Read Online A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston - Free Book Online Page B

luggage. Once they were settled in the room, Kellan took Anna Mae’s hand and led her back to the SUV, where he helped her climb in.
    Kellan hopped into the driver’s seat and fastened his safety belt. “So, where are we going?” he asked, turning the key and bringing the engine back to life with a purr.
    “Let’s head toward Bird-in-Hand,” she said, her heart thumping at the thought.
    He grinned. “To the site where I first laid eyes on your beautiful face?”
    She nodded.
    “I still remember the way.” He put the SUV in reverse and backed out of the parking space. He then steered it toward the main road.
    They rode in silence with the only sound coming from the quiet hum of the engine, the occasional whisper of windshield wipers clearing away the flurries, and the Christmas music singing softly through the speakers.
    Anna Mae stared out the window while memories danced through her mind. Excitement and anxiety coursed through her while they drove.
    As they turned onto Gibbons Road, her heart raced. Soon she would see her sister-in-law for the first time in three years. Would their reunion be as wonderful as she’d dreamed? What if Anna Mae felt awkward and out of place? What if they had nothing to discuss and they merely stood in silence, studying each other and thinking of how different they had become?
    She said a silent prayer that her family would welcome her and be happy to see her.
    Kellan’s warm hand covered hers. “It’ll be fine, Annie. They’ll be so happy to see you that they’ll all cry. You’ll see.”
    She squeezed his hand. “You always seem to read my mind.”
    He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “That’s my job, dear.” He nodded toward the windshield. “Here we are.”
    Anna Mae’s stomach flip-flopped as they pulled into the parking lot of the bakery. It looked just as she remembered. The large white clapboard farmhouse sat near the road and included a sweeping wraparound porch. A sign with “Kauff-man Amish Bakery” in old-fashioned letters hung above the door.
    Out behind the building was a fenced-in play area where in the warmer months the Kauffman grandchildren would run around, play tag, and climb on a huge wooden swing set. Beyond it was a fenced pasture dotted with patches of snow. A few of the large Kauffman family farmhouses and barns were set back beyond the pasture. The dirt road leading to the other homes was roped off with a sign declaring “Private Property—No Trespassing.”
    A large paved parking lot sat adjacent to the building. Kellan steered the SUV into a parking space near the entrance of the bakery and put the truck in park. He then pulled the keys from the ignition and faced Anna Mae.
    “Ready?” he asked.
    Anna Mae sucked in a deep breath, her heart pounding against her ribcage. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” She gripped the door handle.
    “Hey.” Kellan touched her shoulder, and she faced him. “Don’t forget what I told you before we came here. No matter what happens with your family, I’ll always love you. What matters is that we have each other.” He touched her belly. “We’re a family whether your father accepts you back or not.”
    She touched his face. “Thank you for bringing me here. I couldn’t do it without you.”
    He kissed her hand. “You’re stronger than you think,Annie.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s go in. I’m sure the Kauffmans are anxious to see you.”
    Anna Mae grasped Kellan’s hand as they made their way through the swirling snow flurries to the front door of the bakery.
    Her pulse quickened when he opened the door, and the little bell chimed, announcing their arrival. She breathed in the delicious scents of freshly baked bread and chocolate. She glanced around the bakery, which looked just as it had three years ago, with the long counter filled with pastries and the array of shelves and displays packed with Amish Country souvenirs. A half-dozen small tables, each with four