Amish Christmas Twins

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Starting the day by being around Elizabeth had thrown off his usual precision and attention to detail. Images of her had floated into his mind all morning. Just then he glanced up to see her walking by his shop window.

  After she passed, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  “You okay?” one of his Englisch employees asked as he carried a wooden rocker to a truck outside the door.

  “I’m fine,” Luke tried to assure himself as well as Alan. But the words didn’t ring true.

  Luke had never been all right. Not since the day his best friend, Owen, asked Elizabeth to ride home in his buggy.

  Over the past four years, Luke’s pain had only increased, especially after Owen had married Elizabeth. Luke’s heartache had worsened this past year.

  “You want to go for lunch?” Alan asked. “Martin and I can mind the store.”

  Elizabeth might have gone to the small café in the next block. Luke didn’t want her to think he was stalking her. But if he left now, he’d probably run into her.

  “Danke. I’ll take first lunch break, if you don’t mind.” Luke usually waited until last, but the chance to see Elizabeth proved too much of a temptation. He hurried back for his coat.

  Alan’s curious look made Luke uncomfortable. He could only imagine how Alan would react if he suspected his boss intended to be a stalker. Or as Alan would call him—a creeper.

  Luke pushed the thought from his mind and hurried out the door. If Elizabeth ordered takeout, he didn’t have much time. He headed for the café but stopped suddenly when she emerged from the bakery across the street with a small box.

  “Hey, Luke,” she called, checking both ways for traffic.

  She was coming to him. Struggling to breathe, he waited.

  “I just wanted to tell you, we already sold one of your nativities.”

  “Danke for letting me know.”

  “You’re welcome. They’re so beautiful I convinced Yolanda to give them the best display spot in the store.” She blew on her mittened fingers.

  Luke wished he could hold her hands between his to warm them. He pushed aside his fantasies. “You need to get out of the cold.” Although it would disappoint him to see her leave.

  Elizabeth nodded. “I’m headed into the café to order lunch.”

  Luke realized he’d been blocking the door. “Sorry.” He pulled open the door for her. “I’d been planning to come in here myself.” If I found you in here.

  “I’m getting takeout for Yolanda and me.” Elizabeth got in line, and Luke followed her.

  He’d get something to go too. That way he could talk to her as they waited.

  “I thought maybe that was your lunch.” Luke nodded at the bakery box in her hand.

  Elizabeth laughed, a sweet bell-like sound that vibrated through him.

  “Neh. Yolanda insisted on treating me to lunch, so I picked up a half dozen of the chocolate peppermint cookies she loves to snack on.” Elizabeth’s face darkened. “I wish everyone would stop trying to take care of me.”

  But you’ve been through a lot, Luke wanted to protest.

  “Between Yolanda and my family and friends at church and Owen’s family . . .” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off. “Invitations and meals and worried looks. And yesterday while I was at work, someone shoveled my snow and dropped off enough firewood to last for weeks.”

  Luke hoped his guilty expression didn’t give him away. But Elizabeth had turned toward the counter to give her order. He’d only wanted to help, not upset, her.

  * * *

  Elizabeth hoped Luke didn’t think she was a complainer. He’d given her a strange look.

  She waited until he’d ordered and paid before saying, “I didn’t mean to sound like I don’t appreciate everything. I do. It just makes me feel so helpless and overwhelmed.” And so guilty and undeserving. Even more troubling, what would everyone think if they could see into her heart and soul?

  At Luke’s stare, she lowered her gaze. She didn’t want him to read the truth in her eyes.

  His quiet, “I’m sorry,” touched her. She hadn’t meant to accuse or blame. Least of all him. Luke had been nothing but kind. All along, he’d been a good friend to Owen and to her. Something about being in his presence always brought her peace.

  And right now, she desperately needed that calmness.

  “I have to get back. Yolanda’s waiting for her lunch. When you have time, stop by to see how your nativity looks in the front window.”

