Katie had also brought from her room a few other special gifts … one for her mother, and two others, one for Winnie and one for Anna. A part of her was as eager as a child to share her offerings.
But was it appropriate to exchange gifts now, with guests nearby? She looked to her parents for guidance.
As if he could read her mind, her father nodded slowly. “I think opening a few gifts right now would be a fine idea. Though much has been happening around here, it is still Christmas Day. We can’t lose sight of that.”
“I agree,” her mother said. “Once again, we have much to be thankful for. The snow and ice only serve to highlight that.”
Hannah clapped her hands as she scampered out of the room. “I’ll go find everyone and bring them in here.”
Katie chuckled as she followed her parents to the hearth room. Moments later, Jonathan came in with a load of wood, Zack, Henry, and Sam behind him.
“Daed!” Mary called out. “It’s time to open my presents.”
“Who says?”
“Daadi—Grandpa, that’s who.”
Jonathan’s face turned serious. “Then I guess I had best do as he says, yes?” After sharing a smile with Katie, he said, “Let me wash my hands and get more coffee. The weather outside near froze me through.”
When Sam and Henry mentioned they would do the same, Katie stood up and walked to Zack. “I hope you don’t mind that we have a bit of family time now? Of course, if you’d like, you’d be most welcome to join us.”
Zack waved off her remarks with a lopsided grin. “This is a time just for family, I think. I’d be sad if you put off opening presents because we’re here. I just wanted to tell you that I was going to help myself to coffee and then go find Leah.”
“She’s in with Melody and Levi,” Anna supplied.
“I’ll go there, then.”
As Winnie entered the room, Katie’s mother spoke to Zack. “Please help yourself to coffee and some warm cinnamon rolls, too. We’ll have a real breakfast soon, with eggs and potatoes and sausages.”
“No worries,” Zack said over his shoulder as he left. “Those rolls smell so good, I’m sure they’ll suit me fine.”
Soon, it was just their wonderful extended family again. Katie held Eli while Jonathan chatted with Mary and Hannah. Nearby Anna and Henry sat together, looking for all the world like a pair of newlyweds. Every so often, Anna would sneak a glance Henry’s way and he would smile back. Or pat her shoulder.
On the other side of the room sat Winnie and Sam. Their marriage never failed to make Katie smile. While Anna and Henry’s relationship might be classified as more tender and circumspect, Winnie and Sam’s marriage seemed to be filled with talk and teasing. Samuel’s brilliant mind had sparked a curiosity in Winnie that Katie hadn’t ever realized was under the surface. Now she seemed most interested in just about everything around her, and that curiosity seemed to suit Samuel just fine.
As at that very moment—sitting there across from Katie, the pair was teasing each other about Winnie’s proposed garden, and what to plant first. She noticed that Sam was holding Winnie’s hand in between the both of his while they traded barbs.
Finally, near the fireplace, sat her parents. It was no exaggeration to say they were the heart and soul of her family. Though they’d been up as late as everyone else, their expressions were bright as they watched Mary and Hannah chat up a storm and wiggle with anticipation.
Once everyone was settled, it was time to exchange gifts. Standing up, her father walked to the corner behind the fireplace and pulled out a beautiful walking stick. The top was hand carved into an octagon shape. Just like the other canes and sticks he carved, at first glance it looked deceptively simple, then further inspection revealed true craftsmanship.
He cleared his throat. “Jonathan, I made this for you.”
Her husband looked at the cane with a bit of awe. “Danke. It’s a beautiful piece of work.”
Henry—being Henry—seemed to not be able to refrain from teasing. “Daed, are you starting to worry about Jonathan gettin’ around all right? He is getting older …”
“I only worry about him when my grandson is up in the middle of the night fussing. And fussing.”
Jonathan chuckled, too. “On nights like that, I feel like I am in dire need of a cane!”
Hannah jumped up. “Do we need to wait much longer to open our presents?”
“Not another minute,” Katie said. “Go open them now.”
As she’d expected, the girls looked pleased with their new nightgowns and overjoyed to have robes from a department store … the fabric was incredibly soft, just like a newborn lamb’s coat.
But Katie found her eyes widening with the girls when they opened the next two presents … baby dolls. Not ‘Amish’ handmade ones, either. These were real looking, with eyes and soft smiles. They looked so dear. “Mamm, you spoil them.”
“Not so much.” With a gentle smile at the girls, she said, “I thought you might enjoy having your own babies for a bit.”
“Just like Eli!”
“Except these won’t fuss as much or as loudly,” Mary added.
With her heart swelling with love and pride, Katie opened up the lid to her sewing basket and pulled out the star quilt she’d labored over for so many nights. “Mary, this is for you. A Christmas quilt.”
Mary’s eyes widened as she examined the colorful, bright star. “Oh, Katie! How did you make it without me seeing?”
Jonathan grunted. “In the middle of the night.”
Mary ran a hand over the quilt again, making Katie realize that all her hard work was worth every minute. “I love it. It’s wunderbaar!”
Anna came over and knelt next to Mary. “This is truly beautiful work, Katie. Oh, Mary, what a treasure!”
