Her Amish Christmas Choice

by Leigh Bale

  “Julia is my girl. She’s not gonna marry Mar-tin. She’s gonna marry me,” the boy yelled as he jerked his thumb toward his chest.

  “Ach, Hank. Julia isn’t going to marry you. She isn’t going to marry Martin either. Don’t be dumm,” David said, shaking his head with impatience.

  “Ja, she is. You’re trying to steal my girl,” Hank insisted as he glared angrily at Martin.

  Before Martin could respond, the boy turned and raced out of the barn. He plowed through the depths of snow, running toward the brightly lit house.

  “Hank! Komm back,” David called, but Hank kept going.

  Linda stepped over to the door, her features crinkled with concern. From her expression, Martin could tell she didn’t like this contention in her family.

  “David! Martin! Go after him,” she cried.

  “He’s just blowing off steam. He’ll go to his room and think about it for a while. It’s best to let him be alone for now. I’ll speak to him later,” David said.

  But that wasn’t the case. When they finally went inside, Hank was nowhere to be found. The other children hadn’t seen him either. And when Martin looked outside, he saw a trail of footprints in the new-fallen snow leading up to the main road.

  “Do you think he ran away? It’s too cold to be outside for very long and night is coming on,” Linda said, wringing her hands in worry.

  Martin took a deep breath and blew it out in a quick exhale. He had a bad feeling about this. Hank had run off once before after a bad fight with one of his sisters. It had taken the entire Gmay to find him the next day down by the creek. But that had been during the warm summertime.

  Mamm was right. The winter coat, boots, scarf, hat and gloves Hank was wearing were warm but not if he got wet and not if he was outside for any great length of time.

  “David! Martin! Please go find him,” Linda pleaded, looking worried.

  Martin hesitated, thinking fast. His father was a good, pious man but he had never taken Hank’s tantrums seriously. Frankly, the man didn’t know quite how to deal with Hank’s Down syndrome. David loved Hank dearly but he didn’t understand the boy and thought he should buck up and cope. He didn’t realize how much Hank adored Julia.

  Hank wanted to be a normal kid like everyone else in the Gmay. He didn’t understand that his Down syndrome made it impossible for him to wed one of their Amish girls and manage a farm and family on his own. Martin hated to be the one to explain it to Hank.

  Martin reached for his warm leather gloves and jerked them on. He hadn’t had time to remove his scarf, coat and boots, so he was ready to go.

  “I’ll hitch up the horse to the buggy,” he said.

  “Where are you going? Just wait a while and he’ll komm home on his own,” David demanded.

  “Ne, I don’t think so. Not this time. I’ve got to find him and bring him home.” Jerking open the back door, Martin stepped outside and headed toward the barn without a backward glance.

  He was standing in the horse stall prepping the animal for a winter ride when his father found him.

  “Ach, perhaps you’re right, sohn. I’ll go with you,” David said.

  Martin nodded, putting aside his own grief for the time being. Though he longed to resolve his problem with Julia, he must think of his brother now. Hank was mourning the loss of Julia, too. Martin should have been more understanding of his brother’s feelings. He should have realized Hank was hurting. No matter what, Martin had to find the boy. He just had to. Grief and anger could cause Hank to do something very foolish and dangerous.

  Martin had already lost the love of his life. He couldn’t lose his little brother, too.

  Chapter Fourteen

  For the third time that morning, Julia counted the stack of small cardboard boxes she used to fulfill her online mail orders. Sitting in the packaging room next to her office, she felt a draft of cold air and shivered. It was Christmas Eve and she had just opened the store. From where she sat, she could hear the bell if someone entered the store and go wait on them. But since it had snowed nonstop all night and the plows were just now clearing Main Street, she didn’t expect much business today. Thankfully, the storm had finally ceased. The local farmers were pleased by the moisture. So was she. It would ensure Martin had plenty of water for his crops next summer.

