The Christmas Cat Read online

  “Who could that be this time of the evening, Hank?” She glanced at the clock. She’d just begun to think she should eat something—if only to keep Hank company.

  Emma yanked open the back door and took in the sight of Katie Ann and Ephraim Blank, Mandy Bender, and Wayne King standing on her porch. The girls shivered as they gave her little waves. Ephraim and Wayne each held a lantern.

  Emma pushed the storm door open wide. “Wie geht’s?” Behind the arrivals, the snow continued to fall as the wind whipped over the open porch. No wonder she hadn’t heard a horse and buggy arrive.

  “What are you all doing out in this weather?”

  “Frehlicher Grischtdaag!” they shouted in unison.

  “We were worried about you when you didn’t come for supper, so we decided to check on you.” Katie Ann held out a large picnic basket. “We brought food too, and we have enough for all of us, if it’s okay for us to stay awhile.”

  “Oh my goodness.” Emma gasped and tears filled her eyes as she took the basket from Katie Ann. “You didn’t need to do that.” She beckoned them to step into the house. “Please come in and get warm. It’s so cold out.”

  “We’ll be in as soon as we put our horse in your barn, if that’s okay. It’s pretty bad out here,” Ephraim said.

  “Of course. I’ll make some hot chocolate while you’re gone.”

  Katie Ann stepped into the mudroom and hung her coat on a peg before taking off her boots. Mandy followed her lead.

  Emma headed into the kitchen with the young women trailing close behind. She set the basket on the longest counter.

  “Hot chocolate sounds wunderbaar.” Mandy set a covered container and red gift bag on the counter as well. Katie Ann stared down at Hank, who sat by his empty plate and looked entirely disinterested in her company. He’s pretending no one’s come to compete for my attention, Emma thought.

  “Is that your cat?”

  “Ya, I suppose he is.” Emma turned toward her and shrugged with a smile. “He showed up earlier, and I couldn’t convince him to leave. I decided he’s going to be my guest for Christmas.”

  Katie Ann laughed and bent to pet him. “He’s a big bu.”

  “Ya. I call him Hank.” Emma began filling her kettle with water.

  “Hank.” Katie Ann smiled, but then her smile quickly faded. “After your husband, Henry.”

  “That’s right. Henry’s freind Urie used to call him Hank,” Emma said as she set the kettle on a burner.

  The boys made it back in record time, and Katie Ann turned toward her brother as he walked into the kitchen. “Why don’t you and Wayne go ahead and decorate Emma’s schtupp for her?”

  “You’re going to decorate for me?” Emma asked.

  “Ya, we brought greenery.” Wayne walked in behind Ephraim and held up the pine branches in his arms. He must be around twenty or twenty-one, Emma thought. With that dark hair and those dark-blue eyes, he was the spitting image of his father at that age.

  “We also brought a few candles,” Ephraim said as he retrieved them from the picnic basket. “We can put it all on your mantel if you’d like.”

  “That would be perfect. Danki.” Emma pointed toward the doorway leading to the family room. “It’s right through there. Would you please add a log to the fire if it needs it?”

  “Ya, of course,” Ephraim said. Emma was so grateful Urie had seen to it she had plenty of wood for the winter. He and Ella would have spent some time with her this Christmas, but their youngest lived in Ohio now, and of course they wanted to see their latest grandchild. She’d assured them she’d be fine. These precious friends grieved Henry just as she did, and they needed some time away.

  Once the young men left, Emma turned toward Katie Ann and Mandy. “I’m so sorry for worrying you. I was going to call, but I was concerned about slipping on the snow and ice.”

  “I understand,” Katie Ann said. “But we didn’t want you to spend your first Christmas Eve without Henry alone.”

  “That’s so thoughtful.” Emma’s voice quavered as tears threatened. “But don’t your families mind your leaving them on this special night?”

  “They were froh for us to come. They care about you, Emma,” Katie Ann said. “We all do.”

  Mandy touched her arm. “How are you doing?”

  Emma wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m all right, I guess.” She glanced at the calendar on the wall. “Sometimes I wake up and think Henry’s still here, but then I roll over in bed and remember he passed away. Some days it feels as if it’s been only a few weeks, and other days it feels like years.”

