Christmas at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard Page A

tells me that the four-legged Lehman cats have nothing on Gloria, when it comes to claws.”
    â€œI suspect you’re right,” Roman replied. He glanced at Phoebe. “ Denki for helping me out. Gloria’s been trying to get my attention ever since the Lehmans moved here—”
    â€œBecause you’re the only guy her age at Promise Lodge—and because you’re building a new house and you have a steady income,” Phoebe pointed out. “With Noah married, you’re the obvious choice for any single girls who come here. Lucky you, Roman.”
    â€œ Jah , right.” He watched his mother come into the dining hall with her hand in Preacher Amos’s and a glow on her face. When Mamm beckoned to him and then to Noah and Deborah, Roman stood up. “Well, now. This looks interesting.”
    As he approached them, he couldn’t miss the way his mother beamed. Amos’s wide smile formed little curves on either side of his mouth. “Noah and Roman,” his mother said as she reached happily for their hands, “I’ve just agreed to marry Amos! We wanted you boys to be the first to know—and you, too, Rosetta and Christine.”
    Roman’s two aunts and Deborah immediately laughed and began hugging Mamm and Amos, congratulating them loudly enough that everyone in the room wanted to be a part of the celebration.
    â€œHigh time,” Noah teased as he pumped Amos’s hand. “Maybe Deborah and I were your inspiration, eh?”
    Amos laughed. Years had fallen away from his leathery, tanned face and he exchanged yet another smile with Mamm. “Patience and persistence are a man’s best friends,” he replied. “I’ve loved your mother since I was a lot younger than you boys. I promise to take gut care of her. She’s a woman to be prized and cherished.”
    Roman shook hands with Amos, as well. “Happy for both of you,” he murmured as he returned his mother’s hug.
    He stood back to allow the Kuhn sisters and Frances Lehman to express their congratulations, knowing his mother would be a lot happier with Amos than she’d been alone. His thoughts took him back to his childhood and youth . . . the times he’d realized that Dat was mistreating his mother both verbally and physically, and he hadn’t known what to do about it. Their bishop in Coldstream had considered it a man’s right to discipline his wife, even after his father had broken Mamm’s nose—
    But that’s behind us now , Roman reminded himself. Amos Troyer was a different sort of man altogether, compassionate and caring even when he had to reprimand church members for behavior that didn’t honor their Ordnung or God. Now Mamm had someone to see to her needs and keep her company—
    A new household and a new man to be the head of it.
    Roman blinked. After assuming responsibility for his mamm ’s care—considering himself the man of the family after Dat’s passing—it seemed strange that his mother would soon be going by a different name. She wouldn’t be cooking regular meals for him anymore or confiding in him as much, although he knew he’d always be welcome at her and Amos’s table. She wouldn’t need him in the same ways—although Mattie Schwartz had never allowed widowhood to hold her back or make her dependent upon anyone. Her successful produce stand was proof of that.
    Noah came over to stand beside Roman as they watched other well-wishers crowd around Preacher Amos and their mother. “This should get the bishop off their backs,” he murmured.
    â€œ Jah , and we’ll see what happens to the roadside stand and the garden plots,” Roman replied. “So, is it just me or does this make you feel kind of funny—thinking of Amos as our step- dat? Or is he just Mamm’s second husband, because he didn’t raise us and won’t be supporting us