by Susan Page Davis, Darlene Franklin, Janelle Mowery, Lynette Sowell
Mrs. P. had taken a seat in the waiting room, but she held a sheet of lime-green paper in her hand. When she saw Waverly, she grinned broadly. “All better now, is she?” She waved the page. “I was just reading how the Barncastle Inn is looking for local animals to be in this year’s Christmas program. Why, they need a little bit of everything. Do you think they could use my Misty?” She clucked at the dachshund at her feet, who wagged her short tail and barked as she ran in circles.
“Waverly? Are you about ready?” Alec’s voice called to her from the back of the office.
“We’ll talk about it later, all right?” Waverly buckled Cinnamon into her stroller and kissed her one last time before heading to the operating room.
Alec sucked the finger that Velvet had scratched to inform the stranger with the needle that she didn’t appreciate the indignity fostered upon her body. Nothing was cuter in Alec’s mind than a cat hunching its back and hissing atan opponent ten times its size. But if he didn’t start the operation soon, they might have to wait another week. Seven more days when Velvet would seek a mate by any means available. Besides the problems with population control, the poor thing, at six months, was too young to bear a litter of kittens.
Through the door he glanced at Waverly kissing the top of her baby’s head. She thought he was doing her a favor, giving her a job until she returned to school. The truth was, he didn’t know what he would do when she left. The practice had kept him and Dr. Coe busy before his partner had retired, and Alec worked twice as hard to keep up with the demand now. Waverly grew up with animals, and she had completed training as a veterinary assistant along the way toward earning her degree in animal science. She’d make a fine vet some day, and he intended to make sure she had every opportunity.
She slipped into a fresh jacket and stopped by the sink to lather up her hands. “I got everything together for the operation earlier.”
The radio played soft Christmas tunes while they worked. Waverly kept gentle hands on the cat, keeping her still as Alec gave her a sedative. She crooned over the cat much the same way she crooned to Cinnamon, and even the fiercest of animals responded to her. Alec made a minute incision in Velvet’s shaved belly. “Have you decided about whether or not you’re going back to school for the spring semester?”
Waverly’s face scrunched. “I hate to put Cinnamon in day care so soon, but I know it’ll be better for both of usin the long run after I finish my education. But then again, if I work until next fall, I’ll be saving money for when I do go back.” She peered over her mask, deep green eyes boring into his. “If I decide to stay home for a while longer, will I still have a job?”
“As long as you need one.” Alec didn’t speak for a while. How do I ask this woman out? It should be easy. No one would interrupt them here. Why was he such a coward? “Waverly …”
“I wonder if she feels cold, with all her fur shaved away.” Waverly shivered. “At school, I saw a few cats that looked like feline hobos until their fur grew out after an operation.”
“I guess I never thought about it.”
She smiled at him while she continued stroking Velvet’s head. “The less it irritates her, the less she’ll lick it and maybe cause infection.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry, I interrupted you.”
He gazed into her green eyes, all that was visible of her face over the mask she wore, watching them flicker and flow like grass in summertime. A man could lose himself in those eyes. “Would you do me the honor of going to dinner with me tomorrow night, after the rehearsal at the Barncastle?”
Her hand stopped moving down Velvet’s back. “You mean, like on a date?”
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
Her hand moved over Velvet’s back again. “I … Yes. I will.” He could see her smile in her eyes.
“Good.” He turned his attention back to the cat. “Now let’s finish up here.”
A few minutes later, Waverly scooped Velvet up in herarms. “I’ll get her settled while she recovers.” She paused by the door, and he opened it. “I should warn you. Mrs. P. thinks Misty would be ‘perfect’ for this year’s Christmas programs up at the Barncastle.”
He groaned. “Thanks for the warning.” He removed his scrubs, washed, and went down the hall. From behind Jenny’s desk, he heard telltale whimpers. “Don’t tell me. Another litter of puppies needing homes?” He glanced down at the half a dozen squirming black-and-tan bodies. “Mrs. Overton’s Schatzi again?”
Jenny nodded.
