Lancaster Crossroads - 0.50 - A Simple Crossroads: A Lancaster Crossroads Novella

by Rosalind Lauer

  Lizzy nodded, loving the light in his dark eyes. For now, this would be their secret to share with each other.

  “So I’ll keep my mouth shut. But I’m happy, Lizzy. And I have an idea.” He put his arm behind her back and lifted her into his arms.

  She let out a whoop that bubbled into laughter.

  “Maybe you should stay off your feet,” he said as he carried her inside and sat down on the couch.

  She snuggled her cheek against his coat. “I wouldn’t mind a rest, but you can’t carry me everywhere, dear one.”

  His dark eyes glimmered with affection. “I’ve been thinking about it. There’s plenty of chores to be done around here, and with a baby on the way, you might want to stop working the market.”

  “Mmm.” A year ago she would have argued that she liked the job at the market and could handle it. But now … now the joy of days spent with her Amish friends and family held great appeal, and the truth was, an Amish woman’s first job was to manage her home. “You’re right. Once the baby comes, I want to be here in Halfway. But I’ll go back in December, until we find someone who wants to take my place, full-time.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to Ben, see if he wants the job for the long haul.”

  “So many changes. Good changes.” Lizzy was reminded of something Juanita had written in one of her letters. “Gott shows us the answers we long for in surprising ways.” Staying in Halfway for six weeks and helping Becky … was that Gott’s way of showing her that she belonged here? After she got used to being at Becky and Elam’s house, once she got into the pattern of taking care of the children, she did become more relaxed with everyday things. The gardening and cooking. The flickering burst of yellow and orange autumn leaves in the sun. The welcome warmth of being curled up beside the fire with a child in her arms on a chilly morning.

  Joe was right. It was time to begin planning for the day when she would give up her job at the market. Gott had given her the answer weeks ago. It had just taken her a while to see it.

  Chapter 13

  December

  Juanita had always loved the market at Christmastime. Strewn with greenery, red and silver balls, and tiny white lights, Reading Terminal Market glittered when it was dressed for Christmas, and hundreds of customers visited in December to share that excitement. The midway was often packed with customers in search of fresh produce, cheese, or flowers for their holiday tables.

  Although the festive spirit usually brightened Juanita’s day, this year Christmas seemed to mark the end of happy times at the market. Come January, Chris and Lizzy would begin to disappear from her life, and she felt a little sick inside at the prospect.

  “It’s very crowded today. We’re lucky to find a table.” Lizzy sighed as she took a seat opposite Juanita in the food court. “Aahh! It feels good to get off my feet.”

  “You need to prop your feet up, Mommy.” Juanita turned an extra chair toward Lizzy, who reluctantly placed her feet on it. “And let your doctor know if your ankles get swollen. That’s a sign of preeclampsia, which can be a real problem.”

  “I already talked about that with the midwife,” Lizzy said. “She thinks I’ll have no problem working here for the next few months, as long as I let Joe do the heavy lifting.”

  “Why don’t you just have Cousin Ben take over? He seems to do a good job.”

  “Ben likes working on his father’s dairy farm,” Lizzy explained as she opened a thermos of soup. “At least that’s what he says. I think there’s a girl he favors back in Halfway. He’s afraid of missing out on too much, being away every day.”

  “Well, you just keep taking care of yourself.” Juanita tucked a strand of dark hair behind one ear and smiled at her friend, whose face was already filling out a bit. Probably from all that extra milk. Dear Lizzy, expecting a baby. The sheer beauty of God’s miracles made Nita’s eyes mist up.

  She swallowed hard, determined not to get emotional. Lizzy deserved Juanita’s love and support, and it wouldn’t do to make her friend feel guilty about the big changes ahead with motherhood.

  “So …” Juanita took a breath and continued. “Drink plenty of water and milk, too.”

  “You know the Kings have a couple of dairy farms. Milk is easy to get, thank the good Lord.”

  “And stay away from sushi,” Juanita warned, pointing to Any Fish, the market sushi stand.

  Lizzy looked over at Any Fish and grinned. “That’s not a problem at all. I like my fish pan-fried.”

