Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  “I’m a police officer.”

  The way he puffed up his chest when he said that, so full of righteous indignation, made her smile. “And I work at a coffeehouse. But knowing someone’s job doesn’t mean we know them. Right?”

  “Point taken.” He sighed; ran a hand through his dark blond hair, messing it up just enough for Leah to see that there were darker streaks hiding underneath.

  “Leah, I should have just answered you right away instead of getting my feelings hurt. You are exactly right to not trust me. So, here we go. No, I don’t do this often. Actually, I’ve never asked a stranded girl out before.”

  The way he characterized her made Leah smile. “Ever?”

  “Ever. I like my job, Leah. I like helping people. And being a patrol officer is demanding.” He paused again—seemed to struggle to find the right words. “Until I met you, I never once considered dating someone I’ve met while working. But then, again, I’d never met you before.”

  His honest words melted her heart more than any polished flirtatious line ever could have. She began to feel trusting of him.

  And even more surprising … well, she, too, didn’t want to say goodbye to him. Not yet.

  Even though she knew Melody was alone at the inn.

  “You know, the roads do look bad,” she said slowly. “And, I’m still a little shaken from the accident.”

  “That’s a common consequence.”

  “So, Officer Littleton, if it’s okay with you, I think I better stay here another day. You know, just to be on the safe side.”

  “That’s a smart decision, miss,” he said before his solemn demeanor melted into pure pleasure. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you say that.”

  “So what would you like to do?”

  “Today, I thought maybe we could just go to a movie or something. The storm is supposed to get worse before it gets better. But tomorrow morning, I’d like to take you by my parents’ place. It’s on the way to I-71. They have beagle puppies. Any chance you want to see a litter of six five-week-old pups?”

  All feelings of unease dissipated in an instant. This was why he was so special. He wanted to show her puppies?

  But just to be sure things were on the safe side, Leah took care to look at him sideways. “Will your parents be there?”

  He held up a hand. “Of course.”

  “Then, yes, Zack, I’d love to go to the movies today and see those puppies tomorrow before I take off.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, Leah Dillon.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Not at all,” he said with a grin. Which, of course, made her smile, too.

  December 22, 11:00 A.M.

  As the icy pellets turned into fluffy flakes, Katie turned her attention to the girls and one of their favorite snowy-day treats: pretzels.

  “How come we only make pretzels when it’s cold outside, Katie?” Mary asked.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe because it’s what your grossmammi did with me. It’s a snowy day tradition,” she mused as she carefully measured three quarters of a cup of warm water, then added it to the bowl filled with yeast, sugar, and salt. As Mary and Hannah stood by, she next measured out bread flour, then handed a wooden spoon to her oldest stepdaughter. “Stir, dear.”

  Mary did, easily, and Hannah was already preparing for her favorite part—kneading. Her little fingers flexed, eager to grab at the dough. Little by little, they crept forward, ready to snatch it from the bowl and begin to make it elastic. “Now, Mamma?”

  “Not quite. Patience, Hannah,” she murmured, feeling her whole being smile with contentment. She’d been married to Jonathan over a year; and while Mary would most likely never call her anything but “Katie,” already Hannah had adopted her as her own—and she was “Mamma,” too.

  Just as Katie felt in her heart “Mother” to Hannah and Mary, Jonathan’s sweet daughters.

  “Are we ready now?” Mary asked.

  Katie peeked into the bowl. The dough was mixed together as well as could be done with a wooden spoon. After lightly flouring the countertop, she nodded. “Ready.”

  Eagerly Mary plopped the dough on the counter, and neatly divided it in half. Then she and Hannah got to work kneading the dough.

  Katie stood to the side, watching in amusement as Hannah lasted all of four minutes before her arms and hands grew tired. Without a word, she stepped to Hannah’s side and continued the chore.

  When the dough looked almost shiny, Katie neatly divided it into six sections, then helped the girls form the clumps into long ropes.

