Her Christmas Pen Pal by Ruth Reid

Author:Ruth Reid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2014-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Standing at the bakery’s counter the following morning, Noah opened the pastry box and smiled. Inside, the decorated cookies looked identical to the roses in the quilt pattern. “You decorated these?”

Joy nodded.

“I suppose you could have drawn me a horse-and-buggy pattern.”

“Maybe the buggy, but—”

Noah glanced over his shoulder to see what had drawn her attention. A man crossed the room and approached Joy.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” the man said to Joy.

She moved closer to the register where he stood. “Tell you what?”

“Yesterday, Matthew said the bakery will probably close by the end of the year.”

Joy wiped her hands along her apron. “Mei bruder-in-law shouldn’t have discussed business on Sunday.”

“So it’s true.” Henry smiled. “After Christmas we won’t have anything standing in our way.”

The door opened and Joy’s sister sashayed across the room. “Gut mariye.”

“Sarah, if you don’t mind ringing up Noah, Henry and I need to talk outside.” Joy didn’t give her sister a chance to refuse. She bounded out from behind the counter and led the man out the door.

Noah stared at the empty space.

Sarah cleared her throat. “Will it be just the cookies today?”

“Nay,” Noah said. “I think I’ll have a cup of kaffi.”

“For here or to go?”

“For here.” He motioned to the far table. “Do you mind if I sit next to the window?”

“Sit wherever you like.” Sarah poured a mug of coffee then followed him to the table. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Noah nodded. He wished Joy’s back wasn’t facing him. He would much rather watch her facial expressions than the man with her.

He hadn’t taken more than a few sips before the conversation outside ended and Henry walked away. Joy half-turned, glanced teary-eyed in the direction Henry had gone, then lifted her gaze to the sky.

Noah pushed his chair back and grabbed the box of cookies. At the register, he strained his neck to look into the kitchen. Not seeing Sarah, he called out, “I’m leaving the money by the register.” He rushed out the door.

Joy stood in the same spot, face tilted toward the sky, eyes closed.

“Is everything all right?” Noah stepped closer.

She wiped her hands over her face and smiled, but her lips trembled. “Mei parents opened this place.” Her gaze lifted above him. “I remember watching mei daed paint that sign . . . Nau the paint’s fading.”

He peered at the Stolzfus Bakery sign attached to the building. “It wouldn’t take much to touch it up.”

She tightened her lips into another strained smile. “I should get back inside.”

Noah motioned to the box of cookies. “I’ll take two dozen tomorrow. Nay, make it three.”

His mother had asked more than once that he stop by his great-aunt’s house. He would honor his mamm’s wishes and keep some of the calories off his waist. Although it would require he sit long enough to have a cup of her diluted tea and listen to her convoluted stories of the past. Or he could leave them at the motel. If his cabinets were going to be finished on time, he needed to concentrate on work.

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