Turning to Naomi, Anna smiled and raised a flour-dusted finger to her lips. “Ne, my love. We don’t tell who comes to talk with your father. A deacon’s family must remember that church matters are to be kept private.” She went to the table and gave her eight-year-old stepdaughter a hug. “Now, if you want to be helpful, I could use your help packing the school lunches.” Naomi sighed, closed her book and rose to obey. “Me help,” little Mae chimed in.“Ya,” Naomi agreed. “You can wash the apples.” It was difficult for Leah to curb her curiosity. She couldn’t wait to discuss Johanna’s plight with Anna after the older children left for school, but she knew that her sister was right, so she bit back her questions. Naomi set her library book safely out of reach of her younger siblings and went to gather the black lunch pails that she and her twin brothers, Peter and Rudy, carried to school. As the girl efficiently began to assemble sandwiches, apples and muffins, Leah couldn’t help noticing what a difference Anna had made in Naomi in the short time since the wedding.
