Bethany spoke to the bishop the next afternoon at his business. Michael wasn’t with her. She relayed her brother’s involvement and stressed his innocence. “He believed he was protecting Jeffrey from his father’s foul temper. You have to respect him for trying to do good.”
“I’m sympathetic to your position, Bethany, but I haven’t changed my mind. Ivan followed too eagerly after this Englisch boy and he had made poor decisions. You can’t deny that. I still feel the boy will benefit from a full-time male role model.”
“Michael is providing Ivan with guidance. The two of them get along well and Ivan has improved so much.” She held her breath, praying the bishop would see things her way.
“My mind is made up on this. The boy will benefit from his uncle’s counsel evermore.”
She pressed her hands together. “Please reconsider—”
He cut her off. “Bethany, go home and raise your sister. Your brother will return to you in time if it is God’s will.”
She had lost. Bethany left the bishop’s workplace devoid of hope. If she wanted to keep her family together, the only thing left for her to do was to move away from New Covenant and start over somewhere else, but she had no idea where to go and no money to start over with.
The evening of the community Christmas play was chilly with overcast skies that promised more snow. Ivan insisted they use the sleigh to travel to the community building. He said it was more Amish and it felt more Christmas-like. Both children were excited because there would be a small gift exchange after the program that the bishop had agreed they could participate in.
Michael brought the sleigh to Bethany’s front door and spread a thick lap robe over her when she got in. “I don’t want you to catch cold.”
“Ivan! Come on,” Jenny shouted from the back seat, causing the patient horse to toss his head and snort. Ivan came out the door, letting it slam shut behind him. He had been trying to act as if the program was no big deal, but Michael could see he was excited, too. The teenager piled in the back seat with his sister.
After a second or two of getting settled, Ivan said, “Scoot over, Jenny, and give me some room.”
“I’m cold and you have more of the blanket.”
“I do not.”
“You do so.”
“Enough,” Bethany said, putting an end to the rising family squabble.
Michael lifted his arm and laid it along the back of the seat to give Bethany more room. She moved closer. As much as he wanted to slip his arm around her shoulders, he knew it would be a bad idea. He was already having far too much trouble remembering to treat her as a friend.
“Ready, everyone?” Michael asked. Three confirmations rang out. He slapped the lines and the big horse took off down the snow-covered lane.
Sleigh bells jingled merrily in time to the horse’s footfalls. The runners hissed along over the snow as big flakes began to float down. They stuck to Michael’s and Ivan’s hats, turning their brims white. Jenny tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue between giggles.
Michael leaned down to see Bethany’s face. “Are you warm enough?” She nodded, but her cheeks looked rosy and cold. Michael took off his woolen scarf and wrapped it around her head to cover her mouth and nose.
“Danki,” she murmured. “Won’t you be cold?”
“Nope. It’s a perfect evening, isn’t it?” The snow obscured the mountains. The fields lay hidden beneath a thick blanket of white. Pine tree branches drooped beneath their icy loads. A hushed stillness filled the air, broken only by the jingle of the harness bells. It was a picture-perfect moment in time and Michael wished it could go on forever.
The community building was only a few miles from the farm in a converted brick factory not far from the city center. For Michael, they reached their destination much too quickly. As they drew closer they saw a dozen buggies and sleighs parked along the south side of the building out of the wind while the parking lot in front of it was full of cars and trucks.
As the kids scrambled out of the sleigh, Michael offered Bethany his hand to help her out. When she took it, he gave her an affectionate squeeze. She graced him with a shy smile in return.
Inside the building, the place was already crowded with people. What had once been the factory floor held rows of folding chairs facing a small stage at the front. Swags of fragrant cedar boughs graced the sills of the tall multipaned windows. A Christmas tree stood in one corner, decorated with colorful paper chains, popcorn and cranberry strands, and handmade ornaments made by the children. A table on the opposite wall bore trays of cookies and candies and a large punch bowl. An atmosphere of joy, goodwill and anticipation permeated the air.
