The Lopsided Christmas Cake (29 page)

“We’re happy to do it.” Thelma opened the door wider. “Why don’t you come inside until everyone gets here? There’s hot coffee on the stove.”

“That sounds nice.” Herschel sat down after she handed him a cup of coffee. “Danki.”

The three of them visited around the kitchen table until the young people showed up. Then Thelma and Elma put on their outer garments and followed Herschel outside.

Soon everyone climbed onto the back of the wagon and took seats on bales of straw. Thelma was about to get on when she spotted another horse and buggy pulling in. “I thought everyone was here,” she said, looking at Elma.

A few seconds later, Joseph got out and tied his horse to the hitching rail. “What’s he doing here, Sister? Did you know he was coming?”

Elma nodded and lowered her voice. “He stopped by the store last week, and I invited him to join us this evening.”

“Don’t you think you should have said something to me about that?” Thelma couldn’t imagine why Elma would invite Joseph to the caroling party and not tell her.

Elma slipped her arm around Thelma’s waist and gave her a squeeze. “Relax, and enjoy the evening.”

Thelma shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her neck.
How can I relax with Joseph heading toward me?

“Thelma?” Joseph asked, stepping up to the woman he believed was his girlfriend.

“Jah, it’s me. Did you think I was Elma?”

“No. Yes.” He pulled his knitted cap over his ears, knowing they must be pink. “Well, I wasn’t sure. When I came by the store last week I—I thought she was you.”
Don’t start stuttering now, Joseph.
He reached out and touched her arm. “It’s good to see you, Thelma. I’ve been looking forward to tonight ever since Elma invited me to go caroling with you.”

“Speaking of caroling, we’d better get on the wagon before they take off without us.”

Joseph grinned. “Let’s go!” He hopped up and reached his hand out to Thelma, helping her onto the wagon as well. He patted the seat beside him. When she joined him on the bale of straw, he noticed that she didn’t seem like her usual cheerful self. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but thinking it would be best not to say anything in front of everyone, he let it go. “Here, you may need this as we begin moving down the road.” Joseph placed a blanket across Thelma’s lap.

She offered him a smile and seemed to relax a bit. “You’re welcome to share it with me.”

Joseph pulled part of the blanket over his knees, and a few minutes later they were on their way.

The joyful group laughed, visited, and sang as they traveled the roads, taking them through downtown Topeka and onto several of the back roads. They stopped by some church members’ homes, serenading them with Christmas songs. Joseph was having a good time, and Thelma seemed to be as well. At one point, she’d even leaned close to him and said, “You have a nice singing voice, Joe.”

He smiled. “I enjoy singing Christmas songs.”
Especially when I’m with you,
he added silently. Joseph thought the chilly winter’s night was perfect weather for Christmas caroling.

“Look over there.” Joseph pointed at a curious raccoon watching them pass before disappearing behind some bushes.

Thelma sighed. “It’s a beautiful night.”

Nothing is as beautiful as you,
Joseph thought, wishing he could say it out loud. Right now, he would give anything to be alone with Thelma.

When their driver announced that the next place would be their last stop, Joseph felt disappointed. He didn’t want the evening to end. He hoped before he left that he could talk privately with Thelma.

Elma asked if everyone was hungry and said when they returned to her and Thelma’s house, they’d build a bonfire and roast hot dogs. Joseph was happy about that. Not because he was hungry, but because it would give him more time with Thelma. It was strange how she was acting tonight—one minute quiet and aloof—the next minute laughing.

“It doesn’t look like anyone is home here,” one of the young men shouted. “See, there’s no light in any of the windows.”

“Look, there’s a katz!” Thelma pointed to the cat sitting on the front porch. The feline’s gray coat was illuminated by the light of the silvery moon.

“Should we sing to the katz?” someone shouted.

“Why not?” another person responded.

Everyone began singing, “We wish you a blessed Christmas… We wish you a blessed Christmas… We wish you a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year!”

The front door opened, and an elderly Amish man with a cane stepped out, holding a flashlight. Joseph didn’t recognize him, but then he didn’t know that many people living in Topeka.

To Joseph’s surprise, the man stepped off his porch and started singing to the carolers. His cat came over to him and rubbed against his leg. Thelma laughed and joined him in song. Soon, the others accompanied them as well. Joseph could hardly wait to see what the rest of the night would bring.

A
lthough Thelma enjoyed being with Joseph, she knew she couldn’t count on more evenings like this. Before the night was over, she would have to tell Joseph that she couldn’t see him again. He may not understand if she tried to explain that unless her sister was being courted by a man, there was no way she could keep seeing him. Most people did not understand the bond identical twins had.

Thelma tried not to think about it as the lively group sang their way back to her and Elma’s house. But the closer they got, the more apprehensive she felt. By the time Herschel guided his team up their driveway, Thelma had broken out in a cold sweat. Clutching the scarf around her neck didn’t seem to help the chill that went straight to her bones.
I should have told Joseph that I couldn’t see him anymore when I left him a message last week. That would have been easier than saying it to his face.

She thought once again about the kiss they’d shared after Joseph’s birthday party, and wished now she hadn’t let it happen. If she’d only known then that Elma wouldn’t be seeing Delbert anymore, she would have ended it with Joseph that night. There was no point in thinking about that now. She needed to get through this evening without breaking down.

