Naomi’s Christmas

by Marta Perry

  “I am a snowflake, I am,” Sadie cried. When Nathan set her down she spun around, dancing as a thicker flurry of snowflakes descended on her. “I’m a snowflake, see, Joshua?”

  “Ten,” Joshua said, snapping his mouth closed. “I caught ten snowflakes with my tongue, Naomi. That’s gut, isn’t it?”

  “For sure it is,” she said. “Don’t you want your daad to swing you around like a snowflake, too?” She had a feeling solemn Joshua wouldn’t ask on his own.

  “Ja, will you, Daadi?”

  In answer, Nathan picked him up, lifting him high in the air and spinning around. “Now Joshua is a snowflake. A bigger one,” she said.

  “Me again, me again,” Sadie chanted. She stepped into her father’s path, narrowly missing Joshua’s flying feet.

  Naomi pulled her back, giving her a hug. “I think it would be fun to play tag in the snow.” She tapped Sadie’s nose. “You are It, Sadie. Can you catch me?”

  She’d thought she could easily outdistance the child, but Sadie darted after her so quickly she had to scurry to avoid being tagged. Nathan put Joshua down, and in a moment all four of them were scampering around the yard, snow in their hair, trying to escape.

  Laughing and exhilarated, Naomi slowed down enough so that Sadie could tag her, knowing Sadie would soon tire of the game if she had to be It all the time.

  “I’m It now,” she said. “Who shall I chase? Joshua?”

  She raced after Joshua, who squeaked and darted behind his father, then peeked around Nathan’s bulk to make a face.

  “Can’t catch me,” he said.

  Naomi chased after him, sending him racing across the yard and back again to circle his father. Finally, laughing and breathless, she tagged him, nearly knocking Nathan down in the process.

  Nathan caught her arm to steady her, looking down at her, his face ruddy with the cold, his eyes laughing. “Who are the kinder here, Naomi? You look as if you are thirteen again.”

  She met his laughing gaze and her heart lurched, seeming to tumble in her chest. For a moment she couldn’t seem to breathe.

  Was it her imagination, or was Nathan having a similar problem? Snow frosted his hair, and his face went oddly still for an instant, as if he was seeing something he hadn’t seen before.

  Then Sadie bounced into them, squealing, and Naomi turned to grab her, thankful for the distraction. Her heart still seemed to thump erratically, and she fought to control it.

  She could not have feelings for Nathan King. She could not. Maybe it was a very good thing that Emma would be back before long.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Naomi walked down Main Street toward Katie Brand’s quilt shop late that afternoon. The snow flurries earlier had tapered off, as she’d expected, but even a brief flurry had made her think of Christmas and the gifts she hoped to find time to make in the busy days ahead.

  Others in Pleasant Valley were certain-sure thinking about the approach of Christmas. The Englisch merchants had already decorated their shops, and while the Amish didn’t use lights, that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy looking at what others had done.

  The gift shop was beautifully decorated already, with swags of greenery twined with hundreds of tiny white twinkling lights. Even Mr. Wainwright at the bookstore had hung a wreath on his door to greet customers, though everyone in town knew he’d as soon be left alone to read as wait on anyone.

  The window of Caleb Brand’s handcrafted furniture shop, right next to Katie’s quilt store, showcased a small wooden chest of drawers with a bowl on top filled with greens. That would be Katie’s doing, no doubt. She’d transformed Caleb’s shop, as well as his life, when she’d moved in next door.

  Naomi reached for the quilt shop door, a list in her mind of what she needed. Making a doll for Sadie was on the top of her priorities, so she’d best get the materials for that project today.

  She smiled, thinking of Sadie’s and Joshua’s enthusiasm for the presents they were making to give their daad and grossdaadi and grossmammi. They’d had fun working on those the past few days.

  The bell jingled as she entered the shop. It had begun to get gray and chilly outside, but inside the shop was all color and warmth. Quilts were stacked on the display bed in the center of the room, with still more hung from the walls. Toward the rear of the shop, row after row of fabrics lured the visitor to finger and compare and probably start a new project.

