Naomi’s Christmas Read online

  “I have a treat for two such good children,” Hannah said, coming to the rescue. She slid the cabinet door open. “What will it be? Whoopie pies? Molasses cookies? Or a cupcake?”

  The children looked up at her, eyes wide. “For us?” Joshua said.

  “For you,” Hannah said, smiling, her hand poised over the tray. “What do you like?”

  Deciding took a few minutes, but finally Hannah led the children off to one of the round tables with a whoopie pie for Joshua and a chocolate cupcake for Sadie. Naomi could then let the concern show in her face.

  “Is there a problem?”

  Nathan shrugged. “I do not know more than that, but for sure Emma wanted to go at once.”

  Naomi nodded. Naturally Emma would do what she must, just as Naomi would. She opened her lips to say so, but Nathan spoke before she could.

  “I have talked to my sister. She is ser busy with that big family of hers, but she will be glad to have Joshua and Sadie on any days that you need to be at the bakery. I hoped that would ease your mind a little.”

  “That is wonderful kind of Sarah. I would not want to leave Paula and Hannah without any help.”

  “So, what do you say, Naomi? Shall we start moving your beehives?” Nathan smiled at her…the smile that was so seldom seen on his face in recent years.

  Unfortunately, the smile increased her nervousness, and his mention of the beehives reminded her of something she should say to him…something that might change his mind about the whole thing.

  “About the hives…I have been thinking that I might want to expand my operation and sell my honey.” She watched his face closely, alert for any sign of disapproval. “That would mean more hives, more honey, more packaging.”

  He didn’t look disapproving, only a bit puzzled. “That seems like a fine business for you, Naomi. You ought to have something to rely on.”

  Since she had no prospects of having a husband and kinder of her own. She finished what he was undoubtedly thinking, her heart wincing. But she would not let that hurt show on her face.

  “That would not bother you? I would not want you to think that I am taking advantage of your offer.”

  He looked at her in what seemed honest surprise. “I could never think such a thing of you, Naomi. You were Ada’s dearest friend, my friend, too, I hope. Have as many hives as you want. Now, do you have an answer for me?”

  Still she hesitated, feeling as if the next step she took could change her life in ways she couldn’t imagine. But she didn’t really have a choice any longer. God had led her to this point. She would just have to trust that He controlled the future.

  She sucked in a breath and looked at Nathan. “Ja, denke, Nathan. I accept your offer.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  By the next day, Nathan felt there was no time to waste. The sooner he got Naomi’s precious beehives moved, the sooner he could stop worrying about who was watching the children.

  At the moment, that someone was Libby Esch, Isaiah’s wife, but she had her own work to do, and he didn’t like to impose on her. So he’d picked up Naomi the first thing this morning with the spring wagon, and they were already nearing the lane to the Esch farm.

  Naomi seemed to grow more tense the closer they got. He could sense her on the seat next to him, her body as tight as a coiled spring.

  Was she regretting her decision already? Maybe he’d been wrong in pushing her into this agreement. There were other women he could have approached about taking care of Joshua and Sadie while Emma was away, but none who were as uniquely suited to the job as Naomi was. Her close relationship with Ada, though it gave rise to grieving memories for him, was the very thing that endeared her to his children.

  By the time he turned into the lane, he couldn’t take the tension any longer. “Was ist letz, Naomi? Are you changing your mind about our agreement already?”

  She turned a startled face to him. “No, of course I’m not regretting it.”

  “Then why are you clutching the seat so hard your fingers are like to break?”

  “I…I’m not.” She let go of the seat, rubbing her palms together. “I’m just concerned about moving the hives, that’s all.”

  “We will be ser careful,” he said. “And the mare is as steady as can be. She won’t do anything unexpected.”

  “Ach, I know. I just…” Naomi let that trail off, as if unable to think of anything convincing to say.

  “Komm.” He tried to hold on to his patience. Was it possible Naomi wasn’t as steady and serene as he’d always assumed? “Tell me what is really bothering you.”

