by Nan Rossiter
As Asa softly sang the last words of the beautiful hymn, he looked around at the many faces illuminated by candlelight ... and realized that each one had a story to tell. He was not the only one who had seen tragedy or known heartache—the little church was overflowing with people who had faced life’s trials ... and persevered. He was surrounded by people who, despite the burdens they carried, longed to celebrate the blessing of Christ’s birth. Asa gazed at all of the kind and weary, innocent and solemn, reverent and peaceful faces around him ... and as he did, he felt an odd lightness fill his heart. It was as if the burden of sorrow and guilt that, for so long, had permeated every aspect of his life ... was lifting. Asa stood in silence, watching the glistening snow fall outside the window and realized, in amazement, that coming to this sacred place ... on this wondrous night ... had brought healing and peace to his heart.
The hymn ended ... the candles extinguished ... and the congregation waited, shrouded in silent darkness and wonder. A moment later, the chandeliers glowed brightly, the organ came to life, and robust voices filled the air ... “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!”
From the balcony, the regal sound of a trumpet joined in, declaring the majesty of the moment, and the little New England church vibrated with joy and excitement. Noah looked up in awe, grinning from ear to ear ... and Asa smiled and brushed back his tears.
The organ continued to play as the congregation filed out into the snowy night. “Merry Christmas!” was repeated over and over as parishioners shook hands and gave hugs. The old minister shook Noah’s hand and said, “You are, by far, the best bell ringer we’ve ever had!”
Noah nodded in agreement and said, “I know!”
Samuel laughed, picked him up, and gave him a big hug. They stood in front of the church and Samuel told Asa about a live Nativity that was out on Route 6. Asa eyed his father with suspicion. “Don’t you want to see it, too?”
“Your mother and I saw it last night. Besides, we have an errand to run.”
“Yes, I know. That’s what worries me.”
“You needn’t worry,” Samuel insisted. “We won’t be long.” Asa sighed resignedly. It was obvious he wasn’t going to find out anything more.
There was a small crowd already gathered around the fenced-in area, but by the time Asa found a place to park, some folks were getting ready to leave.
Maddie climbed out and Noah jumped into her arms. “Wow! John’s right. You are heavy!” she exclaimed.
“Wait until I have dessert!” he said with a grin. “I’ve got plenty of room now.”
“Me, too,” Asa agreed. “I can’t wait for a piece of those pies.”
Maddie smiled. “Well, I bought cream for whipped cream, but I’m afraid I left it home in the fridge.”
“I bet we have some,” Asa assured her.
Everyone at the fence was quiet as they walked over, and Noah’s eyes grew wide when he saw what they were looking at: there was a beautiful russet-brown cow contentedly munching on hay, and her speckled calf was curled up nearby; there were two curly white lambs nosing around in an almost empty grain trough, and a fuzzy goat was getting a drink from the water trough; under the sturdy wooden manger there were two geese curled up side by side ... and right beside them was a duck with her head tucked under her wing. The humans in the crèche were not real but had been so beautifully made and illuminated that they appeared lifelike. The animals nosed about peacefully and seemed completely unaware of the gathering at the fence. Noah quietly watched the scene for several minutes and then whispered, “Was it snowing in Bethlehem that night?”
Asa smiled and said, “I don’t think so.” He picked Noah up and felt him shiver. “Are you cold?”
Noah nodded and Asa said, “Well, I guess we better get going then.” When they got back to the truck, Asa pulled a blanket from behind the seat and Maddie tucked it around Noah ... and, by the time they reached the house, he was sound asleep. Asa carried him inside, still cocooned in the blanket, and gently laid him on the couch in front of the fireplace. Then he knelt on the hearth, opened the damper, and struck a match to light the crumpled paper. As the flames curled upward and licked at the kindling, Asa swept the hearth with a small broom and fanned the tentative flame. Before long, a cheerful fire was crackling away, taking the chill from the air. Asa stood, took off his jacket, laid it on the end of the couch, and stood by the fire.
Maddie peered around the kitchen door. “Is Noah still asleep?” she whispered.
