A Plain & Fancy Christmas

by Cynthia Keller

  “You can’t come to New York without seeing the things it’s famous for,” Nina added. “We’ll start with the big ones and work our way down the list.”

  “Um, maybe that’s a little bit much in one day, guys?” Nick said to his parents.

  They looked at one another. “You’re probably right,” Gil said to his son. “We’re going overboard, huh?”

  Nina looked at Rachel. “It’s just that we’re so excited to be able to show you around.”

  “Whatever you want to do will be perfect,” she reassured them.

  “Hey, it’s summer,” Nick said. “How about listening to a steel drum band in Central Park? Rent a rowboat there and bring a picnic. You can people-watch and still see the skyline all around.”

  Katie brightened at his words. “That sounds like fun.”

  Nina nodded. “Central Park it is. That will be our day, and then, the next night, we’re having some of our relatives over to meet you in the evening. You can understand, I’m sure, that they’re dying to see you both.”

  Rachel wasn’t sure if she was ready for all that, but she recalled that Ellie had been faced with a group of King relatives on her very first visit to the farm. It was only fair, she supposed. “That will be very nice.”

  Nick smiled. “Oh, you think so, do you? You haven’t met them yet.”

  “Nick!” Nina took an ineffectual swipe at him with her napkin. “They don’t know you’re just teasing.”

  “What makes you think I’m just teasing?”

  Nina turned to Katie and rolled her eyes. “Ignore him, sweetheart. He’s joking. They’re lovely people.”

  The waiter came over to ask if they were ready to order.

  “Katie,” Gil said, “do you know what you’d like?”

  Rachel bit her lip. It was also not right for an eleven-year-old to be the center of attention this way, all the grown-ups fussing over her and allowing her to order her food first. This was not their way. She could imagine how upset her mother would be if she knew.

  “Why don’t you go first?” she said. “Katie and I need a few more minutes to look.”

  The others listened while the waiter recited the specials. Rachel leaned over to her daughter, whispering in her ear to remember her manners, no matter how nice and casual everyone was to her. Katie nodded, slipping her hand into her mother’s. Rachel gave her an encouraging smile. She felt a stab of guilt. Monitoring Katie’s behavior so closely gave her an excuse not to face her own apprehensions about the situation. These people were family, but they felt nothing like it.

  Chapter 18

  Rachel poured herself a glass of milk and took it to the dining room. She sat down at the table and gazed out the window, marveling at how bright the streets were at three A.M. Even at this hour there were lights everywhere, on the streets, in signs, some still blazing in apartments. The outside glow made the kitchen more than bright enough, with light glinting off the stainless steel of the appliances. Between the lights and the noise outside, she wondered how people got a night’s sleep. It was hard to believe that she could hear the cars below all the way up here on the eleventh floor. She took a sip of milk. It was cold, but certainly not as good as the fresh milk at home. Every single thing here is different, she thought.

  “I thought I heard someone,” Nina said, tying the sash on her robe as she came in to sit down. “May I join you?”

  She smiled. “Forgive me if I’m staring. Obviously, this is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair down. It’s the strangest thing, how you look so much like A.J. and Nick. I think, she’s not even related—but then I remember that you are related, as closely as any family members can be. It’s just an indescribable sensation. The confusion of it all, emotionally.”

  Rachel sipped at her milk. “I understand.”

  Nina sighed. “I’m not sure I could ever understand what this is like for you two girls. I mean, I’m so furious at that doctor and nurse for allowing this to happen, and then keeping it a secret. It was an unforgivable crime, and I can’t even confront them. Yet, I can’t picture life without Ellie.”

  “Exactly. I can’t picture my life being any other way.”

  Nina nodded. They sat in silence for a bit.

  “Tell me.” Nina put a hand on Rachel’s arm. “Are you close with your family? Have you had a happy life so far? Maybe I’m overstepping. But can you imagine how much I want to know if my child has led a good life, the one we would have hoped for? If there are people who love her, and are kind to her.”

