A Family for Christmas by Winnie Griggs

Author:Winnie Griggs
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2013-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“So what’s holding you back?”

Eve kept her gaze focused on the potatoes she was peeling. She’d left Chance and Leo to explain the situation to Dotty, stating that she needed to get started on supper, but she should have known the older woman would follow her.

“As I’ve explained to Leo and Chance, I have obligations to fulfill and a job waiting for me in Tyler.”

Dotty tsked. “I’ve heard you talk of obligations and responsibilities, of what your grandmother expects and has planned for you. But I haven’t once heard you say this is what you want to do. So I’ll ask you outright. If none of that were in the mix, is being a milliner something you really long to do?”

Why did people keep asking her that? “It doesn’t matter. Don’t you understand? What I want or don’t want doesn’t relieve me of my duty. I can’t show disrespect to my grandmother by going against her wishes.”

Dotty frowned. “But surely, she wouldn’t see it that way. I mean, given the choice, wouldn’t she want you to pursue something you enjoy doing as opposed to something you don’t?”

Would she? “My grandmother has always done her best to provide for my well-being, both physical and spiritual.” That was true, even if it wasn’t a direct answer.

“I see,” Dotty said slowly.

Eve did her best not to squirm under her knowing look. “Besides,” she said, wanting to fill the silence, “I’m sure you’re eager to get back to your own life. I know when you agreed to come here to serve as chaperone you didn’t expect it to last more than a few days.”

Dotty waved that argument aside. “If that’s your only reason, then you’re in luck. I’m actually enjoying myself here and am in no hurry to return to the boardinghouse. It feels good to be in the midst of all these young people with so much going on in their lives.”

Eve’s first thought was that she could use a little less going on in her life. Then she realized that wasn’t true. As difficult as some of these decisions were to make, she didn’t want to go back to having someone else make them for her.

“But even if I decided to do this, there’s no guarantee I could make a candy store work. What if I try and the shop fails? Then where would I be? Mrs. O’Connell won’t hold that job for me past Monday so that would leave me with nowhere to go. Chance has been very kind to let me and Leo stay here, but I can’t live off of his charity indefinitely.”

“Oh, my dear, there are no guarantees in any of the paths we choose in life. The ones that seem the most secure can have hidden pitfalls. And often the ones that frighten us the most lead to undreamed of opportunities. All we can do is pray about our decisions and then step out in faith, knowing that the Good Lord will catch us should we fall.

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