Then, of course, it was time for the girls to hand their grandmother the set of placemats they’d worked so hard to piece together and stitch carefully.
Winnie and Samuel gave each other packets of seeds.
Anna gave Henry a shirt. “I made it myself,” she declared proudly. “And this one, I actually think you’ll be able to wear!”
Henry held it up in front of him. “Ah. Yes, this time the arms are the same length,” he said. “Danke, my liewe.”
As Katie watched everyone exchange their simple gifts to each other, her whole being filled with joy. This was what she’d been looking forward to when they’d all planned to spend a week together at the inn. Time together.
“Mamm,” Mary ventured, “did you get Daed anything?”
They’d already agreed not to exchange gifts. With Eli’s birth, and the chance for all to be here at the inn, Katie knew there wouldn’t be a single other thing in the world that she needed.
But it was Jonathan who answered. “A little over a year ago, when Katie agreed to marry me, she gave me her heart and reminded me about togetherness again. She’s given me joy and trust.”
She looked at her husband with happiness. Oh, but he was such a good man. A kind one. “I feel the same way,” she said.
Then, to her surprise, he stood up, left the room, and returned with a cloak. A beautifully made cloak in black, with a soft lining, too. “But I did think you could use a new cloak, Katie. This one should keep you warm all winter long. You and the babe,” he whispered.
She knew the coat symbolized so many things. It would cover her body and keep her warm. It symbolized the shelter she’d so often yearned for years ago.
And every time she would put it over her shoulders, she knew she’d remember the joy of this day. “I love it,” she said simply. Then, she reached out to him and nodded.
Positively beaming with pride, he reached for her hand and looked around the room again. “Just last night, Katie told me she had yet another present for me … a new baby is on the way.”
The room erupted in cheers as Anna and Winnie rushed forward, followed by Katie’s mother and father.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Winnie exclaimed
.
“I don’t know. At first, I didn’t want to believe it was true. Then I wanted to first tell Jonathan …” She sighed as a lump formed in her throat. “And, truthfully, I was worried. I wasn’t too happy about having another child so soon.”
“And now?” Winnie searched her gaze. Katie instinctively knew that her sister-in-law would do anything she possibly could to make things easier.
“Now I realize I’ve been silly. I should have given up my burdens to the Lord, to Jonathan, and to all of you. With your help, nothing is too great a burden.”
Her mother wiped her eyes. “I have to say, this has been a wonderful-gut Christmas already. Melody’s baby was born, and now your news, too!”
After another round of hugs, Henry wrapped an arm around Anna. “Daed? Will you now make our Christmas complete?”
“Of course. But, I wonder if perhaps we should ask our guests if they’d care to join us?”
Henry got to his feet. “I’ll go ask.”
Twenty minutes later, the room was even more crowded. Zack and Leah had come in, their jeans and sweatshirts looking cozy and warm. Next to Leah sat Melody in a thick flannel nightgown and Katie’s fleece robe. Holding little Faith was Levi, his expression one of wonder … and for the first time … hope.
“Yes, this feels like the right time now,” her father murmured. “I’ll get our good Book.”
As he had for as long as she could remember, her father stood up, walked across the room, and picked up his Bible. Though Henry had been sitting right next to it, and it would have been an easy thing for him to reach over and snatch it from the desktop, Katie knew Henry would not have grasped the Book without his father’s asking any more than she ever would have. It wasn’t how they did things.
It wasn’t their family’s way.
Every Christmas Day, in the evening, after everyone had eaten a wonderful-gut dinner with all their favorites, and after the children had opened a present or two, their father would take down the Bible and read from the book of Luke.
But now it felt like the time was right there, on this special morning. Sitting curled up next to their father, Mary and Hannah watched their adopted grandfather carefully slip on his reading glasses and turn back the pages.
And though Katie knew what he was about to say—though she could practically have recited the text on her own—she found herself leaning forward in anticipation of the story. Just like the girls did.
Just as she did so long ago.
Her daed cleared his throat. “And so it was,” he began. “In those days a decree went out from the Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.”
As he continued to read the Bible story, a wondrous sense of peace settled over her. This was what Christmas was all about—Jesus’s birth. This is what she should have been focusing on. Not her own selfish wishes. Not her troubles.
She should have been focusing on the joy of her savior’s birth, and the miracle of his life.
Later, her father said the words she knew so well. “In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
As he continued, Katie looked toward Henry, who smiled as well. Then she turned to her husband, whom she loved so very dearly. Whom she’d loved for what felt like all her life.
He looked right back. Love and patience filled his eyes. And happiness.
She’d been so silly. He was happy about a new baby to love, not upset at the burden! At that moment, she knew that he would support her no matter what, and would willingly change his life to better accommodate hers.
“Later,” she mouthed. Yes, later, they would sit alone and make plans again. Together, they would figure out how to manage everything.
They would have plenty of time for that. And time to give thanks, too.
Chapter 27
December 26, 9:00 A.M.
