Cookies and Cheer

by Amy Clipston

  When he’d finished lunch, Kyle hopped up from the bench and shook Roman’s hand. Then he scanned the barn for Alyssa. When he didn’t find her, he headed to the Blanks’ house.

  He stepped inside the kitchen and found a knot of women milling about. Alyssa was loading a tray with cookies in one corner of the room, and he wove through the crowd to get to her.

  “Alyssa.” He sidled up to her.

  “Kyle. Hi. I was just going to carry this to the barn.”

  He reached for the tray as she lifted it. “May I carry it for you?”

  “No, but danki. I can do it. What do you need?”

  “Would you come home with me today and visit with my family?”

  “Oh.” She seemed surprised by the question, and his hope deflated like a balloon.

  “If you don’t want to . . .”

  “No, it’s not that. I’ll just need to ask mei mamm.” Then she turned as her mother approached them with a hello. “Here she is.”

  “Hi, Louise.” Kyle shook her mother’s hand.

  “How are you, Kyle?”

  “Fine. You?”

  “I’m great.” Louise smiled at him and then turned to Alyssa. “Are you going to eat with Jenne Lynn and me in the barn?”

  Alyssa nodded. “Ya. Mamm, Kyle has asked me to go home with him after lunch to visit with his family. Would that be okay?”

  “Ya, of course.” Was that a knowing smile she was giving her daughter?

  “Then I’d love to,” Alyssa told him with a bright smile.

  “Great.” Kyle felt his shoulders relax. “I’ll wait for you to finish your lunch, and then we can head to mei haus.”

  “How did your window display turn out?” Kyle’s mother asked Alyssa as they sat at her kitchen table and drank coffee later that afternoon.

  “I think it turned out well, Marietta, and I have Kyle to thank for that. Without the kichli cutters, I never could have put it together.” Alyssa picked up her mug and took a sip as she glanced at Kyle, who sat beside her.

  “I heard it’s terrific.” Kyle grinned at her. “I think you’re being modest.”

  “Who told you that?” Alyssa asked him.

  “Your dat. He said Jenne Lynn insists that it’s amazing, and that she wants your parents to go see it.”

  Alyssa couldn’t help but smile. “Danki.”

  “I want to see it too,” Marietta said. “Kyle told me about the sketch you did, and it sounds so creative and different from anything I’ve seen at any other store.” She looked over at Kyle’s father. “You need to take me to see it the next time you go to town.”

  “Ya, that sounds like a gut idea,” Abram said. “I’m intrigued too.”

  “Maybe we can all go see it together,” Marietta suggested. “Let us know when you work again.”

  “Jenne Lynn and I both work Thursday through Saturday. I’d love it if you came to visit.”

  “Those kichlin Kyle brought home to us were just fantastic,” Marietta continued. “He said you made them.”

  “I did. I’m so glad you liked them. You can see how great the kichli cutters came out.” She took another sip.

  “They were really easy to make.” Kyle seemed embarrassed by the praise. “They didn’t take me much time at all.”

  “Are you ready for Christmas?” Marietta asked.

  Alyssa shook her head. “No. We haven’t started making our Christmas cards, and I need to make a list of what presents I want to buy. I’ve been so busy at the bakery. After I made the display on Friday, we ran out of the Christmas kichlin right away. I had to go in early on Saturday to make more. Then we sold out again. I have a feeling I may be working longer hours this week too.”

  “Wow. That does sound busy,” Marietta said.

  Alyssa enjoyed talking to Kyle’s parents, and he never seemed to stop smiling as he listened to the conversation. She nearly lost herself in his eyes when their gazes tangled.

  Alyssa helped Marietta wash the mugs when they were finished.

  Kyle came up behind her as she dried the last one. “Alyssa, would you like to see our workshop before I take you home?”

  “Ya, I would.” She set the mug in a cabinet and then turned to Marietta. “Danki again for the kaffi.”

  Marietta touched Alyssa’s arm. “Gern gschehne. I’m so froh you came to visit with us today.”

