An Unexpected Christmas Gift

there were no streetlights leading up to the house, and the sky was draining of color.
“Change your mind?” Isaac asked.
I hadn’t realized I’d slowed my pace. I sped up. “No, the quilt shop is my destination.”
“Like I said, it’s closed tonight. But it’s next to the Millers’ home.”
“Okay.” I headed for the house’s front door, but he beckoned me around to the back past a barn. We crossed the barnyard and climbed the back stairs to a small porch. He rapped on the door, then stomped his feet.
The door swung open. “Isaac,” said an Amish woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She wore a calf-length dress, a black bib apron, a white heart-shaped organza head covering, and an expectant grin. She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. “What a lovely surprise.”
“Hullo, Nancy. I’m not coming in but for a moment. I brought a stranger named Maria.”
“Oh?” Nancy’s smile flattened. “What are you doing out on such a greislich night, Isaac?”
“Looking for Mamm’s favorite goat.” He glanced at me. “I was just about to give up when I noticed Maria’s car skidding into the ditch out front. It looks like the bumper and fender are dented, but there’s no way to tell in that snow.”
The corners of her mouth angling down, Nancy gave me a good look-over. “Probably driving too fast.”
“No, I wasn’t,” I said through the snowflakes. “As a matter of fact, I was trying to slow down, but my car kept going.”
“Because you were driving too fast.”
No use arguing with her when in fact I’d been creeping along, all the while second-guessing myself. I shouldn’t have acted so impulsively to begin with. No matter my hurt feelings.
“You best come in.” She frowned at my soaked Adidas. “Please stomp your feet first.” I glanced down at my snow-covered shoes and realized she was right.
The ambrosia of baking breads beckoned us forward as Isaac and I followed her through a dimly lit hallway. We passed a utility room with an old-fashioned wringer washer and then a small sink by a closed door. Nancy opened the door, and I found myself inside a beautiful kitchen, not what I expected of an Amish home. I’d heard they didn’t use electricity.
Nancy pointed to a towel on the floor and told me I could leave my shoes there. Fair enough, no need to get their linoleum wet. But still, I felt unwelcome. I’d never been more out of my element.
I scanned the room, expecting to see Christmas decorations. A few fir-tree sprigs perched on a shelf. Huh? I guessed the Christmas tree was in the living room. My gaze latched on to muffins on a cooling rack, and two loaves of bread sitting on the counter were emitting a luscious aroma. I hadn’t eaten for hours, and my stomach growled with hunger.
Nancy introduced me to her mother, Naomi, and her younger sister, Anna. Both women, dressed the same as Nancy, gawked at me but seemed friendly. Naomi insisted I join them for supper. “We’ve got plenty of sliced ham, cold meat loaf, cheeses, pickled beets, and applesauce.” She turned to her daughters. “What’s keeping you, girls? Set the table and slice the bread. Your Dat will be in from the barn in five minutes. He’s been working all day and the table isn’t even ready.”
“I’d best be going.” Isaac repositioned his hat.
“Please stop back again soon,” Nancy said.
“Yah, okay.” His gaze caught mine for a moment and then he looked away, but not before I noticed his sky blue eyes and clean-shaven chin. Even with a hat and long bangs, he was good-looking. No wonder Nancy obviously had a crush on him. But he didn’t seem to notice or was purposely ignoring her when he wished us all a good night. I listened to his departing footsteps and hoped he really would come back and help me with my car. I didn’t belong to AAA or have towing coverage in my driver’s insurance. I doubted I had enough money in the bank to cover the deductible if my car was damaged. Thank goodness I’d paid off my credit card.
“Where are you headed tonight?” Naomi asked me. “Last-minute shopping?”
Nancy lifted her chin. “We closed our store early because of the snow, but I suppose I could walk over there with you. Eventually one of us will have to lock it up.”
“Uh, sure. Thanks.” I felt my cheeks warming. “The truth is—and I really am so sorry to bother you—but I guess this house is my destination.”
“Why on earth?” Naomi asked.
Before I could answer, the back door opened and a man’s deep voice spoke to Isaac. More stomping of boots, and then the door closed with a thud. The young women sped into action, like synchronized swimmers: one wiped down the rectangle table covered with a red-and-white-checkered vinyl cloth, while the other brought out plates, cutlery, and napkins. Naomi placed the items around the table. I noticed there were five places, meaning she was including me, for which I was grateful. I should have brought a snack to nibble on as I drove or stopped at a café along the way.
I heard running water just outside the kitchen; I assumed someone was washing their hands. The water snapped off, then the kitchen door blasted open, bringing with it a gust of frigid air. A burly, bearded man entered, wearing a stern expression that told me he was fatigued and not in the mood for chitchat. Wearing a hat and slippers, he must have shed his jacket and boots in the back hallway.
Naomi introduced the man. “This is my husband, Silas.” Nancy and Anna remained silent. Were they afraid of their father or was their behavior for my benefit?
Without looking my way, he removed his hat and hung it on a wooden peg.
Naomi’s voice was filled with delight. “Looks like we have a dinner guest tonight. Silas, this is Maria. What did you say your last name was?”
I purposely hadn’t. “Um—Romano.” What could it