An Amish Second Christmas

by Beth Wiseman

  Joy blotted a hankie over her eyes. She wasn’t even sure why his letter had such a strong effect on her, but it did. The cabinetmaker and Henry were alike. They both didn’t want to marry someone who had a job. Obviously, the cabinetmaker made the woman choose. Just like Henry had given her an ultimatum. How foolish she was to have talked so much about the bakery. In her last letter she’d even suggested he come to their district’s Second Christmas gathering so they could meet.

  She tucked the letter with the others in her chest of drawers. She had to help her sisters prepare the Thanksgiving meal. She had no time to dwell on a man she could never be right for, who would never be right for her.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Noah paced the floor of his shop. How could he work on finishing the cabinets when all he could think about was Joy? He’d sent her four letters since Thanksgiving and hadn’t heard anything. Something was wrong. She had always been quick to respond.

  He set the glass cutter on the table and went to the shelf where he kept her letters in a wooden box. He’d reread her letters a dozen times since she stopped writing. He must have missed something.

  Noah scanned the page. Other than writing about being confused, she talked about new recipes . . . His eye traveled back up the page to the line about being confused. An image of Joy and Henry outside the bakery knotted his stomach. Henry had said after Christmas there wouldn’t be anything standing in their way. Christmas was only three weeks away. Noah paced the length of his shop. Why hadn’t it dawned on him before that she and Henry might have gotten back together? But in her last letter, she invited the cabinetmaker to the Christmas sleigh ride. Noah reread the invitation part of the letter again.

  Our district’s annual sleigh ride is on Second Christmas. I’m sure I told you that was why I’ve been making Christmas cookies. Every year, we all get together at the bakery for cookies and hot cocoa. It’s a tradition my mother and father started after they bought the bakery. I would love it if you could attend. That is, if you are interested in meeting your pen pal in person.

  Even though he immediately wrote her back to say yes, she never responded to his letter or any of the ones that followed. Had she changed her mind? Was that why she stopped writing?

  All this second-guessing would drive him crazy if he didn’t talk with her soon. He had to see her. She needed to know he was her pen pal. He’d ignored his pricking conscience too long.

  Joy refilled Mrs. Yoder’s coffee mug, then moved over to the table next to the window where Meredith was seated. “It’s starting to look like a blizzard,” Joy said, topping off her friend’s mug with more coffee.

  “I think it’s already snowed a foot.”

  “We need it to stick.”

  “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of snow.” Meredith motioned to the chair opposite her. “Can you take a break?”

  Joy glanced at Mrs. Yoder, the only other customer in the shop. A few tables over, the elderly woman nibbled on her pastry and stared out the window. Joy motioned to the pot. “Give me a minute to put this up and then we can chat.”

  “Just think,” Meredith said after Joy sat down. “The sleigh ride is only three weeks away.”

  Joy sighed. Only three weeks before the bakery closed too. She hated to think about turning the key for the last time. What would she do once it closed? And would she ever see Noah again?

  Meredith elbowed Joy. “Have you heard from the cabinetmaker?”

  Joy shook her head.

  “You two were sending letters back and forth every day. What happened?”

  Joy ran her finger around the rim of her mug. “I stopped writing him.”

  “Why?”

  Joy shrugged.

  “I thought you were beginning to like him,” Meredith said. “I mean really like him.”

  “He told me about his old girlfriend. She wanted to be a seamstress and he made her choose between him and sewing. Henry made me choose between being a fraa and working too.”

  “So you stopped writing to him?”

  “I had to.” Joy leaned closer. “I was beginning to have feelings for a man I had never met—how narrisch is that?” She held up her hand. “Don’t answer that. I know it’s crazy.” She plopped her elbows on the table and buried her head in her hands. “I have feelings for two men.”

  “Two? Please tell me one of them isn’t Henry. I saw him with Priscilla again.”

  She drew a deep breath and looked up. “Noah.”

