A Plain and Simple Christmas

by Amy Clipston

  “It smells wonderful,” Kellan said, handing her his coat. He then helped Anna Mae out of her wrap.

  “Kinner,” Kathryn called. “Go wash up and then get to the table. It’s time to eat.”

  The children filed out of the room with Kathryn in tow.

  Mary Rose squeezed Anna Mae’s shoulders. “I’ve prayed for you every day since you left. Oh, you must tell me everything about your life in Baltimore.”

  “Of course.” Anna Mae glanced over at her father and found him still scowling at her. With trembling legs, she cleared her throat and stepped over to him. “Daed,” she said. “It’s gut to see you. You look well.”

  Still glowering, he studied her, but said nothing in response.

  “Sir,” Kellan said, holding out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  Daed grunted and looked back at Anna Mae. “You will cover your head in this house. It’s only proper.” He turned to Mary Rose. “I will not eat at the same table as her.” He stood and marched toward the kitchen.

  Anna Mae cupped a hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp. She then closed her eyes and took deep breaths to stop her threatening tears. When she opened her eyes again, she found her mother and Kellan studying her.

  “This was a mistake,” Anna Mae whispered. “I never should’ve come.” She met Kellan’s concerned gaze. “You were right. I don’t belong here.”

  “No, no. Don’t say that. It’s going to be okay,” Mary Rose said quickly. “Your father is just hurt that you left, but he still loves you. Kathryn has a kerchief you can borrow. Your daed will come around. Just do as he asks, and everything will be okay. We can set up a small table in the kitchen for you and Kellan. It will be just fine.” Her eyes pleaded with Anna Mae’s. “Please don’t leave. You just got here. I want to visit with you and get to know you again.”

  “I won’t leave,” Anna Mae said. “I promise.”

  “Gut.” Mary Rose headed out of the room. “I’ll be right back.”

  Anna Mae turned to Kellan. “This was much worse than I thought. I never should’ve come here.” Her voice was thick. “I thought for sure he would forgive me, but he won’t. Did you see his eyes?” She sniffed as tears welled up in her eyes.

  “Shh.” Kellan placed a finger on her lips. “This wasn’t a mistake. You’ve answered your mother’s prayers, Annie.

  You’re supposed to be here. Your father may take a little longer to reach, but we have a few more days. Just give him time and trust God.”

  “I have a kerchief for you.” Mary Rose appeared with a head covering. “Let me put this on you.” She put the blue material over Anna Mae’s head and tied it under her chin. “Now, let’s go eat as a family.”

  Anna Mae and Kellan followed Mary Rose into the kitchen, where the family was gathered around the large table. In the corner was a smaller table with two chairs and place settings. Anna Mae glanced up at Kellan, who gave a tentative smile.

  “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Just do as your father asks, and he’ll come around.” He took her hand and gently pulled her toward the table.

  Anna Mae sank into a chair at the small table with Kellan sitting across from her. They followed her relatives’ lead and bowed their heads in silent prayer, and Kellan took her hands in his. With her eyes closed, she silently thanked God for the many blessings in her life and asked Him to work on her father’s heart.

  When she heard the utensils hitting the dishes, she looked up and found the family filling their plates. Anna Mae turned toward the table and studied her parents. They looked exactly as she’d remembered them, except for maybe a few more wrinkles on their faces. Henry was still a brooding man with graying brown hair and a matching beard, while Mary Rose still had striking brown eyes and graying light brown hair peeking out from under her prayer kapp.

  Kathryn rose and brought a platter of meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans over to Anna Mae and Kellan.

  “I’m sorry about this little table,” Kathryn muttered. “I tried to talk Henry out of it, but he insisted you sit over here.”

  Anna Mae forced a smile. “I expected it but had hoped for something more inviting.” She filled her plate with the meatloaf.

  “I’ll sit with you.” Kathryn frowned. “I think it’s wrong for you to be here alone, and I don’t care about the rules. You’re my family.”

  “No.” Anna Mae touched her hand. “I don’t want to be the cause of problems between you and David.”

