An Unexpected Amish Christmas by Rachel J. Good

Author:Rachel J. Good [Good, Rachel J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2021-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

After Keturah returned from her lunch break, she avoided looking at him. Her change of attitude hurt Jeremiah. She’d been upset and had rushed back to the lunch table after that woman had mistakenly assumed Keturah was interested in him.

Her blush, her stiffness, and her pinched face all revealed how much the idea had bothered her. She now appeared determined not to give any wrong impressions. She evaded his eyes, extended rigid arms, nodded cursory thanks, and pivoted quickly to face her customers. No talking, no teasing, no friendship.

It saddened him. He wished he could reassure her that he understood they couldn’t have a relationship. But would bringing it up make things worse? And could he say the words to calm her worries if it meant denying his own feelings?

They rushed through the rest of the afternoon, each minute harder than the next. For the first time, Jeremiah was almost relieved the work day had ended. As he helped clean up, the bag beside him crinkled. He’d forgotten about the lollipops.

They could all use cheering up. He waited until everyone had finished the chores to pull out the bag, and then he beckoned to Maleah.

“You get first choice of color.” He only opened the bag enough for her to peek in. “Don’t let your sisters see.”

She squealed and hugged him. “Danke, danke, danke!” Bouncing up and down on her toes, she picked up one color and then another, dropping each of them back into the bag at least twice before settling on pink. Then she cupped her lollipop in two hands so her sisters couldn’t see it as she lifted it out of the bag.

The other girls stared at the bag and then at Maleah and Jeremiah.

“What do you think?” he asked Maleah. “Should we let your sisters pick their own, or do you want to choose for them?”

She pursed her lips. “They can pick, but tell them to do it fast, fast, fast.”

“Rose?” Jeremiah lifted the bag, and she headed over.

When she peeked into the bag, she laughed.

“Don’t let your sisters see,” he warned again.

Giggling, she picked green and palmed it out of the bag.

“You’re next, Lilliane.”

She headed over with a puzzled frown that only deepened as she glanced inside. “What is this?”

“You’ll see in a minute. Just take your favorite color without letting Keturah see.”

“I don’t know.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “It depends on what it is.”

“Come on, Lilliane.” Maleah sounded as if she’d explode if she had to wait any longer. “Pick blue. I know you like that.”

“All right.” She took her selection and tucked it behind the edge of her apron.

“Now for Keturah.”

As Jeremiah extended the bag, Rose and Maleah burst out laughing. Keturah stepped toward him as cautiously as if she expected a snake to jump out and bite her.

She peered into the bag. “Jeremiah.” Her tone wavered between scolding and disbelief. “You shouldn’t have done this.”

“I’m sorry you don’t have a choice of colors, but at least we’ll match.” That made him extremely happy.

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