Amish Christmas Joy (11 page)

Acceptance by everyone was too much to hope for.

Eli laid a hand on Samuel’s shoulder. “Why don’t we get out of the kitchen and let our women have their space? Come into the living room and have a seat.”

Caleb glanced at his mother and Leah. They both gave him an encouraging nod. He left his moral support in the kitchen and followed Eli. Chairs had been arranged on both sides of the living room. They must be expecting a fair number of parents to attend.

Eli settled in a winged-back chair near the fireplace. “So, what brings you to our school-board meeting?”

Apparently, Eli didn’t believe in beating around the bush. Adrian and Samuel took a seat on the couch but didn’t say anything. Adrian opened his notebook and pulled a pen from his pocket.

Caleb cleared his throat. “I have a daughter who is eight years old. Her name is Joy. She has Down syndrome.”

“I met her at the church service. My daughter Anna introduced us. You are blessed to have such a special child.”

Caleb drew a deep breath. “In the
Englisch
world, a child such as Joy is not always treated as a blessing.”

Eli nodded. “I understand that this is so. It is a sad thing when people cannot see the beauty in all God’s creations.”

“Joy’s life has not always been happy. It is my wish that she grow up here.”

Eli laced his fingers together over the slight paunch of his belly. “Both you and your daughter will be welcome if you are accepted back into our faith. You should speak with Bishop Zook. He can guide you in this matter much better than I.”

“That’s the thing. I don’t wish to live Amish. While I believe it is the best thing for my daughter, it is not the life for me.”

A troubled frown marred Eli’s jovial face. He shared a speaking glance with Adrian and Samuel, and then said, “Such an arrangement will be very confusing for your child. Our ways are not easy. It is the solemn duty of a parent to teach by example. If you do not live as we do, how can you expect your daughter to learn, respect and adhere to our ways?”

“Joy will live with my parents, not with me. I’m here tonight to ask that she be allowed to attend Walnut Valley School even though I am no longer Amish.” Caleb fell silent as Leah came in with a plate in each hand.

“Eli, would you like a brownie, rhubarb cake or both?”

“Cake will be fine.” He accepted the plate she handed him. “Did you know about this?”

She flashed a scowl at Caleb. He should have waited until after the cake to make his request. “I learned of Caleb’s plan last week.”

Eli raised an eyebrow at her admission. “Perhaps it would have been better to discuss it with me before now.”

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be better to present the idea to the entire board.”

“I see. What do you think of allowing an
Englisch
child to attend your school?” Eli took a bite of his cake.

She handed a plate to Adrian. “Joy will be a wonderful addition to my classroom, just as Kyle has been.”

Lifting his fork, Eli pointed at her. “Who will you go to if there are problems with the girl?”

“Caleb, of course. Also Maggie and Ike, since she will live with them.”

Adrian spoke up. “Where will you live, Caleb?”

Caleb hesitated. This was going to be the tricky part. “Texas for now, but I plan to spend a year in Brazil. I work on off-shore oil rigs. My parents will make all decisions about Joy while I’m away.”

Samuel said, “I think the child should be allowed to attend school. I said as much to Maggie just the other day. Maggie and Ike have always supported our school. So does Wayne. I see little reason why we should deny this request.”

“What does Joy’s mother think of this arrangement?” Adrian asked.

“She isn’t in the picture. She left Joy in my care and took off. I don’t know where she is.”

Eli clearly wasn’t pleased with the information. “And now you will leave Joy in the care of your parents and take off.”

“No one can do a better job of raising Joy than my parents. I wish I could be the one to raise her, but my job takes me away for long periods of time.”

Caleb heard the outside door open again. A small group of parents entered. Greetings and chatter filled the kitchen. Wayne entered the room and stopped short at the sight of Caleb. His face grew red with agitation and he looked to Eli. “I can have no part of this meeting with this man here.”

Turning on his heels, he started to leave, but Caleb shot to his feet. “Don’t go. I’ve finished all I came to say. Please continue your meeting. Eli, thank you for hearing me.”

Caleb walked into the kitchen, where Rhonda stood beside his mother. She averted her face. He spoke to his mother. “I’ll walk home. See you there.”

