Sarah and the Widow's Mate (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)

by Gay N. Lewis

  Poopty doopty! Another mistake. Just because a person towered above others didn’t imply they played some sport, did it? Guess so, in this case. Could she help it if in her normal existence as an angel, she almost reached the height of five feet? That is, if she wore slippers and stretched. Why shouldn’t she position herself as a soaring human for a change? Just because she chose to materialize as a guy who topped the charts at nearly seven feet didn’t mean anything, did it? Could that be so uncommon?

  When the waitress brought a menu, Sarah ordered her favorite—a cheeseburger and fries. People kept glancing in her direction. They must think her some kind of sports personality too. And all because she wanted to add height to her short stature.

  Sarah sighed. Stilettos brought elevation, and she adored the gorgeous footwear, but she couldn’t walk in them. Always some problem to contend with. At least she didn’t yet fall in this eatery as she had on the last mission. While leaving the ladies’ room in a public place, those shoes caused her to skid on the marble floor and dump herself into a man’s lap. Merciful heavens! Remembering the mess made her cringe. The Commander spoke definite words about that incident at the last review.

  Beth and Charles sat too far away for her to hear their conversation without employing her super hearing. Oh, well, the aroma of food enticed her hunger. Why not take a break and just relax to enjoy an earthly meal?

  When the waitress brought the food, she waited a moment. Sarah raised eyebrows—the woman obviously wanted to ask something.

  “I hate to intrude, but we are big sports fans around here. Where have you played?”

  Suppose it wouldn’t do to say she’d played tag with the angels in The Heavenlies. Although she scrambled for an answer, Sarah’s mind came up with nothing. Placing what she hoped appeared as a blank stare, she gazed with arched eyebrows at the lady.

  “We all know you had to be involved with sports somewhere. Every coach in America must be after you for something. Was it track?”

  Track? The Commander used a tracking device for his angels, but she didn’t have one.

  “No, I don’t own a GPS, but I want one. I think the gizmo would help me track my way around the area.”

  The woman covered her mouth with her hand and walked away.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Once back in the car with Beth and Charles, Sarah resumed her place in the rear passenger area. Charles drove through the town slowly and with caution. As a tour guide, he pointed out numerous places along each route.

  “I love this quaint town. I might enjoy life here.” Beth gazed at huge, old homes built in the early twentieth century. “I’ve always wanted to buy one of these and remodel it.”

  “All the wiring and plumbing would likely need redone. After a hundred years, such things are either worn out, too antiquated for use, or maybe nonexistent. Restoration work requires a great deal of time and money. “

  “True, but I’m looking for a change in my life, and a project similar to this may be the answer.”

  “Have you thought of marriage? It’s easier than home reconstruction.” Charles grinned.

  Beth laughed. “No. I had a wonderful marriage, and I’m not interested in another one. But I accept where I am in life, and I’m ready to downsize. I’d never considered small-town living, but the idea appeals. Saxonberg isn’t too far from Houston. The distance wouldn’t keep me from my duties there, and the country around the town is so restful.”

  “If you open a bank here, it would require time too. You would be near all your business interests.”

  Beth nodded and appeared thoughtful. “Do you mind taking me by the two existing financial institutions again?”

  As they proceeded down the main street, Sarah listened to Charles relate to Beth the assets and liabilities of each monetary establishment. Their discussion centered on the pros and cons of adding another bank to the area.

  Such tedious talk—maybe a little nap while these two chat about business. When the car halted, the abrupt stop startled her into wakefulness.

  “This is a lovely bed and breakfast. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  What? Could this be the reservation for a hotel on Charles’s notepad? Oh my! How could she prevent sin from taking place—and it would if these two spent the night in the same room. The morals of the present day overlooked people bedding down together without benefit of marriage, but God didn’t approve of it. Did Beth remember His seventh commandment? God wrote it down thousands of years earlier by Earth time, and He still sanctioned all ten of the original directives He gave to Moses.

