A Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (22 page)

Timothy’s father, Eli, had built the original store with his best friend, Elmer Yoder, before Timothy was born.

“Danki.”
Timothy looped an arm around Caleb’s shoulder. “Let’s go in the shop and you can see everyone.”

Timothy led Caleb behind the counter and through the doorway to the center of the work area. Caleb scanned the sea of carpenters and waved at Timothy’s brother, Daniel. The large, open warehouse was divided into nearly a dozen work areas separated by workbenches cluttered with an array of tools.

The sweet scent of wood and stain filled his nostrils. The men working around him were building beautifully designed
pieces that would be favorites among Lancaster County tourists and residents alike. Hammers banged and saw blades whirled beneath the hum of diesel-powered air compressors.

Eli approached and shook Caleb’s hand.
“Wie geht’s
?”

“I’m doing well,” Caleb said. “This is a
wunderbaar
shop you have. It’s bigger, and the furniture is still
schee.”

“Danki.”
Eli folded his arms and glanced around. “We’re pleased with it. Business has been very
gut
this year. The Lord is
gut
to us.”

Daniel approached with another man at his side. “Caleb! This is Luke Troyer, my sister Sarah’s husband. Luke, this is a dear old friend, Caleb Schmucker. He abandoned us and moved to Ohio several years ago.”

Caleb chuckled as he shook Luke’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, and I didn’t abandon anyone.”

Luke laughed. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Caleb builds buggies,” Timothy said. “He’s known in Middlefield as one of the best.”

Caleb waved off the comment. “You’re exaggerating.”

“We could use your talent around here,” Timothy said.

“You should have your own shop.” Daniel patted Caleb’s shoulder. “You need to move back here.”

“That’s funny,” Caleb nodded. “I keep hearing that.”

“I’m serious,” Daniel continued. “Did you see that shop just down the road?” He pointed in the direction of the showroom. “It’s not far from here. An Englisher owns it.” He glanced at Eli. “What’s his name?”

“Parker,” Eli said, rubbing his beard. “Riley Parker.”

Daniel snapped his fingers. “Right! He’s been trying to sell it for quite a while. I bet you could get a great deal on it.”

“That’s a great idea,” Luke chimed in. “We could help you fix the place up.”

“
Ya
, we could,” Timothy said with a grin.

“Hold on a minute!” Caleb held his hands up. “Slow down. I have a life in Ohio.”

Timothy raised his eyebrows in question, and Caleb glanced away.

“Let’s introduce you to the rest of the carpenters,” Eli said. “Elmer would enjoy seeing you. It’s been a long time.”

After meeting all of the carpenters, Caleb sat in the break room with Timothy and Daniel. “Your
dat
has done well for himself.”

Timothy passed a bottle of water across the table to Caleb. “
Ya
, he has. It’s hard work, but it’s paid off.”

“Is Susie at the cookie party today?” Daniel asked while opening a bottle of water.

Caleb took a sip and nodded. “She was excited about it this morning. She loves being with her cousins.”

Timothy raised his eyebrows.

Caleb shook his head. “Timothy, please don’t start nagging me about moving here.”

Timothy feigned insult. “I didn’t say a word.”

“Don’t you think it would be good for Susie to be around her cousins and her family?” Daniel asked.

Caleb nodded. “I know it would be. I’m just not certain it will be good for me.” He tore at the label on the bottle. “I’m not certain I’m ready to leave the memories.”

“Ach,”
Timothy said. “Look at the time. The cookie exchange
will be over soon.” He stood. “I told Miriam I’d pick her up.” He glanced at his brother. “Are you going to get Rebecca and the girls?” Daniel nodded. “I am.”

“Do you want me to get them?” Timothy offered.

“Will you have room for everyone?” Daniel asked. “Rebecca has Lindsay and Daniel Jr.”

Timothy shrugged. “I think we’ll have plenty of room.”

“That would be fine,” Daniel said. “I can finish this project I started.
Danki.”

Caleb stood and shook Daniel’s hand. “It was
gut
seeing you again.”

“Ya
,” Daniel said. “Think about what I said about the property nearby. You’d have plenty of business here. I think a new start would be
gut
for your soul.”

“I’ll consider it,” Caleb said.