He went out the door and stopped at the gate as he waited for the cold air to cool his temper. If his brother couldn’t manage a single civil conversation, what hope was there for them?

“Caleb?”

He turned at the sound of Leah’s voice. “I’m fine. Go back in.”

She came down the steps and stood beside him. “I will plead Joy’s case to them.”

Did she have any idea how much her kindness meant to him? He gave a slight nod. “I know. Thanks. I wish... Never mind what I wish. Do what you can. If they say no, I’ll enroll Joy in the public school in town. They might change their minds in a year or two with me out of the picture.”

Her chin came up. “I will see that they do.”

Her bravado made him smile. “Joy couldn’t have a better champion. Good night, Leah Belier.”

“
Guten nacht,
Caleb Mast. Take care.”

* * *

The following afternoon, Leah had only been home from the cookie exchange for a few minutes when she heard a buggy come into the yard. Eli and Nettie Imhoff got out of it. The school-board meeting had adjourned without making a decision about Joy. They had planned to meet again at Wayne’s home this afternoon. Had they come to a decision?

Leah had been disappointed, but not surprised, when Maggie and Joy came to the cookie exchange without Caleb. Joy had had a good time playing with Anna and Emmy Chupp. It gave Leah hope that she would assimilate into the community and form lasting bonds.

Leah invited Eli and Nettie in and waited impatiently for them to get settled. She was eager to learn the verdict, but she couldn’t neglect her duties as the woman of the house. When they were situated in her living room with cups of steaming coffee in their hands, she took a seat in her rocker and waited for Eli to speak.

He took a sip of his coffee. Nettie, brimming with excitement, said, “They have decided that Joy can attend our school.”

Leah breathed a prayer of thanks. Eli gave his wife a sour look. She sat back with a grin on her face, not the least bit intimidated, and blew on her coffee to cool it.

He said, “That was our decision. Joy Perry may attend Walnut Valley School. Although her father does not follow our ways, the majority of us believe it is good that he wishes his daughter to do so. We wanted you to be the first to know, since the responsibility for her education will fall directly on you. If you have any concerns that you felt you could not express in front of Maggie and Caleb, I would hear them now and hold them in confidence.”

Did she have reservations? No. Teaching was the path God had chosen for her. Providing an education for Joy was what she was meant to do. “I’m delighted with the decision. I’m sure that Maggie and Ike will provide all the support I need if there are problems. When can she start?”

“On Monday if you and her father agree.”

It was Friday evening. “That won’t give Joy’s family much time to purchase the supplies she will need for the rest of the school year. I do keep a stash of extra supplies for emergencies here at home.”

“A sound idea after what happened last summer,” Nettie said sadly.

Last summer an arsonist had set fire to the school. By the grace of God, the building had survived with only moderate damage, but all the children’s books and records had been destroyed. Although it was an event that was unlikely to be repeated, for the arsonist had been arrested, Leah now made sure she kept only part of her records and supplies there.

Eli said, “I spoke privately with Caleb before the board met again. He has agreed to pay his fair share to the school district just as any parent would. Although he will not live in the area, he has expressed his intention to return several times a year to help with the physical upkeep of the school. I saw that as more than fair.”

“He intends to return?”

Eli nodded. “That’s what he told me.”

It was the first Leah had heard of such a plan. She had heard him express only his intention to leave and allow his daughter to live an Amish life with his parents. When had he had this change of heart? Perhaps his attachment to Joy was growing.

When the couple had finished their coffee, Leah took their cups and carried them into the kitchen. Eli and Nettie followed her, stopping beside Trixie’s box to admire the puppies. Nettie picked up one of the boys. “Elam was just saying the other day that he’ll soon need a dog to help control his flock.”

“Trixie is very good at gathering in the geese and ducks. I’m sure her puppies will be, too.”

Nettie laughed. “He has neither geese nor ducks. What he and Katie need help with is their gaggle of children. They have three now, and I reckon that’s not the end of it.”

“
Nee,
not the way he smiles when he looks at her,” Eli said with a grin.

Nettie laid a hand on his arm. “He smiles at her the way you smile at me.”

