Sara glanced at Luke, sitting down the row from her, separated by four of his students. He smiled at her over their heads and woolen hats, and their eyes met. She felt that special sense of connection, as if he were sitting right beside her, holding her hand.
Reverend Ben had started the announcements. “This being the first Sunday of Advent, we begin our preparations for the holidays. Work on the Christmas Fair is well under way, and committees will be meeting after the service in Fellowship Hall. Please see Sophie Potter if you would like to volunteer.
“Next Sunday, there’s our annual Advent Party and potluck dinner, and on Saturday December seventeenth, the Christmas Fair. Mark your calendars, everyone. Or Palm Pilots,” he added with a grin.
Reverend Ben then called the congregation to worship, and the choir began the first hymn. Sara stood up and held out the hymn book to share with the little boy beside her. She caught sight of Emily a few rows ahead, bouncing a fretful Jane in her arms as Dan balanced the hymnal between them.
Sara wondered how Lillian was doing. She hadn’t gone back to visit since last week, when Lillian had argued with her over Luke. Emily had understood why Sara wouldn’t stay there again. She didn’t even try to persuade Sara otherwise. She had just sighed, as if she expected something like that to happen and told Sara not to worry—she would hire some help at night and Lillian would just have to put up with it.
After the readings of the scripture, Reverend Ben took the pulpit and began his sermon. “It’s that time of year again, holiday time. Preparations begin. Time to make our lists and pull out those boxes of decorations from the attic or the basement. Bake cookies, put up the tree, decorate the house. Don’t forget the inflatable lawn Santa. I’ve heard you can get them fairly cheap this year at that big garden place up on the highway.” A few people laughed and Reverend Ben smiled.
“But what are we preparing for? It’s easy to get confused about it. It’s easy to lose the real meaning of the season when we get so caught up in all the shopping and cooking and gift wrapping. It starts to seem so much like work and rather joyless, doesn’t it?
“I have a trick for you. This works for me and I’m going to pass it on. Did you ever get the house ready for a new baby? You know how that is. It’s more work than Christmas, but it’s a different attitude, a different mindset. Yes, there’s a lot of shopping and gadgets to deal with. There’s also cleaning up and clearing out. A sense of creating a peaceful, pure space for that new life to thrive. A safe, warm, loving place. Not just in our home, but in our hearts.
“There’s a deep, abiding sense of anticipation. A deep excitement about this new life coming into our world, this new person. So many possibilities. A sense of joy and wonder and hope. We are open and accepting. We are forgiving and thankful.” He paused to push his glasses a bit higher on his nose.
“We are humble, too, standing in awe of a tiny being, the innocence that will touch our souls and make us somehow innocent again. We anticipate this new life that will give our lives a new beginning.
“Those are the thoughts you might hold in your hearts as you prepare your home and your family for Christmas. That’s the perspective that can help make this season more meaningful for you. What are we preparing for and celebrating on Christmas Day but the birth of a baby, our Lord, Jesus Christ? The mystery and the joy at the very center of that day.
“Let’s move forward into the season of Advent, with joy and anticipation for the great gift God the Father will soon bestow on this world.”
Sara listened closely to the sermon. She liked Reverend Ben’s analogy. It helped her focus on the true meaning of Christmas, which she agreed too often got lost in the sauce. And she realized that was the exact same way she had felt about planning a big wedding. The real meaning of joining her life with Luke’s seemed to get lost in a burbling chocolate fountain. She had been unsure about eloping but now felt they had made the right choice.
The service moved on to “Joys and Concerns,” when the congregation shared their joys of the week and also their problems. Sara saw a hand pop up in the back row and recognized Digger Hegman, sitting next to his daughter Grace.
“Yes, Digger,” Reverend Ben said.
Digger rose and slowly straightened out. Sara could almost hear his bones creak under his thick wool jacket, heavy turtleneck sweater, and baggy trousers. “On Thanksgiving Day, my daughter Grace drove me up to Vermont, and we had a family reunion with my other two daughters, and all my grandchildren, who I don’t see very much, living down here. And that was a great joy to me.” He nodded and smoothed his long beard with his hand. “And the dinner was very tasty. I brought the oysters for the stuffing.”