  She counted the boxes again, trying to take her mind off him. How she missed him. For three weeks, she’d longed to get up the nerve to go and see him. But what would she say? He was Amish and she was Englisch. They were as different as night and day. But she loved him. She knew that now without a single doubt in her mind. He wasn’t like Dallin at all. The fact that Martin had stayed away told her that he respected her and her decisions. She loved him and she couldn’t be with him. Not as long as her mother disapproved.

  She shivered again. Maybe the woodstove needed more fuel.

  Scooting back her chair, she stood and poked her head into the hallway leading to the apartment upstairs. The back door stood wide open, a frigid breeze rushing into the building along with a spray of morning sunlight. She had shoveled the walk earlier. Though the skies were clear, it was still freezing.

  Brr! Julia walked to the door and leaned outside. “Mom? Are you out here?”

  “I’m in the store.” Mom’s voice came from the front of the building and she soon appeared in the hallway. “Did you need me?”

  Sharon held a stick of kindling and must have been feeding the stove in the store.

  Shaking her head, Julia closed the back door securely and locked it. “No, I was just wondering where you were.”

  Hmm. Maybe Mom had opened the back door to retrieve some firewood and then not latched it tight. It had happened before. She thought of asking Martin to repair the latch, but no. He’d do it in a heartbeat but it would only cause her more anguish to bring him back.

  Julia turned away, still hurting from what Mom had told her three weeks ago about being raised Amish. Since that time, they had only briefly discussed the topic. Their relationship had changed somehow. All her life, Mom had kept this giant secret from her and Julia felt betrayed. It would take some time to rebuild the trust between them. And in the meantime, Julia was aching for Martin.

  “Do you still want to close the store early today?” Mom asked.

  Julia nodded. “Yes, we’ll close at noon. After that, I suspect most people will be home with their families celebrating Christmas Eve.”

  Funny how Mom deferred to her on business issues. Julia was tired from all their hard work and they’d sold a lot of their products to local customers. No doubt Mom was fatigued, too. As far as Julia was concerned, their grand opening had been a huge success. She would close early and share a quiet dinner with her mom and celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Whatever else, Sharon was her mother and Julia had to forgive her. No matter what, she could never turn her back on her mom.

  “I thought I’d make lasagna for dinner tonight. It’s kind of a festive dish. Does that sound all right?” Mom asked.

  Julia barely heard her mother’s words. She was still lost in her own thoughts but nodded vaguely as she walked into the office.

  The bell over the store door tinkled gaily and she turned. Mom followed as she walked down the hall and entered the cheery store.

  “Martin!” Julia exclaimed.

  He stood in front of the door with his father and Bishop Yoder. The three men looked imposing, wearing their black felt hats, gloves and warm frock coats. Their boots dripped water onto the large rug she’d laid in front of the door for this exact purpose.

  Removing his hat, the bishop stepped forward. “Julia, we are sorry to intrude.”

  Each of their faces seemed drawn with worry, their eyes filled with anxiousness. Something was wrong.

  “What is it?” She walked to them, conscious of Mom standing in the hallway but able to see and hear their conversa
tion.

  “Have you seen Hank?” David asked.

  She shook her head. “No, I haven’t.” She glanced at Mom, who also shook her head. “Why? What’s going on?” Julia asked.

  “He’s run away. He’s been missing since early last night,” David said.

  “Run away? But why?” she asked.

  “He...he had an argument and ran way,” was all David would reveal. “We were able to track his footprints in the snow up to the county road leading into town but then they disappeared. We are worried about him.”

  A lance of fear pierced her heart. She was worried, too. It was fiercely cold and snowy outside. “He’s been missing since last night?”

  “Ja, and we thought he might have komm here,” David said.

  Martin didn’t speak but Julia saw from his expression that he was beyond worried. She longed to speak to him. To ask how he was. To tell him how sorry she was for hurting him. But now wasn’t the time. Not with both of their parents and the bishop standing near.

