“I got too old to live in the land of uncertainty.”
“But nothing in life is for certain, Evie. I could get killed driving home tonight.”
“Ach, don’t even say that, Liv.”
“No worries. I bet I drive as well as Jake.” She stepped closer and asked, “Is this the beginning of the end of our friendship?”
“I don’t want it to be.” But I also felt our bond disintegrating.
“You’ll only talk to me if I leave Butch and move home? Ach, I told you his name.” She slumped down in the recliner. “I might as well tell you. We’re thinking of moving to Philly soon.”
“But why?”
“Butch landed a better job. And he has friends there. He says living in Lancaster County is a drag.”
“But what will you do? Where will you live?”
“We haven’t figured that out yet. Philadelphia isn’t so far away. You can still visit us. Take the bus.”
“Are you sure you want to move to a big city?” I felt a gulf opening between us.
“Why not? It’ll be exciting. Come with us.”
“And leave my new job? No way.”
She sprang to her feet. “This was my job.”
“Yah, I know. What are you saying? That you’ll want it back if you don’t like living Englisch?”
“I might if something goes wrong with me and Butch. And working in Englisch restaurants is no fun. Did you know Glenn and I have been friends for years and years? In fact, the café’s design was my idea, koi pond and all.”
“But I’m all settled in. I love working and living here.”
“But what would I do if I decided to come home and my parents wouldn’t let me in the house looking like this? Plus, I’d have nowhere to work.”
“I wish you’d thought of all that before you cut your hair.” Although I felt sorry for her, I would not let her bamboozle me.
“I can’t believe you’d turn on me, your own flesh and blood.”
“Likewise, Olivia.” I felt tears pressing at the backs of my eyes, but I stood tall, shoulders erect. “We’d still buy your baked goods if needed. We have a lovely girl doing the baking here now, but you never know. She may eventually get married.”
Olivia glowered. “Don’t worry about my darkening your door ever again. If I have business with this nursery, I’ll go directly to the owner.”
She spun away without saying goodbye and slammed the door behind her. I figured wounded feelings were guiding her tongue, but I felt a searing pain, as though a limb had been severed.
At sunup, Minnie groaned and sniffed the air.
“I should have brought you breakfast, little one,” I told her.
I checked out the window and saw lights illuminating the main house’s kitchen. I freshened up and dove into clothes. By this time, Minnie was pawing at the door and whining to get out. When I snapped on her leash and opened the door, she tugged me outside. After relieving herself, she dragged me to the main house’s door just as Beatrice opened it.
“Buongiorno, ragazze,” she said. “Good morning, girls. Come in.”
Minnie yipped as Missy and Heath sniffed her over, no doubt detecting trace aromas of ham. Beatrice filled the dogs’ three food dishes, and their jaws chomped into the kibble with gusto, as if they hadn’t eaten for weeks.
“How about some coffee?” Beatrice asked me. Before I could answer, she was filling a cup. “If it’s too strong, I have cream or milk.” She set out a small carton of cream.
“This is perfect.” I dribbled in some cream and delighted in the roasted, bitter taste. “I was glad to have Minnie with me last night.”
“Yes, she’s a good little watchdog.”
“She would have let me know if a prowler was lurking about.”
“Che strano—how strange—my bedroom window was open. And I thought I heard a woman’s voice.”
“I did have an uninvited female visitor, but I promised not to tell anyone.”
Beatrice wagged her finger. “Never mind fretting. I recognized Olivia’s voice right away. And I got a look at her hair.”
I envisioned Beatrice tiptoeing down to the kitchen to watch and straining to listen to our conversation.
“It sounded as though you were arguing. I’ve never heard Olivia raise her voice.”
“Me neither.” I covered my blabbing mouth. I was tempted to tell her everything. That Olivia had threatened to steal my job if she needed it, and probably live in my cabin. Beatrice might know what Glenn’s reaction would be. I was aching to tell her all about Olivia’s threats, but I mustn’t become a gossip like those who had plagued me.
“Her hairdo was atrocious.” Beatrice pulled out a hairpin and adjusted her bun. “Hideous. Why would a lovely young woman do such a thing?”
“She said it was for a good cause, but I’ve promised not to speak of it.” I sipped my coffee to keep myself from tattling more. “I mustn’t gossip.”
“Telling the truth isn’t gossiping.”
“It seems a fine line.” I had to hold my ground.
She reinserted the hairpin. “I certainly hope you weren’t arguing over a man.”
“No, although don’t men creep into most every conversation?” I needed to steer our discussion in a different direction. “I was very careful to keep Minnie inside.”
“That’s good, but I don’t think our little Minnie would run off. She misses Rose too much.”
I felt the air leaking out of my balloon. The fact that Minnie was devoted to Rose while the pooch barely knew me made me feel deflated. Well, what did I expect? I reminded myself I didn’t even like dogs. Not most of them, anyway. But I did love my cousin Olivia. And I’d thought she loved me.
The rest of the day whizzed by like a roller-coaster ride at a carnival, with twists and turns on rough tracks.
Our bread delivery was late. “Sorry, folks. Transmission problems,” Scott said. “I had to swap out vans. And no rye bread today.”
I tried to support him. “I’m sure it couldn’t be helped.” And yet my confidence in motorized vehicles had diminished.
Minutes later, three Englisch women brought five