Asa nodded and followed her into the kitchen. He looked around and saw that the dish drainer was already full. “Boy, you don’t mess around!”
She smiled and held a towel out to him. “Problem is, I don’t know where anything goes.”
“Me neither, ” he said with a grin.
She gave him a funny look. “You do so!”
He took the towel, still grinning, and began to dry. “So, what do you think my parents are up to?” he asked.
Maddie shook her head as she continued to wash. “I have no idea ... but it seems like your father can hardly contain himself.”
“I know ... that’s what has me worried,” Asa said as he put a pile of dishes back on the shelf. They continued to work, side by side, and, as Asa reached for the utensils, he glanced at Maddie’s pretty profile. She had pulled her chestnut-colored hair back into a ponytail and her cheeks were still rosy from the cold. With her freckles and petite figure, she looked more like a girl than a twenty-four-year-old woman. “By the way,” he said, “I didn’t know you played the piano.”
“Yup,” she said with a grin. “Eight long years of lessons. . .”
“Eight years?! Well, I’m sure the piano in the living room needs tuning—it’s probably been at least twelve years, maybe longer, since it was last played. But you’re welcome to give it a whirl. Noah would love it.”
Maddie put the last glass in the dish drainer. “Are you going to wake him?”
“I think so ... he’ll be disappointed if he misses dessert ... or when you make Glug!”
Maddie grinned. “Oh, I almost forgot! Where did you put the bag?”
“Right there.” Asa pointed to a brown bag tucked behind the pie carrier.
“I’ll need a big pot, too ...”
Asa pulled one out of the drawer below the oven. “Anything else?”
Maddie dried her hands on the towel that Asa was holding and said, “Matches.”
Asa looked puzzled. “Matches?”
“Yup!”
“Hmmm,” he teased. “Sometimes, you’re so mysterious. .
“I know,” she said with a grin. “I like to keep you guessing. . .”
Chapter 7
Asa peered over the back of the couch. Noah was still sound asleep. He laid two more pieces of wood on the fire and reached for the matches on the mantel. As he did, he heard a commotion at the front door. He looked down the hall and saw his father trying to close the door and maneuver up the stairs with a cumbersome cardboard box. His mother was brushing snow from the sleeves of her coat, but, when she saw Asa, she smiled. “It’s really coming down out there!”
“Is it?” Asa said with a suspicious smile. “So, what’s Dad sneaking up the stairs with?”
“He’s not sneaking, dear,” she said with a smile. “If he was sneaking, he wouldn’t be making so much noise.” She hung up her coat and headed for the kitchen. “Did you go see the Nativity?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, we did. It’s pretty neat,” Asa said, following her. “Does Mr. Thompson still own that farm?”
Sarah nodded. “He does, but his son does most of the work now.” She pushed open the kitchen door and stopped suddenly. “Oh, my goodness! Maddie, I didn’t expect you to do all this.”
Maddie smiled at Asa. “I didn’t do it alone ... I had a helper.”
“Well, thank you both very much!”
Samuel pushed the door open behind them, looked around at the kitchen, and shook his head. “Yo
u know, you two, we would’ve liked to have helped with this.”
“No, you wouldn’t have ...” Asa teased.
Samuel was still shaking his head when he peered into the still-empty pot on the stove. “So, Maddie, what’s in this Christmas drink?” he asked, and then using his best up-and-down dialect, added, “I know those Svedes like to keep varm!”
Maddie laughed. “That’s true!” She reached into her bag and produced a half gallon jug of port wine and poured it into the pot. She turned on the burner and said, “I’m cutting the recipe in half because there’re only four of us ... and even that’s probably going to be too much. But we can reheat it tomorrow, too ... if you like it.”
“I like it already!” said Samuel. Then, he looked around. “Where’s Noah?”
“Asleep on the couch,” Asa replied.
“He is? I didn’t even see him.”
“Yup ... I think I better wake him, though,” Asa said, and disappeared into the living room. A moment later, he came back with Noah in his arms, still rubbing his eyes.
Samuel took him from Asa and said, “C’mere, you!” Then he looked at Asa. “You’re lucky he doesn’t wake up in a mood like you used to do.”
