She missed the hustle and bustle of the inn as much as she missed her parents. At home, it was rare to find a moment’s peace, never mind an hour of it.
“Girls, it’s time to wake up,” she said after poking her head in the door.
The two bundles under matching blue and yellow quilts hardly moved. Katie couldn’t help but smile at how cute they looked. Their small sleeping forms brought back memories of her own childhood. Although, back when she was small, it had been Rebekeh’s job to wake her up. Only Rebekeh’s promise of hot chocolate would rouse her from slumber.
Softly venturing in, she gently shook each of them awake. “Mary, Hannah? It’s morning.”
Hannah rubbed her eyes as she sleepily sat up. “Katie?”
“Yes, dear. Time to get up.”
Obediently Hannah sat up. “You look pretty today.”
“Danke.” Brushing a silky strand of hair away from Hannah’s sweet face, Katie smiled. “You look schlafrig. Sleepy.”
Just like she had the morning before, Hannah giggled, pushed back the covers, then scrambled out of bed. “Not any more! Good morning!”
“Good morning to you.” Turning to Mary, Katie shook her shoulder gently. “Now, Mary, you must get up, too. The sun is waiting for you.”
“I will.” But still, she didn’t move.
“Now, please.”
Sullenly, Mary groaned. “I’m getting up. Where’s Daed? Is he still here?”
“No, he left for work early today.”
Actually, he’d left almost three hours earlier. She’d had to scramble to get downstairs and help him make his breakfast and lunch before he hitched up his wagon.
“Tell me when you want to eat breakfast in the morning and I’ll have it ready for you,” she’d said, once again trying so hard to be near him.
But instead of looking grateful, Jonathan had looked disconcerted in her presence. “You don’t need to go to so much trouble. As a matter of fact, there’s no need for you to be even getting up with me.”
She’d chuckled. “You obviously have forgotten that I’m used to living at an inn. I’ve made breakfast for dozens of folks. You will not be much trouble at all.” She’d opened the refrigerator. “How about some eggs and toast?”
“That…that would be fine.”
“And lunch? Would you care for some soup and sandwich?”
“Anything would be fine, Ka-tie.”
She’d busied herself at the stove so he wouldn’t see her blush. But she couldn’t seem to stop her reaction every time he said her name, so slowly, with a slight lilt. Like he was drawing out every sound.
Clearing her throat, she fussed around the girls’ room for another moment or so. “I’ll see you when you get to the kitchen. Don’t tarry too long.”
“I’ll hurry, Katie!” little Hannah said.
As expected, Mary said nothing.
Once again, Katie cooked a large breakfast. But just like the day before, the hearty meal of eggs and bacon, toast and fresh jam was a battle to get through. “These eggs aren’t like Winnie makes them. Yours are too runny.”
Katie knew she made a fine fried egg—there were dozens of guests at the inn who could testify to that. But she tried to look remorseful. “Hmm. I’ll try to do better tomorrow.”
“I don’t like this bacon, neither.”
“You’ll be hungry then, won’t you?”
After a moment, Mary obstinately began eating, leaving Katie ready to go back to bed. With neither Winnie nor Jonathan there to run interference, Mary’s jibes felt especially hard to take. She hoped Mary would back down from her one-girl war against her soon, because Katie knew her patience was near its end. One day soon she was going to retaliate with something mean right back.
Katie did her best, but the good Lord knew she was most certainly not perfect.
After breakfast was the usual running around, packing lunches and double-checking for all the homework supplies. Katie waved them off as they walked hand in hand to the Amish school, which was less than a mile away.
After the house was empty, Katie took the time to sip another morning cup of tea, then, without much more dillydallying, began her chores with a sigh.
This was when her day seemed the hardest.
She was used to the companionship of her mother, and the constant comings and goings of guests at the inn. Most recently, she’d had Anna—dear, talkative Anna. To Katie’s pleasure, Anna had become her best friend in the world despite her few frustrations. Not only did they laugh and enjoy each other’s company, making the tasks go by more quickly, but Anna also helped shoulder a lot of Katie’s chores and work. Now, though, it was just her by herself. Katie found it lonely.