  “It’s in the store window?” Luke not only looked stunned, but he almost shrank back as if—Elizabeth couldn’t quite identify the expression on his face. Uncomfortable? Ill at ease? Ashamed? That couldn’t be right. Yet he appeared to be humiliated.

  “I, um, wasn’t expecting that.”

  Perhaps he didn’t realize how good his work was. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Yolanda had sold another set or two while I’ve been gone.”

  Instead of lessening his discomfort, Elizabeth’s comment only seemed to make him more self-conscious.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed,” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Of course you should have. Anyone would be glad to have such a beautiful reminder of Christ’s birth in their home. If I could affor—I mean, they’re well worth the price Yolanda’s asking.” Elizabeth wished she’d held her tongue. She hadn’t meant to criticize the cost. He deserved to get paid for all the work that had gone into the carvings.

  “I never meant for them to be on public display.”

  With the chattering crowds around them, Elizabeth could barely hear Luke’s words. Had he said them to her, or was he talking to himself? The desperation in his eyes made her wonder if he’d come and snatch the carvings out of the window. Perhaps he worried people might think him prideful. What could she say to reassure him?

  “The Lord gave you a talent, and you should be willing to share it. Think of the carvings as a gift to others.” Elizabeth wanted him to realize how much his God-given ability could touch others the way it had touched her.

  * * *

  Luke cringed at the thought of all the passersby viewing his private emotions, his vulnerability. Jah, the carvings had been a gift, but he’d meant them as a symbol of his love for God and his unrequited feelings for Elizabeth, not sentiments to be blasted out into the world.

  Not until she walked away did he recall her half-finished sentence. She wanted one of his nativity sets. That would give him something productive to fill his lonely evenings, although holiday orders already kept him working long hours. His only problem would be getting her to accept it.

  He had another idea for a small present he’d like to give her anonymously. He kept remembering how she held that small ornament of the baby. She wouldn’t have a tree, of course, but maybe she’d enjoy looking at it. He could sneak next door and put it on her doorstep on Christmas morning. She’d never guess it came from him. He hoped she’d assume Yolanda dropped it off.

  Luke had dawdled long enough. His employees needed breaks, so he hurried back to the shop. But having a chance to prepare two special surprises for Elizabeth gave his steps an added bounce.

  He waited until close to five to leave the shop. “I’m just running a quick errand,” he told Alan. “It won’t take long.”

  Because of Christmas, they were staying open until seven every evening. Yolanda’s store stayed open until nine, but Elizabeth left at five. He stood outside the Christmas shop, pretending to be fascinated by the window display, but in reality, he had eyes only for Elizabeth.

  When she opened the door and noticed him, she smiled. “Doesn’t it look great?”

  Jah, she did look great, but a little tired and sad. Wait, she said “it.” He stared at her blankly until she gestured toward his nativity set.

  Luke’s face flamed. Did she think he’d been standing here admiring his own work? Not wanting her to think him conceited, he stuttered, “Y-you did a wonderful job arranging everything.” Or he assumed she�
��d created a lovely scene because the whole window in front of him had blurred now that he’d caught sight of her.

  Again, her lovely, trilling laugh lifted his spirits.

  “No matter how I set them up, they’d look great. They really are . . .” She paused. “I don’t know how to describe them.” Waving a hand in the air, she said, “Even though they aren’t totally realistic, their faces make me experience everything they’re feeling.”

  Her words wrung Luke’s insides. He hadn’t wanted all that gut-wrenching emotion on public display. If she could read their messages, so could the rest of the world.

  “There’s my sister.” Elizabeth waved to a girl who’d pulled a buggy close to the curb on the opposite side of the street. “I’d better go.”

  Although he should go inside to buy the ornament, Luke turned to watch her cross. When she stepped off the curb, she slipped in the slushy street.

  A van skidded around the corner.

  “Elizabeth, watch out!” Luke yelled.

  Arms pinwheeling wildly, she struggled to slow her slide. The driver swerved to avoid her, hit a patch of ice, and fishtailed.

  Chapter 3

  Luke dashed toward her. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. He slogged through the drifts at the curb.

