Iva nodded and launched into another flow of words. “Don’t you think you should be out in the fields working? I mean, I appreciate the help with the horse since Susanna was so busy.” Iva paused to glare at Susanna. “But one must not take advantage of free help the community gives. There’s still an hour or so before lunch. And I told you I brought along plenty of potato soup for everyone. So you don’t have to worry about Susanna not having enough food for Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law.”
Susanna wanted to scream at this barb—and likely would have if Herman hadn’t spoken up first.
“Susanna is perfectly capable of making lunch, Mamm. I wasn’t worried about that. What I wanted to tell you is something that shouldn’t be said at lunch in front of Bishop Jacob.”
“What has happened now?” Iva demanded.
Susanna held her breath as Herman continued. “Nothing, Mamm. It’s what is going to happen.”
Iva glared at him. “Like what, Herman?”
He didn’t seem troubled by his mamm’s baleful gaze. He continued in an even voice. “See, Mamm, it’s like this. Susanna and I are going to spend Christmas morning with her mamm and daett and their family, wherever the gathering is held. This tradition is something that means a lot to Susanna, and I want to make it a part of our new family.”
Susanna stared at Herman openmouthed and then she shrieked. She just couldn’t help it.
Iva ignored the outburst. “What has gotten into you, Herman? You cannot do this! We have our own tradition.”
“It’s a gut tradition for our family, Mamm,” Herman said. “But Susanna and I are a new family now, and we’ll establish our own tradition.”
“I have never heard anything like this!” Iva turned to Susanna. “Did you put him up to this? By charming and babying him? I do declare, a man’s heart can be turned so easily.”
Susanna worked her mouth, but no sound came out. What could she say to such a charge?
“Mamm, this is my decision, so you might as well accept it,” Herman said. “The less fuss the better.”
“Well!” Iva said as Herman turned on his heels and went back to his team.
“I…I had…really, I didn’t…it was nothing I did.” Susanna searched for more words after Iva turned her gaze back to her.
“Like I’m going to believe that,” Iva huffed. She muttered something Susanna couldn’t quite hear and then, after a moment’s silence, said, “Well, why are we standing out here in the cold cackling like a couple of old hens? My soup is getting cold in the buggy, and we have to get dinner ready. I wasn’t expecting extra people here, but thank Da Hah I followed His inspiration and made plenty.”
“Yah, that was gut,” Susanna managed as she followed Iva to the buggy.
A hamper dangling from one arm, Susanna helped Iva carry the large kettle of soup with the other. It was a lot of soup from the looks of things. Plenty for lunch and for the rest of the week.
Susanna almost shrieked again, remembering what Herman had said. They were going home for Christmas! Nothing Iva said today could take that joy away.
Nineteen
Herman had the buggy ready when Susanna dashed out of the house. Bruce looked at her and whinnied like he knew how happy she was.
“You dear thing,” she said, stopping to pat him on the neck.
“What about me?” Herman asked, peering around Bruce’s head. “Don’t I at least get a goodbye kiss?”
“You’ll get more than that!” Susanna said, throwing her arms around him.
“This is public,” he warned with a smile. “What if the bishop and his daughter happen to drive by?”
“Then they will see how much I love you!” Susanna let go, patting her husband on the cheek. “There now, you don’t have to blush like a girl.”
“I’m not blushing,” he said, growing even redder.
She laughed and gave him another hug. “Thanks so much for this. I promise I’ll be back in plenty of time to fix supper. There’s a sandwich ready for your lunch. I’ll even come home early enough to help with the chores.”
“You don’t have to,” he protested. “With the plowing done, I’m caught up with the farm work. When you get back, I’ll relax and enjoy life with you. And, of course, Christmas is coming…”
“Oh Herman! You don’t know how much this means to me. I know I’m being silly and all, but that’s just the way I am.”
“I like the way you are!” He took her hand and led her up to the buggy steps. “Off you go! Tell Mary hello for me.”