  “No, I’m sorry. He hasn’t come here,” she assured them.

  “If you see or hear from him, will you contact us immediately?” the bishop asked.

  “Of course. I can even shut down the store and come help you look for him,” she said.

  David held out a hand. “Ne, that isn’t necessary. The entire Gmay is out looking for him. Just let us know if you hear from him.”

  “We absolutely will.” She folded her arms and watched as the three men turned and left her store.

  Martin looked back at her from over his shoulder, his gaze meeting hers. In that one glance, she knew he was worried.

  Through the window pane, she caught a glimpse of several other members of the Gmay walking down the street. No doubt they were out searching for Hank. Under the circumstances, she didn’t feel like she could join them. She’d quickly learned how the Amish grapevine worked and they wouldn’t feel comfortable being around her now that she’d said she wouldn’t convert to their faith.

  Instead, she busied herself with tidying the store while Mom went up to their apartment to prepare supper. Frequently, Julia paused in her work to step outside onto the front porch and search the abandoned street for some sign of Hank. But she didn’t see a thing.

  Right at noon, she was restocking the lip balms and creams when Mom came into the store carrying her warm coat and purse.

  “Where are you going?” Julia asked.

  “I need more mozzarella for the lasagna. I’m just going to dash down to the general store. They’re closing at one o’clock today, so I’d better hurry. I won’t be gone long.”

  Julia stood and set the box of lip balms aside. “Why don’t I go get it for you, Mom? I don’t want you to slip and fall. Or I can go with you and hold your arm. It’ll give us a chance to look for Hank while we’re out.”

  “No, no!” Sharon waved her off. “I want to go alone. And they’ve probably found the boy by now.”

  “I hope so but there’s no way for us to know since they don’t have a phone.”

  “I’ll ask Berta when I get to the store. She’ll have heard if they’ve found him.” Berta Maupin was the owner of the only grocery store in town and knew all the local news.

  “Are you sure you want to go alone?” Julia asked again.

  “Yes, I’ve been cooped up in this house far too long and need a good, brisk walk by myself. The doctor said exercise would help relieve my pain. The plows have been out and I’m sure the shop owners have shoveled their sidewalks. The afternoon sun has melted off a lot of the ice, too. I’ll be fine.”

  Hmm. Mom acted like she really didn’t want Julia to go with her.

  “Okay, just be careful.”

  With a nod, Mom slipped out the door and hurried down the porch steps. After watching her go, Julia locked up the store and went upstairs. Spreading a warm afghan over herself, she reclined on the sofa, trying to read a book. Her eyes drooped wearily and she felt herself relaxing. Sometime later, she awoke with a start. How long had she been asleep?

  Glancing at the clock, she realized it had been almost two hours since Mom left.

  Something had roused her. Some small noise but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Mom?” she called.

  No response. Julia sat up and folded the afghan, setting it aside. The fire in the woodstove had burned low and she stoked it up with fresh kindling. But where was Mom? What was taking her so long? And had they found Hank yet?

  She turned, intending to go downstairs, put on her coat and boots and go look for her mother. A scuffling sound came from overhead, followed by the moaning of timbers. This old drafty building. It seemed she would never get used to all its creaks and groans.

  Reaching for the doorknob to go downstairs, she hesitated. Hank was missing. Was it possible that he’d sneaked inside and gone up to the attic? It was dangerous up there and he knew it. Martin had told him not to go there again. Surely he wouldn’t have disobeyed. Or would he?

  Turning, she retrieved a flashlight from a kitchen drawer, then walked down the hall to her bedroom. Kneeling on the floor of her closet, she pulled the attic door open and peered inside. A whoosh of frigid air rushed over her. She really must have more insulation spread across the rafters. But that chore would have to wait until spring.

