by Jenna Brandt
The rest of the night passed in a blur. It took several hours, but the fire was finally subdued. The bakery was a complete loss, and two surrounding buildings had minor damage.
Amelie felt numb from the whole ordeal. She barely remembered Pierre taking her home or Debbey helping her get into bed.
It didn’t matter; she couldn’t sleep. All she did was stare at the ceiling and think about the new loss she just endured. First, her parents passed away suddenly; then her family home was robbed and nearly all of her parents’ belonging had been taken or tarnished; now the bakery, one of the last connections to her parents, was gone.
Tears tumbled down Amelie’s cheeks and she felt sick to her stomach. What was she going to do? How could she provide for Elise without the bakery? Did this mean her aunt would have the right to take Elise?
“Dear Lord, please help me! I am so scared and upset and worried. I don’t know what I am going to do. I need your help so badly, God. Please, please help me!”
Amelie heard footsteps echo down the hall. The door creaked open. The scampering of feet continued towards her until she felt the covers move, the bed dip, and arms wrap around her.
“It’s going to be alright, Amelie. We are going to make it through this, just like we have everything else.”
She could feel Elise’s tiny frame against her back and heard her start to hum a song their mother used to sing to them when they were children. The melody of the song did its job. Amelie found herself drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, she heard a hard knock at the door. Who could it be? Most likely, someone from town asking if there was anything they could do to help. She knew the visitors would start to accumulate over the next couple days, all with good intentions. The same had happened after her parents passed away.
Groggily, Amelie stood up from her bed, grabbed her robe and slipped it on before heading downstairs. Tentatively, she asked, “Who is it?”
“Open the door, Amelie. I would think by now, you would have better manners than to leave your elderly aunt standing in the summer heat on your front porch.”
Amelie stiffened from the shrill reproachful tone her aunt was using. Her nerves were already frayed from everything which occurred last night. She needed extra strength to be able to deal with her aunt in a cordial manner. While sending up a silent prayer asking for patience, Amelie opened the door. “Good morning, Aunt Marcella.”
“Finally, I have been waiting out here entirely too long. I feel like I am about to faint from the excessive heat. Really Amelie, you need to be better about treating your guests.” Looking around the house, she added, “I suppose I will have to ask for a glass of water as well. My poor parched throat is aching.”
Turning on her heels, she said over her shoulder, “Follow me to the kitchen, Aunt Marcelle.” Amelie led her aunt to the back of the house.
She poured her aunt a glass of water and handed it over to her. “I am surprised to have you stop by so early this morning.”
“I was shocked to hear about what happened to the bakery last night from a stranger. Imagine my astonishment when the front desk clerk asked me how you were doing and I had no idea what he was talking about. You could have stopped by the inn and told me what was going on afterward. Instead, you decided informing me was not worth the bother.”
“I planned to come by and tell you this afternoon after church, but almost the entire town was up late last night taking care of the fire. I didn’t even get to bed until well after midnight.”
Marcella huffed. “Still, I am your family and I would have preferred to find out from you rather than the way I did. It was completely inconsiderate.”
“Why didn’t you hear about it last night while it was going on?” Amelie asked.
“I had a headache and took some medicine before going to bed.”
Amelie suspicioned what she meant by medicine was she had partaken in one too many alcoholic beverages and passed out in her suite at the inn. She had noticed for some time her aunt seemed to have a drinking problem. She worried about her aunt’s health and safety because of it but had never broached the subject because of their tenuous relationship.
“I’m sorry to hear you weren’t feeling well, Aunt Marcella.”
“Never mind about me, how are you doing? How is Elise?”
“We are fine.”
“I am glad to hear it. However, it could have been much worse if either of you girls had been present when the fire started.”
The possibility had crossed Amelie’s mind. What if Elise had decided to go and check on something at the bakery? She would be burying her only sister next to her parents in the West Linn Cemetery, if it had been the case.
“I am aware of the possibility, but thankfully, the Lord was watching out for us and neither of us were harmed.”
“Well, I think this puts an end to your reasons for staying in this town. With the bakery gone, I think it’s high time Elise goes with me to France. You can head back to San Francisco to complete your schooling. I will make sure all of your finances are taken care of. When you are finished, you can join us in Paris.”
Amelie blinked several times as she tried to process what her aunt wanted to do. She hadn’t even fully begun to process what happened to the bakery and her aunt was already trying to make plans for both her and Elise.
Shaking her head, Amelie denied her aunt’s request. “I’m not going to give up on the bakery. West Linn is our home.”
“You are just as stubborn as your mother ever was and look where it got her.”
Amelie’s flinched from the hurtful words and turned away. Why did her aunt feel the need to make a point, no matter what the cost of doing it?
“Think what you like, but I am still Elise’s caretaker and I refuse to force her to leave the only home she has ever known. I’ll find another solution.”