  Kathryn stuck out her chin. “I refuse to treat you like an outsider.” She stepped over to the table and whispered something to David, who stared at her, frowning.

  “She means business, huh?” Kellan whispered with a smile.

  “Kathryn has always been known for speaking her mind and standing up for her convictions, sometimes to the chagrin of my brother,” Anna Mae replied.

  Kathryn returned, carrying a chair. She grabbed a dish and utensils from the adjacent table and then seated herself next to Anna Mae. “Your brother isn’t too happy with me, but he’ll have to get over it,” she said. “You came to visit and I’m going to spend time with you.”

  Anna Mae glanced toward the table and found her mother smiling at her. She moved her eyes to her father, who continued to frown. Feeling a lump swelling in her throat, Anna Mae studied her glass of water.

  Kathryn filled her plate with food. “Tell me what you did today.”

  “I had a surprise this morning,” Anna Mae said. “My sisters came to see me at the bed and breakfast.”

  “Oh.” Kathryn grinned. “What a nice surprise.”

  “Thank you for telling them where we’re staying,” Anna Mae said while filling her fork with meatloaf.

  “Gern gschehne,” Kathryn said. “How was your visit with them?”

  Anna Mae explained how Vera was warm and Fannie and Barbie were cold.

  Kathryn shook her head. “I’m sorry about that. They behaved the same way when I mentioned you might visit, and I’d hoped that Fannie and Barbie had come around. Still, it speaks volumes that they came to see you. That’s a step in the right direction.” She turned the conversation to the threat of a blizzard while they finished their meal.

  After supper, David came over to their table. After giving Kathryn a hard look, he nodded at Anna Mae. “It’s gut to see you.” He then turned to Kellan. “Would you like to join me in the barn? It’s sort of a tradition for men to stand around and chat after a meal, even in the cold weather.”

  Kellan glanced at Anna Mae, who smiled in response. He then looked at David. “Sure.” He kissed Anna Mae on the head before following David out of the kitchen.

  Glancing around, Anna Mae found that Henry had left the kitchen, and she assumed that he had already gone outside. The voices of her young nieces and nephews rose from the family room where they were playing games.

  Anna Mae rose and began to pick up the plates.

  “Don’t be narrisch,” Kathryn said, touching her hand. “I don’t expect you to do dishes in your condition.”

  “I’m pregnant, not bedridden,” Anna Mae said, carrying dishes to the sink.

  Kathryn shook her head. “You may sit and watch me do the dishes, but you will not help. I won’t hear of it.” She turned to Mary Rose. “You sit with her and visit while Amanda and I do the dishes. You two have a lot of catching up to do.”

  Mary Rose sat across from Anna Mae and held her hands. “Tell me everything about Baltimore. Are you froh?”

  Anna Mae smiled and nodded. “Ya, I am.” She then told her mother all about her quilting ministry at the church and about her job working in the office at the dealership. She asked about her siblings, nieces, and nephews, and Mary Rose told her how they each were doing.

  Mary Rose was in the middle of sharing a funny story about one of her nephews when Henry came through the door.

  Avoiding eye contact with Anna Mae, he frowned at his wife. “It’s time to go, Mary Rose,” he grumbled. He started toward the door and then turned back to her
. “Now.”

  Mary Rose’s eyes were wide with shock. “Henry, do you see your youngest dochder sitting here? Don’t you want to speak with her?”

  He kept his eyes fixed on Mary Rose. “I said it’s time to go. I’ll be out front waiting for you in the buggy.”

  “Henry!” Mary Rose called after him. She turned to Anna Mae. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  “But, Mamm,” Anna Mae began. “I came all this way to see you.”

  “I know.” Mary Rose stood. “But you know your father.” She hugged Kathryn. “Supper was wunderbaar. Danki.” She then touched Anna Mae’s shoulder. “Come and visit me before you leave.”

  Anna Mae stood with tears in her eyes. “You can’t let him do this to me, Mamm. Kellan and I were hoping that we could be a family again. You have to stand up to Daed.”

