“I have something for you,” Laura said, feeling a bit flustered and needing to change the subject. She lifted the paper bag in her hands, and her stomach lurched with nervous anticipation. “Merry Christmas, Eli.”
“You bought me a gift?”
She nodded and smiled.
“But, I—I don’t have anything to give you.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t buy you a present so I would get one in return.”
Eli’s eyebrows lifted and almost disappeared under the brim of his black hat. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you open it and find out?”
“If it’s a Christmas present, shouldn’t I wait ’til Christmas to open it?”
She shook her head. “I’d like you to open it now, so I can see if you like it or not.”
“All right then, but let’s wait ’til we get to the main road and have stopped so you can get back in your friend’s car again.”
Laura felt a bit disappointed, but she didn’t want to start an argument, so she merely shrugged and said, “Okay.”
They rode in silence until Darla’s car slowed and came to a parking lot. Eli guided his horse and sleigh in behind her.
“Here you go.” Laura handed the sack to him.
Eli opened it and pulled out the carving set. He studied it a few seconds before he spoke. “It’s a nice gift—much better than the carving set I use now.” He fidgeted kind of nervously, and Laura was afraid he was going to hand it back to her.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s very nice , but I’m not sure I should accept such a gift.”
“Why not?” she asked, looking deeply into Eli’s searching blue eyes.
“It doesn’t seem right, since I have nothing to give you in return.”
Laura reached for his hand and closed her fingers around his. “Your friendship is the only present I need this Christmas. Please say I’m one of your special friends.”
Eli swallowed so hard she saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Several seconds went by; then he finally nodded and offered her a smile that calmed her fears and warmed every inch of her heart.
CHAPTER 9
Laura’s first few days at home were spent visiting with her parents and thinking about Eli. When she closed her eyes, she could visualize his friendly smile, little chin dimple, and those clear blue eyes calling her to him.
Ever since Laura had returned, her mother had been trying to keep her occupied. “Why not join me for lunch at Ethel Scott’s this afternoon?” she suggested one morning.
Laura was lying on the couch in the living room, trying to read a novel she had started the day before. She set it aside and sat up. “I need to get my Christmas presents wrapped.”
Mom took a seat next to Laura. Her green eyes, mirroring Laura’s, showed obvious concern. “I’m worried about you, dear. You haven’t been yourself since you came home for the holidays.” She touched Laura’s forehead. “Are you feeling ill?”
Laura shook her head. “I’m fine. Just a bit bored. I’m used to being in class every weekday.”
“That’s precisely why you need to get out of the house and do something fun while you’re here.” Mom tipped her head, causing her shoulder-length auburn hair to fall across one rosy cheek. Even at forty-five, she was still lovely and youthful looking.
“Ethel’s daughter, Gail, is home from college, and I’m sure she would be thrilled to see you,” Mom continued. “In fact, she’d probably enjoy hearing about that boring little town you’re living in now.”
Laura moaned. “Lancaster isn’t little, and it sure isn’t boring.”
“The point is you’ve been cooped up in this house ever since you got home. Won’t you please join me today? It will be better than being home by yourself.”
“I won’t be alone,” Laura argued. “Foosie is here, and she’s all the company I need.” She glanced at her fluffy, ivory-colored cat sleeping contentedly in front of the fireplace. “After I’m done wrapping gifts, I thought I might try to call Shannon again.”
Mom stood. “I would think it would be Dean Carlson you’d be calling.” She shook her finger at Laura. “Dean’s called at least four times in the past two days, and you always find some excuse not to speak with him.”
Laura drew in her bottom lip. How could she explain her reluctance to talk to Dean? She sure couldn’t tell her mother that she had been comparing Dean to Eli. “I’ll be seeing him on Christmas Day. That’s soon enough.”
Mom finally shrugged and left the room.
Laura puckered her lips and made a kissing sound. “Here, Foosie, Foosie. Come, pretty lady.”
The ball of fur uncurled, stretched lazily, and plodded across the room. Laura scooped Foosie into her lap and was rewarded with soft purring when the cat snuggled against her. “I’ve missed you. Too bad cats aren’t allowed in the dorm rooms at school. If they were, I would take you back with me.”
