The tension in Susanne’s shoulders receded. “Oh, sure. I can sit down with Uncle Bernhard and give him a few pointers.”

“Not Bernhard. It’s Uncle Norbert who needs your help.”

“No problem. I can help him too. I admit I don’t know much about office supplies, but I guess general business principles still apply. I’ll call him tomorrow and—”

“No. A call won’t cut it. He needs more substantial help, or he’ll be bankrupt before spring.”

This was the first Susanne had heard of Uncle Norbert’s problems. Admittedly, she didn’t have much contact with him or any of the relatives on her father’s side. Much? Try almost none. “It’s that bad?”

Her mother nodded. “Yes. And that’s why I need you to temporarily move to Freiburg.”

Now Susanne was the one gulping down the rest of her champagne. “M-move to Freiburg?”

“Yes. Don’t sound so appalled. It’s a charming little city.”

“Yeah. With an emphasis on little. Mama, I’m used to Berlin, London, and Chicago. Freiburg is too small…too provincial. Whoever nicknamed it the metropolis of the Black Forest had a few too many.”

Her sister grinned. “Who can blame them? The wine in the region is really good.”

Susanne glared at her. “I’m not moving all the way across the country for the wine. If you like Freiburg that much, why don’t you go?”

“I’m a dentist. Unless all Uncle Nobby’s store needs is a root canal, I’m not going to be much help. As a business consultant, you’re the perfect person for the job.”

Thanks a lot, traitor.

“That’s what I thought.” Their mother smiled brightly. “Plus you’re long overdue for a visit with your uncle anyway. I never understood why you never came with us.”

“I told you I’m too—”

“Too busy with your job, I know.” Her mother waved the objection away. “But now you don’t have a job. Everything will work out perfectly. You can look for another job and spend some time with Uncle Norbert while you help him out for a few months.”

“A few months?” She’d been thinking a week or two at the most.

“Just until Easter.”

“Until Easter?” Susanne was starting to feel like a parrot constantly echoing the last thing her mother said, but her brain had problems processing this whole scheme. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think her mother had planned it all out before even knowing she had quit her job. “But that’s almost three months!”

“Yes.” Her mother was still grinning as if she’d already solved Uncle Norbert’s problems single-handedly. “By then, it’ll be spring, and you’ll get to enjoy a bit of the sunniest city in Germany during your last couple of weeks there. Won’t that be nice?”