Talk of the Town
Page 22
Alice looked up from the article as someone tapped her on the shoulder. Florence stood directly behind her.
“Well?” the older woman demanded.
Alice raised an eyebrow in her best imitation of Louise, who could intimidate anyone with that expression when she so chose. “Well what?” she repeated.
“What do you think?” Florence asked. “Of the article?” Alice glanced back down at the newspaper. “I think he’s young, he’s poorly acquainted with true friendship, and he’s extremely sincere. I think he will never do something like this again.”
Florence mulled over Alice’s words, and Alice prepared for a blast of ire. Finally, Florence said, “I guess you’re right.”
“I am?” Alice was stunned. “Does that mean you’re not angry with him anymore?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Florence sniffed, “but I suppose I am willing to forgive and forget.”
Privately, Alice doubted the last part. Florence never forgot any perceived slight. But at least she was willing to take a step in the right direction. “That’s very generous of you, Florence.”
“It is,” agreed Florence with a self-righteous nod. “After all the trouble he put us through.”
Ronald, standing at his wife’s side, chuckled. “Oh, come on. Admit it. This is the most excitement we’ve had around Acorn Hill since the Y2K scare.”
“Humph. Another thing we could have done without,” grumbled Florence. But Alice noticed when Ronald put his arm around her and squeezed, she leaned into his shoulder and briefly rested her head against him. It appeared all would be well in the Simpsons’ world, Bigfoot or no Bigfoot.
When Alice got back to the inn, Maxwell was waiting for her in the hallway.
“Did you get the paper?” he asked in a rush. “How bad is it?”
Alice smiled as she handed over the newspaper. “Not bad at all. Even Florence agreed that you deserve forgiveness.”
Maxwell’s head jerked up from the paper. “Are you serious? I heard she wanted to tar and feather me.”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t still annoyed,” Alice cautioned. “But she’s softening.”
“Hey.” Jane poked her head out of the living room. “Alice, could you come in here? We want to tell Clothilda about our offer.”
“Coming.”
Maxwell started up the stairs. “I guess I’ll read this and see if it really is safe for me to walk into town. Thanks, Alice, for everything.”
Ethel was in the living room with Jane, Louise and Clothilda when Alice arrived.
The sisters had tried every gentle hint in their repertoire to encourage Ethel to take her leave, but it was as if she sensed something was up, and she wasn’t about to miss it.
Alice barely had taken a seat when Louise said to Clothilda, “Alice, Jane and I have something we would like to talk to you about.”
Clothilda’s eyebrows rose, and a moment later, her forehead wrinkled. “Did I do the something wrong?”
“No, no.” Jane leaned forward and patted the woman’s hand. “You have done everything just right.”
“We—” She glanced at Ethel. “—sisters have been talking and we have an offer to make to you. If and when the time comes to bring your granddaughter here for evaluation or treatment, we would like to provide you with a week’s free lodging here at the inn.”
Jane rose, took an envelope from the mantel and walked to Clothilda’s side. “Here,” she said, extending the envelope. “This is a gift certificate. It is good for one room for a week, and you can redeem it anytime.”
“Although,” said Louise hastily, “it is helpful to have as much advance notice as possible so that we can reserve a room for you before the inn fills up.”
Clothilda slowly took the envelope from Jane, looking at it in disbelief as her eyes filled with tears. “You ladies,” she said, “have been so kind. God smiled on me when I greeted you.”
“Met you,” corrected Ethel gently. “When I met you.”
Clothilda laughed. “Thank you, Ethel. Without you, I would have had the more difficult time speaking English.” She rose and embraced each sister in turn, thanking them individually.
Ethel cleared her throat. “Clothilda?”
When the German guest turned to her, Ethel smiled and said, “I can’t let my nieces show me up with their generosity.” She beamed at all three of them, then looked back at Clothilda. “When you bring Lotte over, I would be honored if you would allow me to purchase her airplane ticket.”
“Aunt Ethel!” Jane gasped. “That’s a wonderful thing to do.”
“Yes,” said Alice. “Extremely generous.”
Clothilda rose from her seat and grabbed Ethel in a firm embrace, her shoulders shaking. With her mouth muffled in the navy wool at the shoulder of Ethel’s spring sweater, she said, “You, dear friend, also are too kind. I will treasure you all forever.”
“As we will treasure you,” Ethel said in return.