  “He’s the bishop.” Mary Rose’s eyes filled with tears. “I have to go. Ich liebe dich, mei dochder.” She patted Anna Mae’s hand and then rushed out of the kitchen.

  “Mamm! Mamm!” Anna Mae started after her. “Please don’t go.”

  “Anna Mae!” Kathryn grabbed Anna Mae’s arm and pulled her back to the table. “Stop. Just let her go.”

  “What if I never see her again?” Anna Mae lowered herself into the chair.

  “Shh.” Kathryn sat beside her and rubbed her arm. “Trust God to heal the family.”

  Covering her face with her hands, Anna Mae dissolved into tears.

  David leaned against the barn door and glanced up toward the sky. Large flurries twirled and danced to the ground, covering the pasture with a silver quilt. He glanced over at his English brother-in-law, who shivered and hugged his arms to his lanky body. “I hope you packed a warmer coat because I heard we’re supposed to have a white Christmas this year,” David said.

  The door opened and slammed, and Henry marched down the porch steps.

  “Here’s Daed.” David sent an uneasy glance Kellan’s way as Henry moved toward them. “Daed, would you like to join—?”

  “David, help me get my horse hitched up,” Henry said, pushing past him into the barn.

  David glanced at Kellan, who shrugged.

  “Daed?” David followed him into the barn. “You’re leaving?”

  “Ya, I am.” Henry led his horse from the stall. “I’d appreciate your help getting the horse readied.”

  David placed his hand on his arm to stop him. “Why are you going?”

  Henry narrowed his eyes. “I think you know why.” He pushed past David with the horse in tow.

  David followed him out of the barn toward the buggy. “Why can’t you stay and visit?”

  Henry glanced at Kellan on his way to the buggy. “You know why.” He hitched the horse to the buggy.

  David glanced at Kellan and found him scowling.

  “It’s all right,” David said. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “There’s no need to talk to me,” Henry said. “I’ve already told your mamm to come out here so we can go home.”

  “You can’t do that to Mamm,” David said. “Didn’t you see Mamm’s face when she saw Anna Mae was here? This means so much to her. Taking her away from Anna Mae is wrong.”

  Henry faced him, shaking a finger in his face. “It’s not your place to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong.”

  David threw his hands up in frustration. “Anna Mae made her decision to leave and was shunned. But you and I both know that shunning tradition dictates that we can’t eat at the same table as she does and we can’t conduct business with her. It says nothing about visiting with her, which is what we were doing in the house.” He gestured toward the house. “Leaving isn’t necessary, and it’s not right to do that to Mamm or Anna Mae.”

  “You have no right to judge me, son.” Henry finished hitching the horse and glanced toward the house. “It’s written: ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’”

  David narrowed his eyes, challenging him. “What about that verse in Colossians: ‘Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.’”

  “Where’s your mamm?” Henry asked, keeping his eyes averted from David’s stare.

  “You should go without her,” David said, resentment bubbling up inside him. “I’ll bring her home or she can stay here tonight.”

  “You stay out of this.” Henry started toward the house. “I’ll go find her.”

  David turned and found Kellan standing alone, his face rigid.

  “I’m so sorry,” David apologized. “I don’t understand why he’s making more of this than it is.” David leaned against the barn door and watched the snowflakes land on the fence posts. “Anna Mae made her choice and he’s not going to change that. It’s obvious that you and Anna Mae are happy.”

  Kellan spoke slowly. “I know it was risky to come here, but Anna Mae really wanted to see her family again. I just hope this doesn’t break her heart.” He gave a slight nod toward the porch where Mary Rose and Henry were descending the steps. “I’ll stay here until they’ve left,” he said. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

  David stepped over toward his parents, and the hurt and sadness in his mother’s eyes nearly broke his heart.

  Before speaking in Dietsch, David took a deep breath, hoping to calm his frayed nerves. “You don’t have to leave, Daed. No one will think less of you as a bishop if you visit with Anna Mae.”

  Mary Rose gave Henry a hopeful look, while Henry kept his eyes trained on the horse.

