A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  When he saw that Beverly was watching them approach with a glow in her eyes, he knew she and Jack were going to get along just fine. Beverly was going to enjoy Jack’s humor, and Jack was going to think Beverly was both beautiful and a great cook. Because both were true: She was beautiful and she was an outstanding cook.

  “Hi, Bev, I’m Jack,” he said as he moved to Beverly. “It’s great to meet you.”

  When she held out her hand without a trace of hesitation and smiled at Jack, her green eyes sparkling, Eric noticed that his brother was speaking to her softly. Kindly. Not just because Beverly was obviously a lady, but, he realized, because Jack knew he was talking to Eric’s girl. And that, he realized, was why Jack was going to like her most of all.

  Both of them were important to Eric. And Eric was also important to them.

  And at the end of the day, that was truly all that mattered.

  Chapter 21

  December 24

  Because of the nature of her job, Beverly cooked for others all the time. She felt a great deal of satisfaction when her guests reacted to her homemade cookies, pies, and cakes with obvious enjoyment. She loved creating her signature French toast and maple-glazed bacon and knowing that she’d made someone’s visit to the Orange Blossom Inn a memorable experience.

  These achievements were the product of years of careful practice and experimenting. She was proud of them. Despite all this, she could count only a handful of times when she’d felt like one of her meals had been really special.

  But as she relaxed after supper that evening, she knew this had just been one of those occasions. She’d served crab cakes, beef filets, a salad dotted with fresh fruit, steamed broccoli, and twice-baked potatoes. For dessert she’d pulled out all the stops and baked a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse filling and a shiny white seven-minute frosting.

  The men had been so attentive to the food, so appreciative, that their conversation had been limited and sparse. Beverly hadn’t minded one bit. She had enjoyed watching them together, even if it was doing something as simple as sharing a meal.

  Now that she knew some of their past, she felt as if she’d given them a small gift: a hearty dinner served with love on the eve of a holiday. Eric and Jack had joked with each other, gently teased her, and generally acted like it was one of their favorite meals ever. They were so much fun to be around, Beverly knew she would always hold this meal close to her heart. Their reunion was a blessing, for sure. She was so glad Eric had invited Jack to spend the holiday with them.

  After Jack consumed the remaining bite of cake on his plate, he leaned back in his chair with a contented sigh. “Beverly, Eric told me you were an outstanding cook, but his praise didn’t do you justice. I can honestly say that this was the nicest meal I’ve ever eaten.”

  “I’m verra glad you enjoyed it,” she replied with a smile. And she was happy he’d enjoyed it, but when she peeked at Eric and saw how happy he looked, the warm feelings increased tenfold.

  “I don’t know why you ever leave here, E,” Jack continued. “Sarasota is beautiful, these accommodations are like something out of a fancy magazine, and Beverly’s food is amazing.”

  Eric laughed. “Put that way, you’re absolutely right. I don’t know why I ever went back to Pennsylvania. Now that my house is pretty much packed up, I hope my next visit back to Philly will be short and sweet,” he added, his gaze darting her way yet again.

  Beverly looked down at her lap before she started blushing like a young girl.

  Jack chuckled. “I know I should get up, but I’m almost too full to do that.”

  “I hope you’re not too full, Jack. Tomorrow we’re going to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then ham for lunch.”

  “I’m just kidding,” he said with a wink. “When I go back to Cleveland, I’ll be living on frozen food and takeout again. I fully intend to eat everything you put in front of me.”

  “I knew you were smart,” Eric teased.

  “We’re going to need plenty of energy for tomorrow’s events, anyway. We’re going to the parade, right?”

  “Oh, jah,” Beverly said. “No one misses the parade. It’s quite the sight, especially if you are a child. Everyone throws lots of Christmas candy.”

  “Eric and I saw some folks decorating vehicles today. I’m looking forward to seeing everything.” With a sigh, Jack stood up. “Now, though, I think it’s time we helped you do all the dishes.”

  Eric picked up two serving dishes. “Yep. These are going to take a while, I think.”

