Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli

Author:Heidi Chiavaroli [Chiavaroli, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heidi Chiavaroli
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

“Pardon me, young lady?” Aunt Pris bristled from where she held court on her Queen Anne sofa for tea time.

Esther grabbed my aunt’s arm, and leaned closer. “She said she’s pregnant, Priscilla. A baby. Don’t you just love babies?”

“I’m afraid I don’t,” Aunt Pris snapped.

I looked at my aunt’s faithful friend, grateful for her presence.

“The only reason you don’t like babies is because you don’t know what you’re missing!” Esther exclaimed.

Maybe not the best approach. Had Aunt Pris ever wanted children? She hadn’t even taken in her own nephew when he’d found himself an orphan.

Esther shimmied onto the edge of her chair. “Babies bring life to a house—almost how dogs do. Can you imagine this home without your Cragen?”

I glanced at Cragen, ever faithful on my aunt’s lap but eyeing me with suspicion, a low growl in his throat. If babies were anything like Cragen, I may just have to throw in the towel now.

“Aunt Pris, I don’t know that I’m keeping it, but I thought you should know about the possibility if we all end up living with you, that is.”

She eyed me over the top of her glasses. “And you’re not getting married?”

“No, I’m not.”

Her hand fluttered at her throat. I hoped she wouldn’t have a heart attack here and now.

“You are determined to raise this child on your own, then?”

“Or I will give it to a family who wants a baby.”

She sat up straighter. “Well, I’ll cast my vote for that idea.”

“Priscilla!” Esther’s dark brow wrinkled. “A baby!” As if those two words could make everything okay. “One of God’s greatest blessings.” She smiled at me. “Oh sure, the circumstances aren’t as He’d intend, but this innocent babe will be a blessing.”

The surety of her words almost made me believe them. Maybe it was time I started thinking of this child as a blessing instead of a curse—instead of a symbol of how Finn had abandoned me in the end.

“Aunt Pris, I don’t want this to affect our bed and breakfast endeavor. If you are not comfortable with the idea of a baby beneath your roof, and if I decide to keep him or her, then I will find a way to live on my own. There’s plenty of jobs I’m suited for, and I’m a hard worker.”

“But who will run the bookshop, then?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. Perhaps we don’t open the bookshop until later, when we can afford someone to run it, if that can’t be me.” My chest squeezed at the thought of giving up the bookshop. I’d been waking all hours of the night, planning. How the store would look, how I wanted plenty of space to face the books outward so shoppers could see the beautiful covers. I’d include all things bookish as well. Journals and bookmarks, bookish jewelry and bookish clothes. Books on the history of Camden and New England, books on the Alcotts and their Orchard House. Maybe a small nook for coffee and tea, a few chairs and tables to add to the welcoming atmosphere.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.