The next day was Christmas. The night before, Josiah had enjoyed watching Annie and the girls open their gifts. They’d read the Christmas story from the Bible and sang hymns.
He sighed, almost hating to share them with Emily Jane and William. He finished hitching Roy to the wagon and smiled. But it was Christmas Day and everything was perfect. He wanted to climb up on the highest peak of the barn and crow like an old rooster.
Annie and the girls stood on the front porch waiting when he led Roy toward them. Annie’s eyes sparkled and her hair fell in beautiful waves about her shoulders. She wore her blue Christmas dress, with matching cloak.
Anna Mae lit up the morning. His stomach clenched tight. He wondered if she truly knew how desperately he needed her in his life. The gold ring caught the light and he smiled.
Rose and Ruby clutched their Christmas babies to their chests and wore big smiles on their little faces. Rose wore a new green dress with a matching ribbon in her hair, while Ruby sported a new red dress and ribbon. They both looked cute and happy.
Anna Mae held a large package in her arms. “What’s that?”
“Emily Jane and William’s Christmas gift,” she answered, handing it to him.
“Oh.” He took the present. “I thought it might be for me,” he teased. “After all, I do have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” She stepped back up on the porch to retrieve something else.
“Yes, and I’ll show you when the time is right.”
Josiah put the gift in the wagon and then swung each of the girls up. When he turned back around, Anna handed him a box filled with dishes. “What’s all this?” he asked, placing it carefully in the back.
“Part of our Christmas dinner.” She propped both hands on her hips. “What did you think I was doing in the kitchen all morning?”
“Reading a book.” He laughed at the expression on her face. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve caught you in there reading when you were supposed to be cooking,” he teased.
She playfully slapped him on the arm. “That may be true, but not today. Today I cooked up a feast.” Anna Mae pulled herself up onto the wagon. “Scoot over, girls,” she said.
“Alwite, Mama.” Rose answered with a grin.
“Mama?” Her eyes grew round.
Ruby pulled at Rose’s coat. “Me sits wif Mama.”
The girls scrabbled back and forth till Josiah raised his voice. “If that don’t beat all. No one wants to sit with me?” He faked a pout and Rose patted him on top of his head.
“Me will, me will.” She immediately climbed into her place beside Ruby, both girls unaware that they had made their new mother the happiest woman in the world.
Josiah watched his Annie surreptitiously wipe at her eyes. Then she gathered both girls as close as she could and kissed them soundly.
Truth be told, he was just as surprised as Anna Mae appeared. He’d never heard them call her Mama, or anything, for that matter. Carolyn at the general store referred to Annie as their mama so maybe that’s where they got it from.
“Thank you, my sweet girls. I think that’s the best Christmas gift I have ever received.” She couldn’t seem to let them go until they squirmed, wanting out of her arms.
Josiah pulled himself up into the wagon. He looked at Anna Mae. She’d once told him that she didn’t want them to call her Mother. Looking into her eyes now, he knew she was ready. More than ready.
“They called me Mama.” She reached across and squeezed his arm. Her eyes flashed with happiness like silver lightning. “Did you hear that?”
“I sure did. It’s about time, too.” He tickled Rose until she scooted over.
He slapped the reins on Roy’s back and clicked his tongue. Then Josiah’s eyes drifted right back to his wife. He couldn’t seem to quit looking at her. The satisfied expression on her face spoke volumes about what was in her heart. He should know; it was a reflection of his own.
He ignored the little twinge in his gut. If he’d learned anything the past few days, it was that his gut instincts about Annie were not always right. But he had also learned something important from his marriage that would work equally well on his job. Communication was the key to success.
That’s why he knew he’d better start talking. They had thirty minutes tops for him to present an idea to his wife and pray she’d like it. He drew a deep breath.
“Josiah, I’ve been thinking hard about something these last couple of days.”
He closed his mouth with a snap and all but groaned. He’d missed his chance. His gaze moved to hers and he forgot that he’d wanted to talk first. “What is it, Annie?”
She played with the folds on her cloak. “Well, the things you mentioned the other day about coming home for lunch and not caring for the long drive home.” She paused, waited until he nodded and then continued. “I’ve been thinking how much I would love seeing you at different times during the day.”
He gave her a sidelong glance of utter disbelief. Had she read his mind?
“Would you be very upset if we sold the farm and moved to town?”
Joy filled him. Josiah pulled Roy to a stop and twisted sideways on the wagon bench. “Annie, that’s my surprise.” At her look of confusion, he clarified, “Remember the house that wasn’t destroyed by the storm? That sat about four down from yours and Emily Jane’s?”
“You mean Mr. Parker’s place?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Mr. Parker passed away and Mrs. Parker plans to move back East to live with her children, just as soon as she sells her home. I wanted to show it to you today to see if you’d consider moving back to town and living there.”
She bounced on the seat in her excitement. “Oh, Josiah, I love that place. It has a wraparound porch and three fireplaces.”
He nodded. A smile the size of the Rio Grande split his face. “Right, and a huge fenced in backyard. The girls can play without us worrying about them wandering off.”
“You wouldn’t miss the farm?”
He studied her intently. Then decided honesty was the best policy. He squinted, but kept eye contact. “No?”
She giggled. “That’s a question, Josiah, not an answer.” She picked Ruby up and slid into her place on the seat, then plopped her on the other side of her. Depositing Rose right next to her sister, Anna Mae effectively closed the space between herself and Josiah. She was near enough to kiss with the barest of movement from him. From the look in her eyes, that’s exactly what she planned.
“Will you miss the farm, Annie?”
“Like the plague.”
He threw back his head and let out a great peal of laughter. His Annie was a minx. She brought her hand up to stifle her giggles, but he caught it and kissed her. As though his kiss drove her, she wrapped her arms around his waist. When he released her, Anna Mae laid her head against his shoulder.
The sound of whispered “tisses, tisses” echoed from the girls’ side of the wagon. But it seemed they understood that these were special kisses, and didn’t demand they be included this time.
Josiah had never felt happier in all his born days. He silently began to thank the Lord above for all his blessings.
For the birth of Christ that they celebrated on this special day; for coming to earth to die for the sins of mankind, and last but most certainly not least, for sending Anna Mae into his life on a cold winter night. Josiah had never dreamed he could feel this happy and loved.
Her soft voice drifted up to him. “Merry Christmas, Josiah. I love you.”
Those were words he’d never get tired of hearing. His wife loved him.
“Wuv you, Papa.” Rose and Ruby chimed in.
“I wuv you, too.” He placed his lips against Anna Mae’s brow. His Annie. He hoped she felt the depth of his love. Thanks to her they were a family. A family full of love.
* * * * *