  While she would usually gladly accept their help, Beverly didn’t want Eric to spend what precious time he had with Jack washing pots and pans in her kitchen. “How about you gentlemen help me clear the table, then go outside and enjoy the evening?”

  Eric shook his head. “No way, Beverly. It won’t take too long if the three of us do them together.”

  “But there’s no reason—”

  “There’s every reason,” Eric interjected. “I know you like to argue with me, but let me win this time.”

  She was mildly affronted. “I do not love to argue with you.”

  “You do, too.”

  “Eric, for your information, I simply like pointing out when I’m right and when you are wrong.” She attempted to keep a straight face but failed. “Which is often.”

  Jack laughed as he followed her through the swinging door into the kitchen, two water glasses in his hands. “I hate to side against a woman, but I think Eric might be right on this one. You both seem to enjoy bickering.”

  She was just about to give in gracefully when they heard a knock at the front door. “I wonder who that is? Maybe one of the guests forgot a key?”

  Eric frowned. “I’ll get it, Bev.”

  When he left the kitchen, Jack pulled out a dishtowel and picked up one of the saucepans she’d washed earlier. “You two might enjoy bickering, but I happen to think you make a good team.”

  “Thank you. Eric and I work together well.”

  “I’m sure you do, but I wasn’t thinking about work,” Jack said as he placed the saucepan down on the stovetop and grabbed another pot.

  “Oh?” There came that maddening blush again. “Well, um, Eric is a nice man.” She closed her eyes. That sounded terribly inadequate. “I mean, he’s been a gut friend. To me,” she sputtered. “I mean, he has been a mighty gut freind. Helpful and a, um, hard worker, too.”

  “I’m sure he has been those things. But what I am trying to say is that the two of you would make a good couple. I can see you two together.”

  “Do you think so?” she blurted before realizing that she should be keeping her feelings to herself. The last thing she needed was for Jack to tell Eric what she was thinking.

  “Bev?” Eric called, interrupting her floundering.

  “Jah?”

  “Hey, you need to come out here.”

  Beyond happy to have a reason to dart away, she rushed out the door. “Excuse me, Jack.” She felt like throwing her arms around Eric and thanking him for getting her out of that conversation.

  She knew she was beaming as she walked into the foyer, but she couldn’t help it. “Eric, I have to thank you—”

  “Beverly, you have some guests,” he said, his expression grim. “Peter, Officer Roberts, and Jay Hilty have come calling.”

  She froze as her gaze skittered from Eric to Peter Yoder and the other men.

  Looking apologetic, Officer Roberts stepped forward. “Hi, Beverly. I’m sorry about the timing, but we were hoping to have a few minutes of your time. Can you spare us some?”

  “Of course.” She smiled wanly at the four men. Jay smiled back but Peter looked scared to death.

  Eric came to her side and, lowering his voice, said, “I hope you don’t mind me asking them in, but I thought you might as well get this over with.”

  His expression was so concerned, his presence so steady and true, she was able to regain her composure. “Yes, Eric.” Feeling more like herself, go
od manners and years of hosting led her to say, “We were just finishing supper, but we have lots of cake left.” Remembering her former guest’s penchant for chocolate, she smiled. “It’s chocolate, Jay, and I must admit that it really is rather tasty. May I bring you some?”

  Jay Hilty’s eyes crinkled. “I will never pass up anything you cook, Beverly.”

  “Officer Roberts?” Beverly smiled. “Peter?”

  “Please,” the officer said.

  “Danke,” Peter whispered.

  “You sit down, Bev. I’ll bring out the cake,” Eric said.

  “You don’t mind?” She gazed into his dark eyes.

  Patience and pride shone back at her. “I don’t mind at all.” Looking at their visitors, Eric gestured to the couches and chairs. “Please, everybody, have a seat.”

  Though an awkward tension filled the air, everyone sat. In the background, Beverly could hear Eric and Jack clinking around in the kitchen, gathering forks and plates.

