Susie tried not to grin at how wonderful it was, skimming through the water on such a fine day with Obie. Since it was only the first day of June, it wasn’t terribly hot yet.

“I’ve managed to keep what I’m gonna tell ya under my hat this time,” he said, sitting tall as he rowed more slowly now, letting the boat glide gently into the heart of the pond. “I learned my lesson ’bout tellin’ my Bruder first.”

Susie hadn’t the slightest idea what Obie meant, so she waited quietly.

“Onkel Leon has been pressin’ me to come sooner than October. I’m plannin’ to head down to Ronks tomorrow to talk to one of my cousins ’bout helpin’ Dat and Jerome through the summer and into fall harvest. Assuming I can find Dat some help, I’ll be free to leave for Sugar Valley sooner than planned.”

Once again, Susie didn’t know how to react. Here lately, she had seen Obie only infrequently, mostly at Preaching or in the distance at a Singing or two, and with him leaving, she felt uncomfortable letting him know how she felt about much of anything. So she simply nodded her head. And here I thought there were months yet.

“Lord willin’, I hope to leave this Saturday. Just wanted you to hear it from me,” Obie said, studying her expression.

He was observing her so closely that she struggled to keep her expression calm. “You’re here to say good-bye, then?”

“Just for now. Nothing’s going to change the fact that we’re friends.” Obie’s smile was warm and reassuring.

But with Obie leaving, wouldn’t their friendship become something far different now?

“I’ll pray for safe travels for you,” she said, reaching over the side of the boat to dip her hand in the water, still doing her best to hide her disappointment.

He began rowing faster again. “I can always count on ya, Susie,” he said. “For prayer.”

“Jah,” she said.

It crossed her mind to ask how he expected them to maintain their bond into the future when, more than likely, one or both of them would meet the mate God intended, bringing their longtime friendship to an end.

This could be the last time Obie and I talk alone like this, she thought, determined now to enjoy their last few leisurely moments together, the breeze on her face, the sun’s rays dappling the water.

As they floated along beneath the willows, she wanted so badly to ask what he’d started to say on her birthday, which seemed ever so long ago now. She even opened her mouth to speak but caught herself, believing that if it was still important, he would bring it up on his own.