Susanna's Christmas Wish (16 page)

Herman was better this morning. He’d rested all last week and even stayed home from Sunday services again. That must have been what caused the outpouring of concern this morning. Herman’s continued absence—and she’d even stayed home on Sunday to be with him. She wasn’t going alone, she’d told Herman. Not this Sunday.

The doctor had been adamant that Herman rest for the remainder of the week while the antibiotics did their work. He said dire consequences could result if Herman worked. Herman had groaned but listened. He stomped around the house as the end of the week moved closer and he was feeling better, but he stayed inside. Susanna had done the best she could to keep him occupied, but it wasn’t like Herman could do housework. And eating only lasted so long.

His
mamm’s
pies were all gone. Susanna smiled. Iva’s work had saved her from having to bake last week, which had given her time to clean the house thoroughly. Why she did it, she wasn’t sure. But Christmastime was approaching, and she wanted a clean house even though it would be only Herman and her here on Christmas morning.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, she thought, if Herman really meant what he’d said about celebrating Christmas with her family? How perfect such a day would be. But it was completely out of the question. Herman had been affected by the fever on the way to the doctor’s office. He’d said nothing more about celebrating Christmas since then. And she wasn’t going to bring it up. A fuss would only spoil the joy that was growing between them. Yet the thought of the Christmas celebration wouldn’t go away. It kept coming back during the long evenings, especially the past week as they sat and drank hot chocolate.

She’d finally decided that celebrating Christmas in a certain way was really only a silly notion. Sure, it would be absolutely
wunderbah
to spend the day like her family did, but there were other
gut
ways to spend the time too. And she and Herman would find them. Just like they were finding more and more love for each other. Herman couldn’t get enough of her kisses, now that he was feeling better. And she couldn’t get enough of his strong arms wrapped around her. This love was a great gift from
Da Hah
, and something for which they both gave much thanks.

In the meantime, Susanna had better stop staring out of the window and get busy with her Monday-morning wash. If Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law came over to help Herman out of concern, then perhaps someone else would also be along soon—if she didn’t miss her guess. Herman’s
mamm
would have a hard time staying away since her son had missed another church service.

Iva would stop in to give Herman a
gut
lecture, if nothing else. But it wouldn’t do any
gut
. Susanna had doctor’s orders that backed her stand of making Herman rest all week. She held back a giggle. Maybe she’d get another batch of pies out of the deal. The bread pantry was still well stocked from the bread Iva had baked last week. So she would get to tell Iva—if she showed up—no more bread.

At least I have an interesting mother-in-law, Susanna thought as she went into the bedroom to gather up their dirty clothing. Herman hadn’t used quite as many pants and shirts last week, so maybe two batches of wash were all she had to hang out. Iva would think they’d been wearing the same clothes all week, which was partly true. At least Herman had because he wasn’t working.

Iva could think what she wanted. Before long there might be a
bobbli
on the way! Not that she showed any signs yet, but hopefully it would happen. And likely many more after that. Then there would be plenty of wash on the line for Iva to see.

Susanna took the hamper into the basement and started the gas motor on the second pull. I’m getting
gut
with this motor, she thought. The one at home had its own quirks, just like this one did. Here you had to pull the choke halfway out instead of all the way like she used to with
mamm
and
daett’s
motor.

With the roar of the motor in her ear, Susanna laughed. Herman wasn’t quite like a motor, but she was getting to know his little quirks too. Let his
mamm
think what she wished, but Herman had blossomed under her care. The doctor’s antibiotics had helped, but so had her doting.

And she was
gut
at it. What a
wunderbah
feeling. This was something she’d never felt with Matthew. Doting on Matthew was hard to imagine. Herman seemed to grow stronger by it. She could feel it in how he held her in the evenings and in the strength of his smile. Herman’s
mamm
might think spoiling a man made him weak, but it wasn’t true in Herman’s case. Susanna’s loving care made him stronger. She had plenty of proof of that.

Susanna finished running the first load through the wringer and started the next before going outside. She was hanging the last piece on the line when Iva came driving down the lane. Susanna started toward the barn to help her unhitch, and then she stopped. Last time Iva made her do all of the work, so this time it was Iva’s turn. Yet Iva was Herman’s
mamm
…but a person could only take so much. And with all the lectures she’d received from Iva’s sharp tongue about Herman being babied last week, it might be best to postpone such moments. At least until she could gather herself together to face the onslaught.

Without looking at Iva parked beside the barn, Susanna turned and marched to the basement. A quick glance at the last moment showed Iva staring after her, mouth dropped open, probably from shock. Susanna suppressed a giggle and quickly closed the basement door behind her. It really wasn’t funny, but Iva was only getting her own medicine. Susanna would deal with the consequences later.

Susanna’s heart sank when she came back out with the last load of wash. Herman was standing beside the now-unhitched buggy, in deep conversation with his
mamm
. Behind him his team of Belgians stood alongside the fencerow waiting for him. Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law were still plowing.

Obviously Herman had stopped his work to help his
mamm
with her horse. Maybe she should rush over and apologize, Susanna thought. But no matter. Iva would have plenty to say to her later.

Sure enough, she wasn’t even done hanging the last piece of wash before Iva marched over.

“
Gut
morning,” Susanna said, trying to sound sweet.

“Don’t you believe in making your kinfolk welcome around here?” Iva demanded, skipping the morning’s greeting. “At least my son has the decency to come help his poor mother unhitch her horse. My poor bones ache enough in the morning without having to do all the work myself.”

“I’m sorry,” Susanna said. And she did feel just a little sorry, now that she thought about Iva’s arthritis. “Is it very bad?”

“Ach,” Iva said, “it comes and goes, and one shouldn’t complain. Do you need help with the next load of wash?”

