Christmas morning Abigail woke to the tantalizing scent of cinnamon buns. A family tradition ever since she could remember, only she normally took part in preparing them. She glanced at Elizabeth’s made bed, then over to Sadie’s, and bounded out of bed. How could she have slept so hard that she missed Christmas?
She dressed in a hurry and as she tromped down the stairs, laughter rang out from the kitchen. She hadn’t heard her mother’s lighthearted laugh since Thomas had returned and Mamm’s sister’s family had been issued the cold treatment. It sounded like music to Abigail’s ears.
“What’s the excitement about?” Abigail looked from her mother to Elizabeth and over to young Sadie, with her hands covered in flour and white powder on the counter, the floor, the wall, everywhere.
“I patted the mound of bread dough too hard and flour went all over,” Sadie said.
And Mamm was laughing—hysterically. She lifted her brows at Mamm who merely shrugged. “It’s Christmas!”
Abigail wished she shared the same joyfulness. Micah had dropped her off the night before last before taking Thomas home. Micah hadn’t wanted to spend a few minutes more alone with her, or he would have driven Thomas home first. He had told her to stay in the buggy, and she had gone inside the church after a while because Micah was taking so long and she was getting cold. Although he didn’t say anything about her not doing as she was told, he certainly hadn’t knocked on her door to see her either. Yesterday he wouldn’t have driven the glassware into town. Who’d sat with Edith?
“You must have been tired,” her mother said.
“Jah, must’ve been.” She yawned.
“Daed said we’re opening gifts early since we have so many coming for Christmas dinner,” Elizabeth said.
Abigail shifted her attention to Mamm who was tearing up and giggling at the same time. “The Lambrights will be spending Christmas with us after all,” she said, dabbing her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.
“Even Thomas?” Abigail asked.
Mamm nodded. “Doreen didn’t have time this morning to tell me everything, but she said Micah had talked to them and Bishop Schwartz about getting treatment for Thomas. Apparently there are doctors who specialize in treating people returning from war. His stress syndrome might just be manageable, and there’s a new study being done to help retrain the brain after injury, so maybe he can learn to control his cussing. Isn’t that the best Christmas gift ever?” Tears of joy streamed down her face. “I’m so happy for mei sister.”
Abigail hugged her mother. “That is wunderbaar news.” Lord, let it be so. She released her mother. “Do I have time to make a fruitcake before we open gifts?” Malinda always said fruitcake was the best part of the holidays, and Abigail wanted to make a special one for her.
“Let’s get it started nau,” Mamm said. “It can be baking while we open gifts.”
Abigail hadn’t heard this much excitement in the kitchen in a long time. She could hardly keep her emotions about Micah intact. She would thank him first thing when he arrived later today for the meal. That is, if he would listen to her.
Daed called everyone into the sitting room just as Abigail slipped the fruitcake into the oven. It seemed odd opening presents this early in the day, but the twins and Sadie were certainly excited.
Abigail untied the piece of yarn from around the package Elizabeth had given her. She unwrapped a beautiful royal-blue dress and matching apron. “I love it, danki.” She rose from her chair and hugged her sister. “I didn’t even see you working on this.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m going to wear it to dinner tonight.” She sat down, barely paying attention to what everyone else unwrapped. She ran her hand over the fine stitches. Would Micah like this color on her? She hoped her stockings without the holes were clean. She touched the strings on her prayer kapp. She would replace it with the one she saved for Sundays. It wasn’t tattered.
Daed placed a brown paper-wrapped package on her lap.
“I have another one?” Abigail thought she’d unwrapped everything. Opening the box, her eyes misted as she stared at the leather halter. “It’s beautiful.”
Daed smiled. “I think you’ll have use for it one day—when you find the right horse.”
“This will give me incentive to start saving again.”