Everyone laughed and Reverend Ben smiled. “I’m glad you had a good visit with your family, Digger. I hope you get to see them all again very soon.”
Emily raised her hand next and Reverend Ben nodded at her. “I have a joy and a concern today,” she began as she stood up. “I’m very happy to announce that my daughter Sara Franklin and Luke McAllister were married in a private ceremony last weekend.”
The congregation applauded, and Sara felt her cheeks get warm and red. She glanced at Luke, who was looking at her, beaming. Typical Emily. She would do something like that.
“And my concern is for my mother, Lillian. She’s had a bad fall and is confined to her house with two broken bones. We ask for your prayers for her recovery.”
Lillian probably wouldn’t get many visitors or get well cards, Sara thought, but she would get her fair share of prayers from the generous hearts gathered here today.
The service ended, and Sara and Luke had barely left the pew before they were swamped with well-wishers. Sophie Potter was first to enfold her in a big hug. “I’m so very happy for you, dear! So happy for both of you.” Sophie turned to Luke next and hugged him as well.
Reverend Ben’s wife, Carolyn, was next in line. “What wonderful news! Every happiness to the both of you.”
Sam’s sister Molly Willoughby and her husband Matt had already heard the news through Jessica and Sam, but they were eager to offer their congratulations. Sara had never realized that news of her marriage would bring so many smiles to so many faces. Even Digger, who was a special friend of Luke’s, stood by looking almost teary-eyed with happiness.
“You picked a fine girl. Great happiness to you.” The old fisherman shook Luke’s hand as if pumping a well.
By the time everyone had offered their good wishes, Sara was nearly exhausted. She finally reached the church vestibule and looked around for Emily.
“Now, don’t be mad at me,” Emily said as she approached. “I know I should have asked you first. But it just slipped out.”
“It’s all right. Everyone’s been so sweet. Besides, I should have guessed you were going to do that. How is Lillian holding up? Has she found anyone she likes for the night shift?”
“To tell the truth, she’s fired everyone we found so far. Thursday, Friday, Saturday…she’s batting a thousand. Oh, wait,” Emily corrected herself. “She was going to let the Saturday night hire come back, but the woman quit. Someone new is coming this evening. I’ll have to go over and get them started. I hope they come early enough to beat the snow. It’s supposed to start early this evening.”
“Well, I hope this one works out,” Sara said.
“Me, too,” Emily admitted. “Actually, Lillian was wondering how your marriage was working out—whether you had ‘come down off your cloud yet.’”
Sara laughed. “At least she didn’t ask you if I woke up and smelled the coffee.”
“What?” Emily looked genuinely puzzled.
“Never mind.” Maybe it was being in church this morning, or just having had time to cool off and get perspective, but Sara felt more forgiving of her grandmother.
“Listen,” she said, “I’m still willing to stay with Lillian but only if she’ll change her attitude about Luke. I mean, we’re married now. I don’t understand her problem.”
“I
know, honey.” Emily touched Sara’s arm. “I’m not sure if she’s ready to give in yet. You know your grandmother. Give her time, she’ll come around.”
“Right.” Sara knew Emily was only saying that to make her feel better. Her grandmother was a champion grudge holder. Time had no meaning when it came to Lillian to holding on to ill will.
“WHO LET YOU IN HERE? I TOLD THAT NURSE I WASN’T UP TO SEEING any visitors today.” Lillian leaned back in her wheelchair and glowered at Ezra Elliot who stood in the doorway of her living room, hat in hand.
“I told her I was your doctor. Those seemed to be the magic words to grant me entrée to the kingdom.”
“Very funny. You’re not my doctor and haven’t been for many years,” she reminded him.
“If I wait for you to be in the mood for guests, I’ll be visiting you in a graveyard, Lillian.”
