Naomi’s Christmas

by Marta Perry

  Sadie, who had been building a house with blocks in the corner of the kitchen, skipped across the room to grasp Naomi’s apron. “Can I have a snack, please, Naomi? I’m awful hungry.”

  “You are, are you? Well, supper is ready when your daadi comes in. In the meantime, what about a carrot stick?” She offered the saucer of carrot and celery sticks she’d cleaned for supper.

  Sadie tilted her head to one side. “I’d rather have a cookie.”

  “Cookies are for dessert. You can have some carrots and celery now.”

  Sadie looked for a moment as if she’d protest, but when Joshua left his game behind to grab a handful of carrots, she changed her mind and snatched a few.

  “Denke,” Joshua said, mindful of his manners. “Are you going to have supper with us, Naomi?”

  “I’m afraid not. I have to drive into town to the bakery, and if I stay any longer, it will be dark by the time I get there.”

  “I wish you could stay and put us to bed,” Sadie said. “Daadi isn’t so gut at that as Grossmammi. She likes to snuggle and tell stories.”

  “Maybe you should tell Daadi that’s what you like,” she suggested. “Sometimes daadis don’t think of things like that.” She put an arm around Sadie and hugged her, then tickled her until she giggled.

  What she’d said was true enough—men didn’t seem to take naturally to hugs and snuggles as women did with young ones. But she would think Nathan would make an extra effort in that way, just because Ada was no longer here.

  “I don’t see why it has to get dark so early,” Sadie said, with a quicksilver change of subject. “I wish it stayed light so we could play outside after supper.” She climbed on a chair so that she could see out the window, making a face at the gathering dusk.

  “It’s the change of seasons,” Joshua said. “Everyone knows that, silly.”

  “I’m not silly,” Sadie retorted. “We could have fall and winter and still have it be light out, couldn’t we?”

  “I’m afraid not.” Naomi suppressed a smile at the child’s reasoning. “You see, God made the earth to turn so that each part of it would get springtime and harvest time and even winter, when the plants sleep and get ready to come back again in the spring. Every one of God’s creatures needs a rest time, rabbits and raspberries and even little girls.”

  Joshua nodded. “That’s why Daadi and Grossdaadi and Isaiah cut all the corn and the hay, so that we would have enough to feed the animals all winter long.” He spoke with the lofty assurance of the older brother. “Maybe next year I can help, Grossdaadi says.”

  Naomi bit back a comment about how her brothers had helped when they were his age. Nathan obviously didn’t want his son involved with the farm work, and that was his decision.

  “You know what I like about winter?” Sadie seemed to think she’d been out of the spotlight long enough.

  “Sled riding? Building a snowman?” Naomi guessed.

  “No, silly.” Sadie hopped down from the chair and launched herself against Naomi’s knees.

  Naomi caught her, spinning her around and making her laugh. “What then? Icicles?”

  “Christmas,” Sadie crowed. “I love Christmas. I want to make a present for Daadi, and one for Grossdaadi, and for Grossmammi—” She paused for breath.

  “I wish we could make presents,” Joshua said. “I remember when Mammi helped me make a bowl out of clay for Daadi.”

  The sorrow in his voice cut Naomi to the heart. “We can work on presents,” she said. “I will help you, and if we haven’t finished when your Grossmammi comes back, I’m sure she will help you.” It was probably just as well to remind them and herself that she was here temporarily.

  Sadie threw her arms around Naomi in another massive hug, and even Joshua smiled. Naomi’s heart warmed. They were dear to her already, these children of Ada’s. How could she help but love them, just as she’d loved their mother?

  The clop of hooves sounded from outside, and Naomi glanced at the window. “Your daadi is bringing my buggy. It’s time for me to go, but I will see you first thing tomorrow, ja?”

  “Will we start on the presents tomorrow?” Sadie said, not to be diverted from the subject of Christmas now that it had come up.

  “I will give some thought to what you could make, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow, all right? I’ll have to get the materials you need for the presents, so we need to decide what you’re going to make first.”