“Nett Cactus,” Daed said, then cleared his throat. “I want you to know how pleased I am that you were willing to sacrifice something that meant so much to you. You responded to others’ needs as Jesus would want, and I’m proud of you.” He looked at Mamm and winked. “I need to get something from the barn. I have one more gift to bring in.”
“I’ll help.” David followed him outside.
A few minutes later, they returned with a wooden rocker for Mamm. Her face glowed as she eased into the chair. “It’s perfect,” she said, running her hands along the armrests.
Elizabeth leaned closer to Abigail. “You better go change. Micah will be here soon.” Her sister was already a vision of beauty wearing her forest-green dress. James was also due to arrive for their family dinner. “I’ll help get dinner ready, you go.”
Abigail gathered the dress into her arms and scooted upstairs. She hadn’t felt this nervous—ever. The dress was a perfect fit. Abigail twirled around in a tight circle. She hadn’t worn a new dress in a long time. She removed her prayer kapp, letting her hair fall over her shoulder. She heard a buggy pull into the driveway and rushed to the window. James was the first to arrive. Abigail brushed her hair and secured her Sunday kapp in place. More voices filtered upstairs as other guests arrived.
Abigail padded down the steps. She greeted Edith who, with Mamm’s help, was removing her cloak at the door. Abigail’s gaze automatically traveled the room for Micah. He wasn’t in the sitting room with David, James, and Daed. She eased over to the window and glanced outside. His horse and buggy was tied to the post next to the barn. Her shoulders dropped. Had he changed his mind about dinner?
“He had to run back home,” Edith said as though reading her mind.
“But he’s still coming for dinner?”
“Yes, dear.” Edith smiled warmly. “Is that a new dress you’re wearing?”
Abigail nodded. “Elizabeth made it.”
“That blue is a gut color on you.”
“Danki.” She hoped Micah thought the same.
“Can I make you a cup of tea, Edith?” Mamm motioned toward the kitchen and Edith joined her, commenting on how good the turkey smelled.
Abigail glanced out the window again. Why wouldn’t Micah have taken his buggy? She meandered into the kitchen. “Is there anything you’d like me to do?” she asked her mother.
“We’re just waiting on the turkey,” Mamm said.
She wouldn’t be able to eat a bite if Micah wasn’t back. She removed a glass from the cupboard, filled it with water, and took a drink. A knock sounded at the door and she spilled water down the front of her dress.
Micah greeted Abigail’s father, brothers, and James in the sitting room, then made his way to the kitchen. Falling in love had set his nerves on edge, and he wouldn’t be able to sit through dinner without talking to her first.
“Abigail, do you have a minute?”
She stopped blotting a wet spot on her dress and tossed the dish towel on the counter. “Oh, hello, Micah.”
He rubbed his moist hands on his pant legs, glanced at his grandmother and Mrs. Kemp, and nervously smiled. “Merry Christmas.”
Abigail’s mother bounded off the chair. “Merry Christmas, Micah. Can I make you a cup of kaffi or tea?”
“Maybe later. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take Abigail on a short ride.”
“Nau?” Abigail interrupted. “The turkey is almost done.”
“I won’t keep her long,” he said.
Mamm exchanged glances with Edith, then nodded. “Dinner won’t be ready for a while.”
Abigail was fussing with the spot on her dress again when he removed her cloak from the hook and handed it to her.
“Mamm will pluck you like a turkey if we’re late for dinner,” Abigail warned as they left the house. She glanced upward and smiled. “It’s snowing. Of course, I don’t have to point that out to you.”
He reached for her elbow, then guided her to the sleigh parked next to his buggy. “Would you like to go for a ride?”
“Jah.” Her eyes lit with excitement. “Daed puts the runners on the buggy when the snow gets too deep, but I’ve never ridden in an open sleigh.”
He untied the mare’s reins from the post. “This here is Mammi’s old horse, Sugarplum.”
“She’s beautiful.” Abigail patted the horse’s neck. “Hello, Sugarplum.”
