Would Daed hear if Levi prayed to him? Or maybe would Gott relay the message?
Gott, I need help. Wisdom. I need wisdom. I need to talk to Daed. I need—
“Levi!”
The scream interrupted his pitiful attempt at a prayer.
Abigail. Had she fallen? Again? Gott, help.
Levi dropped the cell phone down on a workbench and ran.
He burst through the doorway to the house, expecting to find Abigail on the floor.
She sat in her wheelchair at the table, staring at a chocolate cupcake, tears running down her face.
“What’s wrong?” He gasped for breath.
“Elsie. She quit.”
That was a quick answer to prayer. At least the Elsie part. He wouldn’t be adding Elsie-induced insanity to the mix. And then it registered that her horse and buggy were gone. She’d left.
Something must have shown on his face because now his sister looked truly disappointed, lonely, devastated, like someone had handed her that cupcake and then stole it before she could take a bite.
“She said you don’t want to hire her. Not really,” Abigail accused him, swiping at her face.
She was right. And to his shame, he’d told her so.
“You have to talk to her.” More tears beaded on Abigail’s lashes. “We agreed that she was perfect.”
“She would be.” But—
“Talk to her.”
Seriously? Well, he needed to apologize for his unkind words anyway. “Tomorrow.” He sighed. “Abigail, I thought something was wrong.”
Abigail blinked at the tears. A clear sign that this hurt her. “Something is! Aren’t you listening? Elsie quit!”
“Right. There are others—”
“Not for us. You need to talk to her. Tonight. Go to her, Levi.”
He stared at his sister. Silent. Then he glanced at the clock. If he didn’t loiter, he wouldn’t be too late. “Fine. I’ll go now.” He took down his jacket. So much for getting a jump start on the train order.
Except, he didn’t know how to do damage control. Elsie was the expert on that.
And hopefully, he wouldn’t regret this.
Chapter 7
Elsie stabled Dart, wiped him down, and gave him fresh water. Her shoulders sagged as she went into the house with the bags of replacement groceries from Zooks’. Her family was just sitting down for a late supper of chicken and dumplings. It smelled beyond delicious, but she’d just eaten with Levi and Abigail. She could use a hot drink, though, to help warm up. She set the bags and her purse on the nearest counter and removed her sweater and bonnet, hanging them on a hook by the door.
“Were Zooks’ hiring?” Noah asked from his seat between their two grandfathers.
Elsie sighed as she opened her purse and withdrew the small wad of cash. So much for keeping it quiet until later or maybe telling Daed privately. “And firing.” She handed the bills to Daed. Her large family—all thirteen members present; her young nephew was at his other grandparents’ house—gawked even as Daed accepted the money. He silently counted it, putting the bills all facing the same direction and by denomination, the way he always did.
“At least you earned fifty dollars,” he said. “Danki. We appreciate it.”
“He must’ve overpaid. Either that or added severance pay.” Elsie poured a mug of hot tea and sat in an empty chair between two of her sisters. “Some ice cream factory delivered innumerable flats of dill pickle ice cream. They were going out of business. I was fired for checking out a customer and not refusing the ice cream.” Seriously, though, what had Thomas Zook expected her to do? And he’d refused to listen to her explanations.
“Dill pickle ice cream,” Mammi Janice said, shaking her head. “Explains why they were going out of business.”
Mammi Pearl cackled. “You said it.”
At least both her maternal and paternal grandparents got along. But they sort of had to when they lived in the same house.
“Death by ice cream,” Noah said with an impish smirk. “Only you, Elle.”
Levi used to call her Elle, too, back when he courted her. The memory hit with the force of a flash flood, reminiscent of the time about five years earlier when she was sixteen and all the low-water bridges were flooded and impassable, and she was forced to stay at a friend’s house for several days. Not a hardship, since Gracie had some good-looking brothers—not that any of them were interested in her, and not that she was looking. Ever since she was a fourteen-year-old, her heart had belonged to Levi.