  Anna came in just as Katie was helping Hannah form her second pretzel. “Oh, yum. What a perfect day for pretzels.”

  Katie chuckled. “Mary and I were just discussing how snow seems to make baking much more tempting.”

  With a fierce look of concentration, Mary set her third pretzel on the greased baking sheet. “All of mine are done, Katie.”

  “Crack the egg, then. We’ll need to make an egg wash, jah?”

  “An egg wash?” Hannah giggled.

  “It’s what it is called.”

  “Like they’re taking a bath!”

  Katie played along. “Even pretzels need to bathe, jah?”

  Mary grinned and carefully dipped the pastry brush into the egg-and-water mixture, then brushed the first pretzel. Beside her, Hannah looked like she couldn’t seem to do more than giggle.

  Anna looked fondly at Hannah. “Though I had been worried about what the holidays would be like with all the family and guests, I have to say I’m enjoying the company so much.”

  “I, as well. It’s times like this that I think the Lord is reminding me to concentrate on the moment instead of the plans that fall through.”

  “So, things are better?”

  “Perhaps.” Katie shrugged. “It was wrong of me to want to hold on to our traditions so tightly. I should have known sharing our family activities wouldn’t make them less special. Actually, they seem to make them seem more special, seen through another’s eyes.”

  “I can vouch for that,” Anna said, a dreamy look in her eyes. “When I first stayed here, I found a lot of comfort in your home. Even dusting furniture seemed different because I felt like I was important. Like I belonged. Everyone likes to feel that way, I think.”

  “You are right.” Looking toward the door, a lump grew in Katie’s throat. “I need to apologize to our guests.”

  “Maybe not.”

  “No, I think I do. Christmas is a time of sharing, and joy and Grace. There’s no better time to entertain family and friends than now. It was wrong of me to forget.”

  As the girls continued to giggle and bathe pretzels, Anna nodded to the door. “Why don’t you go do that now, then?”

  “Now?”

  “I have things under control here, and Eli is sleeping. Go apologize, then come back and we’ll work on a project or two.”

  “All right, I will.” She turned away and strode to the dining room before she could change her mind.

  Chapter 11

  December 22, 3:00 P.M.

  “Excuse me,” Katie said as she entered the dining room. “Melody, may I speak with you for a moment?”

  Levi watched Melody turn to Katie in surprise. “Of course.” When she stayed seated, Levi felt his admiration for her continue to grow. At first glance, Melody had seemed a fragile thing. But now he was learning she was far stronger than he’d realized. Whatever had brought her here had to have been difficult, but she wasn’t dwelling on her problems.

  In fact, she seemed more eager to push her problems away than to dwell on disappointments. Her fortitude drew him to her in a way he never imagined.

  Katie paused next to the table. “So, may we go into another room, where we can talk privately?”

  After glancing Levi’s way, Melody shook her head. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d just as soon as talk here. I’m comfortable.” She patted her belly. “And comfortable with Levi here, too.”


  When she looked at him for reassurance, he nodded. “We’ve become gut friends.”

  Katie swallowed. “Oh. Well, then, all right.” She darted a glance his way as she sat.

  “I know I’ve given you every cause to believe that is how I think, but it isn’t true. Usually I never think of this place as my own.”

  Melody frowned. “I’m confused.”

  Levi was as well, but he held his tongue. He was interested in what Katie Lundy had to say … and how Melody would react to it.

  “Fact is, this isn’t my home, not really.”

  “But you grew up here …”

  “I grew up in an inn. We are used to having visitors. In fact, we’ve welcomed the company. A little more than a year ago, I married and moved away. Now I have a new home.”

  Melody raised her eyebrows. Levi felt just as confused. When she continued to seem tongue-tied, he spoke. “Is that what you wanted to tell her?”

  “No. I wanted to apologize. For my behavior,” she sputtered, her voice shaky. “When you first arrived, I was unforgivably rude. I want you to know that I am truly sorry for it.”

