Cookies and Cheer Read online

  Denise surveyed the cookies. “I think your window display is going to be popular with the customers. I love this whole motif. I’m so proud of your creativity.” She touched Alyssa’s shoulder.

  “Thank you.” Alyssa stood a little taller and imagined her window. “I think the cookies in the display will last only a week or so since I’m going to ice them. I’ll replace them as soon as they start to look a little old.”

  “It’s going to be wonderful, Alyssa. I’m so glad you share your talent with me.”

  3

  THE BELL RANG OVER THE BAKERY DOOR, AND ALYSSA’S heart seemed to trip over itself when Kyle walked in.

  “Hi.” He waved as he walked to the counter where she’d been closing out the cash register for the day.

  “Hi.” She slipped the stacks of money into a bank bag and zipped it. “How was your day?”

  “Mei dat and I delivered furniture to a local store. We also took some rush orders, so we’re staying busy.” He leaned on the counter, and she admired the sparkle in his brown eyes. “How was yours?”

  “Busy, but gut.” She retrieved the zippered storage bag of Christmas sugar cookies she’d made for him from under the counter. “I have a gift for you.” She handed him the bag. “Your kichli cutters are perfect.”

  “Wow.” He studied the bag, shifting the cookies around. “You used all of them?”

  “I did.” She pointed to a display in the center of the store. “We’re going to sell them in sampler boxes with Christmas Scripture verses on them.”

  “That’s a great idea.” He walked over to the display and picked up a box. “I’m going to buy a box for my parents.”

  Denise had just come in from the kitchen. “You can have them. It’s the least I can do after you refused to take payment for the cookie cutters.”

  “Thank you.” A smile lit up his handsome face.

  “Would you like anything else?” Denise asked.

  “No, this is perfect.” He held up the box. “They’ll really enjoy them.”

  “Good.” Denise turned to Alyssa. “Why don’t you get going? I’ll finish up for you.”

  “Thank you.” Alyssa handed her the bank bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Have a good supper.” Denise winked at Alyssa.

  Alyssa hoped Kyle hadn’t seen Denise’s wink. Dismissing threatening embarrassment, she motioned for him to follow her. “I just have to get my things.”

  “Good night, Denise,” Kyle said as he walked through the kitchen with Alyssa.

  “Good night, Kyle.” Jenne Lynn grinned from behind the counter where she was drying a cookie sheet.

  “Good night,” Kyle said with a smile.

  “Have fun!” Jenne Lynn sang as Alyssa and Kyle headed out the back door.

  Alyssa swallowed a groan at her younger sister’s teasing and then smiled up at Kyle as they walked to his buggy. “Sorry about all the fuss from Denise and Jenne Lynn.”

  “It’s no problem.” Kyle opened the buggy door for her. “Where would you like to eat?”

  “I don’t know.” She climbed into the buggy. “Do you have a spot in mind?”

  “It’s your choice.” He closed her door, unhitched the horse from the post, and then slipped into the driver’s seat beside her. “What sounds gut?”

  She considered the options. “I haven’t been to the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant in quite a while.”

  “Then that’s where we’ll go.”

  He guided the horse toward the road, and Alyssa settled back in her seat. She glanced over at Kyle’s profile and once again wondered if she were dreaming. How had she wound up on a date with Kyle Smoker?

  “Are you ready for Thanksgiving?” he asked as he guided the horse through an intersection.

  “I suppose so. I can’t believe it’s next Thursday.” She glanced out the window at passing traffic. “We already got our turkey. Are you ready?”

  He shrugged and then smiled. “I think so. Do you celebrate with your extended family?”

  “Ya, we do. Mei aentis, onkels, and cousins come to our haus. We have a gut time. How about you?”

  “Mei mammi, daadi, onkels, aentis, and cousins all meet up at my grandparents’ haus.”

  They talked more about their families as they made their way to the restaurant, and when they arrived Kyle tied up the horse in the parking lot. Inside they were seated at a table and then gave the waitress their order.

