“You’ve been awfully quiet since we got back from caroling,” Joseph said, interrupting Thelma’s thoughts. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. Just tired is all.”
“It looks like things are winding down now and most of the young people are going home.” Joseph touched her arm. “If it’s okay, I’d like to stay until everyone is gone so we can talk.”
“That’s fine. I’d like to speak with you as well.”
Half an hour later, everyone had gone and Thelma began to gather the paper plates and other things left over from the meal they’d shared around the bonfire.
“Don’t worry about that, Sister,” Elma said. “I’ll take care of cleaning up. Sit and enjoy the last of the glowing embers with Joseph.” Elma scooped everything into a wicker basket and hurried inside before Thelma could formulate a response. She wondered if her sister knew what she was about to tell Joseph and wanted to give her time to do it. Quite often when either Thelma or Elma planned to do something, the other twin had a feeling about it—almost as though they could read each other’s minds.
Joseph moved his folding chair closer to Thelma’s. “There’s something I want to say,” he said, taking her hand.
“I—I need to tell you something, too,” she murmured. “But you can go first.”
Joseph cleared his throat a couple of times. “We’ve only known each other a few months, and it’s probably too soon to be talking about marriage, but—”
“Joseph, things are not going to work out for us. After tonight, I won’t be able to see you again.”
“Why, Thelma? You said you loved me the other night. And you let me kiss you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “You may not understand, but I can’t have a relationship with you when my sister has no one.”
“You’re right, I don’t understand. I love you, Thelma, and I think God brought us together.”
“I love you, too, but Elma and I have a special bond. When we were little girls we talked about what it would be like when we fell in love and got married.” Thelma paused and swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “We promised each other that until we both found the right man, neither of us would get married.”
“Are you saying that you won’t marry me unless Elma falls in love with a man and they make plans to be married?” The wrinkles across Joseph’s forehead revealed his confusion.
Thelma nodded slowly. “But that may never happen, and you need to be free to find the right woman, so—”
“He already has, and you, Thelma, are being ridiculous!”
Thelma whirled around, surprised to see her sister standing behind her, hands on both hips. “You… you startled me, Elma. I thought you were in the house.”
“I was, but I remembered that I’d left my gloves lying on the log. So I came back out to get them.” Elma moved around to stand in front of Thelma. Then she leaned down and looked directly at her. “That was a silly promise we made to each other when we were kinner, and I won’t allow you to sacrifice the love you have found with Joseph when it’s completely unnecessary.” She paused, placing her hands on Thelma’s shoulders. “I was perfectly happy before I met Delbert, and I will be fine on my own. In fact, you and Joseph have my blessing. I would be miserable if I were the cause of you two breaking up.”
Thelma didn’t know what to say. Could she really marry Joseph and leave her sister alone? Would that even be fair?
Elma gestured to Joseph, asking them both to stand. Then she took Thelma’s hand and placed it in Joseph’s. “You two make a good couple. I truly believe you belong together. Now, I’m going to get my gloves and leave you alone to work things out.” She smiled, grabbed her gloves, and went back to the house.
Joseph turned to face Thelma. “What do you have to say about that?”
She smiled through her tears. “I’ve always tried to please my sister, and if she really wants us to keep courting, then I guess I can’t argue with that.”
Joseph bent his head and captured her lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. “And to think, we never would have met if you hadn’t made that crazy-looking lopsided cake. I believe this is going to be my best Christmas yet. By next year at this time, I hope we can be married.”
“I know this will be a good Christmas, too.” Thelma’s smile widened. “I love you, Joseph.”
Filled with such happiness as she’d never felt before, Thelma barely noticed how the moon encased them in its brilliant light. All she felt was the warmth of Joseph’s arms holding her close as she leaned her head against his chest. And maybe, she thought, by next year, my sister will have found the man of her dreams, too.
Epilogue
The next October
As Thelma sat quietly beside Joseph at their bride-and-groom’s corner table, she thought about the changes that had occurred over the past year. Most important was that her and Joseph’s hearts and lives were now joined through the love of God. Not only had she and Joseph been married this morning, with both of their families present, but tomorrow they would be moving into the house across the street from Elma. Joseph had recently sold his business in LaGrange and purchased the harness shop in Topeka, since the previous owner was ready to retire.
“What a glorious day this has been,” Thelma whispered to Joseph.
“Jah. Even our wedding cake is perfect for us,” he joked, pointing to the lopsided cake sitting before them.
She laughed. “This time it’s Elma’s fault. She said the cake batter didn’t rise evenly, but I have to wonder if she made it this way on purpose to remind us of how we first met.”
