The Guardian by Beverly Lewis Page A

to look away or she might have shed a tear herself.

Chapter 16

    M aryanna’s parents came over from next door just as Jodi and the others were beginning to eat the noon meal. Maryanna introduced Jodi to Zeke and Emmie Mast, who nodded and shook hands. Emmie placed a ceramic pot of what she called red beet eggs on the long table as they all took their seats again.
    “So glad you brought the eggs,” Maryanna said. “One of Sarah’s favorites!”
    “Guess we’ll save some for when she wakes up,” Mollie said. “Poor dear is all in … and it’s no wonder.”
    Mollie started talking about food, saying, “Mamm knows a hundred or more recipes by heart—though she’d never brag.”
    When Jodi asked how she remembered, Grandma Emmie shrugged and said, “Just by doin’.”
    Leda nodded, seemingly anxious to say something. “Mammi and Mamma pass recipes down by showin’ us girls how they do things,” Leda said, her blue eyes bright.
    Mollie wagged her head. “It’s like havin’ a backup for the computer.”
    This brought a round of laughter from the youngsters, and Jodi wondered how they knew anything about that.
    Then Benny spoke up. “One of our hired drivers brings his laptop in the van when he takes us to the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market or the general store. He likes to tell us kids all ‘bout his English gadgets and whatnot.”
    “Much to your Mamma’s dismay, ain’t so?” Emmie Mast eyed Maryanna.
    But Maryanna merely shrugged. “Well, we live in the world, but we’re not of it. ‘Least we’re not s’posed to be.”
    Jodi glimpsed the words from Romans on the calendar again and assumed that any group, not only Amish, could support the idea of cloistered living with such a verse.
    Later, after trying the pickled red beet eggs, Jodi asked if Leda might share the recipe.
    “You just mix some canned beets and juice in with sugar, vinegar, and salt, and bring it to a rolling boil,” Leda explained.
    The boys teased her, rolling their eyes and leaning their heads together.
    Leda ignored them. “After that, you pour the mixture over the hard-boiled eggs and let them set at room temperature for a bit … then put them in the refrigerator overnight.”
    “Sounds easy enough,” Jodi said. “Thanks.”
    Tobias nodded his head repeatedly like a puppet while Benny attempted to squelch a laugh.
    “Now, boys,” Maryanna said quietly but firmly. “This isn’t something most Englischers know.”
    “Or most boys !” Bertie declared loudly, and the whole table burst out laughing, except Benny and Tobias, whose faces reddened with embarrassment.
    Jodi was intrigued by the clearly defined gender roles.Apparently, boys were not expected to know about the preparation of food.
    She thought of Trent and realized he would most likely starve if he didn’t know how to make a sandwich or open a can and use the microwave. After all, Trent’s mother was a longtime career woman and not very interested in cooking or baking.
    “Our neighbor Joshua Peachey, now, he knows how to cook,” Tobias said, his eyes round little moons as he looked over at his mother. “For certain.”
    “Well, he’d have to,” his grandmother said softly. As an aside, she explained to Jodi, “The poor man lost his wife a year ago.”
    Jodi listened, glancing back at young Tobias, who was still watching his mother, obviously waiting for her to respond.
    But Maryanna was strangely quiet.
    “He does, Mamma,” Tobias repeated.
    “Why, sure, I ‘spect so,” Maryanna said, giving her younger son a reprimanding stare.
    “He’s a right gut housekeeper, too,” Tobias added, slipping it in as though he’d almost better not.
    “‘Cept for all those filthy pets.” Maryanna shook her head. “If God wanted animals to live inside, they wouldn’t have fur coats, now, would they?”
    Benny poked Tobias, who still wore a grin.
    “Joshua’s only got one cat and one small bunny … and one parrot. No other pets inside the house,” Tobias