“Any idea where that is?”
“In one of the boxes in the garage.”
Grinning, Ben nodded. “All right. I think there’s only about eight of them.”
“It’s getting kind of late, so we’d best hurry if we can.”
“Sure, Daed.”
Sitting back on his haunches, Jay clenched his teeth as he heard Ben chatting with Tricia, who had shown up about an hour ago. Ben had invited her over, saying she would be a lot of help.
Jay imagined she might have been helpful, too. If she had known what their furniture looked like, knew their house better, and hadn’t been so besotted with his eldest boy. Of course, he knew the attraction was mutual for Ben. Ever since he’d met Tricia, nothing seemed to matter but that fresh-faced girl. Part of him was glad that Tricia was making his son’s move so pleasant. But honestly, the boy could use a lesson or two about managing his time better.
After sending William to his room to unpack his boxes, Jay grumbled to himself, “We’ll never get this done.”
“Oh, I think you will,” Emma Keim said with a cheery smile as she came in through the kitchen, three little girls following behind her like a trio of ducklings. “You men look as busy as a hive of bees.”
Climbing to his feet, he managed to hide a moan as his back protested. “Emma, hello.” Seeing her daughters’ sweet, clean faces staring back at him, he smiled. “And hello to you, too, Lena, Mandy, and Annie. You three look pretty in blue today. What brings you here?”
“The girls and I brought you boys some supper.”
“You did?” His heart softened as he saw little Annie peek at him from behind her mother. She was clutching Emma’s dark blue dress like it was her lifeline to the rest of the world. But she also looked intrigued by their visit. “Did you help, too, Annie?”
Annie bit her bottom lip and nodded shyly. “I helped with the cookies.”
Mark entered the room, William behind him. “Hi, Mrs. Keim. Hey, Lena, Mandy, and Annie.”
Emma’s eyes twinkled. “Hello, Mark and William.”
“Did you really make us cookies?”
“We made you a whole supper,” Lena said. “Pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches, potato salad, deviled eggs, cookies, and a cherry pie.”
William’s eyes turned as big as saucers. “You brought us pie and cookies?”
“I had a little bit of time, so I made you a cherry pie. Then the girls pointed out that not everyone likes cherry pie. So I made some cookies, too.”
Jay felt extremely humbled. “I can’t believe you spent so much time on our meal. Danke.”
“It was no trouble, especially since Frankie ate your pizza. We enjoyed making it,” Emma said. “Didn’t we, girls?”
Three little heads nodded just as Ben and Tricia entered the room, Jay’s smallest toolbox in his hand. “I found it, Daed.”
“Gut. Is there a wrench and a hammer inside? Did you check?”
“Yep. I checked.” Turning to Emma, he smiled brightly. “Hi.”
“Mrs. Keim brought supper,” Mark announced.
“You boys should simply call me Emma,” she said.
William looked pleased. “Can I, Daed?”
“I suppose that would be all right.”
After making sure Tricia and Emma and her girls all said hello, Jay said, “If you wouldn’t mind putting everything down on the kitchen counter, we’ll eat in a little while.”
Instead of going directly to the kitchen, Emma turned to Mark and said, “Have you boys unpacked the kitchen yet?”
“Not really.”
“I wanted to get their rooms set up first,” Jay explained.
“That makes perfect sense. Tricia, would you like to help me in the kitchen? I bet the two of us could get a lot done in no time. That is, if you don’t mind me organizing your kitchen, Jay?”
Ben grinned. “Daed is gut at growing things that belong in the kitchen, not organizing it.”
“That is true,” Jay admitted. “Thank you, Emma, for your help.”
After giving Ben a sweet smile, Tricia followed Emma and her three daughters into the kitchen. Jay did his best not to roll his eyes at the way Ben gazed after his girl.
When they disappeared from view, Mark whistled softly. “Wow. Emma sure has a lot of energy.”
“That she does,” Jay said as he picked up his toolbox.
Lowering his voice, Mark asked, “Ben, do you remember Mamm ever being like that?”
“Nee, but Mamm was sick. Remember? She was sick for a long time.”
Mark slumped. “Jah. I kept hoping she’d get better but she never did.”
William froze, then rushed to his room.