  “I’m sorry.” Katie Ann glanced toward the counter where the ingredients for the cherry bars sat. “Have you been baking?”

  “I was going to, but then I decided I wouldn’t.” Emma shook her head as a lump swelled in her throat.

  “What were you going to make?” Mandy peered down at the open cookbook.

  “Cherry bars. That was our tradition for Christmas Eve. I would make Henry a pan of them. They were his favorite.” Emma touched the recipe.

  “Would you like us to help you make them?” Katie Ann offered.

  “Do you like to bake?” Emma asked.

  They both grinned and nodded.

  “We love to bake,” Mandy responded.

  “Why don’t we eat the food you brought, and then if you have the time, we’ll make the cherry bars,” Emma suggested.

  “That’s a great idea.” Katie started pulling containers out of the picnic basket. “We brought chicken casserole and rolls.”

  The kettle whistled, and Mandy jumped with a start. “I’ll get mugs.”

  “The hot chocolate mix is in the cabinet over there.” Emma pointed. “I’ll get plates and utensils.”

  Soon the table was set with the hot chocolate and all the food they’d brought.

  “Okay,” Katie Ann said. “Let’s eat.”

  “I’ll get the buwe.” Emma started toward the family room.

  When she stepped through the doorway, she sucked in her breath in surprise. The mantel was beautifully decorated with the pine branches and several small white votive candles. Hank sat in the middle of the room, watching the young men with interest. Apparently, Emma thought, he’d decided to be sociable after all.

  “Do you like it?” Ephraim asked, his expression hopeful.

  “Is it too much?” Wayne added.

  “It’s perfect.” Emma smiled as warmth flooded her soul. “Danki.” She pointed toward the kitchen. “We have the food set out. Are you hungry?”

  “Ya.” Wayne rubbed his hands together. “I worked up an appetite when we cut these branches down.”

  “Gut. Let’s eat.” Emma motioned for them to follow her back to the kitchen, and they all sat down at the table. After a silent prayer, they filled their plates.

  “I’m so glad Mamm packed enough food for all of us.” Katie Ann buttered a roll and then passed the butter to Wayne beside her.

  “The casserole is appeditlich.” Mandy forked more of the chicken. “You have to give me the recipe.”

  “I agree.” Emma cradled her warm mug in her hands. “I’d like to have the recipe too.”

  “Danki.” Katie Ann lifted her roll. “I will ask mei mamm for it.”

  “Please thank her for me. Do you like to bake with your mamm?” Emma asked, and Katie Ann nodded. “What are your favorite things to bake together?”

  Katie Ann took a sip of hot chocolate before answering. “Kichlin.”

  “What are your favorite kinds of kichlin to bake?”

  “Oh, let’s see.” Katie Ann tapped her chin as she thought. “I think cinnamon roll kichlin are probably my favorite.”

  “Oh ya?” Emma raised her eyebrows. “I’ve never made those.” She turned to Mandy. “Have you?”

  Mandy nodded, her blue eyes sparkling. “Oh ya, I have made those. Mei schweschder and I made cake mix kichlin the other day. Oh, they were so gut.” She turned to Ephraim. “You liked them,
didn’t you?”

  “Of course I did. She makes the best kichlin.” Ephraim smiled at Mandy.

  Emma’s chest tightened at the sight of the sweet expression Ephraim sent toward Mandy. Henry used to look at her with similar admiration in his eyes, especially when they were first married. Oh, how she missed her husband!

  A fresh wave of grief trapped Emma’s words in her throat.

  “Emma?”

  Emma turned toward Katie Ann, who had placed her hand on Emma’s arm.

  “Was iss letz?” Katie Ann’s brown eyes shined with concern.

  “Nothing. I was just lost in thought.” Emma cleared her throat against the knot of emotion. “What’s your favorite recipe for kichlin, Mandy?”

  As they continued talking around her table, warmth flooded Emma’s soul. She was pleased that Hank—her Christmas cat— had arrived and made himself at home. And now these young people were here too. They were so kind to take her mind off her first lonely Christmas without Henry.

