coast of Turks and Caicos. “Surely you’re going to stay? Don’t you consider this your real home?”
    “My father and mother might, Moses. It’s really more their home than mine. Africa has that part of my heart. And the Caribbean. But mostly Africa.”
    “But we are your people. You come from Amish. You belong with Amish.”
    “I’ve never taken the vows, Moses. Never been baptized.”
    “But you will, won’t you?”
    “I—” Before she could finish, her mother approached the table.
    It looked as if Moses and Joshua were going to bolt but she smiled at them. “Joshua Miller. Moses Yoder. Good day. How was the meal?”
    “Very gut , Mrs. Whetstone.”
    “Everything was perfect, Mrs. Whetstone.”
    “I’m so glad to hear it. You will have to excuse Becky and me. We must help the women clean up. And the men will soon be wanting your help with the benches and tables.” She glanced down at Joshua’s plate. “What’s this? Were your eyes bigger than your stomach?”
    “Oh. I forgot.” Joshua quickly attacked the food that he had left. “We were all talking so much.”
    “I see that. Well, perhaps you can visit again after the singing tonight. Good afternoon.”
    Joshua dipped his head. “ Guten Tag .”
    Becky stood to leave with her mother and Moses got to his feet. “Good afternoon, Rebecca, Mrs. Whetstone.”
    A few minutes later as the two women walked