  Like a toboggan whizzing downhill, she whooshed toward the spinning van.

  God, help me.

  Luke dived for her.

  Grabbing her around the waist, he dragged her backward. But not fast enough. She extended one leg, kicking frantically to propel herself backward. The out-of-control van collided with her outstretched leg.

  The impact would have tossed her like a rag doll if he hadn’t dug in his heels and held on to her.

  The driver jerked on the steering wheel. The van spun again, narrowly missing Luke. Then it jumped the curb. Slammed into a streetlight. Shuddered to a stop.

  The screech of crumpling metal and the crackle of shattering glass sent shudders through him. Shrill screams split the air around them.

  He clung to Elizabeth. “Don’t move,” he warned her as he lowered her gently to the ground. He had no idea how badly she’d been hurt.

  Customers poured out of shops up and down the street. Most stood on the sidewalk, their faces startled, shocked, or scared. Others swarmed around Luke and Elizabeth or around the driver.

  A teen hopped off the curb, waving his cell phone. “I called nine-one-one. Is she okay?”

  “I’m not sure.” Luke knelt beside Elizabeth, keeping one arm around her shoulder to support her. “Are you all right?”

  * * *

  Chills shot through Elizabeth’s body, and her teeth chattered. She couldn’t stop trembling. The places where Luke’s arm touched her were the only warm parts of her body. She couldn’t feel her leg. Not yet. Icy slush encased it, making it numb.

  “You’re shivering.” Luke’s warm breath close to her ear sent more tremors through her. “Here.” He removed his coat and wrapped it around her.

  “Y-you’ll f-freeze,” she protested, but he kept his hands on her shoulders to support her and prevent her from shrugging off his coat.

  Her sister squatted beside her, the hem of her dress dragging in the dirty slush. Eyes wide with fear, Sarah stared at Elizabeth’s leg. “They’ll have to take you to the hospital.”

  “G-go h-home and t-tell M-mamm and D-daed.”

  “But who’ll go with you?”

  “I will.” Luke’s authoritative tone made Elizabeth feel warm and protected. He turned to Sarah. “Can you get your parents and head to the hospital?”

  She nodded. After looking both ways several times, she hurried across to their buggy.

  “Drive carefully,” Luke called after her.

  A siren whirred in the distance, growing louder and closer.

  “They’ll be here soon.” Luke’s voice, gentle and comforting, soothed Elizabeth’s nerves.

  Pain had kicked in, but she had something to say to Luke. She fought back waves of nausea as red-hot knives stabbed into her leg. “Y-you s-saved my l-life.”

  “Hush,” he whispered. “Save your strength.”

  As the ambulance pulled up, her world turned into a storm of noise, confusion, and burning agony.

  Sirens screamed. Strangers asked questions she couldn’t answer. EMTs poked and prodded her and splinted her leg. She pinched her lips together so she wouldn’t cry out. Then they loaded her into the ambulance.

  Luke stayed with her the whole time. She clung to his hand as they headed for the hospital.

  * * *

  Elizabeth’s grip tightened on Luke’s fingers. Her pain must have been overwhelming, because she sucked in a breath and squinched her face. He wished he could ease her hurt.

  All he could do was be there for her. At least until her family arrived.

  The ambulance glided through the streets without the siren. That reassured Luke she hadn’t been too badly injured.

  After they arrived at the emergency entrance of the hospital, they rolled Elizabeth inside. Luke stayed beside the stretcher until a nurse ordered him to remain in the waiting room.

  “We’re taking her back for X-rays now,” she said, staring pointedly at their entwined hands.

  Reluctantly, he let go, but Elizabeth’s gaze begged him not to leave. He had no intention of going anywhere. Not until he made sure she was all right. He’d wait all night if necessary.

  After she disappeared down the corridor, he sank into a chair. Adrenaline drained from him. All his bumps and bruises ached. The slushy dampness that had soaked through his clothes earlier chilled him to the bone.

