The Christmas Cottage by Mignon F. Ballard
Author:Mignon F. Ballard [Ballard, Mignon F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Religious, Christmas stories, Atlanta (Ga.), Christmas Stories; American
ISBN: 9781933523224
Publisher: BELLA ROSA BOOKS
Published: 2007-10-15T00:00:00+00:00
âYou drive. Iâll navigate,â Augusta said when I scooted under the wheel of my car. âGet closer so I can read her license plate.â
âWhy, Augusta, I do believe youâve been reading detective stories,â I said. âYouâre getting to be a regular Sherlock Holmes.â
âHmm, well, Arthur had a few problems with that first one. Plot development and such. Donât mind saying I gave him a hint or two.â
âArthur . . .?â
âConan Doyle. You know. The man who wrote the series. Let me tell you, there were times when we both despaired, but it worked out well, donât you think? Only I do wish heâd left out that part about Sherlock smoking dope!â Augusta stuffed her needlework back into her bag and held onto the door grip. âSheâs turning right at the next corner. Step on it, Prentice, I believe weâre gaining on her.â
I was glad it was too dark for her to see my smile. Ola Cress wasnât driving above forty and I was close enough to read the name of the company where sheâd bought the car.
Still, I was relieved an hour later when we pulled into the near-empty parking lot of The Dogwood Inn.
Since neither of us had eaten, I picked up sandwiches at the motel coffee shop while Ola got Joey ready for bed. Olaâs rooms were as she had described them: comfortable but nothing fancy. The bedroom, just large enough for a double bed and the babyâs crib, led off of a small sitting area and kitchenette. A playpen took up one corner of the living room, toys were scattered about, and a quick look in the kitchen cabinets revealed a good supply of baby food and formula. It appeared as if Ola Cress was prepared to stay awhile.
âWould you like to give Joey his bottle?â Ola asked. âYouâll find one ready in the refrigerator. Just zap it for about ten seconds in the microwave.â
I hadnât baby-sat since my college days, but I did remember how to heat a bottle, shake it, and test a drop on my arm. My nephew made his entrance howling and clung to Ola for dear life until he saw I had the bottle. I held out my arms and bribed him with milk, and from then on, it was a piece of cake. I sat across from Ola at the small kitchen table while Joey drained his seven ounces, burped obligingly, and dropped off to sleep in my arms. Finally, Ola, seeing I wasnât going to give him up voluntarily, picked up the sleeping infant and tucked him into bed.
âThank you,â I said when she returned.
âFor what?â
âFor letting me hold him, feed him.â
Ola opened a couple of soft drinks and found plates for our sandwiches. âHe has to get used to you. I canât just abandon him with someone he doesnât know.â She pulled out a chair and sat across from me, but didnât touch her food. âI didnât know what else to do,â she said, grabbing a paper napkin to blot her tears.
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