  If her charge didn’t recall that adultery thingy, she could throw some sort of debacle in the way, but that didn’t always work out. Those attempts to interfere in a kind, helpful way usually ended up in a disaster for her charges. Besides, even though angels sometimes employed their powers to help a human prevent sin, people often yielded to it anyway. God allowed mortals their choices. Sarah sighed. What to do? Best to go in with them and discover the ulterior motive Charles harbored.

  Hovering outside, Sarah assessed the property. Late-afternoon shadows gathered across an expansive lawn. Amazing. Probably some wealthy cotton planter from years earlier built this beautiful, rambling home with its white columned veranda. Wonder how many people over the years invested money and mountains of work to make it the showplace of today? Shooting straight up, Sarah inspected the property. The house sat on at least five acres of well-manicured gardens. Numerous ancient pecan and oak trees dotted the landscape. Flowers, fountains, and benches invited a guest to relax and enjoy the river scene. Pumpkins, bales of hay, and scarecrows dotted the front lawn. Well, if Charles wanted a romantic setting to win a lady’s love, he’d found it. Better see the inside of the place.

  When Sarah entered, she hovered above Charles and Beth as they stood in the entry hall.

  “How delightful. This is truly a place of homey luxury. I like the quiet music and fresh flowers.” Beth’s voice sounded full of appreciation.

  Vases located on various tables provided a soft floral fragrance. Sarah fought back a sneeze. What would it be like in the spring of the year when flowers and new growth on trees appeared? Allergies to contend with? Mortals struggled with the elements down here. Lavender didn’t tickle her nose, nor did roses, but those lilies certainly did.

  A lady approached from a side door. “Welcome to Tranquility House. I’m Amanda. May I offer you tea or coffee? We have cookies on the sideboard—straight from the oven.”

  “I’m Charles Chadwick, and this is Beth Marsh. I phoned earlier in the week.”

  Cookies? Now that sounded good—smelled heavenly too. As soon as possible, she planned to eat one. Well, maybe two or three. The appetizing tray of sweetbreads invited guests to sample the varieties of chocolate chip, peanut butter, and sugar cookies. After all, she could be considered a guest, couldn’t she? Best to eat later, after she discovered Charles’s intentions.

  Beth poured hot tea into a cup as she spoke. “This is a lovely home. Do you live here?”

  “Yes, I do. My great-grandfather bought this house many years ago, and it has been passed down through the generations. I updated it and turned it into a B&B last year.”

  “It’s beautiful and you’ve done an amazing job. May we have a tour?” Beth added lemon and sugar and handed Charles a cup of tea.

  “One of my favorite things to do. Over here, we have the parlor. I restored it with a few antiques from the eighteenth century, but I also added modern comfy chairs for my guests to relax without fear of damage to the older furniture. On this side is the dining room. As you can see, we can seat twelve at the table for a gourmet breakfast, but in nice weather, our guests may choose the veranda or the sun room for the first meal of the day.”

  As she talked, she led Beth and Charles toward the back of the house. Sarah grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and hid behind a desk. Delicious. Might have another one later.

  “I can show you one of our guest rooms. I’m afraid the others are
occupied.” Amanda opened the door to a sunny room with two walls of windows and a magnificent view of the gardens. Soft yellow walls complemented a green floral comforter on a white wrought-iron bed. A small, white wicker dresser occupied a solid wall. Two solid green armchairs with ottomans sat next to each other—positioned so the loungers could enjoy the view. Between the chairs, an occasional table held books and a huge arrangement of stargazer lilies.

  Sarah sneezed.

  Amanda looked at her guests. “Are you allergic to my flowers? I can remove them.”

  Beth and Charles gazed at each other with raised eyebrows and shrugged shoulders. “I didn’t sneeze.” They both spoke at the same time.

  “Must have been Della. She’s working in the kitchen, and lilies do that to her.” She frowned. “That sneeze sounded too close to come from the kitchen, but I guess the noise carried.”