  Naomi pressed her lips together for a moment. Then she shrugged. “I am worried about my daad. I would not want him to make a fuss about my decision in front of you.” Her lips trembled a bit on the words.

  His annoyance vanished. He should be ashamed of himself. Everyone knew how difficult Sam Esch could be, and everyone knew, as well, that he was displeased with his daughter’s decision. Small wonder Naomi was feeling upset.

  “Ach, I wouldn’t worry about your daad.” He tried to sound confident. “Most likely he won’t even notice we’re here.”

  That was hardly likely, but he couldn’t think what else to say. He wasn’t eager to have hard feelings directed toward him by a brother in the church. He could only hope Sam felt the same way.

  Once the spring wagon had moved past the farmhouse without incident, Naomi seemed to relax a little. She pointed to the field beyond the barn. “The hives are there. I would think it best to turn around first, before we load them.”

  Naomi was pulling on long gloves as she spoke, and he felt a faint twinge of apprehension. He knew the dairy business inside out, but bee-keeping was a mystery to him. He could only trust to Naomi’s experience.

  “The bees are fairly dormant now, even though they don’t actually hibernate.” Naomi seemed to catch his thoughts as if he’d spoken. “Unless we jostle the hives and make them think we are a threat, they should stay quiet right through the move to their new home.”

  “Believe me, the last thing I want to do is disturb them.” He drew up next to the hives.

  She smiled at his comment, as he’d intended. “Don’t worry, then.” She slid down before he could move to help her. “You’ll turn the wagon while I check the hives to be sure all is well, ja?”

  He nodded, hands tightening on the lines. He was used to being in charge on his own farm, but in this situation, he was just the helper.

  When the wagon was properly positioned to allow them to move straight down the lane once they were loaded, he ground-tied the horse and went between the hives toward Naomi, careful not to startle her.

  She was bending over one of the white, three-tiered hives, her face calm, her gaze intent. He waited, schooling himself to patience. Clearly he was going to need that quality when it came to Naomi and her bees.

  Finally she looked up and nodded. “We will start with this one,” she said.

  He didn’t question the decision. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Luckily each hive is set on a board that can be lifted. That was Isaiah’s idea.” There was a trace of pleasure in her voice at her younger brother’s cleverness. “At the time, I didn’t think it would be needed, but now I’m glad of it.”

  She would never have anticipated moving them or leaving this place, in other words. But life had a way of taking sudden turns, as Nathan well knew. All you could do was try to hold on and accept the changes as God’s will. That was easy to say but not so easy to do.

  “You should put your gloves on now,” Naomi prompted.

  He nodded, pulling on the work gloves she’d told him to bring. “What now?”

  “Grasp the board by the corners,” she said. “Don’t lift until I say.”

  A little amused at Naomi’s bossiness, he obeyed. Holding the edges of the board, he waited for her signal, and they lifted the entire hive smoothly.

  It was heavier than he’d expected. Was Naomi really going to be able to han
dle this? Maybe he should have brought Isaiah along to help.

  But she didn’t seem to strain at the weight. “I had best count our steps so that we move together,” she said. “The ground is a bit rough. “Ready?”

  “Ja.” He held his breath, taking each step as she called it, matching the length of his strides to hers. Almost before he could speculate on what would happen if one of them tripped and dropped the hive, they’d reached the wagon.

  “Let it rest on the tailgate until I climb in,” he said. “Then we can slide it into place.”

  “Ja.” Naomi smiled up at him once he stood above her on the wagon. “You are gut with the bees, Nathan. They need someone who is quiet and steady. I’m glad you are helping me.”

  He ducked his head, the characteristic humble response to praise, surprised by how pleased he was at Naomi’s good opinion. “What would you do if you ever had to move a hive by yourself?”

  “It happens sometimes,” she said. “The hives are in three pieces, so I would just lift off one at a time. But this is a better way of doing it, I think. It’s less likely to upset the bees.”

  Over the next half hour they worked together smoothly, transferring one hive after another to the wagon without incident. Naomi’s cheeks grew rosy from the cold air. She must be tired, lifting the heavy hives and carrying them, but her serenity never faltered. Maybe that patience and caring served her equally well whether she was dealing with children or bees. The idea intrigued him.