  Katie, as warm and welcoming as her shop, stood behind the counter waiting on an Englisch customer. Katie glanced toward her, smiling in welcome, and Naomi nodded. She’d enjoy chatting with Katie about her projects, but not while Katie was making a sale. She could go and browse in the fabric section, where she spotted Katie’s sister, Rhoda, holding up a bolt of fabric for another customer.

  Even as Naomi started to move toward the back, the Englisch woman headed for the door, nodding a pleasant greeting as she passed. Katie came out from behind the counter.

  “Naomi, it is ser gut to see you. You’ve been busy lately, ain’t so?”

  “Just a little, what with working in the bakery and also minding Nathan King’s kinder several days a week.”

  “Ja, I heard you were helping him out while Emma is away visiting her daughter and the boppli. Will Emma be back in Pleasant Valley soon?”

  “In another week or two, I think.” Naomi didn’t know for sure, but she did know the time was passing quickly, too quickly. “I’ll miss Joshua and Sadie, that’s for sure.”

  Nathan’s children had taken possession of her heart, as she’d known they must. The inevitable parting would be difficult.

  Still, given that foolish longing she’d felt for Nathan, it was for the best. Once she wasn’t seeing him so often, she’d quickly forget, and things would go back to normal between them.

  “What can I help you with today? Or should I guess? Christmas gift making?” Katie’s blue eyes twinkled, as if she’d had this conversation with a number of people.

  “You’ve guessed right. I did start some things for my nephews months ago, but I still have a few quilted place mats and such to finish. But first I must get materials to make a doll for little Sadie.”

  Katie nodded. “She’s about five, ain’t so? That’s a gut age for dolls for a little girl.”

  “Almost five,” Naomi said.

  Katie hadn’t been in Pleasant Valley all that long—only since she’d come to help her cousin with a new baby back in the winter, but she’d gotten to know folks quickly. And now that she was married to Caleb Brand, she was probably related to half the valley through either his family or hers.

  “I have just the thing.” Katie knelt to pull a large box from under the table. She cleared a space for it. “This is my remnant box, and there are plenty of pieces of fabric that will be perfect for a small project like a doll. What colors were you thinking of for the dress and apron?”

  That was really the only choice to be made, since otherwise Amish dolls were alike, down to the replica of Amish clothing and the lack of faces.

  “I hadn’t really decided. Let’s have a look.” Naomi appreciated Katie’s enthusiasm, which extended from the most expensive quilt in the shop to the smallest project. She glanced at Katie’s face as she bent over the box, sorting the fabric into piles on the counter. Katie’s enthusiasm was one of the first things Naomi had noticed about her when she’d come to Pleasant Valley, and if anything, it had intensified since her marriage to Caleb.

  “This is a pretty pink.” Katie smoothed out a piece of fabric. “Or this blue shade.”

  Naomi nodded, fingering the material and envisioning it made up into the doll. “The blue, I think. Then I’ll need the fabric for the doll’s body, and a piece of black for a coat and bonnet.”

  “Very gut.” Katie folded the pieces Naomi had chosen. “I’ll just have to cut a piece from the bolt for the black. About half a yard?”

  Naomi nodded. “That sounds like plenty.”

  The bell on the door jingled. Naomi’s throat caught
as Jessie Miller entered. She let out her breath slowly. This is Ada’s little sister that you have known since she was born, she lectured herself.

  Unfortunately, the memory of that last encounter with Jessie hadn’t faded yet. But surely Jessie was sensible enough not to say anything foolish in a public place where others could hear.

  “Jessie. Wie bist du heit?” Katie greeted her with a smile.

  “And how is your new little niece?” Naomi asked quickly, hoping that Jessie would be deflected from dwelling on Nathan’s refusal to let her watch the children.

  “Mamm says they named her after Ada.” A trace of discontent crossed Jessie’s face and as quickly vanished. “Everyone is well, Mamm says, and John’s mother is helping out, too.”

  Naturally both new grandmothers would want to have their time with the baby, but Naomi hoped Elizabeth was not feeling overwhelmed with help.

  “Are you getting along all right with your mamm away?” Katie asked. “If you need anything—”

  Jessie cut her off with a quick shake of her head. “I don’t know why everyone keeps asking that same question.” Her tone was pettish. “I can manage perfectly well on my own.”