All eyes were on Amelie as she walked into church later that morning. The looks of sympathy radiated from the other parishioners. As quickly as possible, Amelie made her way to her seat on the third pew. She would be sitting alone since Elise had asked to sit with Lizzy. Amelie didn’t have the heart to refuse her request.
Even though she chose not to look around, Amelie could still sense all the eyes of the other churchgoers focused on her while she waited for Pastor McCoy to start his sermon. It was all she could do to not shrink in her seat because of how awkward she felt.
“May I join you, Miss Leclaire?”
Amelie looked up to find Pierre smiling down at her. She was grateful to see his eyes were not filled with the same pitying look as everyone else around them.
“Please, sit with me,” Amelie replied. “I’m thrilled to see you were able to attend, Mr. Girald.”
“I said I would be here and I am a man of my word.”
“That is becoming more and more apparent.”
This time she could not help herself. As she heard the murmurs from around the room, Amelie quickly stole a glance around the room. She immediately noticed everyone was abuzz. They were still looking in her direction, but they seemed to be more intrigued by Pierre’s appearance at church and their subsequent union in her pew.
“You look exceptionally lovely today, Amelie.”
Peeking down at her outfit, Amelie was surprised Pierre thought so. She had given little thought to her appearance and was wearing a simple brown skirt with a yellow button-up top. The only embellishment was her mother’s brooch worn at the neck.
“Your flattery does me more justice than I deserve, Mr. Girald.”
Pierre leaned towards her and chuckled, “I find it truly fascinating how unaware you are of your own beauty.”
Amelie inhaled sharply and felt her stomach do a flip-flop at his compliment. Her stomach seemed to do that often when he was around. She thought she wouldn’t be able to focus on anything but the fire, but he had managed to distract from it.
Before she could respond, Pastor McCoy took to the pulpit. “Good morning my fellow brothers and s
isters in Christ. I’m glad all of you were able to make it despite being up late last night helping with the fire in town. Everyone’s quick work kept it from spreading further than where it started at the bakery.” He glanced down at Amelie with a solemn look on his face. “I know we are all sincerely sorry for the loss of the Leclaire family bakery, but with time, and the help of the town, the bakery can be rebuilt. Let us bow our heads to pray.”
Amelie lowered her head and tried to focus on their prayer, but her mind continued to drift back to what Pastor McCoy said. The town was going to help her rebuild. She hoped that was the case but it largely depended on the bank. She worried if those in charge of the bank were of the same mindset.
Silently, Amelie said a prayer. Dear Lord, please help me to figure out what I am supposed to do next. I don’t want to have to leave West Linn, but I am worried Elise and I may not have any other choice. Please, intervene and help us through this mess.
As Amelie listened to the sermon, she was grateful to hear him preach about forgiveness and the compassionate side of God, how the Lord accepts everyone as they are, flaws included.
“God loves everyone just the way they are and He made each person for a purpose. It is in this knowledge, we can find freedom to accept who we are meant to be. Nothing about how He made us is a mistake; therefore, if we accept what he has done for us on the cross, we are made perfect in Him.”
Stealing a few looks sideways out of the corner of her eyes, Amelie was surprised to find Pierre concentrating on what Pastor McCoy was saying. She had wondered if he had only come to church in order to appease her, but he seemed to be actually listening to what was being said.
“God wants us to find freedom in the forgiveness He gives each one of us because He loves us. What a wonderful God; one who loves us so much He not only forgives us, but sent His only Son down to earth to pay for our bad choices. What peace we can have to be able to rest in the knowledge our sins have been washed away by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are made new and have been given the ultimate freedom by the redemption and restoration his blood provides. If you do not know the Lord, I want to offer you the chance to take that step this morning. Please everyone, bow your heads while we pray.”
After the service concluded, Amelie and Pierre both stood up and began to walk towards the back of the church. Before they were able to make it out the door, Debbey approached them, saying, “Mr. Girald, it’s so good to see you here today.”
Pierre inclined his head towards Debbey. “I am glad I was able to attend. Your father has a remarkable way with words.”
“God has indeed given him the gift of evangelism.”
Pierre raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. Quickly, Amelie elaborated, trying to explain what her friend meant. “Pastor McCoy is a gifted speaker and God has used him to help many people find salvation.”
“I have to say I am glad I came today, although I am not sure how I stand on the whole ‘need for salvation’ subject. I think I would need to come another time before—”
But before Pierre could finish, Matthew intruded into the conversation, asking, “What are you doing here, Mr. Girald?”
“Miss Leclaire extended an invitation and I decided to accept.”
“Do you really think you belong here?”
Amelie gasped and stated, “He has every right to be here as anyone else. God loves everyone and His church is open to all.”
Matthew narrowed his eyes at Amelie. “We’re just fine without his kind coming around.”
“Mr. McCoy, I am not sure what you mean by ‘my kind,’ but I assure you, my reasons for attending today are of the utmost respectable nature.”
Snorting, Matthew rolled his shoulders as he said, “I doubt it. It’s obvious, you only came here to impress Amelie.”
