Amish Christmas Joy by Patricia Davids Read Free Book Online Page B

should go in.”
    His mother nodded and walked quickly back to the house. He followed more slowly. As they reached the door, Wayne blocked their way. A thunderous expression darkened his face. “There is nothing here for you. Go back where you came from.”
    “Wayne, please.” Maggie’s gaze darted between her sons.
    “Shame on you, Mother. How could you do this to us? Rhonda, David, we are going home.” He stood aside. His wife and son hurried out the door. The boy stared at Caleb with wide, curious eyes. Rhonda didn’t even look. She kept her face down as she rushed past him, one hand covering her scarred cheek. Wayne followed close behind them.
    Caleb caught his brother’s arm and pulled him to a stop. He whispered, “Have you told her the truth?”
    Wayne pushed him away. “There is nothing to tell. You are not welcome.”
    Caleb stepped aside. Joy clung to his leg, hiding her face. He placed a reassuring hand on her head. “Wayne, can we at least be civil to each other? For Mother’s sake if not for our own.”
    Wayne stood at the gate as his wife and son climbed in the buggy. “‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?’ 2 Corinthians 6:14.”
    “I remember the passage.”
    “Do not trouble me or mine. We do not know you.” With that, he strode to the buggy, climbed in and quickly drove away.
    “What did you expect, Maggie?” Caleb’s father asked from the doorway. “You should have told them Caleb was coming. You should have given them a chance to prepare.”
    “ Mamm didn’t know I would arrive today.”
    “I planned to tell Wayne and Rhonda tonight, that’s why I asked them to come over, but then it was too late. Caleb was already here.”
    Ike stepped back from the door. “Come inside. We’re letting all the heat out.”
    Maggie went in. Caleb picked up Joy and followed her. His father closed the door behind them.
    The warmth of the kitchen was a welcome relief from the chill outside. The smell of the evening meal lingered in the air. His mother had been baking bread. There were five loaves lined up on the counter. The delicious aroma was enough to make Caleb’s stomach rumble. Three animal crackers didn’t make for a substantial supper.
    Ike looked at Joy. “Who have we here?”
    Caleb braced himself. “This is my daughter, Joy.”
    “And where is your wife?”
    He met his father’s steely look without flinching. “I’m not married.”
    Ike’s lips thinned with displeasure. He gathered himself and managed a smile for Joy. “Welcome to our home, Joy. I’m Ike Mast, your daadi, your grandfather.”
    She looked at Caleb and whispered, “Is he like Nana’s Jake?”
    “No, honey, he’s your real grandfather. He’s much nicer than Jake.”
    Caleb set her down. She gave Ike a tentative smile. “Your house smells good.”
    He chuckled. “I reckon it’s your grandma’s cooking that smells good. Are you hungry?”
    She nodded. He tipped his head toward the large wooden table. “Have a seat and Maggie will fix you something to eat.”
    “You mean Mammi, ” she corrected him as she climbed on a chair.
    “ Ja, your mammi. You know some of our speech. That is goot. Good.”
    “What is ja? ”
    “ Ja means yes,” Caleb explained.
    “ Ja is yes. Good is goot. ” Joy nodded vigorously, making her straight blond hair swish across her face. She pressed it back with both hands.
    Ike looked Caleb up and down. He nodded toward the table. “You look like you could use some of your mother’s cooking. You’re skin and bones.”
    The tension holding Caleb upright drained away, leaving him weak and shaken. To be invited to sit at the table with his father was more than he’d hoped for. He had to clear his throat of a lump the size of Texas before he could speak. “Danki.”
    Joy held out her hand. “Sit by me, Daddy.”
    Maggie was grinning widely. “He can’t,