The telephone rang and Laura frowned. “Just when we were getting all cozy.” She placed the cat on the floor and headed for the phone that was sitting on a table near the door. “Meade residence.”
“Laura, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me, Shannon.”
“When did you get home?”
“Last Saturday. I’ve tried to call you a couple of times, but you’re never home.”
“I’ve been busy planning my preschoolers’ Christmas party and the program they’ll put on for their parents. My answering machine isn’t working right now, either, so I’m sorry you couldn’t leave a message.”
“That’s okay. I’ve been busy, too.” Busy thinking about Eli and wishing I could spend the holidays with him.
“Is it all right if I come over?”
“Sure, I’d like that.”
After Laura hung up the phone, she headed for the kitchen. She had two cups of hot chocolate ready by the time her friend arrived.
“Have a seat, and let’s get caught up,” Laura said, handing Shannon a mug.
Shannon sniffed her drink appreciatively. “Do you have any marshmallows?”
Laura went to the cupboard to look, while her friend placed her mug on the table, then took off her coat.
“I think it’s going to be a white Christmas,” Shannon commented. “We usually have some snow by now, but I’m sure it’s not far off, because I think I can actually smell snowflakes in the air.”
Laura tossed a bag of marshmallows on the table and took the seat across from Shannon. “We’ve already had a good snowstorm in Lancaster.”
“Really? Were you able to get around okay?”
“Oh, sure. In fact, I—”
“Say, you haven’t said a word about my new hairstyle.” Shannon pulled her fingers through her bluntly cut, straight black hair. “Do you like it?”
Laura feigned a smile as she searched for the right words. “You ... uh ... look different with short hair.”
Shannon blew on her hot chocolate, then reached inside the plastic bag and withdrew two marshmallows. She dropped them into the mug and grinned. “I like my new look, and so do my preschool kids.”
“I’m surprised you cut your hair. I thought you would always keep it long.”
Shannon shrugged, then took a sip of her drink. “Long hair is too much work, and it takes forever to dry.” She set the cup down and snapped her fingers. “Why don’t you get your hair cut and styled while you’re home for Christmas?”
“I don’t think I could ever cut my hair. It took me too long to grow it.”
Shannon poked at the marshmallows with the tip of her finger. “Have you met any cute guys out there in Lancaster County?”
“Eli Yoder. I sent you an e-mail about him.”
“You mean that Amish fellow?”
“He’s the one.”
“I thought that was just a passing fancy. Surely you’re not seriously interested in this guy.”
Laura felt the heat of a blush creep up the back of her neck and spread qui
ckly to her face. “I’ve been fighting my attraction to Eli, but I’m afraid it’s a losing battle.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “To tell you the truth—and I can’t believe I’m actually saying this out loud—I think I might be in love with him.”
Shannon nearly choked on her hot chocolate. “You can’t be serious!”
“I am.”
“Does he know how you feel?”
“I don’t think so. We’ve agreed only to be friends, and I don’t see how it could work for us to have a romantic relationship.”
Shannon nodded. “Makes sense to me.”
“Eli’s family is really religious, and we’re worlds apart, with him being a plain kind of guy and me being a fancy English woman.” Laura laughed dryly. “At least that’s how Eli sees me.”
Shannon drummed her fingers along the edge of the table. “Hmm...”
“What?”
“Maybe he will leave the Amish faith and become fancy.”
“I’ve thought about that—even hoped for it,” Laura admitted. “Eli’s religion and his plain lifestyle seem very important to him. I doubt he would be willing to give it up, though I might ask—when I get up the nerve.”
Shannon reached across the table and patted Laura’s hand in a motherly fashion. “This is a fine fix you’ve gotten yourself into. Maybe you’ll end up going over to the other side before it’s all said and done.”
Laura’s eyebrows furrowed. “Other side? What are you talking about?”
“I was thinking you might join the Amish faith. People have done a lot stranger things in the name of love.”
Laura’s frown deepened. “I don’t think I could do that, Shannon. It would be hard to give up everything I’ve become used to, and—”
The kitchen door opened just then, and Laura’s father entered the room, carrying an overstuffed briefcase. From the way his shoulders sagged and the grim look he wore, Laura figured he must either be exhausted or agitated about something.
Her father was a small, thin man, with dark brown hair and a matching mustache. His mahogany eyes looked unusually doleful as he shuffled across the room and collapsed into a chair.
