She saw her quick reply had taken the other two by surprise. She realized that the two Jewish girls had such a vastly different cultural and religious background and heritage than she.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I suppose our traditions are very different in many ways. Are you betrothed?”

Gisela shook her head, but seventeen-year-old Ursula now spoke.

“I am,” she said. “But I don’t know what is to happen now—I may never see Joseph again.”

“Your parents do not consider you young for betrothal?”

“Jewish girls are promised early for marriage. It is a most serious part of our life. We are trained in the ways of homemaking and mothering and…”

Her voice began to tremble.

“I don’t know what will come of me now,” she added. “I don’t even know where Joseph is.”

“Do you love this Joseph?” asked Sabina quietly.

“Love him?”

“Yes. Are the two of you in love?”

“I don’t know. I don’t suppose I ever thought about it.”

“You’re betrothed, and you have never thought about whether you’re in love with him? That is much different from our customs.”

“I love my parents, and I trust them. They know what is best for me.”

“That is enough in the matter of marriage?” asked Sabina.

“It is enough. A Jewish girl must love her God and her parents. That love is extended to her husband only after she is married to him.”

A shy smile stole over Ursula’s face.

“I do feel very special things when Joseph is near me,” she whispered to Sabina and Gisela. “I am most fortunate, for he is very handsome.”

The girls laughed together at Ursula’s joyous but embarrassed confession.

“You are old enough to marry, Sabina,” said Gisela. “Is there no one your parents look to for your betrothal?”

Again Sabina thought of Gustav and the misunderstanding between their mothers. The next moment she found her mind going back through the years to that moment with Matthew when she realized how much she cared for him.

Tears filled her eyes at the happy yet bittersweet memory of their last evening together, and the romp they had enjoyed the following morning down underneath the house. The thoughts were filled with such mingled joy and anguish, knowing that she too might never see him again, just as Ursula had said of Joseph. Whenever she remembered, her heart filled so full with many emotions that her eyes overflowed as well.

“Yes,” she answered at length. “There is someone I care deeply for.”

“Did your parents choose him for you?”

“No,” said Sabina. “That is not usually how it is done. But I think they like him almost as much as I do.”

“Do tell us about him, Sabina,” said Gisela.

“Oh yes—please!” added Ursula.