Sarah's Christmas Miracle (17 page)

“It is. Let’s get in line for lunch. My appetite has mysteriously returned with a vengeance.”

“One more minute,” she pleaded, not ready to join the others yet. “I decided something else on the bus ride home—I want to become baptized and join the church.” Voicing the words aloud caused a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She glanced into his face with anticipation.

He lifted one eyebrow. “
Jah
? But I heard that class was filled up and there wouldn’t be another for at least a year. Looks like you’ll have to wait.” He patted her shoulder.

“What?” she squawked. “I never heard of such a thing! Maybe I can take classes in another district. Or maybe the bishop will—”

Adam pressed a finger to her lips. “I’m teasing, Sarah. While you were in Cleveland, I found a sense of humor. There was a perfectly fine one lying on the side of the road that someone had thrown out…”

While he rambled Sarah bent down for a handful of wet snow, which she shaped into a ball. “I’ll give you a three-second head start, and then I suggest you take cover, Adam Troyer.” She packed the snowball tightly between her fingers.

With a laugh, he ran a zigzag pattern across the yard, but Sarah’s snowball still found its mark squarely in the middle of his back.

And she’d found her mark here in Fredericksburg, Ohio. She’d grown lonesome for home during her brief time away, but absence had especially made her heart grow fonder for Adam. He was more than a good man—he loved her, and it’d taken a heartbreaking peek into Caleb’s sorrowful life to realize that she loved him too. Sometimes a person didn’t appreciate the goodness the Lord has bestowed until it was
almost
gone.

F
IFTEEN

Christmas Eve

S
arah heard the commotion in the kitchen and knew Adam had arrived. He was taking her to the schoolhouse for the Christmas program. She’d barely had time to change her clothes after helping Mrs. Pratt all morning. Although no guests had stayed the previous night and none were expected today, Country Pleasures Bed-and-Breakfast was filled with people. Mrs. Pratt bustled around her kitchen like a bee in spring clover. Her daughter and family pulled up the driveway yesterday afternoon, bringing a ham, stuffed turkey, and all the trimmings. Her son had rented a car at the Cleveland airport and arrived last night, also a surprise. The Pratt family would be together for Christmas. And Sarah would divide her time between the Beachys and the Troyers…if she got moving right now.

Just as her mother called her name, Sarah ran down the steps and flew into the kitchen.

“Guder nachmittag, liewi,”
Adam greeted, his smile filling his entire face.

She blushed. Such endearments were seldom uttered in company. “Good afternoon to you.”

“Eat your lunch, daughter,” commanded Elizabeth. “Have you eaten, Adam?” She pointed to a plate filled with ham-and-cheese sandwiches already made.

“I’ve eaten, Mrs. Beachy,
danki
.” His focus darted toward the door and back.

“May I eat mine on the way? As soon as the
kinner
have eaten lunch, they’ll set up for the program. We don’t want to miss a thing.”

“Go on then,” Elizabeth said. She took a sandwich from the plate and wrapped it in a napkin. “Christmas comes but once a year.” Her face shone with joy. “And don’t forget to bring Katie home. No sense in her walking while you’ve got a buggy. And Adam, I expect you to stay for supper tonight since I’m losing my girl to your mother’s good cooking tomorrow.”

He nodded in agreement. Sarah kissed her
mamm
’s cheek, and then they hurried out the door. During the ride to the schoolhouse, Adam filled her ear with the young Troyer preparations for the annual event. New carols had to be learned, red-and-green paper chains hung from the ceiling, and lines had to be practiced until they could be recited without a stutter. Sarah loved Adam’s devotion to his nieces and nephews.

He would make a great father.

And with God’s help, she would make a good mother.

When they entered the schoolroom of eight mixed grades, Sarah’s heart leaped with delight. The girls had strung cutout letters spelling “Merry Christmas” across the room and drawn Christmas scenes in colored chalk on the board. Boys had set up folding chairs and benches for parents,
dawdis
and
mammis
, and the English friends who’d been invited. She felt proud to be part of the love filling the room.

Just as she and Adam found seats, the teacher rang the bell on her desk and everyone grew quiet. A small girl stepped from behind a makeshift curtain to recite a poem about the baby Jesus. The child focused solely on Sarah during her recitation. With a start, Sarah recognized the youngest of Adam’s nieces, the one who’d placed the coals for the snowman’s mouth. Two skits came next—one in English by the older scholars and another in
Deutsch
by the younger students. Christmas carols then filled the room as everyone joined in the singing.

Unexpectedly, Sarah’s eyes brimmed with tears as they sang “Silent Night,” her favorite. As the children exchanged small gifts, she fought back waves of emotion threatening to ruin her afternoon.
Why do I want to cry watching
kinner
exchange books, colored markers, fruit, and candy?

Perhaps because she had so easily dismissed this future for herself. Now she yearned for a family of her own more than anything, if it wasn’t too late.

At the program’s conclusion, several of his nephews ran to greet Uncle Adam. Joshua threw his small arms around Adam’s neck and hugged.

Lydia Troyer, his eldest niece, approached their seats. “
Danki
for coming today, Sarah,” she said shyly.

Sarah recalled that his niece had called her “Aunt Sarah” the day they had built the snowman. Why had she dropped the fond address? Sarah reached out to squeeze the girl’s shoulders. “You’re welcome. You did a good job during the skit, speaking your lines calmly and clearly.”

