Merry's Christmas: Two Book Set (Amish) (11 page)

As soon as Daniel parked, the Bell clan burst out of the auto and onto the softened sandy road by the farm’s gate. Old sneakers and hiking shoes hit the ground running. As Merry and the family set out, Daniel circled the car and opened the passenger door for Catherine. He offered her his hand as she stepped out onto the road, shod in high-heeled calfskin boots.

Squish!

“Oh, my,” Catherine reacted as her designer footprint sunk into the moist roadbed.

“Here. Take my arm,” Daniel offered.

Joan grabbed the photo op with her camera. “Lovely boots, dear. You’ll have to tell me where you got them.”

As they started down the road, Merry and Joan shared a knowing glance as Catherine attempted to keep up with the kids, who were already heading toward the hillside tree farm. Daniel willingly extended his arm for Catherine, but with each step, her slender heels sunk deep into the soft dirt.

Catherine turned penitently to Daniel. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Daniel offered his arm. “That’s quite all right. Here. I’ll help you.”

Galloping ahead, Ollie called back to the family. “Come on! Hurry!”

“Plenty of trees here, Ollie,” Daniel called.

“Yeah, but we have to get the best one,” Ollie reminded.

Feeling awful for Catherine, Merry sidled up to her. “You can wear my boots if you want.”

Catherine took a gander at Merry’s thrift store combat boots. “Oh, no. I couldn’t,” she demured.

“My socks are plenty thick,” Merry explained. “I can just wear them and throw them in the wash later.”

Catherine waved Merry off. “No, no. You go. Please.” Catherine turned to Daniel, clearly embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, Daniel. Go on. Find something wonderful. I’ll wait here.”

Minus Catherine, the Bells happily tromped up the tree-covered hillside. Merry conducted them in song as they hiked, her voice ringing across the hillside:

O, Christmas tree

O, Christmas tree

How lovely are thy branches

Ba-da-dee-da-dee-da-dee-dah

I do not know the other words

“Everybody!” Merry called out, returning to the familiar lyrics of the chorus. All the Bells joined in singing. Even Hayden, a little:

O, Christmas tree

O, Christmas tree

How lovely are thy branches

It was a wonderland of balsam and fir, but Ollie’s eyes lit up, seeing a towering scotch pine. “Dad, look! Look! That’s it!”

Daniel shielded his eyes from the sun as he surveyed the sky-scraping selection. “Impressive, but we’d have to vault the ceiling for that one.”

Suddenly, Tara stopped in her tracks. “Oh, seriously. Everybody freeze!” Tara ordered. “There it is. That’s our tree. It’s just like Mom used to get us.” Tara pointed joyfully to a lovely balsam fir, fanning her brimming eyes. The family gazed at the tree with fond recognition. Tara was right. In the best sort of way, it brought Amanda’s memory into the season.

Moments later, Merry set up a family photo around the Bell’s chosen tree. “Closer, everybody. You, too, Hayden.”

“I’m leaving space for you,” Hayden explained.

“That’s okay. I’ll just take the picture,” Merry replied.

Quickly, Joan called out. “Set the timer and run over.”

Daniel motioned Merry over enthusiastically. “Yeah. You should be in this, too.”

Shyly grateful to be included, Merry set the timer. She dashed over as the family counted down.

“
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two.
..”

Merry slid into place, just in the nick of time. Though the air was brisk, something in her melted inside as Daniel put a hand on her shoulder and the camera snapped the shot.

Back at the foot of the hill, Merry stood with Daniel as he settled up for their purchase. As soon as Merry saw the tree farmer reach for a sprig of mistletoe, she saw it coming. She tried to wave the farmer off, but before she could, he playfully dangled it over them.

“Should I throw in a little mistletoe for you and the missus?” he teased.

Merry took an awkward step away.

Daniel quickly sputtered, “Oh, she’s not...we’re not—”

“Just the tree is fine, thanks,” Merry replied before wandering aside.

The tree farmer laughed heartily at his gaffe. “She’s a honey, all right. The tree, that is. I’ll have her dug, bagged up, and delivered by sundown tomorrow.”

Ollie pulled at Merry’s coat. “Aren’t we going to chop it down?”

Merry leaned down to Ollie. “These trees stay alive. We’ll plant it in the yard after, to grow, maybe tall as that other one you spotted.”

As they all headed toward the car, Daniel turned to Merry. “This is so much better than a cut tree lot. How’d you find this place?”

Merry exchanged a grin with her collaborator. “Actually, Hayden found it for me. On the Net. Her gift to the family.”

Pleased, Daniel took a gander at his melancholy baby. “Well, how about that. Getting into the swing of things after all, aren’t you?”

Hayden shuffled along, chagrined. “Maybe a little.”