The widow and widower had wed two years ago, and it was clear they were every bit as much in love as the youngsters in the family. Leah knew a moment of envy. Why wasn’t there someone for her to love?

Nettie reached for her coat. “We are on our way to see Maggie and Ike and let them know the school board’s decision. Would you like to come with us?”

There was no real reason for her to go, but Leah pulled her own coat off the hook, excited at the idea of seeing Caleb again. And Joy. “I would. In case Maggie or Ike has questions for me. And I can deliver the supplies to Joy. It will only take me a minute to get together what she will need.”

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of the Mast farmhouse. Maggie opened the door and invited them in. Ike came in from the living room. Eli said, “I would speak with you about the education of your granddaughter. Is her father about?”

“He and Joy have gone down to the barn to feed the horses. I will get him.” Ike reached for his hat.

Leah said, “I’ll go.”

“Very well.”

Outside, Leah hurried across to the old red barn. The wind was cold as it blew down from the north, pushing a flurry of snow with it. Inside the relative comfort of the barn, she pushed her bonnet back and adjusted her
kapp.
She located Caleb by the sound of his voice coming from the hayloft. He was talking softly to someone, most likely to Joy.

Leah pressed a hand to her heart to still the sudden rush of pleasure that raced through her at the sound of his voice. In spite of her misgivings, she had come to care a great deal about him. Much more than was wise. How could she have allowed this to happen?

Recognizing the attraction for what it was, she knew the best thing for her was to turn and walk away.

Chapter Ten

L
eah’s common sense told her to call out to Caleb and Joy and then return to the house. She opened her mouth but heard the sound of Joy’s giggle and remained silent. Maybe she was being foolish, but she adored spending time with Joy. Whatever they were doing sounded like fun. She would guard her heart against becoming more involved with Caleb now that she understood what was happening.

She climbed the ladder to the haymow and followed the sound of Joy’s giggles. She found father and daughter lying in a pile of hay, staring at the rafters. Joy spied her first. She held a finger to her lips. “Shh.”

Caleb rose on one elbow. A piece of straw dangled from his lips. He whispered, “We’re watching a barn owl.”

Leah looked up. “Truly? They’re an endangered species in this state. Where is it?”

“On the rafter near the center of the barn, just slightly to the left. It looks as if he’s been roosting here for a while.”

“I still don’t see him.”

Joy said, “If you lie down, you can see him better and your neck won’t get tired. What’s
endangered?
”

Leah stepped across the hay and sat down beside Joy. She wrapped her arms around her knees, conscious of the fact that Caleb was stretched out on the other side of his daughter. The classroom wasn’t the only place to share knowledge. Times like this were perfect to teach children about nature and the gifts of God. “Endangered means there aren’t very many of them anymore. Barn owls love to live in barns and old silos, but many of those have been torn down to make way for houses and towns, so the barn owls don’t have places to live anymore.”

“That’s sad.”

“It is. Did you know they are sometimes called a flying mousetrap because they eat so many mice? They truly are a farmer’s friend. I still don’t see him.”

Caleb removed the piece of straw he had in his mouth. “Give your eyes time to adjust to the dark. I assume you are here because you heard from the school board.”

Leah lay back beside Joy and closed her eyes. “I did. Eli and Nettie brought me over. They are inside speaking with your parents.”

“Let me guess. Wayne got them to vote against me.”

She opened her eyes and turned in his direction. The worried frown on his face put a crease between his brows. She was happy to give him the good news. “
Nee,
he was overruled by the others. She can start on Monday.”

Caleb sat up. “Are you serious?”

“I am.”

Joy pointed overhead. “He’s looking at us. He can turn his head all the way around. Cool.”

Leah leaned close to follow Joy’s finger. “I see him now. His face is so pretty and white. Doesn’t he have huge eyes? They help him see at night. Maybe he thinks we are giant mice here in the straw.”

“That’s silly. We don’t have big ears, and we don’t have tails.”

“Very true. Joy, how would you like to come to school on Monday?” Leah asked.

“I don’t know. Would I have to go alone?”

“There are twenty-seven other children in my school, so you can’t possibly be alone.”

Caleb stretched out in the hay once more. “You wouldn’t have to walk to school alone, if that’s what is worrying you. I will go with you and spend the day. How would that be?”

