by Karen Kirst
“Right. And I know where there are some excellent cookies downstairs.” He followed her out of the bedroom, and in minutes, Martin was in the doorway.
One look at the baby, and he was digging for his handkerchief. “Bless you, Kate. He’s a handsome boy.”
“Would you like to hold him?” Kate’s heart threatened to overflow at the sight of his tears.
Nodding, Martin sat on the side of the bed. He took the baby into his arms, and Inge rounded the bed to stand beside him, her hand on his shoulder.
“I wish Johann could see his son. He would be so proud.” Inge cupped the little head in her hand.
Kate nodded. “He would already be making big plans for the two of them, wouldn’t he?”
“We must be making plans, too.” Martin looked up. “But not tonight. Tonight we will rejoice in God’s goodness to us.” He raised the baby in his arms and kissed him on the head. To Kate it seemed like a benediction spread over her son.
“Kate?”
Oscar stood in the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets.
His hair stood on end as if he’d rammed his fingers through it many times, and one of his shirttails hung out.
He’d never looked better to her.
“Come in.”
Stopping after only a couple of steps, he said, “I don’t want to intrude.”
“No, come and meet your latest houseguest.”
Martin rose from the side of the bed and held the baby out. Oscar looked to Kate for permission, and at her nod, he took the baby in his arms.
Another rush of tears came to her eyes. What was it about a strong man holding a newborn that made her insides melt? Or was it this strong man holding her newborn? Even as he cradled her son protectively, she felt protected. He had cared for her family and given her a safe place to have her baby. How could she ever thank him?
Oscar met her eyes, and something powerful passed between them. Her breath grew shallow.
“Inge, it is very late, and I think you should rest.” Martin threaded his wife’s arm through his.
“Yes, I am tired. Kate, I will leave my door open a crack. You will call me if you need me?” Inge went with Martin to the door, leaving Oscar holding the baby.
Oscar pulled the rocking chair up beside the bed and sat down. “I don’t even know…is this a boy or a girl?” He rocked gently. “Liesl prayed for a boy, but I have a feeling it won’t matter once she lays eyes on this baby.”
Kate smiled, resting her head against the pillows. “It’s a boy.”
“What are you going to call him?”
A tinge of sadness nudged her joy. “Johann. After his father. Johann Martin Amaker, but I think I will call him Joe. Maybe Joey for now, and Joe when he’s older.”
“Kate.” Oscar looked up quickly, so many words crowding into his eyes. “Don’t go.”
She frowned, puzzled. “I’m sorry?”
He looked as if the words had surprised him, too. His Adam’s apple lurched, and he shifted the baby to snuggle against his chest.
“I don’t want you to go to Cincinnati.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go, either, but I don’t know that I have much choice in the matter.” Though she’d give almost anything to stay, they hadn’t found a way to make it feasible. “In a week the farm will be sold, and in less than a month, we’ll be on our way to Ohio.”
Oscar shook his head. “No. There is a way you can stay.” He slid off the rocker to his knees beside the bed, still cradling Joey to him. “Stay here with me and Liesl. Marry me. I know I’m not Johann. I’ll never be adventurous and exciting, but… I’m steady and strong. I’ll take care of you, and I’ll treat Joey like he was my own.”
Kate put her fingertips to her lips. He was asking her to marry him? The man who hadn’t wanted her in his house in the first place, the man who had kept everyone at bay and didn’t want any reminders of past hurts? His eyes bored into hers. Her heart leaped, but…part of her held back. He hadn’t said the one thing she would need to hear to make her say yes.
“And Martin and Inge, too. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to stay and sending them away. I realized a while ago what it has done for Liesl to have them in her life, to have that sense of more family than just me.” His eyes pleaded with her.
They had been good for Liesl. He wanted her to stay for his daughter?
“And you’ve all been good for me, too. You’ve brought me back into the community, into living again.”
Which made her happy, but it wasn’t enough. How could she say yes when he’d given no indication of how he felt about her?