She climbed into the buggy and picked up the reins. “I’ll do that!” She waved as Bruce dashed forward, apparently catching some of the Christmas spirit himself. Down the road Susanna noticed their Englisha neighbor’s Christmas tree was twinkling in the front window.
I need to calm down, Susanna thought. She settled Bruce into a steady clip on the road. Her pent-up excitement was to blame. All those days of trying to give up hope of ever spending Christmas with her family again. Only to have Herman make such a turnaround!
Susanna held the reins tightly as they drove past Bishop Jacob’s place. The bishop’s son-in-law was walking from the house to the barn. She waved and he waved back, a perplexed look on his face. No doubt he wondered why Bruce was lifting his feet so high in the air and she was smiling so big this morning. If he only knew! But he probably didn’t think Christmas was a big deal either.
Susanna laughed out loud. Iva was the one who had pushed Herman over the edge. She was the one to thank for the Christmas celebration this year. But Susanna would never mention that to Iva. The simple fact was that Herman had been given a gut look at the old and at the new. And he had chosen her way over whatever attachment he used to have for his mamm’s way.
Herman was now twice the man he had been before, regardless of what Iva thought about the matter. Iva was probably worried about the danger of Herman going liberal, which wasn’t going to happen. And she was no doubt mourning her loss of ability to boss Herman around. Oh, she would surely still try, but Herman had shown he could—and would—stand up to her. For that alone, Susanna could hug and kiss him all over again if he were in the buggy with her.
Herman would be with her on Christmas morning, celebrating at Mamm and Daett’s place. That’s where the family had decided to hold the gathering this year. Herman would be a little nervous probably, this being his first Christmas celebration, but he’d be okay.
Susanna remembered with a smile how Mary had taken her aside last Sunday, a pained expression on her face. She’d whispered into her ear, “I’m making candies next week. Do you think Herman would at least let you come for that? It doesn’t mean you’d have to be with us for Christmas morning.”
Susanna had quickly hidden her smile, just as she’d been hiding Herman’s change of mind from her family. After all, what if Herman changed his mind again? Or if Iva came up with a hard-hitting argument to influence him? But neither had happened. Iva had made no further attempts to persuade Herman. It was as if she knew when she was defeated so she withdrew gracefully. That was a nice characteristic to have in a mother-in-law, Susanna figured.
Iva’s eyes even seemed to have a tiny bit of admiration in them for her now. As if Iva held her victorious rival in higher esteem. Susanna hadn’t been trying to compete with Iva. She just wanted be a gut frau for Herman.
“I have to tell you something,” Susanna had whispered back to Mary last Sunday. “Herman and I are coming to Christmas breakfast at Mamm and Daett’s!”
Mary’s eyes had gotten big. “How did you manage that?”
“I didn’t manage anything,” Susanna said, but Mary didn’t look convinced.
“Wow, I need to learn your secrets and practice them on Ernest.”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Susanna had whispered back. “I didn’t do anything. It was Da Hah!”
Mary shrugged. “I’m sure He helped.”
Da Hah had done more than help, Susanna told herself. He had done all of it…even getting Iva
to help.
Up ahead a parked Englisha car along the road caught her attention. Susanna slowed down, preparing to go around. She noticed a woman walking below the branches of a small tree with scissors in her hand, snipping busily away.
As Susanna came closer, she realized what the lady was doing. She was working on a bush full of red berries. An idea gripped her. There were enough berries on that tree for her and the Englisha woman. Why shouldn’t she stop?
“Whoa,” she called out to Bruce. He came to a halt behind the Englisha car.
“There’s plenty here for everyone!” the Englisha woman sang out when she noticed Susanna.
Susanna climbed out of the buggy. “Don’t be running off,” she told Bruce, patting his neck as she walked past.
“Hello, I’m Constance,” the woman said, giving Susanna a cheery smile. “Like I said, there’s plenty here. And it doesn’t seem to be anyone’s private property. I think it’s all right.”
