“I heard you loud and clear. Do you really think that’s a good idea? Why rush into things? That’s not like you at all.”

Susanne braced herself, prepared to defend herself should her mother compare her to her father.

“Franziska isn’t moving all the way to Freiburg to be with her new girlfriend,” her mother said instead.

“That’s different, Mama. All Franzi and Miri had were a few weekends, but I’ve spent every day of the past two and a half months with Anja, and I can’t imagine not seeing her for a week or two or even longer when I travel for work.”

“But…but…if you stay in Freiburg, what will you do about a job?”

“I have no idea. I guess I’ll figure it out.”

Her mother gasped. “I never thought I’d hear something like that from you. That’s something your—”

“Don’t say it. I’m not Papa, and even if I do something he might have done, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I need to make my own decisions without worrying about whether it might make me like him.” She realized that she’d let herself be guided by her need to be different from her father for much too long. She had defined herself by what she didn’t want to be instead of thinking about what she wanted.

But that would stop right here, right now. She wanted a life with Anja.

“That’s not what I…” Her mother sighed. “I never meant to make you feel that way, Susanne. I just… It’s just so unexpected.”

“I know. I didn’t plan on it either. But I’m not sorry at all. In fact, I’m pretty happy about it.”

Her mother took several steadying breaths. “Then I’m happy about it too. But I still want you to bring her by to meet me, do you hear me?”

“Yes, Mama. I will. I have to go now. I’m meeting Anja for a picnic in less than two hours, and I have a lot to do before then. Tell Franzi bye for me.” Not giving her mother a chance to say anything else, she ended the call and stared at the black screen.

For a moment, she felt dizzy. Her life had changed so fast. But then again, it had taken almost three months for her to end up where she was now.

As she stepped into the streetcar and stamped her ticket, an idea occurred to her. In the past, she would have immediately dismissed it as foolish, but now she decided to just go with it—that was, if she could remember how to make a paper boat.

Ten minutes later, she hurried toward her apartment building.

Muesli sat on the low wall encircling the lawn, and when he saw her, he immediately jumped down and greeted her by rubbing against her legs.