When the wagon came to a stop, Joseph hopped down and extended his hand to Thelma. Once she was on the ground, he put his hand gently behind her back as they walked through the yard.

“Would you like me to get a fire started?” Joseph asked Thelma.

She nodded. “That would be nice.”

“Would you like to help me with that?” he questioned.

She swallowed hard, barely able to look at him. “I need to go inside and help Elma get the hot dogs and other things out. I’m sure some of the young men will help you gather wood for the fire.”

Joseph gave her a heart-melting smile and headed across the yard to a group of young men who had starting making snowballs. “No snowball games tonight,” he called. “We need to get a fire going so we can eat.”

As the evening wore on, Thelma grew quieter. She could barely eat her hot dog, much less enjoy any of the cookies. All she could think about was how attentive Joseph was being and how much she dreaded telling him good-bye. At least he wasn’t part of their church district and she wouldn’t have to see him every other Sunday. That would have made things even more difficult.

“You’ve been awfully quiet since we got back from caroling,” Joseph said, interrupting Thelma’s thoughts. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. Just tired is all.”

“It looks like things are winding down now and most of the young people are going home.” Joseph touched her arm. “If it’s okay, I’d like to stay until everyone is gone so we can talk.”

“That’s fine. I’d like to speak with you as well.”

Half an hour later, everyone had gone and Thelma began to gather the paper plates and other things left over from the meal they’d shared around the bonfire.

“Don’t worry about that, Sister,” Elma said. “I’ll take care of cleaning up. Sit and enjoy the last of the glowing embers with Joseph.” Elma scooped everything into a wicker basket and hurried inside before Thelma could formulate a response. She wondered if her sister knew what she was about to tell Joseph and wanted to give her time to do it. Quite often when either Thelma or Elma planned to do something, the other twin had a feeling about it—almost as though they could read each other’s minds.

Joseph moved his folding chair closer to Thelma’s. “There’s something I want to say,” he said, taking her hand.

“I—I need to tell you something, too,” she murmured. “But you can go first.”

Joseph cleared his throat a couple of times. “We’ve only known each other a few months, and it’s probably too soon to be talking about marriage, but—”

“Joseph, things are not going to work out for us. After tonight, I won’t be able to see you again.”

“Why, Thelma? You said you loved me the other night. And you let me kiss you.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “You may not understand, but I can’t have a relationship with you when my sister has no one.”

“You’re right, I don’t understand. I love you, Thelma, and I think God brought us together.”

“I love you, too, but Elma and I have a special bond. When we were little girls we talked about what it would be like when we fell in love and got married.” Thelma paused and swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “We promised each other that until we both found the right man, neither of us would get married.”

“Are you saying that you won’t marry me unless Elma falls in love with a man and they make plans to be married?” The wrinkles across Joseph’s forehead revealed his confusion.

Thelma nodded slowly. “But that may never happen, and you need to be free to find the right woman, so—”

“He already has, and you, Thelma, are being ridiculous!”

Thelma whirled around, surprised to see her sister standing behind her, hands on both hips. “You… you startled me, Elma. I thought you were in the house.”

“I was, but I remembered that I’d left my gloves lying on the log. So I came back out to get them.” Elma moved around to stand in front of Thelma. Then she leaned down and looked directly at her. “That was a silly promise we made to each other when we were kinner, and I won’t allow you to sacrifice the love you have found with Joseph when it’s completely unnecessary.” She paused, placing her hands on Thelma’s shoulders. “I was perfectly happy before I met Delbert, and I will be fine on my own. In fact, you and Joseph have my blessing. I would be miserable if I were the cause of you two breaking up.”

Thelma didn’t know what to say. Could she really marry Joseph and leave her sister alone? Would that even be fair?

Elma gestured to Joseph, asking them both to stand. Then she took Thelma’s hand and placed it in Joseph’s. “You two make a good couple. I truly believe you belong together. Now, I’m going to get my gloves and leave you alone to work things out.” She smiled, grabbed her gloves, and went back to the house.

Joseph turned to face Thelma. “What do you have to say about that?”

She smiled through her tears. “I’ve always tried to please my sister, and if she really wants us to keep courting, then I guess I can’t argue with that.”

Joseph bent his head and captured her lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. “And to think, we never would have met if you hadn’t made that crazy-looking lopsided cake. I believe this is going to be my best Christmas yet. By next year at this time, I hope we can be married.”

“I know this will be a good Christmas, too.” Thelma’s smile widened. “I love you, Joseph.”

Filled with such happiness as she’d never felt before, Thelma barely noticed how the moon encased them in its brilliant light. All she felt was the warmth of Joseph’s arms holding her close as she leaned her head against his chest.
And maybe,
she thought,
by next year, my sister will have found the man of her dreams, too.

The next October

A
s Thelma sat quietly beside Joseph at their bride-and-groom’s corner table, she thought about the changes that had occurred over the past year. Most important was that her and Joseph’s hearts and lives were now joined through the love of God. Not only had she and Joseph been married this morning, with both of their families present, but tomorrow they would be moving into the house across the street from Elma. Joseph had recently sold his business in LaGrange and purchased the harness shop in Topeka, since the previous owner was ready to retire.