“You’ll never be able to get and keep a job here, Elsie,” her twenty-five-year-old brother Sam said. He gave her a pointed look but said no more. Leaving could not be discussed openly. She’d have to just disappear in the dark of night.
“You’re so encouraging.” Elsie’s vision blurred. And due to her sudden foolish move, she couldn’t even claim to have a job working for Levi as Santa’s elf. She’d kind of hoped Levi would chase after her, tell her that he didn’t mean his hurtful words, and beg her to please come back to work for him.
No, that foolish move hadn’t paid off, because even though she made the horse walk as slowly as possible, Levi hadn’t followed.
What had she expected anyway? That he’d upgrade the job offer to a marriage proposal? Levi getting down on one knee, telling her that he’d never forgotten her despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary and asking her to please, please, please marry him?
Of course, she’d accept.
After she made him stew a little.
And in that stewing, make him explain why she’d been forced to take a bus home from the wedding a year and a half ago after he’d left her there. The laughingstock of a crowd of strangers. It was his second or third cousin who was getting married, after all. And everyone stared at her, a strange judgmental look in their eyes as they made fake pitying sounds with their pursed lips.
It still hurt. Big-time.
A bowl filled with yummy dumplings thumped on the table in front of her. A spoon clattered beside it.
Elsie looked up and met Mamm’s frown.
And then she realized the room was silent. Both sets of grandparents, her parents, and all seven brothers and sisters stared at her.
“What?” she asked.
“You should forgive him,” Daed said quietly. “But explain yourself. Working for Levi as Santa’s elf? What does that even mean? Is he masquerading as Santa?”
Had she blurted all that out loud? Judging by Daed’s comments and her family’s expressions, she had. All that including how she’d accept his proposal and how she’d driven slowly and how humiliating it had been to be left? Her eyes swept over the mixture of grins, shocked eyes, giggles. Wow, Levi’s blurt-it-out condition must be catching. Good thing everything but the elf business shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. Still, her face burned and she tried to think how to word her explanation.
“Someone just drove in.” Mamm peered out the window, then glanced at Elsie. A small smile played on her lips. “I wonder who would come by at this hour?”
The thumping of shoes sounded on the back porch followed by a knock on the door. “Obviously, a man,” seventeen-year-old Mandy whispered.
So why didn’t anyone get up and answer? Why were they looking at Elsie? Was it suddenly her responsibility to answer the door? Or did they think the male caller was for her?
Sudden hope surged. Was it Levi? Doubtful. He’d made it abundantly clear he’d never chase after her. Even waving his check hadn’t been enough to make him come. In fact, he’d still avoided her—to the point of hiding in a field of weeds.
What would it take for her to win Levi’s heart again?
She confused herself. Her plan in the barn had been to stick around and eventually make her move; then he’d said something true and she’d quit. How could she win his heart if there was no reason to accidentally run into him or to at least get Abigail on her side and singing her praises? And the man truly did need help with that mess of
an office.
She shouldn’t have quit.
And even if she never did win his heart, they needed to part as friends when she moved to Chicago. She’d feel better about it if they did.
Whatever strategy she used, it had to start with an apology, even if he wouldn’t believe she meant it eighteen months after the fact.
She was genuinely sorry, though. She’d handled the situation poorly.
Although, if he started with an apology of his own for leaving her, it might be easier to get past the pride and humiliation clogging her throat. But still…
The knock came again. Harder.
And still, no one moved.
“What if it’s your one and only?” Mandy breathed.
She read too many sappy romance novels. But Elsie read and enjoyed them, too.
“Oh, so dramatic.” Elsie stood and stomped past her three giggling sisters. Daed’s eyebrows shot up. She flung open the door. And then stared into Levi’s too-serious gray eyes.
Her breath hitched. It was her one and only.
“You came.” It probably sounded too damsel-in-distress-ish.
He blinked. “Jah, I came.”
