Free A Simple Christmas Wish by Melody Carlson

apartment suddenly sounded far more inviting than ever before. She actually missed it. Oh, it wasn’t that Rachel didn’t know how to rough it a little. It was simply that she didn’t quite understand the reasoning behind these rustic deprivations. Sure, it was fun, in a going-back-in-time sortof way, but as a full-time lifestyle? Perhaps she could understand why Miri had left all this behind her, although it did make Rachel curious too. It was so mysterious to think her modern-minded sister-in-law had grown up in this sort of quaint atmosphere. Perhaps while she was here, she would learn a bit more about Miri’s previous life. For Holly’s sake, she hoped so.
    It wasn’t too long until Lydia announced it was time for the children to get ready for bed, but as she and Holly went up to Sarah’s room, Rachel realized there was still only one bed. She was about to go downstairs and inquire about this when she heard the boisterous voices of the older boys as they clomped up the stairs, and just like that, a rollaway cot was set down next to the bed. This was followed by a set of bedding carried in by Sarah and Lydia.
    “Here you are,” Lydia said as she placed the folded blankets and things in Rachel’s arms. Rachel thanked them and began to make up the narrow bed.
    Now Lydia went over to where Sarah was watching Holly removing her pajamas from her backpack. “And do not forget we have church in the morning, maed .”
    Sarah nodded. “ Ja, Mamm. I know.”
    “Schlaf gut,” Lydia said. Then she gave Rachel an uneasy glance and exited the room. Unsure of what Lydia had said, Rachel told her good night and continued wrestling with the cot.
    Wearing a long white nightgown, Sarah came over to check her progress. “I can sleep on the cot, if you want to sleep with Holly in my bed,” she offered generously.
    “But I want to sleep with you , Sarah,” Holly insisted asshe tugged on her pink Hello Kitty pajama top. “Aunt Rachel can sleep on the cot.”
    Rachel tried not to feel slighted by this surprising preference, but suddenly it was like Rachel was in grade school again, being pushed aside by one friend for another. Still, as she slipped into her own silky pajamas, by herself in the bathroom, since it felt strange to dress in front of the young girls, she decided that her reaction was perfectly silly. Besides, she would rather sleep alone.
    Like little girls at a sleepover, Sarah and Holly had some trouble settling down for the night, and eventually, Holly begged Rachel to read to them from her favorite bedtime storybook. “It will help me go to sleep,” Holly pointed out.
    “I can read it to you,” Sarah offered kindly.
    “Okay,” Holly gladly agreed. “I’ll bet you’re a good reader.”
    And so, for the second time that night, Rachel felt slightly displaced . . . or replaced. But, once again, she told herself it was perfectly ridiculous. She should be happy for Holly’s sake. How fun for her to have this special night with her cousin. She hoped that’s all it was. Just a one-night sleepover. Somehow, they had to get out of this place by tomorrow. Rachel was determined.
    After the girls had finally drifted off to sleep, and the rest of the house grew quiet—as in completely quiet —Rachel became unbearably restless. Tossing and turning on the lumpy cot, she knew she was never going to be able to go to sleep. Normally, she would get out of bed and read until she was sleepy when she felt like this, but she didn’t want to get up and stumble around the very dark house. Yet the idea of lighting one of those lanterns and creeping around was equallyunsettling, so she remained in the uncomfortable little bed with all her uncomfortable big thoughts and desperately hoped that morning would come quickly. This was what came from getting that last coffee when she’d filled up with gas just before coming here. The caffeine was playing havoc with her nerves.
    After a while, she realized her anxiety was not