  With a smile, Juanita nibbled her sandwich and let her gaze travel over the evergreen garland and twinkling lights of the market. In the distance, the sign for Schwab’s Swiss Deli jabbed at her heart. How could they think of asking Chris to leave Philadelphia? Didn’t they know he had a life here? A girlfriend?

  “Nita?” Lizzy squinted across the table. “You look like someone just blew out your last candle.”

  “I was just thinking ahead to January. You know, when Chris will be starting up the shop in New York.”

  “I’m a little surprised that he took that job, with things going so well between you two.”

  “Me, too.” Juanita pulled at the crust of her sandwich. “It’s just too good an opportunity to turn down. I’ve tried to ask him what it will mean for us, but he’s been evasive. He insists that he still wants to see me, but I can’t see how it will work. Once he’s living and working in New York, well …” The words were choked away by the knot of emotion in her throat.

  Chris was leaving. Just as quickly as love had ignited between them, it would fade. A dying flame.

  “Oh, Nita.” Lizzy reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “I wish there was something I could do.”

  Juanita shook her head, staring down at the table. No one could do anything to stop a heart from breaking.

  “Ladies? I see you’re enjoying a nice lunch.” Chris’s familiar voice sparked joy and pain.

  Juanita lifted her gaze to the man she loved. Chris Schwab had earned a special place in her heart. No matter what happened, she would always remember the love they’d shared. Always and forever.

  “We were just talking about you, and your move to New York,” Lizzy said. “It must be exciting to be opening up a new shop.”

  “Exciting and nerve-racking. I need to become an expert on everything, fast.” He brandished a tray of dumpling-like cookies. “Like these little gems, called Bethmaennchen. They’re German cookies, traditionally served around Christmastime. I didn’t bake them, but I need to know that our baker is getting them right in the new shop. I thought you ladies might like to try them.”

  Lizzy nodded eagerly. “What’s inside?”

  Chris served her one of the baked confections. “They’re made from marzipan, almond, sugar, eggs, and flour. Oh, and rose water.” He turned toward Nita. “Try one.”

  “No, thanks. I’m not so hungry.”

  He cocked his head to one side, holding her with his gaze. “I insist.”

  He slid the pastry before her, and she swallowed hard as she gazed down at it. Three almonds surrounded the cookie, and hooked atop one of them was a ring.

  A diamond ring.

  Nita’s jaw dropped as she lifted the ring from the cookie. The diamond winked in the light. “Does every cookie come with a charm?”

  “Only one.” Chris placed the tray on the table, dropped to one knee, and took Juanita’s hands in his. “The one for the woman meant to be my wife. I’m asking you to marry me, Nita. Marry me, and come to New York with me.”

  She bit her lips together to hold back tears of joy. “Is this a dream?”

  Chris smiled up at her, love glimmering in his blue eyes. “Nope. It’s me in the flesh, smelling of pastrami and knishes, and begging you to be my wife.”

  “No need to beg.” Juanita took his hands and pulled him up so that they both stood, facing each other. “That’s better. The two of us, on the same level.”

  “As it should be,” Chris agreed. “You know I love you, and I want to work with y
ou, side by side, building a life together. I know I’m asking a lot. Asking you to leave behind friends and family. It won’t always be easy, but we’ll have each other, and God will watch over us.”

  “I know that, and I love you, too.”

  He took the ring from her palm and held it up. “So … are you game? Willing to take a chance on the Big Apple with me?”

  Joy swelled in her heart as he teased her, dangling the ring in front of her. “I would follow you to the ends of the earth.” She gave him her left hand. “You’d better slip that on my finger for safekeeping.”

  “Right. We wouldn’t want it to get stuck in someone else’s Christmas cookie.” He slid the ring onto her finger, then pulled her close for a kiss.

  Juanita’s pulse was already racing with excitement as she heard applause and shouts of delight rise around her. Lizzy had not been the only one watching. Customers and vendors were cheering them on.

  When the kiss ended, Chris was smiling from ear to ear. “I didn’t know we’d make such a scene.”