  Peter was sitting motionless, his hands clasped tightly around his knees. Officer Richards looked far more relaxed but still a bit stiff. Jay seemed to be the only one who was completely at ease. He was leaning back in his chair with one black boot resting casually on his opposite knee. “Beverly, you’ve got quite the tree there in your window.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I do. Eric said since he is most definitely not Amish, he wanted to have a lit Christmas tree. I have to admit to liking the white lights.”

  “It’s very pretty. But kind of plain,” Officer Roberts said.

  Jay raised his eyebrows in an expression of mock annoyance. “Plain? It’s covered with hundreds of lights.”

  “True. But there’s not an ornament to be found,” the policeman teased.

  “I decided to push only my English decorating habits on Beverly a little bit at a time. It’s easier that way,” Eric said as he entered the gathering room with a tray holding three giant portions of cake. “Beverly, don’t say a word about the portions,” he warned. “Men like good-sized slices.”

  She chuckled. “I’ve been serving cake longer than you have, Eric. I think those are perfectly sized.”

  “I think it’s perfectly terrific cake,” Jay said after he’d consumed a generous forkful.

  “Danke, Jay.”

  After all three of her visitors had taken a couple of bites, Officer Roberts put his fork down. “Beverly, I brought Peter here to talk to you.”

  Looking pale, Peter swallowed and put his plate on the coffee table.

  “You can talk to us about anything,” Eric said. He’d sat down by her side, obviously ready to shield her from any further pain or discomfort.

  Beverly was grateful for his efforts. However, she was realizing that she didn’t want to rely on him. Placing a hand on his sleeve, she said, “Thank you, Eric, but I think I need to do this on my own.”

  The muscle under his sleeve contracted. “Are you sure?”

  “I am.” Not only did she think this would be best for her, but for Peter, too. It was obvious from the way he was sitting that he was scared to death. The last thing he needed was Eric glaring beside her. “Officer Roberts, Jay, would it be permissible if Peter and I talked together first, just the two of us?”

  “Peter?” Officer Roberts asked.

  Peter looked paler, but he nodded. “Jah. That is fine.”

  Eric stood up. “Jay, Officer Roberts, how about you finish your cake in the kitchen? You can meet my brother.”

  Jay picked up his dish and headed that way. “I didn’t even know you had a brother,” Beverly heard him say as the three men slipped through the kitchen door.

  When they were alone, Beverly smiled softly. “I hope you’ll finish your cake, too.”

  But instead of picking up his fork, Peter clenched his hands. “Miss Beverly, I’m really sorry.”

  She knew he needed to apologize in order to clear his conscience. So she simply nodded.

  He took a deep breath and continued. “I kept trying to do the right thing but it wasn’t going well. I had to look out for Josiah and I was afraid.” He closed his eyes. “I was afraid if I told the truth about things at home, the social worker would take him. Someone had told me about your lockbox, how they’d seen a lot of cash in it and I started thinking if I just had some money, I wouldn’t have to worry so much. But it was wrong. Instead of the money making my life easier, the guilt I felt for stealing only made things worse.”

  As much as she simply wanted to accept his apology and move on, Beverly knew she needed to be honest with him. Honest about her feelings, honest about how devastated and afraid his actions had made her.

  “You scared me, Peter,” she said at last. “When I came home and saw the window broken, I was petrified.” Because her hands had started trembling from her memory, she clenched them into tight fists. “I truly wish you hadn’t decided to solve your problems by robbing my inn.”

  “I’m going to pay you back,” he said in a rush. “Jay said I could work for him for months until I pay you back everything I owe you.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure you will. That will be fine.”

  He looked away. Obviously too ashamed to meet her gaze.

  And that’s when she realized that she needed the Lord’s help to say the right words.

  After a quick prayer, she said quietly, “Peter, I have to tell you that something happened to me this month. I . . . I learned something about myself.”

  He stared at her, motionless.