  Elizabeth still had his coat wrapped around her, so he couldn’t huddle into its warmth. Like she had after the accident, he shivered uncontrollably. He rubbed his hand, still warm from enfolding Elizabeth’s, briskly up and down his arm to generate some heat, but he could do nothing about his icy wet pants and shirt back.

  He needed to keep his mind off his own discomfort. Elizabeth was undergoing much worse. Luke bowed his head and prayed for her and the hospital staff.

  Soon after he lifted his head, her parents and sister rushed through the door. He stood and headed over.

  Small furrows between her brows, Elizabeth’s mamm took his hands in hers. “Ach, Luke, how is she?”

  “The EMTs put a splint on her leg. She’s getting X-rays now.”

  “I pray it’s not too bad.”

  Her daed, David, set a heavy hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Sarah said you dragged Elizabeth to safety.” His voice husky, he added, “Danke.”

  “I wish I’d been faster.” Luke’s too-slow response still haunted him.

  “You tried, Luke,” Sarah pointed out. “You got her, but the van kept spinning and spinning.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “It was horrible.”

  Images flashed through Luke’s mind of wading through the snow, fearing he’d never reach her. The front of the van loomed, coming straight at them. Then it swerved, skidded, and fishtailed into Elizabeth’s leg. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the inside of his head still rang with the impact of metal against flesh.

  If he’d reacted sooner . . .

  If he’d been a little faster . . .

  If...

  He stared down at the floor. “I pray she’ll be all right.”

  “Don’t blame yourself, sohn.” David squeezed Luke’s shoulder. “Whatever happens is God’s will. We must trust He has a reason for this.”

  Although Luke agreed God always had a purpose, he didn’t want Elizabeth to suffer. She’d been through so much this past year. He prayed she’d have minimal injuries.

  While David checked with the desk, Sarah and her mamm sank into chairs. Luke headed over to sit with them, but it dawned on him he’d forgotten about his business. Alan and Martin had not had their dinner breaks. And his horse, stabled in a small lean-to at the back of the building, needed to be taken home and fed.

  “I have to make some phone calls,” Luke told them, fishing in his poc
ket for some change from lunch.

  Luckily, in deference to the Amish, the hospital still kept an area with pay phones. Luke got Alan on the line and explained what had happened.

  “We heard the commotion and the ambulance. Someone told us you’d gone to the hospital. Glad to hear you’re not hurt. Sorry about Elizabeth, though.”

  Alan had closed the business on other nights, so Luke left it in his capable hands. In the background, Martin called out that he’d take Luke’s horse and buggy home and see to the feeding.

  With thanks, Luke left the phone with a slightly lighter heart. Now all he needed was good news about Elizabeth.

  * * *

  Elizabeth closed her eyes as the nurse pushed her down the corridor in a wheelchair. She bit her lip to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

  “You were lucky,” the doctor had assured her. “It’s a clean break and should mend rapidly.”

  Elizabeth had grown up believing in God’s will rather than luck, but ever since last year, she’d struggled with doubts. Why did He allow bad things to happen?

  She tried not to sink into self-pity, but it seemed as if God had given her too much to bear. Hadn’t He promised an escape? So far, she’d only spiraled deeper and deeper into despair.

  Tonight’s accident brought memories rushing back. She relived the terror and the heartbreak of last year. It had been close to this time of year. She’d lost her husband and . . .

  Last Christmas had only been a blur. Now she had this holiday season to endure.

  The cast on her leg added one more obstacle. A huge one. Until tonight, she’d been able to defend her decision to keep the house she and Owen had built next door to Luke’s. Working at Yolanda’s allowed Elizabeth to pay the bills, but just barely. She had no emergency funds. Both her mother and her mother-in-law kept trying to persuade her to move back home.

  She couldn’t work at the Christmas shop with a broken leg. Not even if she mastered crutches. How could she stand on them all day? Reaching or carrying merchandise would be impossible.

  After the doctor put on the cast, Elizabeth was too tired and shaky to protest the nurse’s insistence on a wheelchair.

  “Hospital rules,” the nurse informed her.