“Where is he moving to? Did he say?”
“He’s going to take over the old Borntrager Organic Farm.”
Dorrie smiled. “He is a farmer.”
“Jah.” She tried to remember everything he’d said. “I think he is looking forward to farming in the sunshine.”
“Oh, to be sure. Well, the farm isn’t next door, but it is nice and close. Just a SCAT stop or two away. Convenient.”
Emma hadn’t thought of that, but Dorrie was right. The Sarasota County Area Transit shuttle would make it easy for Jay and his family to get to the heart of Pinecraft in no time at all.
And, she supposed, it would make it easy for her to do some shopping out there. If she ever had a need to do that.
Around another bite of pie, Emma said, “Don’t act like it means anything. But, um, I think meeting him made me realize that maybe I’m not the only person in the world to suffer such a great loss.” Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to say the rest of what she’d been thinking. “I think I would like to get to know him better. You know, because he is someone who I have so much in common with.”
“To be sure. I’ve met other widows and widowers, but not too many who are so young. Or who have three kinner.”
“He seemed nice.” She reached up and rubbed the back of her neck. “He was so nice, he even carried Frankie all the way home. And Frankie let him!”
“If he’s carrying that dog around, he would have to be nice. Frankie is one hefty beagle.”
Dorrie had a point. Emma smiled at that . . . just before she remembered what her family would say. “I don’t want a new husband, Dorrie. I don’t mean to sound like I do.” She winced as she imagined Patty’s and Mercy’s reactions. “I’m afraid my sisters won’t understand that I only want a new friend.”
“Of course,” Dorrie soothed. “But making a new friend is a good thing. And just think, I bet this man— What’s his name?”
“Jay.”
“I bet this man Jay is feeling mighty blessed indeed to have met you. I bet he’s been feeling alone, too.”
“Jah.” Her stomach churned. “A new friend is always a blessing. I, um, just wish I knew what I was supposed to do now.”
Dorrie pointedly looked over to the window where folks could simply walk in and buy pie. “When he moves in, you should bring him a pie.”
Emma weighed the pros and cons of that idea. She knew where the Borntrager farm was, most everyone did. After the girls went to school one day, she could hop on the SCAT, deliver her pie, and officially welcome him to Pinecraft. She could go as his friend. Why, there was nothing untoward about that. Everyone needed a new friend.
But just the thought of bringing Jay a pie . . . Emma worried what would happen when not only her family, but Sanford’s parents heard that she’d done such a thing. They wouldn’t want to hear how innocent her gesture was, nor would they say how thoughtful it was to bring a widower with three boys such a simple gift. They would ask her questions and chide her for behaving in an immodest way. In no time at all, her simple gesture would reach mammoth proportions.
Even thinking about the fuss they would raise made Emma shake her head. “That would be too forward.”
Dorrie scoffed. “It might be too forward if you wanted something in return, but you don’t. And it’s especially not forward for a single man moving in with three boys,” she added in her matter-of-fact way. “Boys eat a lot, you know. Besides, everyone likes pie.”
“That is true.”
Once again she contemplated the pros and cons, and—to her dismay—began running through the choices of pie. If Dorrie’s theories were true, it seemed that, along with delicious flavors, pie could be filled with certain hidden meanings. “Now I’m even more confused! What kind of pie should I bring? I don’t want to give the wrong impression.”
Dorrie laughed. “Take cherry.”
“Cherry?”
“Cherry pie is cheery.”
Emma winced at the play on words. “Oh, brother.”
Dorrie chuckled. “I know that sounded silly, but I am a pie connoisseur, you know. You should remember that and listen to me.”
“You are more of a pie soothsayer,” Emma teased. For sure and for certain, her best friend never failed to make her laugh.
“Whatever I am, I always know the best pie for the occasion. It really is a shame I can’t bake too good.”
“You can’t bake at all. Or sew.”
“I can raise four kinner, clean my haus, and take care of all the bookkeeping for my husband’s job. That is enough.”