Winter of Wishes

by Charlotte Hubbard

  “It’s like Miriam loves to say.” The banker looked toward the bride, who was surrounded by dozens of well-wishers. “All things work out for those who trust in God. And if you’re marrying into her family, with Bob backing you, that’s all I need to know. You’re destined for success.”

  “How about if I call you early next week?” Bob suggested. “I see a certain young woman heading your way, and you might not want our arrangement to be common knowledge until you’re convinced it’s a good idea.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that,” Andy murmured.

  As Rhoda approached, holding Taylor’s hand and waiting for his mom to keep up with them in the crowd, Andy felt a welling up of emotions. What a turnaround this was, after the censure they had endured when they’d been caught kissing in his car. Even though Rhoda didn’t know about the assistance he’d just been offered, her expression said she believed in him completely . . . wanted to be with him, for better or for worse.

  “You look awfully happy, considering that interruption in your mother’s wedding,” he remarked as she grabbed his hand.

  “Puh! Takes more than a run-in with Hiram to ruin Mamma’s big day,” she replied. Her blue eyes glimmered as she gazed up at him. “And what a way to start the New Year, too. Things are changin’ in a big way in Willow Ridge, and it’s workin’ to our advantage, Andy. Come and meet Ben’s family before we head for the feast! Now the real fun gets started!”

  Rhoda took her seat at the eck, a large corner table where the wedding party sat on a dais so they could survey all their guests. She couldn’t stop grinning. She had remembered most of the Hooleys’ unusual names as she’d introduced Andy, his mom, and his kids, and as special guests they sat at tables near the eck. Jerusalem’s twin brother, Jericho, was passing a big platter of the “roast,” made of baked chicken and stuffing. Calvary, Corinth, Judea, and their siblings and kids seemed delighted to be attending Ben and Mamma’s festivities. There were so many Hooleys, they’d rented two full-size buses with drivers to come from Lancaster County. Jerusalem’s and Nazareth’s siblings had booked the entire family-owned motel in Morning Star so that Ben’s parents, brothers, and sisters could stay in the new house. Mamma’s sisters, their husbands, and their kids were bunking in the main house with Rachel and Micah, as they had done for Rachel’s wedding in October.

  When Rhoda’s gaze rested on Andy and his family, her heart danced. Taylor wiggled her fingers before forking up a big mouthful of gravied mashed potatoes. Rhoda waved back, pleased that she was wearing the purple polka-dot Plain-style dress. She was proud of the way the kids had sat through the long services when they had no idea what was being said in Pennsylvania Dutch. The English guests had been seated in this first shift so they could leave whenever they chose to, but Rhoda hoped the Leitners would stay the entire day. She wanted them to experience all the visiting and meet more of her family . . . so her kin could adjust to the idea that she was in love with a man from the outside world.

  Ben dinged his knife on his glass and stood up, waiting for silence. “Miriam and I are so happy you’re all here,” he began, “and we’ve got an idea to share with ya.”

  “Jah,” Mamma joined in as she rose beside him. Oh, but she looked years younger and sparkly with excitement. “The Lord’s blessed Ben and me with many gut gifts in the short time we’ve been together. So instead of givin’ us presents we don’t need, we’d like ya to consider donatin’ to the new Willow Ridge clinic. Thanks to the fine fella my Rhoda has taken a shine to, we’re soon gonna have a trained healer as-sistin’ us with childbirths and injuries.”

  Rhoda’s face got hot. She saw the same amazement on Andy’s face while her mother continued.

  “Andy Leitner’s completed his nursin’ degree. Matter of fact, he saved Hiram’s young sons when they had a horrible sleigh wreck a couple weeks ago.” Mamma paused to let this information sink in. “Most important, he’s takin’ his instruction to become Amish so he can someday marry Rhoda—and ya know what a commitment that’ll be for him and his kids.”

  As folks all over the big room craned their necks to see Andy, Rhoda felt their gazes on her, as well. She noticed a kitty-cat grin on Rebecca’s face. Had her sister had something to do with this announcement?

