A Christmas Star

by Judith Keim

  He led her into the kitchen. “Sit down. It’ll only take me a minute to make your sandwich.” He handed her a glass of water. “Mustard? Mayo?”

  “Both,” she replied primly, sitting down at a small pine table in the eating area of the room.

  She sat quietly, becoming uncomfortable with the idea that he was waiting on her. She wasn’t used to such a gesture. She was usually the one waiting on others both in her foster home and at the church where she’d spent hours each week attending services and events with her foster family. Thinking of them now, a shiver raced across her shoulders like a frightened centipede. It had been her experience that supposedly outstanding members of a church weren’t always kind to those they’d taken into foster care primarily for the money.

  “Ready!” said Kenton, jarring her out of thoughts of the past. He placed a plate with the sandwich in front of her and took a seat opposite her.

  She lifted the sandwich to her face and inhaled the aroma of the ham. Keeping her eyes on Kenton, she bit into the bread, savoring the taste of fresh food.

  He beamed at her with satisfaction when she quickly took another bite.

  “Who lives here? Lettie asked.

  “A friend of mine,” said Kenton. His gaze remained on her. “You don’t look eighteen.”

  She swallowed, and her breath puffed out with dismay. “But I am.”

  “And you’re not into drugs and all the free-love stuff everyone talks about?”

  Lettie shook her head. “Not really. I tried weed a couple of times, but it wasn’t for me.” Her strict upbringing had had a greater influence on her than she’d thought.

  “Good. Like I said, if you want to ride to Oregon with me, there’s a job waiting for you at the Chandler Hill Inn. We’re looking for help. It would be a lot better than walking the streets of Haight-Ashbury. Safer too.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “And if I don’t like it?”

  He shrugged. “You can leave. One of the staff recently left for L.A. That’s why my father called me to ask if I knew anyone who could come and work there. You’re my only choice.”

  Lettie’s heart pounded with hope. Acting as nonchalant as she could, she said, “Sounds like something I’d like to try.”

  ###

  The ride to Oregon was mostly quiet as an unexpected ease developed between them. Kenton answered any questions she had about him, the inn, and the way he thought about things. Lettie was surprised to learn he hadn’t joined in a lot of the anti-war protests.

  “My best friend died in ’Nam. He believed in serving our country. I want to honor him,” he said to Lettie.

  “A boy in my high school was drafted. His parents weren’t happy about it.”

  “Well, if I’m drafted, I’m going,” Kenton said. “I don’t want to, but I will. I don’t really have a choice.”

  As they talked, they agreed that John Wayne was great in the movie True Grit.

  “And I love the Beatles,” said Lettie.

  “Yeah, me too. Too bad they just broke up.”

  “And what about the new group, The Jackson 5?” Lettie said.

  “They’re great. And I like Simon and Garfunkel and their music too.”

  At one point, Lettie turned to Kenton. “Sometimes you seem so serious, like an old man. How old are you, anyway?”

  He gave her a sheepish look. “Twenty-two.”

  They shared a laugh, and in that moment, Lettie knew she’d found a person with whom she could be herself.

  ###

  Lettie woke to someone shaking her shoulder. She stared into the blue-gray eyes of a stranger and stiffened.

  “Lettie, we’re here,” said a male voice.

  As she came fully awake, she realized Kenton was talking to her.

  “Here at Chandler Hill?” she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  She looked out through the windshield of the Ford Pinto and gaped at the huge, white-clapboard house sitting on the top of a knoll like a queen overlooking her realm.

  Lettie scrambled out of the car and stood gazing at the clean lines of the two-story building. Across the front, four windows offset by green shutters were lined up with identical windows below. Beneath a small, protective, curved roof, glass panels bracketed a wide front door, welcoming guests. To one side, a two-story wing had been added to the house.

  Green, leafy bushes offset by an assortment of colorful flowers she didn’t recognize softened the front of the building. As she walked closer, she realized between the main house and the addition a small, stone patio and private garden had been installed.

  “Come on in,” said Kenton. “There’s a beautiful view from the back porch.”

  Feeling as if she were Alice in a different kind of Wonderland, Lettie entered the house. As she tiptoed behind Kenton, her gaze darted from the polished surfaces of furniture to gilt-edged mirrors to a massive floral bouquet sitting on a large dining-room table. It all seemed so grand.

  Kenton led her to a wide porch lining the back of the house. Observing the rolling land before her and, in the distance, the hills crouching in deepening colors of green, Lettie’s breath caught. The sun was rising, spreading a gold topping on the hills like icing on cake. She’d never seen anything so beautiful, so peaceful.

  “Nice, huh?”

  Lettie smiled and nodded.

  At the sound of footsteps behind her, she whirled around.

  A tall, gray-haired man with striking features similar to Kenton’s said, “Welcome home, son.”

  They shook hands, and then the older gentleman turned to her. “And who is this?”

  Shy, she stared at the man who seemed so familiar to her.

  Kenton nudged Lettie.

  Minding her manners, Lettie held out her hand as she’d been taught. “Lettie Hawkins. I’ve come for a job.” A niggling feeling kept her eyes on him longer than necessary. When she could no longer stop herself, she blurted, “Aren’t you Rex Chandler, the movie star?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I am. But I’ve changed professions.”

  Lettie held back a chuckle of delight. A friend’s mother had privately adored him.

  “Why don’t the two of you come into the kitchen,” said Rex. “Mrs. Morley will want to talk to Lettie, and I need to talk to you, Kenton.”

  As Lettie followed the men into the kitchen, a woman hurried toward them, crying, “Kenton! Kenton! You’re home at last!”

  Laughing, Kenton allowed the woman to hug him. “You’d think I’ve been gone a year, Mrs. Morley.”