“Kate, please. I’ve done something very foolish.” A sigh surged through his chest, lifting Joey as he inhaled. “I’ve fallen in love with you. If you leave, I don’t know that I can bear it. I know it hasn’t been long since Johann’s death, and the loss of your house, and a new baby, but I can’t help it. I love you.”
There it was. His heart, laid bare.
“Oh, Oscar.” Tears welled and overflowed, and she reached for his hand. “You mean it?”
He clasped her fingers. “I never meant to fall in love again. I didn’t even think I could, and then, before I knew it, I was a goner.” He sat on the side of the bed and leaned forward, resting his brow against hers. “Please say you care about me at least a little bit.”
Her hands came up and cupped his beard. “Oscar, I do love you. It was breaking my heart to think of leaving you and Liesl.”
Then his lips were on hers, gentle and sweet. Not a public, awkward kiss under the mistletoe, but a kiss of shared love, of an entwined future, a kiss of promise.
Joey snuffled and squirmed, letting out a squeak, and Oscar sat back, a rueful smile on his face. “And so it begins.” He laid the baby in his arms again. “Don’t you know you’re horning in on something pretty special here, young man?”
“What will Liesl think?” Kate asked.
“That her daddy is a very smart man,” Oscar boasted. “Now, little mama, you need to get some rest. You’ve had a hard day. And tomorrow…actually, later today, we’ll have a lot to talk about and settle. But for now, you need to sleep.”
“I don’t want to go to sleep. I don’t want to miss a minute of this.” But waves of tiredness washed over her, and her eyelids grew heavy.
“Don’t worry. Joey and I will be right here getting acquainted.” He reached over and turned the lamp wick down to barely a flicker and settled back in the rocker.
Kate eased down in the bed, turning carefully to her side so she could watch them, drinking in the sight of the man she loved holding her son.
“Oscar?” she whispered.
“Yes?” He looked up.
“Merry Christmas.”
* * *
Kate eased herself out of the bed and donned her dressing gown. “You take the baby, and I’ll follow behind.”
“I think you should stay in bed.” Oscar frowned. He still looked rumpled and short of sleep, probably because he’d spent the remainder of the night in the rocking chair watching over her and Joey, stepping out only when Joey demanded to be fed. Inge had come across the hall to check on them, but the baby had no trouble getting the hang of eating. The minute he was done, Oscar had been back to hold him while she slept.
“I wouldn’t miss Christmas morning with our family for the world.” It felt so wonderful to say that. “Is Liesl still sleeping?”
“No, she’s waiting downstairs. With Inge and Martin.” Oscar took her elbow with one hand, holding Joey with the other. “I’ll go first down the stairs, and you keep your hand on my shoulder.”
“Just like old times. You do realize that very soon I will be able to go up and down stairs all by myself.” She squeezed his arm. “Do Martin and Inge know? Does Liesl?”
; “No, I thought we’d tell them together.” He stepped down onto the first stair. “Easy, now, and go slowly.”
They reached the kitchen, and Liesl ran to her, braid’s flying. “Miss Kate!”
“Easy,” Oscar cautioned. “Hug her gently.”
Kate embraced Liesl. “Merry Christmas, sweetling.”
“Can I see him?”
“Absolutely. How about if we go into the parlor and you can hold him?” The pocket doors to the parlor were completely closed, something she hadn’t seen before.
“What’s going on here?”
“Christmas surprises. Martin and Inge and I have been very busy this morning.” Oscar grinned. “Breakfast first?”
“I’m famished, but I don’t know if I could stand the suspense.” Kate inhaled the aroma of fresh coffee and baked goods. “Perhaps we could have a quick snack and then a full breakfast later?”
Inge sliced hot, fresh Zopf, spreading it with thick, creamy butter. “This will tide you over, but you need to eat well. You have Joey to think about now.”
Liesl tugged on her father’s arm. “I can’t see.”
