A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston Page B

“Join us for lunch at your parents’ house tomorrow at noon, and we’ll try one more time. If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll take it from there. You’ve come too far to give up this easily.”
    “Lunch at my parents’ house?” Anna Mae asked. “Who will be there?”
    “Just David and our immediate family,” Kathryn explained. “It’s our turn with them since the rest of David’s siblings planned to see them on other days to have their Christmas celebrations. You know how hectic it gets this time of year. We put our word in for Christmas Eve first.”
    Anna Mae nodded and let the words process. Christmas Eve with her parents. She could be strong; she could do this. She turned to Kellan. “Does that sound okay to you? We’ll try lunch tomorrow.”
    Kellan sighed. “I’ll go along with it on one condition.”
    Anna Mae nodded. “What’s your condition?”
    He put a fingertip under her chin and angled her face sothat she was staring directly into his warm eyes. “I won’t stay here if the stress is too much for you and our baby. If things take a turn for the worse, then we will leave. Do you agree with me?”
    Overwhelmed by the love in his eyes, Anna Mae nodded as more tears filled her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered.
    “Then we have a deal.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll let you ladies talk a few minutes while I go say goodbye to your brother. We shouldn’t stay too late. You and the baby need your rest.” He then headed out of the kitchen.
    “He really loves you,” Kathryn said.
    Anna Mae sighed. “I just wish my father would see that.”
    David hung up his coat and blew out a sigh. Turning, he spotted Kellan coming from the kitchen. “How is Anna Mae?” he asked.
    “As well as can be expected,” Kellan said. “May I talk to you a minute?”
    David waved his hand toward the quiet family room. The children had gone upstairs to get ready for bed. Sinking into a rocker, David patted the chair next to him. “Have a seat.”
    “Don’t mind if I do.” Kellan lowered himself onto the chair and jammed his hands in his pockets. “What a night, huh?”
    David kept his eyes fixed on the flames crackling in the fireplace. “Ya, I reckon it has been.”
    “There’s something I need to ask you,” Kellan said.
    David faced him. “What is it?”
    “I didn’t understand much of what your dad said out bythe barn earlier since he was speaking Pennsylvania Dutch. But, at the same time, I’m not stupid. From what I deduced, he wants Annie and me to leave, right?” Kellan’s expression was serious but also sad.
    Suddenly David felt as if he’d been transported back in time. Once again, he was trapped in the middle between his father’s strict Amish ways and Anna Mae’s choice to leave the community.
    “You don’t have to sugarcoat it, David,” Kellan continued. “I’ll take it like a man.”
    “My father wasn’t happy you and Anna Mae were here,” David began, facing him. “He didn’t say that he wanted you to leave, but he did say he couldn’t stay here.”
    “I told Annie that we should go home, but she’s insisting on staying through tomorrow to see if she can smooth it over.” Kellan shook his head, frowning. “I’m concerned the visit is going to be too stressful if it keeps going the way it is. While the doctor said that it was safe for us to make this trip, I’m worried the stress of all of this might hurt her or the baby.”
    David absently rubbed his beard as worry filled him. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
    Kellan leaned back on the chair. “I just don’t understand it. How can a father treat his child that way? It doesn’t make sense to me. Annie made her choice when she married me and it was her choice. I didn’t force her to leave your community. In fact, I asked her several times if she was certain she wanted to give up this life for me, and every time I asked, she insisted she was.”
    “I knew that Daed would have trouble welcoming