Naomi’s Christmas

by Marta Perry

  “Ja.” He hoped that was all it was. He should have been keeping better track of the girl, he supposed, but he was stuck here on the farm, and there were plenty of folks in town who’d gladly look in on her.

  Tuesday. He put the letter on the table. That meant Monday would be Naomi’s last day here.

  All he could think was that the time had gone by too fast. Like Joshua, he was torn. Naomi would move on. That was her wish, after all, and he’d be selfish to want anything else. Still, he had to admit he was going to miss her, maybe too much.

  Scraps of fabric, paste, paper, and scissors covered the kitchen table the next afternoon as Naomi worked with the children on the Christmas gifts they were making. After hearing from Nathan this morning how soon Emma was returning, she’d thought they’d better move a bit faster on their projects.

  Joshua and Sadie didn’t know. Nathan had said he thought it best to wait and tell them Monday afternoon, trying not to make something big out of the news. Naturally she’d respect his wishes.

  Unfortunately, it was already something big for her. She looked at Joshua, his face intent as he bent over the pincushion he was making for his grossmammi. He was so like Nathan that her heart twisted a little.

  And Sadie. Naomi had to smile. Sadie was making a calendar for her daadi, with a different picture for each month. Right now a triangle of red paper stuck to her cheek, and her tongue peeked slightly between her lips as she concentrated.

  Even as Naomi watched, Sadie put her crayon down fretfully. “My bird doesn’t look right, Naomi.” There was a faint edge of a whine in the words, which suggested Sadie was getting tired.

  “Why don’t you take a break for some milk and cookies? Let the bird rest for a bit, too.”

  Sadie’s normal sunny expression returned. She patted the drawing. “You rest, little bird,” she crooned, and headed for the cookie jar, which Naomi had refilled with snickerdoodles that morning.

  Naomi rose to get the milk. “Joshua, do you want to stop for a snack?”

  “Denke, Naomi. I want to finish this first,” he said. She could have predicted that response. Joshua was persistent, again like his daadi.

  She got the milk bottle from the refrigerator and poured a glass, listening to Sadie’s chatter with half her attention. Nathan hadn’t said anything about why Emma was returning so soon. The memory of Jessie’s words at the quilt store slithered back into her thoughts. Was it possible that Emma was coming back because she was worried about the kinder?

  Nonsense, Naomi assured herself. It was far more likely that Emma was worried about Jessie. She knew the children were well cared for, didn’t she?

  One thing about that nasty tongue of Jessie’s—the things she said couldn’t be entirely dismissed. Or at least, not by her. Maybe other people just shrugged them off and quickly forgot.

  The sound of hooves in the lane brought her back from a futile line of thought. She leaned over the counter to peer out the window.

  “Your daadi and grossdaadi are back from the farrier’s,” she said. “Better hurry and hide any presents that are for them, ja?”

  Her cookies and milk forgotten, Sadie squealed and began pushing the calendar pieces together, jumbling them. Naomi helped her while Joshua worked steadily on. Unlike Sadie, who’d pulled out everything she was making, Joshua had only brought the pincushion from its hiding place.

  “Hurry, Naomi, hurry.” Sadie jammed the pieces into the shoe box Naomi had given her for storing the project.

  “There, that’s it.” Naomi clapped the lid on the box and shoved it into Sadie’s arms. “Run and hide it.”

  Sadie spun and rushed out, and Naomi heard her footsteps thundering on the stairs just as the back door opened and Nathan came through into the kitchen. Her smile faded when she saw his expression. Why was he looking so solemn?

  Avoiding her gaze, Nathan glanced at his son. “Go upstairs with Sadie for a few minutes, Joshua. I will call you when to come back down.” As if realizing that would sound like punishment to the child, he tempered the words with a smile. “I just have to talk to Naomi in private for a bit.”

  Joshua nodded, and it was impossible to tell whether he accepted his father’s reasoning or not. He slid from his chair and left the room.

  Naomi’s thoughts spun as crazily as a snowflake caught in the wind. What was wrong? Why did Nathan look so serious, as if he had caught her in wrongdoing?

