“Thank you for doing that. They will be thrilled.”
“I didn’t know what to put down for Melanie, so I asked for a doll. I hope that’s okay.”
“A doll is perfect.”
“Okay, I hoped so. Is there anything they’re in need of, clothing-wise? I think they like to get them one thing they want and something they need.”
“That’s really nice. Um…” She blew out a breath. “I guess they can always use socks.”
“No jackets or anything? I know how quickly we grew out of our clothes growing up.”
“I bought them new jackets when we went school shopping with the money my aunt sent. But Brighton does need a pair of athletic shoes. He said his were too small. I was going to check out the thrift store.”
“Okay, shoes. Could Jaycee use some too?”
“Sure. Or maybe put down snow boots for Jaycee?”
“That’ll work. I’ll need you to write down their sizes for me.”
“I can do that.”
“Do you think you and the kids can come over on Christmas morning for breakfast? Mom always cooks up a big meal, complete with chocolate gravy and biscuits.” He could almost taste them now.
“Chocolate gravy?” Her lips twisted. “I’ve never heard of that.”
“Oh, it’s the best. The boys will absolutely love it.”
“I think I will too. I love chocolate. It does sound a little weird though.”
“I think it’s a southern thing. My mom’s family originated from Arkansas and Oklahoma. It’s pretty popular there. I’ve heard there are even restaurants that serve it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Chocolate gravy and biscuits for breakfast is one of my favorite family Christmas traditions. Does your family have any?”
“We did.” She frowned as though reliving a painful memory.
“You don’t have to talk about it if it’s too hard. The last thing I want is to make you cry on our date.”
“It’s okay. I’ll try not to.” She took a deep breath. “Dad would take the boys out to buy a tree. Not a fresh one from a tree farm, but just from the store. We would all decorate it when they got home. My parents would buy a special ornament for each of us every year.” She brushed away a tear. “Sorry.”
“No. I don’t mind if you cry, I just didn’t want you to be sad.”
“Well, they’re good memories.”
“What do you say if we stop by the store after dinner and pick out an ornament for each of the kids?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do that, Wesley. You’ve already done so much.”
“I want to. Besides, you want to keep the tradition alive, right?”
“Wesley, are you sure you’re real? Because I’m seriously having doubts. The last week and a half seem like I’ve been walking through a dream.”
“I’m real.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek just before pulling into the parking lot. “Now, are you ready for some delicious seafood?”
“It sounds so good.”
“Just wait.”
~
Was swooning really a thing?
Because Shannon was pretty sure she was on the verge of it right now.
As a matter of fact, if Wesley got the notion to ask her to marry him, she would. Right now. No questions asked.
Was she crazy? Probably.
If Wesley was a dream, she didn’t ever want to wake up. And if he was real, she wouldn’t be able to bear it if he ever broke up with her. Because she was quite certain that no man would ever—like in a million years—measure up to him.
He opened the truck’s door and offered his hand to help her out. She slid off the bench seat and straight into his arms. He leaned down to kiss her and…
“Ow.” She laughed. “I hate static electricity.”
“I guess my kisses are just too electrifying.” He chuckled.
“Shocking, really.” She laughed.
“Let’s try that again with a little less zing.” He brought her close and met her lips with his, then pulled back way too soon for her liking. He looked into her eyes like he wanted more.
Yeah, she did too.
His brow rose as he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “We can continue that later.”
She nodded.
“Good.” He winked, then reached for her hand. “Let’s go eat.”
TWENTY-ONE
Wesley knew Key West Shrimp House had been a good choice the moment Shannon first tasted her entrée. She’d closed her eyes in pleasure, or maybe it had been pure ecstasy, when the empty forkful of stuffed cod left her lips. Not that he’d been staring at her lips.
“This.” She pointed to her plate and smiled before taking another bite.
He didn’t need any more words. He understood perfectly. Which was why this was one of his favorite places to eat in town.
He never could decide if Key West Shrimp House was his favorite or Harry’s Stone Grill. He supposed he enjoyed them equally. They both had delicious food and charming, although distinct, atmospheres. Key West was like dining near the sea, whereas Harry’s felt more like a rustic hunting cabin—especially with the unique woodwork and taxidermic specimens displayed. He’d be taking her there on their next date night.
He’d spoil her, for sure, but treating her to the best brought him immense pleasure. Especially watching her reaction right now. If anyone deserved to be treated like a princess, Shannon did. And he intended to do just that.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He grinned, digging into his own plate.
“They must hire professional chefs here. This is so much better than where I work.” She laughed. “Don’t tell my boss I said that.”
He didn’t know if they had professional chefs or not, but it wouldn’t surprise him one bit. “My lips are sealed.” He zipped his lips for effect. “To be fair though, your restaurant is more of a small family diner.”
“True.”
“And they don’t charge ‘chef’ prices.”
“You have a point.”
“Both are necessary and appreciated around here, I think.”
“You’re right.” She glanced at one of the servers, then leaned toward Wesley. “I can’t imagine what the waitresses get in tips here. Maybe I should apply.” She spoke in a quiet tone.