He followed Timothy through the shop, where he said goodbye to the carpenters. Daniel’s words were still fresh in his mind as he climbed into Timothy’s buggy. Would moving be good for his soul? Would it be good for Susie, or would uprooting her from all she’d ever known cause her more emotional pain after losing her mother only two years ago? He thought back to the conversation he’d had with Timothy after the church service. While Caleb felt guilty about moving on, he was beginning to wonder if it was time to take the plunge and do it. Perhaps he should consider breaking free of the holding pattern he’d been stuck in since he’d lost Barbara. The questions rolled through his mind as they headed toward the bakery.

Susie sat across from Naomi at a small table and bit into another cookie. “I love chocolate chip cookies. They’re my favorite. What’s your favorite, Naomi?”

Naomi glanced beside her at Lilly, who grinned in response. “I think peanut butter is my favorite,” Naomi said.

“Oh,” Susie said. “I love peanut butter too. I guess I have two favorites.” She turned to Janie beside her. “You like peanut butter, right?”

Janie nodded.
“Ya
, I love peanut butter. My
mamm
makes the best peanut butter cookies.”

Susie glanced back at Naomi. “I like to bake. Do you like to bake?”

Naomi nodded. “I do.”

“Do you bake a lot?” Susie asked between bites of cookie.

“Ya
, I do. I have a big family, and I do a good bit of cooking.” Naomi sipped her cup of water.

“How many brothers and sisters do you have?” Susie asked.

“I have five brothers and three sisters,” Naomi said.

Susie’s eyes widened. “Oh my. That is a big family. You’re so lucky. I’m an only child.” She frowned. “My
mamm
was going to have another
boppli
when she died.”

Naomi dropped her cookie, and Lilly gasped.

Susie nodded.
“Ya
, my
dat
was so sad when my
mamm
died. I was sad too. I cried for my
mamm
and also for the
boppli.”

Naomi was stunned into silence for a moment. “I’m so sorry,” Lilly said softly.

“I am too.” Naomi reached over and touched Susie’s hand.

“Danki
. I’m still sad sometimes, but mostly I try to be
froh
. I like to think of the fun my
mamm
and I had. We used to
bake cookies and she would read me stories at bedtime.” Susie picked up another cookie. “My
dat
said that Jesus needed my
mamm
and the
boppli
, and I’ll see them again someday.”

“That’s right,” Naomi said, forcing a smile. “You’ll see them, and you can hug them again in heaven.”

“Right.” Susie’s smile widened. “And I can tell them how much I love them.” She sipped her water. “I loved watching my
mamm
when she quilted. I used to sit on a stool next to her and she’d teach me how to make the stitches. I loved all of the colors she used. My favorite quilts were the ones that had blues and maroons in them.”

Naomi nodded. “I love those colors too. They look very
schee
together.”

“I saw those at the farmers market,” Susie said. “That’s why I ran over to meet you. It reminded me of my
mamm.”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Naomi smiled.
The quilts and memories of her
mamm
are what drew her to me. It makes sense now
. “That’s very nice, Susie. I’m so glad that you like my quilts.”

“Will you teach me how to make a quilt?” Susie’s eyes were filled with hope. “I really want to learn how.”

“Ya,”
Naomi said. “If we have time during your visit, I would—”

“Susie!” Sadie yelled from across the room. “Susie, will you come here, please?”

Susie stood. “My
aenti
is calling me. I’ll be back.” She and Janie ran off to where Sadie stood with Irene Wagler, Miriam, and Sarah Rose.

Naomi turned to Lilly, whose eyes were wide with shock.

“That poor
kind,”
Lilly whispered. “She’s been through
so much.” She wiped her tearing eyes. “And her
mamm
was pregnant. I wonder what happened. How did she die?”

“I don’t know,” Naomi said. “I was wondering too.”

She looked across the room. Sadie gave her a nasty look that seemed to say she should stay away, which sent a cold chill up Naomi’s spine. Sadie then said something to Irene who glanced down at Susie and gave her a forced smile. She wondered what Sadie was saying, and for a split second she felt a pang of jealousy. She wanted to spend more time with Susie, but she pushed the thought away. Why should she feel any connection to a child who would soon return to her home in another state?

“What’s on your mind, Naomi?” Lilly asked.

“Nothing.” Naomi turned her attention back to the plate of cookies in front of her, but her appetite had evaporated after hearing the story of Susie’s mother.

