“I see confidence and maturity in you that I didn’t see before.”
Phoebe felt a warmth blossom in her chest. “Danke.”
“Jah,” Mamm agreed, “I see it too.”
It was the best Christmas gift they could have given her.
But despite her best effort, as she worked beside Mamm and Rhoda to clean the kitchen, her thoughts turned to the Beilers. How had the school program gone last night? Had Seth read the Christmas story from the Bible to them yet?
They were supposed to have Christmas lunch with Hilda and her familye. Fannie would be there too, of course. Would Seth take her on another of those walks, just the two of them? Or perhaps Fannie’s dochder would accompany them so they could get a feel for how it would be to be together as a familye.
Were she and Seth getting to know each other better like he’d said they wanted to? Would the two be engaged by the end of the week? After all, they’d both been married before and both knew what they wanted in a spouse. Determining whether or not they suited should be an easy decision for them.
When Daed called them together to read the Christmas story from the Bible she felt a sense of relief. This was something to remind her that she was blessed. This was a day to count one’s blessings and to give praise and thanksgiving, not to pine over what she could not have.
Seth rose early Wednesday morning, determined to put on a cheerful front for his brieder. It was Christmas after all.
He took over the cooking, fixing scrambled eggs and some baked oatmeal. He also fixed coffee soup. Taking a cue from Phoebe he added a little grated butter and cheese to the eggs and some diced apple, honey and cinnamon to the oatmeal. It came out better than he’d expected and his first thought was to tell Phoebe. A heartbeat later he realized how foolish that was.
Was she cooking breakfast for her familye this morning? Were there any of those special familye traditions she liked to talk about that her household was celebrating today?
Then he gave his head a mental shake. He was responsible for this household, not hers. Time to get the food on the table.
While he took some good-natured ribbing about his food being a poor imitation of Phoebe’s, everyone took generous servings and dug in with gusto. The mood around the table was a mix of excitement over it being Christmas and a sober realization that there was an empty seat between him and Levi.
After the kitchen was cleaned, they went to the living room where, as was their tradition, Seth read the Christmas story from the Bible and they had a time of quiet, prayerful contemplation.
Fifteen minutes later Seth cleared his throat. “I think it’s time we exchanged gifts.” He’d injected as much hearty cheeriness in his voice as he could muster. They’d pulled names so each had one gift to give and one to open. He had pulled Daniel’s name and had gotten him a book on the latest techniques on growing and maintaining an orchard. Levi had pulled his name and had gotten him a board game. When Seth raised a brow at the unexpectedness of it, Levi merely grinned and said, “It’s to remind you to take time for a little fun in your life, fun you can share with the rest of us.”
Unaccountably touched by the gesture, Seth nodded acknowledgment. “Danke.”
Looking around the room at the brieder who were still examining their gifts, Seth noticed Edna slip from the room. Had they made her feel unwelcome somehow? Or had she had enough of their company?
She returned a short time later, however, and she was pulling a wheeled cart with some wrapped gifts inside. Their aenti had gotten them all presents?
She parked the cart in their midst and waited, commanding their attention without saying a word.
When the conversation had quieted she waved to the cart. “Phoebe left these here for you and asked me to pass them out on Christmas morning.”
Everyone immediately sat up a little straighter and exchanged glances. Then Edna began passing the packages out with great ceremony.
Seth watched as each of his brieder tore open their gifts. It turned out each contained a unique, beautifully designed origami and cut-paper piece.
Jesse had a wreath. But if you looked closely, you could see that nestled in the leaves of the wreath were six figures holding hands.
Kish had a horseshoe.
Mark had a buggy and horse.
Daniel had a tree, complete with tiny apples nestled in the branches.
He smiled when he saw Levi had a harlequin mask. That was the perfect gift for the bruder who rarely showed his true face to anyone.
Seth tugged at the ribbon wrapped around his gift, certain she had done something related to chess—a playing piece perhaps. But when he saw what she had created for him all he could do was stare.
It was a fish dangling from a fishing pole. She’d remembered.
It was perfect. The pole was stuck in the ground with a creel and a cluster of cattails nearby. The detail was amazing. When had she found the time to do all of these? It must have taken her hours.
And he hadn’t gotten her anything.
He was a clod.
Chapter 35
The day after Christmas, Seth stood at the counter drinking his first cup of coffee of the morning. It was still dark outside but he could tell from looking out the window that it was snowing.
Edna walked in and without bothering with pleasantries moved to the table. “Kum, sit.”
He poured a second cup and carried both to the table, setting one in front of her.
“I noticed, ever since you found out that Phoebe can’t read you’ve been overseeing her work more closely.”
Direct as usual. “Only when I thought I could be helpful.”
“Even though she didn’t seem to need that help before you learned of her inability to read?” Before he could respond, she continued. “Phoebe thinks you let her win that chess game on Monday. Did you?”