“I guess that would be okay. Are the other kids going to think I’m stupid?”

“Nee,”
Leah answered quickly. “They are going to see what a very special person you are. You can be a big help to me at school, you know.”

“How?”

“Just by speaking English. It helps the younger children learn the language when they hear it spoken. Anna Imhoff is very excited that you will be in our school.”

“I like Anna. She’s really nice to me. Oh, look. The owl is gone. Where did he go?”

Caleb sat up and tickled her chin with a piece of straw. “He went out to hunt for his supper. He doesn’t have a
grossmammi
to cook for him. He has to go find food himself. Shall we go in and see what
Mammi
has cooked for us?”

“I want to stay out here in case he comes back.” She folded her arms over her chest.

“Nope. No arguments. Leah and I are going inside. If you stay out here, you will make your grandmother worry about you. She’ll be mad at us for leaving you out here alone. Do you want to get us in trouble?”

She mulled over the idea and shook her head. “No.”

Each time Leah saw Caleb with Joy, she was amazed at the difference in him. The frantic, frazzled man she first met outside the grocery store had become a caring and compassionate parent. He was making an effort and making progress at becoming a father. She could see the love for his child growing stronger every day, and it pleased her.

He helped Joy to her feet and began brushing away the bits of straw stuck to her coat and bonnet. “You had better brush me off, too. I don’t want to carry all of this into Grandma’s clean house.”

Joy energetically brushed the back of his pants and as high as she could reach on his back. “I can’t get it all. Leah, can you help me?”

Leah rose to her feet and shook out her skirt. Caleb held his arms out to his sides. She moved close and set to work picking the straw off his coat, ignoring the way her insides fluttered at his nearness. She smoothed away the loose bits from across his shoulders. Even through the thick material of the coat, she could feel the firmness of his muscles. She could tell he was used to hard physical work. Slowly, she brushed down each arm. Finally, all that was left was a few pieces of straw in his hair.

Without thinking, she slid her fingers up the nape of his neck. His hair was short but thick. It felt like soft fur beneath her fingers. When she realized what she was doing, she stepped away quickly. “Clean as a whistle.”

He cleared his throat. “Thanks. We should go.”

“
Ja.
Eli and Nettie are probably wondering what happened to me.” She started toward the ladder, but he stopped her by grasping her arm.

“They will think you’ve been rolling in the hay. Hold still a second.”

Standing behind her, he gently brushed at her back. He kept one hand on her shoulder to steady her. In the space of a few seconds, it went from a friendly gesture to an intimate experience. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck. His hands stopped moving and rested on her shoulders. Her own breathing became ragged. If she turned around, would he kiss her?

“Come on, guys. I’m getting hungry.”

Embarrassment sent a wave of heat to Leah’s face. She’d completely forgotten about Joy. “We’re coming.”

* * *

Caleb watched as Leah quickly followed Joy down the ladder. Once again, he had let his growing desire override his common sense. Yet Leah hadn’t rejected him outright. She’d tolerated his touch, but what did that mean, exactly?

She kept her attention on Joy and held her hand as they crossed the yard. “I’ve brought your books and some supplies. Pencils, crayons, paper and such. You have all you need to begin school.”

She stopped at the buggy and drew a bag from the backseat. She handed it to Joy. “Don’t forget to bring it to school on Monday.”

“I won’t.” Joy gazed up at her with admiration shining in her eyes. Caleb knew exactly how she felt. Leah always seemed to know what Joy needed.

Inside the house, Nettie and Maggie were busy at the stove. Maggie said over her shoulder, “Ike and Nettie are staying for supper. I hope that is okay with you.”

Leah smiled, but it was stiff. She cast a sidelong glance his way and then quickly looked at his mother. “What can I do to help?”

“You and Joy may set the table.”

The meal was one of the longest that Caleb had ever endured. Leah sat across from him and spent the entire time trying not to look at him. It was a relief when everyone finished. The men went into the other room while the women began to clean up.

Eli moved a small round table and positioned it between two chairs. “How about a game of checkers?”

Ike pointed to Caleb. “Better warm up with the boy before you take me on.”