“I will not deny a majority of my motivations, as of late, have revolved around acquiring the approval of Miss Leclaire, but I want to make it clear, I also came because I was curious.”
“And has your curiosity been satisfied?”
“As a matter of fact, I was just saying I think I need to attend again in order to make a proper evaluation of how I feel about the whole matter.”
Amelie didn’t like his answer. It sounded too detached. Decisions regarding God were a heart matter, and she wanted Pierre to experience the freedom she felt in the Lord.
Arguing with Matthew about it was not the way to get Pierre to have that experience, so Amelie interjected, “Gentlemen, the past two days have been exhausting. I would much prefer to get home and rest before I start about the task tomorrow of finding a way to restore the bakery.”
She could tell by the frustrated looks on both men’s faces, they wanted to continue their debate but deferred to her wishes.
“Mr. Girald, do you mind escorting me home?” Amelie asked.
Nodding, Pierre placed his hand under her elbow, responding, “It would be my pleasure.”
As they headed out the door, Amelie released the breath she had been holding while the two men argued in front of her. She was glad it was over and grateful to be getting home where she could rest.
Chapter 13
Pierre wanted to do something to help alleviate some of the fresh pain he knew Amelie must be feeling. She had already been through so much, to now lose her family’s bakery seemed more than one person should have to bare.
Amelie had seemed to be doing well at church the previous day, but she had a long night alone with nothing but her thoughts as she prepared to work out how to rebuild her family bakery.
As Pierre walked the short distance between the inn and Amelie’s home, he went over what he was going to say to her when he reached her house. He wanted to offer to help her in any way possible, including giving her the money to restore the bakery. He knew she did not have the money to do it herself, but she was too talented a baker to not be able to showcase her desserts anymore.
As Pierre walked up the steps of her porch, he prepared himself for the battle he knew was coming. She was an independent woman and he knew she would not want to take any money from him. Standing outside the door, he raised his hand to knock. Before his hand touched the wood, the door swung open. Standing on the other side was Amelie.
She looked distracted as she placed a few papers inside a bag. She glanced up after hearing Pierre say, “Good morning, Amelie.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to inquire how you are doing, considering all that happened the other night.”
“I am fine, but I don’t have time to talk,” she replied, as she pulled the door shut behind her and locked it. “I have business to take care of in the center of town.”
“Understandably. May I accompany you as you make your way there?”
She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
She seemed irritated, almost as if she were mad at him. Had he done something he was unaware of to upset her?
“I had hoped I would have a chance to talk to you. I am truly sorry for what happened to your bakery. I know it is not just a loss for your family, but the whole community and everyone who loves the wonderful treats and desserts you create.” He watched to see any indication as to what Amelie’s reaction was to what he was saying. She remained resolute in her inexpressiveness.
“Thank you, but without a place to ‘create’ my baked goods, what does it matter?”
“That was the point I was getting to. I want to offer the money you will need to rebuild the bakery.”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to him, a determined look in her eyes. “I won’t accept charity.”
“I am not offering a ‘charity.’ It would be a business loan, which you can repay once the business is back up and running.”
She turned back around and started to walk again. “It is kind of you to offer, but I prefer to keep business and personal matters separate. I’m headed to the bank to find out what the next steps will be in regards to the bakery.”
“I hope the bank can help you, but if
not, you can always accept my offer.”
“I will find a way to fix all of this without needing to do so.”
He could hear in her tone something was amiss. “Have I said something to upset you?”
“No, I am mad at myself. All of this is my fault.”
“What are you talking about, Amelie?”
“I am saying if I had not been at the party last night, I could have been at the bakery when it caught fire. I should’ve just dropped off the breads and desserts for the party and left. I wanted to stay because just one time, since my parents’ deaths, I wanted to forget about all my new responsibilities and just enjoy life. I shouldn’t have done it, and I feel so guilty for putting myself first.”
Tears began to pour down Amelie’s delicate cheeks. Pierre instantly reached out, gathering her into his arms He cared so deeply for this woman, it tore at his heart to see her so upset.
“What happened is not your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself.”
A couple of sniffles were muffled against his chest as she refuted, “I would have been able to stop whatever caused the fire if I had been there.”
“You do not know that, and most likely, you would have ended up getting hurt, or worse.”
“Elise is reliant on me and I am going to lose her if I don’t fix this.”
“I will never let that happen.”
She pulled away and said, “I really do need to be getting to the bank.”
They walked the rest of the way in silence. Pierre desperately wanted to convince Amelie the fire was not her fault, and for her to accept his offer of a loan. He knew if he brought up either subject, he would only be met with resistance.
As they stood outside the bank, Pierre asked, “Will you join me for dinner tonight?”
Shaking her head, Amelie answered, “I have far too much to do. Perhaps another time.”
Pierre did not press the issue. She was going through another difficult situation. He could wait for her to get through all of this. He would wait forever, if it was what she needed.