by Amy Clipston
“Gut.” Chris shrugged. “I had a few customers. I sold some key chains and took an order for a few saddles.”
“Great. I told Leroy you could handle the store just fine.” Onkel Hank’s eyes moved to the worktable, and the muscles in Chris’s neck tightened as apprehension nipped at him.
“What do you have here?” Onkel Hank picked up the coin purse Chris had finished. He ran his fingers over the horse and buggy design, and his eyes widened.
Anxiety and fear writhed in Chris’s gut. He prepared himself for the criticisms and reprimand. He imagined himself packing up his clothes and purchasing a bus ticket to Ohio.
“Christopher, did you make this?” Onkel Hank turned his gaze on Chris.
Chris nodded, willing himself not to grimace in anticipation.
Onkel Hank dropped onto the stool beside him. “Did you draw the horse and buggy freehand or did you trace it?”
“I, uh, drew it.”
“This is fantastic. You’re a natural!”
Chris gaped. I’m a natural?
The bell over the door chimed as Leroy entered the shop.
“Leroy!” Onkel Hank hollered. “Get over here and see what Christopher made.”
Leroy sidled up to Hank and they both stared down at the coin purse with their eyes wide.
“Wow!” Leroy looked at Chris. “Did you make this today?”
“Ya.” Chris moved his hand over the edge of the worktable as he spoke. “A couple of customers have asked for souvenirs featuring horses and buggies on them, so I thought I could add a design to the coin purse and then maybe try it on a wallet. I was also thinking about designing a key chain.”
“How did you learn to do this?” Onkel Hank asked. “Tell the truth, now. Did you already know how to do leatherwork, but you didn’t want to tell me?”
“No, no.” Chris shook his head. “I didn’t know anything about leatherwork until I came here, but I found a couple of your leatherworking books on the shelf in the schtupp, and I looked at them on Sunday.” He pointed to the piece of paper. “I copied the instructions and I thought I would give it a try.”
Leroy and Onkel Hank examined the coin purse again and then exchanged glances. Chris held his breath. Even if they liked what he’d done, he’d still acted without asking if it was okay.
“This is brilliant,” Onkel Hank said. “Why didn’t you ever think of this, Leroy?”
He shrugged. “I thought you were the brains of this operation, but apparently Chris is.”
“Do you realize how many of these we’re going to sell?” Onkel Hank set the coin purse on the worktable and then squeezed Chris’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you came to work for us.”
Surprise seized Chris’s words, and he stared dumbly at his uncle.
“Are you all right, son?” Onkel Hank asked. “You look perplexed.”
“I didn’t think you’d approve because I didn’t ask permission.”
Onkel Hank’s bushy eyebrows drew together. “Why would I be angry with you for using your creativity to help boost sales?”
Chris gave a half-shrug.
“Christopher, I trust you to help us make decisions that will improve sales.” Onkel Hank’s smile returned. “How many of these can you make before the end of the day?”
Relief eased the tension in Chris’s back. “I don’t know. Maybe four?”
“Well, we’d better get started,” Leroy chimed in. “Why don’t you draw another copy of that horse and buggy so Hank and I can help you?”
EMILY’S THOUGHTS LINGERED ON HER CONVERSATION WITH Chris as she hung the laundry on the clothesline. Although she was excited about finishing his quilt and planning his birthday party, she also wanted to do something else nice for him. What could she do to make his week better? What could brighten his day and help him cope with his grief and the issues with his father?
As she pinned a pair of her father’s trousers to the line, an idea filtered through her mind. Chris had told her more than once that his father was critical of his work on the horse farm. She could leave him encouraging notes at the shop. Her notes could help Chris realize he was worthy of praise and capable of being a productive contributor to her father’s business.
She smiled as she moved the clothesline and then lifted another pair of trousers from the large basket. She would find her favorite stationery and start writing notes this afternoon. Certainly this would help Chris’s self-esteem and show him how much he meant to her.
“ARE YOU GOING TO JOIN US FOR SUPPER?”
Chris jumped with a start when Aenti Tillie’s voice sounded beside him. He gave her a bashful smile as he looked up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. You were so engrossed in your project I didn’t know if I should say anything or just leave.” She lifted one of the completed coin purses from the table and gasped. “Hank is right. The new coin purse design is gorgeous.”
“He told you about it?”
“Ya, he’s been raving ever since he came in for supper.” She hopped up on the stool next to him. “How long are you going to work tonight?”
“I just want to finish this one. I promised Onkel Hank five, and this is the last one.” Chris turned his focus back to his work.
“You do realize you can finish this tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to let Onkel Hank down.” He worked in silence for a few moments, but he could feel his aunt observing him. He could almost hear her thoughts. He finally peered up at her brown eyes. “Why don’t you just tell me what you’re thinking?”
Aenti Tillie gripped the side of the stool with her hands and leaned forward. “Hank told me you were worried he’d be upset with you because you decided to try designing something new without asking him first.”
“That’s right. This isn’t my business, and I didn’t pay for the supplies. I didn’t want to waste his budget on a dumb idea.”
