Memories from Acorn Hill

by Melody Carlson

  “I can help,” offered Adam.

  She tried not to register surprise as she accepted his offer, telling Jane and Louise just to sit.

  “Thanks,” she told him as they set the empty dishes on the counter.

  “I just wanted to get out of there,” he confessed, “away from Chatty Mattie. I was afraid I was going to leap across the table and strangle her or something.”

  Alice tried not to laugh. “Good that you didn’t.”

  “How can Mark stand her?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe he’s just being polite.”

  “Someone should teach her to be polite.” Adam studied Alice for a moment. “I know I was mean to you, Alice, and I’m sorry now. I wish you and Mark were still together. I mean, you are way better than Chatty Mattie.”

  “Thanks.” Alice touched his cheek, and Adam smiled shyly.

  As they went back out and continued to clear the table, Alice felt a mixture of gratitude and remorse. She appreciated what Adam had said about wishing she and Mark were still a couple, but it bothered her that it appeared that they no longer were a couple.

  “Are you okay?” asked Jane when only she and Alice were in the kitchen. “I mean you’ve been so quiet tonight.”

  Alice shrugged. “I guess I’m having a lot of mixed feelings.”

  “About Mark?”

  She nodded.

  “Jealous?”

  “Perhaps a bit, but even more than that, I feel confused.”

  “You and Mark should talk.”

  “It’s a little hard … with Chatty Mattie around.”

  Jane giggled. “Chatty Mattie?”

  “That’s what Adam calls her.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  They had invited all the guests at the inn to join them that evening for music and dessert. Louise had selected some special Easter music to play, and it was a lovely quiet evening. Alice suspected that Mattie would have preferred something more lively, but Alice was relieved that it was subdued. She was also relieved when Mattie, concerned about the drive back to Potterston, finally excused herself from the group.

  Alice, playing hostess, got up to walk Mattie to the door.

  “Aren’t you going to see me out too?” Mattie said to Mark.

  Although he looked comfortable, all settled into an easy chair, he quickly rose to his feet and joined them.

  “I’ve had a lovely day,” said Mattie directly to Mark. “I so appreciated your little tour of Acorn Hill. I do hope you’ll let me know how it goes for you and that sweet little cottage you’re considering. You have my number, right?”

  “Yes, you gave it to me a couple of times,” said Mark as they reached the front door.

  Then Mattie reached out and hugged Alice. “Thank you, dear. Let’s stay in touch.”

  “Of course,” said Alice as they stepped apart.

  Then Mattie hugged Mark. Although Alice didn’t time it, she felt certain that Mark’s hug was much longer than her own. “You’re a dear man, Mark Graves,” said Mattie when she finally released him. “Now, you be sure to call me.”

  He smiled and nodded, then said good-bye.

  “Drive safely,” called Alice as she closed the front door.

  Mark sighed loudly. “Glad that’s over.”

  She studied him. “Really?”

  He nodded. “That is the most tiresome woman I have ever met.”

  Alice couldn’t help herself. She laughed aloud.

  “I’m afraid I’m completely worn out, Alice. Would you make my apologies to the others?” He rubbed his cast and sighed. “I think I’d like to turn in for the night.”

  “Yes, that’s wise.”

  “And may I reserve some time to talk with you tomorrow?”

  “Of course.”

  “After church?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Good night, Alice.” He smiled warmly.

  “Good night, Mark.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The Grace Chapel Easter service was touching and uplifting. Of course, the focus was on the cross, forgiveness, redemption and grace, but for some reason Alice got the feeling that Pastor Ken had prepared his message with Mark and Adam in mind.

  “God is truly the great heavenly Father,” said the pastor as he finished his sermon. “He was willing to sacrifice His beloved Son in order to adopt us as His very own children. God loved us enough to give up what was incredibly precious in order to make us part of His family. And that, dear friends, is why we have reason to celebrate today.”

  Not for the first time, Alice thought that her father would have heartily approved of the young pastor who had taken over after his death. Although the two men were different in many ways, they shared spiritually timeless ideals and philosophy.

  “That was a great sermon,” said Mark as they stood outside the church afterward.

  “Do you think Adam liked it?” asked Alice as she watched Adam and Laura quietly conversing.

  “I actually saw him wipe a tear from his eye,” said Mark.

  “He really seems like a changed person,” said Alice. “I think God is at work in him.”

  “I hope so.” Mark frowned into the sunlight. “I told Adam that you and I were going to spend some time together this afternoon. Would you like to go have some lunch or do you and your sisters already have plans?”

  “Actually, we’d decided to give Jane the day off. She’s going to Sylvia’s for Easter dinner, and Louise and I were going to join Aunt Ethel and Lloyd. I’m sure they’ll excuse me.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Positive.”

  “I thought we could go to Potterston,” he said. “There’s a restaurant that I want to try.”

  “That sounds good,” she said.

  “Do you mind driving?”

  “Not at all.”

  They talked as she drove, mostly about Adam and the general happenings at the inn during the past week.

  “In some ways, it feels like I’ve been through the wringer,” Mark admitted when Alice finally parked the Range Rover in front of the restaurant.