  Sarah zoomed to the roof. Better watch and listen from up here. One sneeze after another overtook her. Wonderful. Something new to add. Along with dyslexia, she possessed allergies to stargazer lilies. She’d been around them before, but only in small quantities. How did allergies happen to angels? Weren’t they supposed to be free of mortal ailments? Another question for Mother Goodness.

  Amanda indicated a closed door. “My apartment is beyond this area. I have a small kitchen and sitting room, a bedroom and bath, but I usually have breakfast with my guests.”

  Beth nodded. “It looks as though you stay quite busy.”

  “I employ college students to aid me with the six guest suites in the main house and the two cottages on the premises. I have a professional landscape service, so yard work isn’t part of my day. We stay booked, but I close the house for a couple of weeks a year so I can have a vacation from laundry duty and Della can escape cooking chores.”

  Amanda turned and led them to the sun room. “Do you want to sit out here until dinner?”

  “Would you enjoy that, Beth?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Beth chose a green and white striped chair with a red pillow for back comfort.

  “I’ll let you know when it’s time for the meal.” Amanda excused herself.

  Beth set her teacup on a table. “Okay, what’s up?”

  Charles smiled. “I knew this trip would take hours, so I took the liberty of making dinner reservations here. I hope that agrees with you.”

  Beth sat back and grinned. “It’s a lovely idea. Thank you for the surprise.”

  From her position on the roof, Sarah scowled. “Yeah, Bub. This is a lovely surprise. What else do you have up your sleeve?”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Sarah continued her vigil from the rooftop while Beth and Charles enjoyed a comfortable silence. The gardens summoned serenity.

  Amanda appeared, carrying a tray with a carafe and two glasses. “Beth, I hope you like fruit juice concoctions. When Mr. Chadwick made reservations, he requested fish, and this blend goes well with it, but I can bring another selection. I thought you might enjoy a glass before dinner. We serve at six o’clock.”

  “Thank you. Everything you do goes well with the ambiance and the peaceful setting you’ve created. Charles didn’t tell me we were staying for dinner. Am I dressed appropriately?”

  “Certainly. Our dinner guests usually attend in semi-dressy attire. Twice a year, I give formal dinners, and that’s kind of fun for the ladies, but tonight isn’t black-tie.” She glanced down at her clothing. “I will change into something a little more suitable, but you are dressed beautifully.”

  “That’s good. I don’t have any other choices. Do you take reservations for private formal parties?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, we do. I have two parties booked for the Christmas holidays. We haven’t decorated for the holidays yet. We’ll begin those preparations next week.”

  “I can only imagine how joyful you make this place.”

  “We put up three trees. Garland will be above every doorframe, and candles with greenery will adorn all the tables. The house will be outlined with white lights, and I’ll have all the trees illuminated. The decorations magnify the spirit of Christmas. I hope you’ll come back during the holidays and see them for yourself.”

  Beth smiled. “Perhaps I will.”

  When Amanda excused herself, Charles gazed at Beth. “What was in your mind with that question about formal parties?”

  “If I downsize, I’ll need a place to host employee parties and other events. This isn’t too far, and I think it would make a lovely setting for formal occasions.”

  “Oh, now I understand your thinking. Have you made any decisions about selling your home?”

  Beth shook her head. “It’s a tough call. The house is too large for Maria, Carlos, and me, but I’ve lived there since early in my marriage, and my children grew up in that home. I’m going to move eventually, but I don’t know when or where. My goal is to make a decision after the first of the year.”

  “Are you sure you want Maria and Carlos to continue living with you?”

  “Yes. Maria has no family. I’m all she has since she came to the United States from Mexico. When she applied for her green card, she told the authorities she wanted work as a nanny, and as it so happened, I’d volunteered to sponsor a young woman from Mexico for that very purpose. With the help of the agencies, I found her. We worked together on proper forms, applications, and learning the US Constitution. She wanted to become a citizen, and it was a proud moment for both of us when she did. We are more than friends.”