  Katie’s apology embarrassed Levi. Surely it would have been better to have just not said anything at all?

  “Please don’t worry,” Melody responded.

  “I will. Melody, this won’t make up for my attitude, but I will share that over the last year, our family has had a lot of changes. I married, so did Anna. So did Jonathan’s sister Winnie. We’ve gone from being three single girls to three married women. And all during the fall, we’ve looked forward to these two weeks to be together again.”

  “Without guests.”

  “Jah.”

  Though Levi appreciated the apology, he didn’t necessarily feel Katie was making things better. He also didn’t like how ill at ease Melody looked.

  Surely she had enough on her plate without the burden of being Katie’s uninvited guest. “If it was so important to you, you should have made note of that on your reservation schedule,” he said more gruffly than he’d intended.

  “You’re right. However, we never hosted guests over Christmas before. Not ever. So, I guess Anna and Henry didn’t think to do that. Anyway, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been unfair and I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry I’m ruining your week,” Melody said.

  New pain and chagrin entered her expression. “Please don’t say that. Please don’t even think that. In the short time you’ve been here, you both have become more like friends than mere guests. Now, why … I couldn’t imagine you leaving.”

  Levi didn’t doubt Katie’s sincerity. There was something in her eyes that spoke of an inner turmoil that had been put to rest.

  Melody must have felt the same way, because she smiled. “I’m thankful for that. I don’t know where else I’d go.”

  “I don’t know what has happened between you and your man, but, for now, please just relax and be glad here.”

  Levi blinked as Melody turned white. “My man?”

  Katie’s blue eyes flashed with pain. “Oh, for heaven’s sakes. There I go again, saying things I shouldn’t. I’ve really messed this up, haven’t I? Just ignore me.”

  For a moment, Melody felt frozen as Katie’s words slammed into her. “Are you speaking of my baby’s father?” she said slowly, though the question was an unnecessary one. There was no doubt what—and who—Katie was speaking about.

  “Well, yes. But like I said, it’s none of my business …”

  “I don’t have a man,” Melody said quickly. Now she was well aware of Levi’s curious look her way as well. “The man who … um, well. See, I … I won’t ever have anything to do with him. Because he is in jail.”

  Next to her she sensed Levi flinch.

  Katie was far more verbal. “In jail? My word, what did he do?”

  Well, perhaps it was time to tell the truth. The whole truth.

  Suddenly, it was so easy to tell her secret. Perhaps because she was slowly starting to realize that it was part of her past? Part of who she was now? Never would she be able to put it in a place to pretend that it didn’t matter.

  Because it would always matter.

  “The man … he raped me,” she said softly, feeling proud of herself for hardly stumbling over the statement. “He raped me, and then he raped another woman a few days later. She was brave enough to press charges. That is why he is in jail.”

  As stunned silence met her story, Melody felt relief instead of embarrassment. She’d thought that keeping her secret deep within herself would free her, but the opposite had been true. It had only weighed her down.

  Perhaps Katie Lundy had been right. Perhaps all of them in this house had become more than guests and innkeepers. Perhaps they’d become friends.

  Slowly, Levi reached for her hand. Tears were in his eyes. Melody waited for him to look at her differently … most people had in her town. But what she saw in his blue eyes was the sweetest acceptance. “Never had I imagined such a thing,” he murmured.

  Willing herself not to cry, she shrugged. “Why would you?”

  Katie wasn’t even attempting to hold back tears. “Melody, I’m so sorry.”

  “I know. I am, too.” She squeezed Levi’s hand; half waited for him to pull his away. But he did not. Instead, his large palm warmed her own. Comforted her.

  As the silence lengthened, she tried to smile, to make the tension in the room ease at least a little bit. Because the alternative would be to keep it there with them all. Painful and loud. Looking at her hand encased in Jonathan’s she said, “To be honest, I hadn’t planned to tell any of you. I don’t like to speak of it.”

  “Of course not,” Levi said quickly.