Merry poked Hayden playfully. “There it is, again. Blinding, that smile!”

Hayden broke into a snarky grin as Ollie bounded ahead with glee. “Ho, ho, ho! Merrrrrrry Christmas!” he shouted.

As they headed down the dirt road to the car, Joan and Merry brought up the rear. Joan threw an affectionate arm around Merry’s shoulders. “You really are quite something,” Joan assured.

Merry walked arm-in-arm with Joan, all the way to the car. Joan drew Merry especially close as Daniel greeted Catherine. “You okay?” she whispered.

Merry nodded, then climbed into the back seat. She realized that, despite her disappointment with Daniel, something very meaningful had taken root with Joan. Never in all of her life had Merry felt so cared for by an older woman. Joan was right. There was something very special between them, a kinship that transcended the seasonal bounds of temporary jobs or even blood relations.
Maybe this is what it feels like to be adopted,
Merry thought.
Maybe this is what it’s like to
have a mother
.

ten

W
hat exactly it was about classic carols that made it feel all the more like Christmas, Merry didn’t know. But as soon as she brought the turntable in from the garage and began to play their old holiday albums, something palpable changed in the Bell household. The sound of those songs filled the living room and the Spirit of the season came with them.

It might have been three years since they’d decorated a Christmas tree together, but as soon as their chosen fir was set in place, each family member found a way to contribute to the festivities. Tara helped her Dad wire the tree with vintage bubble lights. Joan tucked a skirt her mother had quilted around the tree’s base. Merry and Ollie hung ornaments, blending family favorites from years past with their new broken china creations. Hayden connected the train cars and set them up to circle around the perimeter. Catherine settled into a soft chair, stringing cranberries together with popcorn.

Once the lights were in place, Daniel pulled out the old star they’d always put at the top of the tree. “So, who’s going to do the honors?” he asked.

Ollie raised his hand immediately. “I will! I will!”

“You should, Daniel,” Merry suggested.

“No, no,” Daniel insisted. “Their mom always had us settle this by acclaim.” With that, Daniel raised the star over his son’s head. “Everyone for Ollie.”

Ollie egged on enthusiastic clapping. Merry put two fingers in her mouth and added a sharp whistle. Next, Daniel moved the star over his mom, then Tara and Hayden. One by one, all received supportive hoots and hollers. Even Catherine got a modicum of polite applause.

Daniel stopped and scanned the group. “Now, let’s see. Who haven’t we tried?”

“Merry! Try Merry!” Ollie exclaimed.

Merry shyly deferred. “No, really.”

Suddenly, Tara began to chant Merry’s name. Ollie, Joan and Hayden joined in. “Mer-ry! Mer-ry! Mer-ry! Mer-ry!”

“The tribe has spoken,” Daniel joked, and with a polite bow, he handed the star to Merry.

Merry shot a concerned glance at Catherine. “Don’t you want to do this?”

Catherine masked her feelings well. “No, no. Go ahead. I have my hands full here.”

Joan took a seat by Catherine. “Here, let me help you with that,” she offered.

Daniel steadied the ladder beside the tree as Merry climbed. When she reached the next to the last step, Merry saw that the treetop was still out of reach. “Remind me to ask for stilts next year,” she said.

“Hey, you could borrow Catherine’s boots,” Hayden teased, enjoying the snickers it drew from her siblings.

“Okay, okay. I know I deserved that,” smiled Catherine.

Daniel looked up at Merry. “We’ll get you there,” he promised, turning to his daughter. “Hayden, hold this, will you?”

Hayden secured the ladder. Daniel extended his hand to Merry, steadying her to mount the top step. “Here you go,” he offered.

“Here I go,” Merry echoed, climbing to the tiptop. “Oh, boy...” Merry stretched to set the star. It was still a bit precarious.

“Wait a sec,” Daniel instructed. “I got you.”

Daniel took hold of Merry’s waist to steady her, wreaking jolly havoc on her heart. Supported by Daniel, Merry leaned to place the star. She slid it into place, provoking a round of jubilant cheers.

But... As Merry turned, beaming, she started to wobble.

“Wuh-oh!” Hayden blurted, grabbing for the ladder too late.

Merry swung her arms to right herself, but it was to no avail.

“Timber!” Ollie shouted. As if in slow motion, the Bells tried to prevent the inevitable. Catherine jumped out of the fray. Daniel dove as Merry tumbled headlong from the ladder, the light cord pulling the tree down. Daniel caught Merry as she fell, and the whole family dominoed to the floor, convulsing with laughter.

The next thing Merry knew, she was flat on the carpet, face to face with Daniel, entwined in his arms, the tree on top of them. Merry couldn’t help the sparks that flew inside her.

Daniel held Merry’s gaze while Joan helped the kids pull the fallen tree off of them. “You okay?” he checked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Merry answered. “I’m good.”

