“You know photographs are frowned on,” Polly said, looking surprised. She adjusted the lightweight blanket covering Nellie Ann’s face while she nursed. “Henry said you were asking him ’bout your adoption, too.”

Britta nodded. “I didn’t think he’d tell ya.”

“Oh, we share everything—no secrets ’tween us.” Polly gave her a kind look. “You’ll know all ’bout that someday when you’re married.”

Smiling, Britta thought about one of the good-looking teen boys she’d caught glancing at her on Christmas Eve while caroling—Roy Lantz, a year older at fourteen.

“What did ya want to know?” Polly asked.

Britta wondered what Mamma would think if she walked in and heard them talking like this, but she took the risk. “Well, to start with, who was my first mother?” she asked, lowering her voice to a near whisper. “And why didn’t she keep me?”

“I don’t know that.” Polly shook her head. “Not sure anyone does.”

“Not a soul?”

Polly was quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure ya know this, but Mamma didn’t think she’d be adding to our family permanently after Dat died. She was so grateful to be able to adopt you after carin’ for ya for a couple of years as a foster Mamma,” Polly explained, a thoughtful expression on her face. “’Course if I was adopted, I ’spect I might be curious like you.”

This made Britta smile. “Do ya think it’s natural to be this curious?”

“It’s hard to know what I’d think or feel if I were in your shoes, really.” Polly looked toward the window, then back at Britta. “I do hope ya know how dearly loved you are here . . . in this family.”

Britta nodded and wondered how she’d feel once she was of age and hearing Mamma tell her all she knew.

Just then, Henry came in to stoke the fire. “We’re gonna play some games in the kitchen,” he announced. “Susie’s itchin’ to take us on in dominoes.”

“Okay, I’ll put Nellie Ann down for her nap,” Polly said.

Evidently their little talk was over, but Britta was comforted to know that Polly would probably be interested in her family roots, too, if she were adopted.

CHAPTER
21

Everyone played several games of dominoes, then sat around and sang carols—Britta’s favorite part of the festivities. Later, they opened the few simple presents, things like an insulated lunch pack for Henry and a book of home remedies for Polly. Junior and Joey each received bedtime storybooks, and Henry and Polly gave Britta and Susie bath and body wash, and to Mamma, a bottle of lightly scented lilac hand lotion.

Around midafternoon, Susie and Mamma brought the leftover cake and pie to the table to have with coffee or hot cocoa.

“Best be warmin’ yourselves before going out,” Mamma said as she placed clean forks and spoons in the middle of the table.