“I can’t help it.” He lowered her hand from his lips and squeezed it. “There will never be anyone else I feel this way about.”
Holly turned to face the sunset, still holding his hand. “Me neither.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “It won’t be easy, you know, navigating a life with me.”
He kissed the top of her black winter bonnet. “Easy is overrated. I never wanted easy. I want you. And any amount of time with you would be worth whatever it takes, plus more.”
Holly’s mind zipped and zinged with new thoughts about family life and love and duty. Josh gently squeezed her hand from across the back seat of his driver’s small sedan. The white Christmas lights of Raysburg twinkled as they drove through the downtown area.
“You okay?” he whispered.
Hope for their future continued to warm her, but all she managed in response to his question was a nod. “You?”
“Yeah, just still recovering from the wild swarm of Smuckers.”
She laughed. “Ya, me too. I’m glad I met them, though.”
Second Christmas had been amazing. She’d met all the Smucker siblings and their families at Josh’s house. Her family’s Christmas Day with Mamm, Ivy, Red, and herself had been a calm and quiet one. But with the big gathering of Josh’s siblings, their spouses, nieces, nephews, and a few aunts and uncles, more than seventy-five people had been inside that home, and it’d been really loud and busy. No wonder Josh had grown to be a quiet person. It was hard to get a word in edgewise…unless one was put on the spot with a gazillion questions, as she had been. But the family’s love was even bigger than the noise.
“I was afraid my family would scare you off.”
She patted his hand. “Nee, you can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Now that’s worth celebrating.”
After the family gathering Josh had hired a driver to take them to Greene’s. When the pharmacy closed at seven, Lyle was having a small party to celebrate Christmas and their victory in finding Sam Miller. There just hadn’t been time to fit in an office party before Christmas.
The driver, George, pulled into a parking space a half block from Greene’s. Although today was a holiday for the Amish, there were lots of Englischers downtown, shopping bags in hand. Were many stores other than Greene’s staying open until seven o’clock on the day after Christmas? Apparently so. The driver waved at them as they exited the car.
They went toward the store, and she noticed Julie and Nacho walking toward them on the sidewalk, probably also headed to Greene’s for the “day-late Christmas party.”
“Merry Christmas!” Holly waved.
Julie looked up, seeming surprised. “Well, hello, you two turtledoves.”
Josh scratched his head near his black felt hat. “Turtledoves?”
Julie grinned while closing the gap between them. “You know, like the song?”
Holly laughed. She knew it well. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” would often play in the pharmacy during the month of December. She reached down to pet Nacho when he was close enough. “Is Nacho the partridge in the pear tree?”
Julie pointed at the pharmacy. “Hmm, maybe Lyle’s the partridge, and the pharmacy is the pear tree.”
Holly grinned. “Let’s go have a party at the pear tree then.”
The red-painted door with its decorated wreath welcomed them. She’d never take this place for granted. Denki. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God for their success in finding Sam and for Lyle’s improving health.
Josh opened the door and held it for her. “Happy birthday, Holly,” he whispered as she passed him.
“Surprise!” An array of voices, including her brother’s, chorused in unison.
Holly laughed. “Denki!” She stepped inside. Her little brother had arrived on Christmas Eve, but he’d return to his place and his job in a couple of days.
There were two folding tables decorated with Christmas-themed tablecloths, bowls of nuts and fruit, and a large, colorful cake.
Birthday? It was technically her birthday, but she didn’t think they were celebrating that.
Pop! Confetti and streamers shot around her, and she looked up to see Ivy holding a confetti cannon.
“Ivy.” Mamm had a chiding tone, but she was smiling.
Ivy put her hands in the air. “Don’t worry. I will vacuum it all up.” She shrugged. “After the party.”
Lyle stepped forward and gave her a hug. “Happy birthday, kiddo.”
“Thank you,” Holly whispered and squeezed him tight. She released him, ready to greet the next person closest to her.
Brandon put an arm around her shoulders. “I absolutely do not know what we’d do without you, Holly Noelle—not on a business or personal level.”
She leaned into his hug. “The feeling is mutual.” She didn’t know what she’d do without any of them. But thankfully they were a part of her, and she looked forward to the coming years…decades…and lifetime.
The party was lively, and everyone mingled and ate and played games for more than an hour before some began to leave. Most everyone here had worked all day, and they were wiped out from yesterday being Christmas Day and all the busyness that had led up to it. But how fun that everyone found the energy to be here tonight. She and Josh stood together near the doorway, bidding dear friends and family goodbye. Lyle, Julie, Brandon, and Holly’s family remained—the cleanup crew, she guessed.
Ivy held out Holly’s coat. “Put it on and get out, you and Josh both. We’ve got this.” Ivy shoved Josh’s coat into his chest. “Take a walk, Sis. When you’re ready for a romantic carriage ride, Mamm parked ours in the Martel Clinic lot. Lyle will drive us home when we’re done here.”
“But—” Holly shook her head and glanced at Josh.
“She’s right, Holly Noelle.” Lyle kissed her cheek. “Get.”
