Free Amish Sweethearts by Leslie Gould Page B

sister, whispering, “Merry Christmas,” as she drifted off to sleep.

    Christmas morning she went through the motions, bleary eyed and yawning, as she made breakfast and then served it. Trudy had already eaten the candy in her dish by the time Daniel arrived midmorning. He ate a leftover slice of ham as Dat called everyone into the living room.
    Only Trudy was excited. The rest of them seemed to just be going through the motions. As they all sat down Lila couldn’t help but notice there weren’t many presents on the table by the door. Although some Amish families had a tree, her family never did. Not even when Mamm was alive.
    Lila hadn’t talked to Dat about what he planned to buy for everyone. She hoped he’d planned something—not for her, but at least for Trudy, Rose, Simon, and Daniel. Although now Dat probably didn’t think Simon deserved anything.
    Dat read the Christmas story, and then they all bowed their heads in a silent prayer. Lila tried to concentrate on Jesus coming to earth as a baby, but she kept thinking about Zane. She figured it would take him two days to get to Texas. Did he have a special friend waiting for him when he arrived? Maybe that was why he’d avoided her when he was home. Her face grew warm. She’d been foolish for not thinking of that sooner, but that would be for the best. For both of them. Zane deserved an Englisch girl who could share his life. She’d never begrudge him that.
    Finally Dat stirred, ending the prayer, and the rest of them raised their heads.
    Trudy rubbed her hands together. “Time for presents!”
    Dat frowned. “We give as a reminder of what God gave us,” he said. “The focus is not on what we receive.”
    “I know,” Trudy said, scooting back on the couch. “I want to give my presents too.”
    Dat cleared his throat. “I didn’t get gifts for you three older kids this year,” he said. “You’re adults now.” His eyes landed on Simon for a brief moment.
    Lila nodded. That was fine.
    Trudy frowned, until Lila asked her to pass the gifts around. All of the children had gotten Trudy a gift, and Dat had bought her a set of mixing bowls and cookie cutters. She was ecstatic. She was thrilled with the apron Lila had made her too.
    Rose seemed oblivious that the others didn’t have gifts and made a big deal over the set of serving platters Dat had bought her for her hope chest. She was gracious about the place mats and napkins that Lila had made for her also.
    Thankfully Lila had bought the boys gifts—T-shirts, socks, and cans of shaving cream.
    Trudy had bagged a stack of cookies that she’d made with Shani for everyone.
    Simon ate his cookies, marveling at how delicious they were. Trudy giggled and told him she’d make him more with her new mixing bowls. Lila suggested the others play a game while she headed into the kitchen to make the stuffing. Except for Trudy’s cookies, no one had given her a present.
    After a few minutes, Daniel joined her. “It was a lot of fun at Jenny’s last night. We opened gifts and then all sang carols together. Reuben said he wished you could’ve come along.”
    Lila shook her head.
    “He did,” Daniel insisted.
    “I’m not questioning that,” Lila said. “But who would have made dinner here? Or put Trudy to bed? Or made the gifts for Rose and Trudy?”
    “You have a point.” Daniel shrugged and then yawned.
    “Looks as if you stayed too late last night.”
    He grinned. “Maybe.”
    Rose didn’t come to help until Lila asked. By then Dat had fallen asleep in his chair and Simon and Daniel had gone outside. By the time dinner was ready, Lila felt frazzled.
    Someone needed to find the boys, so she did it herself, thinking a walk in the cold might help her feel more settled. She flung her coat over her shoulder and headed out the back door. The sun remained hidden by the clouds. Even the snow appeared gray, as if the world had lost its color. As she approached the barn, she yelled, “Daniel! Simon!”
    The