  “Andy hopes to set up his office down the road from here. And he wants to make house calls in a special wagon stocked with the medicines and equipment he’ll need—which will set him back a perty penny,” Ben pointed out. “We’ve set up a special clinic account with our banker, Derek Shotwell. So if ya care to pitch in on this project, he’s the man to see.”

  Derek stood up to wave at everyone. He had obviously been in on this surprise, and enjoyed playing a part in another venture with his Plain clients.

  “We’re runnin’ an ad in The Budget to support the startup of Andy’s practice, too. If ya mention this to your friends back home, we’re bettin’ Andy’ll find out just how generous and grateful the People can be,” Mamma said. “He’s a gut man, and he loves my Rhoda. Denki for whatever ya care to share.”

  When Rhoda could catch her breath again, she went to stand behind Ben and her mother. As she wrapped her arms around their shoulders, she understood the meaning of love in a whole new way. “That was the nicest thing ya just did for us,” she said with a hitch in her voice. “But ya didn’t have to—”

  “Oh, honey-bug, the real joy comes in doin’ things because ya want to, not because ya have to.” Mamma sat taller to kiss her cheek. “There’s more than enough love and money in this room to share, ain’t so? It’ll be fun to see how much Derek collects today, and how much gets sent to that account from folks readin’ about it in the paper, too.”

  When Rhoda sat down to her dinner again, something compelled her to break with their traditional seating arrangement so she could spend this time with Andy and his family. She was gathering up her napkin and utensils when Luke, seated beside her, patted her arm.

  “Who knew what would come from that kiss in the car?” he asked quietly. “I’m glad it’s workin’ out for ya, Rhoda. Ya deserve to be as happy as your mamm.”

  That was certainly something to aspire to! “Denki, Luke. The future’s lookin’ real bright, ain’t so?” Rhoda picked up her loaded plate, determined to work on that happiness for the rest of this fine day.

  As she approached the table to sit with them, Andy and Betty scooted apart to make room for her. Luke had followed her from the eck with her folding chair . . . her cousins were waving at her, calling out their congratulations as though this had turned into a celebration for her and Andy as much as for Mamma and Ben. From the eck, Rachel was grinning at her, too—and wasn’t that the most wonderful affirmation of all?

  “This is . . . so exciting, Rhoda,” Andy’s mom said into her ear. “I can’t wait . . . to see Andy’s clinic take off.”

  As the people in the Brennemans’ huge shop finished eating, they came to shake Andy’s hand and wish him well with his medical venture. It was almost as though Hiram’s leaving had paved the way for a whole new beginning in Willow Ridge. Quite a line of neighbors and Hooley men stood ready to speak with Andy, and then they were writing checks for Derek Shotwell.

  “Say—ya wanna come out and play in the snow with the rest of us? Gets kind of slow in here when the adults start yackin’.” Levi Zook stepped around from behind his father to flash a hopeful grin at Brett and Taylor. “My little sister Amelia’s gonna be out there, too.”

  “That’s right nice of ya to ask, Levi,” Rhoda remarked. “This is Brett and Taylor Leitner from over in New Haven, and this,” she continued as she addressed Andy’s kids, “is Levi Zook. His family runs the market down the way.”

  The shine in their eyes made Rhoda’s heart dance. “Run along and play, kids. There’ll be lots of snowball throwin’ and relays out there—but no hitchin’ up the sleigh for any rides, ain’t so?” she asked in a purposeful voice.

  Levi grinned sheepishly. “Jah, the sleigh’s stayin’ parked. Mamm told Jonah
he was to be our watchdog today, on account of how folks won’t want to shop at our store if Cyrus and I keep causin’ trouble.”

  “Can we look at the sleighs and the horses, Rhoda?” Brett blurted.

  He and his sister wore such hopeful expressions that Rhoda had to hug them. “Jah, go out and buddy up with the kids. They’ll show ya the barns and the orchard and what-not. Take a gut look around. See if ya might like makin’ this neighborhood your new home.”

  Off they went with Levi to fetch their coats, and their eagerness warmed Rhoda in a way she hadn’t expected. She was watching them make their way through the crowd, replying politely when other folks welcomed them, when a familiar voice spoke in front of her.