  Alyssa walked to the mudroom with Kyle, where he helped her pull on her coat. After he put on his, he led her outside and down the porch steps toward a large building.

  “Danki for inviting me over today,” she said as they walked together through the brisk air. It was colder than she’d expected for early December. “I really enjoyed talking with your parents.”

  “I’m glad you could come, and I could tell they enjoyed talking to you too.” He opened the shop door, and she stepped through.

  “I was surprised to see you eating lunch with mei dat today,” she told him as he turned on the propane lights that hung next to the skylights.

  “I had a nice talk with him.”

  She studied his expression. “Oh? What did you talk about?”

  “Work.” He shrugged, but his expression didn’t seem casual. He looked a little . . . nervous.

  He walked over to a workbench and lifted an object from it. “I made something for you.”

  She crossed the room, and then she gaped as he handed her a metal candleholder with a heart design. In it sat a purple candle. “Kyle. This is for me?”

  “Ya, it is. Do you like it?” He seemed hesitant.

  “I love it.” She ran her fingers over the metal curves, taking in the heart in the center, and then looked up at him again. “This is amazing. I don’t know what to say.”

  “The candle reminded me of the dress you wore when I visited you last week. I like that color purple on you. I was going to wait until Christmas to give this to you, but I couldn’t wait.”

  She sucked in a breath as her insides warmed. She’d never received a more special gift. “This is so schee. But I feel bad because I don’t have anything for you.”

  “Please, don’t. Think of it as an early Christmas gift. I didn’t expect anything in return.” He leaned back on the bench. “I ate lunch with your dat today for a reason.” He paused and folded his hands over his middle. “I asked his permission to ask you if you’ll be my girlfriend. And he gave it.”

  Alyssa stared at him as her heartbeat began to drum in her chest and Kyle went on.

  “I’m so grateful you asked me to make the kichli cutters,” he told her. “It gave us a chance to get reacquainted.” He reached over and took her hand in his. “You’re already so special to me, Alyssa. You’re schee, sweet, thoughtful, kind, and easy to talk to. I enjoy spending time with you, and I’d like to spend a lot more time with you and get to know you better.” He paused and swallowed. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

  She nodded vigorously. “Ya. I’d love to.”

  A smile broke out on his handsome face. “Gut.”

  Cupping his hand to her cheek, he leaned down and gently kissed her. An unfamiliar quiver of wanting danced up her spine, and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his lips against hers.

  When he lifted his head, he said, “I’ll always regret not asking you out when we were in youth group. But I think God gave me a second chance when you asked me to make the kichli cutters.” He moved his finger over her cheek with a featherlike touch that made her body shiver.

  When he kissed her again, Alyssa was certain she was dreaming, but the heat rushing through her veins was as real as the feel of his lips.

  No, she wasn’t dreaming. She was enjoying the company of her new boyfriend. And she was certain life couldn’t be better.

  Jenne Lynne turned the candleholder over in her hands later that evening. “He made this for you? It’s so schee.”

  “I know.” Alyssa rested her chin on her palm as she sat across from her mother and sister at the kitchen table. “I still can’t believe it.”
r />   Mamm sighed. “And he asked you to be his girlfriend. I had a feeling that was coming.”

  “Why?” Alyssa asked.

  “Please.” Jenne Lynn rolled her eyes. “The level of his interest was so obvious from the way he came to see you at the bakery, refused payment for the kichli cutters, and then took you out for supper.”

  “And also when he came to visit us last week,” Mamm added.

  Alyssa absently drew a heart shape on the wooden tabletop. “I did sort of have a feeling, but I didn’t expect him to ask me so soon.”

  “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Mamm picked up her mug of tea and sipped it before adding, “I’m froh for you. Kyle seems like a gut Christian man and a hard worker.”

  “I agree.” Jenne Lynn held up her mug as if for a toast. “I think you and Kyle will have a wunderbaar future together.”

