Free Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould Page A

Cate’s salad.
    Before I’d even swallowed, Phillip began describing the corncrib on the farm near his parents’. Relieved by his chatter, I finished my entire meal without having to answer him once.
    â€œI hope to buy some hogs,” he said. “But you won’t have to worry about them,” he said. “I’ll be in charge of all the livestock. You’ll just tend to the house. And the garden, of course.”
    I nodded as he spoke, half listening. Some newlyweds I knew worked together on their farms, before their children arrived. I turned so it still appeared my attention was on Phillip, but instead I kept an eye on the stranger, who was standing back by the tool shed, eating from the plate in his hand.
    Beyond him, Mutter said something to Aenti Nell, who then rose and wandered over to the young man and spoke with him for a moment. He said something that made her laugh, and then he leaned toward her, as if listening extra carefully in a concerned way. When she left, I turned my head toward Phillip, who now suggested he might raise sheep also, depending on the price of wool. Without interrupting, I took his empty plate.
    When he stopped to take a breath, I said, “Go get a piece of pie. I need to start cleaning up.”
    After I retrieved my Bruders’ plates and the dishes of guests along the way, I started toward the kitchen.
    On my way back, Aenti Nell motioned me over to where she, Mutter, and Aenti Pauline were sitting in lawn chairs and eating.
    â€œWhat did he say to you?” Aenti Nell whispered, nodding her head toward the stranger, who was now sitting with his plate not too far from where Phillip and I had been.
    â€œThat he would go through the line in a bit. Which he did. What did he say to you?”
    She smiled, showing her dimple, and shook her head.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’m just surprised he’s sticking around is all.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t he be?”
    My Aenti tilted her head and squinted at me. “Why are you being difficult?”
    â€œI’m not.”
    Her eyes widened, and then she threw back her head a little and chuckled. “You don’t know who he is, do you.”
    I shook my head, puzzled, but stopped as the pieces came together. My eyes must have shown my realization.
    â€œJah,” Aenti Nell said. “It’s Dirk’s Jonathan.” She nudged me with her plump elbow. Identifying a person by their father was common to my Aenti’s generation.
    I couldn’t help but smile.
    â€œAll of this is upsetting your mother though. She wants someone to tell him to go home.”
    I stepped back. “Not me.”
    â€œMe neither.” My Aenti’s eyes sparkled. “I haven’t had so much fun in a long time. Besides, your Dat said she—and Timothy—should leave him be.” She lowered her voice even more. “Anyways, it’s time they all got over this nonsense. Don’t you think?”
    I agreed. But considering how determined Timothy wasto keep the grudge going, it would take more than the adults ignoring the rift to put an end to it.
    Aenti Nell sighed.
    â€œWhat is it?” I asked.
    â€œOh, nothing.”
    I shook my head. “It’s something. Tell me.”
    The tone of her voice softened. “It’s just that he looks so much like his father.”
    â€œAenti?” I tried to catch her gaze. “What are you saying?”
    â€œAch, it’s nothing. Just an old woman’s memories.”
    â€œYou’re not—”
    She held up her hand. “Enough of this. We need to clean up.”
    â€œYou wait. I’ll get started in just a minute . . .” I searched the grounds. Jonathan stood back from the tool shed now, in the shade, out of view from Mamm. Phillip sat by the willow again, eating a piece of pie. I could imagine the monologue running silently through his head.
    After I took my collection of dirty dishes to the