“Gut morning,” Susanna greeted her. “I’m sure it’s all right. My name is Susanna, and I only need a few branches.”
“Help yourself.” Constance waved toward the other side of the tree.
“They’re so pretty,” Susanna said, trying to break off a small branch brimming with red berries.
“Here, you can borrow my scissors,” Constance said. “I have to run what I’ve cut off to the car anyway.”
“Thank you.” Susanna took the scissors and clipped away while Constance left. A small cedar tree grew beside the bush. It had the most delicate green branches. Clipping a few of those too, Susanna had gathered a small pile of berries and branches by the time Constance came back.
“That’s all you need?” Constance asked. “I’m trying to get enough to decorate my whole kitchen.”
“It’s enough,” Susanna said, feeling a blush creeping up her neck. “I won’t need that much. Thank you so much for the use of your scissors.” She handed them back to the Englisha woman.
“You’re more than welcome,” Constance said.
Susanna picked up her pile and made her way back to the buggy. Bruce looked at the greenery in her arms as if he wanted a bite.
“No way!” she said. “This is for something other than eating. You have oats at home.”
Placing her cedar branches and red berries in the back of the buggy, Susanna climbed into the vehicle and slapped the lines against the horse’s back. Bruce pulled out and set off at his steady pace. When she arrived at Mary’s place, no one was around. Susanna pulled up next to the barn, unhitched, and led Bruce inside.
A shiver ran through her at the memory of Matthew’s car parked behind the barn on Thanksgiving Day. That seemed a long time ago now, like it was from another world. She had only Da Hah to thank that Matthew hadn’t done real damage with his loose mouth. It was hard to imagine he meant harm, but Matthew was such an easy talker.
Susanna took the branches and berries out for a few minutes to look at them. A smile crossed her face. These were exactly what she needed. And she wouldn’t tell Herman anything about them until Christmas Day. This would be a little surprise for him. The project was a little silly, perhaps, but she wanted to give him something really special.
Twisting the branches into each other, she paused to hold them at arm’s length. It would work—even better than she’d first thought. And the berries made a perfect offset for the green cedar. Leaving everything behind the seat, Susanna walked briskly to the house. She’d been dawdling all morning. First with Herman and then with cutting the berry and cedar branches. Mary was probably already well into the candy making, and she had still not shown her face.
Bursting into the house without knocking, Susanna hollered out, “Gut morning!”
Mose and Laura peeked out from the kitchen door with broad grins. Laura had little smudges of flour on her cheeks.
“We’re out here!” Mary called. “Deep into candy making.”
“That’s what I thought.” Susanna went into the kitchen. “And here I’ve been taking forever to get here.”
“I’m sure you weren’t wasting your time.” Mary looked like she knew more than she did.
“I was a little detained,” Susanna allowed.
Mary laughed. “We have all day. It’s okay.”
“I can’t get back home too late,” Susanna said.
“I understand. You’re probably being extra nice to Herman these days because you’re coming to Christmas breakfast.”
It’s not like that at all, Susanna wanted to say. But Mary wouldn’t believe her, and further explanation would take much too long. She’d leave well enough alone. “I stopped along the road to cut some cedar and berry branches. I want to make something special for Herman for Christmas,” she said instead.
“That’s the way to do it,” Mary said. “Now get out of the kitchen, children. Susanna and I have to work really hard. And you’ll just be tempted to eat the dough before it’s ready.”
“But we want candy!” Laura protested.
“You’ll get plenty,” Mary told her. “Once the candies are done.”
Laura puckered her face but she disappeared into the living room. Mose was already halfway out the washroom door, headed for the barn.
“Candy, candy,” Mary said. “The children are just like husbands.”
“I know!” Susanna said with a laugh.
“Well, your Herman deserves it. You can be thankful Matthew’s little trick didn’t work over Thanksgiving,” Mary said. “I know he’s my husband’s brother, but it was very wrong what he tried to do.”