  She nodded and handed him the keys. “I know what you mean.”

  “I have to ask myself, what was that all about? What was it for?”

  They walked in silence into the restaurant, where they were quickly seated at a window that overlooked a garden. Alice took a deep breath, willing herself to relax as she leaned back into the chair.

  “How’s your arm feeling?” she asked him.

  “Better, I think. I didn’t even have to take a pain pill today.”

  “That’s good.” She turned and looked out the window, spying a young family in their Easter finery, taking pictures among the flowers.

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said.

  She nodded without saying anything.

  “About my life … and about you and me … and about Adam.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “Something just doesn’t feel quite right.” He sighed. “I have to admit that, at first, I viewed Adam as an intrusion into my life. I resented his expectations of me, or even his lack of them. But somewhere along the way, despite my misgivings, something in me changed. Maybe his change of heart touched me or perhaps even today’s sermon. But I suddenly feel different about him.”

  “I think I know how you mean.”

  He sighed. “You know, I’ve led a fairly self-centered life, Alice. I’m sure you have no idea how selfish I am.”

  She smiled. “I think it’s easy to be that way when you’re single and without family. I know how much you’ve sacrificed for your work, Mark. I’ve heard stories about how you’ve risen in the middle of the night just to care for an ailing animal or one that’s about to give birth. Now, really, that wasn’t selfish.”

  “You’re too gracious.”

  “Besides, I think everyone is selfish in some ways,” she continued. “It’s just the way we humans are naturally wired.”

  “I feel that I am re
ady to quit being so self-centered, Alice.” He looked into her eyes. “When I came to Acorn Hill, I planned to ask you to become a bigger part of my life….”

  She looked away uncomfortably.

  “But now it seems that my life is taking a totally new direction.”

  She looked back at him, curious.

  “When Pastor Thompson spoke about God adopting us as His own children, well, I turned and glanced over at Adam, and it’s as if something in me just clicked. Can you understand what I mean?”

  She smiled. “I think I do.”

  “I felt such empathy for him, and I remembered how close I once was to his dad, and I began to care for Adam, well, almost as if he were my own son. It was quite a staggering feeling. Does that make any sense?”

  “Of course it does. It’s a bit like the way I feel about the girls who are in my ANGELs group. I love them almost as if they were my own.”

  He nodded. “Yes, but then you’re like that, Alice. You are such a fine Christian example that you put the rest of us to shame.”

  “Oh, please don’t say that. I make mistakes all the time. Believe me, I’m just as flawed as the rest.”

  “So there I was sitting in church and I got this very strong feeling that I was supposed to do something very specific for Adam. Almost as if God himself was speaking to my heart. Have you ever experienced anything like that?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I believe I have.”

  “Well, it was rather amazing. I believe I’m supposed to help Adam.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I thought maybe that was the case.”

  “That’s not all.” He paused as if unsure how to say the next part. “I guess I just need to tell someone, to say these words out loud, Alice.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Well, I believe I need to parent Adam.” He looked at her with wide eyes. “Do you think that’s strange?”

  “Not at all.”

  He seemed relieved. “You see, all I can think about now is how I can help him, things I can do to get him on his feet again, ways I can encourage him to pull himself up to make something of his life. In the way that a father would help his own son. Do you know what I mean?”

  She nodded, eagerly. “Yes, it’s as if you’ve adopted him in your heart, Mark.”

  “That’s how I feel.” Mark sighed and looked out the window. “I’ve already made so many mistakes with him. It’s possible that he won’t want anything to do with this.”

  “No, I don’t think it’s like that,” she assured him. “I can tell that Adam really looks up to you. Taking an active part in his life, acting as his guardian, might show him just how committed you really are to him.”

  “That kid really has potential. He just needs someone to believe in him and to help him get going.”

  “Yes! That’s how I feel about him too. He’s really a dear boy, even if he has been a bit confused and hurt by the challenges that life has given him. It was breaking my heart to see him becoming so bitter.”

  “I haven’t spoken to him about any of this yet,” continued Mark. “I mean about what I’m thinking, specifically, but what I’d like to do is to move back to Philadelphia with him. I’ll help him to get things in line to go to school. At least I hope I will. He mentioned to me that he wants to be a veterinarian. If he’s serious about becoming a vet, I’ll do whatever it takes to get him there.” He looked at Alice. “But I have no idea how much time that will take.”

  She smiled. “Maybe that’s not important.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “But I don’t want to lose you, Alice. Or your friendship.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that, Mark.”

  “So you don’t feel bad about this?”

  She shook her head. “I feel that you’re doing the right thing, Mark. To be honest, I’ve felt as if something’s been off between us all week. I think it’s simply that you should be helping Adam right now.”

  He smiled. “Who knows, maybe Adam will register at a college and perhaps even get situated into a dorm, maybe even by next fall or winter. Perhaps I can still plan to relocate to Acorn Hill sometime after that. Maybe I’ll be here as early as next year. Who knows?”

  “God knows.”

  Mark nodded. “You’re right, Alice. God does know.”