  “Shh.” Sadie put her finger to her lips as the back door opened. “It’s a secret.”

  “What is a secret?” Nathan said, coming into the kitchen.

  “We can’t tell you, Daadi,” Sadie said.

  “Or it wouldn’t be a secret,” Joshua added.

  Judging by the sparkle in Sadie’s eyes, Naomi doubted that she’d be able to keep a secret for more than a few minutes, but there was no harm in that.

  “There is meat loaf ready for your supper, with potatoes and carrots. Also applesauce and gelatin salad and fresh rolls.”

  “Sounds great,” Nathan said. He was looking at the stove, not at her, as if perhaps he was no more eager to look at her than she was to look at him. “You don’t need to go to so much trouble.”

  “No trouble,” she said, taking her jacket from the hook and slipping it on. “Maybe you can make a list of things you and the kinder like, so I’m sure to have them.” She turned to the little ones. “I will see you tomorrow. Have sweet dreams.”

  Their voices echoed in her ears as she tied her bonnet in place and went outside. To her surprise, Nathan came out with her, and she found herself tensing. Was he going to say something else about Jessie?

  He took her elbow to help her up to the buggy seat and then paused, holding her arm. “Naomi, I am sorry I spoke sharp about Jessie earlier. I should not have.”

  She might be able to think of something to say if not for the firm clasp of his hand, warm even through layers of dress and jacket. “It’s all right,” she said after what she felt was too long a time. “Ada used to talk to me about her worries over Jessie, that’s why I spoke. But I would never say anything to anyone else.”

  “I know you’re not a blabbermaul, Naomi.” He gave her one of his rare smiles. “I will see you tomorrow then.”

  He handed her up into the buggy. She drove off down the lane, her arm still tingling.

  “The kinder are dear little ones.” Naomi paused in kneading the cinnamon raisin loaf long enough to answer Paula’s question about how the day had gone. “I can’t take their grossmammi’s place, for sure, but maybe I can keep them happy while she’s away.”

  “Ach, you know full well that if anyone can, it’s you.” Paula had a sprinkling of flour on her glasses, as usual, and maybe even a bit in her gray hair. She was engrossed in making the rye loaves that folks loved so dearly. “It’s not being prideful to accept that God gave you certain gifts.”

  “One of your gifts is making your rye bread, that’s certain-sure,” Naomi said. “The customers can’t get enough of it.”

  “It’s the orange rind I put in,” she said, apparently serious although Naomi doubted it was just a matter of orange rind. “And speaking of things folks love, when are you going to bring me some jars of your honey that I can put up for sale?”

  “Goodness, I haven’t even thought about it. I would need to put some kind of labels on the jars. And what would we charge? Besides, all of this year’s honey is in the storage cellar at Daad’s. I don’t know what he’d think if I wanted to take it away.”

  “It’s yours, after all.” Paula’s tone was practical, as always. “The honey came from your bees. You bought the hives, you took care of the bees, and you packaged the honey. It’s up to you what you do with it. Besides, the two of them certain-sure can’t eat that much honey.”

  True enough, but Naomi still quailed at the thought of going to Daad’s house and removing the jars of honey. “I’ll think on it,” she said evasively.

  Somewhat to her surprise, Paula didn’t
pursue the subject. They worked on opposite sides of the long table in the bakery kitchen. Darkness pressed against the windowpanes, but inside was the glow of the lights and the warmth of the ovens.

  It was peaceful, being here with Paula, kneading the bread and shaping it into loaves that would nourish others. The rhythm of kneading was soothing, and it made Naomi happy to think that she was giving Hannah this evening to spend with her husband and son. It made a long day, for sure, but it was worthwhile, and that was a good feeling.

  Finishing the loaves and setting them aside under clean tea towels for a second rising, Naomi began shaping the walnut coffee ring. Slicing partially through the roll of filled dough, she turned each slice so that the rich filling showed. They would bake the rings tonight, and then Paula could finish them off quickly with a bit of powdered sugar drizzle in time for the morning coffee rush.