“How touching. Just don’t bring carnations.”
Ezra laughed. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“You are in, as far as I can see. What’s the difference what I say?” She exhaled and spun her chair around. “You may sit in the living room for a few minutes, I suppose. But you can’t stay long. I’m very tired and out of sorts.”
Ezra sat down on the camelback sofa. He had taken off his coat and muffler and laid them down neatly on the armchair beside him. “So, how do you feel, Lillian? Are you still in pain?”
“Only when I laugh,” she said with a serious face.
He smiled at her. “Quite a black eye. I never could have pictured you with one.”
“Well, here it is. Not very pretty, is it?”
“Oh, it isn’t so bad. After a few moments, you hardly notice it anymore,” he consoled her. “It will go away in a few days.”
“I hope so. It’s getting uglier every day, turning all kinds of hideous colors.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to see me? Are you self-conscious about it?”
Lillian glared at him. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It hardly matters. I was just relieved to hear that you hadn’t hurt yourself more seriously. A fall like that at our age…well, it could have been much worse.”
“The end, you mean. Don’t mince your words, Ezra. I’ve never liked that.”
“All right. You could have killed yourself. Happy now?”
Lillian sighed. “It does give one pause. It does cause one to…reflect.” When he didn’t say anything, she added, “Do you ever think about the past, Ezra?”
“Oh, yes, all the time. Is that what you’ve been doing, Lillian? Strolling down memory lane?”
She nodded. “Too much, I think.”
“Typical for people our age. I suppose you look back and have your regrets. Is that it? Do you regret that you and I never got married?”
She suddenly looked up at him. “It never would have worked. We’re too much alike. You’ve never understood that.”
“So you say. We’ll never know, will we? There are so many questions we’ll never have answers to, I hardly see the sense in trying. Especially at this stage of the game.”
“I’m not searching for any elusive answers,” Lillian said curtly. “I’m not searching for anything. Sometimes I feel as if I’m really alive back there”—she tilted her head to one side—“and all this is just a dream. Just a waiting room.”
“A waiting room? What are you waiting for?” He paused. “Oh, I get it.” He removed his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief. “You have plenty of life left in you, Lillian. More than some people half your age. I’m a doctor, remember? I know about these things.”
“Thanks for the diagnosis.”
“Don’t mention it.” He picked up a deck of playing cards from the pedestal coffee table. “How about a hand of gin rummy? Feel up to it?”
Lillian frowned and he expected her to say she was too tired, but she nodded reluctantly. “All right. Just a hand or two. Shall we pick up the points from our last game? I believe the score pad is still in the secretary.”
“Excellent idea.” Ezra jumped up and retrieved the pad. “I was ahead, as I recall.”
“Perhaps, but not by much. I can’t remember the last time you beat me at this game, Ezra.”
“Gives me something to live for, Lillian. We all need something to make us get out of bed in the morning.”
Ezra chuckled but Lillian just scowled as he dealt out their cards.
THE SNOW BEGAN EARLIER THAN ANYONE HAD PREDICTED. IT FELL steadily, in a thick white curtain. Sara and Luke had left New Horizons right after lunch and gone into town to Sara’s apartment. They had plans to see a movie later in Newburyport. Sara wanted to clean up the apartment first, to get ready for the workweek. Her place was a mess, and she felt as if her belongings were scattered all over town.
They still weren’t sure where to live and had been moving between their two homes: Luke’s cottage out at New Horizons on Beach Road and Sara’s small apartment. Neither place seemed quite right. Sara was trying hard to make more closet space for Luke’s belongings, though there wasn’t much there to begin with.
“I think we need a new place altogether.” She lugged a carton of old shoes and books out of her bedroom. “Maybe we should rent a house. Did you throw out the real estate section already?”
“I can expand the cottage, build out. I already talked to Sam about it. We’ll make the bedroom bigger and build you a small study for your writing.”
