“What does that have to do with me?”
“Apparently, he had a brief relationship with your mother thirty years ago and left Bethlehem without knowing she was pregnant. He traveled back through here when you were around ten years old and discovered you existed. Your mother had married and insisted that he not try to contact you in any way.”
Carly dropped into the chair behind the counter, tears flowing down her cheeks. She choked back the sobs that threatened to wrack her and leave her in a heap on the floor. Somehow she had to focus on the present, this moment, this…bombshell. She had a father? And sister? She lifted her head and looked into Jasmine’s twinkling black eyes.
Wait a minute. She wiped her cheeks, rose from the chair, and studied the girl. She didn’t look anything like her. Jenna looked from Carly to Jasmine and took a step forward. Carly shook her off.
“How do I know any of this is true? You don’t look anything like me.”
Jasmine fished inside her purse and pulled out another photo and shoved it in her hand. “Our father.”
The blond-haired, blue-eyed man’s piercing stare, the same one who looked at her each morning in the mirror, captivated her. Her father? He was real, like she’d imagined all those years. She sucked in a breath. Her mother had kept this from her. She’d always thought he didn’t want her. Now she saw it was her mother’s doing. But why? Out of spite? None of this made sense.
“I’m sorry I doubted you, Jasmine. Please come into the back room and have some coffee. I want to know everything.”
Jasmine’s cheek dimpled for the first time since she’d entered the store. “I’ve always wanted a sister. Somehow, I knew there was more to life than what I have.” Her face clouded and she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. That sounded selfish. My parents are great. I’ve had a wonderful life.” She reached out and squeezed Carly’s hand. “But a sister…”
Carly’s tears threatened to flow again. She sniffed them down and motioned for Jasmine to follow her. “Jenna, please re-open the store and mind the front, will you?”
Jenna’s wide eyes told her she expected to be part of the family reunion. She’d learn everything soon enough, but right now Carly had to get her mind straight.
She asked her visitor to have a seat. “How do you like your coffee?”
Jasmine scrunched her nose. “If you have soda, I’d prefer that.”
“Sure. Coke?”
“Yeah.” Jasmine took the offered soda and popped the top, releasing the fizzing drink.
Carly willed her hand to quit shaking so she could pour the coffee, then pulled a chair up next to Jasmine. “You don’t know how desperately I want to believe what you’re saying, but I have some questions.”
“Sure. Go ahead. I’ll answer if I can.”
“I can somewhat understand that your—I mean, our—father was turned aside by my mom. Although I have to say, it would’ve felt better had he fought for me.”
Jasmine’s eyes glistened. “Carly, my mom said he wanted to, but more than that he wanted what was best for you. Your mother had married someone else. He thought disrupting your life would be selfish.”
“I suppose he had no idea that would’ve been a good thing.”
Jasmine’s brow crinkled. “What do you mean?”
Carly focused on the steam floating up from her coffee before taking a sip. “My mother died of alcoholism. It wasn’t the storybook childhood that…” She hesitated.
“That you think I had?”
Carly grimaced. “Sorry.”
Jasmine picked at the hem of her cashmere sweater before finally looking up and meeting her gaze. “No, you’re right. I lived in a stable home with more luxuries than most. I feel guilty about that now.”
Carly reached out and covered her sister’s hand with her own. “Oh no. I didn’t mean it like that. More than anything, I wanted family. A father.” Her voice broke.
“I’m sorry.” Jasmine’s eyes welled with tears. “I had everything, except family. I mean…Of course, I had a mother and father. But more than anything I wanted a house full of siblings. Like most of my friends had. Now it looks like both of our prayers were answered.”
Carly stiffened. Jasmine’s assessment seemed correct. Although right now it felt like a huge cosmic joke. She’d spent her life wishing for something that had actually existed but out of her reach. Would she ever understand life? Or God, for that matter?
She smiled. “I believe you, but I need some time to process what you’ve said.”
Jasmine smiled as she stood to leave. “That’s fine. I have to go home anyway. I have a project due for my college class, but then I’m out until next semester.”
She was leaving?
“I had thought…I’d like to spend more time with you.” Suddenly, Carly wanted to share her life with Jasmine. Make up for lost time. “I’d love for you to come to the Christmas play at our church next Saturday night. But since you’re going home…Where is home, anyway?”
Jasmine slipped her long purse strap over her shoulder. “Oh, that would be North Augusta, South Carolina. We have a horse farm. You have to promise to visit.” She fidgeted with the golden locket on her pendant and seemed to be lost in thought. “I’ll be back for the Christmas program.” Her voice floated upward, out of Carly’s reach.
Had she heard right? North Augusta?
A shudder rippled through her, and she tried to bring her focus back to Jasmine’s frowning face.
“Carly, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing,” she murmured.
“You’re pale.”
