Lena saw through Mimi’s eagerness to get her out caroling and smiled her appreciation. She thinks I’m stuck in the house too much. . . .
Lena breathed a sigh of relief when she learned from Mimi that Lydia’s parents were hosting the snacks and desserts after the caroling. That and Eli’s eagerness to take her were the only reasons she’d agreed to go.
“I know you must be disappointed ’bout bein’ here instead of home with your family,” Eli said at the reins of his open buggy. “I wish things had worked out differently.”
“It’s awful discouraging.” She shook her head. “It’s nice of you, though, to bring it up.”
He shrugged. “I know my parents and Uncle Solomon will do their best to make you feel included. It won’t be the same as bein’ with your own brothers and sisters, but we do care for you.”
Moved by his compassion, she nodded, unable to speak until a few minutes later, when they arrived and joined Lydia.
Soon the youth began to raise their voices in unison, the deep and resonant sounds of the young men rising behind her as they caroled. Lena began to feel better than she had earlier at the schoolhouse. At each farm, the youth began with “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” one of Lena’s favorites that never failed to boost her spirits. She stood with Lydia and Lydia’s younger cousin, seventeen-year-old Vera Smucker, surprised to feel almost as if this group were an extension of her Michigan family.
Mimi must have suspected this outing would be a good thing; she’d practically waved Lena out the door with Eli. And being with these friends on such a brisk, invigorating evening was indeed a blessing. Lena let herself drink in the feeling of being surrounded by the other carolers, including dear Lydia, who stood by her side. What would I do without her?
They stopped at no fewer than eight farmhouses before returning to the home of Lydia’s parents. As Lena Rose assisted Lydia’s mother in bringing mugs of steaming cocoa to the table, Lena marveled at how close-knit this group really was. Several of the other young women were also helping Lydia’s mother lay out the treats as young men brought in more firewood for the cookstove and the heater in the front room, all of them talking in Deitsch about activities this Christmas weekend.
At one point, Arden came over to talk with her. “I was surprised to see you at the program with Harley and Mimi.”
She told him about her canceled trip, and his eyes showed concern.
“Ach, for your sake, I’m sorry to hear it,” he was quick to say.
“It couldn’t be helped, really.”
They talked about the Nativity, and then Arden said, “I thought Harley was gonna pop some buttons when his third-grade grandson was the first to stand up to give his recitation.”
“I thought the same thing,” she said, laughing lightly and thinking how nice it was to see Arden again. She asked about his family’s plans for Christmas.
“We’ll leave for home right after Preachin’ service for our first dinner gathering,” he told her. “Then on Second Christmas, we’re goin’ to my oldest sister’s house to visit with more relatives.”
Lena, in turn, shared about the Stolzfuses’ plan for tomorrow. “I’m not sure what’s happening on Second Christmas, but it will prob’ly involve plenty-a food.”
“Well, I hope it’s a special time of remembrance for ya. This season, I always find myself thinking back on the old year,” Arden said, “and I s’pose that’s especially true for you just now.”
She nodded, appreciating his sensitivity.
“We never can guess what’s round the next corner. There’s a lot of comfort in knowin’ that it’s not up to us to figure out such things, I think.”
He accompanied her to the large spread of desserts on the long kitchen table, and they stood with their paper plates filled with slices of pie and cookies and continued talking for a while longer, till Eli was ready to head home so he could be up before the morning’s four o’clock milking.
Arden wished her a merry Christmas, and she said the same. “Since you’ll be here for the holidays, do ya plan to come to the skating party on Second Christmas?” he asked.
“Hadn’t really thought about it,” she replied, surprised he’d mention it.
“Well, if you’re up for it, you’re certainly welcome.”
Lena Rose couldn’t commit one way or the other. Here lately, she could only manage one day at a time. And all the way back to Harley’s, Lena pondered the precious hours she had lost with her siblings and Hans, her heart heavy yet again.
CHAPTER
18
For Lena and Mimi, the particulars of Christmas Sunday began earlier than most Lord’s Day mornings, what with the extra preparations required to host a portion of the family at noon. They all ate their breakfast earlier, too, so Lena and Mimi could wash the dishes and set the table before they headed out.
Yesterday evening, Harley and Eli had opened the kitchen table and put in all four leaves to accommodate the dinner guests. And they’d set up a large folding table for the school-age grandchildren, as well.
Lena was looking forward to seeing so many of the little ones again. She hoped she might break through the wall that seemed to surround Tessa. But how? Lena wondered, determined to assure her that she had no intention of taking her place.
Then later, at Preaching, Lena focused on the words of the traditional hymns, trying to keep her mind on worship. She offered her gratitude to the heavenly Father for bringing her together with this group of People, and for dear Mimi and Harley, too. Bless them abundantly for their kindness to me, O Lord. And be near to my brothers and sisters this Christmas Day.
During the silent kneeling