  Naomi was embarrassed for Jessie, speaking so in front of Katie, who didn’t know her as well as most people. “I’m sure the offers are kindly meant,” she said.

  The frown that marred Jessie’s oval face, otherwise so like Ada’s, seemed to say she didn’t appreciate Naomi’s comment. “It’s not needed. Mamm wouldn’t believe it, but I like having a bit of freedom now and then.”

  On the contrary, that was probably what worried Emma the most.

  Katie had been putting the material into a bag while they talked, and she placed the bag on the counter in front of Naomi. “That will just be two dollars for the fabric I had to cut,” she said. “There’s no charge for the remnants. I hope little Sadie enjoys her doll.”

  “Doll?” Jessie pounced on the word, her eyes sharp on the package.

  “A Christmas gift for Sadie.” Naomi picked up the bag, hoping to make a quick retreat.

  “You’ll be gone from Nathan’s long before Christmas.” A triumphant note rang in Jessie’s voice, and it was loud enough to turn heads in the store. “Mamm says she’s so worried about them that she’s coming home early. So you don’t need to bother with making any gifts for them.”

  Coming home early? Naomi’s heart twisted a bit at that comment, but perhaps Jessie was just making it up.

  “I always give Joshua and Sadie a little remembrance for Christmas.” Naomi pitched her voice low, hoping Jessie might follow suit. “I know I won’t still be there at Christmas.”

  “But that’s what you were hoping, ja?” Jessie’s voice was still too loud for comfort. “You thought with Mamm away you could take Ada’s place. That Nathan and the kinder would love you, but they won’t.” She emphasized the final word with a gesture that sent the package flying from Naomi’s hand.

  For an instant the entire shop and everyone in it seemed to freeze. Then Katie moved to take Jessie’s arm, while Naomi bent to pick up the bag, trying to pretend it had fallen accidentally.

  “I want to show you something, Jessie.” Katie tugged gently, turning her away from Naomi. “I got some new fabric in that’s such a pretty shade of pink. It would be perfect for a dress for you. Komm and see.”

  For the space of a heartbeat Jessie didn’t respond. Then she turned toward the fabric section. “Ja, I’d like to see it,” she said, as normally as if she hadn’t been in a fury a moment before.

  Katie caught Naomi’s eye as she led Jessie toward the back. Leave quickly. Her gaze telegraphed the words as surely as if she’d spoken them.

  Naomi stood, clutching the bag with fingers that weren’t steady. Humiliation made her cheeks as hot as fire. She put two dollars on the counter and slipped toward the door.

  Katie was right. With her out of sight, perhaps Jessie would behave herself. They could pretend the ugly scene hadn’t happened.

  But her rational mind insisted that too many people had overheard for this to go away. The story would be all over the Amish community before nightfall.

  “Don’t you want to guess the secret, Daadi?” Sadie wiggled her way under the covers after her bedtime prayers that night, her brown eyes alight with mischief, her long braids hanging down the back of her white nightgown.

  Nathan tucked the quilt around her closely. Ada had made the quilt for her daughter, and when he settled Sadie under it, he fancied Ada was putting her arms around Sadie.

  “If I guess right,” he said, “that would spoil the secret, ain’t so?”

  Sadie pursed her lips. “Well, I s’pose. But I wouldn’t have to tell you that you guessed right.”

  Joshua groaned from the other twin bed. “You are such a blabbermaul, Sadie. You will never keep the secret until Christmas. You’ll spoil it by telling.”

  “She’s not going to tell.” Nathan tried to sound sure of that fact, even though he, like Joshua, didn’t think Sadie was capable of keeping a secret.

  “It’s fun to make things for people,” Sadie announced. “And to give presents.”

  “And to get presents, ja, little bug?”

  Nathan tickled her, reducing her to giggles. He could almost hear Ada’s voice in his mind, telling him not to rile the children up when they were supposed to be getting ready to sleep. He stroked Sadie’s hair instead. “Ja, it is wonderful gut to make a gift for someone. And to keep it a secret.”