  “Maria is one of the fortunate ones.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “How did she meet Carlos?”

  “We hired him as our landscape artist a year or so after Maria came.” Beth laughed. “He kept coming to the kitchen door to request my opinion on bulbs and plants, but he really wanted an excuse to see Maria. She’d invite him in for lemonade, and before long, they were in love. Grant and I insisted they have the wedding ceremony in our house. After Grant died, Carlos and Maria moved from the caretaker’s cottage into the main house with me. I remodeled one of the guest suites for them. They are as much family to me as if they were blood related. Carlos has no one but Maria and me. Maria was never able to have children, so this dear couple regards my kids as their own.”

  “Scriptures say to love your neighbor as yourself. You are a good person, Beth.”

  “I don’t look at it that way, but thank you.”

  Charles nodded. “At your suggestion, I scheduled the bank Christmas party at Scott’s Steak House, and it will be formal. Maybe next year, we can have it out here.”

  Beth nodded. “I like that idea. Grant and I once had the festivities at our home, but I lost interest after he died. I’m getting back into it now.”

  “It takes time to adjust to the death of a spouse.”

  “I probably took longer than I should have. Except for business meetings and church, I didn’t go out much.” She raised her left hand for inspection. “I finally took off my wedding rings about six months ago.”

  “After a happy marriage, most people find it difficult to remove their rings. Some never feel the need to do so, and that’s okay too.”

  “True. A ring isn’t necessary when the union still exists in the heart.” Beth placed her hand back into her lap. “But loneliness can crowd memories.”

  “I hope I’m helping you adjust to male companionship again.”

  Beth focused her eyes to his. “I think you are.”

  Sarah wrinkled her nose. “Uh-oh, Beth responded tenderly to that remark. So Charles, old boy, will your assistance involve an overnight stay in these romantic accommodations?” At the sound of a voice without an embodied presence, a terrified squirrel scampered across the roof and jumped to the ground.

  “Look at that squirrel running in circles.” Beth eyes grew large. “They always scamper quickly, but that one has fur standing on end.”

  Charles laughed. “He looks as though he might have gnawed on an electrical outlet. If he did, I doubt he’
ll do it again.” They watched the squirrel disappear into the shadows.

  As darkness increased, tiny, sparkling lights came on around the gardens, making it appear fairy-like.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  Charles stood and walked to a nearby chest. Quilted throws lay on top. He brought a red and green one back to Beth and draped it across her shoulders. He lingered a few minutes as he gazed down at her. “You are beautiful, Beth. I’ve always thought so, and I can’t resist the urge to tell you tonight. I think you grow lovelier each time I see you.”

  Beth adjusted the mini-blanket. “Thank you.”

  “This has been a wonderful day. I confess that I’ve really enjoyed it. We have so much in common.” Charles returned to his chair.

  “Yes, I suppose we do.”

  “I’d resign from the bank if I thought I had a chance to be something more to you than I am.”

  Beth’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

  Charles cleared his throat. “Well, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to begin a deeper, more personal relationship with you, but you may not want to muddy the waters. Sometimes it grows messy when an employee and an employer become closer than mere friends.”

  Beth flicked an invisible piece of lint from the quilt warming her arms. “Yes, a romantic involvement can cause problems in business.” Directing her gaze to Charles, she cleared her throat. “I don’t want you to leave the bank. I need you there. I’m enjoying this time tonight, but I don’t know about something more personal than what we have here at this moment. Conversation with a man is something I’ve missed.” She sighed. “Maybe simple companionship between a man and woman isn’t possible. Men think differently than women.”

  “You answered my question. We’ll be friends, but if you ever want more from me, you let me know. Details can come later. I just wanted you to know my thoughts and my willingness to accommodate whatever you wanted. I’d step down if it would make you comfortable with something more than a platonic relationship. ”