A Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection Read Online Free Page A

Breakfast. Perhaps you’d like to stay there instead?
    I look forward to hearing from you soon
.
    God’s blessing to you and your family
,
    Kathryn
    Anna Mae read and reread the letter until she’d nearly committed it to memory. Tears spilled from her eyes while she remembered the time she’d spent at the bakery with Kathryn, Kathryn’s sisters, her nieces, and Kathryn’s
mamm
, Elizabeth. Those were some of the best memories she cherished from Lancaster County.
    Glancing at the clock, Anna Mae realized Kellan would be home for supper in an hour. She folded the letter and putit back into the envelope and then into the pocket of her sweater. She then hoisted herself from the chair, headed to the refrigerator, and rooted around until she found a pack of steaks, Kellan’s favorite. After marinating the steaks in his favorite barbeque sauce, she placed them in the oven set to broil and stuck a couple of potatoes in the microwave.
    Anna Mae was preparing a green salad when Kellan entered the kitchen clad in one of his best suits.
    “How was your day?” he asked before kissing her cheek. Leaning down, he cupped his hand to her belly. “And how was your day, Lug Nut?”
    “Lug Nut? How can you be so sure it’s a boy?” she asked with a chuckle.
    He shrugged. “Just a hunch.”
    She smiled, rubbing her belly. “We had a good day. The quilting circle at church was a lot of fun. We caught each other up on the latest church news and also got a lot accomplished for our quilt drive. How was your day?”
    “It was good. Busy. Sales have gone up this month, which makes everyone at the dealership happy.” He breathed in the aroma emanating from the stove and moaned. “Steak?” He eyed her with suspicion. “What are you up to, Annie?”
    “Nothing.” She gave him her best innocent smile and carried the salad bowl to the table. “I thought you might like to have your favorite tonight.”
    His lips curled into a grin. “Is that so?” He retrieved plates and utensils and set the table. “You seem to be scheming over something. I know when you’re fibbing. Steak is always an ulterior motive for something.”
    “Maybe I prepared your favorite meal because I love you.”Anna Mae brought the steak and potatoes to the table while Kellan gathered the condiments and glasses of water for them.
    After saying grace, they began to eat.
    “I can tell by the expression on your pretty face that you’re excited to share something with me,” he said, cutting up his steak. “What’s up?”
    “I’ve been dying to tell you. I have good news!” Anna Mae fished the letter from her pocket. “I received this today.”
    While he read the letter, she smiled, thinking of her upcoming trip to Lancaster County at Christmas. A bump on her belly drew her attention to the unborn baby. She rested her hand on her abdomen and smiled while rubbing the location of the movement. She longed to give her child the gift of knowing her family in Lancaster. The trip was for her baby and the baby’s future as a member of the Beiler family.
    Kellan looked up and placed the letter on the table beside his plate. His expression was cautious. “I guess this means you want to go to Lancaster for Christmas. That’s what
Grischtdaag
is, right? Christmas?”
    “Yes, that’s right.
Grischtdaag
is Christmas.” Anna Mae nodded toward her belly. “I want to do this for our baby. Now is the best time to try to make amends.”
    He gave a tentative smile. “It sounds like a great idea, but I want you to be sure this is what you want. I don’t want you to get hurt. Your father used some harsh words when you left. I’ll never forget his words to you, Annie. He said you were no longer his daughter if you left.”
    She moved her hand over her abdomen in response to more kicks. “He didn’t mean that. He said it out of anger,hurt, and disappointment. I was his only child to leave the faith and the community.”
    Kellan’s eyes moved to her belly and a smile