A Sweethaven Christmas

by Courtney Walsh

  “They did for me.”

  Mama took a breath but didn’t say another word. Lila imagined she’d just bitten back a remark—and that was progress.

  “I brought you something.” Mama opened her oversize designer purse, pulled out a small box and handed it to Lila.

  Lila took the lid off the box and her body filled with warmth. A small gown filled the box, next to it a little bonnet.

  “It was your baptism gown. I thought you might want it for the baby.”

  Lila picked up the outfit and imagined putting it on her baby—her son—on the day they dedicated his life to God. “Thank you, Mama.” She put the gown back in the box and held it to her chest. As she did, her stomach got a kick from the inside. Lila gasped.

  “I think I just felt the baby move.”

  Mama’s eyes widened, and for a brief moment, she looked excited.

  The fluttering in her stomach came again, this time like butterfly wings. “That’s amazing,” Lila said.

  “I forgot how amazing,” Mama said.

  Lila met her mother’s eyes. “None of this will be easy, you know.”

  Mama nodded.

  “But it will be worth it. Forgiving you and Daddy will be worth it. Forgiving yourself will be worth it. Not being so angry all the time will be worth it.”

  Mama started to say something and then snapped her mouth shut. “I’m going to do my best.”

  The sound of “Silent Night” drifted in from the sanctuary. “Will you stay for the service?”

  Mama sighed. “I don’t know, Lila. I know Charlotte’s in there.”

  Lila didn’t want to pretend that Charlotte would accept Mama—maybe not ever—but they had to at least try, didn’t they?

  “Everything isn’t going to have a fairytale ending, you know.” Mama’s eyes held an age-old sadness.

  “I know, but it’s Christmas. Tonight, more than ever, we have to at least try. Maybe a little of the Sweethaven Magic will help us out.”

  Mama was quiet for a few long moments. “All right, Lila,” she finally said. “If you want me to come in, I will.”

  Lila smiled and considered pulling her mother into a hug. She decided against it, telling herself instead that they’d take this one day at a time.

  They left the Sunday school room and walked into the lobby, which was glowing with a circle of candles around the perimeter.

  “I sure hope the fire department is on call,” Mama said.

  “I’m glad to see everything about you hasn’t changed,” Lila whispered.

  They stood in the back, peering in through the windows as the congregation stood, singing “Silent Night,” led by nothing but Meghan’s acoustic guitar. Lila smiled at her old friend. Who would’ve thought either of them would end up in a church this way?

  The Christmas special had surely worked its magic, solidifying Meghan’s place in America’s heart. Lila marveled that she didn’t feel even a twinge of jealousy—only joy—toward her friend.

  A chill rushed through the lobby and Lila turned to see the door opening. Daddy appeared from outside, still looking broken and tired.

  He looked startled to see the two of them standing together. For that matter, it still surprised Lila. With his eyes, Daddy seemed to ask for permission to approach them, so Lila gave him a slight smile.

  Mama turned away and Lila saw the shame behind her eyes. All these years, she’d mistaken it for pride.

  “Clean slate,” Lila whispered.

  Mama shot her a look just as Daddy reached them. “Are you girls going in?”

  “I think we should,” Lila said.

  Mama nodded.

  Before Lila could pull open the door, Daddy stopped her with a hand on her arm. She turned and faced him, both she and Mama waiting to hear what he had to say.

  “I’m going to do better from now on.”

  Lila saw his pride break in half and Mama stiffened at her side. She wrapped an arm around her mother and smiled. “We all are, Daddy.”

  He nodded and took a deep breath. How hard it had been for him to say even that.

  Lila led them to the pew where Tom waited for her, mulling over how long it would be before her family resembled healthy. But at least they’d all agreed to try.

  For once they were headed in the right direction.

  As she moved past Tom, taking her place next to Charlotte, Mama and Daddy scooted in on the aisle. In front of her, Campbell and Luke held hands, their candles flickering in front of happy faces. Jane stood on the stage next to her husband, and Meghan sang, eyes closed in front of the microphone.

