Hours later, when the many dishes were washed, wiped, and put away, Susie disliked the thought of going home to an empty house. So, at the turnoff to her driveway, she instead directed the horse onward and headed up the road to Aendi Emmalyn’s, where her aunt was hosting her married children and their families for Thanksgiving.

A better way to spend the rest of the day, Susie thought, grateful for her extended family.

Britta enjoyed having Thanksgiving dinner with Allen and his family, but she missed being with Susie and tried to imagine her socializing with the youth after the wedding, especially with Irwin, one of the male attendants, and Marnie and her beau, Jerome, who was the other. Britta hoped Cousin Verena’s wedding had been a wonderful time for Susie. Her sister had been so determined to stay home and follow through with her promise to Verena.

She did the right thing, like she always does, Britta thought, knowing how close Susie and Verena had always been.

Britta helped dry dishes with twelve-year-old Dora while Sarah washed, and ten-year-old Tilly put them away in the corner cupboard. It was a joy to spend this day with her nieces, including six-year-old Maggie, who had the cutest giggle and treated her like a big sister more than an aunt.

Later, settling in to the spare room to talk with Mamma privately, Britta wondered if this afternoon might be a good time to share about her recent visit to Ella Mae’s. Mamma had already been resting awhile in her large but sparsely furnished room. Since Mamma’s arrival, Allen had built in a closet with shelves to keep everything organized. He had done this with all of the bedrooms, including the largest one, just up the stairs, which was his and Sarah’s own.

Thankfully, Mamma’s room was far removed from the kitchen, so she had a private retreat and didn’t have to climb any stairs, either, should she become ill again. Something that’s not possible at home, Britta thought. And for that reason alone, Mamma is better off staying here.

“Seems you’re thinkin’ hard on something,” Mamma observed as she sat in the lone chair in the corner of her bedroom.

“Oh, just that this room’s so quiet and separate from the other living spaces. And it’s on the main floor, too. Makes things nice for ya.”

“’Tis a blessing.”

“I noticed Ella Mae’s Dawdi Haus doesn’t have any stairs, either,” Britta said, not thinking.

Mamma’s eyes widened. “Oh, have ya visited her lately?”

Britta nodded. “I was feelin’ upset . . . well, frustrated. But she helped me understand it wasn’t a sin to feel that way, unless I let it turn to anger—which I certainly didn’t want.”

Mamma folded her hands and listened. Then, looking more serious, she asked, “Did ya bring up your adoption to her, maybe?”

Britta grimaced. “S’pose I did.”