  “Rhoda, I’m mighty pleased with how this is all turnin’ out. Let’s start Andy’s instruction as soon as we can.” Preacher Tom stood on the other side of the table, smiling. He leaned closer so they could hear him above the noise of the crowd. “On our walk over here to eat, I saw Hiram’s fancy black Cadillac rollin’ past. Sad to say, but he’s drivin’ down the road to perdition, for sure and for certain. But for the rest of us, it seems this New Year’s Day is a fine start for a wonderful-gut future, ain’t so?”

  Rhoda’s heart swelled as she grabbed the hand Tom offered. Andy took the preacher’s other hand as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “That’s the way I see it, too, Tom,” she replied. “I’m real glad ya want to be a part of bringin’ us together.”

  “I never in my life expected such an outpouring of money and love,” Andy chimed in. “A lot of wishes are coming true today, because all things are possible with God. And with Rhoda, of course.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Over here, I see a reception desk and a good place for the waiting area,” Andy said. It was Saturday morning and he and Rebecca stood in the doorway of the building where they hoped to set up shop. Micah Brenneman and Bob Oliveri had joined them for a look around before they told the Realtor it was a go, and Rhoda was putting in her ideas, as well.

  “We can build in a workspace for you, too, so you can tend your website business when we don’t have patients. We’ll have a private entry to the back hall, where you’d have access to the elevator and your office space on the second level. We can have our family entrance on that side, too.”

  “And if this center wall gets extended and soundproofed, we can separate your living area from the office,” Rebecca replied. “Will that work, Micah?”

  “Jah, that makes better use of the space than dividin’ it by levels,” the carpenter affirmed. “I’ll give ya a rough estimate of Adam Wagler’s remodelin’ price and finish out the proposal I’ve been workin’ on. Is later this afternoon soon enough?”

  Rebecca’s dad was walking along the walls, checking electrical outlets and ventilation ducts. “I like your vision of how the space should be used,” he remarked. “It still amazes me that Derek collected more than thirty-five grand at the wedding dinner. But I’ve seen that sort of support in Amish communities before.”

  Andy did some mental calculating. “That works out to several hundred dollars per family that was there,” he said with a shake of his head. “Hard to believe those conservative fellows would cough up that kind of cash, when they’d just met me.”

  “It helped that a few members of Ben’s family and Miriam’s two brothers made sizeable donations.” Bob flashed Andy a grin that crinkled the skin around his eyes. “It’ll be fun to see how much more comes from folks who see Miriam’s ad in The Budget.”

  “Jah, Micah’s family received more than eighty thousand dollars toward his dat’s hospital bills after he lost his legs,” Rhoda chimed in. “We Plain folks look out for each other.”

  “This new office will keep my daughter close to home, too,” Bob added. “I have Miriam to thank for that, and for Tiffany’s entire transformation into Rebecca. All in all, I’d encourage you to go ahead with it, Andy,” he continued in a businesslike voice. “This is an even better investment than the Sweet Seasons—and we all know how that place has put Willow Ridge on the map.”

  Micah came across the room to hand Andy a business card. “Almost forgot about this bein’ in my coat pocket,” he said. “A fella over in Cedar Creek makes a lot of specialty buggies and carriages. Ya might wanna give him a ring about your house-callin’ wagon.”

  Andy gazed at the simple card. Graber’s Custom Carriages, it said, and it gave a number for a James Graber. “This is fantastic, Micah,” he replied. “I’m amazed at how much help is coming at me from so many directions, now that I’ve declared my intentions.”

  “They say your energy flows where your intention goes,” Rebecca remarked with a nod. “I’ve seen that happen so many times in this little town, it’s made a believer of me.”

  The muscular carpenter flashed Andy a grin. “And if you’re makin’ Rhoda and Rebecca happy, that means Rachel will be willin’ for me to work on your place while I’m also fixin’ up our house. The three sisters are thicker than thieves, ya see. Please one and ya please them all.”

  “And upset just one of them . . .” Andy added in a teasing voice.

  “Jah, we don’t wanna go there!” Micah laughed. “Gut luck with gettin’ all this business settled. I’ll call ya later with my figures.”

