hate to rush off, but I believe we’ve covered everything, and I really must make a stop at the grocery store before going home.” It was then that she re minded Darlene of her anniversary. “It’s this Saturday, you know.”
Darlene’s face broke into a broad grin. “Oh, that’s right.” She paused. “Well, if you’ve got a list—”
“Right here,” Katie said, pulling it out and waving it.
“Then I should say you’ll be fine.” Darlene encouraged her to be on her way. “I’ll finish things up here. Don’t worry none.”
143
Katie was ever so grateful and quickly said her goodbyes to the womenfolk, assuring them that she’d see them first thing in the morning.
“We’ll be seeing you tonight at church, too, won’t we?” asked one.
“By all means.” Katie thanked Darlene for her kindness and went out the back door. She made note of the sun’s position in the sky, ignoring her own wristwatch, which, had she glanced at it, would’ve told her that she had less than ninety minutes to do her grocery buying and supper preparations for the evening meal. Besides that, she ought to change clothes before going to the meetinghouse tonight with Clan. And then tomorrow the all-day bake sale. Had she taken on too much for herself?.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, she thought she ought to make time to brush through her hair and pin it up in a fresh bun beneath her prayer veiling. Sighing, she kept her eyes on the road, resisting the urge to go too fast.
At market she referred to her list, gathering up all the necessary ingredients.Darlene’s right,she thought, waiting in line at the check-out.I’ll be fine.She did feel somewhat like a chicken with its head
144
chopped off, with all the running she must do.
Yet pleasing even surprising Clan was uppermost in her mind. Whatever it took to complete her plans, that was what she’d see to. The day was, after all, one they would long remember.
“Are you sure you want to celebrate alone?” her darling had asked last week at the supper table as they’d lingered over dessert.
“More than anything,” she’d said. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” Unexpectedly, he had slid his chair over next to hers, turned to gather her into his arms, and kissed her soundly. “We’ll make the best of the day,” Clan assured her, and she understood that he, too, was thinking of what sort of anniversary dinner and merriment they might’ve had if they were still living and worshiping amongst the People.
“Oh, Clan,” she’d said, “do you have any idea how muchIlove you?”
He had declared emphatically thathelovedherthat much and more, and placed his hand gently on her back and kissed her yet again.
That evening discussion had taken place six days ago, and neither of them had brought up the topic since. Katie had even
145
begun to wonder if the date had already slipped Dan’s mind until yesterday at breakfast. He’d mentioned going over and spending “part of the afternoon at Brother Miller’s place.” She had no idea just whatthatmeant, but she was fairly certain his being gone might have something to do with the gift he was surely going to give her.
The minute supper was finished she dove into baking for the annual sale. It would be an all-day affair, and she had to be on hand the whole time, overseeing the setting up of tables, the display of baked goods, the exchange of money things such as that. She would just have to catch up on everything else round herownhouse tomorrow.
She made four dozen pineapple drop cookies along with a chocolate-mint dream cake. All for the Fall Bake Sale. That done, she hurried upstairs to freshen up, only to find Clan had nodded off to sleep.Such a busy week,she thought. Yet she knew he didn’t want to miss the meeting. She would let him snooze a few more minutes.
Meanwhile, she went and stared at the mirror and decided not to take her hair down, making do by combing a few stray wisps up and tucking them under
Darlene’s face broke into a broad grin. “Oh, that’s right.” She paused. “Well, if you’ve got a list—”
“Right here,” Katie said, pulling it out and waving it.
“Then I should say you’ll be fine.” Darlene encouraged her to be on her way. “I’ll finish things up here. Don’t worry none.”
143
Katie was ever so grateful and quickly said her goodbyes to the womenfolk, assuring them that she’d see them first thing in the morning.
“We’ll be seeing you tonight at church, too, won’t we?” asked one.
“By all means.” Katie thanked Darlene for her kindness and went out the back door. She made note of the sun’s position in the sky, ignoring her own wristwatch, which, had she glanced at it, would’ve told her that she had less than ninety minutes to do her grocery buying and supper preparations for the evening meal. Besides that, she ought to change clothes before going to the meetinghouse tonight with Clan. And then tomorrow the all-day bake sale. Had she taken on too much for herself?.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, she thought she ought to make time to brush through her hair and pin it up in a fresh bun beneath her prayer veiling. Sighing, she kept her eyes on the road, resisting the urge to go too fast.
At market she referred to her list, gathering up all the necessary ingredients.Darlene’s right,she thought, waiting in line at the check-out.I’ll be fine.She did feel somewhat like a chicken with its head
144
chopped off, with all the running she must do.
Yet pleasing even surprising Clan was uppermost in her mind. Whatever it took to complete her plans, that was what she’d see to. The day was, after all, one they would long remember.
“Are you sure you want to celebrate alone?” her darling had asked last week at the supper table as they’d lingered over dessert.
“More than anything,” she’d said. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” Unexpectedly, he had slid his chair over next to hers, turned to gather her into his arms, and kissed her soundly. “We’ll make the best of the day,” Clan assured her, and she understood that he, too, was thinking of what sort of anniversary dinner and merriment they might’ve had if they were still living and worshiping amongst the People.
“Oh, Clan,” she’d said, “do you have any idea how muchIlove you?”
He had declared emphatically thathelovedherthat much and more, and placed his hand gently on her back and kissed her yet again.
That evening discussion had taken place six days ago, and neither of them had brought up the topic since. Katie had even
145
begun to wonder if the date had already slipped Dan’s mind until yesterday at breakfast. He’d mentioned going over and spending “part of the afternoon at Brother Miller’s place.” She had no idea just whatthatmeant, but she was fairly certain his being gone might have something to do with the gift he was surely going to give her.
The minute supper was finished she dove into baking for the annual sale. It would be an all-day affair, and she had to be on hand the whole time, overseeing the setting up of tables, the display of baked goods, the exchange of money things such as that. She would just have to catch up on everything else round herownhouse tomorrow.
She made four dozen pineapple drop cookies along with a chocolate-mint dream cake. All for the Fall Bake Sale. That done, she hurried upstairs to freshen up, only to find Clan had nodded off to sleep.Such a busy week,she thought. Yet she knew he didn’t want to miss the meeting. She would let him snooze a few more minutes.
Meanwhile, she went and stared at the mirror and decided not to take her hair down, making do by combing a few stray wisps up and tucking them under
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