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and rigid, but at least Rhoda didn’t pull away again. “I know it’s hard. That’s probably how Rachel and Kathy Ann feel about you.”
    â€œThem?” Rhoda dismissed the mention of their two youngest sisters with a sniff.
    â€œDon’t you think they envy you, starting your rumspringa?”
    Rhoda considered. “Maybe. But nobody’s telling them they have to be good, and be careful, and don’t draw attention, and don’t do anything to embarrass Louise.”
    A wave of sympathy rippled through Katie. Mamm loved all five of her daughters, but she had trouble showing that love when they weren’t doing what she wanted. Katie had felt the same way Rhoda did only too often herself.
    â€œKomm, now.” She put an arm around Rhoda’s shoulders. “That’s only Mamm worrying. You know that.”
    â€œMaybe.” Rhoda’s voice wavered a bit. “But she said I’d have to stay with you, and now you don’t want me, either.”
    Careful. She was responsible for her little sister, and she didn’t want to make a mistake. “Why would you say that?”
    â€œYou hardly said a word to me all through supper,” Rhoda pointed out. “And you looked like you were a million miles away.”
    Not a million miles. Just down in Caleb’s shop, feeling that astonishing warmth between them. Warmth that had turned too quickly to ice when he’d said what he did about her sister.
    â€œAch, you mustn’t mind me.” Katie tried to make her tone light. “Since I moved into the apartment I’ve been so busy getting the shop ready to open, I haven’t thought about anything else. I guess I’ve gotten into the habit of being quiet. It’s not that I don’t want you here, that’s certain-sure.”
    Rhoda looked at her as if measuring the truth of what she said. She must have been convincing, because Rhoda’s heart-shaped face relaxed a little. “You’re sure?”
    â€œJa, I am.”
    â€œIt seems like a fine place to be.” Rhoda’s gesture seemed to take in the four-room apartment. “I’d love to live like this, having my own place right above the street where you can look out and see what’s happening if you want. Or be quiet if you want. With Rachel and Kathy Ann around, I don’t get enough peace to think for a minute.”
    Katie decided to ignore the comment about their little sisters, who were a bit noisy, come to think of it. “The apartment is nice.” She couldn’t deny that she enjoyed having a place of her own, even if it was only rented from Bishop Mose. “I can concentrate on the shop for now. But you know, I found it was getting a little lonely, too. Now that you’re here, I don’t have to worry about that.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Some of Rhoda’s natural liveliness came back into her face.
    â€œI’m sure.” She gave her little sister a hug. “It’s early yet. Komm, let’s walk down to the corner and get an ice cream for our dessert. To celebrate our first day in the shop together and having you here with me.” She needed to know what Rhoda had done that had so upset Mamm, but tonight wasn’t the time to ask. Tonight she’d just try to cement their relationship.
    â€œYou mean it?” Rhoda loved ice cream, but it was a rare treat at home, unless Daad got out the old ice-cream maker when the berries were ripe.
    â€œI’ll tell you a secret,” Katie said, gathering her keys and money. “Having an ice-cream cone might be the best thing about living in town.”
    Rhoda giggled. “I’ll take ice cream over another talk about Louise’s dower chest anytime. I guess Mamm has to be excited about it, being the first wedding that really—” She stopped, looking stricken. “I mean—”
    â€œIt’s all right.” Katie managed a smile and hoped it was