An Amish Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Kelly; Beckstrand Charlotte; Long Hubbard

room, the ladies in the kitchen let out a collective sigh of relief. Mary’s mother, Lovinia, stepped closer to gaze at her new grandson with an expression of joy tinged with regret.
    â€œIt’s so gut to see you and this precious wee one,” she murmured to Mary. “I tried to tell your dat we had no call to come bustin’ in here on the sly—”
    â€œIt’s okay, Mama,” Mary replied, glancing at her two visiting aunts. “It’s not like he said anything untrue, because I—I haven’t called you. Let’s go in for church, and you can all visit with Emmanuel during the service.”
    Mary’s visiting aunts, Deborah and Mattie, smiled brightly and then followed Miriam into the front room. Mary gestured for her mamm to precede her. Then she turned to Seth.
    â€œ Denki for looking after Emmanuel and for the way you handled Dat,” she murmured.
    â€œMaybe some of your family issues will get settled today,” Seth suggested gently. “It’s hard on ya, feelin’ pulled in different directions and not knowin’ which path to take.”
    The past few moments had revealed a lot about the Millers and the way they handled life-altering conflicts. Seth felt blessed that his family had made the best of his father’s construction accident: while his dat was still frustrated about being in a wheelchair, he’d taken a hospital job and Mamm had found an outlet for her cooking talents—and a way to bring in additional income—by partnering with Miriam in the café. The Brennemans had known their struggles, but they’d supported each other with patience and love. As Seth took his place on the pew bench with his brothers, he hoped that if Moses Miller was preaching one of this morning’s sermons, he wouldn’t air his grievances about his daughter. Preachers did that sometimes.
    After the first hymn, the four leaders took their seats in front of the crowd and Bishop Tom greeted them with a smile. “We welcome Leah and Miriam’s brother, Preacher Mose Miller from Bowling Green—and we appreciate him servin’ as our deacon today while Reuben Riehl’s out with the flu.”
    Denki, Lord , Seth thought as he settled in for the service. Perhaps the next three hours would ease Mose Miller’s testiness and give Mary a chance to prepare answers for the questions he was certain to ask later. Seth saw that young Sol was seated between his two visiting uncles, while across the room Mary and Lucy sat with Miriam and her sisters, who took turns holding Emmanuel. Their smiles suggested that some of the tensions had already been eased. In his way, little Emmanuel was like the Savior, a prince of peace in a troubled family.
    While Seth reminded himself that it wasn’t a good idea to fall for Mary—or to get crosswise with her father—he believed some good would come from today’s difficult visit. Maybe he could make a positive difference.
    Or you could hold Emmanuel again. Wouldn’t that be something?

C HAPTER 5
    As the men began setting up the front room for the common meal, Mary felt she’d mended some fences with the women in her family. They’d passed Emmanuel from aunt to aunt and to his grandmother during church, and he’d won them over with his smiles and gurgles. She’d prayed for ways to ease the tension between her and Dat, as well, although Mary doubted he’d ever change his authoritarian ways. She stayed out of his way by remaining in the kitchen, helping Naomi and Miriam unwrap food the other women had brought to share.
    As everyone was seated, Teacher Alberta stood up to address them. “What with only three young Zooks and Sol Kauffman being our current scholars, the traditional Christmas Eve skits and recitations at the schoolhouse aren’t going to work,” she said as she fidgeted with the strings of her kapp . “I’d welcome your ideas, as it’s