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heard that she had married, discarding the Amish life for good. After that, Melvin knew there was no chance of real reconciliation.
    As the years merged into more, there was only news about Tilly via Ruth. At the time Tilly left, fifteen-year-old Ruth was the only one in the family who even knew where Tilly had gone . . . and later, that she’d married and given birth to twin daughters.
    Melvin had always assumed Tilly would have preferred to correspond with her childhood best friend, Josie Riehl, who’d married Melvin and Tilly’s younger brother Sam. But, oddly enough, it was Ruthie whom Tilly’d chosen to share her thoughts with. This still struck Melvin as surprising, since, with eight years between them, the two sisters hadn’t been all that close before.
    Walking along Eden Road toward his parents’ old farmhouse now, Melvin was anxious to get the anniversary plans under way. Thus far, he and his brothers had kept it quiet from Daed and Mamm, but today he felt it was time to tell them something about the gathering next Saturday noon for dessert. “Sure wouldn’t want to surprise them too much,” he whispered to himself, uneasy about his father’s heart.

    Ruth stayed after the ladies’ luncheon in the church basement, helping with cleanup in the kitchen. When she dried her hands and left for the stairs, she heard Jim Montgomery’s voice and noticed he and two other men had just finished tearing down the folding tables and chairs.
    “Ruth,” he called to her, looking especially smart in his tan suit. His light brown hair was swept to one side and waved gently over his forehead and, like most young men his age, Jim’s sideburns were wide and long. “It’s nice to see you.”
    “You too, Jim.” She mentioned her part in the luncheon, pleased by his seeking her out this soon after their dinner date last week. His interest was conveyed in his glance and the way he walked quickly toward her. It was obvious he couldn’t suppress how he felt about her.
    “Are you going to church tonight?” He sported his usual engaging smile.
    “I am.”
    “What if I picked you up? We could sit together,” he said, his golden-brown eyes twinkling. “And . . . there’s a great little pie place not far from here.”
    “Sounds wonderful.” She smiled.
    He nodded and pushed one hand into his trouser pocket.“Terrific. I’ll look forward to it.” He walked her outside and to her car, then waved and headed off to his own vehicle.
    This is a big step , Ruth thought, realizing how very public their friendship was becoming.
    Ruth wondered if Tilly would approve of Jim, but since Tilly and her family didn’t always attend Sunday evening services, Ruth decided she didn’t need to reveal anything. Not just yet.

    Sitting with Jim in church turned out to be less intimidating than Ruth might have expected. For one thing, not a single person looked twice at them during the brief fellowship time prior to the sermon. And afterward, Jim didn’t want to linger, so they made a quick exit.
    At the pie place, which looked almost like a Mennonite grandmother’s breakfast room, complete with floral wallpaper and ruffled yellow curtains, Jim asked what she’d like to eat and politely ordered for her.
    They’d chosen a comfy booth, away from the more occupied area where families were talking and enjoying dessert—everything from pies to cake and ice cream.
    Jim mentioned how happy some of the families looked, in particular one family of six, where the mother beamed down at a new baby. Ruth wondered if it was a roundabout way to gauge her interest in children. “Having a large family can surely be a blessing,” she said. “Though my own family hit some rather rough patches.” She paused, not ready to tell him all about that, though he had to suspect as much, seeing as how she and Tilly were no longer Amish. “Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe it’s been three years since I’ve seen them. But my sister and I are