“Dad, is something wrong?” Laura asked, feeling concern. “You look so tired.”
“It’s just this fast-paced world we’re living in,” he answered, lowering his briefcase to the table. “On days like today, I wish I could pull a magic handle and make everything slow down. Maybe the pioneer days weren’t so bad. Life in the fast lane is pretty hectic, but I suppose I’ll survive.” His forehead wrinkled as he looked at Laura. “Whatever you do, young lady, never let ‘all work and no play’ become your motto.”
“I’ll try not to, Dad.”
“By the way, your mother mentioned that you’ve become friendly with an Amish man, and I’ve been meaning to talk to you about it.”
Laura nodded and swallowed hard. Was her father going to give her a lecture about Eli in front of Shannon?
Dad smiled. “Well, if you ever see that fellow again, be sure to tell him that I envy his simple lifestyle.” He glanced over at Shannon then. “Nice to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Meade.”
He turned his attention back to Laura. “Where’s your mother?”
“She was supposed to have lunch with her friend Ethel today, and I think they planned to do some shopping afterward.” Laura released a sigh of relief. Maybe Dad wasn’t opposed to her seeing Eli. Maybe there would be no lecture.
“I can only imagine what kind of unnecessary things she’ll bring home this time.” He shook his head. “Your mother spends more time shopping than any other woman I know.”
Laura nodded. “She does like to shop—when she’s not busy with all her charity functions.”
“There’s nothing wrong with helping out, but the kinds of things she does make me wonder if she’s more interested in making herself look good rather than helping others.” He grunted. “I doubt that your mother knows how to relax anymore, she’s so busy flitting from one charity benefit to another. What we both really need is a vacation from the rat race of city life.”
“Maybe you should take a trip to Hawaii or go on a cruise to the Bahamas,” Laura suggested.
“Maybe so.” He moved across the room toward the door leading to the hallway. “Guess I’ll head out to the living room and unwind a bit before your mother gets home.”
“Okay.”
“Your dad seemed pretty uptight, didn’t he?” Shannon said after Laura’s father had left the room.
“Yes, he did, and I was surprised he didn’t lecture me about seeing Eli.”
Shannon laughed. “Parents. Who can figure them out?”
“Not me.” Laura took a drink of her hot chocolate as she reflected on her father’s words. The things he’d said about wanting to slow down had made her think of Eli and his Amish family. They worked hard, but they weren’t really a part of the fast-paced world. From all Eli had told her, she knew that he and his family took time out for fun and relaxation. She wondered if Dad were given the chance, whether he might trade in his briefcase for a hoe and the quiet life among the Plain People. She chuckled softly. No, that could never happen.
***
Wesley wandered into the living room, leaving his briefcase in the kitchen, along with his cares of the day. He had a splitting headache and wanted to spend the rest of his day relaxing and not thinking about anything that pertained to his latest court case.
Wesley discovered Laura’s lazy cat lying in front of the fireplace, but the minute he took a seat in his recliner, the cat was in his lap.
“You’ve got life made, you know that, Foosie?”
The cat responded with a quiet meow.
He reclined the chair and closed his eyes as he allowed his mind to wander back to the days when he’d been a boy growing up on his dad’s farm in Montana. Life had been so much simpler then. They had worked plenty hard on the farm, but they’d always taken the time to enjoy the simple things in life, and their focus had been on family and friends, not “things.”
Wesley had given up that life to please Irene, and now he felt as if he were caught in a trap from which there was no escape. Someday when he retired, maybe he would sell this place and move to the country again, where he could raise some chickens, a few pigs, and some cats ... lots of cats.
***
Eli meandered toward his woodworking shop at one end of the barn. He didn’t know why, but he wasn’t in the mood to carve or build a single thing.
When he reached his workbench, he looked down at the woodworking set Laura had given him and groaned. He wished she hadn’t presented him with such a fine, expensive gift. In fact, he wished she hadn’t bought him anything. He’d given her nothing in return, and accepting Laura’s present only made it that much harder to distance himself from her, which he knew he must do if he was ever going to join the church.
He thought about Pauline and wondered if he could have been content to court her if Laura hadn’t come along when she did. It was hard to explain, but being with her made him feel alive and whole.
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