  Alyssa sipped her water as she racked her brain for something to say.

  “When will you start working on the window display?” Kyle lifted his own glass of water and took a long draw.

  “The day after Thanksgiving. Denise thinks I should wait until then to take down the fall display.” She reached into her apron pocket and fingered the sketch she’d worked on until late last night, trying to improve it. “I made some changes to the window design. Would you like to see them?”

  “Ya, I’d love to.” He moved his chair around the table so that their elbows brushed.

  She pulled the drawing from her pocket and tried to focus on it instead of on his proximity. She took in a deep breath and inhaled his scent—sandalwood. She set the drawing on the table and smoothed out the creases in the paper. “I added more angels and a stable. Mei dat says he can build the stable for me out of some spare wood he has in his barn. I think I’ll also add a fence here. I could make that out of Popsicle sticks from the craft store.”

  “Wow.” He grinned. “You’re so creative and talented.”

  “Danki.” She looked up at him. “You are too.”

  “We both like being creative with our work, don’t we?”

  “Ya, we do.” Their eyes locked, and her stomach took the flight of a thousand hummingbirds as his expression grew intensely . . . personal? She forced herself to look away for fear that her cheeks might catch on fire. “Do you have any suggestions for improving the display?”

  “I think it’s perfect.” He pointed to one corner. “Although . . . What if you added more fence over here and maybe more sheep?” He shook his head. “What do I know? You’re the artist.”

  “You’re an artist too. I’ve seen your work.” She pulled a pencil from her pocket and added more fencing and sheep. “That’s a great idea. I think it’s perfect now.” She sat back and looked up at him. “Danki.”

  He laughed. “You act as if I designed the whole display. This is your work, Alyssa, not mine.”

  The waitress appeared behind them with their food, and Kyle scooted his chair around to the other side of the table as she set down their orders—Kyle’s Salisbury steak and Alyssa’s ham loaf. They bowed their heads in silent prayer before digging into their food, and then they spent the rest of the meal talking about their youth group days.

  When they were finished eating, Kyle paid the bill and then they headed outside. Alyssa shivered and hugged her coat closer to her body as she climbed into the passenger side of the buggy. Kyle shut her door and then rushed around to the other side.

  “Danki for supper,” she told him as he guided the horse through the parking lot. “It was appeditlich. I’ve always enjoyed their ham loaf. It’s the best.”

  “Gern gschehne. Danki for going with me.” He glanced over at her. “You’re cold.”

  “Ya.” She gave a little smile as she pulled her coat tighter. “A little. But that’s okay.”

  “I have something.” He halted the horse at the parking lot exit, reached behind the seat, and pulled out a lap quilt. “Here you go.”

  “Danki.” She ran her fingers over the cream-colored quilt that featured a beautiful gray-and-blue star in the center. “This Lone Star quilt is schee. Did your mamm make it?”

  “No, mei mammi made it for me when I was about twelve. A bigger one she made for me is on my bed.”

  “I love it.” She wrapped the quilt around her shoulders and breathed in the scent. It reminded her of Kyle’s sandalwood. She tried to push away her growing attachment to him, but it was an impossible ta
sk. She was already falling for Kyle Smoker, and she wondered if he cared for her, too, or if this would be their only date. She had to be realistic. Maybe he was just being nice. Friendly.

  Kyle guided the horse out onto Old Philadelphia Pike and then looked over at her. “Are you warming up?”

  She smiled. “Ya. Do you have a big job planned for tomorrow?”

  “I do.” He blew out a sigh. “We have to get started on the first of the furniture orders we just got. It’s going to keep us busy for the next month, maybe longer.”

  She settled back in her seat, silently admiring the streetlights decorated with pretty, lit wreaths. Soon her father’s farm came into view, and she felt a frown overtake her lips. If only they had more time to get to know each other better. The evening had flown by too quickly.

