Christmas Blessings by Katherine Spencer

Author:Katherine Spencer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2017-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

It’s piling up out there. Those weather forecasters didn’t expect this much snow.” Jean’s mother gave the front yard one last assessing glance then snapped the living room curtain closed. “Now they say it will snow all day tomorrow. Maybe even through tomorrow night.”

It was Thursday night. They had just finished dinner, and Jean was drying the pots and pans. “That’s a real blizzard, Mom. I didn’t hear it would be that bad.”

“Turn on the TV. See for yourself. The highway is full of fender benders.”

“That’s too bad. I hope no one was seriously hurt.” Jean fit the last of the pot covers into a cupboard next to the stove and began to wipe down the counter.

Jean could not recall her mother paying much attention to weather reports when she was younger. Cynthia had barely seemed aware of what was going on outdoors, emerging from her studio to be surprised by a spring storm, the heat of a July day, or the piles of snow that had fallen during a long February night. Now she was an avid fan of the Weather Channel, relishing the daily barometric dramas. Jean knew it was a cliché, but old people did love to fret about the weather, and her mother had slowly but surely joined their ranks.

“I guess we’ll be stuck in the house awhile,” Cynthia said. “Good thing you went to the supermarket today. I hope you got some ice melt. I’d better call Grant Keating and tell him not to come until Monday.”

Jean had only been half listening to her mother’s chatter, but she turned from the sink at the sound of Grant’s name. “Monday? That’s three days from now. I doubt it will snow that long, Mom. No matter what the Weather Channel says.”

Her mother sighed. “Don’t be such a wise apple. What if he drives over in the storm and has an accident? I’d be responsible.”

“Not really.” Jean turned back to the pots to hide her true reaction to her mother’s decision. She didn’t like the idea of not seeing Grant for three days. It seemed like a long time. “I agree he can’t come tomorrow. Sounds like everyone should stay off the roads. But what about Saturday? You’ve given him a long list of projects. I bet he doesn’t want to fall behind.”

Her mother shrugged. “A day or two won’t make any difference. He’s capable, but I doubt he has many clients clamoring for his time.”

The phone was on the table and her mother picked it up. She had pinned a scrap of paper with Grant’s number on it to the bulletin board near the cellar door. Jean watched her squint at the board to make out the numbers.

Jean wiped off more counters and turned on the dishwasher while her mother talked to Grant.

“Monday. Yes, that’s right.” A pause while her mother listened. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Jean is very handy with a shovel. Don’t trouble yourself. We’ll be fine.”

Grant had offered to come over and shovel them out.

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