A Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (17 page)

“Keep going,” Mary Rose said. “It’s almost here.”

The door opened and then slammed shut as Kellan appeared beside her. His face was pale but his eyes were bright.

“Take her hand,” Kathryn said. “I’ll step back.”

“Come on, Anna Mae,” Mary Rose said. “One more push.”

“Come on, honey,” Kellan said, holding her hand. “You can do it.” He leaned down and brushed the cool compress over her forehead. “You’re strong. Just one more push.”

Anna Mae bore down and gave it all she could. Soon she felt the pressure ease and Mary Rose yelped with joy, holding a tiny bundle in her hands. She and Kathryn cleaned the
baby, and, with tears streaming down his cheeks, Kellan cut the cord.

“Is the baby okay?” Anna Mae whispered, her strength depleted.

“Yes, he is.” Kellan took her hands in his.

“Did you say
he
?” Anna Mae asked.

“I did.” He brushed back her hair. “It’s a boy, Annie. We have a son.”

“A Christmas Eve miracle,” Mary Rose said, placing the bundle in Anna Mae’s arms.

Anna Mae stared down into the eyes of her newborn child and then glanced up at Kellan. “Merry Christmas, Kellan.”

“Merry Christmas to you.” He kissed her lips.

A
nna Mae hummed while gazing down at her sleeping infant. Leaning back in the hospital bed, she sighed. Life was pretty close to perfect. It was Christmas Day, and she was in Lancaster General Hospital holding her newborn son.

Anna Mae, the baby, and Kellan had arrived at the hospital late last night. Since only immediate family members were allowed to ride in the ambulance, the rest of her family had stayed behind, promising to visit after the plows had come through and cleared the roads.

After reaching the hospital, Anna Mae was admitted, and the baby was whisked away for tests. He passed them all with flying colors and was declared perfectly healthy. The three of them had spent the night in Anna Mae’s room. However, Anna Mae had hardly slept. She’d spent most of the night staring at her baby boy, marveling at how perfect he was and how much God had blessed her.

The door squeaked open, revealing Kellan holding a tray containing two large Styrofoam drink cups and some snacks from the cafeteria. “I got you sweet tea and a blueberry muffin.”

“Thank you,” Anna Mae said with a smile. She nodded
toward the baby. “He’s sleeping. Isn’t he beautiful? I can’t believe he’s ours.”

Kellan placed the tray on the bedside table and leaned over her. “Believe it because it’s true.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Merry Christmas, Annie. I love you.”

“Merry Christmas,” she echoed. “I love you too.”

“You gave me the best gift of all, our son.” He reached over and ran a fingertip down the baby’s cheek.

“No, I didn’t. God did.” She kissed the baby’s forehead. “Now we need to figure out the biggest question of all: What will we name him? We never agreed on a boy’s name. You said you didn’t like Kellan Junior.”

“You’re right; I still don’t like it. However, the name quandary is going to have to wait.” Kellan stood up straight. “There is a group of visitors outside anxious to see you and the baby. Would it be okay if I let them come in?”

“My family? They’re here.” Anna Mae grimaced. “Oh no. I haven’t showered yet. I’m a mess.”

“You look beautiful as always.” Kellan kissed her forehead. “Should I let them in?”

“I guess so.” She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

Kellan disappeared out the door and then entered followed by Kathryn, David, Amanda, and her parents.

Anna Mae sat up straighter, her eyes trained on her father’s smile. Her heart pounded against her ribcage. Had her father had a change of heart? If so, then this was a bigger Christmas miracle than the baby!

“Congratulations!” Amanda rushed over to the bed with Kathryn close behind her. “He’s my cutest cousin.”

“He’s even more beautiful today than last night.” Kathryn
touched the blanket wrapped around his tiny body. “Have you chosen a name yet?”

Anna Mae glanced at Kellan. He shrugged while sitting in a chair by the window.

“No, we haven’t agreed yet,” Anna Mae said.

“You need a good strong name for that handsome fellow,” Mary Rose said, standing next to Kathryn. “He’s exquisite.”

“Danki,”
Anna Mae whispered, staring down at him. “I was just telling Kellan that I can’t believe this beautiful little bundle is mine.”

“You mean ours,” Kellan said with a chuckle.

“Right, that’s what I meant.” Anna Mae gazed up at David.