“I still do ...” Asa said with a grin.
Noah peered around the kitchen. “Is Maddie making her stuff?” he asked.
“Yup ... do you want to help?” she asked. He nodded sleepily and Asa pulled a chair over near the stove, and Samuel set him on it.
Noah looked in the pot and yawned. “Do we have to measure?”
Maddie reached into the bag, took out the remaining ingredients, set them in front of him, and replied, “Nope, we just have to count.” She opened a pint-size bottle that her father had given her and poured in the contents.
Samuel watched curiously and asked, “Now, what was that?”
Maddie held the bottle out to him. “It’s called akvavit ... or aquavit. It means ‘water of life,’ or some say it means ‘water of the vine.’ It’s a Scandinavian vodka.” Samuel nodded, handed the bottle back, and Maddie went on. “There are different recipes for Glug, but this is the one that my grandfather has always made.”
She looked at her recipe and then at Noah. “Ready?” Noah nodded. “We need four prunes.” Noah counted out the prunes, plopped them in, and watched them pop back up and float to the edge. “Next, we need three dried apricots and a handful of raisins ...” With Maddie supervising, Noah dropped in the dried fruit, nuts, and spices. The last ingredient was a cinnamon stick. And then Maddie said, “Now we let it simmer.”
Samuel smiled. “It smells pretty potent!”
Sarah agreed. “It’s very fragrant ... very Christmassy!”
And Asa asked, “What about the matches?”
Maddie grinned. “We haven’t gotten to that part yet ...”
“Well, while we wait, who’s ready for pie?” Sarah asked.
“Me!” said Noah, hopping down from his chair.
Asa quickly whipped up a small container of cream while Maddie and Sarah cut the pies and put them on plates. “Is everyone having a slice of each?” Sarah asked. She needn’t have asked because a resounding “Yes!” echoed through the kitchen.
They left the Glug to simmer and retreated to the living room to have dessert. Asa pulled a small stool up to the coffee table and Noah, carefully balancing his plate, sat down; he looked up at the tree and smiled. “I think that’s the best tree we’ve ever had!” Then he took a bite of pie and, with his mouth full, said, “And this is the best pumpkin pie, too!” Everyone nodded in agreement, and the only sounds came from forks clinking on plates ... and logs as they settled, snapped, and sizzled.
Finally, Asa scraped his plate clean. “Noah, do you think we should get Maddie to play the piano?” he asked.
Noah’s eyes lit up and he nodded his head enthusiastically.
“Well, how ’bout we finish making the Glug first?” Maddie suggested.
“Okay!” Noah agreed.
“I think I might wait here,” Samuel said sleepily, leaning back in the rocker and closing his eyes.
Asa stood, picked up the plates, and said, “If you do that, you’re going to miss Maddie setting the house on fire.”
Maddie grinned. “I hope not!”
Asa pulled on Samuel’s hand. “C’mon, Grampa. You have to watch, too.”
They gathered in the kitchen around the stove and Maddie brought the Glug to a gentle boil. She measured out a quarter cup of sugar, located the lid to the pot, and looked at Noah. “Would you like to turn off the light?” Noah hopped down, flipped the switch, and then climbed back onto the chair. Maddie paused thoughtfully, concerned about his close proximity to the pot. “Maybe you should back up a little bit.”
Asa said, “I agree!” and hitched Noah onto his hip.
Maddie looked around again. “Everybody ready?”
Samuel teased, “Are you nervous?”
She laughed. “Well, to tell the truth, I’ve never done this part before.”
“You can do it, Maddie!” Noah said encouragingly.
She grinned. “Okay! Here goes!” She spread the sugar across the top of the bubbling mixture, struck a match, and touched it to the air above the pot. A bright blue flame covered the surface of the liquid and Noah’s eyes grew wide. “Cool!” he exclaimed. They watched the blue glow and Maddie couldn’t help but wonder if her family was doing the same thing at home. She smiled and let it burn for a few seconds before covering it with the lid.
“Wow!” Noah said. “That was so cool!”
“Pretty impressive!” Asa agreed. “But ... how does it taste?”
