Every Perfect Gift

by Dorothy Love

  He set down his pencil and sipped his tepid coffee. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d trembled in his arms yesterday, her voice husky with emotion, their longing for each other shimmering in the air around them, fragile as a moth’s wing.

  It wasn’t only her beauty that captivated him. He’d come to appreciate her fine intelligence, her curiosity, her determination to run her newspaper for the good of the community despite the stumbling blocks Horace threw into her path and the fire that had come close to shutting down the Gazette for good. Sophie not only had a gift for words; she had a true passion for her work. Such a passion should never be wasted or ignored.

  Which was why he was revising his plans for the Georgia house. A woman of Sophie’s talents should have a proper place to nurture them. He envisioned a lovely room filled with sunlight, with a carved walnut desk, a place for her books and her beloved typewriting machine, a fireplace, and a cozy settee for thinking and writing and reading. He sketched it with double Palladian windows opening onto the plot of ground that had once been his mother’s garden. It would take a lot of work and a king’s ransom to restore his home to its former glory, but for Sophie he would do whatever it took.

  He could picture her there already, bent over her work, the Georgia sunlight falling on her shining black hair, the windows open to the sounds of the birds and the summer insects singing in the tall grasses beside the river. Maybe she’d write only for the newspaper syndicate. Maybe she’d start up another paper. Or write poems.

  He finished his coffee just as a group of snow-dusted carolers, their cheeks red from the cold, entered the packed dining room. Conversations stilled as the first notes of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” filled the room. After the first line, the diners and waiters joined in.

  Ethan sang along despite the sweet ache that squeezed his heart. Somehow the words of hope and promise seemed to be speaking only to him.

  “O tidings of comfort and joy!”

  He almost laughed out loud, amazed at how happiness had changed him. If only he could hold on to that feeling for the rest of his life. But he had done all he could do to convince Sophie to join her life with his. The rest was up to God.

  THIRTY-THREE

  In the gathering dusk, Sophie and the Caldwells made their way along the snowy street to the church for the Christmas Eve service. Indigo light draped the foothills as a half-moon peeked out from beneath the snow clouds, and the evening sky seemed to shiver with the beat of wings. As they crossed the street, candlelight appeared in every church window, first a tentative flicker, and then a steady glow that spilled onto the busy street.

  Sophie’s heart expanded with a sense of peace. How beautiful Hickory Ridge looked, all dressed up for Christmas with wreaths on every door and candles burning in the windows. The new coat of red paint on Mr. Tanner’s livery stood in stark contrast to the white church, giving the whole street a festive air. Passing Sheriff McCracken’s jail, she noticed he had hung a wreath on the door, albeit a bit crookedly. Even the thought of Mr. Crocker and the impending trial couldn’t dampen her spirits.

  “Ada, is that you?” Carrie Rutledge, holding her daughter Charlotte, by the hand, hurried to catch up to them. “What a wonderful surprise. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Hello, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt smiled and touched his hat brim. “Mrs. Rutledge.”

  Ada took both Carrie’s hands in hers. “Once we decided to make the trip, I was so busy with preparations I had no time to write. I’m thrilled to see you, though.” She bent to the child. “This must be the Charlotte you’re always writing to me about.”

  “One and the same.” Carrie smoothed her daughter’s curls. “She keeps me busy.”

  Ada introduced Wade and Lilly. “And where’s Griff? Wyatt and I are dying to see him after all these years. Aren’t we, darling?”

  Wyatt nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “My husband is around here somewhere.” Carrie scanned the crowd heading into the church. “Probably at Mr. Tanner’s livery. He never can resist any conversation about horses, and Mr. Tanner is interested in buying a foal next year.”

  “How is Mariah?” Ada asked. “I’ve been so worried about her since Sage’s accident.”

  “Darlin’?” Wyatt took Ada’s arm. “We’re going to be late for the service, and Robbie Whiting will never let me hear the end of it.”

  Sophie laughed. “Robbie will be glad to see you. He talks about you all the time.”

  “That boy and I had ourselves a time back in the day,” Wyatt said. “I never figured him for a preacher.”