He crouched and folded back the edge of the blanket. Liesl’s lips formed an “O” and she touched the soft little fist beside Joey’s cheek.
“This is Joey. He’s as perfect as a shiny new nickel, isn’t he?”
She nodded. “Is he sleeping? Why doesn’t he open his eyes?”
“Babies sleep a lot, and he’s tuckered out. Being born is hard work for a baby.” Oscar straightened.
“It’s no picnic for the mama, either.” Kate laughed. At Oscar’s concerned frown, she shook her head. “I’m fine.”
He sent her a look that made her feel all glowing and warm. For the moment, they had a secret, and she was content to keep it to herself, but soon, they would share it and hopefully everyone would be happy.
Liesl could hardly be persuaded to leave Joey’s side to eat her breakfast.
“He’ll be here when you’re done,” Oscar promised.
Liesl ate quickly, and when she was finished, she came back to gaze at Joey. She didn’t seem at all jealous that her father was holding him. “He’s beautiful.”
“That he is. And born on Christmas Day, too.”
“Oh, yes.” Liesl left Joey long enough to push her chair up to the sideboard. With great formality, she placed the last wood block in the center of the pieces. “Now the Baby Jesus is here. Because it is Christmas.”
“That it is, Poppet.” Oscar handed Joey to Kate and picked his daughter up, kissing her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas. Are you ready for your surprises?”
“Yes!”
Oscar slid open the pocket doors, and Liesl let out a squeal. “Oh, Daddy. Look!” She pointed. A small evergreen tree stood in the corner of the room, festooned with paper chains and popcorn strings.
“When did you do all this?” Kate asked.
“Martin and Inge were up very early today. We put the finishing touches on things when you were feeding Joey.” Oscar nodded to Grossvater and Grossmutter. “I couldn’t have done any of this without them.”
The Advent window still wore its swags of pine branches, and the room smelled wonderfully of forest. A fire crackled in the fireplace. And a blue cloth covered something on the mantel, but when Kate raised her eyebrows to Oscar, he shook his head. “Patience.”
They all sat, and Kate helped Liesl hold the baby. Oscar reached for his Bible and spread it on his knees. “We’ll start with the Christmas story.” And with a strong, steady voice, he read from Luke 2. When he was finished, Martin led them in a prayer of thanksgiving.
“Liesl,” Oscar said. “You wait here, while we go get your present, all right?” He and Martin went out of the room. Kate took Joey back from Liesl.
Martin and Oscar came into the parlor carrying the dollhouse between them.
Liesl’s eyes grew round, and she breathed, “Oh, Daddy.”
The men set the dollhouse on the floor, and she went down on her knees beside it.
“Merry Christmas, Liesl.” Oscar came to sit beside Kate, and he put his arm around her shoulders. She glanced up at him, but no one was looking at them. Martin and Inge were watching Liesl, and the little girl was totally engrossed with her present. She lifted each piece of furniture, turning it in her hands before placing it back exactly where she had gotten it.
“Look, it’s me.” She touched the girl doll. “And Daddy.” Easily recognizable by his beard. “And Rolf!” Snatching up the carved dog, she held it up. “It looks just like him.”
Kate leaned into Oscar’s side. “All that work was worth it.” She’d marveled at his ability to carve such an accurate representation of the Bernese mountain dog, but when he’d painted it in black, white and brown, it had almost sprung to life. Every piece of the dollhouse had been fashioned with love, and the reward was seeing Liesl’s happiness and wonder.
“And here’s Kate, and baby Joey, and Grossmutter, and Grossvater.” Liesl lifted each little doll from the kitchen chairs.
Inge had a small apron she had made for Liesl, who insisted on putting it on right away over her pinafore. Inge had also used some leftover white fabric to make a set of handkerchiefs for Oscar. She’d hemmed the squares with a red, blanket stitch and embroidered his initials in one corner.
“To say thank you for your hospitality. It is not enough, but we do thank you.”
“And this is for you, my dear.” Martin handed a small package to Inge. “Oscar helped me make it.”