“I’m done,” Susanna said.

“This is all the wash you have? What was Herman doing all last week?”

“He was in bed,” Susanna said, “by doctor’s orders. He got a pretty bad setback from being out all day with a fever. You know…the last time you were here.”

“Well, it was
gut
to see him working that day,” Iva said, obviously not very repentant. “At least Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law are out this morning helping. It was getting way late in the year for fall plowing, and with an early winter threatening. We can be very thankful to
Da Hah
for the
wunderbah
help the community is to each other.”

“
Yah
,” Susanna agreed, “this is true.”

Behind Iva, Susanna saw Herman walking toward them. She hadn’t noticed he was still around. What did Herman have to say that was so important it couldn’t wait until lunchtime?

Herman cleared his throat, and Iva whirled around. “Now don’t you go sneaking up on me like that. I’m too old a woman for such sudden starts.”

“Sorry,
Mamm
,” Herman said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Iva nodded and launched into another flow of words. “Don’t you think you should be out in the fields working? I mean, I appreciate the help with the horse since Susanna was so busy.” Iva paused to glare at Susanna. “But one must not take advantage of free help the community gives. There’s still an hour or so before lunch. And I told you I brought along plenty of potato soup for everyone. So you don’t have to worry about Susanna not having enough food for Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law.”

Susanna wanted to scream at this barb—and likely would have if Herman hadn’t spoken up first.

“Susanna is perfectly capable of making lunch,
Mamm
. I wasn’t worried about that. What I wanted to tell you is something that shouldn’t be said at lunch in front of Bishop Jacob.”

“What has happened now?” Iva demanded.

Susanna held her breath as Herman continued. “Nothing,
Mamm
. It’s what is going to happen.”

Iva glared at him. “Like what, Herman?”

He didn’t seem troubled by his
mamm’s
baleful gaze. He continued in an even voice. “See,
Mamm
, it’s like this. Susanna and I are going to spend Christmas morning with her
mamm
and
daett
and their family, wherever the gathering is held. This tradition is something that means a lot to Susanna, and I want to make it a part of our new family.”

Susanna stared at Herman openmouthed and then she shrieked. She just couldn’t help it.

Iva ignored the outburst. “What has gotten into you, Herman? You cannot do this! We have our own tradition.”

“It’s a
gut
tradition for our family,
Mamm
,” Herman said. “But Susanna and I are a new family now, and we’ll establish our own tradition.”

“I have never heard anything like this!” Iva turned to Susanna. “Did you put him up to this? By charming and babying him? I do declare, a man’s heart can be turned so easily.”

Susanna worked her mouth, but no sound came out. What could she say to such a charge?

“
Mamm
, this is my decision, so you might as well accept it,” Herman said. “The less fuss the better.”

“Well!” Iva said as Herman turned on his heels and went back to his team.

“I…I had…really, I didn’t…it was nothing I did.” Susanna searched for more words after Iva turned her gaze back to her.

“Like I’m going to believe that,” Iva huffed. She muttered something Susanna couldn’t quite hear and then, after a moment’s silence, said, “Well, why are we standing out here in the cold cackling like a couple of old hens? My soup is getting cold in the buggy, and we have to get dinner ready. I wasn’t expecting extra people here, but thank
Da Hah
I followed His inspiration and made plenty.”

“
Yah
, that was
gut
,” Susanna managed as she followed Iva to the buggy.

A hamper dangling from one arm, Susanna helped Iva carry the large kettle of soup with the other. It was a lot of soup from the looks of things. Plenty for lunch and for the rest of the week.

Susanna almost shrieked again, remembering what Herman had said. They were going home for Christmas! Nothing Iva said today could take that joy away.

H
erman had the buggy ready when Susanna dashed out of the house. Bruce looked at her and whinnied like he knew how happy she was.

“You dear thing,” she said, stopping to pat him on the neck.

“What about me?” Herman asked, peering around Bruce’s head. “Don’t I at least get a goodbye kiss?”

“You’ll get more than that!” Susanna said, throwing her arms around him.

“This is public,” he warned with a smile. “What if the bishop and his daughter happen to drive by?”

“Then they will see how much I love you!” Susanna let go, patting her husband on the cheek. “There now, you don’t have to blush like a girl.”

“I’m not blushing,” he said, growing even redder.

She laughed and gave him another hug. “Thanks so much for this. I promise I’ll be back in plenty of time to fix supper. There’s a sandwich ready for your lunch. I’ll even come home early enough to help with the chores.”

“You don’t have to,” he protested. “With the plowing done, I’m caught up with the farm work. When you get back, I’ll relax and enjoy life with you. And, of course, Christmas is coming…”

“Oh Herman! You don’t know how much this means to me. I know I’m being silly and all, but that’s just the way I am.”

“I like the way you are!” He took her hand and led her up to the buggy steps. “Off you go! Tell Mary hello for me.”

She climbed into the buggy and picked up the reins. “I’ll do that!” She waved as Bruce dashed forward, apparently catching some of the Christmas spirit himself. Down the road Susanna noticed their
Englisha
neighbor’s Christmas tree was twinkling in the front window.

I need to calm down, Susanna thought. She settled Bruce into a steady clip on the road. Her pent-up excitement was to blame. All those days of trying to give up hope of ever spending Christmas with her family again. Only to have Herman make such a turnaround!

Susanna held the reins tightly as they drove past Bishop Jacob’s place. The bishop’s son-in-law was walking from the house to the barn. She waved and he waved back, a perplexed look on his face. No doubt he wondered why Bruce was lifting his feet so high in the air and she was smiling so big this morning. If he only knew! But he probably didn’t think Christmas was a big deal either.