  “I cannot stay here,” Henry declared before climbing into the buggy.

  David frowned, but he knew from his father’s tone of voice that arguing would do no good. Bending down, he hugged Mary Rose. “I’m sorry the evening had to end this way,” he whispered to her. “Kathryn had hoped that Daed would see the visit as an opportunity to mend the family.”

  “It’s not your fault,” she whispered. “Your daed is a stubborn old mule. Gut nacht.” She then climbed into the buggy.

  David stood alone as they rode off through the swirling flurries.

  Anna Mae wiped her cheeks with a napkin. “I guess I was wrong to think my coming here would be a joyous reunion with my parents.”

  “No, you weren’t wrong.” Kathryn’s eyes were full of concern. “I thought your daed would be so overwhelmed with happiness to see you that he would welcome you with a hug and a prayer of thanksgiving.”

  Anna Mae shook her head. “It’s no use. He won’t ever accept me.”

  “Don’t say that.” Kathryn rubbed Anna Mae’s shoulder. “God will change his mind. I can feel it.”

  Kellan burst into the room, rushed to the table, and crouched beside Anna Mae. “Are you okay?” He took her hand in his.

  Anna Mae nodded. “I’m fine. Just disappointed.” The worry in his eyes caused hers to tear up again.

  “I don’t know what your father was saying in that Pennsylvania Dutch, but I could tell he was angry that we were here.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense to me. You came to visit him, and he left in a huff.”

  “He’s hurt that she left the faith,” Kathryn said. “It’s painful for a parent when the child leaves the community.”

  Kellan shook his head. “She was a grown woman and it was her choice. I didn’t want to steal her away. I left it up to her, and she chose me.”

  “Let’s not go through this all again,” Anna Mae said. “What’s done is done, and I let him and the rest of my family and the community down. I thought that by coming here we could work things out, but he couldn’t stand to stay in the same house with me. He didn’t want my mother to stay either. I couldn’t convince her to stay and visit with me. She followed him outside.”

  “We should go home.” Kellan stood. “We’ll go back to the bed and breakfast and pack up our things.”

  “No,” Anna Mae said with more force than she’d pla
nned. “I can’t give up now. I’m already here.”

  Kellan placed a hand on her abdomen. “But the baby. The stress your father is causing could hurt the baby.”

  “I’m feeling fine. I’ve been resting, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Anna Mae averted her eyes by staring at the wood grain of the table.

  Kellan put a hand on her shoulder. “We should go home and plan to visit later, after the baby is here. Maybe next spring. The weather will be better and you and the baby will be ready to travel.” He took her hand and lifted her to her feet. “Let’s go say goodbye to everyone and head home.”

  Kathryn touched Kellan’s shoulder. “Don’t give up on Henry yet. He’s a stubborn man, but he has a deep faith in God. Give him a chance to adjust to seeing you and Anna Mae together.”

  Kellan raked his hand through his brown hair and turned to Anna Mae.

  She studied his eyes and silently prayed he’d agree with Kathryn. “We’ve come all this way,” she whispered, taking his hands in hers. “Won’t you give him another chance?”

  “Give him another day,” Kathryn said. “If it doesn’t work out, then David and I will come and visit you this spring.”

  “You will?” Anna Mae smiled as joy filled her heart. “You’ll come see us?”

  “Ya, we will,” she said. “David had suggested that we visit you this spring instead of you coming here for Christmas.”

  “Oh, that would be lovely!” Anna Mae hugged her. “We’d love to have you visit, right, Kellan?”

  Kellan nodded. “Anytime you want to come, you’re welcome in our home.”

  “I hope I didn’t get you in too much trouble with David by coming out for Christmas,” Anna Mae said. “I hate that you went against his wishes.”

  Kathryn shrugged. “It wasn’t the first time that I followed my heart instead of David’s suggestions.”

  Anna Mae laughed. “No, it certainly wasn’t.”

  Kathryn’s expression became serious. “Join us for lunch at your parents’ house tomorrow at noon, and we’ll try one more time. If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll take it from there. You’ve come too far to give up this easily.”