Chapter 8

Chapter 8

T heir first quilting day had gone well. Most of the women who'd volunteered were seasoned quilters, so they went to work cutting the square panels and laying them out. The staff went back and forth, checking on the café and kitchen staff, but since all meals had been served, the kitchen was now quiet and shut down for the night, and they vowed to work until dawn if need be.

Abigail had prepared the batting and found material for the quilt back, while the other women began to sew either on machines or with their hands, each panel matching up to another one as the four-square pattern began to take shape. This easy pattern only required panels of plain fabric with no appliqué work, and the women had fun picking out the colors they liked best.

At around ten, Sarah suggested everyone but Gayle and Gloria should stop and get some rest. They had one more day to work before the happenings of the weekend.

"If you're available tomorrow between breakfast and noon-dinner, we'd love to have you back. Each of you will be given a gift basket courtesy of the inn —denke for helping us."

The women liked that idea. "Bribery will get you what you want," Cella said with a chuckle. "But this is good work, and it's gut to get to know others who are traveling the same path."

"It is, indeed," Dina replied. "Like you and me. Why did we wait so long?"

"We were forbidden," Cella replied. "But there is no sin in making a new friend. I hope we can keep in touch."

"So do I," Dina said, smiling at Kayla. "Perhaps you and Kayla can visit my home once I'm back in Spartansburg."

Kayla sent her a grateful smile. "I know I'd like that."

"I'm sure Lucas would like that, too," Dina replied.

Everyone went their separate ways, but as Kayla turned the corner by the kitchen to head up to her room, a strong arm reached out and pulled her back.

Lucas.

"Hi," he said with a soft smile. "I wanted to tell you gut night."

"That's sweet." She gave him a grin, her heart filling with a deep longing. She quelched it and went on. "With our families eating dinner at different times, we don't have a chance to dine together."

" Ja , but it does keep the peace."

"It's hard to eat a meal when your stomach is in jitters," she admitted. "How did the sled races go?"

"Not bad." He chuckled. "Jonah made it clear in his Jonah way that the adults who wanted to participate had better behave in front of the kinner . So they did."

"Even our grossdaddis ?"

"Even they, but instead of racing down the hill on sleds, Abe stayed close to our grossdaddis by the fire, explaining he needed their help carrying firewood."

"And they stayed there with Abe?"

"They did. It was awkward at first, but then Abe began to tell them the history of the inn, and though they didn't speak to each other directly, they did listen to Abe. I like the people around here. The King family brings calm to any kind of chaos."

She laid her hand on his shoulder. "That's because they've been through such chaos, Lucas. They know how families can be torn apart, they've known heartache and loss, and now they're happy and they love what they do here. They make staying here comfortable and easy and . . . they bring people together. Which is what we're trying to do."

She explained about the women gathering to make a quilt, to show their two families what forgiveness and peace could be like.

"We hope our grossdaddis will see this quilt and realize how much time and energy they've wasted being mad at each other."

"That is a solid plan and doesn't involve screaming or name-calling." He tugged her close. "I like bringing people together. Especially you and me. I don't think I can fake-fight with you."

"Really?" Relief washed over her. "I dreaded even pretending. So we can toss out that plan, ain't so?"

He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. "It's forgotten already. Sleep well, Kayla."

She touched her hand to his jaw. "The same to you, Lucas."

He watched her all the way up the stairs before turning back toward the fire in the big lobby. Kayla glanced down at him one more time, then sighed and went to her room.

Today had been a gut day, after all.

* * *

Friday involved last-minute wedding plans and preparing for the Myer family reunion. The patriarchs of the family were trying to avoid each other but not always succeeding. Abe went back and forth between the two like a diplomat, and several members of both families had stood by the always burning firepit earlier. That was an improvement at least.

Kayla had deliberately walked by once just to see if they were behaving.

She'd heard Abe talking to Claude and Tobias. "You both have well-adjusted families, it seems. Clearly, you both know Gott's will."

Grossdaddi Claude had nodded while he silently looked at the fire. Tobias Myer had stared off into the distance as if he longed to be somewhere else.

Remembering what Berneta had told all the women yesterday, she had to wonder if Tobias might feel the same as her late grossmammi . Did he wonder if Berneta had chosen the wrong man?

"I appreciate the truce," Abe said, his tone firm and calm. "We don't condone fighting around here, especially with Christmas just around the corner and the kinner running around all excited. Understand?"

They'd both murmured something, and Kayla thought with Abe working on them, these two men might finally see the error of their ways. She'd waited off to the side, hoping for a sign.

Claude had said he wanted to go check on something, and Tobias had headed to the stables. Abe had turned and headed up the hill to his own grossdaddi haus , behind the cottage where Eliza and Levi now lived with their young son. All three King sisters had homes on this property near Abe and Sarah, who now lived in the grossdaddi haus .

Wouldn't it be lovely to have a cottage by the lake with Lucas?

