“We’re very happy to see you both,” Susie said as she took Ella Mae’s coat and hung it up in the utility room.

Britta appeared in the doorway that led to the kitchen, her face tear streaked.

Mine must be, too, Susie thought. “Kumme and get yourselves warmed up,” she said, leading Ella Mae slowly into the kitchen, with Mattie coming behind carrying the fruit basket. “Here, I’ll make it easy for ya,” she told Ella Mae, pulling out Mamma’s chair for her.

Mattie placed the fruit basket on the counter, and Susie thanked them for the wonderful surprise. Then Mattie excused herself, saying she would return for Ella Mae in an hour or so.

“That’ll be fine.” Susie eyed the fruit basket. “I see some bags of nuts and chocolate in there.”

Britta smiled at that, as all the while, Ella Mae seemed to study the girls.

“Let’s open it,” Susie suggested and pulled out some scissors from a nearby drawer to cut the pretty cellophane wrapping. Inside were bananas, two grapefruit, and several oranges and apples, as well as the nuts and chocolates, and peppermint sticks, too. “This is such fun . . . and so kind of you.”

“We wanted to do somethin’ a little special for yous with your Mamma away,” Ella Mae was quick to say.

At that, Susie managed a little smile.

Carrying the nuts, chocolates, and peppermint sticks to the table, Susie returned to the sink to fill the teakettle. “Would ya like some tea?” she asked Ella Mae, delighted to treat her this time.

The woman nodded. “Tea’s always a gut idea, ain’t?”

As she set the gas burner to high, Susie wondered if Ella Mae had any sense of what she’d interrupted. She opened the cupboard where Mamma always kept the boxes of tea bags and removed the peppermint one. “This kind? Or did ya bring a bag of dried mint leaves in your purse?”

Ella Mae smiled. “S’pose your Mamma told ya that.”

“She said you liked to have some available, just in case.”

Ella Mae tittered. “Well, since I don’t go out much, I quit that.”

Britta took down three teacups and saucers from the cupboard, not having said or shown her face much since Ella Mae’s arrival.

But Ella Mae was looking toward the counter where Susie and Britta set out the cups and saucers, along with three spoons. “Say now, I hope I didn’t walk in on somethin’,” she said softly, giving them a searching yet kind look. “Are you girls missin’ your Mamma?”

Britta glanced at Susie. “Jah . . . and missin’ Eli.”

Surprised at Britta’s reply, Susie felt her breath catch in her throat.

Britta’s gaze held Susie’s; then she quickly explained that they had been sorting through boxes downstairs. “I stumbled across Eli’s safety vest,” Britta said. “But my sister can tell the rest.”