Page 6 of The Christmas House

After the noon meal that day, Liz washed the dishes and Martha dried them as Mamm gathered the ingredients to make peppermint taffy.

Once done, Martha greased a baking sheet, and Liz sprayed the kitchen scissors, a pair of rubber gloves, and a metal spatula with cooking spray.

Meanwhile, Mamm stirred the syrup in a medium saucepan, bringing it to a boil.

When the syrup had begun cooling, Mamm slipped on the oiled gloves and began to maneuver it back and forth with the help of the metal spatula until Liz and Martha, who’d buttered their hands, could pick it up and begin pulling it, cool enough now to handle.

Twisting and pulling the candy was the most fun for Liz.

Since the taffy would harden rather quickly, she and Martha wasted no time creating a long rope, talking and laughing all the while.

How Liz enjoyed Martha’s company, especially working together in the kitchen.

It was a blessing they were only two years apart in age.

While they worked the taffy, Mamm slipped out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to write a letter to Dat.

The wonderful-good aroma of peppermint filled the house, and Liz breathed it in deeply, relishing it as she always had for as long as she could remember pulling taffy with Martha. “The scent of peppermint reminds me of our childhood,” she told Martha. “And of visits to Ella Mae’s.”

“It’s always such fun to see her, but I’ve never gone for advice,” Martha said, then added, “though I’m sure I might need to someday.

Seems like everyone round here turns to her at some point.

” She was suddenly quiet for a moment, like more was on her mind.

“Did ya know that even Adam went to see her a year ago?” Martha said, the taffy already starting to get glossy and light-colored.

“Mamm mentioned this to me recently, so I don’t think it’s a secret. ”

Liz remembered what Adam had said about the Wise Woman last week during a tour.

“He wanted Ella Mae to pray with him ’bout his future.” Martha looked solemn just then. “I had asked Mamm how she knew Dat was the right choice of a mate for her, and that’s how Adam’s visit to Ella Mae came up.”

“Ah, no wonder.”

Martha nodded. “Adam wanted to seek God’s will ’bout whether he should stay in Hickory Hollow or not.”

“But he was already baptized, so why would he want to leave?” Liz felt very surprised to learn this. With all the time she and Adam spent working together, she’d never sensed he might not want to make a home for himself here.

“Well,” Martha continued, “a perty girl at Lapp’s Farm Market had evidently caught his attention, and they’d started going out—remember when he stopped attending Singings with us for a while?

Accordin’ to Mamm, Adam believed he was falling for her.

Of course, he could’ve easily talked to Dat ’bout it, but I guess he wanted advice from someone impartial like Ella Mae. .. like a lot of folks do, ya know.”

“The girl was Amish?” Liz asked as she reached for the scissors coated with cooking spray. She began to cut the soft and chewy candy into small pieces and placed them on the baking sheets to cool, her mouth watering as she did so.

“ Jah , but she was from a church district in Ronks. She had suggested Adam could work for her father in a welding shop there once they were married.”

“ Ach , really?” Liz couldn’t imagine a job less suited to her outdoorsy brother.

“Sounds like she had things all figured out ... a bit pushy, if ya ask me.” Martha shook her head. “Of course if she loved him, she prob’ly would’ve wanted to join Adam here in the hollow once they wed.”

Liz sighed. “Well, there are fellas who move to the girl’s community, too.”

Nodding, Martha said, “Ella Mae must’ve urged Adam to put the whole thing in God’s hands.”

Liz agreed. “The Lord cares ’bout every inch of our lives.

” She thought of her own repeated prayers for a husband, and how she had once hoped Calvin was the right one until it became clear his priorities were very different from hers.

I’d like someone who joins me in shining God’s light to others , even in the small ways.

After the peppermint candy had completely cooled, they each sampled a delicious piece, then wrapped the rest in wax paper, winding the ends to keep the taffies fresh.

Later, following evening Bible reading and prayer with Mamm and Martha, Liz thought again about Adam seeking out Ella Mae Zook. God must’ve answered right quick , she pondered, going upstairs to make additional rows in the knitted navy-blue scarf, something she enjoyed doing to relax at day’s end.