Naomi's Gift: An Amish Christmas Story by Clipston Amy

Author:Clipston, Amy [Clipston, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780310590361
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2011-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Go wash up,” Naomi told her siblings as she set the table later that evening. “Supper is almost ready.”

The children filed out of the kitchen, and Naomi lined the plates up on the long table.

Her mother placed a large bowl of mashed potatoes at the center of the table. “Did you have fun today?”

“Ya,” Naomi said, snatching a handful of utensils from the drawer. “Susie wanted to shop for Christmas gifts for her cousins and friends. She, Janie, Sylvia, and Levina had a gut time shopping, and Caleb and I just walked around and talked.”

“What did you and Caleb discuss?” Irma began to fill a platter with homemade rolls.

“Oh, nothing much.” Naomi lined the utensils up by the place settings. “We talked about Christmas and things like that. He’s very easy to talk to. We had a nice time together.” She didn’t want to admit they’d talked about her doomed relationships.

Irma gave Naomi a hard look, and Naomi wished she hadn’t even mentioned Caleb’s name.

Rather than argue about Naomi’s track record with dating, Naomi decided to change the subject. “How did the quilt turn out? Did you get it finished before the customer arrived?”

Irma placed the platter next to the rolls and glowered. “I hope you’re not getting any ideas about this widower, Naomi. You know he’s going back to Ohio after the holidays and you’re just going to get your heart broken if you get too attached.”

Naomi breathed out a deep sigh. “Mamm, I know that. He’s just a freind.”

Her mother continued to frown. “Don’t make a fool of yourself again. You never should’ve gone out with him today. You know how that will look to the rest of the community.”

“He invited me,” Naomi said, pointing to her chest. “It wasn’t my idea. In fact, I think it was Susie’s idea. She really likes me, and I enjoy spending time with her too. You know she lost her mamm only two years ago. For some reason, she’s latched on to me, and how can I turn her away?”

Irma wagged a finger at Naomi. “You can’t be her mamm. That’s not your place.”

“I never said I wanted to be her mother. I just want to be her freind. Is that so wrong?”

“Ach, no.” Irma shook her head. “But I know you, Naomi. You get too attached, and that will only lead to trouble.”

Naomi shook her head. “I can’t do anything right in your eyes, can I, Mamm? The way you see it, I mess up completely when it comes to love, and I’m destined to be alone.”

“I wasn’t speaking of love,” Irma said, pulling the broccoli and rice casserole from the oven. “I was talking about perceptions. It just didn’t look right for you to go out shopping with that widower and his dochder. It looked very inappropriate, and you know how people talk.”

“I don’t see how any of my behavior was inappropriate, Mamm.” Naomi wished her voice wouldn’t quaver with her frustration. She grabbed a handful of napkins and began adding them to the place settings in order to keep busy and stop her threatening tears.

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