by Amy Clipston
“You didn’t make a fool of yourself,” Lilly said. “You were just immature.”
Naomi nodded. “I know. I pursued Luke in a very unladylike way by running after him and bringing him lunch all the time. I never should’ve chased after him.”
Lilly gave a sad smile. “You didn’t realize you were doing that. You thought you were in love with Luke, but it was really a crush. On the other hand, you didn’t pursue Timothy. He courted you.” She pointed to Naomi for emphasis. “He proposed to you and then changed his mind, breaking your heart in the process.”
“That’s true,” Naomi began, “but I think I went about it all the wrong way with both of them. I was so eager, and I was trying to make my future happen instead of waiting for God’s plan.” She sniffed.
“Ach.” Lilly stood and touched Naomi’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s okay.” Naomi wiped away her threatening tears and shook her head.
“The Kauffmans are members of your church district,” Lilly said softly. “You can’t avoid them unless you stop going to church.”
Naomi leaned against the counter and swiped a cookie from the bucket. “Sometimes I dream of marrying someone from another district, so I don’t have to see them every other Sunday. Is that gegisch?”
Lilly snorted. “Ya, it’s gegisch. How can you marry someone from another district if you don’t visit other districts? Do you think an eligible bachelor will fall from heaven and transport you into another church district?”
Naomi glowered.
“I’m sorry.” Lilly smiled. “Naomi, I’m just trying to tell you that you have every right to go to this cookie exchange. The Kauffmans like you, and they want you there. How will it look if I show up with your sisters and you’re absent?”
“Tell them I’m ill.” Naomi bit into the cookie. “These cookies aren’t half bad.”
“It would be a lie if I told them you’re ill, and lying is a sin. I’m not going to knowingly sin this close to Christmas.” Lilly crossed the kitchen to the doorway heading into the family room. “Lizzie Anne! Levina! Sylvia!” She bellowed each of Naomi’s sisters’ names.
The girls raced into the kitchen, chattering all at once.
“Lilly!” Lizzie Anne, who was fifteen, hugged her. “Wie geht’s?”
“Is it time to go yet?” Sylvia, who was eight, whined. “I want cookies!”
“We’re going to be late!” Levina, who was ten, pulled on her wrap and bonnet and headed out the door, announcing she was ready to go.
Lilly shot Naomi a smile. “Are you ready?”
“No,” Naomi muttered. She snatched her wrap from the peg by the door and moved to the doorway, where she spotted her mother sitting in her favorite chair quilting. “We’re leaving,” she told her mother.
“Have fun,” her mother said with a smile.
“Ya.” Naomi crossed the kitchen and grabbed the bucket of cookies. She instructed Lizzie Anne and Sylvia to carry the two covered dishes to the buggy. “Elam should have the buggy waiting for us. Daed told him to hook it up earlier.”
“Your mamm’s not coming?” Lilly asked as she tied her bonnet under her chin.
“No,” Naomi said, heading for the door. “She has some last-minute quilts to finish. They’re Christmas orders that an English customer is going to pick up later in the week. We’re going to have a quilting bee at Sadie’s on Wednesday to finish them up.” She sighed as her sisters rushed out the door. “Let’s get this over and done with.”
“Naomi,” Lilly began with a condescending smile. “It’s Christmas. Get in the Christmas spirit.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait until this Christmas season is over and we can get back to our normal lives.”
Lilly’s smile faded. “You don’t mean that.”
Frowning, Naomi placed the bucket on the counter. “No, I don’t mean it, really. The kinner are excited.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she suddenly felt like a heel. “I’m very blessed. I have a wunderbaar family and freinden like you. But sometimes I feel selfish and wish I had someone special to share the holidays with.” Clearing her throat, she lifted the bucket. “But that’s a selfish and gegisch thing to say. Let’s go.”
“No, it’s okay.” Lilly touched Naomi’s arm. “You’ll find your special someone.
“Naomi!” Sylvia’s voice shrieked. “It’s cold out here!”
Shaking her head, Naomi headed for the door. She hoped the cookie exchange would be quick and painless.