  “Are you sure it’s not a problem for me to be gone so many days at Nathan’s?” Paula was so kind to her that Naomi felt a twinge of guilt each day she took off.

  “Now, we’ve been through all that,” Paula said with mock severity. “I’d be selfish for sure if I begrudged that time to help a neighbor. Anyway, with Hannah partnering with me now, things are running smoothly. You don’t need to worry.”

  That raised another troubling thought. Paula had always said she could use Naomi for as many hours as she could work, but that was before her niece, Hannah, had come back to Pleasant Valley and gone into partnership with her. Maybe…

  A sharp knock at the back door interrupted Naomi’s train of thought. She exchanged startled glances with Paula and then reached for a towel to wipe her hands off.

  “I’ll go.”

  “Look before you unlock the door,” Paula cautioned, and she nodded.

  There’d been a time when no one in Pleasant Valley would even think of locking their doors, but times had changed, even here.

  She drew aside the curtain on the window to find that the late-evening caller was her brother Elijah. Her heart jolted with unpleasant speculations, and she hurried to unlock the door and yank it open.

  “Elijah, was ist letz? Is one of the kinder sick? Or something wrong with Daad?”

  “No, no, nothing like that.” Removing his hat, he nodded politely to Paula. “I am sorry to disturb you when you are working, but this is the only chance I had. Naomi, I must talk with you.”

  He sounded solemn. With the sense of some new disaster about to befall her, Naomi led him into the shop.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Naomi switched on the low lamps in the section of the bakery where there were tables and chairs for customers. She gestured Elijah to a seat and stood for a moment, hand on the back of a chair.

  This was the first opportunity she’d had to talk with Elijah alone about her situation with Daad. As the oldest son, even though he was younger than she by nearly three years, Elijah was the one Daad was most likely to listen to. If anyone could heal this breach in the family, surely it would be Elijah.

  His coming here alone to talk was a good sign, wasn’t it? She smiled at him as he removed his winter black felt hat and put it on the table.

  “You’ll have a cup of coffee, won’t you? And there’s some walnut streusel coffee cake, too.”

  He started to shake his head, and then he seemed to think better of it. “Ja, that would be a treat just now.”

  Elijah seemed tense, but perhaps he’d relax if she gave him a bit of time. Naomi fetched the coffee, setting a cream pitcher and sugar bowl next to the cup. Elijah doctored his coffee so much it was a wonder he could taste it at all. She cut a generous slab of the streusel coffee cake and put it in front of him before she sat down.

  “Eat,” she urged him. “We don’t often have a chance to sit and talk by ourselves, ain’t so?”

  “Ja, that’s what Lo— That’s what I thought,” he said.

  So it was Lovina who had prompted this evening visit. Naomi’s sister-in-law was a loving creature, but she had a firm core when she thought something needed done. She had more influence on Elijah than probably even he realized.

  Elijah sipped the coffee, his ruddy cheeks flushing a little. Maybe he sensed Naomi watching him.

  “Paula’s made a gut little business for herself here, ja?” He glanced around the room as if he hadn’t seen it dozens of times before.

  Did he know that Naomi could read the signs only too well? He was still her little brother, when all was said and done, and she knew when he was stalling.

  “Komm, Elijah.” She kept her voice gentle. “You did not stop in to talk about Paula’s bakery. Whatever it is, it’s best just to speak out.”

  “Ach, I was trying to lead up to it.” His face relaxed in the slightly shamefaced smile she remembered from his childhood. “The thing is, Lovina and I were talking. It seems like Daadi surprised us all so much with his news that we didn’t have time to think things through. Lovina thinks…well, we both fear that it wasn’t handled very well. It’s up to Daad if he wants to remarry, for sure, but he might have given more thought to you.”

  Naomi was surprised and touched. “Denke, Elijah. Thank you for saying so.” And she’d have to thank Lovina, too. She’d clearly been using her influence on Elijah, who was too ready to go off half-cocked at every new idea.

