Page 16 of The Christmas House

The expected snow and colder weather finally arrived in mid-December, as if Old Man Winter had turned the switch.

On Thursday, Liz received something in the mail from Matt and smiled all the way up the driveway and into the house.

In her room, she opened the envelope and found a lovely Christmas card and a handwritten note: Dear Liz , my sweet friend , I’d like to take you out for supper sometime before Christmas.

We can discuss it this Saturday before or after the riding tours , if you’d like.

I’m looking forward to spending time with you again! Matt Yoder

Smiling, she set the card on her dresser.

Then, going over to the farm calendar hanging on her closet door, she looked at all the local events coming up: ice skating tomorrow afternoon, caroling on Saturday evening, the Amish school Christmas play next Friday, and on the next Saturday evening, Die Youngie were having their annual Christmas Eve supper. The next day would be Christmas.

Ach , how will I fit everything in? she wondered, not accustomed to having such a wonderful predicament.

After the noon meal and visits from their regular egg customers, Liz and Martha Rose went shopping to purchase presents for both Mamm and Dat. Her sister had already shopped with Cousin Fran to buy gifts for other family members, including Liz.

Their driver let them out at the Old Candle Barn in Intercourse Village and agreed to return in one hour. The place was well-decorated for Christmas with wreaths of all kinds and candles galore, some scented in floral fragrances and others unscented, such as tapers or even chunky pillar candles.

“Did ya bring a list?” Martha Rose asked.

Liz tapped her forehead. “It’s all up here.”

“Anything for Matt, just maybe?” Martha probed.

“I doubt we’re exchangin’ gifts.”

Martha smirked. “Don’t be silly.”

“We’re here for Mamm and Dat,” Liz reminded her.

Martha nodded reluctantly, like she’d rather talk about Matt. “I’m thinkin’ Mamm needs a new cutting board.”

Since they were in no rush, they strolled through all the aisles just for fun—the tinware and pottery, then the dry goods, and took their time looking at the braided rugs, too. With all the potpourri and whatnot, the former barn smelled just glorious.

“Surely they have cutting boards,” Liz said, looking around.

“We’ll find them. Let’s keep goin’.”

Liz kept pace with her sister. “Last time I was here, I told Mamm you could get lost in this store.”

“No kiddin’.”

In their search, Liz spotted some beautiful oil lamps. “I think Dat would like one of these.”

Martha tilted her head as if imagining where he might put it. “ Jah , it would go nicely near his reading chair upstairs.”

Liz found the tall one in a box below the display and carried it carefully.

Eventually, they located a display of cutting boards and chose a good, solid one that was affordable. Since Martha was only given a monthly allowance from the egg sales, Liz planned to pay the majority of the price.

Liz carried the oil lamp and Martha Rose took the cutting board to the register up front.

“You girls found some real nice things,” the woman cashier remarked cheerfully, offering each of them a small candy cane from a red ceramic cup on the counter.

“We sure enjoyed browsing,” Martha Rose told her. “Your store’s always so perty, but ’specially at Christmastime.”

The cashier smiled. “But nothing quite as done up as the Christmas House down in Hickory Hollow. Have you seen it?”

“Have we?” Martha Rose laughed. “We live less than a mile from it.”

“Is that right?”

Liz nodded. “How’d ya hear ’bout it?”

“There was a short segment on the local news last evening,” the woman said.

“On television?” Martha’s eyebrows rose.

Liz groaned inwardly. Now there’ll be even more traffic and complaints from Amish neighbors.

Liz woke up to a brilliant landscape. Gazing down at the pastureland, she could see where the snow had drifted during the windy night. The sky was clearing now, and the tree branches near the house were ever so still beneath the fresh layer of white.

She dressed, then helped make omelets for breakfast and afterward swept the kitchen floor.

Meanwhile, Mamm and Martha Rose washed dishes and decided what kind of cookies to make for the annual cookie exchange tomorrow afternoon, which Liz would miss due to her Saturday tours.

And tomorrow night was caroling with die Youngie , too, but if Matt wanted to stay and talk after work, she would rather stick around for that.

“Be sure to make some gingerbread men, and maybe little gingerbread houses, too,” Liz suggested, remembering what a big hit Ella Mae’s cookies had been with the children on the recent tours.

“Do we even have a house-shaped cookie cutter?” Martha asked, looking puzzled.

“Didn’t Gracie give Mamm one along with several others last year for Christmas?” Liz replied.

“ Ach , forgot ’bout that.” Martha Rose went to look in the small pantry at the opposite end of the kitchen.

A short while later, Liz saw Onkel Joe out in the driveway with his horse-drawn plow. “Joe said he’d be lookin’ out for us while Dat and Adam are gone.”

“Awful nice of him,” Mamm said, going to the window with Liz and peering out.

The snow looked to be about half a foot deep. A good day to stay in and finish the knit scarf , Liz thought, knowing now who she’d be giving it to.

While the dozens of cookies were cooling, Mamm worked on making more hand muffs for Liz to sell, and Martha strung up the Christmas cards that had arrived in the mail today, adding them to the others already hanging in the doorway between the sitting room and front room.

“Now we just need some paper snowflakes for the windows,” Martha Rose said.

“But you’ll cover up the frosty designs.” Liz laughed.

Mamm nodded. “ Jah , let’s leave the Good Lord’s handiwork for now.”

Later, Liz went ice skating with Martha Rose and a group of their girl cousins, including Fran and Naomi. Secretly, Liz wished Matt could have been there, but she made the best of it, looking forward very much to seeing him tomorrow at work.

On Saturday, a week before Christmas Eve, Liz brought out the sleigh from the carriage shed with help from Reuben and Henry, who were there to muck out the horse and mule stalls.

Her brothers quickly hitched King to the open sleigh, and Liz was glad she’d bundled up, even though the temperatures were to be less wintry than yesterday.

All the same, Mamm gave her plenty of hand muffs in case some of today’s passengers hadn’t worn mittens, and Liz had enough heavy woolen lap blankets for everyone .

Although it’s chilly , the open sleigh will make the experience more festive and exciting.

On the way to the hardware store parking lot, she saw Bishop John Beiler out hitching his road horse to the family carriage. He waved and she waved back. Does he know about the Christmas House being on television?

She planned to tell Matt first thing when she saw him. Just knowing she’d be spending the day with him again, her heart fluttered. “Oh goodness,” she murmured, her breath hanging in the air. “He seems like everything I’ve been waitin’ for.”

As it turned out, Matt told her about the TV segment when she arrived. “Word’s spreadin’ ’bout the decked-out farmhouse in the middle of Amish farmland,” Matt told her. “So we need to find a different way to get back here after the cookie stop at Ella Mae’s.”

“It’ll take a little longer, but you’re right.”

“Can’t risk spookin’ King again in all that traffic.” Matt rubbed the horse’s long neck.

Liz opened her shoulder bag and gave him her Christmas card. “I received your perty one, Matt. And the nice note, too. Denki .”

He thanked her and placed the card in his black coat pocket.

“And to answer your invitation,” she said, “I could have supper with ya December 23 if that’ll work.”

“Perfect! I’ll ride over with my favorite driver this time. That way we can be together longer.” He winked at her, his face aglow.

Her own face suddenly felt warm, and she wondered if he noticed. “That’ll be real nice.”