  “I think I’ll head on home, too. Got some more packing to do before I move into my condo,” Bob remarked. “Let me know your decision any time, and I’ll take care of the details with Jennifer.”

  After Rebecca hugged Andy and her sister, she followed her dad outside, which left the two of them standing in the empty building. Andy put his arms around Rhoda. It was a heart-pounding decision, a big leap of faith to have Bob Oliveri invest in a building before he knew the clinic would be a success.

  “Are you sure you can live this way, Rhoda?” he murmured. “It’ll take a lot of work and imagination to turn this old building into a home.”

  Rhoda hugged him hard. “Ah, but Micah’s got a way of transformin’ places, ain’t so? Feels like this was all meant to be, Andy. I think ya should do it!”

  What faith she had in him. And if the Lantz family stood with him, who could turn against him? “All right, then. Let me grab Bob before he takes off.”

  Andy loped out to the parking lot, where Bob and Rebecca stood beside the Realtor’s SUV chatting through her open car window. He stopped next to them, grinning uncontrollably. “Rhoda says we should just do it,” he announced. “I’ve been wanting to say that all along, so—”

  “Good man!” Bob crowed. “Welcome to Willow Ridge, Andy. Jennifer and I will get right on this.”

  “Perfect,” Jennifer Bradley agreed. “I’ll lock up and get this process started.”

  Rebecca rushed at him for a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she murmured happily. “The pieces are falling into place now, for all of us.”

  Welcome to Willow Ridge. As the three cars pulled away a few moments later, Andy’s heart thudded with a feeling of such rightness, such destiny. His life came into clearer focus than he’d known since before Megan had walked away. He hugged Rhoda, who was laughing and crying at the same time.

  “I love ya, Andy,” she said with a hitch in her voice. “It’s been another happy, happy day, ain’t so?”

  His heart swelled and his throat tightened. He’d been afraid he’d jinx the situation if he said that L word too soon, yet Rhoda had fearlessly stated her feelings. “I’m just beginning to know the meaning of that word. To trust in it again,” he whispered. “I can’t thank you enough for believing in me—for believing in us. And yeah, I love you so much I can hardly breathe right now.”

  She rose on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Oh, ya gotta keep breathin’, Andy. You’re drivin’ us home in the sleigh so we can tell Mamma and Rachel about this, ain’t so?”

  Andy held her tight, closing his eyes with the sweetness of this triumphant moment. It would take some getting used to, the way the Lantz women playfully conspired to get their way. But it was such
a welcome change from going it alone, uphill, bearing the weight and responsibility for getting everything done for himself and his family. Here in Willow Ridge, he felt as though everyone was already pulling for him. Guaranteeing that he would succeed.

  The way—his future—had opened like a beautiful door. Andy believed he could accomplish anything if Rhoda stood beside him.

  “OK, kids, check one more time to be sure ya got all the ornaments from the inside branches,” Rhoda said. “Then ya can show me how this tree folds up. Never seen the likes of that, ya know. We Amish don’t have Christmas trees—real or fake ones.”

  “So how do you decorate, then?” Taylor asked. “Do you have a Nativity scene like ours?”

  Rhoda smiled. What a treat, to be here with Betty and the kids on the last day of their vacation before school started up again. They were asking good questions about how their lives would be different once they moved to Willow Ridge, and she was pleased to answer them. Andy was working a shift in the obstetrics ward, grateful that Preacher Tom had given permission for her to be here while Andy worked and his family prepared for their new life.

  “We have a real simple set with just Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus that my dat’s grandpa carved,” she replied. “And we have a bigger Nativity scene that Mamma’s family gave her when she married my dat. Otherwise, we put candles in the windows and fresh pine garlands on the mantels of our fireplaces. For us, it’s all about the birth of Jesus the Savior.”

  “No Santa Claus?” Brett asked. He was gazing wistfully at the two lighted figurines dressed in red with sparkly white trim. “He’s really your parents, you know. But we like to keep believing in him so we get more presents!”

  Rhoda laughed and rumpled his silky hair. “And I understand that the real Saint Nicholas was a gut man whose generosity improved a lot of lives. But nope,” she replied. “We give each other simple gifts. Most of them we make ourselves.”