  “Bees are like kinder, ja?” He took his position at the side of one of the few remaining hives.

  Naomi’s smooth forehead wrinkled with puzzlement for a moment, but then she nodded, catching his meaning. “Ja, I guess they are. Both of them need a lot of loving attention in order to do their best.”

  That wasn’t quite what he’d been thinking, but it was typical of Naomi’s humility. Following her lead, he lifted the hive and began walking backward to the wagon. They were nearly there when Naomi’s attention faltered, she missed a step, and the hive tilted.

  Nathan reacted instantly, taking the full weight of the hive, leveling it. A dangerous buzzing issued from the hive, and he held his breath, imagining a swarm of angry bees coming after them.

  “I’m sorry.” Naomi’s voice was soft. “That was my fault, for sure. I will keep talking, because they know my voice and it may calm them. Some people would say that I am foolish to think they know me, but I am sure. Just as the dairy cows know you, ja? So the bees know me and trust me and understand that I will not let anything bad happen.” Her voice had grown slower and softer as she talked, and he realized that the hive was silent now, save for a low, even hum.

  Naomi waited another moment, perfectly still even though he knew her muscles must be straining. Then she nodded, and they crossed the few feet to the wagon and transferred the hive.

  Nathan held his breath as he slid it into place. Then he climbed back down, careful not to jostle the wagon with his movement.

  “That was…” His words died out as he realized what it was that had caused Naomi to stumble. Sam Esch stood not ten feet away, staring at them.

  “So.” Sam’s tone was a harsh contrast to Naomi’s soft, comforting voice. “You are really going through with this foolishness.”

  The comment was clearly directed at Naomi, but Nathan found himself stiffening anyway.

  “Nathan has kindly offered to have the hives on his farm.” No trace of annoyance showed in Naomi’s manner. “We will move them today, so that Betty need not worry any longer about being stung.”

  “That is not the point, as you well know.” Sam’s face reddened. “The plans I made were for the best. I never thought to say this about you, Naomi, but you are being disrespectful and disobedient. Scripture directs children to obey their parents.”

  “Naomi is not a child any longer.” Nathan spoke before thinking and immediately regretted it. He could only make things worse, not better.

  But the look of gratitude that Naomi sent his way almost made it worthwhile. Almost. He had no wish to be at odds with Sam Esch. Sam was well-known for hanging on to a grudge, despite the church’s teaching on forgiveness.

  Sure enough, Sam’s face turned an alarming shade of purple. “Naomi is my child. She will do as I say.” He turned the force of his personality on her. “Since you have the hives loaded, you can take them right to Dick Holder’s farm and accept payment. Then you will move to your brother’s without any more foolishness.”

  Nathan expected Naomi to wilt under the force of Sam’s wrath. Surprisingly, her expression didn’t change, whatever turmoil she was feeling inside.

  “I am sorry to inconvenience you, Daadi. But I have made my own arrangements. You do not need to worry about me any longer. I wish you and Betty every happiness in your new lives.”

  Sam’s hands clenched into fists at this calm, open defiance. “No daughter of mine—”

  “Sam?” A voice caroled through the frosty air. “Sam, please komm. I must speak with you.” Betty stood at the edge of the yard, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

  Sam’s angry glare seemed to wilt. He turned toward the yard. “In a moment, Betty. I just—”

  “But I need you now, Sam. Komm.” She shivered elaborately. “Don’t make me stand here in the cold. And you know I dare not be any closer to the beehives.”

  Sam glanced back at his daughter. Nathan could almost see the angry words trembling on his lips. Then, as if compelled by a force stronger than anger, he turned and walked toward Betty. She took his arm firmly in hers. Talking, smiling at him, she led him toward the house.

  All the breath seemed to go out of Naomi. She sagged, and Nathan reached out quickly to steady her.

  “It’s all right now,” he said. “Betty will keep him busy, and we can load the last few hives and be out of here quick as can be.”

