When they arrived back in Birch Creek, it was almost suppertime. Peter paid Carl, once again their taxi driver, and when they started for the house, Mattie stopped him. “Peter?”
“Ya?” he said, taking her hand. They hadn’t kissed again. They were staying in the same house, and they decided to keep their behavior completely aboveboard. They hadn’t given up on their lunches together, but even then they’d kept their distance. Now it felt good to have Peter’s hand in hers.
“I have something to give you,” she said, her heart feeling heavy. He would be leaving for Fredericktown tomorrow, and she wasn’t sure what the future held for them. She wouldn’t be back home until her uncle and Carolyn no longer needed her. Had this just been a magical time? Would Peter have forgotten her by the time she went home—or would he have changed his mind?
Those questions plagued her, but right now she wanted to focus on the present—and the present in her coat pocket. She pulled it out. It was wrapped in plain brown paper tied with twine. “Merry Christmas,” she said, handing him the gift.
“Wow,” he said, his brow going up. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
That left her a little disappointed. What kind of relationship did they have if he didn’t think she was going to give him a Christmas gift? “Open it,” she said, trying to be optimistic.
He tugged at the string, and it came undone. He opened the paper and revealed a pair of crocheted, dark-blue wool mittens.
Peter put the paper and twine under his arm and slipped on the gloves. “They fit perfectly,” he said, bending his fingers. “I haven’t had mittens since I was a kinn. They’re really warm too.”
“You can’t use them for work, obviously,” she said, pleased that he liked them. “But I figured you could wear them other times. The weave is really tight.”
“I can see that.” He looked again at the mittens, and then he looked at her. “Danki,” he said. Then he grinned. “Great minds think alike, by the way.”
“What?”
He slipped off one mitten and put his hand in his pocket. He pulled out a wooden crochet hook. “I was going to give this to you later, which is why it’s not wrapped. I checked the size of the one you use for yer scarves, and then I asked Martha Yoder to make this for you. I hope we got it right.”
She held the hook in her hands and examined it in the fading daylight. “It’s perfect,” she said, looking at him. “Danki.”
“I have something else I want to give you.” He took her other hand in his. “A promise.” He pressed her hand against his heart. “I promise that even though we’re apart for a little while, we’ll still be together. I’ll write to you, and I’ll come visit you when I can. I don’t want you to wonder about us while you’re still here helping Carolyn and Atlee.”
Mattie breathed out a sigh. Us. How did he know that was exactly what she was worried about?
“When you return to Fredericktown, I’m going to spend so much time with you you’re going to get sick of me.” He chuckled. “Or you’ll want to marry me.” He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “Not that I’m trying to rush things.”
She couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t want to rush, either, but his words warmed her heart. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.
“Merry Christmas.” He drew her into his arms, and she wished she could stay there forever.
EPILOGUE
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
THE TAXI PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO YODER’S Bakery, and when it came to a stop, Mattie stepped out into the summer heat. When she left Birch Creek at the end of January, five inches of snow had been on the ground. Now the sun’s midday rays warmed the back of her neck, and she removed the light sweater she’d worn on the air-conditioned bus ride from Fredericktown.
Mattie smiled. She was glad to be back here. She’d missed not only her uncle and aunt, but everyone in Birch Creek. Staying an extra month after Christmas had given her the opportunity to make real friends. She already had plans to get together with Abigail and Joanna tomorrow.
But today was about her aunt and uncle . . . and their new baby boy.
A car door shut behind her, and she turned to see Peter approaching the trunk. Her smile widened. He’d been eager to meet Atlee Jr. and to see her uncle and Carolyn again. Although his time here had been shorter, he’d missed Birch Creek too.
Peter paid the driver, and then he lifted both their bags. “Ready?” he said, grinning.
She nodded. “Ready.”