  She raised her head, feeling stronger than she was used to. “But I guess I didn’t want you thinking the worst of me.”

  Still holding her hand, Levi murmured, “I never …”

  Katie shook her head slowly. “You humble me. First, I didn’t think the worst. I don’t even know what the ‘worst’ is. All of us have things in our past that we’d like to forget. Some are our fault, some are at the hands of others. But beside all that, I am honored you thought enough of me to speak of it. I don’t think I’ve ever met a braver person.”

  “I wouldn’t call myself brave.” All she’d done was survive—that was surely nothing to be proud of.

  “I disagree,” Katie said. “I don’t know what else to say except that I promise I will now try doubly hard to make up for my earlier behavior. Will you please let me try?”

  “Of course.”

  Slowly, Katie stood up. “Thank you. I’m grateful. Now, may I get you two more tea or coffee?”

  Melody glanced Levi’s way. What would she see? Remorse? Embarrassment? “Do you care to sit here any longer, Levi?”

  But instead of seeing any negative thing, she only saw care in his expression. “I would enjoy more hot coffee.”

  “And I’d enjoy tea.”

  When she and Levi were alone again, Melody felt the silence like a vise to her chest. Perhaps telling him had been the wrong thing, after all?

  She attempted to make a joke. “Well, now, I think my ears are burning. I would guess Katie is telling my news to everyone in the kitchen right now.”

  “Perhaps. Does them knowing bother you?”

  “Usually it does. All I get at home is whispers and comments. Or looks of condemnation and pity. I had hoped for a break from that. It’s one of the reasons I came here for Christmas.”

  “I know what that is like.”

  “You do?”

  “It’s nothing I care to speak of, if you don’t mind. I’d far rather talk about you. Melody, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

  “No.”

  “Are you okay?”

  She knew what he was asking. Was she all right after sharing her story. Was she all right after everything? “Sometimes I am.” Then, feeling that she sounded too sorry for herself, she amended her words. “And physically, I am fine.
The doctor has said I’ve been blessed with an easy pregnancy.”

  “Blessed,” he mumbled. Like he couldn’t imagine a child born out of such circumstances could be seen as anything but a scar.

  “We have to see the daylight where we can, jah?” she said softly. “Every day can’t be cloudy and gloomy.”

  A muscle in his jaw worked. “And the baby …”

  “The nurses say it is okay, too.”

  “I imagine it was quite a surprise.”

  “You imagine right. I didn’t realize for a long time what was happening to me. I had no idea what to expect.”

  “What are you going to do with the baby when it’s born? Will you give it up for adoption?”

  She curved her hands around her stomach. “Oh, no. I’m going to keep him or her,” she said firmly. Realizing at that very moment nothing could be more true. “This baby is a part of me.”

  “But it’s also of the … man.” Looking at her worriedly, he whispered. “You don’t fear it will be a reminder?”

  Melody flinched but kept her head high. “Yes. But I think it will also be a reminder to me that the Lord doesn’t do anything without a reason. Perhaps one day I’ll discover what His reasons were for me to have this child.”

  Levi nodded. “Yes, one day we’ll all look forward to discovering the Lord’s reasons, I suppose.”

  Katie bustled in minutes later, her mother right behind her. Each carried a teapot and a fresh mug.

  “Melody, hot tea has always made me feel better on the most dreary of days,” Mrs. Brenneman said gently. “And Mr. Bender, the coffee is fresh. I hope you will find it to your liking.”

  Next to her, Katie looked ready to speak when Anna came through the doors, too. “I have hot pretzels,” she said with a smile. “Fresh from the oven. I hope you both will enjoy them.”

  “We shall,” Levi promised. “I’m sure we shall enjoy them very much.”

  When the ladies left again, and only the two of them sat together, silence stretched between them. Taut, unsure.

  Neither seemed to have anything to say.

  Melody wondered if, perhaps, she had already said too much.

  Chapter 12