  Stepping onto the narrow stairway, she flashed the beam of light along the rickety steps. Thick shadows gathered around her. A narrow ribbon of light came from the vent set high in the outer wall. It was so dark and cold up here that she was tempted to go back. But a low whimper came from across the room and she shined light in that direction.

  A bulky shape lay huddled near the far wall. It moved, then stood up.

  “Hank!” A flood of relief washed over her. The boy was here. He was safe! “Oh, Hank! What are you doing up here?” she called.

  “Julia,” he cried.

  She took another step, beckoning to him. “Come here. It’s all right. Come to me.”

  Stepping on the strong beams, he followed Martin’s instructions not to walk on the drywall. She took his hand as she pulled him into her arms for a tight hug.

  “Oh, you’re frozen clear through. Let’s get you into the apartment where it’s warm.”

  Taking his hand, she urged him to go first down the rickety stairs. In her exuberance, she moved too fast and the rotted stairs gave way beneath her feet. She screamed, feeling herself falling. Suddenly, she found herself caught by two strong arms. They lifted her safely to the landing.

  “Martin!” she cried, gazing into his eyes.

  He held her close against his chest. She was so grateful to see him that she clung to his neck, unable to hold back tears of relief.

  Within moments, Martin had pulled her and Hank into the safety of her bedroom. As he secured the little doorway to the attic, she looked up and saw her mother, Bishop Yoder and David all crowded in the small room.

  “What...what are you doing here?” she asked, beyond confused.

  “There’s plenty of time to explain. But first, let’s get everyone warmed up. Come into the kitchen.” Mom waved to them all and they followed her, crowding around the small table and sitting on the sofa.

  Within minutes, Mom had poured each of them a cup of hot chocolate and set out a plate of frosted sugar cookies decorated like candy canes for them to enjoy. Hank gulped down the liquid and asked for more. As he gobbled down cookies, Julia noticed he tossed hateful glares at Martin. The boy was obviously hungry but still angry.

  Finally, Martin shifted nervously beside Julia, his gaze constantly returning to her.

  “Are you all right?” he whispered.

  She nodded, so happy to see him that she didn’t even pretend to hide the love that must be shining in her eyes. She couldn’t hide it anymore. Nor did she want to.

  “How long have you been in the attic?” the bisho
p asked Hank.

  The boy looked down and brushed some crumbs off his lap, an expression of shame covering his face. “All night. And it’s really cold up there.”

  “All night? But when did you arrive in town?” David asked.

  “Just a while after I left you last night. When I reached the main road leading into town, someone stopped and picked me up. They gave me a ride to town in their car.”

  “Ach, you could have been kidnapped,” David said.

  Within a few moments, he explained to Julia and her mother what had happened the night before when Hank ran away. Julia was touched by the boy’s loyalty but wasn’t sure how to handle his infatuation with her.

  “Who gave you a ride?” Martin asked.

  Hank simply shrugged. “I don’t know. They were a familye with little kids. They were nice to me.” He picked up another cookie to munch on, looking completely unconcerned by what he’d done.

  It was a relief to know that Hank wasn’t outside in the cold for very long. They were all outraged yet happy with this news. Outraged because they had no idea who had given him a ride but happy he was all right.

  “But what brought you back here to the soap store? How did you know Hank was here?” Julia asked the three men.

  Mom shifted nervously. “I think it’s now my turn to explain a few things.”

  Julia nodded, listening quietly to her mother.

  “When I read your letter to Martin several weeks ago, telling him not to come see you again, I realized how much you truly loved him,” she said.

  “You...you read my letter to Martin? But that was private,” Julia exclaimed, hardly able to believe her mother had violated her privacy in such a manner.

  Sharon nodded. “I’m sorry, dear, but I had to know what you said to him. Then, I watched you over the past few weeks and saw how utterly miserable you are without him.”

  Julia just blinked, not knowing what to say.

  “You don’t laugh anymore,” Mom continued. “You rarely even smile. You haven’t made any new soap in two weeks. It’s like the life has gone right out of you.”