Mabel set down the last dish onto the chicken shaped pot holders. It would be nice to have chickens, she mused, fresh eggs almost every day. She stepped back and admired her work. On the old oak dining table sat fresh salad courtesy of Oxalia’s garden, homemade rolls, steamed broccoli, and the main course: lasagna.

Annika emerged from the kitchen carrying a pitcher of lemonade. “Just set it there,” Mabel said, pointing to an empty spot next to the salad bowl.

Mabel went back into the kitchen and hung her apron on the hook next to the sink. The air was pleasantly warm from the heat of the gas stove. She spent most of the day preparing dinner, starting at midday making the dough for the rolls and the pasta sheets for the lasagna. Mabel liked to make everything fresh, and since she had the time, ingredients, and tools to do so, nearly every meal the girls ate was homemade.

Leaf strolled into the kitchen, hair messy and eyes sleepy from her nap. “I smell food.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Mabel replied, “why don’t you set the table?”

Leaf gave the all too familiar I-don’t-want-to-do-that face but grabbed the plates from the cupboard anyway.

Mabel turned to see Annika standing in the kitchen threshold and nearly jumped. For someone so tall, Anni was surprisingly graceful.

“Oh, let’s see…” Mabel looked for something Annika could do. “Here,” she said, handing her a stack of glasses. “Fill these with ice and set them on the table.” Annika didn’t say anything, but did as was told. This was nothing new; she wasn’t the loquacious type.

“Smells good, May.” Faye walked into the kitchen and leaned on Mabel’s shoulder. “Anything I can do?”

“Yes, actually. I think O’s in the greenhouse; can you get her?”

“Sure.” Faye opened the screen door leading to the backyard and nearly collided with Oxalia. “Well, here she is.”

“Good! We can start eating now.” Mabel walked into the dining room to see Annika and Leaf seated, Leaf already stuffing her face with a buttered roll. “Leaf, what have I told you about waiting?” Mabel chided.

“Don’t know, wasn’t listening.”

Mabel just rolled her eyes and took her usual seat at the head of the table, with Faye and Oxalia following suit. Once everyone was seated, the girls began to fill their plates and glasses.

“We should go to town,” Leaf said between sips of lemonade.

“Oh, that would be nice,” Oxalia added, “We could get Annika some clothes.” Annika smiled at the prospect.

“When?” Faye asked.

“I was thinking this weekend,” Leaf said, “There’s a sale on fabrics at the craft shop.”

Mabel made a mental grocery list. She would be low on a few things by the time the weekend came. “Sounds like a plan.”

The girls ate in silence until Annika spoke up. “What kind of books are in the library?”

Faye looked up, surprised at hearing Anni’s voice. “Oh, um, well, let’s see…” Faye sat back in her chair, mentally cataloging the library’s selection. “Well, it’s mostly just nonfiction and reference books, not a lot of fiction. I did find some new fiction books this morning but the covers have dry rotted.”

Annika nodded and returned to her plate.

“Did you make dessert?” Leaf asked.

“Not today,” Mabel replied, “There are bananas in the fridge. I think I might have a can of peach slices in the pantry.”

Leaf made a sour face. “Mushy peaches? No thanks.”

“Well, that’s what we have, Leaf.”

“I’ll go dessert-less today, I think,” Leaf said, finishing the last bit of broccoli on her plate. “Hey, how do you make veggies so good?”

“That’s a secret,” Mabel said, winking. The secret was salt and butter.

“Dinner was delicious, Mabel.” Oxalia said, wiping her mouth.

“Thanks, O.” Mabel gathered all the empty plates. “Today’s your luck day, Leaf, you get to help me with the dishes.”

“What?” Leaf protested, “I washed them yesterday.”

“That was not yesterday,” Mabel reminded her, “that was last week.”

“Well, it feels like yesterday.”

Mabel just shook her head. In the corner of her eye, she could see Faye giving Leaf the look. Defeated, Leaf gathered the cups and utensils and joined Mabel in the kitchen. Mabel filled the sink with hot, soapy water and grabbed a dishrag from the drawer. She began washing the dirty dishes and handing them to Leaf to rinse and dry them.

“Did Anni help you in the kitchen today?” Leaf asked, in a tone quieter than usual.

Mabel nodded. “She helped me chop veggies and made the salad. Why?”

Leaf shrugged. “Just wondering.”

Mabel sighed inwardly. Leaf’s tone was one she recognized from a long time ago, in their school days. When it was just Mabel and Leaf, Leaf would often ask about Faye—how she was, what she was doing, things like that. It was obvious Leaf cared for Faye, but as the two spent more time together with Leaf wearing on Faye’s short fuse, the feelings faded and Leaf didn’t ask about Faye as often. Mabel sometimes wondered if Leaf still felt that way towards Faye, but if she did, she didn’t show it. Now she was using the same quiet tone with Annika. Anni was still fairly new to the house, but it seems like Leaf had already taken a liking to her. Mabel secretly hoped that Leaf’s big personality wouldn’t wear on Annika like it did with Faye.

Mabel handed the last plate to Leaf to be rinsed and dried and drained the sink. She dried her hands on the towel tied to the sink cabinet’s handle and looked out the window over the stove. The sun was slowly sinking behind the trees, coloring the sky a brilliant orange hue. The sight gave Mabel a sense of calm, which made her smile. She turned the kitchen light off and headed upstairs to her bedroom.