  He halted the horse and turned toward her. “Well, here we are. May I see you again?”

  She smiled. This was what she’d been hoping for. “Ya, I’d like that. Danki again for a really nice evening.” She removed the quilt from her shoulders, folded it, and then set it on the seat between them.

  “Gern gschehne.” He reached over the quilt and touched her hand. “Have a gut nacht.”

  Her heart skittered at the contact. “You too.” She climbed out of the buggy and hurried through the cold, feeling as if she were walking on a cloud. When she reached the porch, she turned and waved at Kyle before rushing into her warm house.

  As she pulled off her coat, she smiled again. Maybe, just maybe, she and Kyle would grow to be more than friends.

  Still full after yesterday’s Thanksgiving meal, Alyssa hummed as she began work on the new display window. She was also still excited that Kyle had stopped by to see her on Sunday afternoon.

  As they’d shared cookies and hot cocoa with her family, he’d been friendly and attentive with her parents. And then he’d held her hand when she walked out to his buggy with him when it was time for him to leave. He promised to see her again soon.

  She smiled as she hung an iced angel cookie above the stable her father had built for her on Saturday. It seemed that this holiday season was going to be even more special than she’d expected. She might have a boyfriend by Christmas! Her stomach fluttered at the thought of calling Kyle Smoker her own.

  She added sheep, a donkey, and two cows to the display. Then she concentrated on the fencing, extending it to the far end of the window. She added shepherds and more sheep by the fence and then placed hay inside the stable, along with the Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the manger figurines.

  When she heard voices, she turned toward the street. Three women stood pointing at the window and smiling. They waved at her, and she returned the gesture as the women walked into the bakery.

  “I just love those cookies!” one of the women exclaimed as she walked over to where Alyssa worked. “Are you selling them?”

  “Yes, we are. My sister can help you find them.” Alyssa looked out toward the bakery displays. “Jenne Lynn!”

  “Yes?” Jenne Lynn popped out from behind a bakery case.

  “Would you please show these ladies where the Christmas cookies are?”

  “Of course.” Jenne Lynn motioned to them. “Please follow me.”

  Alyssa returned to working on the display, and she was adding the finishing touches when the women began talking again.

  “Oh, my goodness! Annette! Bonnie! Look at this. The box has a Scripture verse on it. Listen to this: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6.”

  Alyssa bit back a smile as she kept working. She and Jenne Lynn had stayed up late one night writing the Scripture verses in their best handwriting. Then Denise had made photocopies, so they could tape one verse to the top of each box.

  “Oh, Laurel. That is just lovely. Let me get a box too,” one of the other women said. “This is what mine says: ‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”’ Luke 2:8–12.”

  The woman clicked her tongue. “Oh, I love it. I need to get a box for each of my grandchildren.”

  Alyssa looked up and found Jenne Lynn giving her a thumbs-up. The Christmas cookies were indeed a success!

  Throughout the afternoon, customers complimented the window display and asked to buy some of the Christmas cookies. It seemed they were the most popular item.

  At five o’clock Alyssa flipped the sign to CLOSED and walked past the display of Christmas sugar cookies. She gasped. The shelves were empty.

  “Was iss letz?” Jenne Lynn skidded around the corner. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, but I can’t believe we sold out of the Christmas cookies.” Alyssa pointed to the empty shelf. “We sold them all today, Jenne.”

  “What?” Denise called from the counter. “We sold out of the Christmas cookies?”

  “Ya.” Alyssa walked over to the counter. “I’ll come in early tomorrow and make more.” She turned to her sister. “Will you help me?”

  “Of course I will.”

  “I suppose the Christmas season rush has started already.” Denise pointed to the front window. “And I think your wonderful window display has helped jump-start that rush. So many customers complimented me on it. Thank you again for another fabulous design.”