  Though Beverly feared she was going to sound as awkward as the boy obviously felt, she leaned forward and let the words flow. “Through all this, I . . . well, I learned that for much of my life I’ve been thinking only about myself. Oh, I cook and clean for guests and I do try to help others, but I was looking at everyone and everything through my own experiences and memories.” Thinking just how misguided that had been, she averted her eyes. “I realized that over time I have become somewhat narrow-minded. Maybe cynical.”

  “Cynical?”

  She turned to him again. “I wasn’t as understanding about others’ situations as I should have been.” She sighed. “Peter, learning about your situation; learning about the sacrifices that you were willing to make for your brother . . . well, it humbled me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “What I’m trying to say is that you have inspired me, Peter. You have inspired me to want to be more giving. To remember to think of others. Not only at Christmas, but all year round.”

  He blinked. “Me?”

  “Absolutely you,” she said with a slight smile. “You were willing to do whatever you could to help your brother, even break the law. Now you are being strong enough to take responsibility for your actions. Why, I know adults who would not handle such things so well. Perhaps this sounds strange, but I have to imagine that years from now, when this time in your life is just a memory, we’ll both be glad this happened.”

  “Do you really think that?”

  She nodded, then moved to sit next to him on the couch. She didn’t touch him but sat close enough to smell the fresh soap on his skin and see the longing mixed with doubt in his eyes.

  After a moment, she said, “Peter, I accept your apology. What’s more, I forgive you. Now, I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “What is it?”

  With a small smile, she held out her hand. “I’d like to be your friend.”

  He simply stared at her hand. “You want to be friends with me?”

  “I’ve learned this year that one can’t have too many friends, you see.” Still staring at him intently, she said softly, “I know I’m older. But I’m still nice. And I do make great cakes and pies. That has to count for something, don’t you think?”

  He nodded slowly. Then slipped his hand in hers. “Danke.”

  Squeezing his hand, which, she realized, was already bigger than hers, she said, “Thank you, Peter. Now finish your cake. And when you’re ready to leave, I’ll send the rest of it home with you.�
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  His eyes widened. “Are you sure you want me to have the rest of it?”

  “Well, Josiah’s going to need some.” She winked. “And then there are all those little girls to think about.”

  For the first time since he arrived, Peter’s expression lightened. “Lena, Mandy, and Annie would be mighty sad if Josiah got cake and they did not. Not to mention William.”

  “We certainly can’t have that. It is Christmas, you know.”

  He grinned then.

  And that smile was so beautiful, so meaningful, Beverly had to swallow hard so she wouldn’t burst into tears.

  She had been right. Long after she stopped baking cakes and looking after guests, long after she stopped being an innkeeper and started to look after her own kinner, she would always remember this moment.

  This wonderful, beautiful moment when she realized that nothing mattered in the world but kindness.

  Nothing at all.

  Chapter 22

  Christmas Day

  Effie Kaufmann might have been only thirteen years old, but she was fairly sure that she would remember this Christmas as the best in her life. It was a beautiful, sunny day. As she stood with her family on the corner of Beneva, almost patiently waiting for the annual Christmas parade to start, she decided that she’d rarely been happier. So far, it had been a really special day.

  After spending the morning listening to Daed read the nativity story from the Book of Luke, they’d exchanged gifts. Everyone had seemed to like the baskets she’d made. Effie had painted each basket white and filled it with things that each family member liked. For her mother, Effie had put in scented soaps. Daed received a basket of pink grapefruits and oranges. Karl had received some peanut butter fudge she’d made, and Violet—who had recently taken up quilting—had received all kinds of prettily tied fabric remnants from the Quilt Haus. Zack and Leona’s basket had made everyone laugh. In it, Effie had put six cans of cat food, in honor of the kitten she knew Zack had given Leona for Christmas.

  She loved the gifts she’d received just as much. Her siblings had given her a little booklet of coupons for her to redeem. They offered everything from rides home from school with Violet to trips to Yoder’s for pie and offers of helping with her always dreaded math homework. Mamm and Daed had given her some new dresses and a backpack she’d been pining over for months.