In seconds, the tree was righted. Merry sat up and Daniel rose to help the kids reset the tree. It had only been a moment, but Merry had seen the look on Catherine’s face.

Catherine had been gracious. She’d resumed stringing popcorn with cranberries without a word. Still, Merry knew that the incident had far from escaped her notice.

Catherine parked her Mercedes outside Arthur’s Downtown Diner. Warily, she eyed the sketchy neighborhood. Sparse streetlights cast an amber glow over a part of town Catherine never visited at night, not unless absolutely necessary. She sat for a moment, hoping against hope that the homeless man out front would go away.

He didn’t.

As scary as it was to contemplate leaving the safety of her car, it was all the more frightening for Catherine to let her mission go unaccomplished, so she opened the door and got out. Immediately, the homeless man took a step in her direction and held up his “Will Work For Food” sign. Spooked by him, she quickly set her alarm.

“Name’s Skeeter, Ma’am. Sure is a pretty car,” the homeless man noted. “I’ll wash the windshield for you, if you want.”

Catherine snugged her purse under her arm. “No, but thank you,” she answered. Unnerved, she hustled into the diner, more than a bit ruffled.

As she entered the diner’s door, Catherine startled to the
ho, ho, ho!
of the kitschy plastic Santa by the register. Rankled all the more, Catherine scanned the diner. Seeing her, Kiki approached.

“Hello,” Catherine started. “I won’t be dining. I just—”

At that moment, Merry exited the kitchen and Catherine quickly caught her eye. Merry waved congenially, then poured coffee for her customer.

Catherine glanced out the window, checking on her car. She spoke in confidential tones to Kiki. “I don’t mean to... Is my car safe? That man out there, he—”

Kiki interrupted with a chuckle. “Skeeter? Oh, he’s harmless.”

“Well, would you mind keeping an eye out?” Catherine requested, handing Kiki a ten.

Kiki slyly accepted the cash. “Let’s just ask him to.” With that, Kiki took Catherine’s money and leaned out the front door, setting off the plastic Santa’s
ho, ho, ho-ing
yet again. “Hey, Skeet,” Kiki called. “Watch this lady’s car.”

Skeeter lit up. “God bless ya, Miss,” he called back. Realizing she was stuck, Catherine smiled tightly in return, just as Merry reached her.

“Catherine. What a surprise,” Merry greeted, looking back out to the street. “Is Daniel coming?”

Catherine gathered herself. “He doesn’t actually know I’m here,” she replied.

Daniel descended his living room stairs, a tiny wrapped gift box in his hand. There was something about seeing Ollie, amusing himself with the model train under the tree that warmed Daniel’s heart. It reminded him of the joys of bygone Christmases and the promises of the ones to come.

As Daniel approached, Ollie played conductor, choo-chooing the string of cars around the track circling the Christmas tree.

Daniel stooped beneath the branches, adding the small box to the growing pile of gifts underneath. Reaching under a bough, he jostled one of Merry’s broken china ornaments. Daniel looked at the creation with an affectionate grin, and then hid the ring box behind it, commenting to Ollie. “Gramma’s taking up some serious real estate with these packages here.”

Ollie eyed the tiny package suspiciously. “Who’s that little one for?”

Daniel checked around secretively, and then whispered to his son. “Let’s keep it between us, but it’s a very special gift for Catherine.”

“From all of us?” Ollie inquired.

“In a way, but it’s mostly from me,” Daniel answered. “You like her, huh?”

Ollie shrugged. “She’s okay, I guess. I like Merry better.”

Daniel tipped his head. “I like Merry, too. But see, Ollie...I like Catherine in a different way. Kind of that man-woman thing. Like Mommy.”

“Catherine’s not like Mommy,” Ollie answered.

“Well, no, but—”

Ollie jumped in definitively. “I like Merry. She’s pretty, don’t you think?”

Daniel scrambled for a response. “Yeah, Buddy. I do, but...”

Daniel trailed off. He examined his conflicted heart. How could he explain something to his nine year-old son that he couldn’t entirely explain to himself?  “Catherine, she’s really special, too, and the thing is...well, I promised her first. Now she’s gotten her father’s blessing about me. And you know how I always taught you that a promise is a promise?”

Across town at the Downtown diner, Merry sat opposite Catherine, refilling syrup dispensers while Kiki and Arthur closed out. It wasn’t that Merry wanted to give Catherine any less than her full attention, but Catherine had come to her fulltime workplace, a job Merry knew she needed to keep after the holidays.

Catherine looked at Merry directly. “I won’t mince words, Merry. You’re stealing my show.”

Merry squinted a bit. “Come again?”

“Please don’t be coy, Merry. I already know you’re smarter than you come off.”