  Soon their plates were scraped clean and Mandy stood to gather the dishes.

  “Could we make those cherry bars now?” she asked.

  Emma picked up a drinking glass. “That sounds gut to me.”

  Katie Ann set a platter in the sink and began to fill it with hot, frothy water. “This will be fun. I’ll wash the dishes while you and Mandy start on the cherry bars.”

  “Can we eat Mandy’s peanut-butter brownies while you ladies bake?” Ephraim tossed the used paper napkins into the trash and then opened the container of brownies.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” Wayne moved beside him. “Those smell great, Mandy.”

  “Let me put kaffi on for you.” Emma stepped forward to fill the percolator.

  “Danki,” Ephraim said as he and Wayne sat down at the table with the container of brownies and fresh napkins.

  “Don’t eat them all,” Katie Ann warned over her shoulder as she washed the first of the dishes. “Save room for the cherry bars.”

  “I think your cat wants a brownie,” Ephraim said to Emma.

  She turned to find Hank sitting on the chair beside Ephraim. His front paws were resting on the table as he leaned over and smelled the container of brownies.

  “Don’t give him one,” Mandy warned. “I think chocolate is dangerous for cats.”

  “I actually think it’s dangerous for dogs to eat chocolate, but I still wouldn’t give him any.” Ephraim touched Hank’s back. “I think you need to get down.”

  Hank meowed as he sat back down on the chair and stared at Ephraim.

  “I think he wants to be part of the family.” Wayne chuckled.

  Emma laughed and then looked down at the recipe. “Let’s see . . .”

  “What temperature should I preheat the oven?” Mandy asked, moving to the stove.

  “Three fifty.” Emma took a mixing bowl from a cabinet.

  “May I help you?” Mandy pointed to the recipe.

  “I’d love that.” Emma smiled and explained what to do next.

  After they’d mixed the filling and spread it over the crust, Emma sprinkled the crumbs and walnuts over the filling, slid the pan of cherry bars into the oven, and set the timer for fifteen minutes.

  “I’ll wash up the mixing bowl and utensils,” Katie Ann offered as she scrubbed the last supper dish.

  “I’ll dry,” Mandy said.

  “I’ll put everything away,” Emma chimed in.

  Soon all the dishes were put away and the warm, rich aroma of coffee had filled the kitchen. Emma poured five mugs of the strong brew and the women joined the men at the table.

  “I can’t wait to try one of those cherry bars.” Ephraim added sugar to his coffee.

  “Do you have any room for them?” Mandy pointed to the half-empty container of brownies. “You and Wayne ate nearly half my brownies.”

  “We couldn’t help ourselves.” Ephraim gave her an apologetic expression. “They were amazing.”

  Mandy poked him in the arm, and he laughed.

  “He’s telling the truth,” Wayne added, lifting his mug toward Mandy. “They were fantastic. And, ya, we still have room for the cherry bars.”

  “We always have room for your appeditlich baked goods.” Ephraim touched her arm. “I promise, Mandy.”

  Emma chuckled as memories of time spent with her youth group filled her mind. How she had loved joking with Henry and their friends.

  “Katie Ann,” Ephraim said, “did Mamm pack that tin of kichlin?”

  “Ya.” She looked toward the counter and then suddenly popped up from her chair. She retrieved a tin from the picnic basket and said, “Emma, I almost forgot. We have something else for you.” She set the tin of cookies in front of the boys and the red gift bag in front of Emma. “This is from all of us.”

  Emma studied the bag, running her fingers over the cool paper. She hadn’t expected to receive any gifts this Christmas, although Urie and Ella insisted they’d bring something for her from their trip.

  “You didn’t need to do this.”

  “We wanted to.” Katie Ann touched Emma’s arm. “Please open it.”

  Emma dug into the gift bag, moving the tissue paper aside until she found a jar candle with a lid. She pulled it out and smiled when she read the scent—apple pie. She removed the lid and inhaled the sweet smell.

  But then Emma’s vision clouded with a sudden sheen of tears. “Danki.”