  “Oh, yes,” Rachel replied. “You don’t have to wonder about that for a minute. My family is very close. I’m surrounded by people who care for me, and for Katie. We work hard, and we try to live the best lives we can. In that, we find our happiness.”

  “Was your husband a kind man?”

  Rachel smiled. “The kindest man you could ever hope to meet. We had a very good marriage for nine years. Happy, as you say. And he left behind our Katie, my most precious gift in the world.”

  “I’m so sorry you lost him.”

  “Thank you.” Rachel didn’t wish to elaborate on her feelings for Jacob or how his death still hurt.

  Nina got up. “I’ll leave you to your milk and your thoughts. But I hope you see that my husband and I desperately want to know the two of you. We want you to be part of our lives. The one thing we don’t want is to make your life difficult. We’ll have to follow your lead on this.”

  “Thank you. I already know that you two are very kind as well.” Rachel smiled. “I can tell I would have had a good life here, too.”

  Nina smiled, but there was pain in her eyes as she left.

  Rachel had no right to expect these people to care for her, regardless of their biological connection. Yet they did. She took a last sip from her glass and went to wash it and replace it in the cabinet. She felt sure she would sleep now.

  The next day, she and Katie were up by six, dressed by six-thirty. Rachel couldn’t recall the last time she had slept so late. When Nina and Gil emerged from their bedroom at seven-thirty, still in their robes, they took a look at their two fully dressed guests and immediately retreated back into their room, emerging in their clothes twenty minutes later. After a breakfast of eggs and toast, the four of them ventured into the bright, hot day, Gil carrying a fully packed picnic basket. They went to the zoo in the morning, an excited Katie running from one animal to the next.

  Next, they followed Nick’s advice, renting a rowboat for a ride on the park’s lake. Katie and Gil shared the rowing duties, sitting side by side on the narrow bench, each holding an oar. They spent much of the time taking the boat in a circle, as his stroke was stronger than hers, and he was enjoying Katie’s laughter at their inability to get anywhere. His clownish bewilderment at her instructions to row less forcefully made her laugh harder. Late in the afternoon, they settled down on a shaded patch of grass to enjoy their picnic of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, broiled chicken, cherries, and potato chips. Rachel was growing weary of having passersby point at her and her daughter, but Katie was oblivious, happily chatting with the Lawrences about the animals at home, how much she liked rowboats, and what it was like when they were in the countryside back in Pennsylvania.

  Later, at her request, there were more ice-cream cones, followed by a happy, tired walk back to the apartment. Nina cooked dinner that night for them, spaghetti with turkey meatballs, sautéed spinach, and a salad, refusing all of Rachel’s efforts to help. Rachel was proud of Katie for praising the meal, even though she could see her daughter didn’t enjoy the unfamiliar recipes. This time, the two of them ignored Nina’s protests, and insisted on cleaning up the kitchen by themselves. Rachel felt much better, having something useful to do. Two days without a schedule of any kind, and no responsibilities to which she had to attend, had left her restless and a bit anxious. She didn’t enjoy the sensation of floating along with no purpose, letting others take care of her.

  The next morning, they took a ferry rid
e to see the Statue of Liberty. Both Rachel and Katie were stunned by the vision of the majestic green woman, and couldn’t stop marveling at it throughout lunch and all the way back uptown. Later, Nina took Katie out for a stroll around the neighborhood.

  Still feeling unsettled, Rachel was glad when Katie and Nina returned from their walk, Nina informing them that she was taking them out for tea with Gil’s sister, Lillian. When they were in the bedroom getting ready to go, Katie asked her mother why they couldn’t make tea right there, and Rachel could only shrug.

  Rachel’s voice was quiet. “There is a lot here we don’t understand.”

  Rachel wrapped her daughter in a hug.

  “Everybody ready?” Nina’s voice rang out from her bedroom.

  “Coming!” Katie raced from the bedroom. Through the doorway, Rachel could see her giving her new grandfather a good-bye hug.

  A taxi took them to the Plaza Hotel. Rachel and Katie had to pause outside to take in the sight.

  “Beautiful!” breathed Katie. “Look, carpet outside, on the steps!”

