Paul’s voice boomed. “What?”
Noelle’s face grew warm. “Jah,” she said. “She thinks each family should just do their own celebration.” Noelle didn’t have the heart to list all of Salome’s reasons.
“But what about you and Dawdi?” Paul’s voice had increased in volume.
Noelle shrugged. She was too embarrassed to say that Salome had invited Dat for Christmas but not her. Instead, she explained Salome didn’t feel any of their houses were big enough.
“We can have it at our house.” He turned toward his wife. “Right?”
“Except my family is coming for second Christmas. That would be a lot to host two big gatherings back-to-back.” She gazed up at him. “How about next year . . . ? Although there will probably be ten new in-laws and as many babies.”
Noelle kept herself from dropping her eyes to LuAnne’s belly. Was she pregnant again?
“Is it really the lack of a building?” Paul asked. “Or does Mamm just not want to do it?”
“The former, according to what she said. She told me if I came up with a building to let her know.”
“I’ll ask about the school.” LuAnne seemed happy to help.
Paul stopped listening. He’d spotted Jesse. “Hey, what’s he doing here?” Before Noelle could answer, her nephew was striding toward Jesse, his hand extended. They shook hands, slapping each other on the back as they did. Everyone loved Jesse.
LuAnne leaned toward Noelle. “Are you doing okay?”
Noelle nodded.
“It’s not too awkward having Jesse around?”
They’d all seen her suffer when he left, but she wasn’t going to admit to anyone how hard it was to have him back. Only to herself.
LuAnne was as easily distracted as Paul. She spotted Holly’s chocolates and scurried across the aisle. After a minute, she turned toward Noelle, holding up a small box. “Look at these mini sleighs. Aren’t they cute?”
Noelle nodded. She’d noticed the Englisch seemed to like to buy small things, too, as she observed them in the market. Small squares of soap instead of bars. Small candles. Small greeting cards. Small jars of jam. Even small quilts.
The appeal was a mystery to her. But LuAnne seemed to share it.
Noelle turned her attention to her pies and pans of sticky buns. Maybe her servings were too big.
A few minutes later, a woman stopped to browse at Noelle’s booth, carrying a small candle in a tin. Noelle worked up her nerve and asked the woman why she chose it.
She held it up. “It’s just so cute, don’t you think?”
Cute. Noelle nodded. “But it’s not very practical.”
The woman laughed. “It makes me happy—that’s what matters.”
“Ach,” Noelle said. “I see.” But the truth was, she didn’t. Not at all.
Holly insisted that Carlos give Noelle a ride home, so she called Pamela in the early afternoon and left a message on the woman’s phone. By the time the market closed, marked again by the ringing of the bells, Holly was practically out of her chocolates.
“I’m going to have to go home and make more,” she said as she packed the few boxes that were left.
Last year during the Christmas Market, Noelle baked more each day for Salome to sell. Obviously, she wasn’t selling nearly as much this year though. She sighed at the thought of letting her family down.
“What’s the matter?” Holly asked as she unwound her hair from her bun.
“Just a little tired is all.” Noelle placed more product into a crate.
Jesse pushed a cart by, loaded with three bookcases. Noelle ducked her head so she didn’t have to say hello.
“What is going on with you two?” Holly crossed the aisle and stepped into the booth.
“Nothing,” Noelle whispered.
“Oh, I get it.” Holly had her hands on her hips and spoke loudly. “It’s a taboo topic, right?”
Noelle nodded.
“Which means you two used to—what do you call it? Court?”
Noelle nodded again.
Holly dropped her voice to a whisper. “I can’t blame you. He’s gorgeous.”
Noelle’s face grew warm.
“Okay, okay, I’ll knock it off. I know I can be incorrigible. Carlos tells me so all the time.” Holly’s brown eyes danced. “Give me a box. I’ll help you pack.”
Instead of dropping her off at the Dawdi Haus, Noelle asked Carlos to take her to the new house.
“How many houses are on this property?” he asked.
“Just the three,” Noelle answered.
Holly’s voice wavered uncharacteristically. “Do you realize how lucky you are? To live right next to family?”
Noelle hadn’t given it much thought. Every Amish person she knew lived near family. “I don’t live close to all of my relatives,” she said. “I live with my Dat. Salome and her husband and their daughter live in the Dawdi Haus, while my nephew Paul and LuAnne and their kids live in the big house. My other seven sisters and their families are scattered all over the county, and a couple live in Chester County.”
Holly whistled. “There are nine girls in your family?”
“Jah,” Noelle answered.
“How many brothers do you have?”
“No brothers.”
Holly jabbed Carlos. “Lucky.” By her voice, Noelle could tell she was teasing.
“Do the two of you have other siblings?” Noelle asked.
Carlos shook his head. “It’s just us.” He jabbed Holly back. “Although I prayed she’d be a brother.”
“You prayed that when you were two years old? I don’t think so.” She laughed. “But nice try.”
Holly and Carlos helped Noelle carry her boxes again. After they’d put everything down in the entryway, Holly pulled a white box of mini chocolates from her coat pocket and gave it to Noelle, who, in return, gave her a cherry pie.
“Thanks!” Holly gave her a quick hug, and Noelle forced herself to hug her back. She wasn’t used to hugging anyone. Not even her parents.
“Noelle, is that you?” Dat came padding down the hall.
“Jah, Dat. And my friends, Holly and Carlos. They gave me a ride.”
Dat leaned on his cane as he reached the three of them and then shook Carlos’s hand. “Nice to meet you,” Dat said. But he didn’t thank them for their help.
“See you tomorrow!” Holly said as she headed to the door. “And count on us giving you a ride