“You like her, don’t you?” Lilly asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Susie,” Lilly said. “You care about her.”

“Of course I do,” Naomi said simply. “She’s a sweet little girl who lost her
mamm
. It’s difficult not to care about her. I feel sorry for her.”

“But you feel something deep for her,” Lilly pressed on. “I can see it in your eyes. And she’s attached to you as well.”

Naomi avoided Lilly’s stare by examining the crumbs on her plate. “Maybe Susie will want to write letters to me. Hopefully she will come to visit again soon.”

“Naomi.” Lilly touched her arm. “It’s okay to say that you care about the
kind
and want to get to know her better. Perhaps you should talk to her
dat.”

“What are you trying to get at?” Naomi asked with suspicion.

“You and the girl get along.” Lilly shrugged. “Maybe the
dat
needs some company too after losing his
fraa.”

Naomi sighed. “We’ve discussed this. I’m not looking for love, and it’s wrong to prey on a widower.”

“Prey on him?” Lilly laughed. “How is it preying on him if you go and talk to him and tell him that you enjoy spending time with his
dochder
?”

Naomi glowered at her. “I know what you’re thinking. You want me to try to court him, and I won’t do it. I refuse to be called the
maedel
who runs after every eligible bachelor. My
mamm
called me that, and it didn’t feel nice at all. Besides that, he’s connected to the Kauffmans. I think it’s time I give up on the Kauffman men. If I ever do court again, it will be a man who is in no way related to the Kauffmans. Maybe he won’t even know the Kauffmans.” She turned back to Susie, who was smiling up at Irene. “Please just drop it.”

“Fine,” Lilly said with a sigh. “But I have a feeling about this, Naomi. I can’t shake the idea that you and Susie’s
dat
—”

“Lilly,” Naomi seethed. “Stop.”

“Fine, fine.” Lilly waved off the thought.

Naomi shook her head and wondered if Lilly could somehow be right about the connection Naomi felt toward Susie.

Caleb climbed the steps to the bakery. “It feels like I was just here yesterday,” he said, glancing around the wraparound porch. “It looks the same as it did when we were kids.”

“
Ya
, my
mamm
loves it and keeps it running with several
of her daughters. We fix it up and repaint every spring.” Timothy yanked the door open and they stepped into the bakery, which was bustling with women and girls who were laughing while straightening, sweeping, and cleaning.

“I guess we missed the party,” Timothy said.

Caleb chuckled. “
Ya
, it sure looks like—”

“Dat!”
Susie ran over, interrupting his words.
“Dat!”

He bent down, and she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. Holding onto her, he closed his eyes and smiled. Oh, how he cherished his sweet little girl. “Did you have fun?” he asked.

“Ya
!” She beamed. “I ate so many cookies! And I sat and talked to Naomi, my new
freind.”
She pointed across the room to where Naomi stood with another young woman. “She’s the one who makes the quilts at the farmers market.” Taking his hand, Susie yanked him. “Come meet her.”

“Okay,” Caleb said. “Slow down.”

Holding her hand, he followed her across the room. Naomi’s gaze met his, and he was almost certain he glimpsed a flash of panic in her eyes before she glanced away. He wondered what that brief expression meant. Did his presence bother her?

“You’ll like my new
freind,”
Susie said, pulling Caleb toward Naomi.

“Caleb!” Sadie’s voice called as she approached.

Caleb stepped toward Naomi, who looked up at him. As he opened his mouth to speak to Naomi, Sadie stepped in front of him and grabbed his arm.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Sadie said, turning him toward her. “Irene is here too. I know she would love to talk to you.”
She pushed him toward Irene, who stood with Sarah Rose Troyer and Rebecca Kauffman.

Susie grabbed his hand and tried to pull him backward.
“Dat,”
she began with a huff, “I wanted you to meet
mei freind.”

“Susie,” Caleb said, looking into her disappointed eyes. “I’ll be just a moment.”

“Irene was just telling me that her
dat
does have an opening for a new buggy mechanic,” Sadie continued. “Right, Irene?”

Irene’s smile was almost coy.
“Ya
, that’s true, Caleb. I would be
froh
to introduce you.”

“She’s leaving!” Susie said. She stamped her foot and marched back toward Naomi.