Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray

Ben Knox. No matter what he did or where he was, she sensed his presense. With Ben, it was as if she had some sixth sense where he was concerned.
    Knowing that he looked just as aware of her should have given her some comfort. It didn’t. All it did was make her remember their differences. He had skipped school when she’d tried her best. Rumor had it that he’d done all kinds of sinful things during his rumspringa, whereas she’d told her parents she didn’t need any time to decide her future.
    Now, though, when he looked at her through hooded eyes, she wished she’d had more experiences with boys and dating. Then she would be able to understand more of what his looks and words meant.
    Lowering her eyelids, she snuck a peek at him through the corner of one eye.
    When he noticed her gaze, he stilled. “Everything all right?”
    As a matter of fact, it was not. Her stomach was in knots and it felt like monster butterflies had joined the knots, too. “Everything’s fine. Do you, ah, need some help?”
    “Do I need help sweeping? I don’t think so.”
    She wasn’t sure if he was teasing her or not. “I didn’t mean just sweeping. Do you need anything . . . ?”
    “I don’t need a thing, Judith.” Looking at the floor, he began to sweep again.
    Judith doubted he’d ever felt weak or unsure in his life.
    As a thick lock of dark hair brushed his brow, she watched it sway against his skin—and was looking at him in a way that she hadn’t been able to stop doing for hours. It seemed no matter how busy she was, or how many customers she was serving, her attention always returned to him.
    What was she going to do when he left after Christmas?
    Well, at least she could ask him about that. “Ben?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Ben, after Christmas, what are you going to do?”
    “Leave Sugarcreek. Well, I will as soon as someone buys the house.”
    She closed her eyes, remembering the sign she’d seen in front of his home. “Then what will you do? Where will you go?”
    “I’m not sure yet.”
    Honestly, could he ever just give her information without her begging and prodding for it? “Will you visit family?”
    A muscle in his jaw jumped. “No.”
    “Then what—”
    The door chime rang as a crowd of tourists burst inside. “Miss? Miss, can you help us?” one lady in a sweatshirt decorated with a large Santa Claus called out.
    “Yes, of course,” Judith replied. “What can I help you with?”
    “We need some baked goods. And Trail bologna.” One lady held out a list. “We need a lot of things. I’m giving an open house tomorrow and I’m hopelessly behind. I know you’re going to close soon, but if you could stay open just a little longer, you’ll save my life.”
    “I’ll help you get everything.”
    “And I’ll help, too,” Ben said as he walked to her side.
    One of the younger women gazed at Ben like she’d caught the grand prize at a county fair. “If you could help me, I would be most grateful.”
    “Lead the way,” he said with a smile.
    Judith felt jealousy rise inside her. Embarrassed, she tamped it down. But still couldn’t help but keep an eye on him.
    Probably because most of her brain seemed to be taking a vacation!
    Over and again, she would hear his voice through the perimeter of her thoughts. Then, just like a wisp of smoke from a fire, little by little his words would drift toward her. Muddling and mingling with her thoughts. Those words would get in the way of the conversations she had with customers and with the train of her thoughts. As she’d hear his voice or his laugh, she’d still. And only think of him.
    It was fairly disturbing.
    What was she going to do when Ben was at her house, sleeping down the hall? Surely, she’d go crazy!
    Since that wasn’t acceptable, she vowed to work extra hard to keep her feelings to herself. If her family ever caught sight of her gazing at him like she was doing at the store, they would never let her hear the end of it. And it would be no