With her sisters laughing and chattering in the back, Naomi guided the horse as the buggy bounced along the road leading to the Kauffman Amish Bakery. The terrain was hilly, and the roads were winding and rural. Soon she spotted the Kauffman farm with a cluster of large farmhouses set back off the road and surrounded by four barns, along with a large pasture dotted with snow.
The property was owned by Elizabeth and Eli Kauffman, Timothy’s parents, and included their house, Timothy’s house, and Sarah and Luke Troyer’s house. The bakery was the fourth house, the one closest to the road. Timothy and his five siblings had grown up in the biggest house, where his parents still lived.
Naomi steered into the parking lot and brought it to a stop by a row of buggies. A tall sign with Kauffman Amish Bakery in old-fashioned letters hung above the door of the large, white clapboard farmhouse with the sweeping wraparound porch.
Out behind the building was a fenced-in play area, and beyond that was an enclosed field. The three other large large and four barns were set back beyond the pasture. The dirt road leading to the other homes was roped off with a sign declaring: Private Property—No Trespassing. A large paved parking lot sat adjacent to the bakery.
“Cookies!” Sylvia yelled, trotting toward the steps.
“Yay!” Levina chimed in.
“Wait!” Lizzie Anne called. “You can carry something.” She pulled the covered dishes from the back of the buggy. “Here. Take these.”
The girls took the serving platters and hurried toward the bakery.
“Slow down!” Lizzie Anne called. Shaking her head, she hefted the bucket up from the buggy floor.
“Danki,” Naomi said while she and Lilly unhitched the horse. “You take the empty buckets, and I’ll bring the cookies.”
Lizzie Anne started toward the door, carrying the empty buckets that they would fill with cookies. “I’m going to see if Lindsay is here.”
While Lilly led the horse to the pasture to join the other horses, Naomi grabbed the bucket of cookies and started toward the stairs. A sign on the door said: Bakery Closed at 4 p.m. for Private Party.
Lilly fell in step beside her. “Smile, Naomi,” she said as they approached the door. “It’s Christmas.”
Plastering a smile on her face, Naomi yanked the door open and stepped into the bakery. The room was rearranged with a long line of tables placed in the center of the room with piles of cookies lined up from one end to the other. The counter was filled with a variety of covered dishes, which Naomi assumed were desserts other than cookies. Women and girls of all ages were gathered around the table chatting. Naomi inhaled the delicious scents of cookies, cakes, breads, and casseroles.
“Naomi!” Susie yelled as she ran over and reached for the bucket. “Can I help you?”
Naomi couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips. “Hello, Susie.” She handed the little girl the bucket. “Are you certain you can lift this? It’s sort of heavy.”
“I got it.” Susie huffed and puffed, but she couldn’t lift it.
Grinning, Naomi grabbed the handle. “Let me help you.”
“That’s a good idea. We’ll work together.” Susie put her little hand on the handle next to Naomi’s, and they lifted together. Walking slowly, they moved to the table.
“On three, we’ll lift the bucket onto the table,” Naomi said. “One, two, three!”
They hefted the bucket onto an empty spot on the table and began to carefully remove the cookies.
; “Teamwork,” Susie said with a smile.
Elizabeth Kauffman stepped to the center of the room and clapped her hands. “Hello everyone!” she said. “I’m so glad you all could come to our cookie exchange. I’m sure you all remember the rules. We’ll file around the table and fill our buckets until all of the cookies are gone.” She motioned toward the counter behind her. “And then we’ll enjoy our delicious desserts. Frehlicher Grischtdaag!”
Chattering and laughing, the women and girls lined up around the table.
Susie looked up at Naomi. “Can I help you get cookies?”
Naomi’s heart warmed. “I would love it,” she said.
Susie beamed and held up the bucket. “I’ll get us the best cookies.”
Touching Susie’s shoulder, Naomi smiled. “That sounds wunderbaar gut.”
As they moved around the table grabbing cookies, Naomi wondered why Susie had latched onto her when there were a host of other women and Susie’s cousins in the room. And would Susie’s father approve if he saw Susie with her? Her thoughts turned to Susie’s father, and she wondered what he was doing while they filled buckets with cookies.
