Back indoors, even before removing her coat and scarf, she opened the box and discovered some floral stationery and two large Hershey chocolate bars with almonds, her favorite. Menno knows what I like!

After hanging up her coat and scarf inside, she made her way up the stairs to her room, where she found her homemade card for Menno and tucked it inside her shoulder purse. She looked forward to giving it to him in the horse-drawn sleigh later.

Ellie was glad to see her good friends when Sol arrived with Ruthann in the front of the sleigh and Menno waiting for her behind them. The horse’s harness was bedecked with large metal bells, and some were even attached to the front of the sleigh.

“Hullo, Ellie!” they called. She hopped in and sat next to Menno, who smiled when she handed him the card and a tin of her fudge.

As Menno read the card, they rode along, the bells jingling prettily.

“I love the sound of bells,” Ellie remarked.

“Aaron bought them and put them on,” Sol said over his shoulder.

“Tell him denki for all of us,” Ruthann said.

Sol nodded. “Aaron and I will take Leah out ridin’ in the sleigh with my parents one of the days she’s here for Christmas. Also, Dat’s older brother and family are plannin’ dinner at their place for all of us—my married siblings and their families. We’ll prob’ly take the sleigh that day, too.”

Ruthann spoke up. “Christmas will be the ideal time for your family to get caught up with Leah.”

Menno looked at Ellie. “Thanks for the card and the fudge,” he said quietly.

“Du bischt willkumm! Denki for the stationery and chocolate bars,” she replied.

“Chocolate?” Ruthann said from up front. “Did I hear someone say chocolate?”

Ellie reached into her carryall and handed a tin of fudge up to Ruthann, then one for Sol.

Ruthann practically squealed with delight and pretended to keep Sol’s tin away from him, but he just laughed.

Sol glanced over his shoulder. “What’s everyone else doin’ for Christmas?”

“Well, most of my siblings will be home for Christmas Eve supper,” Ruthann said, opening her tin and taking out a piece of fudge. “Afterward, we’ll all pull taffy.”

“What ’bout you, Ellie?” Sol asked as a light snow began to fall.

She could see him glancing at his tin on Ruthann’s lap. “My married siblings and their families will come over, but as yous can imagine, it’ll be a very different year.” She swallowed hard. Without Evan.

Menno reached over and placed his gloved hand over her mittened one. Surprised, Ellie glanced at him, and her face warmed in spite of the cold.

The tiny white flakes continued to drift down, making the atmosphere festive as Menno told of his immediate family getting together at noon on Christmas Day.