Susie agreed, then turned around as Del reached for the driving lines and clicked his cheek to signal the horse forward.

The conversation was pleasant enough as they rode and during their pie at Cindy’s cousin’s house, but in the back of Susie’s mind was how disloyal she’d felt meeting Del while Obie had been standing a few yards away.

The morning of Tuesday’s gathering, Susie hitched up Atta-Girl, their older driving horse, to the enclosed gray carriage. Before leaving, Mamma told Britta she was sorry she had to eat breakfast alone on a school day, but Britta assured her it was all right. “You an’ Susie have yourselves a gut time at Sisters Day.”

“Well, s’pose we should get goin’,” Mamma said, pulling a hankie out of the pocket of her best black dress and placing it over her nose as she and Susie left the house to walk to the horse and carriage. As they rode together, Susie holding the driving lines, Mamma sniffled and kept clearing her throat. “Ach, my allergies are especially bad today.”

Susie glanced at her. “Well, aside from Preachin’, you rarely get to see many of the other womenfolk, so I’m glad you’re goin’.”

“Bein’ round people is a blessing, indeed,” Mamma replied, going on to say it was particularly nice that so many relatives with sisters would be coming. She gave a little cough, but thankfully it settled right away.

“Did ya take time for your warm tea this mornin’?” Susie asked, wishing she’d made certain.

“My fault,” Mamma said. “Hopefully Kate’ll have some brewing. Even coffee would help. Or just some boiling water in a cup.”

Arriving at the Yoders’, Susie recognized several of the road horses tied to the hitching post in the side yard and tried to guess who’d come besides Aendi Emmalyn and Mattie Beiler. “Looks like Kate’s sister Lena is here. And Mattie’s sister Rebekah Glick.”

“Ella Mae’s sure to be here, as well,” Mamma said, a lilt in her voice now. “She wouldn’t miss it, even though her sisters are all gone to Jesus.”

“Well then, you and Emmalyn can be her sisters for today,” Susie suggested, getting out to go around and wait for her mother to step out of the carriage.

Inside Kate’s roomy kitchen, there was so much cheerful chatter and rushing around to get the hot breakfast on the table, Susie wished she could help, too. But, seeing Verena and Marnie already seated toward the foot of the table and waving her over to join them, Susie headed there.

The minute the food was set before them, everyone else sat down and bowed their heads for the silent blessing. Susie prayed the usual rote prayer but also asked God to help Mamma feel well enough to enjoy the get-together.