“Did you remind her we’ll take care of that for her? For free?”
“She promised she’ll be back. After the holidays.”
Alec grunted. He picked one of the babies up and stared into his eyes. “You are adorable, aren’t you?” He nestled the fellow next to his sister and went into the waiting room.
Young Robbie jumped to her feet. “Is Velvet all right?”
“She’s fine. She just needs to rest here for the night and then she’ll be ready to go home tomorrow.” Alec saw Waverly at the door leading to the back. At her nod, he said, “Would you like to see her?”
“Can I?”
Alec nodded, and Robbie dashed after Waverly. He turned to follow.
“Dr. Ross?”
Mrs. P.
Alec made himself smile before he turned around. He let his gaze fall on the sleeping baby first. Aside from her red hair—more like Alec’s own head than Waverly’s strawberryblond locks—she was a miniature of her mother. He would like to hold her, if Mrs. P. wouldn’t fuss at him for disturbing her sleep.
Only after he had sated himself with looking at the baby did he look at the dachshund leaping in the air at the sound of Mrs. P.’s voice. “I see that the Barncastle is looking for local animals to take part in their Christmas extravaganzas this year. And that you will be coordinating the efforts.” She picked up Misty. “Misty is a natural at acting, aren’t you, snookums?” She rubbed noses with the dog, who gave her face a long-tongued kiss.
Alec looked at the dog, wrapped in a bright red holiday sweater and internally shook his head. Mrs. P. inserted Misty into as many productions as she could in Castlebury and beyond, often with hilarious results. Only last spring the dog had romped through the set of The Sound of Music and pulled down the curtains. “You do realize they’re re-creating the first Christmas this year, don’t you?”
Mrs. C’s smile widened even farther if possible. “Oh yes, of course.” A wrinkle of doubt appeared in her brow. “Are you saying there weren’t dogs around in Bethlehem? Why, I happen to know there have been dogs on the earth ever since Adam first named man’s best friend.” She winked. “And I can’t imagine a heaven without dogs either. Though some people disagree with me.”
Alec stuck his hands in the pockets of his lab coat while he searched for words. He could describe an animal’s condition—although Waverly teased him that he used the biggest words he knew—but he felt more comfortable using his hands than words.
A whiff of a light gingery scent alerted him that Waverly had come into the room.
“Dr. Ross was just telling me that God didn’t create dogs.” Mrs. P.’s nose jutted in the air. “If you don’t want my Misty in your production, just say so.”
“I didn’t say …” He turned in mute appeal to Waverly. No one had the guts to tell Mrs. P. no. At least not when it came to her doggie. And since Mrs. P. was little Cinnamon’s caregiver and one of Waverly’s strongest supporters, she wouldn’t say boo against …
“It’s just that this production will be outside, you see. And you know how sensitive Misty is to the cold.” Waverly sank to one knee and went nose to nose with the dog. “And we wouldn’t want to get sick, now would we?” Her voice took on a perfect imitation of Mrs. P.’s tone. She glanced up. “Especially since she couldn’t wear her sweater. I’m pretty sure they didn’t do that in the first century.”
“I never thought of that.” Mrs. P.’s eyes widened. “Maybe next year.” Misty barked in response.
The b
aby stirred and cooed in her seat. Waverly kissed her forehead. “My Cinnamon’s first Christmas will be one to remember here in our village, for sure.”
Chapter 2
God didn’t create dogs? Mrs. P. actually thought Doc said that?” Jayne Gilbert, owner of the Barncastle Inn with her husband Luke, laughed when Waverly told her the story about the confrontation at the vet’s office when they got together in the evening. “If you talked Mrs. P. out of having Misty in the play, you must be a miracle worker.”
“I only reminded her how miserable her poor baby would be in the cold.” Waverly paused. “I’m a little scared about bringing Cinnamon out in this weather.”
“Nonsense. This first weekend, the play is during the daytime. Plenty of sunshine.”
“I only remember the one night we choose to do something outside during December, like caroling, always turns out to be the coldest night of the Christmas season.” Waverly turned the row of the blanket she was crocheting for Jayne’s baby, due in mid January. She joked it was too bad their little tax deduction wouldn’t arrive until the New Year.