“This is nice,” Caleb said. He glanced around the showroom of the Kauffman & Yoder Amish Furniture Store and marveled at the dining room sets, bedroom suites, entertainment centers, hutches, end tables, desks, and coffee tables. All were examples of the finely crafted pieces that Timothy and the other carpenters created.
Timothy’s father, Eli, had built the original store with his best friend, Elmer Yoder, before Timothy was born.
“Danki.” Timothy looped an arm around Caleb’s shoulder. “Let’s go in the shop and you can see everyone.”
Timothy led Caleb behind the counter and through the doorway to the center of the work area. Caleb scanned the sea of carpenters and waved at Timothy’s brother, Daniel. The large, open warehouse was divided into nearly a dozen work areas separated by workbenches cluttered with an array of tools.
The sweet scent of wood and stain filled his nostrils. The men working around him were building beautifully designed pieces that would be favorites among Lancaster County tourists and residents alike. Hammers banged and saw blades whirled beneath the hum of diesel-powered air compressors.
Eli approached and shook Caleb’s hand. “Wie geht’s?”
“I’m doing well,” Caleb said. “This is a wunderbaar shop you have. It’s bigger, and the furniture is still schee.”
“Danki.” Eli folded his arms and glanced around. “We’re pleased with it. Business has been very gut this year. The Lord is gut to us.”
Daniel approached with another man at his side. “Caleb! This is Luke Troyer, my sister Sarah’s husband. Luke, this is a dear old friend, Caleb Schmucker. He abandoned us and moved to Ohio several years ago.”
Caleb chuckled as he shook Luke’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, and I didn’t abandon anyone.”
Luke laughed. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Caleb builds buggies,” Timothy said. “He’s known in Middlefield as one of the best.”
Caleb waved off the comment. “You’re exaggerating.”
“We could use your talent around here,” Timothy said.
“You should have your own shop.” Daniel patted Caleb’s shoulder. “You need to move back here.”
“That’s funny,” Caleb nodded. “I keep hearing that.”
“I’m serious,” Daniel continued. “Did you see that shop just down the road?” He pointed in the direction of the showroom. “It’s not far from here. An Englisher owns it.” He glanced at Eli. “What’s his name?”
“Parker,” Eli said, rubbing his beard. “Riley Parker.”
Daniel snapped his fingers. “Right! He’s been trying to sell it for quite a while. I bet you could get a great deal on it.”
“That’s a great idea,” Luke chimed in. “We could help you fix the place up.”
“Ya, we could,” Timothy said with a grin.
“Hold on a minute!” Caleb held his hands up. “Slow down. I have a life in Ohio.”
Timothy raised his eyebrows in question, and Caleb glanced away.
“Let’s introduce you to the rest of the carpenters,” Eli said. “Elmer would enjoy seeing you. It’s been a long time.”
After meeting all of the carpenters, Caleb sat in the break room with Timothy and Daniel. “Your dat has done well for himself.”
Timothy passed a bottle of water across the table to Caleb. “Ya, he has. It’s hard work, but it’s paid off.”
“Is Susie at the cookie party today?” Daniel asked while opening a bottle of water.
Caleb took a sip and nodded. “She was excited about it this morning. She loves being with her cousins.”
Timothy raised his eyebrows.
Caleb shook his head. “Timothy, please don’t start nagging me about moving here.”
Timothy feigned insult. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Don’t you think it would be good for Susie to be around her cousins and her family?” Daniel asked.
Caleb nodded. “I know it would be. I’m just not certain it will be good for me.” He tore at the label on the bottle. “I’m not certain I’m ready to leave the memories.”
“Ach,” Timothy said. “Look at the time. The cookie exchange will be over soon.” He stood. “I told Miriam I’d pick her up.” He glanced at his brother. “Are you going to get Rebecca and the girls?”
Daniel nodded. “I am.”
“Do you want me to get them?” Timothy offered.
“Will you have room for everyone?” Daniel asked. “Rebecca has Lindsay and Daniel Jr.”
