A Touch of Grace
Page 31
Trygve read parts of the Christmas story and the age-old play, with all the schoolchildren taking their parts.
A young woman Grace’s mother had told her was Laurie Clauson read the final section of her story, “The Lonely Donkey,” which had been run in the newspaper. Since they sat close to the front, Grace could follow the story and smiled at the ending. She glanced over to see Samuel staring with puppy love eyes at the reader. Ah, so that was the way it was. Trygve and Maggie, Samuel and Laurie. Did she like him back? Ah yes, that flashed smile at the end said so. How could her brothers have both gotten interested in the opposite sex just this fall? Or had it been going on and she’d been too immersed in her own pain to notice?
Was Toby here? She’d soon know. She wanted to wish him well and really mean it this time. She was grateful for his friendship all these years, but as she remembered Jonathan smiling at her again and the look in his eyes, she realized with Toby that was all it was, a good friendship. She smiled. She surely was remembering Jonathan as he’d asked.
The children all gathered in the front for the lighting of the Christmas tree. The congregation sang “Silent Night” while the candles were being lit, leaving the tree shimmering. Grace felt the tears burning. Tears of happiness were still tears. She glanced at her mother. Sure enough, Mor was mopping her eyes too.
“Whose baby did they use for Jesus in the program this year?” she signed to her mother.
“A new family, and he didn’t even whimper. Slept right through the whole thing. Just like this one.” Mor kissed Hamre’s forehead, and he scrunched his nose like a bunny.
Pastor Solberg and Thorliff were handing out packages from under the tree to all the children, along with an orange and a candy cane.
More signs. “What did they all get?”
“A book—different titles for different grades.”
“How wonderful.”
As soon as the children received their presents, they ran to their families to open them. Grace watched Grant take his gift to his father and hand one to his little sister. What a sweet little boy he was, she thought.
When the presents were all given out, Pastor Solberg invited everyone for coffee and desserts down in the basement, and everyone stood, turning to their neighbors and friends to wish them “God Jul” and “Merry Christmas.” Grace and Sophie came together like two magnets with open arms for hugs and smiles with damp eyes.
“I have missed you so.” Sophie leaned back so she could watch Grace’s eyes.
“Me too. Oh, me too.” They hugged again.
“You look so lovely, so fashionable and grown up.”
“The babies have grown so much.” Their words tumbled over and around each other. Joy started to fuss, so Sophie took her back from Garth, who took his turn greeting Grace. Grant pushed his way through the crowded aisle and looked up at her.
“You went away and never came back.”
“I am back now.” She leaned down to give him a hug.
“You going to stay?”
Grace caught her breath. Did she want to stay? Or did she want to return to New York and her school and Jonathan? “For a little while.”
“For Christmas?”
“Yes.”
“Good. See, I got an orange and a candy cane.” He showed her his treasures. “Sissy did too, but Hamre and Joy are too little.” He slid his hand into hers. “Ma brought cookies. Come on.”
As she allowed him to lead her toward the stairs to the basement, she saw Toby up ahead, watching her with a smile that curved his cheeks.
“Welcome home, stranger.”
There was no one with him. The thought flew by as Grace smiled back. “It’s good to see you. Merry Christmas.” She waited for the familiar longing, but there was none.
“Merry Christmas to you too. I hear you are doing well in New York.”
“I am. I love my school.” She glanced down at the tug on her hand. “I’m being called.”
“No. You are being dragged.” He smiled again and turned when someone spoke to him.
Grace sucked in a deep breath and felt herself go lighter and lighter. The pain, the longing for him to pay attention to her, was gone. She nearly danced down the stairs. It was good to see him, yes. He looked … what? Older? She couldn’t decide. But she was free. And freedom felt like dancing, like giggling, like twirling in place, like flopping in the snow and making a snow angel.
Grant dropped her hand and made his way to the table spread with plates of cookies and sliced quick breads and a beautiful braided stollen. Julekake and iced cakes were sliced and ready to be served, and a huge crockery bowl of warm applesauce waited for ladling. He picked up two cookies and brought one of them back to her.
“Here. Merry Christmas.” They took their first bites together, his eyes dancing above the gingerbread man he had chosen. They both bit off the heads. She could see he was laughing. The wish to hear his little boy laughter caught her by surprise. She was so used to not hearing that she’d given up wishing differently a long time ago. But with children it was different. Was it all children? No, on second thought, those related to her were more important.
“So is this the new man in your life?” Thorliff asked.
“I think so.” She swung Grant’s hand and glanced up to see Toby talking with one of the men. “I really think so.” But a picture of Jonathan flashed through her mind, of his sitting beside her, giving her his present in the train station. Her fingers caressed the cameo now at her throat. Waiting for her in New York. “Remember me,” he had said. Looking forward to a new year together.
And then she knew. So was she. She’d come home to be a snow angel and then leave again for a new beginning. To a man who loved her just as she was, whether in Blessing or in New York. Just Grace, or as he had said, “Pure Grace.”
DON’T MISS
Rebecca’s Reward
Watch for this compelling novel,
the fourth in the DAUGHTERS OF BLESSING series
Nineteen-year-old Rebecca Baard has experienced more than her share of sorrow. Now she’s afraid to open her heart to love. Besides, no man has shown enough interest in her to come courting. So Rebecca’s friends set out to remedy the situation, concocting social events to attract all the eligible bachelors in Blessing and advising her in the use of feminine wiles. But even the best of intentions can’t keep events from taking a most unexpected turn.
Can Rebecca overcome her fears, or will she settle for something less than love?