Then Sarah spotted her little
schwester
standing by the window eating an orange. She hurried to commend Katie’s performance too during the skit and singing. Katie chattered for a few moments about her many flubs during practice sessions over the last few days. Yet her solo stanza of “Joy to the World” had been flawless. Katie showed Sarah her sack of gifts, including a book on wildflowers, trail mix, and soaps shaped like hearts.

All too soon people began collecting belongings and putting on cloaks and bonnets. While Katie ran off to bid her friends “Merry Christmas,” Sarah noticed Amanda standing near the door with her beau. She’d also come to see her nieces and nephews, yet she was staring at Sarah with a grin on her face.

Blushing, Sarah approached Adam’s sister. “It was
wunderbaar, jah
?” she asked.

“Truly was. It filled me with the joy of the season. That, and seeing you and my
bruder
patched up.”

Sarah’s blush deepened to crimson. “Seeing my
bruder
made me appreciate my blessings all the more.”

Amanda pulled her into a tight embrace. “With a little training and some patience, Adam should make a right fine
ehemann.
” The two women shared a hearty laugh. “I’ll see you tomorrow for Christmas dinner,” Amanda said as she slipped out with her fiancé.

Sarah herded Katie to Adam’s buggy along with Joshua and his parents, who had walked to the school. With so many people in the small surrey, she didn’t think Adam would attempt any private conversation during the ride. She was mistaken.

While Joshua described the morning’s preparations from the backseat, Adam leaned close to her ear. “You seemed to have enjoyed yourself this afternoon.”

“I did.
Danki
for escorting me this afternoon.” She focused on the road ahead, which blessedly had little traffic tonight. “And thanks for not trying to stop me from visiting Cleveland,” she added in a whisper.

“I had no right to do that even if I wanted to, which for a while I did.”

Sarah shifted on the seat, feeling her palms grow clammy.

“Did you find what you were looking for in Cleveland?” he asked.

“
Jah
, and it broke my heart when I saw how Caleb was living—not the grand life we’d assumed since he’d landed a good job. Apparently, jobs come and go with the weather, and he wasn’t left with much when his dried up.”

“Then he should have swallowed his pride and come home. He hadn’t joined the church yet. He would have been accepted back, and in time everything would have been forgotten.”

Adam sounded short tempered, and Sarah regretted bringing up the subject. She dared not mention the burden of guilt Caleb carried. Adam might resent him all the more. “He had his reasons,” she murmured, turning to watch the scenery.

Adam grunted for a final comment on the topic and then remained quiet for the rest of the drive.

Is he wondering what sort of evil Caleb had fallen into? Does my
bruder
’s shame reflect on me?

When the buggy stopped in front of the Troyer house, Joshua and Katie jumped out to play in the snow. Adam’s brother and wife bid her goodnight as they walked arm in arm toward the house. Sarah remained where she was, uncertain and uncomfortable, while Adam began unhitching the horse.

“Have you forgotten me? I still need a ride home. And I thought you were eating dinner with my family tonight.” Her voice sounded weak and childlike.

Adam leaned his head back into the buggy. “I thought it would be more romantic if I took you home in the sleigh. Would you like that, Sarah?”

Her heart began to pound within her ribcage. “I would love a sleigh ride, but don’t forget my sister will be with us.”

“Oh, I think I’ll get a chance to ask a couple questions I’ve had on my mind, as long as Katie sits in the backseat.” He winked impishly. “Why don’t you gather some wool blankets while I hitch up a fresh horse? I’ll be back in a hurry.” To his nephew he called, “Joshua, ask your
daed
to rub down my horse so we can be off. And you can help him.”

Sarah watched the child run off as her spirits soared toward heaven.
Trust the Lord’s timing in all things.
If only she could patiently wait and not worry so much.

Adam disappeared into the barn with his gelding but soon returned driving the sleigh with his Percheron crossbreed, bells on the leather harness jingling. Although less than twenty degrees outdoors, warmth filled every part of her as she met Adam’s gaze.

He loves me. He loves me after all.

“Katie!” she hollered. “Say goodbye to Joshua and come get your things.”

“A sleigh ride!” the girl exclaimed. She grabbed her lunch box and sack of presents from the buggy and scrambled up next to Adam, hoping to wedge in for warmth.

“Crawl beneath those wool blankets in the backseat, please. Adam and I wish a little time alone.”

Katie made a humorous clucking sound but did as instructed. Sarah snuggled close as Adam tucked a thick lap robe around their legs. In another moment, they were flying down the driveway onto the road.

“Whoa,” he called to the horse, tugging the reins. “We don’t want to get home too soon, do we?”

Seldom short on words, Sarah merely shook her head. Something had closed off her throat, rendering speech impossible.

For half a mile, Adam kept the sleigh toward the side of the road, though no traffic whizzed by due to the weather. “So, Miss Beachy, since you’ve decided to join the church and remain Amish, I have a question for you.” He cocked his head.

Sarah clasped her hands under the blanket. “What question would that be?”

“Would you like whole berry or jelled sauce with your turkey tomorrow?”

“What?” she croaked, her face flushing hotly.

Giggles emanated from the lump of blankets behind them.

“Cranberry sauce—which do you prefer? My
mamm
was curious.”

“Um…whole berry.”

“Ah, that’s my favorite too.” He shook the reins, sending the bells jingling.