I’ll miss hearing from him, she thought, resigned to this as she headed back to check on the clothes drying on the line. But it’s only right for Obie to focus his attention on his girlfriend.

Later that day, while waiting for Britta to return home from babysitting for the Ebersols, Susie and her mother chopped cabbage for slaw at the kitchen counter.

“I’ve prayed ’bout Allen’s invitation,” Mamma announced.

In spite of her misgivings, Susie had come to the conclusion that Allen needed to see Mamma’s struggles firsthand. Maybe then he’ll urge medical help.

“I think I should go.”

Susie was relieved. “Do ya feel strong enough to make the trip?”

“How long a ride is it?”

“I’m not sure, but Allen can tell ya. It’ll certainly take most of a day, though.”

“I’ll ask when I call him back,” Mamma replied.

Susie set down her knife. “Have ya said anything to Britta about possibly going?”

“Nee, since I haven’t decided.”

“Well, Allen must think it’s okay for you to go. Healthwise, I mean.”

Mamma brushed off her chopping board. “Actually, you know me better than Allen these days,” she said. “What do you think?”

Susie hadn’t expected this. “Honestly, if I could get away, I’d go with ya. I hate to see you go alone, but I’m sure it’ll do ya good to see all of them.”

Mamma didn’t dispute that. “You’d like to see Allen and family, I don’t wonder.”

“Jah, and Britta would, too.” Susie frowned. “But we can’t afford for all of us to go, and I wouldn’t want to ask Allen to foot the bill. And there’s the livestock to care for, too, and your little shop.”

“Maybe someday,” Mamma replied.

“Maybe,” Susie said, feeling uneasy.

CHAPTER
24

Late April brought the anniversary of Eli’s passing. This year, Susie went to the accident site in galoshes and a raincoat, carrying her black umbrella, as the sky had opened up and poured buckets of rain all that day.

The usual bouquet of flowers with its blue ribbon was nowhere in sight, and it struck Susie that Eli’s death, and Dat’s, too, might eventually fade in people’s memories. Yet our family will never forget, she thought, wondering if Mamma would be well enough to visit the cemetery once the ground dried out.

Susie took her still-frail mother over to visit Ella Mae. She waited in the carriage, cross-stitching, to give Mamma and her friend some time alone. After an hour or more of working her smooth stitches, Susie saw Ella Mae’s screen door swing open, and Mamma stepped out. Setting aside her stitching, Susie got out of the carriage to make her way up the walkway, her attention on Ella Mae’s little white porch, which was decked out with its familiar potted red geraniums, already bright and flourishing.