  “It’s a very, very old building,” Nina informed her. “It was one of the grandest hotels anywhere. Gil and I stayed here on our wedding night.”

  “You had no place to go?” Katie asked in concern.

  Nina smiled. “We did, but this was a special treat. Then we left the next morning for our honeymoon in France.”

  Katie looked confused. “When people back home get married, later they visit the people who traveled to their wedding. But the two of them don’t go anywhere alone to another country. Why would they?”

  “More traditions.” Nina took Katie’s hand. “Come, let’s go meet Aunt Lillian.”

  Katie discovered the fun of going around and around in the revolving door. At first, they could see she was afraid she wouldn’t get out in time, but then she started to enjoy the ride. They waited patiently until she took one last turn and practically leaped out into the lobby.

  “Ohhhh …” Her eyes traveled everywhere at the sight of such luxury.

  Nina led them toward the Palm Court, the three of them ignoring the stares of the people walking past. Both Rachel and Katie were spellbound by the enormous space of glass and mirrors, the lavish table settings, the palms in pots strategically stationed around the room.

  “There she is.” Nina waved at a woman seated at a table for four, who immediately rose and waved back. Rachel saw a tall, very thin woman in a short, tight, white dress with huge flowers printed on it.

  “Hello, Lillian.” Nina approached in front of the other two, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. “I’m pleased to introduce you to my daughter and granddaughter.”

  At the sight of Rachel, Lillian put a hand to her heart, the motion making her numerous gold bracelets jangle. “Oh, Nina, would you look at that?” she said, as if her sister-in-law was the only one who could hear her. “The resemblance … I’ll be da—”

  “And this,” Nina cut in, “is Rachel’s daughter, Katie. My granddaughter.”

  Lillian forced herself to turn her gaze to the little girl. She gave her a big smile. “Well, aren’t you as cute as a button?”

  “Thank you,” Katie replied. “But we don’t use buttons. Do people here think they’re cute? I didn’t know that.”

  Lillian let out a raucous laugh. “Precious!” She sat down again and the others settled into chairs as well. “I’ve taken the liberty of ordering. There’s a special tea for children,” she turned to Katie, “so I told them to bring that for you.”

  “Thank you.” The girl clearly didn’t understand what could be special about a cup of tea for a child, but she knew better than to ask.

  It became evident when the food started to arrive, trays of tea sandwiches, pastries, and scones. The waiter brought a different selection of items for Katie, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chocolate cupcakes, and peppermint iced tea. While Lillian threw questions about their lives at them, Rachel and Katie tried the delicacies set before them. They were loath to leave food after being taken for such a fancy treat, but neither one could finish. Rachel reflected that they had done no physical work since they had come to New York, so it wasn’t surprising all the food they were eating had left them stuffed to the point of discomfort.

  After tea, they decided to go for a stroll around the lobby.

  Lillian turned to her sister-in-law, lowering her voice only slightly. “I hadn’t realized how complicated the Amish thing would make this. Must be keeping you and Gil on your toes. How are you managing?”

  Nina put an arm around Katie. “It’s as easy as could be.” She looked at the little girl and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “Right, kitty-cat?”

  Katie smiled up at her. “Right.”

  Rachel had been watching, holding her breath. Finally, she could exhale. Whatever else might happen, Katie seemed okay. She might even benefit from this unnerving acquisition of a new family. They could go home and tuck away the memory of this trip as a happy adventure they would always remember.

  Chapter 19

  Ellie stared at her cell phone. This was the first time she could remember ever letting the power drain completely. It wasn’t that she couldn’t charge it at the Kings’; she could plug it into her car lighter with a special adapter, as she had the first few days she was here. The point was that she had forgotten to charge it. She’d forgotten even to look at it. She thought back. It must have been three days since she last checked for messages. She had sent a few work-related emails and texts, and then put the phone in a dresser drawer, beneath her makeup case. It was only because she was packing to leave that she had come upon it now.