  When Ada was alive, the house had been filled with secrets and laughter this time of the year. Sadie probably remembered very little of those days.

  “Close your eyes now.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be a new day.”

  Sadie squeezed her eyes shut, making him smile and shake his head as he crossed the hooked rug to sit on Joshua’s bed.

  “You are having a gut time making things with Naomi, too, ja?”

  Joshua nodded, but his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.

  That strange expression he’d caught on his son’s face earlier when Jessie was mentioned—what had caused him to look that way? He longed to ask the boy, but he hesitated. Joshua was a deep thinker, and it wasn’t easy to know what troubled him.

  Nathan smoothed the quilt over his son’s small body. “You had a fine day today, too?”

  Joshua nodded, frowning a little. “I like having Naomi here.” He paused for so long that Nathan thought he wouldn’t say anything else. Then he looked up at Nathan, his hazel eyes very serious. “But I like for Grossmammi to be here, too. I wouldn’t want her to think…” He let the sentence fade away, but his face was anxious.

  Nathan breathed a prayer for the right words. “Grossmammi knows you love her very much. She would say that it is fine for you to love Naomi, too.”

  Joshua held his gaze for a long moment. Then he let out a little sigh and closed his eyes, relaxing against the pillow. “Denke, Daadi.”

  “Sleep well,” Nathan said softly, bending to kiss Joshua’s forehead. Every day he prayed that he was raising their children the way Ada would want. He felt sure he’d said what Ada would have, this time, at least.

  Nathan went quietly out of the room, leaving the door ajar so that he could hear the children if they called. Or, more likely, if they started chattering instead of going to sleep.

  But all was quiet by the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, and he headed into the kitchen. He’d no sooner lifted the coffeepot from the stove than he heard a soft knock at the back door, followed by footsteps. Isaiah poked his head into the kitchen and grinned.

  “Sorry I walked in. I thought maybe you were in the middle of putting the kinder to bed.”

  “Just finished.” He held up the pot. “Coffee? And there’s some of your sister’s apple pie left.”

  “I would never say no to a piece of Naomi’s apple pie.” He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it on the back of the chair.

  Nathan poured t
wo mugs of coffee and set the pie and a couple of forks on the table. No sense making more dishes to wash.

  Isaiah didn’t seem to mind the sloppy serving method. He cut a wedge of pie, lifting it to his lips for a bite and catching with practiced ease the apple slice that slipped out. “Gut,” he said thickly. “Don’t tell my Libby I said this, but no one makes apple pie like my sister.”

  Nathan grinned, cutting his own generous piece. “What will you give me for keeping your secret?”

  “How about your mail?” Isaiah stopped eating long enough to search under the jacket, coming up with a folded newspaper and an envelope. He tossed them to Nathan. “No, I guess you’d best have it. I saw you hadn’t picked up your mail when I was getting ours, so I brought it along.”

  The two mailboxes were side by side out along the road. Nathan got so little mail he often didn’t check the box for several days in a row.

  “The Budget.” He unfolded the newspaper that kept Amish in various settlements in touch with each other. “I’ll read that tonight. And a letter from Emma.” He looked at the envelope, wondering why Emma would find it necessary to write to him. But maybe it was messages for the kinder.

  Since Isaiah was absorbed in eating, Nathan didn’t hesitate to rip the envelope open and scan the page.

  “What does Emma have to say?” Isaiah asked around a bite of pie. “Everything all right?”

  “Ja. The boppli is a little sweetheart, eating and sleeping just as she should. Elizabeth sends her love to the kinder.” He read a little farther, frowning. “Emma says she is coming back on Monday, so she’ll be here Tuesday.”

  “Ja? That’s sooner than she thought to return. Trouble with the other grandmother?” Like most of the valley, Isaiah was well-informed on what everyone did, and he’d know that Elizabeth and John lived on his parents’ farm out in Ohio.

  “No, nothing of the kind.” Nathan’s frown deepened. “She is worried about Jessie, she says.” He looked up at Isaiah. “You will not repeat that to anyone, ain’t so?”

  “For sure I won’t.” Isaiah’s fresh, boyish face creased with concern. “Jessie can be a handful, I guess.”