Though her fever had suddenly broken yesterday, Mamma and Nan had covered for her at the shop, baking fewer items than normal, since customers were only trickling in anyway. Nellie soaked up the compassion offered by her next-older sister, who smiled warmly across the breakfast table as she passed the food directly to her. Later, after the table was cleared and Rhoda was off to work, Nan washed the dishes while Mamma dried, with both insisting that Nellie simply sit and sip tea at the table. But it was after Mamma had left the room to go upstairs and have a “devotional time” with Dat that Nan sat down beside her. “Rebekah Yoder was here for another visit,” she whispered. “When?” asked Nellie. “Yesterday, when you were still in bed.” Nan looked troubled. “She told me something awful surprising. Said her mother heard that someone ran an ad in the Lancaster New Era to advertise Nellie’s Simple Sweets.” “What? You’re sure?” “That’s what she said. Seems her mamma was ever so outspoken ’bout it, saying it sounded just like ‘them Fishers’ to do something that worldly.”