  The strangest part of it, she realized, was that she had no interest in charging the phone and finding out what she was missing. Normally, her instinct would be to run and to find a power source so she could start frantically replying to what had to be a massive pileup of messages. Yet she felt no urge to do so. She had told everyone at the office to refrain from getting in touch with her this week unless there was an emergency. They ignored her instruction as she knew they would, and sent a barrage of information and questions, some of which were important, most of which could wait. Why, she thought, couldn’t she take a few days off without constant interference about every stupid thing that went on at Swan and Clark? The world wouldn’t come to an end if she didn’t know the exact second an actor client walked off a picture in a huff, or a corporate merger important to one of their clients had fallen through. She wasn’t there, she wasn’t going to do anything about it now, and she didn’t care.

  Ellie sank down on the bed. There it was. She didn’t care. Never, never, never would she have imagined those words could come out of her. What had happened to her in the course of less than a week? She had taken plenty of vacations over the years, but she had always stayed on top of what was happening back at work, and felt recharged when the week was over, eager to get back to her desk. This time was different. She didn’t want to go back to New York and her apartment. And she definitely didn’t want to go back to Swan and Clark.

  She liked it here. She liked the people, the farming, the animals. At home, when she worked hard, she was rewarded by some celebrity’s indifference at having been spared a public humiliation he deserved, or by a corporate spokesperson who only wanted to know why Ellie hadn’t put out some proverbial fire even faster. Here, she was rewarded by plants that would grow, cows producing milk that supported the family, a smoothly running farm where everyone pitched in. No one was praised, but all were appreciated. When she worked hard here, she felt as though she was actually producing something tangible. No office politics, no gossip, no making nice to people she couldn’t stand. She and Leah could work side by side, either talking or in comfortable silence, cooking, weeding, washing. There was less physical demonstration of affection among the family members—that was something Ellie saw right away, a notable contrast from her parents, who were big on hugs and kisses. It didn’t bother her, though. She could tell
Leah felt genuine affection toward her, and she hoped Leah knew it was returned. Rachel’s siblings were more guarded toward her, with the exception of Daniel, who was clearly the most easygoing, but Ellie could understand their hesitation. Their allegiance was to Rachel rather than to some interloper who appeared out of the blue. Still, they were invariably kind, and always helpful to her. Isaac seemed to be trying his best to welcome her, although she could see it was a battle for him, as if he didn’t want to betray his loyalty to his other daughter. Still, it made no sense to expect everyone to open their arms to her in under a week. Whatever emotional terms they all came to would take a long time. In the meantime, they made her feel as if she were a valued member of the group, her contributions important.

  She was struck by another realization. Her stomach no longer hurt. The stomachache that had been her constant companion for years was gone.

  “It can’t be …” she whispered.

  Nonetheless, it was time to go. She wanted to stay another week, but she felt the obligation of her job. It would be unfair to impose any further on the Kings. She—and they—had to think about all that had transpired that week. Ellie wasn’t sure what would happen next. She knew the Kings weren’t coming to visit her in New York. If they were to see each other, it would be because she came back here. Yet she wasn’t sure if she could keep coming back as a guest, especially with Rachel here again. In fact, Rachel and her daughter were returning that night from their few days in New York, and Ellie was relieved she would be gone before evening so they wouldn’t have to cross paths. She had been unpleasantly surprised when she learned that Rachel and her daughter had taken off for New York. It was almost furtive, leaving without so much as a good-bye. As if Rachel wanted to sneak off to see the Lawrences specifically because Ellie wouldn’t be there.

  Ellie pulled her suitcase out of the closet and set it on the bed. It was odd that after nearly a week, she understood no more about what it meant to be part of another family than she had before. She assumed she would get some clarity about it, but the reverse was true. She had developed a deep admiration for these people, particularly Leah, but she felt fiercely devoted to her parents at home. She also wasn’t sure how to address the fact that they were Amish. If her biological family had been, say, another family in New York, what would that have meant? Maybe she would have liked them, everyone would have gone out to dinner together, and the two families would get along swimmingly. It was impossible for her to judge what part their being Amish played in her feelings. At first, it made her want to retreat from them. Now, it was just the reverse.