Read Merry's Christmas: Two Book Set (Amish) for Free Online Page B

beads, wire, bells, doodads, and odd recyclables over a protective covering of newsprint. Merry had always loved creating things. She enjoyed the adventure that making something out of what seemed like nothing could be. Her eyes shining, she scanned the diverse array. Never before had she had such nice materials, nor so many shimmering possibilities.
    Ollie loped in through the back door. He ditched his backpack on the counter and made a beeline straight for the cookie jar. “Hi, again, whoever you are,” he chirped.
    Merry looked up from her work. Something in Ollie’s easy acceptance of her presence made her begin to feel at home. “Hi, again.”
    Ollie looked at her quizzically. “Are you that Merry Christmas person?”
    “Yup,” Merry nodded. “Just getting going here.”
    Ollie eyed the table. “What’s all that stuff?”
    “For ornaments. For the tree.”
    “Why don’t you just buy some at the store?” Ollie asked, stuffing a chocolate chip cookie into his mouth.
    “More fun to make them,” Merry countered. “That way, it’s a memory you’ll be hanging. Wanna help?”
    Ollie crinkled his nose at the prospect. “Looks like it’s for girls.”
    Merry sighed cheerily. “Well, your sisters, they said they had homework. So, the opportunity is wide open.”
    Ollie shook his head warily as he retrieved his backpack. “I think I might have homework, too.”
    “Okay,” Merry accepted, going on with her work. Then, with a nonchalant nod to the pile of dinnerware, she added, “But you’d get to break stuff.”
    Not long later, a colorful plate smashed into an outdoor fireplace in the Bell’s backyard. Merry turned to Ollie, admiring his toss. “Oooh, good one. Why don’t you try a couple of these teacups?”
    Wearing an oddly protective snorkeling mask and oven mitts, Ollie grabbed the cups and sent them sailing into the barbeque where they shattered into pieces. “Smithereens!” he shouted gleefully.
    Merry climbed the stairs and approached the bedroom the Bell girls shared. The twins hadn’t come to her, so she would try going to them. As she reached the doorway, Merry saw Tara first. She was rifling impatiently through her closet. Hayden was across the room, sitting on her bed with her laptop and books, apparently trying to make a dent in her homework.
    “This is hopeless,” Tara moped. “He’s seen every single permutation of every last piece I’ve got.”
    “You’re welcome to my wardrobe,” Hayden offered flatly.
    “Funny,” Tara groaned.
    It felt kind of odd to Merry that the girls weren’t acknowledging her presence. She reminded herself that it would be more challenging to break the ice with them than it had been with Ollie. She gave the doorjamb a light rap. “Got a sec?”
    Tara nodded acceptingly. She waved at Merry to come in, a conniving glint in her eyes. “So...since you’re the one doing the whole Christmas thing—”
    Merry shrugged congenially, “Well, I kind of thought we’d all do it.”
    Tara marched straight to her desk and grabbed a piece of paper. “Well, anyway, you’ll be happy to know I’ve already done my part.”
    Hayden barely looked up to add, “Yeah, she’s been making her list and checking it twice ever since Dad said we could have Christmas.”
    “That’s great,” Merry said. “I was going to ask you to make lists.”
    “Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” Hayden replied, her tone dripping with cynicism.
    Undaunted, Tara handed Merry a lengthy list. Impressed, Merry scanned it.
    “My favorite boutiques, my color palette and sizes,” Tara explained. “Daddy may resist the Beemer, but still try. Not like he can’t afford it.”
    Merry’s eyes widened. Though taken aback by the list’s contents, she knew she wanted to get off on the right foot with Tara. “This is some list. Very...complete.”
    Hayden chortled. “Yeah, she’s actually glad to be Christmassing again. Amazing we have the same DNA.”
    Tara whirled toward her twin.