A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston

your sisters are upstairs, so I’m certain we’re alone.” Kathryn leaned against the counter. “Was iss letz?”
    Amanda glanced back toward the door. “Let’s go into the schtupp.”
    Kathryn followed her into the family room and stood near the doorway. “What’s bothering you?”
    Amanda lowered her slight body onto the sofa.
    “I’m worried about what’s going to happen this week.” Amanda wrung her hands. “Daed might get really angry that Aenti Anna Mae is coming.”
    Kathryn smiled. “Everything will be fine once he sees his sister. Trust me.” A door closed, and Kathryn assumed the boys had come in from the barn.
    “But he should know the truth.” Amanda’s eyes were full of determination.
    “Ya, you’re right.” Kathryn nodded. “He’ll know the truth soon enough. It’s going to be a surprise.”
    “I think you’re wrong not to tell him. I feel like I’m holding in a horrible lie by not telling Daed, and lying is a sin.” Amanda shook her head. “I think Daed has a right to know that Aenti Anna Mae is coming—” She stopped speaking and her eyes grew wide while her cheeks flushed a deep rose.
    “What did you say, Amanda Joy?” David’s gruff voice rumbled from behind Kathryn, causing her to jump.
    Kathryn spun around and her mouth dried. David was glowering at her from the doorway.
    “What did Amanda say about mei schweschder?” he asked, his brown eyes slicing through her with indignation.
    Kathryn inwardly shuddered. Feigning indifference, she kept her expression serene. “She was discussing when our company would arrive,” she said, standing up straighter and mustering all of the courage she could find inside herself. “Amanda was telling me that she thinks you have a right to know that Anna Mae and Kellan are going to join us forChristmas this year.” The truth was now out in the open. She felt a mixture of relief and anxiety at the opportunity to finally say the words out loud.
    David’s expression hardened. “Kathryn, how many times do we have to discuss this?” His voice was low and full of frustration and fury. “I’ve already told you that I am against this visit. I can’t think of how I could make it more clear to you.”
    “You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. However, the plans have been made.” She looked at Amanda, who was studying her hands in her lap. “Amanda, our company will arrive sometime Wednesday afternoon.”
    Amanda met her gaze with a worried expression, and Kathryn smiled, hoping to calm her. Ruthie and Lizzie entered the family room with wide smiles on their faces.
    “Company?” Ruthie asked.
    “Who’s coming?” Lizzie chimed in.
    “Your Aenti Anna Mae and Onkel Kellan from Baltimore are coming to spend Christmas with us,” Kathryn said, ignoring the feel of David’s angry stare boring into her. “Aenti Anna Mae is your dat’s youngest schweschder.”
    “The one who was shunned?” Ruthie asked.
    “Ya.” Kathryn nodded. “That’s right.”
    “Are they staying here?” Lizzie asked while sinking down onto the sofa next to Amanda.
    “They can sleep in my bed with me,” Ruthie said, walking over to Kathryn.
    Kathryn smiled. “That’s very thoughtful, Ruthie, but they’re staying at a bed and breakfast in Paradise.”
    “But we’ll see them, ya?” Ruthie asked.
    “Ya, we will see them,” Kathryn said. She pushed a lock of hair back from where it had fallen from beneath her prayer kapp while avoiding David’s eyes. “They’ll be visiting for a few days.”
    “Kathryn,” David said, his calmness forced. “Kathryn, please look at me.”
    “Ya.” She turned to him, finding disappointment and hurt reflecting in his eyes. Guilt and determination battled inside her. While she knew keeping the information from him was wrong, she was certain she was doing God’s will. God was using her to heal the family, and David needed to understand that.
    His frown deepened. “We will discuss this later at length.”
    Kathryn