Chapter 3

Chapter 3

L ucas searched for Kayla after the awkward breakfast. At least their grossdaddis had each stayed on their own side of the room—for now. But they had a whole week here and while the inn was big and rambling with a huge yard both front and back, it would be difficult for the two families to avoid each other. It would also be hard for Kayla and him to hang out together.

He couldn't find her, so now he sat in the library, staring at the pretty quilts displayed there. Women loved their quilts, but none of these patterns made sense to Lucas.

Jonah walked in and smiled at him. "Looking for a book or thinking about joining the quilting lessons this afternoon?"

Lucas swallowed. Jonah was an intimidating man, but a kind one. "Neither. I'm worried about my family reunion."

"Ah, family." Jonah slapped his leg and sank down on a side chair. "What was that all about this morning?"

Lucas explained the situation to Jonah. "They've held this grudge for many years. Since they were my age, I think. It started with a woman—"

Jonah chuckled at that. "No surprise there."

"But it didn't end there. The grudge built and built, from what I've heard. We moved away but I reckon what happened this morning proves they will never forgive each other."

"That was some kind of drama," Jonah replied, glancing back toward the now empty café. "But they are both gut men. I've talked to them each in passing. Both have a love for family."

"But not a love for forgiveness?"

Jonah had washed up on these shores and made a home here. Maybe he could share some insight.

"You've been through a lot," Lucas said. "I've heard about you. How would you deal with this situation?"

Jonah chuckled again. "In the past—I'd have used violence to solve a problem. But those days are over. I suggest you find a way to help them make peace."

"That's a tall order," Lucas replied. "Any suggestions?"

"Show them, Lucas. Show them with your love how they can forgive a long-ago fight. Make them see they should be ashamed of themselves and that they need to remember we are to forgive and then forget. That's why I'm here and part of this family. I confessed all of my past and I studied the Ordnung word for word—translated to Englisch, but still word for word. I live by those principles now, no matter what I had to leave behind."

"They sure need to leave their anger behind, and this meeting is the perfect opportunity for them to do that," Lucas said. "Christmas and this big historical place—how can they stay angry?"

"This place has a way of changing things," Jonah replied as he stood. "It brings people together."

A small figure at the door caught Lucas's attention. Kayla.

Jonah glanced from her back to Lucas, his catch-all eyes missing nothing. "Oh, I see. You two together—is that the plan?"

Kayla blushed and swirled to leave.

"Wait," Jonah said. "Just ignore my teasing. You two make a cute couple."

She turned back around, her head up and her nose in the air. "We are not a couple. I only came to look for a book."

Jonah did an eyeroll. "Of course, but if you two were to become friends, that could help this situation."

"Or make it worse." Kayla's whispered words were low and solemn, but her face held a trace of guilt. "Don't tell anyone we're friends."

"It's not my place," Jonah replied. "I see and hear a lot around here, but most of it stays with me. You have my word I won't rat you out."

Kayla looked down. "Rat?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, old habits. It means I won't tell anyone about you two."

Lucas looked over at Kayla. "I believe Jonah, so don't worry. We've done nothing wrong. They probably won't even notice us anyway."

"I don't plan to do wrong," she said, lifting her head up, her spine going straight. "But I won't let their ridiculous feud ruin my chance to make a new friend either."

Jonah tried to hide his smile, but when Kayla glared at him, he only shrugged. "As you said earlier, Lucas. It starts with a woman, but this time and this woman could be the perfect beginning of a new friendship. Or maybe even more."

He nodded at Kayla and left them standing there, staring at each other.

Lucas pulled her over by the window, out of sight of the lobby. "What are you really doing in here?"

"I truly came in for a book. My sister is napping—from exhaustion she said. But she's like an infant. I try to take advantage of her naps by making time for myself, and reading seemed like a gut idea."

He put on a mock frown. "So you weren't even trying to find me?"

She blushed again, her cheeks pretty and pink. "I did think about you and I had hoped I'd . . . run into you."

Smiling, Lucas sat her down on the small sofa. "I hoped the same. That's why I came in here. That and the warm fire."

She laughed at that. "So should I find a book or can we just talk?"

"Let's talk. Then you can take a book upstairs with you as proof that you did visit the library."

"I like the way you think," she said after a giggle.

Lucas leaned close. "I like the way you look. You're pretty, Kayla."

She stared back into his eyes. " Denke . No one has ever told me that."

"Hard to believe, but maybe they don't see you the way I see you."

