An Amish Family Christmas by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Saturday, December 10

On Saturday afternoon, when Levi opened his door to see Julia with Penny at her side, he once again felt like he’d received a sweet gift.

There was just something about Julia that appealed to him. Today, she had on a dark forest-green dress. The color set off her golden hair, light-brown eyes, and creamy skin. When she smiled at him and he caught sight of her dimple, he felt like a foolish teenaged boy, a little flustered, a little tongue-tied.

“Hey, you two,” he said, hoping he sounded a whole lot more composed than he felt. “This is a nice surprise.”

Julia’s smile faded as her expression turned a little more unsure. “I hope we didn’t interrupt anything?”

“Not at all. I was just, um, reading the paper.” What he’d actually been doing was staring out the window and thinking about his father and missing him, but there was no way he was going to admit that. He hated admitting to anyone that he was still having a difficult time. “Come on in.”

Still, she hesitated. Pointing to her tote bag, she said, “I only had to work a few hours this morning, so Penny and I were hoping that we could finish cleaning your haus this afternoon. Would you mind if we came in? I promise, we won’t bother you none.”

The absolute last thing he wanted was to sit in his ugly living room and listen to Julia clean his bathroom. “Julia, there’s no need.”

“I’m afraid there is. Your home needs a good cleaning, Levi.” Smiling softly at her daughter, who was clutching a worn teddy bear, Julia continued softly. “Penny and I won’t be any trouble. She’s going to sit with me while I work.”

“I can’t let you do that. There’s no way I can stand to one side while you are scrubbing my floors and poor Penny is sitting there watching you. I’ll feel terrible. That’s no way to spend a Saturday afternoon.”

But instead of looking reassured, she nibbled her bottom lip. “I’d rather not come over tomorrow, that’s the Lord’s day. And I’m afraid Monday is a workday for me.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to come back to clean.”

But instead of looking relieved, she looked rather put out. And, perhaps, a little panicked? “Levi, please—” She stopped herself and turned to Penny. “Penny, dear, go sit down on Levi’s couch for a moment, wouldja? I need to speak to Mr. Levi about something that’s just for grown-up ears.”

Penny looked at him apprehensively, shifting from one foot to the other. “Mommy, I don’t think Mr. Levi wants me to do that.”

Great. Now he was frightening a child. “I don’t mind at all, Penny,” he said gently. “You go sit down with your bear, okay? Anywhere is fine.”

Penny trotted over to the couch, looking back at her mother nervously as she did so.

Once her little girl was out of earshot, Julia stepped a bit closer. “Did I do something wrong?” she whispered.

“Nee. Of course not.”

“Well then, do ya remember

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