Who knows? she thought, shaking her head. And why should it matter to me?

She could see Obie hop onto the toboggan with three other fellows, and with a running start from the last person to jump on, down they went. In unison, they raised their arms high and howled with glee all the way to the bottom.

The parent hosts had built a bonfire on the other side of the rise, so Susie went along with Verena and Laura Ann to warm up. “Ain’t the coldest day for sledding, thankfully,” Verena said, rubbing her mittened hands together.

“Close enough,” Laura Ann said, managing to look cozy in the folds of her thick scarf.

Susie leaned near the fire and listened as the girls bantered and then began to talk of the coming new year. She wondered what it might hold for her and Obie’s friendship. Would he continue to write letters to her?

“You all right?” Verena asked Susie, her cheeks rosy red.

“Why?” Susie smiled.

“I know ya, cousin.” Verena pressed her lips together.

Laura Ann must have detected that Verena wanted to talk privately with Susie, since she walked around to the opposite side of the bonfire, where she mingled with some other girl cousins.

Verena pressed. “It’s Obie, ain’t so?”

Susie looked away.

“I thought so.” Verena was still for a moment, then said more quietly, “It must be hard to care ’bout someone while denying it at the same time.”

Susie was surprised both at the words and that her cousin had been so frank. “You really think I’m doin’ that?”

“Well, that’s somethin’ you should figure out yourself.” Verena gave her a quick hug. “Remember, I care ’bout ya, cousin.” She excused herself and walked around the bonfire to the other side to rejoin Laura Ann, leaving Susie there to contemplate.

It was almost as if Verena had seen Obie coming this way.

“Havin’ a gut time?” he asked as he came to stand next to her.

She nodded. “Great sleddin’, jah?”

“The snowpack’s perfect.” He slapped his gloved hands together and leaned in closer to the fire. “I was hopin’ we’d get a chance to talk longer than at the Christmas program.”

She smiled tentatively.

“It’s been a while,” he added casually.

More than six months, she thought, staring at the bonfire, thankful for the warmth.

“And, to be honest, it seems strange bein’ back.”

She didn’t say anything, hoping he’d keep filling the pauses.

“Don’t get me wrong—my family’s wunnerbaar and so supportive of me workin’ so far away,” Obie said. “I’ve missed them, but as you know, I’ve made friends in Sugar Valley.”

“Is it starting to feel more like home, then?” She hated to ask.

“In some ways.” He glanced at her. “But not in every way.”

She didn’t dare smile, unsure what he meant, but her heart was listening.