Free Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

tightening on the spoon in the whipped cream. “What I want isn’t the only thing that matters,” he said slowly, realizing they were now talking about so much more than just his appetite for desserts. “Sometimes it’s necessary to know what is right.”
    “I’m glad to hear you say that.” She sat back down. “You see, when Rebecca started working here, not only was it a real blessing to me—the job was a blessing for her as well.”
    For her? There was obviously a story there. Caleb ached to ask what it was but yet again fought off the urge to pry. Rebecca would tell him more when the time was right.
    He had to believe that.
    Luckily the back door opened and in came Rebecca, immediately brightening his world. Today she wore a teal dress and thick-soled black boots. The dress’s fabric brightened her skin and made her eyes seem even bluer than usual.
    Without thinking, he got to his feet and walked to her. “ Gut matin, Becca.”
    As he’d hoped, her eyes glowed when they lit on him. “Hi, Caleb.” After smiling at him again, she turned to Mrs. Miller. “ Gut matin, Mrs. Miller.”
    Caleb noticed the woman didn’t get to her feet. Instead, she simply smiled fondly at Rebecca.
    “Help yourself to some cake, dear. And I put out some orange slices for you, too.”
    Rebecca approached the refrigerator as if the lady had hidden a secret treasure there. “Oh, look at those oranges. They look beautiful.”
    “Eat them all, Rebecca. And Caleb will serve you cake.” She looked at Caleb meaningfully. “Right?”
    “Sure. I’ll be happy to.” Now he was the one bustling around the kitchen, waiting on his girl. Rebecca sat down and ate one succulent slice of orange after the other, just like she’d never tasted anything so good.
    Moments later, she took a bite of the cake, but it was obvious to even him that gingerbread cake wasn’t nearly as delicious to her as the succulent fruit.
    When they were almost done, Mrs. Miller left the room, then returned with a large box filled with stacks of neatly wrapped braided bread. “Here you two go. I hope all your recipients will enjoy the bread.”
    Rebecca got to her feet and carefully picked up one of the packages. “These look mighty fine. I’m sure they will be much appreciated.”
    “As long as they are enjoyed, I will feel blessed. Truly, that is all that matters to me.”
    “Where should we go next, Rebecca?” Caleb asked.
    “To your house, I suppose. Anson is going to be accompanying us. Or have you forgotten?”
    “I told him not to.” At her look of confusion, he added, “There’s no need for him to come. I promise you that.”
    “I don’t mind if he joins us, Caleb,” she said softly.
    “I do.”
    “And why is that?”
    “No particular reason,” he hedged.
    “Hmm.” Her eyes twinkled. Making it so obvious that she was biting her tongue in order not to tease him anymore.
    Caleb kept his mouth shut, too. He didn’t want to shock her with what was really on his mind. Because what he wanted to say was that he didn’t want to share her. When he was around Rebecca, he didn’t want there to be another person within a hundred feet of them.
    He wanted to be the only person to hold her hand or to steady her elbow when they walked down stairs. He wanted to be the only person to wrap an arm around her shoulders.
    Selfishly, he wanted all her words and smiles to be only for him. For the blush on her cheeks to be because of something he said.
    But of course, none of that could be admitted. They were young. And he still got the sense that she was hiding something from him.
    Therefore, he kept his answer easy. “Whatever you want, I will do,” he said.
    And for that, he got his reward.
    Rebecca smiled at him like he’d just raised the sun from the horizon and brightened her day.
    B y 5:30 that evening, Judith knew she was having a terribly hard time keeping her feelings in line. Never before had she been so aware of another person as she was with