  “Ja, well, Lovina and I want to be sure you know that we would be ser glad to have you live with us.” He looked as if he were trying to remember all the things Lovina had said to him, reminding Naomi of the brother she’d helped memorize his spelling words years ago. “There’s no denying it would be helpful to Lovina to have you there, and we wouldn’t think of asking you to give up your bees. In fact, I’ll be glad to pay the rent to Nathan.”

  Elijah sat back, looking like a man who’d done his duty and was relieved to have it over. With one hand he smoothed his beard—chestnut-colored, it persisted in curling no matter how he tried to stop it.

  “I’m glad you came tonight, Elijah. It grieved me to think you might be angry with me.”

  “Not angry, for sure. Just worried, that’s all.” He was on surer ground now, waiting for her to say yes.

  But she was going to disappoint him. “I thank you for your invitation, and my thanks go to Lovina, as well. But I am content with things the way they are.”

  It took Elijah a moment to realize what she was saying. His cheeks flushed. “You won’t move in with us?”

  “I think it’s best for me to stay here. I have my work in the bakery, and my work with Nathan’s kinder as well.”

  Elijah’s eyes narrowed, and he looked more like Daad. “You are taking care of Nathan’s kinder. How is that better than taking care of ours? How do you think it looks, that you would do that instead of coming to us?”

  She would reply softly, because it was important to preserve her relationship with her brother. “I’m not concerned with what other people think of our business, Elijah. You surely know I love your kinder, but right now Nathan’s little ones need me.” She remembered what Paula had said. “I am only there for a short time, until their grossmammi comes back. Ada was my dearest friend. It’s the least I can do for her kinder. That’s different from moving in with you.”

  “Ja, it’s different.” His voice was clipped. “You’re picking them over my young ones.”

  “Your kinder have two parents who are willing and able to take gut care of them, and you surely know I would drop everything to help you in time of trouble, don’t you?”

  Had he forgotten so easily all the years she’d devoted to him and the young ones? Maybe he really was just hurt that she seemed to have put someone else before him.

  Elijah shook his head, his face set in stubborn lines. “You are being headstrong, Naomi. I never thought to see that in you. Don’t you see that your behavior has folks already saying that you’re hoping to catch Nathan for yourself?”

  It was like a slap in the face. She stiffened, her mind reeling until she could get it under control. Were folks really saying such a t
hing? Or was that just Elijah, trying to bend her to his will?

  She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “If there are blabbermauls in our community, I am sorry for them, saying such foolish things. And I am disappointed in you for repeating them.”

  His mouth set, Elijah rose. She stood with him, holding on to the edge of the table.

  “Elijah, you are still the little bruder I love. I think it might be best if you go now before we both say more words we will regret.”

  He stared at her for a moment, angry and baffled, it seemed. Then, without a word, he turned and stalked out.

  Naomi stood where she was, glad of the sturdy table beneath her hand, trying to deal with the pain and doubt he left behind.

  The mist that clung to the valleys on November mornings had already vanished, chased away by the sun, when Nathan sent his buggy horse into the field behind the barn with a pat of the horse’s rump. Coalie trotted up to greet the mare, then whisked around and broke into a canter across the frosty grass. Something about the nip in the air must have invigorated the horses, unlike the Herefords, whose placid dispositions never seemed to change.

  Sometimes he wished people were as easy to deal with as animals. He leaned on the fence instead of rushing on to another chore. By November, with the corn harvested and plenty of hay in the loft, things eased up a bit even on a dairy farm, so he could spare a few minutes to look at the fields spreading out toward the woods and then the ridge in the distance.

  He’d been relieved to see Naomi her usual serene self this morning. He’d been unhappy over his curtness with her about Jessie, even though he’d tried to make amends.

  His fingers tightened on the rough plank fence. Jessie couldn’t be left alone with the children. Ada had been the first to admit that truth, and she’d certainly known her little sister as well as anyone. Emma had agreed, and as long as she was here, Jessie had never so much as shown an interest in watching them.

  So what had caused her to get that bee in her bonnet about being the proper person to care for Joshua and Sadie while Emma was away? With Jessie, it was impossible to tell. She was a creature of whims, like a flighty horse that would take exception to a bit of paper blowing across the road.