“Congratulations,
schweschder
,” he said. “He’s
schee
. May God bless you with many more.”

Anna Mae laughed. “
Danki
, David. I don’t think I’m in any hurry, though.”

“May I hold him?” Mary Rose held out her hands.

“Of course.” Anna Mae lifted the baby, and Mary Rose took him.

Kellan stood and motioned for Mary Rose to sit in his chair. She sank down and began to talk to the baby while rubbing his chin.

Anna Mae looked at her
daed
standing at the end of the bed. “Hi,” she said.

“Hello,” Henry said, absently fingering the brim of his hat in his hands. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” she said, smoothing the sheet over her legs. “I’m a little sore, but it’s not too bad. I’m taking some good pills.” She studied his eyes. “It’s good to see you.”

He nodded.
“Frehlicher Grischtdaag.”

“
Frehlicher Grischtdaag
to you too.” She gave Kellan a sideways glance and found him smiling as if he knew something she didn’t. She made a mental note to ask him about that later.

“I wanted to apologize,” Henry said. “I’m sorry for treating you so badly. I was very wrong.”

Anna Mae sniffed and wiped her eyes that had suddenly filled with tears. “
Danki
for telling me that. You’re my
daed
and my son’s only
grossdaddi
. We need you, Dat.”

Moving around the bed, Henry took her hand and kissed it. “Welcome home,
dochder
.”

She wiped tears from her cheeks with her free hand. “What caused you to change your mind about Kellan and me?”

Henry nodded toward Kellan, who was still smiling. “Your husband had a talk with me. He told me my actions were not Christian.”

Anna Mae gasped. “Kellan told you that?”

“
Ya
, that’s right,” Henry said, absently turning the brim of his hat in his hands. “Although you didn’t pick an Amish man, you chose a man who loves God and takes
gut
care of you.”

“Danki, Daed.”
Anna Mae opened her arms, and he gave her a quick, gentle hug. “Ich
liebe dich, Daed
.”

“
Ich liebe dich
, Anna Mae,” he said, his voice raspy with emotion. Standing up, he wiped tears from his eyes. “I hope you will come often,” he said. “I’ll want to get to know my grandson.”

“I thought we would all go visit Anna Mae and Kellan in the spring,” David said, standing by Kathryn.

Her father smiled. “That sounds
gut
.” He turned to Kellan. “If you’ll welcome us into your home.”

Kellan smiled. “Of course we will. You’re family.”

“Another Christmas miracle,” Mary Rose whispered, her voice thick. “First, this beautiful baby, and now our family is back together.”

“God is
gut
,” David said.

“
Ya
, he is,” Kathryn chimed in.

Later that afternoon, Kathryn held David’s hand as they crossed the snowy parking lot toward the waiting car. She breathed in the crisp air and smiled.

“It truly feels like
Grischtdaag
when there’s snow on the ground,” she said, smiling up at him. “Those warm Christmases we had for a few years didn’t feel authentic.”

He nodded. “You know, I haven’t thanked you yet.”

“Thanked me?” She stopped and studied his eyes.

“I need to thank you for making this the best
Grischtdaag
ever.”

She tilted her head in question. “What do you mean?”

“You managed to bring my family back together,” he said.
“Danki.”

“Wait a minute.” She took his hand, stopping him in mid-stride. “So, you’re saying that I was right to invite Anna Mae here?”

He grinned. “
Ya
, you were.”

She raised her eyebrows. “And I was right that it was a sign from God?”

“Maybe so. I’m sorry for doubting you, Katie. Your best
intentions turned out the way you’d planned. You even changed my father’s heart.” Leaning down he brushed his lips across hers. “You worked the most
wunderbaar
miracle I’ve ever seen.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can’t take credit for it. It was all God. I just asked Him to use me as He saw fit.”

“Then I should say
danki
for listening to God when He inspired you to bring my sister here.” He hugged her.
“Iche liebe dich, mei liewe. Frehlicher Grischtdaag.”

“Ich liebe dich
, David,” she whispered in his ear.
“Frehlicher Grischtdaag
to you too.”

Later that evening, Anna Mae held the baby close and ran her fingertip down his warm cheek, causing him to sigh in his sleep. “I think he looks like you.”

“How can you tell?” Kellan leaned over her. “He’s so tiny.”