Maddie turned the stove light on and Samuel set out some mugs. “Are these okay?” he asked.
Maddie nodded and Sarah pulled a ladle from the drawer.
Maddie ladled some Glug into each of the mugs and Noah asked, “What about me?”
“I don’t know if you’re going to like it, hon,” Sarah said. “Here, smell mine.” Noah put his nose into the steam rising from his grandmother’s mug and made a funny face. “How ’bout some eggnog, instead?”
“Okay!” Noah agreed.
Samuel watched Maddie cup her hands around her mug and breathe deeply. “Reminds you of home, doesn’t it?” he asked. She nodded with a half smile. “Well, we are very glad you’re here with us!” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
Asa smiled warmly. “Yes, we are ...”
Samuel held up his mug and said, “Skoal!”
And then Maddie couldn’t help but smile. “Skoal!” she replied. They clinked their glasses together and sipped their steaming drinks.
“Whew,” Asa said, shaking his head. “That’ll knock you for a loop!”
“Mmmm,” Sarah said. “It’s wonderful!”
Samuel just smiled and nodded. “Yup, we’re going to need the recipe for this.”
Samuel ushered Maddie and Asa out of the kitchen. “You’ve done enough. Go take the cover off that old piano and see if it still works,” he commanded. “We’ll finish up in here.”
Noah eyed the fireplace as he settled on the couch. “Are you sure the fire won’t bother Santa Claus?” he asked in a worried voice.
Asa laughed. “I’m positive!” He put his drink on the mantel. “Want to help me uncover the piano?”
“Sure!” Noah said, perking up. They pulled off the cover and Noah pushed down on some of the keys.
“Hmmm ...” Maddie said thoughtfully. “You’re right, it is out of tune.” She sat down on the bench and began to play the “Für Elise” while Asa and Noah listened.
“Hey!” Noah exclaimed. “That’s from A Charlie Brown Christmas!”
Maddie smiled and continued to play. “You’re right ... but it’s really Beethoven.”
Noah continued watching, mesmerized by Maddie’s slender fingers dancing along the keys. “I wish I knew how to play,” he said wistfully.
Maddie stopped playing and patted the bench. “C’mon over!” Noah grinned
and slid in next to her. She took his right hand and shook it around a little bit. “You have to relax your hand,” she said. Then she stretched his little fingers across five keys and rested her hand on top of them. “Okay, this is an easy one. Ready?” Noah nodded expectantly and Maddie pressed his middle finger down seven times.
“Hey, that sounds like ‘Jingle Bells’!” he exclaimed as she continued to press down his fingers. When they got to the end, Noah said, “Let’s play it again.”
Maddie happily complied and, this time, said the notes out loud as they played ... eee eee egcde ffff eee dded g eee eee egcde ffff eee gfedc.”
“Okay ... let me try alone.” Maddie took her hand away and Noah started to play. He got as far as Oh what fun ...
Sarah and Samuel came in the room and quietly watched Noah as he concentrated on the keys. When he finished, they clapped and Samuel exclaimed, “Bravo! Bravo! Encore!”
Maddie whispered in Noah’s ear, “Encore means they want you to play it again!” Noah grinned and placed his fingers back on the keys. Maddie looked up at Asa and said, “I think you might have a prodigy on your hands.”
Asa laughed. “Well, he doesn’t get it from me!”
Finally, after about the tenth playing of “Jingle Bells,” Maddie suggested they try something different. She looked at Asa. “I know a few songs, but sheet music would really help. Do you know where there might be some?” They looked in the cabinets, but didn’t find anything, so Maddie began to play “Deck the Halls” from memory. She stopped suddenly and said, “Noah, hop up.” They both got up and Maddie lifted the seat of the bench. Right on top of a pile of papers was a book titled Favorite Christmas Carols. “Here we go!” she said. The room was quiet as she leafed through the book, so when a muffled sound came from upstairs, everyone heard it.
Noah’s eyes grew wide. “What was that?”
Samuel glanced quickly at Sarah and put his mug down. “Probably nothing ... but I’ll go check.” He disappeared up the stairs and Sarah encouraged Maddie to keep playing.