She looked down at her hands. "My sister is the pretty one, Lucas."

"Does your sister know how to sing the way you do?"

Kayla snorted another giggle. "She can't hold a tune at all."

"So that means she can't hold a candle to you. You should remember that."

Kayla's expression filled with a sweet joy that pierced his heart. "I will, but only because you told me to do so."

"How about we go for a walk later and decide how we're going to get our families together so we can enjoy our time during this Christmas season."

"I'd like that. I pray Becky sleeps all afternoon."

They laughed, then sat back and discussed books, beginning with the Bible and moving on to other interesting stories they'd been allowed to read. Then he told her about his talk with Jonah.

"He thinks we need to find ways to bring them together and show them how wrong they are to continue this feud."

"But how?" she asked, her hands on her lap. "Our grossdaddis were both upset this morning."

"We create events where they can't show their anger, where they can only show the gut in their hearts."

"So we embarrass them into behaving?"

He laughed. " Ja , don't you think that would work?"

"I can ask the King sisters," she said, her tone perky now. "They seem to understand this kind of stuff."

"That is an excellent idea. We should be able to find one of them around here. They're usually in the kitchen, right?"

"Let's go," she said. "We might find some pie and hot chocolate while we're at it."

"I like this plan." He held out his arm as she stood, and together they checked the lobby, then started toward the kitchen.

Lucas felt better about things, but then, Kayla had a way of making him feel happy about everything. But they were only halfway to the kitchen, when they found Becky standing on the stairs, her searching gaze landing on them.

* * *

"Kayla, what are you doing?" her sister asked, her nose up as if she were sniffing something unpleasant in the air. "I thought you'd be in that stuffy library."

Kayla's heart shook but she quickly recovered. She had to learn to stand up to her demanding sister. "I was," she replied, realizing that Lucas's presence beside her was giving her courage. "Lucas and I are going to the kitchen for a snack."

"Oh, Lucas and you? I see. Does Mamm know this?"

"Mamm told me to take some time for myself."

"But not by yourself?"

"What do you need, Becky?" she asked, tired of standing there while her sister hovered above them.

"I'm worried about the wedding menu," Becky said. "We should go over it again."

"Can that wait?" Lucas asked. "I really wanted to show Kayla the big pavilion and get some hot chocolate."

"I need her with me," Becky said, her voice rising. "And you need to mind your own business."

Abigail King came walking up, a serene smile on her face. "I couldn't help but overhear. Becky, I'd be glad to go over the menu with you. Again. We're planning to serve the traditional wedding menu and a few side dishes celebrating the season, so if you want to make changes, we need to pin that down now. The menu requires cooking for days and storing food to be warmed up, so we can't make changes after today. Shall we go and make some hot tea and finalize everything?"

"I . . . uh. I don't know," Becky said. "Kayla shouldn't be alone with him. "

"My daed and some of the others are out by the firepit," Abigail replied. "They will keep an eye on these two."

Having no argument left, Becky nodded. "That's so kind of you, Abigail." She came down the stairs, her smile pasted on as she passed Kayla. "Do not be late for supper."

"I won't. I love the food around here," Kayla replied before she shot Abigail a grateful glance. "We won't linger. It's getting so cold."

Becky grunted. "You'd better stay well for the wedding."

" Denke for your concern," Kayla retorted. Then she and Lucas grabbed their winter coats from the hall rack and hurried along the hallway to the side door.

Once they were outside, Kayla started laughing. "I've never before stood up to her like that. We fight and she tries to bully me and usually wins. But now, knowing what our families have been doing to each other, I'm not going to feud with my own sister. I'll be firm with her."

"And I will do the same with my family," he replied. "We can end this thing, Kayla. It's gone on far too long."

"But what's our next move?" she asked, excited to have a mission.

"How about we start with finding a project that will involve all of us?"

"And what would that be?"

Snow started falling in thick white flakes.

Lucas held out his hand. "We could have a snowman competition and encourage everyone to get involved. And I mean everyone staying here, not just our families."

"That might work, but what if they fight anyway?"

"We won't let them. We'll tell them all the kinner staying at the inn are going to help build the snowmen and decide whose is best."

"They won't show anger in front of the kinner , right?"

"I hope not."

They headed for the hot chocolate stand and soon had two cups to warm their hands.

Kayla had never had so much fun, and having a snowman contest would be another opportunity to get to know Lucas better. And avoid her sister as much as possible.

Unless their families messed up the whole plan.