Whoa. She reeled in those thoughts as she sat in the lobby by the fire, staying close in case Becky needed her. But her sister had calmed down and was focusing on her joy at marrying the man she loved.

The snow had stopped falling, and the roads had been cleared for safe travel, but the temperatures kept the countryside beautifully white and pristine—a perfect setting for the upcoming events.

While the reunion would take place inside the café and the wedding would be mostly outside in the pavilion and a heated tent the Hollinger family had rented, Kayla's nerves were still on edge. So much could go wrong between the two families.

Abigail came walking by with her to-do-list clipboard. After glancing at Kayla, she stopped and sat down. "Hi. I need a break and you look like you need a friend."

Kayla smiled at Abigail. She was years older than Kayla with two young kinner , but she had shining golden hair and pretty blue eyes and she always looked so calm and in charge of things.

"I'm hoping the wedding goes well," she said. "And I'm also hoping the family reunion goes well."

"So am I, on both accounts," Abigail said with a laugh. "But I will warn you, sometimes the best planned events still hit snags. We do our best to keep that from happening, however."

"I plan on staying in that warm tent," Kayla admitted. "You know weddings can take so much time, and my sister wants hers to be perfect, so she will make sure the bishop and the ministers preach as long as they like."

"Well, once the service is over, then the meal will be served," Abigail said. "We've hired many extra people to help with that, and they should all make it here because the roads are open today and traffic is moving. Even buggy traffic."

"You've all been so kind to us," Kayla said. "I love it here."

"You are welkom anytime," Abigail replied. "Now I'd better get back to work. Are you sure you're okay?"

Kayla glanced around the empty room. "Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly." Abigail sank back against her chair and put down her clipboard. "Go ahead."

Kayla swallowed her fears and blurted out her question. "How do you know if you're falling in love with someone?"

Abigail's smile was gentle but her eyes held resolve and a bit of concern.

"How do you feel right now?" she asked Kayla.

Surprised, Kayla placed her hands together and let out a sigh. "Like I'm walking on air. Like the wind has lifted my heart and the rain smells so sweet and the snow is the prettiest ever. The whole world is beautiful to me right now, despite all the things we're dealing with."

"You mean, the things you and Lucas are dealing with?"

" Ja . I like him, Abigail. Is this too soon? It's only been a few days and yet, it's as if I've known him forever."

Abigail placed her hand over Kayla's. "That for certain sure sounds like love, Kayla. But you don't have to rush anything. Is this your first serious walking out?"

" Ja ." She glanced at the beautiful white poinsettias on the check-in counter. "I keep telling myself this can't last. We don't know each other, and we don't even live in the same state, but I want to see if this feeling can last for a long time, maybe."

"You are wise to consider all the obstacles in your way," Abigail said, nodding. "You know my story. Jonah and I had to overcome his amnesia, and his being Englisch and then, his being in law enforcement. He had a violent, horrible past, but I will tell you, Kayla, the day I found him wounded and half-drowned on the shore, I knew he was the man for me. I don't know how I knew that—I just did."

"And he returned to you," Kayla said, her romantic heart beating at the thought of it. "He truly loves you that much."

"He does," Abigail replied with her own dreamy smile. "He has worked hard to prove it, and he has held fast to our ways and our faith. Jonah is not the same man I found that day. He has been made new again by Gott's will and Gott's grace."

"I'm happy for you," Kayla said. "But I like Lucas the way he is."

"As you should," Abigail agreed. "He's a gut person and you and he make the cutest couple. Sometimes, people kumm into our lives for a reason and the timing of this week—the way your two families have been forced together here—it shows that Gott is in control. Faith can change hearts and show your families—and you and Lucas—the right way."

"We both believe that," Kayla replied, "but even though they are being tolerant right now, our families aren't so keen on us being together."

"And yet, here you are." Abigail grabbed her clipboard and stood, so Kayla did the same. "Things are changing because of how you and Lucas have tried to handle this situation. I'm guessing by the end of this week, all of your hopes and prayers will be answered."

"In one way or another," Kayla said. " Denke for talking to me. Is there anything I can help with to ease your tasks?"

Abigail's brow furrowed. "Would you like to join Colette in folding napkins? She hates that work, but she'd like it better if she had some company."

"I'd be happy to help," Kayla said. "She can probably give me some advice, too."

" Ja , but hers might be a lot different from mine," Abigail said with a chuckle. "In the end, you'll find your own answers. You're a smart woman."

They walked toward the kitchen. "I'll show you where Colette is in the employee lounge." Abigail took her down a short hallway. "My mamm and several of the women are working on the quilt, so you can drop by and help there later if you'd like. Plus, we have fresh gingerbread cookies cooling on the counter. One of those and a cup of Christmas tea will help with folding napkins."

"You have Christmas tea?"

"Our very own recipe with mint and cinnamon," Abigail explained. "It makes everything better."

Kayla giggled. "This place is better than the North Pole."

Abigail gave her a girlish wink. "Don't tell Santa that."