Timothy shrugged. “I think we’ll have plenty of room.”
“That would be fine,” Daniel said. “I can finish this project I started. Danki.”
Caleb stood and shook Daniel’s hand. “It was gut seeing you again.”
“Ya,” Daniel said. “Think about what I said about the property nearby. You’d have plenty of business here. I think a new start would be gut for your soul.”
“I’ll consider it,” Caleb said.
He followed Timothy through the shop, where he said good-bye to the carpenters. Daniel’s words were still fresh in his mind as he climbed into Timothy’s buggy. Would moving be good for his soul? Would it be good for Susie, or would uprooting her from all she’d ever known cause her more emotional pain after losing her mother only two years ago? He thought back to the conversation he’d had with Timothy after the church service. While Caleb felt guilty about moving on, he was beginning to wonder if it was time to take the plunge and do it. Perhaps he should consider breaking free of the holding pattern he’d been stuck in since he’d lost Barbara. The questions rolled through his mind as they headed toward the bakery.
Susie sat across from Naomi at a small table and bit into another cookie. “I love chocolate chip cookies. They’re my favorite. What’s your favorite, Naomi?”
Naomi glanced beside her at Lilly, who grinned in response. “I think peanut butter is my favorite,” Naomi said.
“Oh,” Susie said. “I love peanut butter too. I guess I have two favorites.” She turned to Janie beside her. “You like peanut butter, right?”
Janie nodded. “Ya, I love peanut butter. My mamm makes the best peanut butter cookies.”
Susie glanced back at Naomi. “I like to bake. Do you like to bake?”
Naomi nodded. “I do.”
“Do you bake a lot?” Susie asked between bites of cookie.
“Ya, I do. I have a big family, and I do a good bit of cooking.” Naomi sipped her cup of water.
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?” Susie asked.
“I have five brothers and three sisters,” Naomi said.
Susie’s eyes widened. “Oh my. That is a big family. You’re so lucky. I’m an only child.” She frowned. “My mamm was going to have another boppli when she died.”
Naomi dropped her cookie, and Lilly gasped.
Susie nodded. “Ya,
my dat was so sad when my mamm died. I was sad too. I cried for my mamm and also for the boppli.”
Naomi was stunned into silence for a moment.
“I’m so sorry,” Lilly said softly.
“I am too.” Naomi reached over and touched Susie’s hand.
“Danki. I’m still sad sometimes, but mostly I try to be froh. I like to think of the fun my mamm and I had. We used to bake cookies and she would read me stories at bedtime.” Susie picked up another cookie. “My dat said that Jesus needed my mamm and the boppli, and I’ll see them again someday.”
“That’s right,” Naomi said, forcing a smile. “You’ll see them, and you can hug them again in heaven.”
“Right.” Susie’s smile widened. “And I can tell them how much I love them.” She sipped her water. “I loved watching my mamm when she quilted. I used to sit on a stool next to her and she’d teach me how to make the stitches. I loved all of the colors she used. My favorite quilts were the ones that had blues and maroons in them.”
Naomi nodded. “I love those colors too. They look very schee together.”
“I saw those at the farmers market,” Susie said. “That’s why I ran over to meet you. It reminded me of my mamm.”
Overwhelmed by emotion, Naomi smiled. The quilts and memories of her mamm are what drew her to me. It makes sense now. “That’s very nice, Susie. I’m so glad that you like my quilts.”
“Will you teach me how to make a quilt?” Susie’s eyes were filled with hope. “I really want to learn how.”
“Ya,” Naomi said. “If we have time during your visit, I would—”
“Susie!” Sadie yelled from across the room. “Susie, will you come here, please?”
Susie stood. “My aenti is calling me. I’ll be back.” She and Janie ran off to where Sadie stood with Irene Wagler, Miriam, and Sarah Rose.
Naomi turned to Lilly, whose eyes were wide with shock.
“That poor kind,” Lilly whispered. “She’s been through so much.” She wiped her tearing eyes. “And her mamm was pregnant. I wonder what happened. How did she die?”
“I don’t know,” Naomi said. “I was wondering too.”