  Alyssa’s chest fluttered as if with butterfly wings as she imagined a future with Kyle. That seemed more possible now than it had the first time Jenne Lynn suggested they could have a future.

  Later that evening she lit the candle and set it on her dresser before sitting down at her desk and pulling out her sketchpad. The warm aroma of lilac filled her senses as her mind swirled with excitement and possibilities. She couldn’t stop recalling the feel of Kyle’s sweet kisses and his handsome face. Maybe he would come by to see her at the bakery on Thursday and then they could ride home together in his buggy. Perhaps his parents would stop by to see the window too. They’d all seemed interested in it.

  She fiddled with a pencil as her thoughts turned to the Christmas display window. Kyle’s mother had seemed so excited to hear about it. Would more people come to see it if they heard about it? And if so, how could Alyssa get the word out to bring those potential customers to the bakery? More business would be great for Denise.

  The questions floated around her mind as she pushed herself up from her desk and retrieved her nightgown from her dresser. Sleep would help.

  5

  “GOOD MORNING!” ALYSSA CALLED AS SHE AND JENNE Lynn stepped into the bakery kitchen Thursday morning. “How are you, Denise?”

  “I’m well, but I’m tired.” Denise shook her head. “It’s been so busy this week. We ran out of Christmas cookies again on Tuesday, so I stayed late to make more. I had Janie make even more yesterday morning, but they still weren’t enough. The shelf is almost half empty already. I need you to start making more right away.”

  “Okay.” Alyssa began to gather the ingredients.

  “I’ll get the pans and turn on the ovens,” Jenne Lynn said, offering help as usual.

  “I saw several customers take pictures of your window with their phones,” Denise said. “Customers talked about it nearly all day yesterday. It’s truly been a popular attraction.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Alyssa said over her shoulder as she poured flour into a large mixing bowl. “I was wondering if we should try to promote the display to bring in even more business.”

  “What do you mean by ‘promote’?” Denise came to stand beside Alyssa.

  “Well, I was over at Kyle’s house on Sunday after church—”

  “He’s her boyfriend now,” Jenne Lynn chimed in.

  Alyssa shot her sister a look and then turned her attention back to the dough. “Anyway, I told Kyle’s parents all about the window display, and his mamm was curious enough to want to see it. That got me thinking that maybe we could do something to pull in even more customers, and when I woke up this morning, I had an idea.” She turned toward Denise. “What if I wrote a letter to the Lancaster News and told them about it? I think it might entice a reporter to come and do a story about the display.”

  Denise tapped her chin. “That’s a fantastic idea.”

  “I agree,” Jenne Lynn announced as she set a pile of cookie sheets on the counter.

  Denise glanced around the kitchen. “But if they write an article for the paper and business really picks up, will we be able to keep up with the demand for the cookies? It’s challenging to keep up now.”

  “I think we can,” Alyssa said, insistent as she added egg to the flour.

  “I might need you to work longer hours if it gets too crazy,” Denise said. “Do you think your parents will agree to that?”

  Alyssa looked at Jenne Lynn, who shrugged and said, “I think so.” Then Alyssa turned back to Denise, whose expression had brightened.

  “Great,” Denise said. “Write that letter to the paper then. You’ll find stationery, envelopes, and stamps in my office desk. I have a copy of the Lancaster News in there too. You’ll need the address.” Then she walked out to the front of the store to open for business.

  After the cookies were baked and cooled, Alyssa assembled them into boxes and attached Scripture verses. It was lunchtime by the time she’d finished filling the shelves.

  She gathered everything she needed for the letter in Denise’s office, and then she hopped onto a stool at the kitchen counter. After pulling her lunch out of her tote bag, she began writing the letter as she ate. She smiled as the words took shape.

  Once finished with her turkey sandwich, she addressed the envelope and stuck the stamp on it. Then she slipped the letter inside before sealing it. Jumping off the stool, she pulled on her coat and rushed out the back door to the mailbox on the corner to make the next pickup.

