“Unless there are other cousins or friends you want to invite, Britta,” Verena said. “That’s up to you, but let me know so I’ll have plenty of food for everyone.”

“Mamma will eat with us, too, of course,” Susie spoke up.

“Oh jah,” said Britta. “Mamma for certain.”

“But no boyfriends allowed,” Marnie teased.

Verena rolled her eyes at her sister. “Jah, just us girls.”

Susie laughed with them, grateful for this lighthearted time together.

As promised, Del stopped by the very next Tuesday to pick up the framed family tree. Susie soon realized that, because there were several customers ahead of him in line and more behind him, he wouldn’t be able to engage her in much conversation. As it turned out, he only remarked how wunnerbaar the cross-stitched family tree had turned out, though he made no attempt to hide his enthusiasm from the other waiting customers. The two Amishwomen behind him exchanged knowing glances, and one gave Susie a little smile.

“I’m glad you like it,” Susie said as Del paid. “Hopefully your Mamm will, too.”

Later, Susie and Mamma enjoyed the noon meal together, since Britta was visiting Hazel.

“Tomorrow, we should pick rhubarb,” Mamma said to Susie. “Ain’t so?”

“That’s exactly what I told Britta this mornin’—she knows we need her round here.” Secretly, Susie hoped Mamma wouldn’t insist on helping too much. “Del Petersheim says he’s lookin’ forward to sampling some of our special rhubarb jam soon,” she added.

“Sounds like he’s dropped by the shop a couple times,” Mamma observed, arching her eyebrows.

Susie nodded. “He’s real nice.”

Mamma made a small sound as if agreeing, though Susie couldn’t really tell. One thing was certain: She really didn’t need to hear again that Mamma preferred Obie. They’d already had that conversation, and besides, there wasn’t anything she could do to get Obie to change his mind about going now.

CHAPTER
14

After a quick breakfast of sticky buns and coffee, Susie and Britta picked the plump red rhubarb stalks amidst heavy morning dew. Mamma, for her part, helped to hose off the dirt before they carried the stalks inside to make their delicious jam. Bobwhites were calling back and forth in the paddock, and the sweet scent of newly cut hay wafted on the spring breeze.

At nine o’clock, Mamma went out to mind the shop, while Susie and Britta made a big batch of their special rhubarb jam to sell.

Growing up, Susie had often heard the womenfolk talk about the health benefits of rhubarb juice, which many believed improved eyesight and aided digestion. A good number of them, Mamma included, kept rhubarb juice on hand when it was in season. Susie knew, however, that Britta disliked the taste, so she didn’t drink the juice, although as long as strawberries were added, she liked the jam and pies made with rhubarb.