“You could. Although I’d suspect the majority of customers would come in the evening.”
“I didn’t think about that.” She grimaced. “Yeah, that wouldn’t work then. I want to be home when the kids are. As it is, I hate leaving Melanie. I do feel a lot better, though, now that your grandparents are the ones watching her. She loves Judy.”
“I’m happy that’s working out.”
“You know, they offered to adopt the kids if DCS threatened to take them. That’s what they wanted to talk to me about before we left.”
He frowned. “Really?”
“I thought it was sweet.” She stared at him. “Why do you have that look on your face?”
He shrugged. “It’s just surprising to me, that’s all.”
“Why?”
“Well, I guess because my dad is shunned. They never even really made an effort to get to know my brother and me. The only reason they know me now is because I reached out, started visiting them.”
“Oh. Really? That’s sad.”
He nodded, suppressing his emotions. “I guess I never really understood that part of the Amish culture.”
“You haven’t asked them about it?”
“It’s one of those things nobody likes to talk about. I think they feel like it’s easier to forget about my dad if they don’t think about him.”
“That’s…terrible. He’s their son.”
“I know. My dad said they teach that if a person is born Amish and doesn’t stay Amish, they are destined for Hell.”
“But that’s not right, is it?”
“No. Being Amish has nothing to do with salvation. The word Amish isn’t even in the Bible.
The Amish church wasn’t even started until the sixteen hundreds. The only thing our salvation rests upon is Jesus Christ. But trying to teach that to a religious group that has been steeped in hundreds of years of tradition is like trying to teach a cow to sing.”
“But you’ve tried?”
“To teach a cow to sing?” he teased.
She shook her head.
“Yeah, I’ve tried talking to them. But I’m praying that God will open a door and open their hearts to His truth. I want them to be saved. They are truly wonderful people.” He raised a sad smile. “But wonderful people don’t go to Heaven, true believers do.”
“Maybe…do you think us coming into their lives might open a door?”
“It would be wonderful if it did. That’s why I was surprised that they took to your family so readily. Normally, the Amish keep to themselves and don’t mingle much with the Englisch. Maybe this is a sign that their hearts are beginning to open.”
“I hope that’s the case.”
He reached across the table for her hand. “I’m glad you’ve come into all our lives. You and the kids have brought joy to my heart.”
Her eyes widened. “We have?”
“Very much so.” And hopefully they would for many years to come. But he wouldn’t say that out loud.
He glanced down at her food. “Are you going to need a to-go box?”
“I think so.”
~
Christopher chuckled as he sat on the dining bench he’d made. Watching the smiles on these kinner’s faces as they pulled taffy brought joy to his own heart. Oh, how he missed the times when his and Judy’s kinner were little. The times before the accident that took their lives. The times before James had forsaken his Amish heritage.
“Will you come to school with me one day?” Jaycee’s grin stretched across his face.
“School?” Christopher’s brow jumped and he glanced at his fraa. “Ain’t been to school in a really long time.”
“Pleeeaaase? None of the kids believe me when I tell them that Santa babysits my little sister. I want them to see you.”
Christopher chuckled.
“You don’t even have to wear your red suit or nothin’.”
“Don’t know if Prancer would make it all the way to your school. It’s quite a ways away.”
Jaycee frowned and hung his head. “Aww…”
He hated disappointing the little guy.
An idea popped into his head. “But maybe I can see you off on the bus one morning.” He knew he really shouldn’t encourage the boy’s fantasies, but he couldn’t help enjoying the smile it brought to his face. If he could make the boy smile, he would.
“For reals? You would do that?” Jaycee’s excitement shown in his entire countenance.
He nodded. “Just tell me when.”
Judy met his gaze, then shook her head. You’d think with all the things she’d had to put up with over the years, she’d be used to his ferhoodled ideas. But perhaps this one took the cake.
He shot a wink in her direction, reached for a piece of unwrapped taffy, then popped it into his mouth with a smile.
~
“Time to clean up now! Your sister and Wesley should be here at any moment.” Christopher glanced up at the clock. A quarter till eight. His gross sohn said they planned to be back around eight.
“Aww…do we have to go home?” Jaycee complained.
“I heard you were supposed to be decorating a tree tonight. Don’t want to miss that, do you?” Christopher said the words, but didn’t understand why Englischers did all the silly things they did. Of course, he didn’t reckon Englischers understood their traditions either.
“I almost forgot!” Jaycee jumped up and down. “Do you want to come help us decorate it? I can ask Shannon to make you some cookies! I think we have milk too.”
“No, thank you.” Christopher chuckled. He couldn’t even imagine decorating a tree. Jaycee’s fanciful notions were over the top.
Just as he suspected, Wesley’s knock sounded on the back door.
“It’s Shannon and Wesley! I’ll get it!” Jaycee raced to the door before Christopher could even think to protest.
Jaycee threw the door open. “You’re here! You’re here!”
