by Amy Clipston
Mandy blushed and looked down at the table. Ephraim leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and she nodded.
“What is it?” Katie Ann asked, her smile growing.
Did Katie Ann know what their announcement was?
“Mandy and I are getting married in December,” Ephraim said, and Mandy’s face seemed to glow.
While everyone applauded, Tena looked at Wayne again. He met her gaze, but this time he held it. What looked like sadness and regret filled his eyes. She stared at him, and her pulse thumped as tears welled. She longed to be a part of his life. In fact, she loved him. She loved him with her whole heart, and she missed him so much that she felt as if a hole had been punched in her chest.
For a moment she couldn’t breathe, and her anguish felt as if it might smother her. She couldn’t give up on him! She had to apologize. She had to convince him to give her another chance.
Wayne looked away, and the loss of the connection knocked Tena off balance for a moment.
“Did I hear someone is engaged?” Aenti Emma appeared in the doorway.
“Ya, we are.” Mandy pointed to Ephraim.
“What fantastic news!” Aenti Emma exclaimed. “I’m so froh for you both!”
“Come and join us for supper, Emma.” Biena gestured for Aenti Emma to sit beside her.
When Tena heard a chair scrape across the floor, she looked up to see Wayne heading out of the kitchen toward the mudroom. Alarm gripped her as she heard the back door open and close.
No, no, no! This can’t be over!
She jumped up and raced out the back door without grabbing her coat. A wall of coldness slammed into her as her feet hit the back porch. She reached the railing just as Wayne started down the path toward his horse and buggy.
“Wait!” she called after him. “Wayne, please! Wait!”
He spun to face her, his handsome face twisted into a deep frown.
She flew down the steps and caught up to him, shivering as the chilly air seeped through her dress. “I’m sorry. I was wrong, I was selfish, and I was hateful. Please forgive me.”
His frown relaxed slightly as he stared down at her.
“You–you were right about Alex. I was so wrapped up in my resentment toward Englishers that I didn’t realize I had let it change me and turn me into someone I don’t want to be.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she drew a deep breath and took the plunge she’d been fighting. “There’s something I never told you. Two years ago, my older bruder, Micah, was walking down the street in town when an Englisher high on drugs beat him with a baseball bat. He almost died. He spent months in the hospital and rehab, first fighting for his life and then to recover.”
Wayne gasped as his eyes searched hers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I should have. But talking about it has always been so painful.” She gestured toward the barn. “I was distrustful of Alex because of what happened to Micah, and I was wrong. Alex is a child of God, and he does deserve our help. We’re called to be helpers, and it’s our duty to do what we can for people like him. I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner that I was being so sinful and hateful, so closed to the truth, so unwilling to let go.”
She took another deep breath. “But I know one thing for certain. Losing your friendship is my greatest fear. The idea of not having you in my life scares me to death. I miss you. And I would do anything to convince you to give me another chance.”
She closed the distance between them and reached up, cupping her hand to his cheek. “I love you with my whole heart, Wayne. I want to stay here in Bird-in-Hand. I want us to date, and I hope someday we’ll marry and build a life together. I want to see what God has in store for us. So, please, Wayne, please forgive me.”
A strangled noise escaped his throat, and his blue eyes glistened. “I thought I’d never hear you say that.”
His placed his lips on hers, sending an electric heat roaring from her toes to her cheeks. She closed her eyes and then felt herself relax. He wrapped his arms around her, and she lost herself in the feel of his touch. She felt safe, protected, and cherished. This was what true love felt like.
“Ich liebe dich,” he whispered against her ear. “I would be honored to be your boyfriend.”
Tena smiled as she looked up at him. “You’ll have to ask mei dat, but I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes. Aenti Emma will tell him what a wunderbaar man you are.”
Wayne laughed and trailed the tip of his finger down her cheek.
Tena and Wayne sat on the glider on Aenti Emma’s back porch with a quilt wrapped around their shoulders, sipping hot chocolate.
Tena smiled as she looked up at the stars twinkling in the sky above them. It had been a wonderful afternoon. After their talk outside, they’d joined their friends for Aenti Emma’s amazing chili, and everyone seemed thrilled to see they’d repaired their friendship. Alex was there, too, and he had a smile on his face when he caught her eye.
Now she and Wayne were enjoying quiet time alone.
“This is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had,” Wayne said as he cradled his mug in his hands and looked into her eyes. “You’ve truly spoiled me with your expertise. I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy anyone’s cooking as much as I enjoy yours.”
Tena giggled as she bumped her shoulder against his. “You’re just saying that so I’ll keep cooking and baking for you—especially anything with peanut butter.”
“Ya, that sounds gut.” He smiled down at her and then sighed. “I love sitting out here, but pretty soon it will be way too cold.”
“We’ll just have to visit in the schtupp, then. We’ll be nice and warm in there.”
“When are you going to call your parents?”
“Tomorrow night. I don’t want to wait, do you?”