“Why would you think it’s a dumb idea?”
Chris set his beveller on the table. “I don’t know. I’m new at this business, and I figured my ideas might be things Onkel Hank and Leroy tried in the past but failed miserably. I didn’t want to upset Onkel Hank and then lose my job.”
“Did you really think your onkel would fire you?”
Chris didn’t respond.
“Christopher, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a while.”
“All right.”
Her eyes were hesitant. “I’ve gotten the impression that you’ve fallen out with your dat.”
Chris swallowed and took in her eyes, unsure of where she was going with this conversation.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
He gave her a slight nod. “Ya. That’s true.”
“I don’t know what happened, and you don’t have to tell me unless you want to. I just want you to know that Hank and I are froh you’re here. We couldn’t have any kinner of our own, so we cherish the time we can spend with you. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind or offer your suggestions to Hank. He thinks the world of you.”
“Danki.” Chris’s tone was strained with both surprise and appreciation.
She touched his arm. “You should come eat now. It’s almost six thirty. You can finish that tomorrow.”
“I’m almost done. I won’t be much longer.”
Aenti Tillie stood. “All right. I’ll reheat your food when you come in.”
“Danki,” he said as she walked toward the door. “Aenti Tillie?”
“Ya?” She spun to face him.
“I left a message for mei mamm last night. I let her know I’m okay.”
“Gut. I’m glad to hear that. She’ll be froh to hear your voice.” She pushed open the door and then looked over her shoulder at him. “Don’t work too late.”
The door clicked shut behind her, and his aunt’s words rolled through his mind as Chris continued working on the coin purse. He was overwhelmed by her compliments about his leatherworking talent, and for th
e first time he started believing that maybe he wasn’t a disappointment after all.
Chris smiled. And maybe, just maybe, leatherworking was his true calling.
CHAPTER 15
TUESDAY MORNING CHRIS YAWNED AS HE ENTERED THE HARNESS shop. He nodded a greeting to Onkel Hank as he spoke to a customer at the front of the store. Then he continued to the work area, sat on his usual stool, and opened his tool case. A pink envelope with his name written across the front in neat, slanted handwriting sat on top of the tools. He immediately recognized the penmanship from the record books. He opened the envelope and read a note written on matching, light pink paper.
Chris,
Don’t forget you are schmaert and talented. You can do anything you set your mind to doing. Have a gut day. I’ll see you soon.
Sincerely,
Em
Chris smiled as he read and reread the note. Then he put the letter back into the envelope, folded it, and slipped it into his pocket. The words echoed through his mind as he spent the morning creating more coin purses with the horse and buggy design. Gratitude filled him as he imagined Emily writing such a thoughtful note. Her friendship was a blessing, and he was thankful he came to Bird-in-Hand.
WEDNESDAY MORNING CHRIS FOUND ANOTHER NOTE SITTING on his stool. He opened the pink envelope and peered down at Emily’s pretty handwriting.
Chris,
You are a gifted leatherworker, and mei dat and your onkel are grateful to have your help at the harness shop. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Em
His insides warmed as he read the words again, committing them to memory.
“What have you got there, son?” Leroy sat down on the stool beside him.
“Oh, it’s just a note.” Chris quickly slipped it back into the envelope and pushed it into his pocket.
“Emily said she had something for you. She asked me to put it on your stool this morning. She said it was important.”
Important. Chris let the word roll around in his mind for a moment. Yes, Emily was important to him too. “Danki.”
“Gern gschehne. So can I help you make more coin purses?”
“That would be great.” Chris touched his pocket before he started working.
THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY AFTERNOON CHRIS STEPPED OUT OF the harness shop and headed for Onkel Hank’s house. He breathed in the cool autumn air and smiled. Emily had left him notes for the past four days. He found them either in the toolbox or on his stool. Each morning after reading the new note, he tucked it into his pocket and mentally recited it during the day. Her words gave him confidence that he could do a good job for his uncle and Leroy.
This morning’s note was just as encouraging as the others.
Chris,
Don’t forget I believe in you, and don’t forget to believe in yourself. Your leather creations are a blessing to your customers. I’m grateful to be your freind.
Sincerely,
Em
Chris touched his pocket where the note was securely stowed. When he went to his bedroom later this evening, he would add it to the pile he kept tucked in the top drawer of his bureau. Some nights when he awakened from a nightmare, he’d retrieve the notes and reread them while imagining Emily’s sweet voice reciting them to him. Her sentiment and confidence in him touched him deeply.
He’d spoken to Emily briefly yesterday afternoon when she came to the shop to work on the accounting books, but he didn’t have the confidence to mention her thoughtful notes. He’d wanted to thank her, but he wasn’t certain how to put his appreciation into words. How could he possibly express how much her encouragement and confidence in him had affected him? He had to thank her the next time he saw her so she’d know how much her notes meant to him.
Chris climbed the porch steps, and as he yanked open the door, he heard Emily in the distance.
“Chris!” Emily rushed down the rock path toward him.