Inge squeezed his hand and unwrapped the brown paper. “Martin.” Her lips trembled, and she hugged the Tirggel mold. “It is my home in the Emmental.”
The old couple embraced, and she kissed his lined cheek. “Thank you, Martin. And thank you, Oscar. You have blessed us so much.”
“And now for your gift, Kate. I hope you like it.” Oscar went to the mantel and carefully raised the blue cloth.
“Oh, Kate, look.” Inge gasped.
Kate let out a slow breath, and stood carefully. “Oh, my.” She swallowed, turning to look up at Oscar. “But how? When?”
He shrugged, taking her hand. “I finished up my Christmas orders a while ago. Every night when I went into the workshop, I was carving on these. Martin helped with the sanding and letting me know what pieces to make.”
She passed Joey to Inge and went back to the fireplace. Arrayed along the mantel were piece after carved piece of a Nativity set. Camels, donkeys, sheep, magi and shepherds. A star hung from the top of the crèche over Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus.
“Do you like it?” Oscar asked from behind her, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders.
“Like it?” She spun and put her arms around his neck. “It’s beautiful.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she buried her face in his chest. He rested his chin on her hair and stroked her back. When she stopped crying, he gave her one of his new handkerchiefs.
“You might as well break it in,” he teased. “Now, how about if we give Inge and Martin our Christmas gift? And Liesl, too?”
She nodded, wiping at her tears, and he moved to her side, putting his arm around her waist.
“Liesl, Martin, Inge.” He looked down at Kate, sending a thrill through her at the warmth in his eyes. “Kate has agreed to marry me. Soon.”
A trickle of anxiety rippled through Kate. What would Martin and Inge say? After all, it had been less than a year since their grandson, her husband, had died.
“This means that you can stay here.” Oscar gestured toward Martin and Inge. “There’s no need to go to Cincinnati. You can use the rest of the money you made from selling the cheeses to pay the loan on the farm, and I’d like to chip in the balance to pay off the note entirely. You can continue to live here with us, and we’ll run the two farms together if that’s wha
t you want.”
A spark of hope lit Martin’s expression, but doubt hesitated there, too. “Kate, is this what you want? Are you sure? We don’t want you doing this because you feel you need to.”
Inge nodded, lightly rocking Joey. “You must not think you have to do this.”
“Oh, you dear people. Of course I want this.” She leaned into Oscar’s side. “I love Oscar, and he loves me, too.”
Liesl stood up from the dollhouse. “Does this mean we get to keep you?”
Kate held out her hand, and Liesl came to her, looking up. “Would you like that? For Grossvater and Grossmutter and Joey and me to stay here for always?”
“Yes! But, Daddy, I thought you said I couldn’t have my Christmas wish. That Jesus had to say no.”
Oscar leaned down and picked her up. “I thought you wanted a baby for Christmas.”
She shook her head. “I did, but you said I couldn’t have one, so I changed my wish.” She nodded, serious. “I prayed every night.”
“And what did you pray for?” he asked.
“I prayed for a family for Christmas.”
He hugged her tight, reaching out and drawing Kate into the embrace.
She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled into Liesl’s eyes. “You know what? I wished for the very same thing. Merry Christmas, sweetling.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I love Christmas, don’t you? I especially love Christmas traditions, those special things we do once a year, those things we anticipate all year long. For the Vetsch family it is making peanut brittle, watching the 1951 Alastair Sim version of Scrooge, waffles on Christmas Day and reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 before we open gifts.
In A Child’s Christmas Wish, the Christmas activities center around Swiss traditions—especially dear to me, as my husband’s family is Swiss. In Switzerland, Advent calendars are a big part of the festivities. Parents desire to instill both patience and anticipation in their children through the countdown to Christmas Day. I love this practice, because isn’t anticipation of Christmas a huge part of the holiday season?
I hope you enjoy A Child’s Christmas Wish, and that you will celebrate this season with a few traditions of your own!
