Ella Mae smiled faintly. “If ya don’t know just yet, it’ll come to ya when it’s s’posed to,” she said, as if looking straight into Susie’s heart.

What on earth does she mean?

“You’ve done a fine job takin’ care of your Mamma, Susie,” Ella Mae said. “But now ya have a chance to decide what you want.” She paused. “Weeks before Allen and his family moved away, his wife shared with me that both she and Allen were quite confident leavin’ Hickory Hollow because of your excellent care of your Mamma and Britta.”

“Really?”

“Jah, in fact, there wasn’t a doubt in Sarah’s or Allen’s minds that you’d continue to be a loving, caring daughter and sister.”

Susie’s spirits were so low, she could scarcely believe this, though coming from Ella Mae, she knew she ought to trust it.

The Wise Woman offered more tea, and Susie accepted. “Have as much as you like,” Ella Mae said, getting up to open the oven door.

Susie wiped her eyes. “I’m glad I visited today.”

Ella Mae leaned down to remove the loaf pan from the oven and set it on a wooden trivet to cool on the counter. “I’m glad, too.”

They talked about other things for a while, and then when Susie was ready to leave, she thanked Ella Mae for the tea and cookies. “And the gut conversation,” she added.

“You and Britta are welcome anytime,” Ella Mae said with a smile. “I don’t leave the Haus much anymore, so ya know where to find me.”

“Denki,” Susie said, opening the back door, thinking she wouldn’t wait so long again before making another visit.

“Remember now that all things work together for gut to them that love God,” Ella Mae said, that familiar sparkle in her eye.

Heading down the porch steps, Susie was grateful for the promise of that verse. “Have a wunnerbaar-gut day!”

“Be kind to yourself, Susie Mast,” Ella Mae said, standing at the door. “Life’s not just ’bout constant work, remember.”

CHAPTER
30

Britta was thankful it didn’t take long for Mamma to reply to her letter. I hope she didn’t think I was selfish, asking her to come home, she thought, hurrying toward the house, envelope in hand, on this gray autumn day. The murky clouds were laden with rain, and at breakfast Susie had said thundershowers were in the forecast, according to the newspaper.

Presently, Susie was assisting customers in Mamma’s shop, which had largely become Susie’s to tend. Britta was happy to do the behind-the-scenes work of making goat cheese, popcorn balls, runners, and more recently, specialty breads to sell.