  When Joshua’s steps receded up the steps, Nathan turned to her. Naomi’s heart faltered at his expression. “Was ist letz, Nathan? What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong is that everyone at the farrier’s was talking about you and Jessie quarreling at the quilt shop yesterday.” He took a step toward her. “What’s wrong is that I didn’t hear it from you.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Nathan could read the shock in Naomi’s face at his words. Maybe he shouldn’t have spoken so harshly, but the idea that everyone in Pleasant Valley was talking about his family just couldn’t be borne.

  Naomi put one hand on the back of a chair, seeming to gather control for a moment. “That is not what happened, Nathan.”

  He took an impulsive step closer. “That is what everyone at the farrier’s was saying.”

  Her lips pressed together, as if she were censoring what she wanted to say. “I don’t suppose the folks at the farrier’s were in Katie’s shop yesterday afternoon.”

  He dismissed that response with a gesture. “Maybe not, but they heard it from folks who were there. Half the township is talking about my family.”

  “I am sorry that you were embarrassed.” Naomi’s calm seemed imperturbable.

  While he might value that quality under normal circumstances, right now it just served to irritate him further. “It is not a question of embarrassment.” He knew that was false the moment he said it, but he wouldn’t go back. “I should have heard it from you, not from someone else. You know that is true, Naomi.”

  Those words seemed to finally disturb her calm. “Ja, maybe I should have spoken,” she admitted. “But the last time I brought up something about Jessie, you didn’t want to hear it.”

  Why did women always remind you of the thing you least wanted to think of whenever you argued with one of them?

  “Maybe so, but this is different.” He took a breath, trying to reclaim the balance he’d lost when he’d walked into the barn at the farrier’s and heard several brothers talking about Jessie and Naomi. He put his hands on the back of a chair, mimicking Naomi’s posture across the table. “Let’s start over again. What happened with you and Jessie yesterday at the quilt shop?”

  Naomi nodded, as if approving his effort to calm down and discuss the incident. “I had gone in to get some fabric for a doll I am making.” She hesitated. “It’s for Sadie. For Christmas. That’s what Jessie objected to.”

  Knowing Jessie, he found it hard to predict what might upset her, but this seemed innocent enough. “She was in the shop as well, then.”

  “She came in while Katie was putting my fabric in a bag. Katie didn’t realize, of course. She mentioned that I was making a doll for Sadie.” She stopped, as if that was all that needed to be said.

  Nathan blew out a breath, praying for patience. “Why would Jessie care? Was she also making a doll?” That might explain it, if Jessie imagined some competition for Sadie’s affection.

  Naomi looked startled. “No. I don’t think so, anyway. She said that I didn’t need to make a gift, because I wouldn’t be here at Christmas. And that her mother was coming back early because she is worried about my caring for the children.”

  “There was more than that said, I think. Unless someone was making up the story completely.” He kept his voice quiet, not wanting Naomi to feel she couldn’t be open with him. He’d made that mistake already.

  She shook her head, a slight frown furrowing her forehead. “It was nonsense,” she said. “I’m sure even Jessie doesn’t believe it. She was just wanting to hurt me…” She let that trail off,
clearly not wanting to say more, maybe regretting she’d said as much as she had.

  But he had an obligation to Ada’s family to deal with this situation, no matter how much he’d rather run the other way. “What did she say?”

  Naomi seemed to focus her gaze on the scraps of fabric on the table. “She said that I wanted to take Ada’s place with you and the kinder.”

  “Nonsense.” He said the word sharply. “As you said, that was just nonsense. Jessie is like a child, blurting out things she doesn’t mean. She is probably sorry and embarrassed by this time.”

  Naomi looked as if she didn’t quite accept that last part, but she nodded. “There were a couple of other women in the shop, and I’m afraid they overheard. But Katie distracted Jessie very quickly, and it was all over in a moment.”

  He smiled a bit wryly. “Even a moment was enough to get the gossips going. It will be wonderful gut when Emma gets back to look after her.”

  “Ja.” Naomi’s gaze clouded. “Jessie said something to Katie about liking her independence. That worried me a little. Jessie is…well, impetuous.”