“No, no. I’m fine.” She fished her cell phone from her pocket and tapped in Jasmine’s number. “I look forward to seeing you again next weekend.”
“Promise you’ll call if anything comes up.”
“I will.” Carly mustered a smile and watched Jasmine disappear through the doorway into the shop. She sunk back into her chair. Her life felt like a snow globe, turned upside down and shaken, the pieces floating around, out of her grasp. She glanced heavenward, a sudden wave of hope filling her like it never had before.
Was this God? And if so…what in the world was he doing?
Chapter Ten
“I still can’t believe you have a sister…and she just showed up like that.” Drew captured Carly’s hand in his as they walked through downtown Hickory. Christmas lights dotted the evergreens in the dusk, and a mountain folk band played at the center of Union Square. The old train depot now housed a restaurant and bakery. Since the downtown had been revitalized, like so many other small towns, this was the place to be in the evenings, especially during the holidays and for special events.
“I can’t wrap my brain around it, either.” Carly stopped and looked through the window of an art gallery that had already closed. “It’s been forever since I’ve been down here. Thanks for bringing me tonight.”
“We’ll have to come on a Saturday afternoon and visit the farmer’s market and eat lunch at Josh’s or the Old Hickory Station. They have the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten.”
Carly arched an eyebrow. “What are we waiting for?”
Drew chuckled. “I don’t know. Except we’ll never get in Josh’s without a reservation at this time of night, but let’s finish our walk, and then we’ll go see about the cheesecake.”
They walked in silence as the crowd gravitated toward Union Square around the band and the sidewalks thinned out.
Was she purposely avoiding talking about Jasmine?
He cleared his throat. “So what’s she like?”
“Who?”
“Jasmine, of course.”
“Hard to judge on one meeting, but she’s young, confident. Doesn’t look a bit like me.” Carly laughed. “You’ll get to meet her at the performance on Saturday.”
He nudged her with his arm. “And you’ll finally get to meet Keenan.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can hardly wait.”
Drew stopped and looked at the center of
Union Square. “Well, we’ve walked full circle. Care to sit for a while and listen to the music?” He motioned to an empty park bench.
She dropped her purse onto the bench and sat.
Drew sat on the other side of her and leaned back, putting his arm around her shoulders. “You can’t beat this weather.”
“Snow flurries are predicted for Saturday, though. I can already feel the cold.” She crossed her arms and snuggled closer, causing his pulse to skip into overdrive.
“Maybe we’ll get a white Christmas this year.” The closeness of her next to him made him long for something more permanent between them. Should he go to South Carolina at such a pivotal point in their relationship?
She turned her head and looked up into his eyes. “Have you made a decision about Austin’s project?”
“I want to do it. I’ve been kind of stuck in a rut here.” He rubbed his chin.
“But?”
“If you must know, I don’t want to leave when we’re finally getting to know each other.”
Her eyes misted, and she leaned against his shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere. And you’ll be back. Besides, now that I have a sister in South Carolina, I’ll come for a visit.”
He startled up. “What do you mean?”
She quirked a smile. “Yeah, I saved the best for last. Guess where Jasmine lives?”
“You’re not serious!”
“Oh, but I am. North Augusta.”
He slouched against the bench and put his arm behind her shoulders. “Well, if that’s not a God thing, I don’t know what is.”
She grew quiet and looked at her hands in her lap. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I mean, why did I have this sister and father but they were out of reach all these years? Jasmine said she prayed for siblings. I prayed, well, wished…or something.” Her brow furrowed. “I’m not sure what I did, but oh, what I would’ve given for a sister.”
Her confusion and pain were palpable. Drew’s heart ached for an answer. “Sometimes we don’t understand how life plays out. Maybe it’ll be another ten years before it all becomes clear. Maybe it never will this side of heaven. The important thing is to take what you’ve been given now and run with it.”
A shaky laugh escaped her lips. “You’re right. We’re so different, Drew. I hope we’ll grow close in time.”
“You will.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s go see if Old Hickory Station has any cheesecake left.”
She slipped her hand into his and they walked across Union Square, over the railroad tracks, and up to the old depot.
Drew prayed that God would continue to work in Carly’s heart. He wanted a future with her, but more importantly, he wanted God’s love to heal her brokenness.
***
The church brimmed to almost overflowing on Saturday night and people continued to trickle in. The organ softly played Christmas carols as ushers scrambled to pull out folding chairs to line the back of the sanctuary.
Still, the crowd didn’t bother Carly like it would’ve two months ago. Now it felt like she belonged. Jasmine fidgeted with her gold charm bracelet next to her, and Drew sat comfortably on the other side with his arm stretched across the back of the pew behind her. Keenan perched on the edge of his seat next to Drew, sporting a bro-bun and a collared polo shirt that no doubt Drew forced him to wear. She stifled a giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Drew’s breath warmed her ear.
