Partway down the first page, Susie saw again what Allen had written. I plan to contact Aendi Emmalyn sometime after the new year about the possibility of you staying with her, starting early March. At least till something more permanent comes up. I respect your hope to stay together if possible.

Britta frowned and looked at her. “Ach, so soon! What do you think?”

Susie swallowed her disappointment. “Well, it’s better than havin’ to move to Landisville like Allen had first suggested. This way, you could still see Hazel and participate in the activities with die Youngie if we stayed with Aendi Emmalyn.”

Britta bowed her head. “I know you’re right, but all this upsets me.”

“And of course we’ll have to work out somethin’ for our little shop. Aendi Emmalyn doesn’t have any spare space for that.”

“She does have a little extra room for the two of us. But we’d be sharin’ a bedroom there,” Britta observed.

“Just so you are quiet next summer when ya come in from dates with Roy.”

Britta blushed. “What’ll we do ’bout the goats?” Then she gasped. “Ach, and the cats!”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Aendi Emmalyn’s just as happy as we are to have the goats’ milk. Hopefully her son will find a place for them.” She grew thoughtful as she puzzled it out. “I’m not sure how she’d feel ’bout havin’ the cats around, though.”

“Well, I can’t leave them behind.” Britta’s voice broke. “Oh, Susie, this is just awful.”

Susie wouldn’t let herself get down about this; she had to be the strong one.

“And what ’bout the horses and pony?” Britta asked, sniffling.

“Allen will likely sell at least the pony, and probably a horse, too,” she admitted. “Hopefully, there’ll be room for one of our road horses in Emmalyn’s stable. We really only need one. We’ll be able to be more independent that way and won’t have to borrow her horse and buggy.”

They sat there without speaking for a moment, the implications sinking in.

Britta leaned her head against Susie’s shoulder. “This’ll be our last Christmas in this house, and we won’t even be here on Christmas Day,” she said, sniffling.

“Well, would ya really want to be here with just me?” She slipped her arm around her sister.

Britta shook her head. “It’ll be hard enough without Mamma.”

“What if we exchanged a homemade gift for each other on Christmas Eve morning, before a nice hot breakfast? I’ll cook whatever you want,” Susie offered, then paused as another idea sprang up. “And you could have the cats come into the kitchen, if you’d like.”

“Really?” Britta’s face beamed as she straightened. “We’ll see if they can make up their minds ’bout going out or coming in.”

Susie laughed. “Typical kitty cats.”

Britta hugged her.