  Juanita looked around at the happy faces surrounding her. Nods of approval from the women at the sushi bar. A standing ovation from the Spaghetti Warehouse. At the jewelry stand, Chloe dabbed at tears of joy. The bakers at the pizza place were waving their white hats in the air in celebration. Market Joe roared approval from the cheese stand.

  And Lizzy … Lizzy’s amber eyes sparkled with tears as she smiled up at her friend.

  Joy bubbled up inside Juanita as she took it all in with a broad smile. Then, taking a cue from her theatrical father, she curtsied, causing more laughter and applause.

  As the attention subsided, Chris put the rest of the cookies on the table, and then tucked the tray under his arm. “Ladies, I’ve got to get back to work. There are a few more German delicacies I need to master before I can call myself an expert. But please … enjoy your bethmaennchen.” He saluted them, dropped one last kiss on Juanita’s lips, and then headed off.

  “Good cookies.” Lizzy grinned as she checked over the pastries on the table. “Any more with a ring attached?”

  “Nope.” Juanita slid back into her chair, still floating on a cloud of excitement as she admired the simple solitaire diamond on her finger. How long had Chris been up to this? No wonder he had been avoiding talk of their future; he was a man who loved surprises. “Did you know about this?”

  “I had a feeling something was up when Chris told me to keep you at the table until he came over.”

  “You are a good friend.”

  “And your beau has a good baker.” Lizzy popped another cookie into her mouth, and sighed. “You know, the Reading Terminal Market will be a very different place come the New Year.”

  “I know! Chris and I won’t be here, and you’ll be coming in less frequently, getting ready to be a mom. I just love the thought of you out in Halfway, baking and gardening and nesting for that little baby of yours.”

  “Nesting?” Lizzy’s forehead creased. “Like a bird?”

  “It’s what new mothers do to prepare for a baby. You feather the nest. Find a safe spot for the baby to sleep. Some people go a little overboard with mobiles and designer cribs, but I don’t see that happening to you.”

  “No. We’ll borrow a crib. Probably from my brother, the crib Rosie used. But I do like the image of building a nest for the baby.” Lizzy smiled, her pink cheeks shining. “Nesting like a mother bird. I’m ready for that.”

  Chapter 14

  It was December 26, known to the Amish as Second Christmas. Lizzy liked this day because folks were free to visit with different family and friends. She and Joe decided to stop in at the dairy farm of Joe’s cousin Adam King. With eleven children in this family, there was never a dull moment, and Lizzy especially liked visiting because of the way the little ones enjoyed Christmas.

  Everyone in the family was gathered around the table for a game of Jenga.

  It was fifteen-year-old Susie’s turn, and she circled the wooden tower tentatively, her palms pressed to her cheeks.

  “The game was my Christmas gift,” Sam said, showing Lizzy the box. “Have you played before?”

  “I have. It’s one of my favorites,” she told him. Lizzy had always enjoyed the game because the rules were simple. Remove one block at a time from the tower and place it on top without sending the tall stack of blocks tumbling down.

  “Careful there, Susie,” Jonah told his younger sister. “The tower is beginning to lean.”

  “Which one should I take out?” Susie moved close to squint at the wooden block construction. “I’m not sure.”

  “Don’t breathe too hard,” Simon said. “One puff of breath, and it’ll all be over.”

  Susie pursed her lips and gently eased a block from the tower. The tower wobbled but stood intact.

  “Good one, Susie,” Adam said. “Now put it back on the top.”

  “That part is easy,” Susie said, placing it gently on a smooth ledge. The tower swayed slightly, then collapsed, crashing onto the wood table amid a chorus of laughter and groans.

  “Well, maybe it’s not so easy,” Susie admitted.

  “You never know the tricks of the master builder,” Joe said as he scooped up the scattered blocks to build another tower.

  “Jenga is a good game,” Sam said, grinning.

  “I like it when everything comes crashing down!” Ruthie exclaimed.

  Remy got up from a rocking chair and clapped her hands together. “Who wants pie? Mary made a pecan pie, and I made strawberry rhubarb from the jars we put up in the fall.”