  Impetuous was one word for it, he supposed. Naomi was being cautious in what she said, not wanting to upset him, most likely. “Emma is the only one who can handle her sometimes.”

  Naomi lifted her gaze then, meeting his eyes. “I am sorry, Nathan. I would have avoided Jessie if I could have. I’m sure she’ll forget all about me as soon as her mamm comes back.”

  “Ja, I think you’re right. When you leave next week—”

  “Next week?” Sadie was suddenly there, rushing across the kitchen to throw her arms around her. “No, you are not going already. I don’t want you to go, Naomi. How will I finish Daadi’s present without you?”

  Joshua followed his sister into the kitchen, looking at Nathan apprehensively. “I’m sorry, Daadi. I couldn’t get her to wait.”

  “It’s all right, son.” Sooner or later he’d have to tell them Naomi would be leaving. He’d just have preferred later. “Sadie, stop the fussing. Your grossmammi is coming back on Tuesday. You’ll be glad to see her, ain’t so?”

  “I want Naomi.” His daughter shot him a mutinous look. “I don’t want her to go away.”

  “Ach, I’m not going away, silly girl,” Naomi said gently, smoothing Sadie’s hair back with her palm. “I will be working at the bakery, but I will still come out to watch over the bees, ja?”

  “You said you’d teach us more about the bees,” Joshua said. “You won’t forget, will you?”

  “I would never forget something so important,” Naomi said, her hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “I am looking forward to showing you all about the bees. Now, I think we should make something special to welcome your grossmammi back. What should it be?”

  Her tears forgotten, Sadie began talking eagerly, and Joshua joined in, both of them focused on Naomi as she smiled at them.

  Nathan’s heart seemed to cramp. He’d gotten used to having Naomi here so quickly. He wasn’t sure he’d get used to her absence anywhere near as fast.

  It wasn’t until Saturday that Naomi found the time for her promised visit to Betty, her new stepmother. Sunny, her carriage horse, whickered when Naomi turned into the familiar lane, her ears pricking forward. The mare, at least, seemed to be anticipating this visit.

  She probably should have come sooner, Naomi knew. She walked toward the back porch, pulling her jacket more tightly against the chill wind that was blowing. She wouldn’t want Betty to think she didn’t appreciate her efforts to make peace.

  But to tell the truth, Naomi’s nerves were stretched taut. Despite Daad’s assertion that he’d just wanted her to get acquainted with Betty, she couldn’t help expecting him to take the opportunity to try again to sway her to his plans for her future.

  The back door opened, and Betty stood there, smiling in welcome. “Naomi, komm. You must be cold.”

  Naomi stepped inside, the warmth enveloping her, and surrendered her jacket to Betty. She tried to keep a smile on her face as Betty hung it from one of the hooks in the back hall as if Naomi were a guest. Which maybe she was, and she ought to accept that fact.

  “There is coffee and pumpkin bread,” Betty said, leading the way into the kitchen. “Would you like it now to warm up, or after we have finished our sorting?”

  “That’s wonderful kind of you, Betty. Let’s work first, ja?” She suspected it would be easier to find something to say to Betty if they were both busy.

  “That’s fine,” Betty said. “I have some linens laid out on the bed that I thought you could help me decide what to do with. It’s not easy to combine two households. We have too much of one thing and not enough of another, it seems.” She chuckled, as if she’d made a joke.

  Naomi smiled dutifully as she followed Betty up the flight of stairs. Maybe this adjustment would be easier if Daadi had married someone the family already knew well. Betty had come from a church district that was a county away, and the family had met her only once in a while at a wedding or a funeral.

  Or maybe it would have worked out all the same in any event.

  “Komm, sit.” Betty patted a space on the bed next to a stack of sheets and coverlets. “We can be comfortable while we sort.” She paused for a moment. “Your daad has gone to the mill to see about some feed, so I doubt he’ll be back much before supper.”

  In other words, not until Naomi had left. She felt a rush of gratitude, sure that this was Betty’s way of reassuring her.