  Meredith’s brows rose. “I figured something was up the other day when we were talking about his sweet tooth. Remember, I said he was a perfect match for someone who liked to bake?”

  Joy bowed her head. “Jah, I remember.”

  “Why are you so glum?”

  “I’ve never been drawn to two men at the same time. Noah is kind and fun to be around. But I’m also drawn to the cabinetmaker. The letter about his old girlfriend was eight pages long. He really opened up to me. I got the impression he’d never shared those feelings with anyone.”

  The doorbell dinged. Joy craned her head but didn’t see anyone. She looked around the room. Mrs. Yoder’s chair was empty. Joy glanced out the window. Mrs. Yoder was standing on the sidewalk, looking more confused than ever. “I’d better see if I can help her. She’s apt to wander into traffic.” Joy pushed her chair back and stood. “Sarah should be here any minute. Do you mind watching the bakery until she arrives?”

  “Sure. I’d offer to walk Mrs. Yoder home, but she was upset with me the other day in the Quilter’s Corner and I’m nett sure she would take kindly to it. She didn’t even acknowledge me a few minutes ago when I came in. Poor woman. It must be hard when your mind is confused.”

  Noah tugged his coat collar up higher on his neck. When he left for Sugarcreek, the scattered flurries weren’t blinding, but now the snow-covered road made it difficult to tell the pavement from the gravel shoulder. He had no choice but to go slower. He wasn’t even sure the bakery would still be open when he reached town. But he couldn’t turn around now. Not without seeing Joy.

  Noah reached the edge of town, and when he got a block from the bakery, he spotted two women, arms outstretched and turning circles with their faces turned upward. He chuckled, recognizing Joy. She appeared to be trying to catch snowflakes.

  Noah maneuvered the buggy next to the curb and sat quietly, enamored by Joy’s simple pleasure in chasing snowflakes. When the elderly woman standing with her looked his way, he sat up straighter in the seat. His great-aunt must have said something to Joy because she stopped making circles and turned to look in his direction.

  Noah climbed out of the buggy and crossed the street. “Hiya, Aenti Lavern.”

  His aunt peered up at him as if trying to register his face. Then she turned to Joy and smiled. “This is Noah. He’s the one I’ve been telling you about,” she said. “He needs a fraa.”

  He turned and coughed into his fisted hand.

  His aunt tapped his arm. “You’re Noah, right?”

  “Jah, Aenti Lavern. I’m Noah, your nephew. Rachel Esh’s sohn.” Her dull eyes only stared at him. She hadn’t looked this bewildered since the last time she stopped taking her medicine. He motioned to his parked buggy. “How about we get out of this kalt wedder, and I give you two a ride.”

  “I should get back to the bakery.” Joy leaned toward his aunt and patted her shoulder. “I’ll see you another time.” She glanced at him. “It was nice seeing you again, Noah.”

  “Did you want a ride?”

  “Nay, I like walking in the snow.”

  He would like to leave his buggy and go for a long walk with her. “Will you be at the bakery for a while?”

  “For a little while.”

  He smiled.

  Joy pointed over his shoulder. “Your aenti is crossing the street. You’d better go.”

  “I’ll see you later,” he said, hurrying to catch up with his aunt. He reached for her elbow and kept her steady as she climbed into the buggy.

  After
the short ride to Aenti Lavern’s home, she turned to Noah, whom she now seemed to recognize. “Kumm inside and have a cup of tea with me.”

  He didn’t want Joy closing the bakery before they had a chance to talk, but his mother would be pleased if he spent some time with his great-aunt. He groaned under his breath as he jogged around the buggy to her side.

  “Please stay,” she said. “I rarely get visitors.”

  “Sure. I’ll shovel your walkway while you heat the water for tea.” He’d tried calling on her two weeks ago only to discover she had gone to stay with family members for a while. Noah helped her off the bench and into the small clapboard house.

  Noah cleared the path and returned the shovel to the shed. By the time he entered the small kitchen, Aunt Lavern had the water poured.