Micah brushed the light dusting of snow off the bench, then helped Abigail into the sleigh. “I thought we would take a ride down to the pond,” he said, signaling the horse.
Hearing her teeth chatter, he reached behind the seat for the blanket. “This should keep you warm.”
“Danki.”
Sugarplum plodded along the snow-covered trail. He stopped the sleigh at the edge of the pond and they sat quietly for a couple minutes. “I’m going to miss nett seeing you at the haus.”
“I promised Edith I would stop by and visit.”
“Just Mammi?”
“And you . . . if you’re nett in your shop. We both know how you don’t like to be bothered when you’re—”
He brushed his hand over her cheek.
“Working,” she said, breathlessly. “I, ah . . . I wouldn’t inter . . . fere.”
He leaned closer, his attention focused on her lips. “Are you going to keep talking?”
“It is a problem . . . I have . . . sometimes.”
He captured her mouth with a long kiss. Her lips were soft and moved with his. Placing his hand around her back, he pressed her closer. He trailed kisses across her cheek.
“What was . . . I saying?” Her voice broke.
“That you talk a lot,” he whispered in her ear.
“Is that a problem?”
“Nett anymore.” He kissed her temple. “I know how to quiet you nau.” He kissed her on the lips, this time possessively.
“I think I might talk all the time.”
“Jah, you do that.” His lips found hers once again, and when he had kissed her so much that his lips tingled, he placed his arm around her shoulder and she nestled in the crook of his arm. “Are you kalt?” he asked, squeezing her a little tighter.
“Nay.” He pointed to left. “You see that hill in the distance?”
“It’s your father’s land, I know.”
“He gave it to me. I’m going to build a haus on it this spring, so I can look out mei window and watch you skate in the winter.”
“You’re welcome to skate with me.”
He shifted slightly in order to gaze into her eyes. “In the summer you can look out your window and watch me fish.”
“Mei window?” Her brows lifted.
He nodded. “Unless you’d like to go fishing, but I’ll warn you, I get up early.”
She sat up straight. “What are you saying?”
“I love you, Gabby Abby. I want you to be mei fraa.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “But you said just the other nacht there wasn’t an Amish man who would want—”
He kissed her hard, convincingly. “I was wrong.” He kissed the tip of her cold nose. “Tell me you love me. That you will be mei fraa.”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes. Should I go on?”
He wrapped her in a tight embrace. “Yes, go on. I love hearing those words.” He held her a few minutes longer before releasing her. “We should probably get back to the haus. I don’t want mei future fraa’s mamm upset with me.”
“After what you did for Thomas, there’s no chance of that.”
Micah extended the reins to her. “Would you like to drive home?”
“I’ve never driven a sleigh.”
“She’s a gut horse, as sweet as her name,” he said. “As sweet as her new owner.”
Abigail crinkled her brows.
“I attached a bow to her harness, but it fell off on the way here.” He shrugged. “She’s a bit awkward to wrap in brown paper, but I hope you like her.”
“You bought me a horse?” Abigail gasped.
He nodded. “Mammi mentioned you wanted a horse more than anything. Something about your independence . . .” He placed his hand over hers. “I hope this makes you happy, Gabby Abby.”
“I’ve never been happier.” She placed her free hand on her chest, breathing heavily. “I might burst!”
Micah chuckled. “Does that mean you’ll still want to marry me? I mean—nau that you have your independence.”
She blinked and tears rolled down her face. “I’ll marry you today, Micah Zook. Today! Well, maybe nett today. Your parents are nett back in town. Oh . . .” Her eyes widened. “I only made you a pair of socks for Christmas.”
He grinned. “But you’ve shared your gift of gab with me throughout this entire Christmas season.” A chuckle erupted he couldn’t contain.
She pulled back. “Are you making fun of me again?”
He brought her back into his arms. “I don’t ever want you to change,” he said, pulling her closer. “I love you just the way you are.”