Wayne shook his head, and her stomach fluttered at the thought of telling Mamm and Dat she wanted to stay in Bird-in-Hand. “Why don’t you come over for supper? Then we can call them together, and you can ask mei dat’s permission to date me after I explain everything to them. After all, you’re the main reason I want to stay here with Aenti Emma.”
He took her mug and set it and his on a nearby table. Then he turned and brushed his lips against hers, sending her emotions into a wild swirl. “I love you, Tena.”
“I love you too.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled. She’d allowed fear to shut out the truth for too long, but she was so grateful God had taught her to trust again.
And now? Now she looked forward to seeing her love for Wayne and his love for her grow like the crops in Henry’s garden, nourishing them both with a lifetime of happy memories.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.Tena doesn’t want to use some of the proceeds from the garden to help Alex because she believes it’s not her or her friends’ responsibility to help an Englisher. Do you agree with her point of view?
2.Tena left her community to try to escape the heartache of her breakup with her fiancé. Have you ever tried to escape a bad situation by moving away? If so, how did this turn out for you? Share this with the group.
3.Wayne is convinced God has called him to help Alex. Do you agree with his point of view and determination to help Alex?
4.Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Tena, Wayne, Alex, or someone else?
5.Alex is down on his luck when he happens upon the roadside stand. He has no idea he’s found people who truly want to help him. He’s overwhelmed by their willingness to give him a chance to prove he can contribute to their community. Have you participated in any volunteer programs to help the homeless at your church or elsewhere? If so, how did you help them? Did you find your efforts rewarding?
6.At the end of the story, Tena realizes she had been so embroiled in her bitterness after her breakup and brother’s attack that she allowed it to change her point of view about God’s call to help others. What do you think caused
her to change her point of view throughout the story?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I’m grateful for my loving family, including my mother, Lola Goebelbecker; my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt.
Special thanks to my mother and my dear friend Becky Biddy, who graciously proofread the draft and corrected my hilarious typos.
I’m also grateful for my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.
Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.
Thank you to Zac Weikal and the fabulous members of my Bakery Bunch! I’m so grateful for your friendship and your excitement about my books. You all are awesome!
To my agent, Natasha Kern—I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, advice, and friendship. You are a tremendous blessing in my life.
Thank you to my amazing editor, Jocelyn Bailey, for your friendship and guidance. I’m grateful to each and every person at HarperCollins Christian Publishing who helped make this book a reality.
I’m grateful to editor Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, you are a master at connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. I’m so happy we can continue to work together!
Thank you most of all to God—for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify you. I’m grateful and humbled you’ve chosen this path for me.
WINTER BLESSINGS
With love and appreciation for Zac Weikal
and the members of my Bakery Bunch
GLOSSARY
ach: oh
aenti: aunt
appeditlich: delicious
bedauerlich: sad
boppli: baby
brot: bread
bruder: brother
bruders: brothers
bruderskinner: nieces/nephews
bu: boy
buwe: boys
daadi: grandfather
danki: thank you
dat: dad
dochder: daughter
dochdern: daughters
Dummle!: Hurry!
fraa: wife
freind: friend
freinden: friends
froh: happy
gegisch: silly
gern gschehne: you’re welcome
Gude mariye: Good morning
gut: good
Gut nacht: Good night
haus: house
Ich liebe dich: I love you
kaffi: coffee
kapp: prayer covering or cap
kichli: cookie
kichlin: cookies
kinner: children
krank: ill
kuche: cake
kuchen: cakes
kumm: come
liewe: love, a term of endearment
maed: young women, girls
maedel: young woman
mamm: mom
mammi: grandmother
mei: my
naerfich: nervous
narrisch: crazy
oncle: uncle
schee: pretty
schmaert: smart
schtupp: family room
schweschder: sister
schweschdere: sisters
sohn: son
Was iss letz?: What’s wrong?
Wie geht’s: How do you do? or Good day!
wunderbaar: wonderful
ya: yes
FAMILY TREE
Featuring The Christmas Cat novella characters from the collection An Amish Christmas Love.
Thelma m. Alfred Bender
Mandy
Rhoda
Leona m. Marlin Blank
Darlene m. Uria Swarey
Ephraim
Katie Ann
Emma m. Henry (deceased) Bontrager
Hank the Cat
Darlene m. Uria Swarey
Savannah
Rebekah
Marietta m. Roman Hertzler
Clara
Gertrude m. Elvin King
Wayne
Feenie m. Jeptha Lantz
Arlan
Christian
Saloma m. Floyd Petersheim
Jerry
Biena
CHAPTER 1
Sorry I’m late! But I brought a chicken and rice casserole.” Mandy Bender gave a little laugh as she rushed into Emma Bontrager’s kitchen carrying a Pyrex portable container.
“Oh, Mandy! That casserole sounds appeditlich!” Emma clapped her hands. Although Emma was old enough to be Mandy’s grandmother, her dark-brown hair and nearly wrinkle-free skin made her look much younger than her late sixties.