  Surely the newspaper would want to write an article about the window display, and surely the publicity would increase business. All the baking would be a challenge, but more customers would be a blessing to Denise. She worked so hard, and maybe more profit now would allow her to hire additional help next year.

  Kyle cupped his mug of hot cocoa with his hands as he sat beside Alyssa on her front porch glider the following evening. Then he gazed at the sky above them and said, “Danki again for inviting me over for supper tonight. It’s the perfect December evening. Look at those stars!”

  “Ya.” She laughed as she hugged her coat closer to her body. “But I can’t believe how the temperature has dropped this week. I should have brought a quilt outside for us.”

  “Do you want to go back inside?”

  She shifted, and her leg brushed against his. “No. We can talk without interruption out here.”

  “That’s true.” He glanced at her and warmth filled his chest. He was so grateful she’d said yes when he’d asked her to be his girlfriend on Sunday. He couldn’t stop smiling as thoughts of her kept his mood cheerful all week.

  He had planned to stop by the bakery to visit her today, but then she’d called last night and invited him to pick her up after work, bring her home, and then stay for supper. He’d been delighted when he found the message on his father’s voice mail. He just wished the evening would slow down so they could have more time together.

  “So how are your furniture orders going?” Her question broke through his thoughts.

  “We’re making progress on some more metal patio furniture right now. We have to build four sets of them for one of the stores in Bird-in-Hand.” He stretched his arm out on the back of the glider, brushing her shoulders.

  “You’ll have to show one to me before you deliver it to the store.”

  “Okay. I will.” He tilted his head and looked at her. “How’s the bakery?”

  She laughed. “Crazy. The window display has been a success. We can’t keep the Christmas kichlin on the shelves. I had to go in early again today to bake more before we even opened.” She angled her body toward him, and her expression brightened. “I wrote a letter to the paper telling them about our cookie nativity. I thought some publicity might increase sales.”

  “Really?”

  “Ya. I asked Denise’s permission and she agreed to it. I mailed the letter at lunchtime today, so I’m hoping they’ll get it tomorrow. I started thinking about seeking some publicity after your mamm was so excited to hear about the display. When your parents stopped by yesterday afternoon, they seemed impressed by it.”

  “Ya, they loved it. It
was all mei mamm talked about when she got back to the haus.” He rubbed her arm, and she shifted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, sending happiness coursing through him.

  “Danki. I was so froh to see them. Your mamm bought quite a bit of kichlin.”

  “I know. I’ve been enjoying them.”

  “I’m so glad to hear it.” Alyssa chuckled. “Denise said customers were even taking photos of the display with their phones. That’s the other thing that gave me the idea to write to the newspaper. They usually take photos for stories like the one I hope they write for us. I guess we’ll see if they’re interested.” She sipped her cocoa.

  “I bet they will. I think it was a brilliant plan.” Kyle kissed the top of her head. His heartbeat thudded when she smiled up at him. How blessed he was to call Alyssa his girlfriend.

  “Danki. But we made it happen together.”

  He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers, savoring the sweet, chocolaty taste of her lips.

  When he broke the kiss, he wished he could not only slow time but freeze it, so they could enjoy this moment for hours and hours.

  She snuggled against his shoulder once again. “I want to stay like this forever.”

  “Funny you should say that. I was just thinking the same thing.” He looked again at the stars twinkling in the dark sky and sent up a silent prayer. Thank you, God, for bringing Alyssa into my life.

  “Is that all for you?” Alyssa asked a customer the next day as she rang up two boxes of Christmas cookies, two sampler boxes, and three loaves of bread.

  “Yes, thank you.” The woman pulled out her wallet.

  Alyssa gave the woman her change before bagging the items. “Please come see us again soon,” she said as she handed the woman her purchases.

  “Oh, I will, honey. This is where I get the goodies for my holiday parties.”

  “Thank you. Have a great day.” Alyssa waved as the woman headed out the door.

  When the bell above the door sounded a few minutes later, Alyssa looked toward the front of the store and said, “Welcome to Ronks Bakery!”