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sent Annika a sidelong glance, trying not to frown. “You end up spending more time with Caleb.” If Annika was with Caleb, Katy would stay far, far away.
    Annika sighed, lowering her head. She picked up the wooden spoon and slowly circled it through the pan of simmering peas. “I don’t know if I’ll be spending time with Caleb or not. I’d like to, but he’s so shy.”
    Katy almost laughed. Caleb,
shy?
    “He just won’t ask to keep company with me. And of course I can’t ask him …”
    Even though Katy didn’t like Caleb, she did care about Annika. She hated to see her friend so sad. “Well, he’s over here every day, helping out in the milking barn. So if you’re around more, he’ll see you more, and maybe he’ll get enough nerve to, you know, ask to spend time with you.”
    Annika looked up, her eyes hopeful. “You think so?”
    “Sure. The more you’re together, the closer you’re sure to grow.” Katy thought about being in class with Bryce,going to forensics tournaments with Bryce, and attending homecoming with Bryce. Would they grow closer too? Should she even hope for such a thing, knowing Bryce wasn’t Mennonite?
    “I’d like that more than anything.”
    Caleb’s mother had once told Katy that Caleb had a crush on her. If Caleb started paying more attention to Annika, Katy wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. She said,“Me too.”
    Annika gave Katy a quick hug. “You’re a good friend, Katy.” She scurried toward the door. “But you need to get your supper finished, so I’ll get out of your way. I’ll come back … tomorrow after school?”
    Katy turned off the fire underneath the skillet and both pans. “That’d be fine. Mrs. Graber might be here tomorrow and need my help, but I can still talk to you while we work.”
    “Or I’ll help too, and we can finish early. Then maybe we can be … I don’t know … hanging out in the barn or something when Caleb arrives.” Annika’s cheeks flushed pink.
    Katy stifled a groan. Deliberately go where Caleb would be? But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, playing matchmaker for Annika and Caleb. At least Caleb wouldn’t be pestering her anymore. Forcing a smile, Katy shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
    Annika left, and Katy drained the potatoes so she could mash them. Not until she was mounding the steaming, buttery potatoes into a serving bowl did she stop to think about something. Now that Shelby had a boyfriend, she spent more time with Jayden than with her girlfriends.If Annika and Caleb started courting, Annika probably wouldn’t be around Katy much anymore. With Dad getting married, he’d be focusing on his new wife instead of his daughter. A sad thought pinched her chest. Every person important to her seemed to be drifting away from her. Except one.
Bryce.
    The back door slammed. Dad clomped into the kitchen. He sniffed the air. “Mmm, Katy-girl, it smells good in here. Is supper ready?”
    “I just need to make the gravy,” Katy said. “Maybe five more minutes?”
    “Good! I’ll go up and change, and then we can eat.” Dad headed around the corner. He called over his shoulder,“By the way, if it’s not too late, you can go to the forensics meet this weekend if you want to. Rosemary said a couple of ladies have volunteered to help her and Gramma Ruthie, so they won’t need you on Saturday.”
    Katy stared after her dad with her mouth hanging open. If she went to the tournament, she’d have another day with Bryce. Dad didn’t know it, but he was playing matchmaker too.

Chapter Five
    As they had for as far back as she could remember, Katy and Dad sat in the living room at the end of the day, and Dad read from the Bible. Katy loved their nightly reading time. The beauty of the old-world language in the Bible combined with the security of the routine always drew the day to a pleasant conclusion.
    Dad opened his worn Bible and began reading from the fortieth chapter of Psalms. Katy closed her eyes and listened, Dad’s deep