“Isn’t it?” Verena went on to extol the merits of her fiancé, adding, “He plans to rent a house from his father once we’re wed.” Then, stopping, she reached for Susie’s hand. “I’d like ya to be one of my side sitters at our wedding.”

“Oh, cousin,” Susie said, tears welling up. “I’d love to.”

“Marnie will be the other bridesmaid, of course.”

Now both girls were fighting back tears.

“It’ll be the dearest day,” Verena murmured, eyes gleaming.

Susie nodded. “I couldn’t be happier for you!” And while she truly meant it, she couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

Verena smiled. “Wanted you to be the first to know after my parents and Marnie,” she said, going on to add that, unknown to her, Isaac had talked privately with her father about his proposal weeks ago. “Then last Sunday evening, while we were out walking at sunset, he asked me to marry him.”

“So romantic, ain’t?”

Verena agreed. “The nicest setting for a proposal, really. I’ll never forget it.”

Isaac has made her forget any past heartache, Susie thought. “It’s obvious the Lord had someone very special in mind for you,” she said, truly pleased for her cousin.

Even though Mamma seemed all in from market, it was her idea to make homemade vanilla ice cream. So Susie insisted Mamma rest indoors while she and Verena took turns with the hand crank out on the back porch.

Later, when Susie dished up ice cream for each of them, she spooned up some strawberry jam to top it off and invited her mother to join them on the porch. Mamma came outside to join them, cooling her glistening face with a pretty hand fan she’d gotten at a farm sale years ago.

“Are ya lookin’ forward to your trip to Missouri?” Cousin Verena remarked.

Mamma nodded. “I really am.”

“When will ya go?”

“September. The farther away I get from springtime allergies, the better,” Mamma told Verena.

“The grandkids out there are so excited.” Susie glanced at her mother. “Of course, Allen and Sarah are pretty happy, too.”

“That’s a big trip,” Verena said, eyes wide, as if concerned.

“The Lord will be right there with me,” Mamma replied, still fanning herself.

Susie smiled and prayed all would be well.

Once Verena said her good-byes, Susie finished sweeping the porch as twilight fell. She even went inside to gather up the rag rugs in the sitting room and carried them out to hang on the clothesline, where she beat the dust out of them with a broom, even though she’d done this two days ago. Once the rugs were brought back in and placed in their usual spots, Mamma asked why she was still cleaning so late in the day.

“Just tryin’ to keep the dust down for ya.”