“What?” Susanna let the question hang.
“Well, Deacon Atlee was over to your place. I know that much.”
“Deacon Atlee believed me when I said nothing inappropriate had gone on between Matthew and me, as did Herman. I can’t believe Matthew would deliberately lie.”
Mary shrugged. “I doubt if he did. Bishop Jacob isn’t saying what he told him. Ernest heard Matthew blabbing in the barn around some of the older boys. You know, about making things right that he did wrong during his dating years. It could have been construed wrong, I’m sure.”
“I’m just glad Herman believed me.”
“Do you know who your biggest supporter is right now?”
“Herman, of course.” Susanna didn’t hesitate.
“Maybe,” Mary allowed. “But it’s also his mamm. Iva sticks up for you at the drop of a hat. I guess that’s normal.”
It is anything but normal, Susanna thought. But she wasn’t going to say so. That would take more explanation.
“I think Matthew was trying to win you over again,” Mary said. “Not that I have any proof. I’m just guessing.”
“But I’m married.”
“He didn’t know that when he first came. And he lives in a different world, you know.”
“I think Matthew was only trying to do what he said he was doing,” Susanna said. “Finding healing for his past. Just like we all are. That and growing ever closer to his family and Da Hah.”
“I suppose that’s a gut attitude to have about the man,” Mary said, carrying a pan over to the counter. “Look there—it’s snowing outside.”
Susanna moved to the window. Outside, fluffy white flakes were drifting past, seeming to hang in the air for long moments. Little Mose was racing around in the yard chasing them, his hands outstretched.
“It’s so beautiful,” Susanna said. “So very beautiful.”
“Yah, it is,” Mary agreed, walking toward the washroom door. “And it looks like I’d better get a cap for Mose’s head before he catches a cold.”
Twenty
Bruce neighed as Herman turned into the lane of Susanna’s mamm and daett’s house on Christmas morning.
“He knows he’s coming to a familiar and comfortable place,” Susanna whispered, hanging onto Herman’s arm under the buggy blanket.
Herman laughed. “He just smelled the other horses in the barn. And what is this? All of your family is already here?”
No one was in sight as they climbed out.
“Where is everybody?” Herman asked.
“Probably inside with the children opening presents.”
Herman stopped short. “You give presents on Christmas?”
“Just to the children, and they aren’t wrapped up like the Englisha do so it’s not the same.”
“Oh…” Herman unhitched Bruce.
“It’ll be okay. You won’t regret coming with me.”
“I know I won’t.” Herman offered a smile. “I get to see you all day.”
“Now you’re being silly,” she said, holding the shafts as he moved Bruce.
“But you like it when I’m silly.” He paused with his hand on Bruce’s bridle to glance at Susanna.
“You’re not getting any more kisses!” she said. “Especially out here where everyone can see us if they just look out the window. Now get moving!”
He laughed as he disappeared into the barn with their horse.
Susanna waited until Herman returned. They held hands on the way up the walk. Daett had shoveled the snow and spread salt, but Susanna still clung to Herman. He was being so wunderbah this morning she could hardly catch her breath.
The front door burst open before they arrived, and Mary rushed out to give Susanna a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it! I kept having nightmares you’d change your mind at the last minute.”
“We wouldn’t do anything like that,” Herman protested, feigning that his feelings had been injured.
Mary glanced at him with a worried look.
“He’s as sweet as pecan pie,” Susanna said. “Now don’t you worry.”
A smile spread across Mary’s face. “Thanks for coming, Herman. I hope you enjoy our little celebration.”
“I’m sure I will,” Herman said with a smile.
“Come!” Susanna pulled on Herman’s hand. Mary held the door as they stepped inside, where the noise level was much higher. Children were playing in the living room, setting up homemade painted blocks in one corner and driving miniature wooden horses pulling farm implements in the center. Several girls sat on the couch holding dolls, and homemade dollhouses of various sizes were on the floor in front of them.
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