  “We’ll catch up later,” Carrie said to Ada. “Don’t you dare go back to Texas without stopping for a visit first. I’ll invite Mariah too. It’ll be just like old times when you first came to Hickory Ridge and we had our quilting circle.”

  “I’d love that.” Ada waved to her old friend and looped one arm through Sophie’s. “Now, Sophie Caldwell, when are we going to meet your young man?”

  Sophie’s stomach jumped. She pressed her fingers to the gold locket hidden beneath her collar. “He will be here tonight.”

  They reached the church and slid into a pew near the back. Wyatt entered first, followed by Ada and their children. Sophie took the seat nearest the aisle, removed her cloak and gloves, and looked around the packed room. To her left and a few rows closer to the candlelit altar, Caleb and Gillie sat with an older woman and two younger boys—Caleb’s mother and brothers. Behind them sat the Gilmans and Jasper Pruitt with his wife, Jeanne. Jasper spotted the Caldwells and lifted one hand in a little wave. Ada inclined her head. Jasper grinned and whispered to his wife, who also turned and waved to them.

  A group of children assembled down front, whispering and giggling together. Sophie thought of the Christmas when she was ten years old, singing with the other orphans for the church program. She had been the only child on the program without a last name. But Ada Wentworth had penciled the name Robillard, her own mother’s name, next to Sophie’s name in the program, a gift like no other. A gift that had been the beginning of her new life.

  Robbie’s wife, Ethelinda, hurried down the aisle to the organ and began to play. Sophie scanned the crowd again. Where was Ethan? Excitement and apprehension warred inside her. Had her lack of courage and her indecision turned him away?

  The door opened. Lucy closed it quickly behind her and edged past Carrie and Griff to find a seat near the window.

  At Ethelinda’s signal, the children came to order and sang, their voices high and sweet and only slightly off-key.

  What can I give him, poor as I am?

  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,

  If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

  Yet what I can I give him—give my heart.

  When the children had filed off to join their parents, Robbie walked to the pulpit and opened his Bible. Sophie leaned forward and stole a glance at Wyatt, who was obviously enjoying the sight of the young man whose life he had once saved, now all grown up and preaching to his flock. Wyatt winked at Sophie. She smiled back.

  Robbie motioned the congregation to their feet as the first hymn began. Sophie was surprised at first—it wasn’t a traditional Christmas hymn. But then, Robbie Whiting liked choosing the unexpected. She closed her eyes and sang the words from memory:

  All good gifts around us

  Are sent from heaven above,

  Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,

  For all his love.

  “Please be seated.” Robbie’s voice, deep as the church organ, filled the room.

  The door opened again, and Julian came in, leaning on a crutch, Ethan following patiently behind him. Ethan helped Julian find a seat across the narrow aisle. Then he turned to Sophie, a smile on his lips, one brow raised. She scooted closer to Lilly to make room for him, her heart tripping at the sight of his beloved face. Ada looked past her young daughter and sent Sophie a pointed look.

  “. . . gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh.” Robbie leaned forward, his hands grasping the lectern. “Tomorrow we celebrate the most holy of days. Many of us will give and receive gifts great and small.”

  Ethan reached for Sophie’s hand. His fingers closed around hers, his thumb brushing the underside of her wrist. And her heart stumbled. How on earth could she have ever considered a life without him? Ada was right. Nothing was more important than the love of the man God had chosen for her.

  “Tomorrow,” Robbie said, “let us remember that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from the Father of lights, with whom there is no shadow of turning. Let’s not forget that the ultimate gift was a baby born in a manger, a child whose love and light shine in our hearts tonight and forever. Let us pray.”

  They bowed their heads. Ethan pressed his lips to her ear. “Well, Sophie?”

  She looked at Ethan and saw all her hopes and dreams reflected in his eyes. Her heart swelled with the understanding of how deeply God cared for her. Even during those endless nights in the orphanage, when she had prayed for the mother who never came, he had watched over her, planned for her. He had brought her to this place—to Ethan, who loved her just as God made her. Whatever difficulties they might encounter in the future, they would face them together. And the Father still would be there, guiding them.