“You should call the baby Matthew.”
Jayne arched an eyebrow at her.
“You know, because he was a tax collector?” Waverly shook her head. “Never mind. How are reservations coming for this year?”
Jayne’s eyes lit up. “We’re full up, and we’ve had peopleasking if we’re doing the same thing again next year. Be careful, Andy.”
Jayne’s stepson was rocking vigorously while holding Cinnamon. She lowered her voice. “He’s so excited about having a brother, but I’m afraid he might be too rough.” Speaking again in a normal voice, she said, “It’s a lot easier preparing, since we chose the setting.” She wagged her finger at Waverly. “I still wish you would agree to be Mary the first weekend. You’d be a natural.”
Waverly blushed. “Absolutely not. Audra is perfect for the role.”
The high schooler was young, well spoken, passionate—innocent. In that direction lay pain and doubt. Waverly knew God had forgiven her, but she still had to live with the consequences of her choices—no husband for her, no father for Cinnamon, future plans more difficult to realize. “I’ll be just fine making sure the animals stay where they’re supposed to.”
“A partially sedated cat. A dog on a cleverly hidden leash. A cow munching on hay in a stall. Chicken clucking underfoot.” Jayne smiled. “It would be easier not to bother with the pets, but …” Her face softened. “I believe someone as bighearted and as well-to-do as Elizabeth would let animals have a special place in her heart.”
“That’s why you’re so good at this.” Waverly grinned. “You fill in the rest of the story, like Paul Harvey always used to say.”
“Then why do I feel like everything’s spinning out of my control?” Jayne placed her hand to the small of her back. “I hope things will seem less hectic after little Matthew”—sheflashed a smile at Waverly—“gets here.” She gestured for Andy to bring Cinnamon to her. She held her close, burying her nose in the baby’s hair and breathing deeply. “Nothing like the smell of a newborn.”
“I bet Mary did that with Jesus,” Waverly said.
Jayne opened her eyes and looked at her. “See, that’s why you should play Mary. You would add those little touches.”
Waverly groaned. “Not that again.” Cinnamon rooted around on Jayne’s shoulder, a sign for Waverly to start nursing her.
“So how has it been, going back to work?” This was Waverly’s second week back after Cinnamon’s birth.
“So-so.” Waverly tilted her hand this way and that. “I can’t complain. I love the animals, you know that, and Alec is so understanding.”
“I see.” Jayne grinned.
Waverly tugged the receiving blanket around Cinnamon’s shoulders. “See what?”
“You said Alec is so understanding.”
Waverly felt heat rising into her cheeks. “I meant Doc.”
Jayne waved her finger in Waverly’s face. “You won’t get by with it that easily. You said Alec. I’ve never heard you call him by his first name before.”
“So I asked her out.” Alec paused alongside Luke at the temporary stalls that Matthew Raynor, the carpenter, had built to accommodate the animals for Zechariah and Elizabeth’s household for the Annunciation play.
“It’s about time.” Luke grinned at the young vet. They had become good friends in the three years since Luke had
arrived at the Barncastle and convinced Jayne to marry him.
Alec didn’t say anything. A puzzled look on his face, Luke asked, “Did she say no?”
Alec shook his head. “She accepted. But I keep wondering if it’s too soon.”
“Let’s see.” Luke bent over and checked the latch meant to keep sheep penned in. “When I met you, she was still in high school, and you thought it was too soon. And I agree with you there. This isn’t Bible times, or even Amish country, where you can sweep a seventeen-year-old girl off her feet.” He pulled a screwdriver out of his tool belt and tightened the hinge.
“Not to mention the fact her parents would have killed me.” Alec kicked the side slats to test their strength.
“Then it was too soon after she graduated and went off to college, because you wanted her to have time to experience life on her own before being tied down.”
“Hey, I was in school, too.” But not dating, at least not seriously. Alec used his busy schedule as an excuse but the truth was his heart burned for a woman—hardly more than a girl, really—who was too young for him.