  Naomi swallowed so hard he could see the muscles work in her throat. “I am sorry. I did not want to expose you to Daad’s anger.”

  He wasn’t sure how to respond. She was making too much of it, it seemed to him. But it was clearly important to her.

  “I have seen and heard far worse than Sam,” he said finally, keeping his tone light. “He will get over this, you’ll see.”

  “I hope so.” Her expression was so troubled that his heart hurt for her.

  “I know so.” He smiled, inviting her to see the light side. “Anyway, if she has half a chance, Betty will keep him occupied, ja?”

  She was silent for so long that he thought he’d failed to lift her spirits. Then, finally, she smiled. “Love makes people do funny things, I guess.”

  Feeling ridiculously pleased at having made her smile, he nodded.

  Naomi felt she couldn’t draw an easy breath until the bees were safely settled in their new home. That confrontation with Daad had been more upsetting than she’d wanted Nathan to see. After all, Daad wasn’t his problem, and she didn’t want him to face any repercussions in the community for helping her.

  But Nathan seemed to take everything in stride. When they’d arrived at his farm, Isaiah and Nathan’s father had hurried to help, and they’d had the bees settled quickly and without incident. The men had gone off to the barn, talking of this and that, with no mention made of Daad’s scene.

  Relieved, tired, and a bit apprehensive all at the same time, Naomi headed for the house, prepared for the next challenge…convincing Nathan’s children that she was an adequate substitute for their grandmother for the next few weeks.

  She went into the kitchen, only realizing how chilled she’d been when she felt its warmth, quickly followed by the equally warm hug from her young sister-in-law Libby.

  “You feel half-frozen,” Libby chided. “You must warm up. I made hot chocolate for the kinder. You’d like some, ja?”

  “That sounds wonderful gut.” Naomi slipped her heavy jacket off, smiling at Libby’s cheerful greeting. Libby and Isaiah had been married just a year, and Libby still seemed much more like a teenager than
a married woman, with her rosy cheeks, sparkling dark eyes, and the enthusiastic way she had of greeting every new challenge. And it was certain-sure that the upheaval in her husband’s family presented a challenge.

  Libby put a steaming mug on the table, so Naomi sat down. She smiled at Joshua and Sadie, who had identical cocoa mustaches on their upper lips.

  “Hot chocolate is sure a treat on a cold day, ain’t so?”

  Joshua nodded, but Sadie pouted. “It doesn’t taste like Grossmammi’s,” she said.

  Naomi caught the flicker of hurt in Libby’s face. Libby was still young enough to be bothered by such a comment.

  “Of course not,” Naomi said. “Hot chocolate is supposed to taste different, according to the person who made it.” She took a sip of Libby’s cocoa. “Hmm, I think Libby’s tastes like pretty smiles. What does your grossmammi’s taste like?”

  Sadie’s mood changed, quick as the flicker of a firefly. “Hugs,” she said promptly. “Grossmammi’s tastes like hugs.”

  “Gut answer, Sadie,” she said, exchanging glances with Libby. “If Grossmammi was here right now, I’ll bet she’d give you a big hug.”

  “If you make it, what does yours taste like?” Joshua asked, his little face serious.

  “Ach, you’ll have to taste it and tell me. The person who makes it can never say.”

  He nodded, as if satisfied with her answer, but didn’t say anything else, lifting his mug to his lips instead.

  Naomi watched him, wishing she knew what went on in Joshua’s thoughts. Sadie’s emotions seemed all on the surface for anyone to read, but Joshua, like his father, didn’t give himself away so easily.

  “Ach, I must get home to fix Isaiah’s lunch.” Libby reached for her jacket, her eyes lighting up at the thought of her husband. “There’s beef stew simmering on the stove, and I brought two loaves of bread when I came this morning.” She nodded toward the bread board on the counter.

  “Denke, Libby. That is ser kind of you.” Libby’s efforts had saved her the trouble of rushing to get lunch fixed. Her arrangement with Nathan was that she would fix lunch and supper, but she’d have to leave quickly after that to get back to Paula’s before it was too dark.