“What? I didn’t make a noise,” she whispered.
He quirked a smile. “I have a surprise for you after the service.”
Her pulse skipped a beat. “What is it?”
“Wait and see.”
The lights dimmed, and the pastor stepped forward to offer a prayer before yielding the stage to the narrator who started the play with the beginning of the second chapter of Luke.
The costumed Mary and Joseph appeared and settled into the manger scene with animals surrounding them. Warmth filled Carly as she looked at the freshly painted scenery and refurbished costumes and knew she had contributed to a night that would forever be in the children’s memories. The children reverently went through their lines as rehearsed.
The scene darkened, and the narrator began the next section of Luke as the lights rose on another part of the stage showing the shepherds. The boys stood patiently for a few minutes as practiced before one little boy ran off the stage into the back.
“Looks like one of the shepherds had to go find a lost sheep,” the narrator said to snickers in the sanctuary. He cleared his throat and continued reading.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The three little girls chosen to play angels appeared on the stage and in unison cried out: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The shepherds responded: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
The lights dimmed again, and they appeared around the manger scene with Mary and Joseph. The three shepherds talked with Mary and Joseph then left the stage proclaiming the birth of the Savior.
As the scene finished with the narrator reading the end of the chapter, a phrase caught Carly’s attention:
“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Tears filled Carly’s eyes as she thought of all that Mary had to ponder. How overwhelmed she must have felt, yet joyous at the same time. Did Carly dare believe her own mother had felt joy at her birth? Her mind wandered to her sister who was obviously born with a silver spoon in her mouth. How would their future play out?
The newly crafted star of Bethlehem rose sparkling above the stable, and wise men filed onto the stage as the narrator read from the second chapter of Matthew. Mesmerized by the scene and the holy words from the Bible, she considered what it must have been like two-thousand years before to peer into the night sky and see the same stars she did now.
She felt a nudge from Drew and rose with the rest of the congregation as the organ played the intro to “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” She joined her soprano with the other voices, lifted by Drew’s deep voice and Jasmine’s smooth alto. She peeked at Keenan, whose lips moved slightly, as though he were too timid to chime in.
The words resonated in her heart as they sprung from her mouth.
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight
Tears stung the corners of her eyes as she realized the significance of the words. All her hopes and fears, the dark streets she’d walked, the stars she believed were silent—the everlasting Light had finally spoken to her. Through Jasmine and Drew next to her, through Lottie’s gentle guidance and humor, through the warm congregation who’d welcomed her in—God’s love permeated her heart, and she bowed her head.
Jesus, I want you in my life. I’m sorry for ever doubting your existence or love for me.
“You okay?” Drew murmured close to her ear.
She could only nod.
He slipped his arm around her and pulled her close as the organist finished the last verse, and the preacher gave the benediction.
The lights brightened, and everyone started moving up the aisles toward the fellowship hall where there would be punch and desse
rts.
“Everything looked beautiful, Carly.” Jasmine flashed a smile.
“Yeah, good job.” Keenan mumbled then shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Carly beamed. “Let’s go to the fellowship hall and have some refreshments. I wanna see Lottie before I leave.” She caught of glimpse of someone in the back hurrying out the door. “I’ll meet you over there.”
Moments later she caught up with Jenna on the sidewalk. “So you came, after all.”
Jenna blushed. “If you must know, I wanted to find out what was really going on down here.”
Carly crossed her arms. “Did you?”
“I guess.” Jenna shifted uncomfortably. “Can I go now?”
“No, you may not.” Carly tucked her arm in her friend’s. “You’re going to have refreshments with us and pretend like you’re enjoying this.”
“Ugh. You’re so messed up.” Jenna started giggling. “You know that, don’t you?”
“Actually, I do. That’s why I’m here.”
Jenna’s forehead furrowed. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Nevertheless, I have some folks I want you to meet.”
***
Drew glanced at the door leading into the fellowship hall then took another sip of his punch. Where had Carly gotten off to?
The door opened and she came in with her co-worker, Jenna. He exhaled and hurried toward them.
“I wondered if something had happened.”
“Jenna decided to join us tonight. Isn’t that a pleasant surprise?” Carly smiled and tilted her head toward Jenna.
“It’s great. The more the merrier, I say.” Drew took their coats and hung them on the hooks lining the wall by the entry. “Come along, let’s get some refreshments, and you can meet my brother.”
Jenna arched an eyebrow. “You have a brother, and I’m just now finding this out?”
Carly laughed.
A dessert table lined the wall. An assortment of fudge brownies, peppermint bark, sugar cookies shaped like bells and trees, and other desserts dotted the tabletop. A bowl of punch and a dispenser with hot apple cider flanked each end. Children surrounded the Christmas tree as the choir director handed out Christmas stockings filled with candy.
Silent Stars of Bethlehem (O Little Town of Christmas) Page 8