Several Englisch people Michael didn’t know approached Bethany to tell her how happy they were to learn Ivan had been cleared and how glad they were to have Amish neighbors. Everywhere Michael looked there were welcoming smiles. He had been prepared to feel uneasy in the crowd but he didn’t. The Martin children hurried to join their classmates behind the stage. Michael and Bethany found seats out front a few minutes before the curtain rose.
The children performed their assigned roles, singing songs and reciting poetry. Then it came time for Jenny to narrate the Christmas story. She walked out on stage in her white robe with her long hair in two golden braids. Michael glanced at Bethany. Her eyes brimmed with maternal pride. He squeezed her hand and together they watched the community’s children bring the story of the first Christmas to life.
When the play was over, Jenny held one hand high. “Frehlicher Grischtdaag, everyone. Merry Christmas!”
The curtain fell and Michael clapped until his hands hurt. The last song of the evening was Ivan’s solo. To Michael’s surprise, the boy had a beautiful voice. His a cappella rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” brought tears to a few eyes, including Bethany’s.
Later, when everyone had a plate of treats, Jenny squeezed in between Bethany and Michael. He said, “You did well, Jenny. Your narration was very good.”
“Danki.”
Bethany slipped her arm around the child and gave her a hug.
Michael rubbed Ivan’s head. “Who knew you could sing so well?”
The boy blushed with happiness. Everyone seemed happy, only Bethany’s joy appeared forced.
It was full dark by the time the festivities wound down and families began leaving. Michael brushed the accumulated snow from the sleigh’s seats and lit the lanterns on the sides. The horse stood quietly, one hip cocked and a dusting of snow across his back. Michael stepped back inside to tell Bethany they were ready.
Scanning the room, he saw her with a group of young Amish women. Two of them held babies on their hips. Bethany raised a hand to smooth the blond curls of a little boy. As she did, her gaze met Michael’s across the room.
In that moment, he knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted Bethany to have the life she was meant to live and he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to spend every Christmas with her for the rest of his life. If only he could be certain his PTSD wouldn’t return.
“Is it time to go home? I’m tired.” Jenny, sitting on the bottom bleachers, could barely keep her eyes open.
“Yes, it’s time to go home.” He picked her up and she draped herself over his shoulder. Bethany joined them a minute later. In the sleigh, Michael let Ivan take the reins while he settled in with Jenny across his lap and Bethany seated beside him. The snow had stopped. A bright three-quarter moon slipped in and out of the clouds as they made their way home.
Snuggled beneath a blanket with Bethany at his side, Michael marveled at the beauty of the winter night in the far north and at the beauty of the woman next to him. When they pulled up in front of her house, Michael carried Jenny inside and up to bed while Ivan took the horse to the barn.
Michael stepped back as Bethany tucked her sister in. “I had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m glad.” She closed the door to Jenny’s room and faced him in the hall.
He stepped closer. She didn’t move away. Reaching out, he cupped her cheek. “Good night, Bethany.”
“Good night, Michael.” Her voice was a soft whisper. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her.
Bethany melted into Michael’s embrace. His kiss was gentle and so very sweet. Their mutual decision to take a step back and simply remain friends vanished from her thoughts as she slipped her arms around his neck. He briefly pulled her closer, and then he let her go and took a step away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She pressed a hand to her lips to hold on to that wondrous moment. Ivan came walking up the stairs and passed them on the way to his room. Embarrassed, Bethany wondered if he had seen her in Michael’s arms. He muttered a polite good-night and went in his room. Maybe he hadn’t seen anything.
She mumbled a quick goodbye to Michael and fled into her room. She closed the door and leaned against it. There was no way they could go back to being just friends now.
Could she accept him without knowing the secret part of his past he wouldn’t share? His kiss seemed to indicate he wanted to be a part of her life, but he hadn’t said anything about what kind of future he saw and if she had a place in it.
Christmas was less than two weeks away, and she was going to lose her brother if she failed to convince the bishop to change his mind. Was Gemma right? Was Michael the answer to her prayers?