Following a night of steady rain, Susie rose very early to finish work on the fiftieth-wedding-anniversary gift for Mattie’s uncle and aunt. When this piece was done, she was looking forward to starting the next cross-stitch, this one for an Englischer customer. And maybe sometime this week, Del would be placing his order, too. Creating these projects gave her joy, as did witnessing the delighted smiles on customers’ faces.

After breakfast, Susie and Britta redded up the kitchen for Mamma, then walked out to the stable so Britta could check on her cats.

“I’m a little curious,” Susie said, trying to sound casual, “did Hazel happen to say something ’bout Obie’s chance to work in Sugar Valley?”

Britta suddenly looked sheepish.

Susie prodded, poking her sister’s elbow. “C’mon now.”

Britta blew out a breath. “I didn’t think it was my place to tell ya, partly ’cause I prob’ly wasn’t s’posed to know.” She grimaced. “But mainly ’cause I didn’t know if Obie wanted to keep it a secret.”

“Is that why you’ve been so quiet here lately?”

Britta nodded. “I felt like frosting in a whoopie pie, stuck between you and Hazel.”

Susie had to laugh. “Well, I’m glad we got this cleared up. Obie told me yesterday, so you can be yourself again.” She glanced at Britta. “It must’ve been kitzlich for ya.”

“Ticklish, for sure.” Britta opened the stable door, and Lucy came running right to her, while Tabasco hung back near the pony’s stall.

“Obie says if he does accept the job with his Onkel, he’ll be gone for at least two years,” Susie told her.

Britta’s eyes widened. “Wha-at?”

“I thought ya knew.”

“Not for how long. Hazel didn’t share all that much.” Looking pensive, she said, “I’ve been wonderin’ . . . well—” Britta shook her head, as if having second thoughts.

“Tell me.” Susie leaned down and reached for cuddly Lucy, picking her up and carrying her like a baby.

“I prob’ly shouldn’t.” Britta hesitated. “But . . . I’ve always wished Obie might be part of our family someday.”

“Aw, Britta.” Susie shook her head.

“Ain’t my business, I know.”

Susie snuggled Lucy’s furry little head as she recalled Obie’s thoughtful smile last night before they’d said good-bye. “For a while, I thought there might be something between us, but I’m very sure he thinks of me as a sister.”

“Well, having an older Bruder is real nice,” Britta replied. “In that way, he is sort of in the family.”

There was a slight pause before Britta continued. “Speakin’ of that, have ya ever noticed that Mamma never talks ’bout Eli? ’Least, not to me. Does she ever to you?”

“Nee . . . I guess not, now ya mention it.”

“Why not, do ya think? She’ll mention your Dat, from time to time.”