Eli snorted. “It will be a rare day that I can’t best you, but take a seat, Caleb, and give your father a short reprieve. Will you be black or red?”

“Red.” Caleb sat down and put his pieces on the board, but his mind wasn’t on the game. It was on Leah. What was she thinking? Did she find his touch repulsive? If not, where did they go from here?

The short answer was nowhere.

Eli beat him soundly in record time. Caleb looked to his father. “
Daed,
why don’t you have a go at him? You always were a better player than I was.”

Ike rose from his chair. “Are you ready to take your beating, Eli?”

“Ha! You can try.”

Caleb watch them set up a new game and then wandered to the doorway that led to the kitchen.

Joy sat quietly at the table with her chin propped on her hands. She had been quiet throughout the meal. Was she feeling okay?

“What’s the matter, Joy? Do you have a headache?” he asked. It was something Dr. White had told him to watch for.

“No.”

Maggie pressed a hand to her forehead. “You aren’t warm. Do you feel sick?”

“
Mammi,
your house isn’t very Christmassy.”

She still wanted a Christmas tree. Caleb wondered how his mother would handle the request.

Maggie looked around the room. “I reckon you’re right. Do you want to help me fancy it up?”

Joy brightened. “Sure. Can we put up a Christmas tree?”

“
Nee,
child, for that is a worldly thing. It is not permitted. I know something we can do. I’ve been getting Christmas cards from my friends and family for the past few weeks. I keep them in a box in my bedroom. Wait a moment and I will get it.”

She returned shortly and set a shoe box on the table. “Let’s put them up so everyone can enjoy them. Leah, would you get me a ball of yarn from my knitting basket by the fireplace?”

“Of course.” While Nettie, Maggie and Joy began sorting through the cards, Leah approached Caleb. He was blocking the doorway. She paused in front of him but kept her gaze on the floor. Softly he said, “I didn’t mention how nice you look tonight.”

Color bloomed in her cheeks. She smoothed the front of her dark green dress with its matching apron. “This is only one of my school dresses. It’s not new. In fact, it’s a little stained and worn.”

“Actually, I hadn’t noticed your dress.”

Her eyes flashed up and locked with his. He didn’t flinch from her gaze. He wanted her to know that he saw her, and he liked what he saw. He stepped aside. She rushed past him. Quickly, she came back with a ball of yarn, but she avoided looking at him. Caleb followed her into the kitchen and took a seat across from his daughter at the table.

“What do we do now?” Joy asked.

Maggie glanced around her kitchen. “I reckon we have to decide where we want to hang our cards. Then we will put up some yarn and hang the cards on it. Where do you think they should go?”

Joy looked around. “I’m not sure.”

“You used to hang them across the windows when I was little.” Caleb began reading some of the cards. A few of them were store-bought cards, mostly from the English neighbors and shopkeepers in the town. The others, from family and Amish friends, were homemade and decorated by hand.

“All right, we’ll start with the windows.” His mother opened one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out some thumbtacks.

With Nettie’s help, she stretched three strands of yarn across the large windows that looked out onto the front porch and then stood back with her hands on her hips. “Do those look straight?”

“They look fine,” Caleb said. “Joy, why don’t you pick out the ones you want to hang up?”

“Okay.” She began sorting through the box. “I like this one, and this one.” She handed them to Leah, who was seated beside her. Leah took them to the window.

“Daddy, you hang up these.” She handed him a small bundle.

Caleb worked silently beside Leah until Nettie began to hum a Christmas song. Leah started humming, too. Soon Caleb began to sing the well-known hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and Leah, Maggie and Nettie all joined in.

Still singing, he went back to the table and picked up Joy. He carried her to the window so that she could hang the rest of the cards she had chosen.

When the song was finished, Joy clapped her hands. “Now it looks more like Christmas.”

Eli and Ike came to the doorway. Ike said, “I reckon I could bring in a little greenery for the mantel tomorrow.”

Maggie smiled at him. “
Ach,
that would be
wunderbaar.
I love the way the pine branches make the house smell.”

Caleb reached for his coat. “No reason to wait until tomorrow. I can go cut a few now.”

“But it’s dark outside already,” his mother said.

“I’ve got a flashlight.”