  “So you were talking about me to Joy?” Had his aunt told Joy that he was a cabinetmaker? Was that why she declined the ride?

  “Who?” The lines around his aunt’s eyes deepened.

  “The woman who works at the bakery. The person you were walking . . .” His aunt’s short-term memory would cause her to wonder who he was in a few minutes. “Have you been taking your medicine every day?”

  “The blue ones make me dizzy and the white ones are too hard to swallow.”

  “Have you told your doctor?” His mother would make sure the doctor was aware once she found out about Aenti Lavern’s deteriorating condition.

  “I don’t know if I have.” She handed him a cup of warm water.

  She’d forgotten to add the tea bag, but he took a sip anyway. “This is gut, danki.”

  “Just the way your grossdaadi liked it.”

  He wasn’t about to try to explain that her deceased husband was his uncle and not his grandfather. He took another drink and glanced outside at the falling snow. His aunt’s conversation wandered into the past, while his mind drifted to one of the last conversations he had with Joy.

  “If this is the last Christmas in the bakery,” Joy said, “I want to make all of mei mamm’s special recipes for the annual sleigh ride.”

  At the time, he wanted to ask if that included the peppermint ones, but then realized she’d only invited the cabinetmaker to their district’s celebration.

  Joy loitered longer than usual at the bakery. She sprayed and wiped each table down, still amazed at how her heart fluttered when she saw Noah. She’d certainly missed his dimpled smile.

  Meredith refilled her own mug. “Are you sure he was stopping by today?”

  “That’s what he said.” She had already prepared a box of cookies for him to take home.

  The doorbell dinged. Noah stomped his feet on the floor mat. “It’s snowing hard nau.”

  “Jah, it is.” Joy set the cleaning rag aside and wiped her hands on her apron. “Can I get you a cup of kaffi?”

  “That would be nice.” He nodded at the window. “We should have a white Christmas this year.”

  Meredith cleared her throat and pulled her cape off the back of the chair. “Have you invited Noah to the district’s Christmas sleigh ride yet?”

  “I, um . . .” Her friend had a way of putting her on the spot. “Would you like to kumm?”

  He smiled. “Jah. What time?”

  “We meet here at dusk, caravan through the woods for a couple of hours, and then return here for cocoa and cookies.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  Meredith swung her cape over her shoulders. “Second Christmas is the highlight of the year around here.” She wiggled her brows at Joy. “Ain’t so?”

  Joy nodded, but with the bakery set to close the day after the sleigh ride, she wasn’t sure this year would feel as merry.

  Her friend strolled to the door, then paused. “Noah, if you don’t have blades for your buggy, you two can ride with me and Walter. But you’ll have to wear something warm—he has an open buggy,” Meredith said, leaving.

  “Did you get your aenti home all right?” Joy asked.

  “I didn’t realize her mind was—scrambled. She must’ve stopped taking her medicine again. I’m nett sure she knew who I was.”

  Joy smiled. “She thinks you’re one of her kinskind.”

  “Who needs a fraa, I know.” He shrugged. “Does she kumm every day?”

  “Usually. I’m surprised you haven’t run into her. Although she’s often waiting by the door when I arrive to start baking.”

  “So do you walk all your customers home?”

  “Only mei faithful ones.”

  His brows lifted. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Joy grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee. “I hope Meredith didn’t make you feel obligated to say yes about the sleigh ride.”

  “She didn’t. Are you going to make the peppermint cookies?”

  “If you’re making a special request, I suppose I will.” She handed him the mug. “I have some treats to send with you nau.” She whirled around and snatched the cookie box from the counter.

  “These are for me?” He eyed the top of the box.

  “Jah.” She smiled.

  Noah reached into his coat pocket and removed his wallet.

  “Nay,” she said, holding up her hand. “They’re from me.”

  He motioned to the table near the widow. “Do you want to sit and have kaffi with me?”

  “Okay.” She didn’t need more caffeine, but she didn’t want to say no to the opportunity to talk. Joy poured another mug and sat with him at the table next to the window. “So how are you doing on your stained glass design?”