  “I love you,” Ethan whispered. “Please say you’ll marry me.”

  “Yes, Ethan. I will.”

  And the people said, “Amen.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As this series comes to an end, I’m deeply grateful to everyone who had a part in bringing it to life: my publisher, Allen Arnold, and the entire fiction team at Thomas Nelson; my line editor, Anne Christian Buchanan; the sales and marketing teams; my wonderful posse (you know who you are); and my family, whose love inspires me every day.

  To every reader who has chosen to spend time in Hickory Ridge, thank you. I hope you enjoyed the town and her people. It was my pleasure to bring them to life.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Dear Readers,

  It seems impossible that with Sophie’s story, our stay in Hickory Ridge has come to an end. Since beginning this series in the spring of 2010, I’ve fallen in love with my fictional town and her people. In addition to my three protagonists, Ada, Carrie, and Sophie, I will miss Jasper Pruitt, Sheriff McCracken, the Whitings, Doc Spencer and Gillie, Mayor and Mrs. Scott, and of course my three handsome heroes, Wyatt Caldwell, Griff Rutledge, and Ethan Heyward.

  With all of my Southern historical novels, I strive to weave together the historical and the personal in a way that allows readers to experience life as it was in the nineteenth century. I hope you’ve enjoyed these stories. I hope they’ve made you laugh and cry. And I hope they’ve given you new insights into the struggles and joys of Southern women during that time.

  As this book goes into production, I am already at work on my next novel for Thomas Nelson. Set on a rice plantation along South Carolina’s storied Waccamaw River, it’s inspired by the life of an actual woman rice planter who stayed on her land until the turn of the twentieth century. It’s scheduled for publication in the fall of 2013. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

  To every reader who has taken time to write to me, to post a review, or to chat with me online, thank you so much. Each of you is a treasure. As always, I welcome your letters and e-mails. It’s easy to get in touch. Simply head over to my website, www.DorothyLoveBooks.com, and click on “Contact.” You can also log onto my Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/dorothylovebooks or write to me in care of Author Mail, Thomas Nelson Inc., PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214.

  Till then, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May his light shine upon you and give you peace.

  Blessings,

  Dorothy

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  1. This book is called Every Perfect Gift. What spiritual gifts and practical gifts do Sophie and Ethan possess? How do these gifts help or hinder their growth throughout the novel?

  2. Both Sophie and Ethan experienced difficult childhoods. In what ways have those difficulties shaped their character? How have difficulties in your own life shaped the person you are becoming?

  3. Sophie observes that Ethan is a complicated man. What characteristics did you find most appealing in him? Were there any you didn’t care for? Why?

  4. Near the end of the book, Ada remarks that unexpected gifts are often the best gifts of all. What unexpected gifts do Sophie and Ethan receive? Have you ever given or received an unexpected gift that changed you in some fundamental way? Is there any gift that you would be unwilling to part with? Why?

  5. In this novel, we get glimpses of the lives of Ada Caldwell and Carrie Rutledge, the two protagonists of Beyond All Measure and Beauty for Ashes, years after we first met them. Imagine the lives of Sophie and Ethan ten years hence. Where are they living and what are they doing? Do they have children?

  6. It’s often said that the line separating laughter and tears is a fine one. Were there any parts of this story that you found particularly moving? Why?

  7. Sophie’s family history causes her much concern because of the prevailing social attitudes. Do you think attitudes about such issues have truly changed since the 1880s? Why or why not?

  8. Robbie tells Sophie that she should develop the courage to accept herself as she is. Do you think self-acceptance is less an issue in modern times or more of an issue? Why?

  9. Sophie at first keeps an important truth from Ethan because she wants him to like her. Do you think such deceit could be justified, given Sophie’s circumstances? Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you handle it?

  10. What do you enjoy most about reading historical fiction? When you reach the end of any novel, what emotion do you most want to experience?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Author photo by Amber Zimmerman

  A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their two golden retrievers. An accomplished author in the secular market, Dorothy made her debut in Christian fiction with the Hickory Ridge novels.