Plain and Fancy by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

fretting because he was having such thoughts. He was tempted to share his feelings with Martha Rose, because the two of them had always been close, but he wasn’t sure she would understand. She might even reprimand him, the way Mom had done when she’d learned he was seeing Laura—a fancy Englisher.
    “I’m feeling kind of down today,” he finally mumbled.
    “On Christmas?”
    He nodded, keeping his focus on the snowy yard, because he knew if he looked right at Martha Rose, he was likely to give himself away.
    “Mom’s worried about you, Eli.”
    “I’m fine. A little chilly weather never hurt anybody.”
    She touched his arm. “She’s not worried about you being out here in the cold.”
    His only reply was an exaggerated shrug.
    “She’s worried that you might be thinking about leaving the Amish faith.”
    Eli bristled and whirled around to face his sister. “Did Mom send you out here to try and talk some sense into me? Is that it?”
    Martha Rose shook her head. “Coming out here was my idea. I’ve seen how sullen you’ve been all day, and I was worried that it might have something to do with the English woman you’ve been seeing lately.”
    “Laura and I are just friends. Mom has nothin’ to worry about.”
    “It might help ease her concerns if you got baptized and joined the church.”
    “I don’t think calming Mom’s fears is a good enough reason to become a member of the church, do you?”
    “Well, no, but—”
    “I’ve told Mom and Pop, too, that I’m not leaving the faith, and there’s nothing serious going on with me and Laura.” Eli grunted. “So everyone, including you, can quit hounding me about this.”
    Martha Rose winced as though she’d been slapped. “I—I didn’t mean to sound as if I was trying to tell you what to do. I only want your happiness.”
    “Sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you that way.”
    She gave him a hug. “I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, I’m willing to listen, and I promise not to be judgmental.”
    Eli smiled and patted her on the back. “Danki. I appreciate that.”
    ***
    “Are you too full from dinner to finish your dessert?” Pauline’s mother motioned to the half-eaten piece of pumpkin pie on Pauline’s plate.
    Pauline shook her head. “Not really. I’m just not so hungry right now.”
    Dad wrinkled his forehead. “You barely ate any dinner. As a matter of fact, you’ve been actin’ kind of sulky all day. What’s the problem, daughter?”
    “Nothing. I’m fine.”
    “She’s probably wishing she could be with her boyfriend today,” Pauline’s younger sister, Susan, piped up.
    “I have no boyfriend. Not anymore.”
    “I thought you and Eli Yoder had been courting,” Dad said, reaching for another slice of mincemeat pie.
    “I thought so, too, but I was wrong.” Pauline couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.
    Mom poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot sitting in the center of the table. “I was talking to Eli’s mamm a few weeks back, and she seemed concerned because he’s not joined the church yet.”
    “He hasn’t joined because he’s seeing some fancy English woman with long, auburn hair,” Sam, Pauline’s brother, interjected.
    Pauline glared at him. “Can’t we talk about something else?”
    He shrugged his broad shoulders and smiled. “Guess we could talk about Joseph Beachy. He’s had a crush on you ever since we were kinner.”
    Pauline wrinkled her nose. “Joseph’s three years younger than me, for goodness’ sake.”
    Dad chuckled. “So what of it? Your mamm’s a whole year older than me.”
    Mom shook her head as she lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “And you’re never gonna let me live that down, are you, Ben?”
    He grinned and tickled her under the chin. “Nope, but it don’t make me love you any the less.”
    She reached for his hand. “I love you, too, even if you are just a big kid.”
    Feeling the need to be alone, Pauline pushed away from the table.