"I took a leave of absence," I said as I leaned a little too close to the stove and felt my wrist hit the edge of the hot pan. "Ouch! Dammit!"
"Grace! Language!" Hope and Faith said in unison.
"All right, that's enough!" I roared. "You two either need to stop talking about things you know nothing about or you need to leave. It's your choice, but I'm not going to have breakfast ruined by your nagging!"
"No need to be so sour," Faith said as she stood up and wrapped the blanket around Glory before turning for the door. "We're just trying to help, Grace."
"I know, I know," I said as I flipped another pancake onto the plate and poured again. Verity had finished browning the sausages and had covered the pan with a lid before moving it to the table. "Look, message received. Now will you let me figure things out my own way, please?"
"Fine," Hope said as she gathered up her basket and followed Faith out the door. "If you need us, you know where to find us."
The door slammed as my sisters exited. I looked at Verity and rolled my eyes.
"Grace, you shouldn't be so harsh with them," she said as she smiled and shook her head. "They aren't as worldly as you are and they really are just trying to help."
"I know they are, Verity," I said as I added another pancake to the stack. "But I don't think they have any clue as to what it takes to actually run a business, so their advice is just annoying. Plus, they're both so bossy!"
"You must be talking about the Judgment Twins," Honor said as she walked into the kitchen with Danny close on her heels. They looked like bookends, small and thin with blue eyes and pale skin, but whereas Honor's hair was light like the rest of us girls, Danny's was dark and curly like Dat's had been. Looking at him was a painful reminder that he was the perfect mix of our parents.
"Gracie!" Danny signed as Honor moved toward the table. "I'm hungry! What's for breakfast?"
"Bullshit and attitudes, sounds like to me," Honor said.
"Honor!" Verity scolded in a pseudo-shocked tone. "That's not nice. What if Danny picks that up and repeats it?"
"Eh, let him," Honor shrugged as she tugge
d at her dress and then sighing in exasperation as she refastened the pins that held the front together muttering, "Stupid dress!"
"Good morning to you, too, Danny!" I laughed as Honor finished fussing with her pins and got Danny settled in his usual chair and reminded him to put a napkin in his lap. "I hope you're hungry this morning because I made a lot of pancakes that need to be eaten!"
"I'll eat 'em all, Gracie!" Danny signed as Honor nudged him toward his seat at the table. He signed, “Can I say a blessing this morning?"
"Of course you can," I nodded as I set the plate full of pancakes on the table and sat down. We all folded our hands and turned our eyes toward our brother as he signed the blessing.
"Bless this food and bless the family who eats it," he signed. "And look after Mamm and Dat who are with you, Lord, in heaven. Amen."
"Amen," we three replied. Danny nodded his head and reached for the plate of pancakes in front of him as the rest of us wiped our eyes. I added my own silent plea for help and guidance hoping that I'd make the right decisions for my younger siblings.
Chapter Twelve
Adam
"Mr. Wallace, I've got breakfast on the table if you're hungry!" Mrs. Yoder called up the stairs at an hour that could only be described as unholy. The sun wasn't even up yet, why did she think I wanted to be?
"Mmm hmm," I mumbled as I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.
"Mr. Wallace!" she called again. "If you're going to try and catch Bishop Miller, you're going to have to get to the factory very early!"
"Crap," I muttered as I reluctantly threw off the covers and swung my feet over the edge of the bed. I didn't want to get up, but Mrs. Yoder was right, so I got up, splashed some water on my face, and then got dressed before descending to the kitchen for breakfast.
"This is what you're wearing to meet Bishop Miller?" Mrs. Yoder asked as she put plate full of eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast in front of me.
"Yes, why?" I said as I picked up my fork and prepared to dig in.
"No, no, no," she said shaking her head disapprovingly as she looked at the fork in my hand. "We have the blessing first, Mr. Wallace, then we can talk about your clothes."
Irritated, but trying to hide it, I put my fork down and bowed my head. I stared at the chipped edge of my breakfast plate and wondered how many more days I'd have to put up with this nosy interloper before I could pack up and head back to Chicago. I hadn't known this woman for twenty-four hours and she was already trying to boss me around. I'd have to nip this in the bud before it went too far.