Ivy opened the door and basically shoved them out, laughing before she winked.
When Holly stumbled onto the sidewalk, giggling, Josh steadied her. A gust of cold wind chilled her, feeling like icy fingers down her neck. Snow flurries were blowing by, and the scent of snow on asphalt was in the frigid breeze. She pulled her coat tighter around her. “Brr.”
Josh unwrapped his scarf from his coat collar, draped it around her neck, and tied it.
Holly gazed up at him. “Oh, that’s much better. Denki.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead before holding out his hand for hers.
She took his hand, and they walked down the sidewalk. His scarf smelled like him, and she was so grateful they were together. How had she convinced herself that it was her duty to remain single for her entire life? That hadn’t felt at all difficult or lonely until she met Josh.
The streetlamps and the many strands of Christmas lights illuminated their steps, making the walk easy even though it was nighttime.
He leaned in. “Tell me your thoughts on marriage, Holly Noelle.”
She stopped short, blinking.
“Kumm on. We’re in love, but how did you jump from running to professing your love?”
She took a deep breath. “Fair question.” She started walking again, gathering her thoughts.
Josh inclined his head. “I’m listening.”
She nodded. “Well, first you need to know that the bishop and his wife dropped by the house yesterday, bringing us freshly baked coffee cake, and I dared to ask how he might feel about me getting married one day. He grew serious and asked if the young man was Amish. When I said your name, he grinned and nodded and said the three of us needed to talk about it.”
“That’s great. And I meant it when I said I didn’t want to change you. I don’t expect you to give up something that’s a huge part of who you are, and I wouldn’t want you to.”
She never dreamed she’d find an Amish man
who had such a view on women and marriage. “Denki.”
“All that leaves as an obstacle is my bishop. But if your bishop approves us getting married, I feel mine will adjust after a few conversations. We need his approval to live in my district after we marry, but we have a great situation for a family with a working mom. Since I run the farm and my parents live here, someone will always be home. It’s a house filled with love. And a farm filled with chickens. And what child wouldn’t want to have chickens? I know I loved it.”
“Ya.” She grinned. “Ya, that all sounds wonderful, including the chickens. Your family, including all the relatives I met today, really enjoy each other. They don’t fret over messes or work that needs to be done. They really treasure each moment, you know?”
“Yep, although each one is a really loud moment. I’d say you’ll get used to it, but I don’t know if that’s true, because I’m not sure I am.”
She lightly elbowed him in the ribs.
“But, Holly, none of that tells me how your opinion about marriage went from staunchly reluctant to willingly ready.”
“Ya, that’s pretty hard to explain. I’ve done a lot of thinking and praying, and when one seeks answers, one finds them. A particular insight that really made a difference is the story of Mary and Martha. You know, where Martha is doing all the things she’s supposed to do—cleaning, waiting on her guests, preparing food, but missing the point of Jesus’s visit. And then there’s Mary sitting at the feet of her Savior, not missing a moment. Your family feels like Mary. Soaking up all the love and trusting God that the rest will work itself out. But I tend to be more like Martha. I try to do all the things I think I’m supposed to do. But maybe God is calling me to have more of a Mary heart. Be in the present. Be here for love. Trust in Him that I can still help people in the way that I feel called and have a family with you.”
“Wow. I’d say something deeper, but it’s all I’ve got. Wow.”
“Does that feel right to you too?”
“Definitely. I was thinking about a different Mary earlier today, the mother of Jesus. She was judged harshly for being pregnant outside of marriage, and you may be judged pretty harshly at times too when you go back to work a few months after a baby is born. But apparently God isn’t nearly as concerned with how things appear as He is with us doing what He’s called us to do.”
She stopped short again. “Okay, my turn to say ‘wow.’ That’s a really good insight. I’m going to hold on to it, and it’s not like He’d lead me this far and abandon me.”
“No, He never would. And while I’m not perfect like Him, I won’t abandon you either. We’ll find the right path for us and our family.” He cradled her cheeks in his hands.
She stood on her toes to kiss him in the swirling flurries. Relief and joy at his acceptance filled her to the brim. Somehow they’d work things out. Even though she had reservations about what kind of wife and mother she’d be, he’d be there to balance her, encourage her, and strengthen her.
They drew the kiss to an end, and she rested her head on his chest as he held her.
She’d spend the rest of her days grateful that God saw her value and that He’d given her a like-minded lifetime partner who loved her for who she was.
Acknowledgments
To my (Cindy’s) daughter-in-law and my (Erin’s) sister-in-law, Shweta Woodsmall, PharmD—Thank you for giving us insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of an independent pharmacy.
To all the other members of our family—You encourage and strengthen us and make life interesting…and hectic!
To WaterBrook Multnomah, from editorial to marketing to sales to production—Thank you!
To Shannon Marchese, Executive Editor—You’re still the one!
To Carol Bartley, line editor, fact checker, time-line keeper—You’re amazing.
To Cindy from Erin—This was the first work we completed together, even though it was released later. I can’t thank you enough for teaching me about writing and for letting me into your world of fiction. You’re a treasure.
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