“Yes, but he has your cute little nose.” She grinned up at him. “He’s going to be a ladies’ man like you.”

Kellan laughed. “Right, me a ladies’ man.” He rubbed her shoulder. “Have you given a name any thought?”

“How about Aidan Beiler McDonough?”

“Hmm,” he rubbed his chin. “That’s not half bad. I think I like it.”

“Aidan in memory of your dad and Beiler in honor of my family and our wonderful trip here.” She stared down at the sleeping baby. “What do you think, Aidan? Is it a good name?”

“I think it’s perfect.” Kellan kissed her cheek. “Aidan Beiler McDonough it is.”

Glancing at him, Anna Mae smiled. “Thank you for bringing me here. This has been the most wonderful Christmas ever.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’d rank getting stuck in a snowbank and nearly giving birth in a barn as a good Christmas?”

She nodded. “Yes, because I spent it with you and our baby boy. And I got my family back. Thank you for making my dreams come true.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed her lips and then grinned. “Can you promise me that next Christmas we’ll spend a few quiet days at home in front of a warm fire?”

Anna Mae chuckled. “Yes, I can promise you that.”

“Thank you.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Merry Christmas, Annie.”

“Merry Christmas, Kellan.” She glanced down at the baby. “And merry first Christmas, Aidan.”

An Amish Christmas Story

For Lauran

C
aleb sucked in a deep breath as the taxi van bounced down Route 340 toward Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. After nearly a decade, he’d returned to the town of his birth. He clasped his hands together. Why was he nervous? This was supposed to be a happy reunion with his family, and yet, his palms were sweaty with anticipation despite the biting December wind.

“Dat
!” Susie said, grabbing the sleeve of his coat and yanking with one hand while pointing toward the indoor farmers market with the other hand. “Dat! Can we stop there? Can we? Please? Please?”

“Why would we stop there?” he asked. “We have a farmers market back home that’s much the same.”

She blew out an exasperated sigh and glowered with annoyance. “To get a gift for
Aenti
Sadie, of course. Teacher Linda says that you should always bring a nice dessert to dinner. Please, Dat? I’ll pick something out fast like we do at the market at home.” She batted her eyelashes and gave her prettiest and cutest smile. “Pretty please, Dat?” She looked like a mirror of her beautiful mother, and his heart turned over in his chest. At the tender age of eight, Caleb Schmucker’s
daughter already knew how to wrap him around her little finger.

He gave a sigh of defeat, and Susie clapped her hands while grinning with triumph.

“Driver?” Caleb asked. “Could we please make a quick stop at the farmers market?”

The middle-aged man nodded and merged into the parking lot.

“We have to make this quick,” Caleb said as the van steered into a parking space. “Your
aenti
and
onkel
are expecting us. They know that our train arrived less than an hour ago and will worry if we don’t get to their house soon.”

“I’ll be quick. I promise.” Susie nodded, and the ties to her black winter bonnet bobbed up and down on her black wrap. “We should find a nice pie to bring for
Aenti
Sadie.”

“That sounds
gut
.” Caleb touched her nose and smiled. Oh how he adored his little girl. There was no greater love in his life.

Except for Barbara
.

Pushing the thought from his mind, he took Susie’s little hand in his and they climbed from the van. He glanced across the parking lot toward the highway, and his eyes fell on the Kauffman & Yoder Amish Furniture Store, owned by an old family friend, Eli Kauffman. Caleb’s elder sister, Sadie, had married Robert, the oldest of the Kauffman sons, while the youngest Kauffman son, Timothy, had been Caleb’s best school friend. He wondered how his old friend was doing these days. He would have to stop by and visit him before he and Susie returned to Ohio.

“Dat
!” Susie yanked Caleb toward the entrance to the farmers market. “Let’s go.”

Caleb stifled a laugh. The little girl had her mother’s impatience too. “I’m coming,
mei liewe
.”

They stepped through the double doors and the holiday smells of freshly baked cookies and breads, spices, and pine assaulted Caleb’s senses. The market bustled with customers, English and Amish, rushing to the many booths. Scanning the area, Caleb spotted booths for baked goods, jellies and jams, crafts and gifts, and paintings. A sea of shoppers pushed past Caleb and he dropped his hold of Susie’s hand as he approached the baked goods counter.