Free A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston Page A

right here. I’ll start with a chocolate cake. I’m going to take over your baking duties while I’m here. You look like you could use a good rest.”
    Edna smiled. “You’re an angel, Miriam.”
    Miriam sighed.
    If only Timothy agreed with you …
    Pushing thoughts of Timothy out of her mind, Miriam set out to make the best chocolate cake that had ever been sold at the Kauffman Amish Bakery.
     

Funeral Pie
    Pastry for 9-inch crust and strips for top
    1 cup seeded raisins, washed
    2 cups water
    1 – 3/4 cups sugar
    3 – 3/4 Tbsp flour
    1 egg, beaten
    1 tsp lemon juice
    2 tsp grated lemon rind
    Pinch of salt
    Soak raisins for 3 hours. Mix sugar, flour, and eggs. Add raisins and remaining ingredients. Cook in a double boiler over hot water for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When mixture is cool, empty into pie-dough lined pie plate. Cover pie with narrow strips of crisscrossed dough and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until brown.

7
    T he following morning, Miriam awoke at the crack of dawn and drove Abby to the airport. With tears in their eyes, they hugged and promised to keep in touch over the next two weeks. Abby insisted Miriam call her every day with news of how things were progressing with Miriam’s family.
    Miriam stopped at the grocery store on her way back from the airport. When she arrived at the cabin, she finished baking while insisting Edna relax and supervise from the comfort of her favorite easy chair.
    By the time Jessica’s SUV hummed up to the house, Miriam had six dishes awaiting her and Beth Anne—peanut butter bars, pumpkin pie squares, angel cookies, strawberry pie, chocolate shoofly pie, and a chocolate cake.
    Miriam met Beth Anne and Jessica at the door and gestured for them to come in.
“Gude mariye,”
Miriam said. “How are you today?”
    “Gut. Danki.
How are you?” Beth Anne asked. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk to you yesterday.”
    “I’m doing okay,” Miriam said with a nod.
“Danki
for asking.”
    “I’m sorry about your mom,” Jessica said. “I’ve been thinking of you.”
    “Thank you,” Miriam said.
    Beth Anne examined the desserts displayed on the table. “My! You and Edna have been busy. It all looks
wunderbaar.”
    “Miriam gets the credit,” Edna said from her chair. “She’s been baking since last night and wouldn’t let me lift a finger.”
    Beth Anne gave Miriam an impressed expression. “You’re a
wunderbaar
baker.”
    Miriam shrugged, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “It was nothing really. I thought I would help her out since I’m going to stay a couple of weeks or so.”
    Beth Anne’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re staying a while?”
    “Ya.
I have some things I want to work out here. I also want to spend some time with my family. Since I have a couple of weeks of vacation at my work, I’d like to use them for something important, like getting to know my sister’s
kinner
and taking care of
Aenti
for a while.”
    Edna beamed. “You were always such a
gut maedel,
Miriam.”
    “I’m sure your family will be
froh
to have you around again.” Beth Anne lifted the pies.
“Danki
for these.”
    Jessica grabbed the cookies.
    “Let me help you carry them out.” Miriam retrieved the other desserts and followed them to the SUV.
    “I appreciate all you’re doing to help the bakery,” Beth Anne said after loading up the desserts.
    “I don’t mind helping out my
aenti,”
Miriam said. “She was always very supportive of me, even with what happened before I left.”
    Beth Anne seemed to study Miriam’s expression, and Miriam immediately regretted her words.
    “It’s
gut
to have you back,” Beth Anne finally said. “I think your being here will give everyone a chance to heal.”
    Miriam blanched, unsure of what to make of her comment.
    “See you later,” Jessica said, climbing into the vehicle.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a
gut
day.” Beth Anne climbed into the SUV and waved as it headed down the