The Matchmaker by Sarah Price Page A

paying the enormous medical bills incurred from their illnesses, he had little option except to permit his only son to be raised in Ohio by his deceased fraa ’s family. A most unusual situation, indeed.
    Ever the peacemaker, Emma sighed and tried to shift the conversation back to a more positive tone. “ Vell , the letter that Francis sent to Anna was rather positive, and he didapologize for not having been out here to visit yet, and promised a future trip to Lancaster. Surely he means well. I’ve never heard anything but kind words about Francis from Samuel and Samuel’s family.”
    “Kind words gathered from the once-a-year visit Samuel must take to Ohio to see his own son?” Henry’s disapproval was more than apparent. The silence from the other adults seated at the table spoke volumes. Emma seemed to be the only one ready to forgive Francis for his apparent neglect of his own father.
    When the meal was finally over and the after-meal prayer was said, the men retired to the front porch, freeing up the space while the women gathered the dishes and cleaned. Hannah held the baby, giving both Emma and Irene a break while they worked side by side, just like old times, at the kitchen sink. The younger children sat on the floor, fitting together pieces of an alphabet puzzle in a long line across the kitchen floor.
    Emma was just drying the last dish when she noticed someone walking across the front lawn toward the house. She squinted to get a better look. With a slight gasp she turned to Hannah. “Paul’s here!”
    “Paul?”
    Emma shushed her sister with a quick glance and lowered her voice to respond so that their words would not carry through the open window. “Paul Esh.”
    “The bishop’s son?”
    Hannah shifted the baby in her arms and managed to reach a hand up to quickly smooth back her hair so that it lay properly under her prayer kapp. Raising an eyebrow, Irene quickly understood what was happening. She suppressed asmile and turned back to her task at hand of wiping down the counters.
    “Good evening, ladies,” Paul said as he walked into the kitchen. “I understand there is a finished quilt to be picked up . . . a quilt in need of binding, ja ?”
    Hannah smiled but said nothing, too shy to speak up.
    “How good of you to remember, Paul!” Emma glanced at Hannah and made a quick face at her, encouraging her friend to say something.
    “Remember? How could I forget!” He noticed Irene and hurried over to shake her hand in proper greeting. “How right gut to see you, Irene! Will you be staying for the weekend then? I’m sure that the church members would love to see you after communion.”
    Irene shook her head. “ Nee , Paul. We will be returning home this evening. We need to be in our own district for communion tomorrow morning.” She dried her hands on the front of her apron and joined Hannah on the sofa, reaching out to tuck the blanket back from the baby’s face. A soft expression of love crossed her face, and she lifted her eyes to look at Hannah. “They are so precious when they sleep, ain’t they?” she whispered.
    Curious, Paul stepped forward and looked down at the bundle in Hannah’s arms. Emma watched with delight as she saw his own emotion on his face. As the oldest son of the family, Paul did not have any nieces or nephews yet. His experience with kinner was limited to his own five siblings. From the way he looked at the boppli , it was clear what was on his mind.
    “Will you be staying for a spell, Paul?” Emma asked.
    He looked up as if startled from his thoughts. “ Nee , Emma,” he said, turning his attention away from Hannahwith the baby and directing his focus onto her. “While I would so greatly love to stay to visit, I must return home, for we’re to visit family this evening.”
    With a simple clicking of her tongue, Emma expressed her disappointment.
    “However, I did want to stop by to pick up your quilt. We’ll be in that area and it’s the perfect chance to