  “And it’s all in His timing, right?”

  “Right.”

  They had a nice leisurely lunch, enjoying each other’s company. By the time they got back to the inn, the other guests were getting ready to leave.

  “Oh, I’m so glad you got here in time to say good-bye,” Mrs. Winston told Alice as she set her bag by the front door. “I was just telling your sisters how thankful we are that we picked your little inn to visit.”

  “It’s been quite a week,” said Alice.

  “I think it’s just what Laura needed. Even this business with Adam has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Don’t you think?”

  “I do,” Alice nodded.

  “Right after that lovely church service, Laura told me that she’s going to start taking charge of her life now.”

  “Isn’t that wonderful.”

  “She said she’s tired of acting like a victim.” Mrs. Winston glanced up the stairs, probably to see if the rest of her family was coming yet. “I want you to know, Alice, that even though it wasn’t all smooth sailing, I think everything—including Adam and, well, just everything—was absolutely perfect.”

  Alice squeezed her hand. “I think Laura is going to be just fine.”

  Mrs. Winston nodded, blinking back tears. “I do too.”

  “Are you down there, Mom?” called Laura from the top of the stairs.

  “Yes, dear.”

  “Adam wants to know if I can keep Boots for him,” she called.

  Mrs. Winston smiled. “That’d be just fine, Laura.”

  Laura made a happy squeal. “It’s okay, Adam!”

  Soon Mr. Winston, loaded down with luggage, and Laura, holding onto Adam’s arm as he carried the cat carrier, were all gathered on the front porch.

  “This means you have to stay in touch, Adam,” said Laura.

  “I know,” said Adam. “I plan on it, well, once I get settled, that is. You have to keep your promise to me and learn how to use that special computer program that your dad’s been telling you about. That way we can e-mail each other, and you can give me reports on how Boots is doing. That e-mail address I gave you is good until the end of the month.”

  Mr. Winston winked at Alice. “I’ll have the program downloaded and running by tomorrow.”

  “What does it do?” asked Alice.

  “It’s specially designed for the vision impaired,” he told her, “with an electronic audio voice built right into it and all kinds of other things.”

  “Yeah, well, it might take me a while to figure it all out,” said Laura, “but I’ll do my best.”

  Jane and the Langleys came out onto the porch to join them. Jane had two rather large bags in her hands. “I’m helping Mr. Langley load his car,” she said. “Just to prevent him from reinjuring his back.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” he said.

  Alice reached over and took the one bag Mr. Langley was carrying. “Well, just in case, let us help you.”

  Soon all the guests had their cars loaded, and everyone was saying good-bye, giving hugs all around.

  “I feel like I’m going home after a happy time spent at summer camp,” said Mrs. Langley, “saying good-bye to all my new friends.”

  “That’s how it is at Grace Chapel Inn,” said Mark. “You spend a little time here and, the next thing you know, you want to make it your home.”

  First, the Langleys, then the Winstons departed, leaving Mark, Adam and the sisters standing on the sidewalk.

  “I just told Adam about my idea,” said Mark as he set his good hand on Adam’s shoulder.

  “Yeah, if it’s okay with you guys,” said Adam, “I’ll leave my car parked in the back of
the inn for a few days.” He made a face. “I know it’s an eyesore. Maybe I could throw a tarp over it or—”

  “No, no,” said Louise. “Don’t you worry about that.”

  Adam nodded. “I’ll drive Mark back to Philadelphia today.”

  “When my arm’s better, we’ll both drive back here and pick up the Nissan,” said Mark. “If that’s okay.”

  “It’s fine,” Jane reassured him.

  “Thanks for everything,” said Adam. “I’m sorry I was such a jerk.”

  Jane gave him a hug. “Hey, you’re a kid. It’s what you do.”

  He smiled.

  “You are always welcome here,” said Louise. “Both of you.”

  Alice nodded. “You’re like part of the family now.”

  They all hugged again, with Mark taking care to hug Alice last. “Thanks for being so understanding,” he whispered, “and for being you.”

  She smiled at him.

  “You take it easy on your way home,” said Jane.

  “Drive carefully, Adam,” warned Louise.

  “Take care,” called Alice as she waved. Of each other, she thought.

  After the Range Rover drove—slowly—out of sight, the sisters went up to the porch to relax.

  Alice sighed as she sank down on the porch swing. “We certainly have a good life, don’t we?”

  “We do,” agreed Jane wholeheartedly.

  “And we don’t have any guests until next weekend,” said Louise.

  “Ah …” Alice leaned back, pausing from her swinging just long enough for Wendell to pounce into her ready lap.

  “A much deserved break,” said Jane as she looked out across the yard.

  “I made some lemonade after church,” said Louise. “Would you two care for some?”

  “And there are still some chocolate eggs left over,” said Jane.

  “I feel like I’m in heaven,” said Alice as she happily stroked Wendell’s soft coat. While her sisters went off to get their afternoon treat, Alice thanked God for everything, but mostly for His perfect timing.

  Ready to Wed

  Dedicated to the sweet memory of Jane Orcutt, dear friend and fellow author in the Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series.