  Adele, directly in front of her, turned around and surveyed the pew, then met Lila’s eyes with a smile. “Merry Christmas, darlin’,” she said.

  The music swelled.

  Silent night, holy night

  Son of God, love’s pure light

  Radiant beams from Thy holy face

  With the dawn of redeeming grace.

  Lila closed her eyes and said a prayer of thanks for that redeeming grace. Where would any of them be without it?

  The following June

  Campbell stood at the back of the Sweethaven Chapel in a room reserved for brides. Out the window, she could see their guests filtering in, sitting in the white wooden chairs they’d set up earlier that morning. Underneath a white canopy, Graham stood, Bible in hand, and in just a few seconds, the music would start and she’d walk down the aisle to meet her groom.

  Tilly Watkins, her mom’s best friend from Chicago, appeared in the doorway. Her gasp turned Campbell around. “You look so beautiful.”

  Campbell caught her reflection in the full-length mirror. She’d never been a frilly girl, but she had to admit, she did feel like a princess in her dress. The strapless gown had just enough tulle to be special without being too much.

  She’d grown her hair out, and after it had been curled and sprayed, the stylist had pinned it up, leaving a few tendrils hanging around her face and securing the veil underneath the gathered hair.

  “Thanks, Tilly.”

  Tilly walked in and handed her a small box. “This is from your mother.”

  Campbell stared at it and then found Tilly’s eyes. “My mother?”

  Tilly nodded. “She wanted you to have it today.” She pulled Campbell into a hug. “See you out there.”

  After she’d gone, Campbell sat, careful not to wrinkle her dress, and took the lid off the small wrapped box. Inside, she found a handmade book. On the cover, the words “I wanted you to know . . .” The cover had been decorated with paint and flowers and, of course, Mom’s gorgeous hand-lettering.

  Campbell opened the book and found that the pages were envelopes, each decorated with Mom’s unique style. On the first envelope, Mom had written the words “On your wedding day . . .”

  Campbell turned the page and saw that the envelope had been sealed, and on the next page, she saw the words “When you find out you’re expecting your first child . . .”

  The book continued like that, milestone after milestone documented and accounted for. Mom’s way of having her say even after she’d gone. Campbell blinked to keep the tears from ruining her makeup. Carefully, she opened the first envelope and inside found a handwritten letter.

  Dear Campbell,

  I can only imagine how beautiful you look today. I can only imagine how special a man you found if you’ve agreed to make him your husband. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. As you know, I never had a wedding day, but if I did, I would’ve made sure to enjoy every second of it. I would’ve danced until my feet ached and spoken to every person who came to celebrate with me.

  I would’ve fallen in love all over again.

  Don’t let this day pass by too quickly, and remember that while a wedding is important, it’s the marriage that really matters. Treat him with kindness always, and don’t ever be afraid to let him know how much you love him.

  I know my death may cause you some confusion, but if there’s one thing I will never
regret in my life, it’s the people I’ve loved with every fiber of my being. Knowing I don’t have much time left, those are the relationships I cherish most.

  Forgive easily. Give freely of yourself. And love with your whole heart.

  Even when you have to say good-bye, you’ll find it was all worth it in the end.

  I did.

  I love you, Campbell.

  Mom

  Campbell reread Mom’s words and wondered how her mother had known exactly what to say.

  “Campbell?” her father’s voice startled her. “You okay?”

  Campbell glanced back at the book, tucked the letter back in its envelope and put it back in its box. She’d never cherished anything more. She nodded at Tom.

  “They’re ready to start the music.”

  Campbell checked herself in the mirror one last time and then took Tom’s arm, walking outside to the back of the wide yard behind the church.

  “You look beautiful,” Tom said. “Your mother would be so proud.”

  Campbell looked up toward the sky as if to acknowledge her presence, and for the briefest moment, it almost felt like her mom was right beside her.

