A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston Page A

family.”
    “It’s not your fault,” she whispered. “Your daed is a stubborn old mule. Gut nacht.” She then climbed into the buggy.
    David stood alone as they rode off through the swirling flurries.
    Anna Mae wiped her cheeks with a napkin. “I guess I was wrong to think my coming here would be a joyous reunion with my parents.”
    “No, you weren’t wrong.” Kathryn’s eyes were full of concern. “I thought your daed would be so overwhelmed with happiness to see you that he would welcome you with a hug and a prayer of thanksgiving.”
    Anna Mae shook her head. “It’s no use. He won’t ever accept me.”
    “Don’t say that.” Kathryn rubbed Anna Mae’s shoulder. “God will change his mind. I can feel it.”
    Kellan burst into the room, rushed to the table, and crouched beside Anna Mae. “Are you okay?” He took her hand in his.
    Anna Mae nodded. “I’m fine. Just disappointed.” The worry in his eyes caused hers to tear up again.
    “I don’t know what your father was saying in that Pennsylvania Dutch, but I could tell he was angry that we were here.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense to me. You came to visit him, and he left in a huff.”
    “He’s hurt that she left the faith,” Kathryn said. “It’s painful for a parent when the child leaves the community.”
    Kellan shook his head. “She was a grown woman and it was her choice. I didn’t want to steal her away. I left it up to her, and she chose me.”
    “Let’s not go through this all again,” Anna Mae said. “What’s done is done, and I let him and the rest of my family and the community down. I thought that by coming here we could work things out, but he couldn’t stand to stay in the same house with me. He didn’t want my mother to stayeither. I couldn’t convince her to stay and visit with me. She followed him outside.”
    “We should go home.” Kellan stood. “We’ll go back to the bed and breakfast and pack up our things.”
    “No,” Anna Mae said with more force than she’d planned. “I can’t give up now. I’m already here.”
    Kellan placed a hand on her abdomen. “But the baby. The stress your father is causing could hurt the baby.”
    “I’m feeling fine. I’ve been resting, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Anna Mae averted her eyes by staring at the wood grain of the table.
    Kellan put a hand on her shoulder. “We should go home and plan to visit later, after the baby is here. Maybe next spring. The weather will be better and you and the baby will be ready to travel.” He took her hand and lifted her to her feet. “Let’s go say goodbye to everyone and head home.”
    Kathryn touched Kellan’s shoulder. “Don’t give up on Henry yet. He’s a stubborn man, but he has a deep faith in God. Give him a chance to adjust to seeing you and Anna Mae together.”
    Kellan raked his hand through his brown hair and turned to Anna Mae.
    She studied his eyes and silently prayed he’d agree with Kathryn. “We’ve come all this way,” she whispered, taking his hands in hers. “Won’t you give him another chance?”
    “Give him another day,” Kathryn said. “If it doesn’t work out, then David and I will come and visit you this spring.”
    “You will?” Anna Mae smiled as joy filled her heart. “You’ll come see us?”
    “Ya, we will,” she said. “David had suggested that we visit you this spring instead of you coming here for Christmas.”
    “Oh, that would be lovely!” Anna Mae hugged her. “We’d love to have you visit, right, Kellan?”
    Kellan nodded. “Anytime you want to come, you’re welcome in our home.”
    “I hope I didn’t get you in too much trouble with David by coming out for Christmas,” Anna Mae said. “I hate that you went against his wishes.”
    Kathryn shrugged. “It wasn’t the first time that I followed my heart instead of David’s suggestions.”
    Anna Mae laughed. “No, it certainly wasn’t.”
    Kathryn’s expression became serious.