When Mattie knocked on the front door, it immediately opened. “Right on time,” Onkel Atlee said, his smile wide. Mattie was glad to see him looking relaxed. When she left, the doctor had assured Carolyn that she and the baby were fine and healthy, but Mattie knew her uncle wouldn’t fully set his worry aside until after the baby was born.
Once they were inside, the men shook hands as Mattie spied Carolyn sitting in a rocking chair, Junior in her arms. She waved Mattie over.
“He’s just fallen asleep,” Carolyn said as she cuddled her son.
Mattie sat down on the couch as Carolyn stroked Junior’s soft black hair. He had a lot of it for such a tiny baby. “He’s schee,” Mattie whispered.
Carolyn nodded, accepting the compliment with humility. “It’s gut to see you again. Let me set him in his cradle, and I’ll be right back.”
A little later the four of them were settled in the living room, glasses of iced tea and a tray with thick slices of apple-carrot bread in front of them. Both parents looked tired, as new parents tended to be, but they also looked happy. Mattie glanced at Peter, but he was busy putting a slice of the bread on a small plate.
“We’re sorry we couldn’t attend yer wedding,” Onkel Atlee said. Mattie and Peter had been married in late March when Carolyn couldn’t travel and her husband wouldn’t leave her side. The whole community—including their parents—had been supportive. But not Lizzy. She hadn’t come to the wedding, even though Mattie had invited everyone. Her rejection had hurt a bit, but Mattie wasn’t going to let Lizzy spoil their happiness. She could only pray for her former friend.
“We understood.” Mattie picked up her glass of tea.
“You missed a great wedding, though,” Peter said between bites. “If I do say so myself.”
Mattie elbowed him, but she couldn’t keep from smiling. Peter grinned at her, and then he nodded. She drew in a big breath. “We have some news,” she said, looking at Carolyn and then her uncle.
“You’re having a boppli!” Carolyn said, clasping her hands together.
Onkel Atlee gave her a stern look. “Don’t spoil it for them.”
“Actually,” Peter said, “we’re moving to Birch Creek.”
“You are?” Carolyn’s smile widened.
Mattie nodded. “Peter got a job working for a construction company in Barton.” She glanced at him. “He started looking as soon as we realized this is where we want to live.”
“I had nee idea.”
“We both like it here.” Peter set down his empty plate. “And we figured this would be a great place to start our future.”
“That’s wonderful!” Carolyn exclaimed. “A lovely little haus is for sale down the street. Just came on the market yesterday.”
“We’ll take a look at it,” he said.
They all heard Junior whimper. Instead of getting up from her rocking chair, Carolyn said, “Mattie, why don’t you check on him?”
Mattie blinked. “Are you sure?”
Carolyn’s expression grew soft. “I’m sure.”
Mattie went to the master bedroom, where a simple but lovely cradle sat in the corner next to the bed. She leaned down and looked at Junior, who had already fallen back asleep. She couldn’t resist lightly touching his hair. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Peter smiling at her.
“Should we tell them?” she whispered.
He put his hand over her abdomen. “We’ll tell them later. Then Carolyn will really be surprised.” He
kissed her forehead.
Mattie’s heart squeezed with happiness as she looked down at the baby. She was deeply in love with her husband, and soon they would have a new home.
And come Christmas, we’ll have a boppli too.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.Why did Mattie have so much animosity toward Peter?
2.Why did Mattie believe Lizzy was her best friend, even though Lizzy was cruel to her at times?
3.Peter let everyone believe a lie about his relationship with Lizzy. Was he right to do this, or should he have told the truth at the start?
4.What qualities did Mattie and Peter have that attracted them to each other?
5.Do you think there’s hope for Lizzy? Why or why not?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A BIG THANK YOU TO MY EDITORS, BECKY MONDS AND Jean Bloom, for their invaluable input and editing expertise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KATHLEEN FULLER
With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.
Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com
Facebook: WriterKathleenFuller
Twitter: @TheKatJam
Instagram: kf_booksandhooks
Melting Hearts Page 8