The sisters smiled at each other, their own eyes misting.
“Goodness,” said Jane. “Aren’t we just a bunch of crybabies?”
“Apparently so,” Alice replied, dabbing at her eyes.
“Why don’t we take this party into the kitchen,” Jane suggested. “I just made a new batch of those crème-de-menthe brownies we all loved so much.”
“Excellent idea,” said Louise.
As one, they all walked toward the kitchen with Louise in the lead.
Suddenly Louise stopped and everyone else nearly plowed into her.
“What’s wrong?” Ethel asked as she stopped a pace away from Jane’s back.
Louise silently pointed.
There, sitting right in the middle of the table, was Wendell. There was no food in sight, but he looked perfectly at home. And quite pleased with himself.
“All right, you smarty pants,” said Louise. “You think you’re the king of the castle now, don’t you?”
“He knows he is,” corrected Alice, and she went to retrieve the fat feline from the table as the others began to laugh.
About the Author
Anne Marie Rodgers has published nearly three dozen novels since 1992. She has been a finalist for the prestigious RITA award and has won several Golden Leaf awards, among others. In addition, she has been a teacher of handicapped and preschool children.
Anne Marie has been involved in animal-rescue efforts for many years, and her family is used to sharing their home with furred, finned and feathered creatures in need. After Hurricane Katrina, she volunteered at the Humane Society of Louisiana, caring for animals left behind during evacuation efforts. She and her loved ones also have raised puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Anne Marie and her family live in State College, Pennsylvania. Her favorite activities include ice skating, needlework, amateur theater and dance, canine training, and scrapbooking. She considers irises, beaches and babies of any species some of God’s finest creations.
A Note from the Editors
We hope you enjoy Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, created by the Books and Inspirational Media Division of Guideposts, a nonprofit organization. In all of our books, magazines and outreach efforts, we aim to deliver inspiration and encouragement, help you grow in your faith, and celebrate God’s love in every aspect of your daily life.
Thank you for making a difference with your purchase of this book, which helps fund our many outreach programs to the military, prisons, hospitals, nursing homes and schools. To learn more, visit GuidepostsFoundation.org.
We also maintain many useful and uplifting online resources. Visit Guideposts.org to read true stories of hope and inspiration, access OurPrayer network, sign up for free newsletters, download free e-books, join our Facebook community, and follow our stimulating blogs.
To learn about other Guideposts publications, including our best-selling devotional Daily Guideposts, go to ShopGuideposts.org, call (800) 932-2145 or write to Guideposts, PO Box 5815, Harlan, Iowa 51593.
Tales from Grace
Chapel Inn
Recipes & Wooden Spoons
by Judy Baer
Hidden History
by Melody Carlson
Ready to Wed
by Melody Carlson
The Price of Fame
by Carolyne Aarsen
We Have This Moment
by Diann Hunt
The Way We Were
by Judy Baer
The Spirit of the Season
by Dana Corbit
The Start of Something Big
by Sunni Jeffers
Spring Is in the Air
by Jane Orcutt
Home for the Holidays
by Rebecca Kelly Eyes on the Prize
by Sunni Jeffers
Summer Breezes
by Jane Orcutt
Tempest in a Teapot
by Judy Baer
Mystery at the Inn
by Carolyne Aarsen
Saints Among Us
by Anne Marie Rodgers
Never Give Up
by Pam Hanson & Barbara Andrews
Keeping the Faith
by Pam Hanson & Barbara Andrews
Rally Round the Flag
by Jane Orcutt
Sing a New Song
by Sunni Jeffers Prayers and Pawprints
by Diann Hunt
Empty Nest
by Pam Hanson &
Barbara Andrews
Christmas Memories at
Grace Chapel Inn
by Pam Hanson &
Barbara Andrews,
Anne Marie Rodgers,
Sunni Jeffers
Autumn Tales
by Jolyn &
William Sharp
Christmas Traditions at Grace
Chapel Inn
by Sunni Jeffers,
Pam Hanson &
Barbara Andrews
The Kindness of Strangers
by Susan Meier
Once you visit the charming village of Acorn Hill, you’ll never want to leave. Here, the three Howard sisters reunite after their father’s death and turn the family home into a bed-and-breakfast. They rekindle old memories, rediscover the bonds of sisterhood, revel in the blessings of friendship and meet many fascinating guests along the way.