“Do ya s’pose we get our tastes from our parents?” Britta asked clear out of the blue as she poured sugar into the large pot.

Susie shrugged. “Maybe so,” she replied.

Del stopped by once more on the last day of May to sample the rhubarb jam. Susie was impressed when he guessed the secret ingredients: clementine juice, lime juice, and cinnamon. She enjoyed bantering with him while he paid for two pint-sized jars.

“Both jars are for you, jah?” she teased.

He bobbed his head. “We’ll just see how long it lasts, considering my parents and siblings like rhubarb jam, too. They really need to try this.”

“Well then, maybe you’d like to purchase three?”

“You should be in sales,” he said, closing his wallet and chuckling.

Before he left, Del mentioned that he had been very busy with the crops, but he wanted to take her out again. “I hope ya understand,” he said, looking apologetic.

“It’s a busy time for us, too, what with gardening and canning an’ all. Time to restock the shelves so we’re ready for you next time.”

He grinned and she smiled in return. “Enjoy the jam,” she said as he headed for the shop door.

Susie was in the gazebo watering the hanging plants when she heard the sound of a horse and buggy turn into the driveway the next day. She looked and was surprised to see Obie and Hazel.

Oh, that’s right—Hazel’s come to bake pies with Britta. She recalled Britta saying as much earlier that morning. The girls planned to take one to the Ebersols and the other up the road to Lois Peachey and family, a neighborly thing to do.

Susie continued watering and wondering if Obie would head on his way with just a wave.

To her surprise, he climbed out of the buggy and walked over to the gazebo steps. “Hullo, Susie,” he said, running his hand over his clean-shaven chin.

“Wie geht’s?”

“Doin’ all right.” Obie glanced toward the pond. “Say, I was wonderin’ if we might take the rowboat out, maybe? I’ve got a little time before I need to run an errand, and it’s the perfect day for it.”

Well, that’s unexpected! she thought, pleased. She glanced back at the house, where Britta was already occupied with Hazel. Then, looking toward Mamma’s shop, where a couple of buggies were parked, Susie decided that her mother would be fine without her. “Jah, I can prob’ly slip away for a while,” she replied, setting down the watering can.

When they walked out to the far end of the dock, Susie stepped barefoot into the moored rowboat, and Obie followed. The boat swayed gently as she sat down, and he untied the rope, then took a seat facing her. Slowly, he pushed the boat away from the pier, then began to row toward the deeper water.