  4

  KYLE’S STOMACH FLIP-FLOPPED AS HE HELPED SET ONE OF the benches into a stand, converting it to a table for the noon meal. Then he searched the Blank family’s barn for Alyssa’s father, Roman. Kyle was nervous. He’d spent most of the church service sneaking glances at Alyssa and debating the best time to ask her father for permission to ask her to be his girlfriend.

  The idea had been rolling around in his head ever since he’d taken her out for supper. He’d realized that night how much he was attracted to her. Alyssa was beautiful, funny, kind, and talented. But more than that, he already truly cared for her. Although he’d dated a few women, no one had seemed to capture his heart the way Alyssa had. His fondness for her and his attachment to her grew every time they talked. And now he hoped her father would allow him to see if Alyssa would make their dating official. It seemed that today was as good a day as any to ask him—if only he could find the confidence.

  Kyle set another bench into a stand, and when he turned to his left, he saw Roman talking to another member of the congregation. Squaring his shoulders, Kyle walked over to him and waited until he finished his conversation.

  “Kyle. Wie geht’s?” Roman shook his hand. Kyle surmised Roman was in his early to midfifties, and Kyle could tell Alyssa had inherited her eyes from him.

  “I’m well. Danki.” Kyle cleared his throat and pointed to a bench seat. “I was wondering if I could have lunch with you today.”

  Roman nodded. “Ya. That would be nice.”

  “Great.” Kyle followed Roman to the closest table and then sat down across from him. “How are things on your farm?”

  Roman shrugged. “There’s always something to do when you have a dairy farm. The work never stops.”

  “I can only imagine how challenging that is. Alyssa mentioned that you had a couple of farmhands working for you.”

  “That’s right.” Roman seemed to study Kyle for a moment, and Kyle shifted on the bench before Roman added, “Alyssa is still thrilled that you made those kichli cutters for her window display. She says they’re fantastic.”

  “That’s right.” Kyle added quickly, “I mean, yes, that’s right that I made them, but I don’t know if they’re fantastic. They seem to have worked out, though
. She gave me some of the kichlin she made with the cutters, and they were appeditlich. She said she was going to start working on the display this past week. Do you know how it turned out?”

  “She said it turned out well. She wants Louise and me to come and see it, and Jenne Lynn has been raving about how the customers love it. They’re having trouble keeping the Christmas kichlin on the shelves.”

  “Wow. That’s great.” Kyle’s chest warmed with pride for Alyssa’s accomplishment. “I can’t wait to see the finished product. I’ll have to stop by soon.”

  “Has your dat’s shop been busy?”

  Kyle told Roman about the orders his father and he were working on. But then a few young ladies walked past their table and caught his attention. As they delivered plates, cups, lunchmeat, bread, and peanut butter spread, Kyle searched among them for Alyssa. But he didn’t see her.

  Roman smiled at someone behind Kyle, and Kyle glanced up. Alyssa was approaching them.

  “Hi there.” Alyssa leaned over Kyle and set two bowls of pretzels on the table. She divided a look between her father and Kyle. “I didn’t expect to see you two sitting together.”

  “Kyle asked me to join him today,” Roman explained.

  “Oh.” Alyssa gave Kyle a curious look and then smiled. “Enjoy your lunch.”

  “Danki.” Kyle watched her walk away and then took a deep breath as he turned toward Roman, who gave him a curious expression. “I want to speak with you about something in particular.”

  Roman raised a dark eyebrow. “What’s that?”

  “I would be honored if you would allow me to ask Alyssa to be my girlfriend.” Then he held his breath as he waited for Roman’s response.

  To his surprise, Roman smiled. “I think she would like that.”

  “Does that mean you give me your permission?” Kyle’s voice was louder than he’d expected.

  “Ya, sohn, it does.”

  “Danki, Roman. I really appreciate it.”

  Some other men joined them, and they all bowed their heads in silent prayer. Kyle smiled to himself when he finished his prayer. Roman had said yes. But now he had to ask Alyssa, and his heart pounded at the thought.