But the sudden shutter that darkened his eyes—his expression—clearly stated, Not because I wanted to.
* * *
This was beyond awkward. Levi shuffled his feet in the doorway, heat burning his cheeks. He avoided the curious gazes of the large family staring at him from behind Elsie. He focused on Elsie’s forehead. “Um, can we talk?”
“Do you want to come in?” Elsie stepped out of his way.
No. No, he didn’t. “I was hoping for a little privacy,” he muttered. He nodded toward the porch. They’d be alone, and thanks to the bitter cold, no lingering. He’d state his mission, Lord willing she’d refuse, and he’d go his way. Relieved and disappointed at the same time.
Her breath caught and two fingers rose, aimed straight at his eyes. Then back at hers. “Look at me. Right here.”
He’d rather not. Eyes were the window to the soul and she might see what he’d rather she didn’t. But despite himself his gaze latched on hers. Hungrily. He gulped and stepped inside. She shut the door. Shut the cold out and him in.
And brought him into the warmth of home, hearth, and family.
A family that boisterously greeted him and probably stared when he didn’t respond, but he couldn’t look away from Elsie long enough to find out.
Her pink lips moved, but what she said didn’t register. Instead, she turned and walked away, and like a numbskull, he followed.
Through the kitchen, into the living room—and away from the curious members of her family. Up the stairs, to her bedroom, where there were two bunk beds built into opposite walls. She flopped down on a bottom bunk. He stumbled to a stop just inside the open doorway.
Something in his head started roaring, and he stared at her, taking in the soft-looking quilt in shades of blue and green. The plump pillow.
The woman reclining on the bed…
Oh, merciful Lord…
Her mouth moved again and her hand flapped toward the bottom bunk of the bed on the opposite wall.
Um, no. He gulped again. He was not getting on somebody’s bed in her bedroom. Not even her bed, though the thought interested him way more than it should.
Elsie sat up, swung her legs off the bed, and scowled at him.
That shook some sense into him. He leaned against the doorjamb. “All my life, I envied those who can think things and say them on the spot, without putting hours of thought into the words. Sure, you have to do occasional damage control, but you can think on your feet. I wanted that skill.”
She opened her mouth.
He held up a hand. “I did it today with you. And I discovered it’s not all that I cracked it up to be. I hated the person I became. Unkind. Vicious. I’m sorry. I should’ve kept my mouth shut and followed my daed’s advice: ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.’ Abigail is right. You would be the perfect elf. Our history shouldn’t factor into it. If you could forgive me and reconsider working for me and Abigail, we’d appreciate it.”
“So you do want me?” Elsie’s voice was whisper-thin.
More than you’ll ever know. He couldn’t—shouldn’t—say that, so he simply nodded instead. “We both do. Please reconsider working for us. I promise to keep any unkind or insensitive or…” He hesitated, looking for the right word. “Sexist comments unsaid.” He wasn’t sure sexist was the right word, but it was all he could think of. He hadn’t planned out this part of the conversation on the drive over. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to do more damage control after this.
“Okay. I’ll work for you and Abigail.”
Levi sagged as relief filled him. “Good. Danki.”
“See you tomorrow. And thank you.”
He wouldn’t reiterate that they wouldn’t see each other, because they might. Especially if he stayed home in the morning to work on the order. “One last thing. No peppermint is allowed on the property.”
Her lips twitched, drawing his attention. “We’ll see about that.” She sounded as if she was teasing.
And he suddenly wanted to kiss her the way he used to back when they were a couple. He backed away before he did something he’d regret. “Good night.” His voice was too husky. Too filled with desire. He cleared his throat. “See that you don’t.”
She flopped back on the bed.
His body burned, so he did the only thing he could. He fled, taking the stairs two at a time. He rounded the corner into the kitchen and almost ran into Elsie’s daed, Stephen.
“How are you doing, Levi? It’s been a while since we’ve seen you darken our door.” Her daed put his hand on Levi’s shoulder and guided him into the living room. “Take your jacket and hat off and stay awhile. Have a seat.”