Levi stood in the front entryway next to Melody as the Brennemans bustled about. For the last hour, everyone had been doing their best to help get all of Melody’s belongings together. Now Zack and Leah were outside, preparing Zack’s truck to hold an additional two passengers.
He’d been unwilling to leave her side for a minute.
So as everyone else rushed around, Levi watched over Melody and tiny Faith … and tried not to look too despondent.
As quickly as Christmas had come upon them, it was now over. As was Melody’s visit to the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast.
And though Melody had originally planned to stay longer, Levi knew it made perfect sense for her to leave with her girlfriend and the highway patrolman. If Melody stayed another day, she would be forced to return on the bus alone.
That, of course, would not be good. This way, Melody would be watched over by two caring people. And, of course, it would be far safer for tiny Faith to travel in Zack’s truck than in the crowded bus.
Yes, it made perfect sense. It was right for Melody to leave with Zack and Leah this morning.
Of course.
But Levi was still anticipating her loss like a physical thing. He’d hoped for more time with her. To give Melody more opportunities to get to know him. And to want to see him again.
As Melody shifted Faith in her arms, he turned to her. “Are you sure you don’t want to sit down? I could pull over a chair from the parlor.”
“I’m certain. It feels gut to stand up for a bit. And I’ll be sitting for hours soon enough. It’s a mighty long drive back to Kentucky.”
Yes, it was very far. So terribly far from his own home.
“Yes. I imagine it is.” It took Levi everything he had to keep his expression neutral and his voice even. “Are you sure you don’t need to stay another day or two? Perhaps Leah could be persuaded to stay longer if you needed that time. Then you could both travel on the bus.”
Genuine regret filled her gaze. “I can’t ask that of her. And once more, I don’t think I should. Zack needs to get back. So does Leah. If I leave with them, they can take me.”
Yes, it did make perfect sense. But already his heart felt close to breaking. They hadn’t had enough time together.
“It might be a mistake to travel, but, Levi, I’m beginning to realize this whole trip was probably a mistake.”
Her words hit him like a blow to his stomach. “You truly wish you had never come here?”
She winced. “Oh, I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I’m glad I was here to meet you. Mighty glad. But you have to admit, yesterday was a scary time. Never would I have guessed that I was going to give birth in the middle of a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.”
To say it had been a shock was putting it mildly. But it had been a day of miracles, too. With Faith’s birth, he’d been able to bury some of the guilt he’d been carrying around about Rosanna’s death.
It was now obvious that there was nothing else he could have done. For reasons known only to the Lord, he’d decided to take Rosanna to his heart early.
And now, he’d gifted Melody with a wide band of people who cared about her and prayed with her. And Levi. He felt a strong pull. More than ever, Levi was certain a future with Melody was God’s will. It was his greatest desire as well.
It took everything he had not to reach out and touch her. Not to smooth away the stray lock of hair that had fallen on her forehead. But it wasn’t his place. Not yet, anyway.
Levi noticed the hustle and bustle around them had finally slowed. “Perhaps everyone is just about ready now.”
She bit her lip. “Yes. It does seem that way. And that’s probably a good thing, right?”
“Since it’s a long journey.”
“Yes. It’s a day’s journey under the best of conditions …”
“And it’s certainly not that now,” he finished for her.
“No, it’s not.” Melody drew a ragged breath, obviously trying not to cry
. “I imagine we’ll be all right, though. Zack’s truck has heat, and the Brennemans have packed me a little tote full of things for Faith.” Turning her head, she gazed at her baby again. “It’s lucky that Katie was here, and that she and her mother had diapers and clothes for a newborn.”
“It was lucky, indeed.”
With effort, Levi forced himself to act detached. It wouldn’t do for him to act too forward. It would be wrong of him to ask her to stay.
Yes. What she was doing made perfect sense. Plus, she needed to return home. Her parents needed to know about Faith’s birth. They were no doubt worried about her.
Clearly, the only reason for her to stay would be his selfishness. Pure and simple, he wanted another day with her.
He wanted more for his memories. And, of course, he wanted more time to perhaps encourage her to think of him in her life. To imagine him being a part of her life, as she was in his. Levi knew Melody was now such an integral part of his being, she would never leave. Her image could never be erased.
Whatever plans God had for him, no matter what, no matter what happened in the future, Levi knew without a doubt that his heart belonged to a petite woman from Kentucky.
Leah blew in. “I think we’re all set. Zack already has your suitcase. Henry carried it out the back door and handed it to him.”
“So all we have left is my bag here.”
Leah picked up the shopping bag and her tote. “Done. Now, the only thing left to do is gather up you and Faith.”
With another long look at Levi, Melody rearranged Faith in her arms again. Fussing with the blanket, making sure the babe was as toasty as she could be for the short walk to Zack’s truck. “I suppose I’m all set, now.”
Levi felt like his mouth was full of cotton. No words were able to escape. As Leah led the way, Melody and Faith followed, and he trailed behind. At a loss.
The Brenneman family was waiting for them.
Tears filled Mrs. Brenneman’s eyes as she approached first. “Oh, Melody. I can’t believe we’re telling you goodbye already. What a blessing it was for you to come here.”
Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel Page 18