Chapter 35
E LLIE
As soon as Eli and I walk into the house, we know something is wrong.
Mamm has tears in her eyes, and Dat’s look is positively hopeless.
Ach , not again. Gott, please let everyone be alright.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Eli utters the words I can’t.
If it wasn’t for bad luck, my family would have none at all.
Dat hands Elijah an official looking piece of paper.
“What is it?” I find my voice.
“It’s our mortgage,” Mamm says, the boppli bouncing on her arm.
Eli turns to me. “We have a balloon payment due next month.”
“What?”
Eli frowns at the notice. “It’s a lot of money.” His face hardens in frustration.
“We’ll need to start packing.” Dat’s voice cracks and I can’t bear the pain in his eyes.
“ Nee . We are not losing the farm!” Eli’s voice cracks as he tosses the paper on the table and flies out the door.
I move to go after him, but Dat stops me. “Let him process it on his own.”
I want to protest, but I obey.
Twenty minutes later, Eli is still not back so I go in search of him. I hear his voice echoing from the barn so I know he must either be on the phone or is talking to someone.
“ Jah , I’ll be there.” He says, then hangs up the phone. He turns to me. “I’m going over to Henry’s. I’ll be back in a while.”
I want to go too, but clearly Eli needs to speak with his best friend without his sister there. I give him his space. “Okay.” I nod in understanding.
As Eli’s buggy leaves the yard, my heart breaks a little more. I suppose I should go inside and start packing like Dat suggested.
If there’s any way , Gott…