Levi left his jacket on because he couldn’t stay long, removed his hat to be polite, and sat on the edge of the sofa. Staying to shoot the breeze, or worse, declare his intentions with Elsie, wasn’t on his agenda. Not today, not ever. “This isn’t a social call. I came to reoffer Elsie a job.”
“Reoffer? She said something about being an elf for Santa.” Stephen’s gaze narrowed. “Are you Santa?”
“I’m not dressing up like Santa. It’s kind of a joke, I think. The Englischers call me that because I make toys for them to sell.” The words came out in a rush.
“In addition to your regular construction job and the secondary odd jobs you take on?”
“Jah. We have a lot of medical debt.” Had. Still had some, but at least the hospital bill was paid. Finally. Although why he felt the urge to explain, he didn’t know.
“What do you need an elf for? What would Elsie be doing?”
Ah. This was about whether Stephen would allow Levi to hire Elsie.
Levi pulled in a breath. He hadn’t expected to be interviewed. But Stephen was a wise father. “Mainly helping Abigail and grocery shopping. Plus being an office manager for me. Making sure bills are paid, billing customers, keeping the office clean and organized, and of course, tax season is coming.”
“You used to court Elsie…”
And that was a loaded question—even though it trailed off and didn’t end with a question mark.
“There’s nothing between us now.” At least on her side. “And I’ll make sure we rarely see each other so the gossips won’t assume anything.”
“That won’t stop a gossip,” Stephen said.
“True.” Levi clasped his hands together and leaned forward. He had nothing to say to counter that truth. But he did have a question he wanted to ask Daed and Stephen was a daed. Just not his. “I’ll let you decide whether you will allow Elsie to work for Abigail and me. But that got me thinking. I wanted to ask my daed a question, and, well, obviously, I can’t. But maybe you might have some words of wisdom for me.”
Stephen’s brow rose. “Regarding my daughter?”
His mind would go there. Didn’t he believe
Levi when he said there was nothing between them? Jah, he was a wise man…
“No. Well, only indirectly. You see, I got an order for two very detailed toys that normally take months to make, and the Englischers want them both by Christmas. I need the money to take care of Abigail—and that includes hiring Elsie—but Daed always said don’t be greedy. Should I follow the money and take the job even though I will be working constantly to get it done? Or should I tell the buyer that I can’t do it even though it will hurt us financially if I don’t?”
“Tough question. Do toys really sell that well?”
“I think the store raises the prices because they’re made by an Amish craftsman. So, jah.” He named a price.
Stephen’s brows rose as he whistled. “Hmm. What are you thinking? What is your conscience telling you?”
“That Gott is providing. That He won’t bring me to something He won’t take me through. But at the same time, this guy is asking the impossible and I’m setting myself up for failure, which would reflect badly on me and my business in the long term.”
“There’s your answer. Tell him the truth. It may be that he will work with you and your schedule for delivery. Then, with the predicted ice storm and blizzard, this opportunity would give you a job at home where you’re near Abigail if she needs you. If all the factors are in Gott’s will.”
“Danki.” Levi pushed to his feet, feeling a little peace. He could almost imagine his own daed recommending the same path. He nodded with relief. Now it was time to go, get home, perhaps call the man tonight or get a start on at least organizing what he’d need…
“And regarding my daughter, you’ll find that she’s custom-made for this job. I’ve always been sorry you two broke up.” Stephen stood as well.
Jah, Levi, too. But, “I can never marry.”
* * *
Elsie stumbled halfway down the steps, catching herself on the railing. I can never marry. What on earth was that supposed to mean? Amish encouraged marriage and family. There wasn’t any reason she could think of for Levi not to be allowed to marry. And knowing Levi as she did, his use of the word can was intentional. He could’ve said “I will never marry” or “I don’t want to ever marry,” but no. He said, “I can never marry.”
The Amish Christmas Gift Page 6