“You could be right. And speaking of Elma…” Joseph gestured to the table where Thelma’s twin sister sat. “Who’s that man she’s talking to?”
“Oh, you mean the one sitting between her and Delbert?”
“Jah, I don’t recognize him.”
“That’s Delbert’s cousin, Myron Bontrager. He’s visiting Delbert, so that’s why he’s here.”
Joseph’s eyebrows scrunched together. “I’ve heard Dell mention his cousin once or twice, saying that he, too, is a bachelor, but this is the only time I’ve ever seen him. From what I understand, he lives in southern Indiana. I wonder if this is his first visit to the area.”
Thelma shook her head. “No, it’s not. When Delbert introduced Myron to me awhile ago, he said he’d been here last October.”
“Really? Dell never mentioned that.”
“And here’s the surprising part.”
Joseph leaned closer.
“Myron is the other person who was bidding on our lopsided Christmas cake at the cooking show.”
“What?” Joseph’s eyes widened.
“It’s true. When Myron saw our lopsided wedding cake today, he admitted he was the bidder and said he’d only wanted the cake so he could meet me and Elma.” Thelma smiled, watching her sister and Myron in deep conversation. “When Myron realized it was his own cousin he’d been bidding against, he finally gave up and let Delbert win. Delbert didn’t know Myron was there that day until he confessed it to him later on.”
“I’m glad he let Delbert win.” Looking lovingly at Thelma, Joseph added, “I wonder if there’s a chance that your sister and Dell’s cousin could get together. They’re both smiling pretty good right now.”
Thelma reached under the table and took hold of her groom’s hand. “Now wouldn’t it be something if our lopsided cake brought another couple together?”
Grandma’s Christmas Cake
Ingredients:
3 cups sifted cake flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1¾ cups sugar
¾ cup butter
2 eggs
1½ teaspoons vanilla
1¼ cups milk
1 small (3 ounce) box red Jell-O
1 small (3 ounce) box green Jell-O
1 (8 ounce) tub Cool Whip
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt t
ogether in a bowl and set aside. In mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl frequently. Slowly beat in flour mixture alternately with milk. Mix batter thoroughly and pour into two greased and floured 9-inch round pans.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Cool. Prick cakes several times with fork and leave in pans. Dissolve red Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water and carefully pour over one cake. Dissolve green Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water and pour over other cake. Refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.
Take cakes out of pans using spatula and put on plate, one on top of the other, spreading filling between layers (see recipe below). Frost cake with Cool Whip. Decorate with red and green sprinkles if desired.
Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) tub Cool Whip
In bowl, mix cream cheese and Cool Whip until thoroughly combined.
New York Times, award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties.
Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband Richard have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.
Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach.
OTHER BOOKS BY WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
Adult Fiction
THE PRAIRIE STATE FRIENDS SERIES
The Decision
The Gift
THE QUILT CLUB SERIES
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club
The Tattered Quilt
The Healing Quilt
THE DISCOVERY SAGA
Goodbye to Yesterday
The Silence of Winter
The Hope of Spring
The Pieces of Summer
A Revelation in Autumn
A Vow for Always
KENTUCKY BROTHERS SERIES
The Journey
The Healing
The Struggle
BRIDES OF LEHIGH CANAL SERIES
Kelly’s Chance
Betsy’s Return
Sarah’s Choice
INDIANA COUSINS SERIES
A Cousin’s Promise
A Cousin’s Prayer
A Cousin’s Challenge
SISTERS OF HOLMES COUNTY SERIES
A Sister’s Secret
A Sister’s Test
A Sister’s Hope
BRIDES OF WEBSTER COUNTY SERIES
Going Home
Dear to Me
On Her Own
Allison’s Journey
DAUGHTERS OF LANCASTER COUNTY SERIES
The Storekeeper’s Daughter
The Bishop’s Daughter
BRIDES OF LANCASTER COUNTY SERIES
A Merry Heart
Looking for a Miracle
Plain and Fancy
The Hope Chest
Amish White Christmas Pie
Lydia’s Charm
Love Finds a Home
Love Finds a Way
Woman of Courage
Children’s Fiction
DOUBLE TROUBLE
What a Pair!
Bumpy Ride Ahead
Bubble Troubles
Green Fever
Humble Pie
Rachel Yoder—Always Trouble Somewhere 8-Book Series
The Wisdom of Solomon
Nonfiction
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook Vol. 2
The Best of Amish Friends Cookbook Collection
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Desserts Cookbook Wanda
E. Brunstetter’s Amish Christmas Cookbook
The Simple Life Devotional
A Celebration of the Simple Life Devotional
Portrait of Amish Life–with Richard Brunstetter
Simple Life Perpetual Calendar–with Richard Brunstetter