At Preaching the next morning, Susie couldn’t help noticing Britta talking to Roy’s teenage sisters, Lizzy and Jessie, before they lined up with the womenfolk outside the temporary house of worship. It was a sunny but blustery day, and snow sparkled on the field with jewel-like radiance.

Waiting quietly, Susie gazed toward the front of the line, where Mamma usually stood. As each week had passed, she missed her mother more. She realized anew how very close she and Mamma and Britta had always been. But based on Mamma’s continued fragile state, in spite of some improvements, Susie had begun to doubt she would ever return home.

Would it make sense for me to move out there? Susie thought. Allen had actually offered that in his letter. That way, Britta could live with Aendi Emmalyn till she was old enough to marry. Might be for the best, Susie thought reluctantly as she stepped forward to the women’s entrance.

That evening, Britta headed over to visit Hazel, thanks to Susie’s offer of a buggy ride, since the wind remained gusty and cold.

When Britta arrived, Hazel ushered her inside and closed the door. “I made fudge yesterday, and there’s some left for us tonight.” Hazel grinned.

“Sounds yummy.”

“We’ll have hot cocoa to drink, too, unless ya want coffee. Double the sweets!” Hazel glanced toward the door. “It’s mighty chilly out there.”

Britta followed her into the kitchen, where some white paper and two sets of scissors lay on the wood table. “Looks like you’re gonna make snowflakes.”

“Jah, and angels, too.” Hazel’s eyes shone. “Know how?”

Britta nodded. “Mamma taught me when I was little.”

Hazel moved to the stove, where a small pan of milk was warming. “So, coffee or cocoa?”

“Whatever you’re havin’s fine.”

“Well, I could live on chocolate, so . . .”

Britta laughed. “Then cocoa it is.”

Hazel stirred the milk, glancing at her. “Say, did I tell ya that my Mamm plans to give each of her sisters one of your Christmas table runners?”

Britta was delighted. “She must’ve bought them at market when I wasn’t around.”

“Maybe you were getting lunch or a snack,” Hazel replied, pouring the hot milk into two large mugs before adding her homemade cocoa mix. She topped it off with miniature marshmallows. “Do ya know where you and Susie will spend Christmas this year?”

Britta didn’t want to dwell on the sad fact that Mamma would be so far away. “We’ll be with Polly and her family in Landisville. I’ll keep the two younger children occupied while Susie helps Polly get dinner ready.” Britta went on to say how attached her four-year-old nephew was to her. “Over the years, Joey’s become my little shadow,” she said, smiling at the thought.

“I’m sure he has.” Hazel nodded. “Children are really drawn to ya.”

“And cats, too,” Britta said with a laugh.