“Hi, Em.” He let the door click shut and then met her at the bottom of the steps. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” She rested her hand on the porch railing. “I’ve been so busy this week I haven’t seen you much, and I wanted to join you for lunch today. But I had to help my mother prepare for a dinner tonight. Did you have a gut day?”
“I did.” Chris touched his pocket where today’s note was stashed. Then he took a deep breath. “Danki for the notes you’ve left me.”
She smiled. “You like them?”
“I do. I like them a lot.” He leaned against the railing. “They mean a lot to me. I’ve kept every one. Danki for thinking of me.”
“Gern gschehne. I didn’t want you to forget you’re doing a gut job. Mei dat thinks a lot of you.” She paused. “I think a lot of you too.”
His pulse dashed as he looked into her deep blue eyes. “I think a lot of you too, Em.”
“Emily!” Mattie appeared on her back porch. “The group is here already.” She waved. “Hi, Chris!”
Chris returned the wave before Mattie disappeared into the house. A van steered into the driveway and parked by the Fishers’ back porch, and disappointment wafted over Chris. “You have to go.”
Emily sighed with a frown. “I was hoping to have more time to talk.” Her face brightened. “I can bring you lunch at the harness shop next week. Does that sound gut?”
“That sounds perfect.” He touched her arm. “I look forward to it.”
“Great. I’ll make something nice, and we can talk then.”
“I can’t wait.” Chris beamed as Emily hustled back down the rock path. He couldn’t wait to have a chance to talk to her again.
EMILY SET THE PICNIC BASKET ON THE WORKTABLE MONDAY afternoon and then perched on the stool next to Chris. “I have some really important questions for you, Chris. I’ve been thinking if we’re going to be good freinden, then I need to know more about you.”
He arched an eyebrow as a playful smile teased the corners of his lips. “All right, Em. What do you want to know?” He looked charming. She loved when he played along with her silly banter.
“Well, let’s see.” She pretended to contemplate important questions as she pulled out two roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and bottles of water. Chris’s birthday was Friday and she’d been planning his surprise party for two weeks. She only needed one small piece of information—his favorite kind of ice cream. “I don’t know what your favorite color is.”
“Blue.” His eyes challenged her. “What else?”
“I don’t know what your favorite season and month are.”
“Autumn and October.” He folded his arms over his muscular chest. “Anything else?”
“Hmm. I need to think.” She pretended to count down a real list on her fingers. “I don’t know much about your food preferences.”
“I love anything you bring me for lunch. I’d eat dirt if it meant I could spend time with you.”
“Eww.” She scrunched her nose in disgust, and he laughed out loud. Oh, how she enjoyed his laugh! “I promise I will never bring you dirt for lunch.”
“That’s fine, but you look cute when you make that face.” His smile was bright, and his eyes were blue-green today.
“What is your favorite meal?”
“Hmm.” He tapped his chin. “I’d say chili.”
“Chili? Do you like it super spicy or just medium spicy?”
“Medium is fine.”
“Uh-huh.” She made a mental note. She could bring him chili for lunch on Friday.
“What else do you want to know about me?” he asked, his eyes still challenging her.
For a moment, Emily was lost in those eyes, and lost in thought. She wished she’d had more time to be with Chris this week.
“Em?” Chris looked at her intently.
Heat blazed a trail up her neck to her ears. “Ya?”
“Do you want to pray before you ask me more questions?”
“Ya, that sounds gut.” She bowed her head in silent prayer. After the
prayer, she handed him a sandwich and then passed the bag of chips.
“I’m on the edge of my stool waiting for your next question,” Chris teased, unwrapping his sandwich.
“Okay.” She snatched a chip from the bag. “Cake or ice cream?”
“Both.”
He was making this easy. “What kind of ice cream?”
“Oh, that’s a tough one because I love ice cream in general.” He ran his hand down his opposite arm as he peered up at the ceiling. “I would say my favorite ice cream flavor is cookies and cream.”
“Do you like chocolate cake with chocolate icing?”
He paused before answering, and she held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t figure out the true reason for her questions.
“Ya, chocolate cake with chocolate icing.” He lifted his sandwich and took a bite.
Emily beamed. She could handle making a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, but now she had to determine what to get him for a gift. She’d ask Tillie for suggestions later today.
“Now I get to ask you the same questions.” He sipped from his bottle of water. “This is appeditlich, by the way.”
“I’m glad you like it.” She took a bite of her sandwich.
“All right.” He set the bottle down on the table. “Favorite color?”
“Pink,” she said easily, grabbing another chip.
“Season and month?”
“Hmm.” She silently debated if she enjoyed fall or spring more. “That’s a tough one, but I’ll go with autumn and October.”
“Why did you pick the same season and month I did?”
“I’m sitting here with you and it’s currently October.” She shrugged. “That makes it my favorite season and month.”
He grinned. “Danki. So what was next? Ice cream or cake?”
“Strawberry ice cream and—”
“Strawberry?” His handsome face held an ambiguous look. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “Now, what about your favorite cake?”
“Wait a minute.” She held up her hand. “What were you going to say?”