  “Don’t you like it?” Katie Ann bit her lip as if worried Emma would say no.

  “I love it.” She sniffed as more memories flooded her mind. “Henry loved my apple pie.”

  “Oh ya?” Mandy took a brownie from the container and broke it in half. “Did you make it often?”

  Emma nodded as she set down the candle and lifted her mug. “I used to make pies every fall for mei freind Sally’s bake stand. I’d get the apples from the market and then bake all day until I had enough to sell.”

  “Where does Sally live?” Katie Ann asked.

  “She lived in Ronks back then, but now she lives in Indiana. She wanted to be closer to her grandchildren.” Emma ran her fingers over the warm mug. “I not only baked pies and kichlin but also made little crafts and quilts to sell. That was early in our marriage. Business at Henry’s store was too slow for the whole first year, and the rent for the storefront was a little higher than we could really afford. His father had been helping with the rent, but he had some tough times and had to stop. And by then Henry also had an employee to pay, his best friend, Urie Glick. He’d realized it wasn’t possible to run the business alone.”

  “Really?” Ephraim’s golden eyebrows lifted. “I thought Lancaster Farm Supply had always had a steady stream of customers.”

  “Nee, not in the beginning.” Emma frowned as some of the most difficult memories returned. “With Henry’s dat’s help, we’d also bought this haus. Neither of our parents’ homes had a daadihaus, and they weren’t ready to retire anyway. Then, as I said, his parents fell on some hard times. And my parents never were able to help us. We struggled for a while, and it was stressful for us and our marriage.”

  “How did you make it through?” Katie Ann asked.

  “We just kept our faith in God and believed he would get us through somehow.” Emma stared down at her mug as images of the early years of her marriage swirled through her mind.

  Emma pulled two apple pies from the oven, flooding her kitchen with their sweet, warm aroma. She set them on a rack to cool before sticking two more in and setting the timer. Then she started filling plastic storage bags with the cookies she baked earlier, dividing them up by variety. Her goal was to fill her cooler with an assortment of baked goods before taking them to Sally’s bake stand tomorrow morning.

  It would be winter soon, and she and Sally would have to find other outlets to sell their baking. But she’d have to think about that later.

  Once the cookies were packed up, she washed the pans and cookie sheets and then sat down at the kitchen table to make a shop
ping list. She planned to stop at the market on her way home from Sally’s. She had a long list of supplies to buy so she could prepare for the group of tourists she was hosting for supper the following night. As usual, her mother would help. They made a good team.

  She glanced at the chair beside her and sighed at the bag of material to sort. She had to start sewing. Her back and neck ached from standing at the counter so long, but she didn’t have time to rest. She had to do whatever she could to help Henry with the bills stacked up on the counter beside her favorite cookbook.

  She glanced at the clock on the wall above the refrigerator. She had an hour and a half before she needed to start supper. She hurried into the bedroom next to the family room and set to work on a few potholders. This room had become her sewing room shortly after they moved in, but when children came along, she’d put her sewing table and supplies in a corner of their large bedroom.

  She’d finished four potholders before realizing it was past time to start making supper. She rushed out to the kitchen and began pulling together supplies. She had to hurry if she was going to have supper on the table by the time Henry arrived home.

  An hour later, Emma set baked chicken, rice, and green beans on the table and glanced at the clock. It was six. Henry was normally home by now. Rubbing her tired eyes, she wondered if someone had come into the store at the last minute.

  But what if something’s happened to him? What if he’s been in an accident?

  Her heart raced as she pushed away the troubling thoughts and forced positive thoughts in their place. Henry was fine and would be home soon. He was just held up by a customer.

  Emma set the food in the oven to keep it warm and then walked to the front of the house. She peered out the window, searching down the street for his horse and buggy. After several minutes, she headed into the sewing room to continue working on her potholders.

  When the clip-clop of horse hooves wafted into the room, Emma popped up from her sewing table and rushed into the kitchen. The clock on the wall read seven fifteen. Her stomach growled as she retrieved supper from the oven and set it out on the table. She smoothed her hands over her apron and touched her prayer covering as the back door opened and her husband’s footfalls sounded through the mudroom.