“Well, little Thomas kitty, you see, I made my brother Thomas his favorite dessert. Cinnamon cake. Plus...”
“Mrow?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Purr purr.”
“I made him Amish casserole. With extra vegetable stock. That way, the stuffing in the casserole is nice and fluffy and moist. I know it’s his favorite...if only kitties liked Amish casseroles.”
Thomas sat quietly. “What do kitties eat?”
“Dead mice!” Katie offered.
“Rats,” Annie agreed.
“Milk and cream in a dish under the table,” Rebekah whispered. “Plus some dry or smoked fish.”
“I still say dead mice,” Katie said unapologetically.
Thomas looked up at Rebekah. “If I’m boy Thomas just for today, does that make me like cats even less?”
“No, I think it means you like them more.”
“Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
“How come?”
Rebekah thought for a moment. “Because I said so. And since it’s my wedding day, I declare all cats to be humans for a day.”
“Oh phew. That makes it so much easier.”
Rebekah grinned at her freckle-faced brother. “Can you grab up an armload of these celery bundles and take them out to Ma please? She just went out to the barn.”
“Sure.” He leaned over close to her ear. “Can I nibble just one?”
“Cats like celery?”
“No, and it was really hurting my stomach to be a cat with all this yummy celery around.”
Rebekah held up a fresh sprig. “Here, I was saving this one just for you.”
Thomas flung his arms around Rebekah’s neck. “I love you, Sissy.”
Annie and Katie sighed together.
After Thomas disappeared, Katie spoke first. “I think we have enough celery for centerpieces. Don’t you?”
Rebekah nodded, but didn’t speak.
“He’s going to be lost without you, you know,” Annie added. “Maybe Samuel and Elnora will let him come live with you and Joseph. I’m sure it wouldn’t bother either of you.”
Rebekah shrugged. “I need to ask them about that. Joseph too, I suppose.”
“Is Peter coming today?” Annie looked at Katie though she spoke to Rebekah.
“Of course he is.” Rebekah and Annie shared a look. Thankfully, Katie missed it. Annie nodded infinitesimally, before speaking again. “How about your new English cousins? Patty and Noah?”
Rebekah smiled. “Yes, I invited them for the ceremony, but not to the church service. I’ve done so many things backwards and un-Amish, I wanted to be sure to do that part right.”
Katie looked up. “So who else did you invite?”
“Well, Mr. and Mrs. Williams from the livery. Calvin Smith and his family, from Montgomery. The cranky doctor. And I wrote to Father Plant.”
Both Knepp twins looked up at her. “You did?” Katie’s voice was in awe. “I’m a bit ashamed that I didn’t think of that first.”
“I asked him to bring whomever he liked, if he was of a mind to come. And to pass the word to Mrs. Cheng, just in case she was up for a travel.”
“Or a vacation,” Katie added. “It seemed she had lots of work and things to do.”
Annie stood. “I can’t wait to meet them, if they come.”
Rebekah stood too. “Is it time?”
Katie’s eyes glistened. “Yes, it’s time to get into our newehocker dresses.” She tossed a package to Rebekah. “This is for you, from Annie and me.”
“Can I open it now?”
Katie nodded.
Inside the brown paper was a crisp, never before worn apron. “Katie, Annie, danke!”
“Katie bought the fabric on one her of jaunts into town to see Peter.” Annie’s eyes bespoke mischief. Katie flushed before she could continue.
“Now who’s whipping up mischief with an empty bowl and broken spoon,” Rebekah chided.
“I won’t tease,” Annie conceded. “But she picked the heaviest fabric she could. And the way it will cross across your chest and fall, you will look...”
“Graceful,” Katie whispered. “And like you have a heart of gold.”
Rebekah met her gaze.
“Which you do.”
Rebekah held out her hand to Katie. “And you do too, my friend.”
***