Wesley caught his eye. His gaze moved to their intertwined hands, then Wesley broke the connection. He didn’t really mind that they were holding hands, but Wesley must’ve believed that was the case. Perhaps his father had shared stories with him.
“Did you have a good time?” Shannon walked in ahead of Wesley at his insistence.
Jaycee bounced. “The best! Wait until you taste the taffy we made. And guess what? Santa said he was going to come to the bus stop with me and wave to my friends!”
Wesley and Shannon both looked at Christopher in surprise.
He shrugged. “I couldn’t say no.” He chuckled.
“Are we still going to decorate the tree tonight?” Brighton spoke up.
“Yep. Are you guys all ready to go?” Wesley asked.
Judy walked into the main room, a bag of taffy in her hands.
“Wow! It looks like you were busy.” Wesley smiled at the children.
“Yeah, my arms are tired.” Brighton grinned.
“You should see how big our muscles are now!” Jaycee proclaimed.
Christopher couldn’t help but laugh.
“We need to get going if we’re going to decorate the tree,” Shannon said. She turned to look at him and Judy. “Thank you so much for watching them for me.”
“For us,” Wesley chimed in.
“They were a joy.” Judy smiled.
“I hope they didn’t give you any trouble.” Shannon worried her lip.
“No trouble at all,” Christopher said.
“Hey.” Wesley pulled him and Judy to the side, his voice low. “Would you guys like to come with us on Saturday? We’re going to take the kids to see the Christmas lights at the Creation Museum.”
“Saturday, you say?” Christopher scratched his head. Did that date sound familiar? He looked at Judy.
“Nee, we’re going to the auction, remember?”
Of course. How could he forget the auction? They didn’t usually have them this time of year, but a need had come up.
“Okay.” Wesley’s enthusiasm faded just a bit. “Maybe next time.”
He hated to say no to their gross sohn, but they’d already made plans. “I’m sure you will have a gut time without us,” he assured.
“Maybe you can join our family on Christmas morning for breakfast, then?” His tone was hopeful, but not confident. He likely already knew the answer.
“You know we cannot.”
Wesley sighed in disappointment. “Okay, then.”
Shannon gathered the children then asked Wesley if he was ready. Wesley hugged both him and Judy, then said goodbye.
Christopher waved from the door as the group of kinner all made their way to his gross sohn’s truck. He would have walked out with them, but he didn’t wish to slow them down since they’d been anxious to get home.
He turned to Judy after they’d driven away. “They are going to make a nice family, ain’t so?”
“Jah. Wesley will be a gut dat to those kinner.”
He eyed his fraa. “How long do you think it will be before they get hitched?”
“It was two years for us.”
“I can’t see those two waiting two years. That bu can hardly contain himself now.” He chuckled. “I remember the feeling. I’m chust glad I don’t have to anymore.”
He leaned down and kissed his fraa on the cheek.
TWENTY-TWO
“Jaycee, stop putting tinsel on Melanie’s head. That’s not okay.” Shannon put her hand on her hip and huffed, shaking her head at Jaycee and his shenanigans.
“But she likes it, see?” He put another string of tinsel on Melanie’s head and she giggled.
Shannon stopped her baby sister just before she put the tinsel into her mouth. “No, baby.”
She turned back to Jaycee. “That’s why I don’t want you to do that.”
“Aww…”
“You need to listen to Shannon. She’s older and she knows what’s best.” Wesley spoke up.
“But she’s not Mom,” he protested.
“It’s true that she didn’t give birth to you, but she’s the closest thing you have to a mom right now. You need to obey her and do what she says,” Wesley insisted.
“Okay,” Jaycee said glumly.
Shannon mouthed a thank you to Wesley.
“Oh! We almost forgot something.” Shannon pulled the bag of ornaments, that she and Wesley had purchased earlier, from her purse.
“What is it?” Brighton smiled as he placed one of the last ornaments from the box onto the tree. Shannon loved to see him happy. He’d been the most melancholy of her siblings since their parents’ accident.
“Wesley and I got something for you guys.” She pulled the ornaments from the bag and handed them to Wesley to do the honors.
“Is it a candy bar?” Jaycee grinned.
Shannon pointed to him. “You, little boy, eat too much candy.”
“Uh uh.” He shook his head. “Judy only let me have seven pieces of taffy.”
“Seven pieces?” Shannon frowned. “Jaycee. If you don’t stop eating so much sugar, you’re going to get a toothache.”
“You sound like Mom.”
Wesley nodded to prove his prior point. He then handed an ornament to each of the boys.
Jaycee held up his ornament. “It’s a sleigh, just like Santa’s!”
Shannon knew he’d get a kick out of that. It had been Wesley’s idea.
Brighton’s reaction to his basketball ornament was a little more subdued and she wondered if he was thinking of Mom and Dad. “Thank you, Wesley.”
“I have something for you too.” Wesley’s smile glistened next to the lights on the Christmas tree.
“For me?” She grinned as he handed her something wrapped in tissue paper. “When did you…?”
“Just open it,” he urged.
She pulled out a heart-shaped ornament. The message on it read, “I love us.”
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