Sam Morgan was her aunt Jessica’s husband and an excellent carpenter and builder. Sara knew if Sam was in charge of expanding the cottage, it would be a showplace. Luke would help, of course. He knew enough carpentry to follow Sam’s directions. Together they had done just about all the work of renovating the old Cranberry Cottages into the New Horizons Center.
Although Luke was capable of doing construction work, Sara couldn’t imagine when he was going to fit it in. He barely had time for all his responsibilities now: running the center, taking part in meetings up in Boston, and whatever new training he was asked to complete.
Sara didn’t relish the idea of living in a construction site for the next few months. Or camping out in her tiny place.
“Why don’t we just live in a big RV? Then we can take a cross-country trip anytime we like.”
“Good idea. As long as it’s solar-powered.” Luke got up from the kitchen table and helped her with the box. He peered inside. “Why am I always helping you carry boxes of books, Sara? Ever since we met. Is this my destiny?”
Sara grinned. It was true. It seemed she was always moving, and Luke was always helping her. “I really don’t believe in destiny. I believe in free will. But in your case, it’s probably true. You were born to lug my stuff around.”
He smiled and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “You are my destiny, I know that much.”
Sara smiled back at him, feeling completely happy despite the chaos of their living situation.
He put the box down and put his arms around her then gave her a real kiss. Sara melted against him, savoring the feeling of Luke’s arms holding her tight.
The phone rang. “Don’t answer it,” he whispered.
“All right, just let me hear who’s calling.” They stood very still, listening.
Emily’s voice came on the line. “Sara? If you’re around, could you pick up, please? I really need your help—”
Luke quickly released her, and Sara ran over to answer the phone. “I’m here. What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
“It’s your grandmother. Can you run over and check on her? She’s all alone and I’m not sure when the new night nurse is coming.”
“Alone? How did that happen? She’s not supposed to be left all alone.” Sara didn’t mean to sound as if she were blaming Emily, but she was alarmed.
“I’m not really sure. She called me a few minutes ago and said the day nurse had left early. I’m not sure if the woman wanted to get an early start home because of the snow, or if she had some conflict with your gran
dmother and maybe just quit. She was supposed to wait until the next shift arrived before she left. But apparently, Mother’s all alone right now.” Emily paused and let out a breath. “Meanwhile, I can’t even get in touch with the nurse who was due to start tonight. I was hoping she could come earlier, but she’s not answering her phone. I would go over there myself,” Emily added, “but Jane’s not feeling well. She has a bad cold and Dan’s gone out for the day. He won’t be back until late.”
“I understand. Don’t take Jane out in this weather.” Sara glanced at Luke, who was listening to the conversation. “We’ll take care of everything. Lillian’s house is only a few blocks from here. We’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Thanks, Sara. I knew I could count on you.” Sara could hear the relief in Emily’s voice. “Call me later, will you?”
“Sure, I’ll call you in a little while and let you know what’s going on.”
Sara and Luke dressed for the snow with hats, gloves, boots, and down jackets and climbed into Luke’s truck. Sara found a snow shovel on her porch and tossed it into the back. The snow was much deeper than they had expected. Over six inches had fallen during the afternoon and it was still coming down steadily.
The neighborhood between Sara’s house and Lillian’s looked still and quiet, the houses, cars, and wide front lawns were covered in a soft, white blanket of snow. It was growing dark outside, and the twilight cast a bluish tint on the scene. Sara didn’t see anyone out on the street, though windows glowed with warm yellow lights, making the houses look cozy and warm.
Not Lillian’s house, of course. The tall, gray Victorian was dark, as usual. Worse, it was forbidding and eerie-looking compared with the other houses on the street, which all looked like pretty little gingerbread cottages.
Sara felt sorry for her grandmother, stranded in her bed and unable to get up to even put a light on. She hoped Lillian hadn’t gotten frustrated and maybe even fallen trying to fend for herself.
Luke parked the truck and they waded through the snow to the front door. Luke had brought a flashlight, which made it easier to find the spare key and fit it in the door. Sara unlocked the heavy door quickly and pushed it open.
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