  There was a flurry of enthusiastic responses, and Remy, Mary, and Lizzy went over to start serving. Lizzy put the kettle on for tea, and Mary poured milk for the younger children. As soon as they had everything set out, Remy wiped her hands on the towel and clasped Lizzy’s arm.

  “Kumm,” Remy said, managing the Pennsylvania Deutsch accent well. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  Remy led her down the hall to a small sewing room. “I have a little gift for you. We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful baking you did for our wedding. A hundred pies! That was so amazing, and everything was delicious, too.”

  “I didn’t bake them all. Everyone pitched in.”

  “But you managed it all so well. And once you agreed to do it, Mary and I felt a huge burden had been lifted.” Remy took a soft bundle wrapped in tissue from the small desk and handed it to Lizzy. “So this is a little thank-you gift. But I have to warn you, I made it myself, and it’s not quite finished and—well, you’ll see.”

  Lizzy unwrapped the tissue to find a lovely bit of crocheting in orange, gold, and yellow yarn. “It’s lovely, and so kind of you.” It warmed her heart to think of the time Remy had spent making this for her. “The best gifts are homemade.”

  “Do you like the colors?”

  “They remind me of sunshine.”

  Remy touched the blanket fondly. “I’m all thumbs with quilting, but I’ve learned that I can crochet. It’s so soothing, don’t you think?”

  “That’s how I feel about baking.”

  “I could teach you! But here’s the thing with this little blanket. It’s too small. Unless you want to use it for a cape,” Remy said, slinging it over her shoulders to model it. “Or maybe a lap blanket … if you have a small lap.”

  “I think it’s too pretty to be left out in a buggy.”

  “It’s kind of you to say that. So give me another week or two and I’ll make it a full-sized blanket for you.”

  Lizzy held up the small blanket and measured with her eyes. It was the perfect size for a baby blanket. “You know, I like it just the way it is.”

  With a relieved smile, Remy opened her arms and gave Lizzy a hug. “Denki, Lizzy. You make me feel so very welcome in the family.”

  Lizzy patted Remy’s shoulder. “And you’ve reawakened Gott’s love in cousin Adam.” She leaned back to add, “There’s still a touch of Englisher in you, Remy, but your love has made this house a ho
me again. My mamm says that a house is made of wood and beams, but a home is made of love and dreams.”

  Remy’s green eyes sparkled as she squeezed Lizzy’s hand. “Well, I hope that little blanket helps to make your house a home.”

  With the blanket pressed to her chest, Lizzy followed Remy back to the kitchen. The men sat at the table amidst the leftovers of two pies, but the children were bringing their empty dessert plates to the sink.

  “Good pie, Remy.” Simon ran his tongue over the corner of his lips, where the telltale pink of sugared strawberry remained.

  Lizzy looked to the table and saw Joe’s dark eyes upon her. Next year at this time, Gott willing, their little one would be crawling around amid the wrapping paper and toys.

  She smiled at him and nodded toward the door. “Kumm. I want to put this nice gift in the buggy.” They met out on the mud porch, where he put his jacket over her shoulders and led her outside.

  “Look at what Remy made us.” She opened the blanket to show him. “Our baby’s first blanket.”

  “It’s good.” Joe scratched his beard. “But how does she know?”

  “I’m not sure that she does. Either way, I’m glad to have her in the family. She’s a good woman with so much love in her heart.”

  Joe nodded. “Adam stands taller with her around. I think she’s helped to lift a weight from his shoulders.” He slipped an arm over her back, and they both looked up to the sky, where stars glowed steadily in the indigo night. “See that star, shining bright? I reckon that was the one that guided the wise men to the baby Jesus.”

  Lizzy sighed happily as she leaned against him. “Could be. It’s important to remember that. It’s what all this celebration is about, the birth of the Savior.”

  “It is.” He kissed her cheek, his soft beard tickling her ear. “That’s what we’re going to do with our little one, every Christmas. We’ll take the child out to find the guiding star.”

  She smiled. “That would be a good lesson.”

  He shifted his hand low on her belly, gently covering the baby.

  Their baby.