“Danki. I hope it tastes as gut as it sounds.” Mandy looked down at Emma’s large, fat, orange tabby cat as he rubbed her leg and blinked up at her. “Hi, Hank. Do you want to try some chicken casserole?”
“He’d probably love that.” Emma held out her hand. “Give me your coat, and I’ll hang it in the mudroom.”
Clara Hertzler walked over to the counter. “What’s in the container Ephraim’s carrying?”
“A salad.” Mandy spun to face her fiancé, Ephraim Blank.
“The casserole does sound wunderbaar.” Clara took the salad from Ephraim and set it on the counter. “We were just concluding our meeting.”
“Oh no. I was afraid of that.” Mandy frowned as she set the casserole next to the stove. Unfortunately, her mother let someone borrow both their insulated carryalls, so she had to warm up the casserole.
“You can tell us what we missed,” Ephraim said. “I can’t wait to have some of that casserole. My stomach growled all the way here just thinking about it.”
Mandy smiled up at him. She loved how he towered over her by nearly one whole foot. Of course, since she was only five feet two, most of her friends were taller than she was. But it wasn’t just Ephraim’s height that had attracted her. With his light-brown hair that turned golden in the summer, his kind honey-brown eyes, his strong jaw, and his bright, inviting smile, he was the most handsome man she’d never known.
“Are you going to turn on the oven?” He grinned at her.
“Oh, right!” Mandy gave a little giggle as she flipped the dial to preheat, and then she looked toward the table where her group of friends all sat. She knew they’d been discussing the community garden they’d started on Emma’s property in memory of her late husband, Henry, just like they did every Sunday afternoon. Along with baked goods and, now, Emma’s orchard apples, they sold the fruits and vegetables they grew at a roadside stand in front of Emma’s house. Then they donated most of the profits to the Birdin-Hand Shelter for the homeless, Henry’s favorite charity. The rest they saved for any other needs.
“So. What did we miss?” Ephraim asked.
“Let’s see.” Katie Ann, his younger sister, tapped her lip as she looked down at a notebook. “We were just discussing closing the stand for the winter. Since it’s getting colder and our only offerings now are winter squash from the garden and Emma’s apples, we should probably do it no later than the weekend before Thanksgiving. We have some vegetables left, but Emma, Tena, and Mandy plan to can them this week for Emma and Tena to use all winter.”
“I agree,” Christian Lantz said with a nod. He’d been Katie Ann’s boyfriend for a while now, and Mandy was thrilled for her best friend.
“I do too,” Jerry Petersheim chimed in. He’d recently returned to the church, and he and Clara had the chance to rekindle their attraction for each other because of Henry’s garden. They planned to date as soon as he was baptized.
Oh, how this project was bringing couples together!
“What do you think?” Katie Ann met Mandy’s gaze.
“Ya, of course.” Mandy shrugged. “Whatever you all decide is fine with me.” She watched Ephraim cross the floor to the kitchen table and sink into a chair between Wayne King and Chris.
“We were talking about Alex too,” Clara said, referri
ng to Alex McCormack, a homeless veteran who’d helped them manage the garden during the fall. She pulled a stack of paper plates from Emma’s cabinet. “I gave everyone some news about him.”
“Oh?” Mandy took the stack of plates and delivered them to the table. “What news?”
“Mei onkel interviewed Alex for a job at his nursery and hired him. Also, he offered Alex the suite in the back of his office until he finds an apartment. It has a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette, and he’s going to move out of Emma’s barn tomorrow.”
“Really?” Mandy smiled. “That’s great news. It has to be getting cold at night in your barn, Emma.”
“Ya, it is,” she said. “This comes just in time!”
“Are we still going to help him with his security deposit and a couple months’ rent?” Ephraim asked.
“Ya.” Clara nodded. “But mei onkel says there’s no hurry.”
“That’s fantastic,” Mandy said.
“I’m glad we were able to help him,” Wayne added.
“I agree.” Tena Speicher, Emma’s great-niece, smiled at him. They were dating now too.
Another “garden variety” pair.
She put the casserole in the oven to warm.
“So when do we eat?” Ephraim said as Clara carried the container of salad to the table.
“Patience,” Mandy said. She followed Clara with disposable bowls, and Tena brought utensils. “Emma, I assumed you’d have some of your fantastic homemade salad dressing. I hope I wasn’t wrong.”
Emma moved to the refrigerator. “You know I always have some made up. I’ll get it.”
“I’ll get the glasses and a pitcher of water.” Katie Ann hopped up and made a couple of trips before she and everyone else sat down.
After a silent prayer, they all filled their bowls with salad and conversation broke out around the table. Mandy smiled as Katie Ann shared a funny story about a customer who’d stopped by the stand yesterday, but although she did her best to seem cheerful and interested, she couldn’t stop thinking about everything she had to do for her December wedding. She had only a little more than a month to finish making the dresses, and she also had to plan the menu and make the table decorations.