  “You almost were,” she said, smiling and pinching his cheek. “And look at you! More handsome than ever.”

  Looking as if he couldn’t wait for her to focus her attention elsewhere, Kenton said, “Mrs. Morley, I’d like you to meet Lettie Hawkins. She’s here for a job.”

  Mrs. Morley’s gaze settled on Lettie. “So, you like to work?”

  “She likes to eat,” said Kenton, bringing a smile to Mrs. Morley’s full face.

  “By the looks of it, Lettie, you could use more food,” said Mrs. Morley. “Let’s you and I talk about what kind of jobs you could do around here. I’m short-handed at the moment.”

  Kenton and Rex left the kitchen.

  Mrs. Morley waved Lettie over to a desk in a small alcove in the kitchen. After lowering her considerable bulk into a chair, Mrs. Morley faced her. Her green eyes exuded kindness as she studied Lettie. Her gray-streaked brown hair was pulled back from her face and banded together in a ponytail, giving Lettie a good look at her pleasing features.

  “Have a seat, dear.”

  Lettie sat in the chair indicated for her and clutched her hands. After seeing the small inn and the beautiful countryside, she desperately wanted the job.

  “Where are you from, Lettie? And why in the world do you want to work here in the country? I’d think a pretty, young girl like you would want to be in a city having fun.”

  Lettie paused, unsure how to answer her. She’d thought she’d like living in the city
, being free to do whatever she wanted. But after four months of doing just that, the excitement had worn off. She liked to know where she was going to sleep at night and when she’d next eat.

  “Maybe I’m just a country girl at heart,” she answered lamely. Her two best friends at home would scoff at her, but right now, that’s how she felt.

  “Well, that’s what you’ll be if you stay on. A lot of activity is taking place around here, what with people buying up turkey farms and the like, turning them into vineyards, but it is country. I hope it always will be.” She leaned forward. “Know anything about cooking? Cleaning?”

  “Yes,” said Lettie. “I used to do both in my foster home. I was the oldest of eight kids there.”

  “Eight? My land, that’s a lot of kids to take in,” said Mrs. Morley.

  Lettie curled her lip. “It’s a lot of money. That’s why they did it.”

  “I see,” said Mrs. Morley, studying her. “So how long have you been on your own?”

  “Four months,” said Lettie. “I was in San Francisco when I met Kenton.”

  “Such a good, young man. I’ve known him for a while now,” Mrs. Morley said, sighing with affection. “You’re lucky he found you. Why don’t we start in housekeeping, see how it goes, and then maybe you can give me a hand in the kitchen.”

  “Okay,” Lettie said, jumping to her feet. “Where should I put my things? I need to get them from the car.”

  Mrs. Morley gave her an approving look. “I like your eagerness. Let me show you to your room and then I’ll give you a tour.”

  The north half of the front of the house consisted of a large, paneled dining room she’d seen earlier. The long mahogany table that sat in the middle of the room held seats for twelve. A summer flower arrangement consisted of pink roses and pink hydrangeas interspersed with white daisies and sat in a cut-glass vase in the middle of the table. Along one wall, above a service counter, an open cupboard made of dark wood stored coffee mugs, extra wine goblets, and water glasses. A coffee maker and a burner holding a pot of hot water sat on the marble counter. A bowl of sugar, a pitcher of cream, and a dish of lemon slices were displayed nearby. At the other end of the counter, a large plate of homemade, chocolate-chip cookies invited guests to take one.

  “How many guests do you usually have?” Lettie asked.

  “We have six guest rooms, so we have as many as twelve people for the breakfast we serve. During the day, people come and go on their own, tasting wine at nearby vineyards or sightseeing. We offer a simple dinner to those not wishing to travel to restaurants at night.” A look of pride crossed Mrs. Morley’s face. “Sometimes my husband, Pat, grills out, or Rita Lopez cooks up Mexican food. Guests like these homestyle meals. In fact, we’re becoming known for them.”

  Lettie’s mouth watered. It all sounded so good.

  Mrs. Morley led her to a sideboard, opened its drawers, and gave her a smile. “Let’s see how well you polish silver.”

  Later, after being shown how, Lettie was working on the silverware when Kenton walked into the kitchen.

  “Well? Are you going to stay?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Lettie said with determination. The whole time she’d been cleaning the silver she’d been able to gaze at the rolling hills outside. This, she’d decided, is where she wanted to be. It felt right.

  About the Author

  Judith Keim enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family.

  While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

  A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love. Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.

  “I hope you’ve enjoyed this book. If you have, please help other readers discover it by leaving a review on the site of your choice. And please check out the Hartwell Women Series, the Fat Fridays Group, and The Beach House Hotel series. ALL THE BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN AUDIO on iTunes! So fun to have these characters come alive!”

  Ms. Keim can be reached at www.judithkeim.com And to like her author page on Facebook and keep up with the news, go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judith-Keim/184013771644484?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.

  To receive notices about new books, follow her on Book Bub - http://bit.ly/2pZBDXq

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  She is also on Twitter @judithkeim, LinkedIn and Goodreads. Come say hello!

  Acknowledgements

  Every book is a component of various exercises, different pieces of work, and a whole lot of cooperation between people to make it happen. The journey is challenging from the conception of an idea to the writing of it, the editing and proofing, the creation of a cover and the production of an audio book.

  I’m so fortunate to have a supportive husband who has become an important part of the business both with the financials and as an editor, a content editor I love and totally trust, a book cover creator whose work I adore, and a wonderful narrator of my audio books who makes my characters come alive.

  Thank you Peter, Lynn Mapp, Lou Harper, and Angela Dawe! I’m so grateful to each of you. Together, you are the perfect team!