“Then it was too soon—or should I say too late?—when she started dating that kid at college and came home last Christmas all dreamy eyed. She was convinced she would be wearing an engagement ring this year.”
Alec popped his right hand into the top slat so hard that his knuckles throbbed. He massaged the hurting member with his left hand.
Luke grinned at him, and then his expression sobered. “And then we learned she was pregnant and her boyfriendturned out to be a user and a loser. You’re not holding that against her, are you?”
Alec shook his head so hard that his bangs fell into his eyes, obscuring his vision. “Of course not. But what”—his breath caught in his throat—“what if she can’t forget him?” He sagged against the rails. “How do I know when she’s ready to move on?”
“She said yes.” Luke headed for the hay bales “I think that’s your answer.”
Once she arrived at the Inn, Waverly hesitated at the door to the building that would serve as the staging area for the annunciation. She had dallied too long, deciding what to wear. A nice skirt tempted her, but she dropped that idea when she considered her options. The problem was she still couldn’t wear most of her old clothes. She needed a whole new wardrobe, but had no money to buy one. She settled for her favorite sweater, a deep green knit, and a pair of comfortable jeans with lambskin lined boots. Fortunately, she had an abundance of outfits for Cinnamon, at least until she outgrew the three-month size.
Alec probably didn’t expect Waverly to bring the baby on their—she could hardly bring herself to say “date”—but she wasn’t going to leave her precious baby at home, not after working all day. Besides, Cinnamon would get hungry before long. Her tiny stomach wanted filling every couple of hours.
Alec gestured for Waverly to join him on the hay bale closest to the action. Even dressed in everyday clothes of a beige sweater and off-white jeans, Audra lookedotherworldly, the perfect person to portray Mary. The angel Gabriel appeared and Audra shrank back in fear. He reassured her. “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
Waverly closed her eyes. Oh, how she wanted that for herself.
But then Audra’s crystal clear voice spoke the words that reminded Waverly of how far she had fallen. “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Waves of regret flowed over Waverly, and she rocked Cinnamon in silent agony. Alec looked sidewise at her, as if the same questions arose in his mind, and the u
rge to cry almost overwhelmed her.
Cinnamon stirred, wanting to eat, providing Waverly an escape. “Excuse me.” She gathered her things and found Jayne in the dressing room. “Do you mind if I nurse Cinnamon?”
“Go ahead.”
Waverly clasped her child close to her breast. Did knowing she had done nothing wrong make Mary feel any better during the long months—years, probably—of censure over getting pregnant outside of wedlock? Oh God, I know You have forgiven me. Help me to forgive myself. Waverly pled for peace, not wanting her distress to disturb her little girl. She’s innocent of my sins, Father. Every time she looked at the baby, she marveled that God would create something so beautiful out of something so wrong.
God brought peace, and by the time Cinnamon had finished, the cast was changing the set for the next scene, Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Waverly returned outfront and laid Cinnamon in her seat. Waverly was tasked with keeping an eye out for Morris the cat, in case he misbehaved.
Watching the familiar Bible story come to life transfixed Waverly. Elizabeth rushed out the door. Her dog raced by her side and greeted Mary, wagging her tail, begging for attention. Mary paused, shocked to see the evidence of the growing life in her cousin’s womb. Elizabeth exclaimed, “Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should visit me.” Morris, the ginger tom, rubbed around Mary’s legs in welcome, and she hesitated before saying her lines.
“My soul glorifies the Lord.” Waverly spoke the next words out loud like a prompter, and light laughter broke out.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try again.” Audra edged away from Morris, but the cat persisted in rubbing his tail along her exposed ankles. She sneezed.
Waverly frowned. Did she need to get Morris away? Waverly glanced at Alec for direction, but he made no sign.
Audra started again. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” She rubbed her nose while Waverly silently added “from now on.” Years ago she had memorized Mary’s Magnificat as one of her favorite parts of the Christmas story. Morris’s tail twitched in time with the words, striking Mary’s robe with each beat, as if he was worshipping God along with Mary.