“Just think ’bout it, won’t ya?” Susie gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Well, I should get back to work,” she said, returning to the house. Britta would certainly enjoy some time away, especially with Mamma at Allen’s, she thought, seeing Lucy the cat poke her black head out the stable door. But I’d miss her.

Over a supper of creamed chipped beef and mashed potatoes, Susie attempted to get to the bottom of Britta’s dejected mood. “Haven’t ya often wished you could visit Allen and family?” Susie probed.

“Jah, but I already said I’m not goin’ without you.” Britta took a sip from her tumbler of water.

“Well, it’d make Mamma ever so happy.”

Britta was silent for a while, as if actually thinking it over. Then she said softly, “Maybe if I went, I’d have a chance to talk to Allen privately ’bout what he might know of my adoption.”

This again, Susie thought. But could she blame her? In that moment, she was tempted to mention the birth certificate and photo she’d inadvertently found in Mamma’s file. Britta seemed so down. “Well, I discovered some facts ’bout your origins,” she heard herself saying.

Britta’s head jerked up. “Wha-at?”

“I shouldn’t have, but I looked at a couple papers ’bout your adoption from a file Mamma has.”

Britta stared at her a moment. Then quietly, she asked, “Can I see the file?”

“Ach, I mailed it to Missouri at Mamma’s request.”

“Well then, can ya at least tell me what was in it?” Britta’s big eyes pierced Susie’s heart. “Sei so gut, Schweschder?”

“Sayin’ please won’t make me do the wrong thing.”

Britta stirred her mashed potatoes into the creamy chipped beef. “Honestly, I’ve considered talkin’ to the bishop ’bout this. Wasn’t gonna tell ya.”

Susie guessed she might feel the same way if she were in Britta’s situation. “I s’pose you could ask Bishop Beiler, sure.”

Britta’s left fist clenched. “But you’re right here, Susie. And you know somethin’ more, don’t ya?”

“Well, only where you were born and your birth mother’s name . . . and what she looked like.” There, Susie had really put her foot in a mess now, blurting out what she’d seen.

Britta’s eyes filled with tears. “You . . . you saw her picture?”

Susie nodded. “I actually thought of showin’ it to ya, but I didn’t want to betray Mamma’s trust. I feel guilty for seein’ it myself.”

Staring at her plate, Britta asked, “Will ya describe her to me?”

Susie did her best, mentioning the short auburn hair and brown eyes and makeup, and when she was finished, Britta wanted to know the woman’s name. Susie shook her head. “That I’d better not share. I’m sorry, sister. Really, I am.”