  “I think we can have everything sorted by then,” Naomi said. “What were you thinking about these things?” She gestured toward the items laid out on the bed.

  “They are the extras beyond what I need.” Betty touched the pile of coverlets. “Probably your mamm made these, so you children should have them. You can pick out what you want and what you think should go to each of your brothers and sisters. You’ll know what they’ll like better than I would. Or your daad, for that matter. Men don’t take much interest in such things.”

  “That’s wonderful kind of you.” And more thoughtful than Naomi might have expected. She had probably been misjudging Betty, and that wasn’t fair. “Are you sure you have enough without these?”

  “Ach, ja, a chest full of things. I was married for thirty years to my first husband, and things certain-sure accumulate in that time.”

  Naomi picked up a quilt that Mammi had made when she was expecting Sara. Sara should have this one. “You must have been very lonely after your husband died,” Naomi said, starting a stack for her younger sister.

  “Ja, I was.” Betty sighed a little. “I didn’t expect to be quite so lonely, with so many relatives and friends living nearby. But we had no children, you see, so in the evening, once things were quiet, it was just awful lonesome.”

  “I understand.” Naomi did, to her surprise. Even staying with Paula now, she felt that loneliness sometimes, especially on the rare quiet evening. It came of having no one of her own, she thought.

  “Well, now you have Daad for company. Just don’t let him get so engrossed in the newspaper that he forgets you’re there.” She smiled, and Betty smiled back with a twinkle in her eye.

  “You are right about that, Naomi.” She reached out to pat Naomi’s arm. “And you’ll forgive me, won’t you, if I make any mistakes with you or your brothers or sisters? I’m just not used to having such a big family.”

  “Don’t worry about us.” Acting on impulse, Naomi clasped Betty’s hand. “Just make Daadi happy, and everything else will work out all right.”

  “Denke, Naomi.” Betty squeezed her hand briefly. “I’ll remember that advice.”

  The talk between them was easy during the rest of the sorting, and Naomi had the impression that Betty had said what she’d wanted to for this visit. Well, that was fine. They were both a little on edge, most likely, trying to make the best of the situation.

  At the end of an hour, all of the linens had been sorted, boxed, and marked for pickup, and Naomi had taken hers out to t
he buggy. All in all, it had turned into a fairly pleasant afternoon. She didn’t suppose she and Betty would ever become close friends, but at least they could get along together. Surely harmony in the family was the most important thing to both of them.

  Naomi carried some extra boxes she’d brought back into the house with her. “Shall we go ahead and sort out some canned goods now?”

  She didn’t really care that much about the vegetables and fruit she’d canned, but the honey was also stored in the basement, and she did intend to take that with her. Paula was eager to set up a display at the bakery and start selling jars of honey.

  Betty led the way down the narrow cellar stairs and stopped at the bottom, lighting the overhead lamp. “Please, take whatever you can use.”

  Betty gestured toward the long shelves that lined one wall. Naomi had filled the jars over the summer and fall, as she always did, moving any older canned goods to the front to be used first.

  “I don’t really need much,” she said, putting a few jars of applesauce in one of the boxes before moving on to the jams. “I’m just one person.”

  “But…” Betty shrugged. “Well, things might change,” she said vaguely. “You can always pick up more jars later, if need be.”

  Taking a few jars of string beans, Naomi walked to the shelves that contained her store of honey. She stood for a moment, looking with satisfaction at the rows of jars, the honey glowing amber. This was really the work of her hands, far more so than all the rows of canned vegetables. Reaching, she began to stack the jars of honey in the box.

  Betty watched her in silence for a few minutes. Then she moved restlessly. “I thought you said you only needed a few.”

  Kneeling by the box, Naomi looked at her, a little confused. “That was of the fruits and vegetables. Don’t worry. I’ll leave plenty of the honey to get you and Daad through the winter.”

  “You are taking all the rest? You can surely store it here if you want. What will you do with so many jars?”

  Naomi realized she was gaping and gathered her wits. She’d assumed Betty knew about her plan to market the honey. Certainly the word had gotten around the rest of the family, but perhaps Betty hadn’t heard.