  “The pattern is tougher than I thought.”

  “I’m sure it’s beautiful.” She traced the handle of the mug with her finger.

  “How’s business?”

  She shrugged. “Mei bruder-in-law still plans to close the bakery after Christmas.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She forced a smile but had to look away. Despite the lengthy prayers for peace, she hadn’t fully accepted Matthew’s decision.

  “I’ll pray for you.”

  “Danki.” She cringed. “Pray that I don’t harbor resentment. I haven’t been as close to mei sisters since the issue of closing the bakery came up.”

  He reached across the table and took her hands in his, then closed his eyes. “Father, we ask for Your perfect will in this situation. You know Joy’s heart. You see her pain. Please mend any differences between her and her sisters, and if there’s a way, please let the bakery stay open. Amen.” Noah squeezed her hand then released it.

  Joy dried her eyes with a napkin. In the brief moment he’d held her hand, she had never felt closer to anyone, including Henry. “Danki for praying.”

  He smiled. “You don’t have to thank me.”

  A moment went by when neither of them spoke.

  “So,” she said, fiddling with the corner of the paper napkin. “Do you think we’ll have snow for the sleigh ride?”

  “I hope so. I want to see you twirl around trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue again.”

  She crinkled her brows. “How long were you watching me?”

  He shrugged, then picked up his mug and took a drink.

  Two cups of coffee later, he glanced out the window. “I suppose I should head home before I get snowed in.” He slid back his chair and stood. “Did you have a letter you want me to take back?”

  “Nay.”

  “Oh.” He pushed the empty chair under the table.

  “You look disappointed.”

  “I thought you two were getting along gut.” He shoved his arm into his coat sleeve. “You always seemed excited about exchanging letters. Are you nett pen pals any longer?”

  “I’m just taking a break, is all.”

  His eyes steadied on hers. “If you don’t mind me asking, was there something said that offended you?”

  “Nay, but why are you so curious? And even if something was wrong, I wouldn’t tell you.” Now she understood why he’d stopped by. It wasn’t to see her—it was to spy on her.

  “Wh
y wouldn’t you tell me?” His expression hardened.

  True, she had shared just about everything else about her life with him. Still, he was merely the messenger. She picked up the dirty dishes and crossed the room with him following.

  “Joy, what’s wrong?”

  She set the dishes on the counter and spun to face him. “Those letters are personal.”

  “So something was said that upset you.” His eyes bored into hers.

  “Noah, don’t pry. This isn’t your business.”

  Based on his raised brows, her sharp words had gotten his attention. He opened his mouth as though he was going to respond, then closed it. He turned, shaking his head. When he reached the door, he stopped. “I didn’t mean to kumm across as prying. I was only curious.” He watched her a brief moment, then turned and left.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Guilt pelted Noah’s conscience during the ride home. He had the opportunity to tell Joy that he was her pen pal and he couldn’t bring himself to do it, not when she seemed so adamant about stopping the letter exchange. He dare not think about how she would react when she found out.

  Lord, in the short time I’ve known Joy, my feelings have grown. I believe she might be the woman I’ve been waiting for. I can’t keep this farce going. I have to find out why she stopped writing the letters.

  Noah’s mind churned over the conversation with Joy the remainder of the ride home, as he completed the barn chores, and even while he worked in his shop on a special project.

  The door opened, and his sister entered carrying a plate. “Mamm wanted me to bring you some supper.” Stella set the plate on the worktable. “Is everything okay?”

  “Jah, why?” He continued scoring the rose-colored glass with the cutter.

  “I think the last time you missed supper you were spending a lot of time with Ruby.”

  He set the blade on the table and glanced sideways at his sister. “You can tell Mamm that I’m nett courting Ruby. I’m trying to finish a project before Christmas.”

  “Mamm sent me out with chicken potpie, nett to pester you for the name of the girl you’ve been seeing.” Stella leaned closer and smiled. “So what’s her name?”