  As she stood at the back of the rows of chairs, sprays of tulips lining the aisle they’d created, Campbell scanned the crowd. Old friends and new turned toward her, smiles on everyone’s faces. Adele sat beside her new husband and old love, tears falling faster than she could wipe them away. Campbell smiled when she met her eyes.

  Jane, equally weepy, sat beside Adele, and while Campbell would know the woman’s kind eyes anywhere, her body had been completely transformed. Healthy and strong, Jane had done what she set out to do—she’d taken her life back, and inspired many other people to do the same.

  Lila beamed in the front row, cradling her one-month-old son, Thomas Jr. Now that he’d been born, she would finally be able to donate bone marrow for her niece Maddie. Lila glanced down at her son, smiled, then looked back at Campbell.

  “You guys seem so happy,” Campbell said to Tom.

  His face lit up. “We are so happy.”

  Somehow, Campbell and her father had managed to work everything out, in spite of the secrets of the past, and she knew in her heart that her coming to Sweethaven wasn’t a mistake. In fact, it was the biggest blessing of her life.

  “Looks like it’s time.” Meghan, dressed in a simple sky-blue dress, looked less like a bridesmaid and more like a star. Finn and Nadia would lead the way down the aisle where Campbell would finally say “I do” to the man who’d stolen her heart from the second she arrived in Sweethaven. She glanced at Luke, who looked more handsome than she’d ever seen him in a gray suit and blue tie.

  When Luke saw her, his expression changed, and Campbell thought his face could’ve lit the night sky.

  Looking out over the scene in front of her, Campbell whispered a prayer of thanks. For the scrapbook that led her there. For the friends she’d met there. For the life she intended to have there.

  This little town had done more than given her a place to live. It had stolen her heart.

  And she knew she would never be the same.

  Dear Reader,

  For me, Christmas has always been such a magical time of year, especially the older I’ve gotten. It’s a time to slow down, to enjoy, to be thankful, but it always flies by so quickly. This year, I hope you take a few extra moments to rest in the magic of the season . . . and I hope a visit to Sweethaven helps you accomplish that goal.

  This book was more difficult to write because I knew it was the final book in the series, and in some ways, it was hard to say good-bye to these women who have found their way in my heart. It’s my hope, though, that their stories and the lessons they’re learning stay with you long after you close the book.

  This final installment of the Sweethaven series has reminded me of the redeeming grace of our Heavenly Father, something I’ve relied on time and time again (because I’m stubborn and tend to make the same mistakes over and over).

  It’s my hope that no matter who you are or what mistakes you’ve made, you can rest in knowing that God’s arms are always open and His grace is always sufficient. Run to God when you are weary and He will give you rest.

  Thank you for taking the time to read the conclusion of this story. I can’t properly express how much it means to me, but please know that it is a tremendous blessing. If you, like the women in the Sweethaven Circle, want to preserve your memories through the pages of a scrapbook, I’d like to invite you to visit me on my blog (CourtneyWalsh.typepad.com) where I share crafting tips and tricks and also tell the stories of my life.

  Your notes and e-mails are a huge bright spot in my day, so feel free to contact me via my Web site CourtneyWalshWrites.com.

  And may God richly bless you this and every Christmas.

  Courtney Walsh

  Courtney Walsh is a published author, scrapbooking expert, theater director, and playwright. She has written two papercrafting books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. She has been a contributing editor for Memory Makers Magazine and Children’s Ministry Magazine and is a frequent contributor to Group Publishing curriculum, newsletters, and other publications. She has also written several full-length musicals, including her most recent The Great American Tall Tales and Hercules for Christian Youth Theatre, Chicago. A Sweethaven Christmas is the third novel in the Sweethaven Circle Trilogy, along with A Sweethaven Summer and A Sweethaven Homecoming.

  Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. You can visit her online at www.courtneywalsh.typepad.com.