Caro's Gift by Jean C. Gordon

Author:Jean C. Gordon [Gordon, Jean C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Snowflake, Co., Novella Length-Short Story, Old High School Friends, Secret Angels, Secret & Special Wishes, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Sensual Story Theme, Hearts Desire, Lifetime Love, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Romantic Schemes, Small Town & Rural Area, Cowboy & Western Romance, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small-Town Christmas Wishes, Christmas Holidays & Celebration, Christmas Time, Holiday Whimsy, Festive Season, Snowy Winter Weather
Publisher: Upstate NY Romance
Published: 2019-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

As they stood on the sagging front porch, Caro resisted the urge to grab and squeeze Simon’s hand. To tap into some of his dependable strength for support. She generally wasn’t nervous meeting people, and she’d already met Hope and Jake, sort of. Sadly, with the hours she put in at the hospital, the extent of her meeting new people was essentially limited to staff and patients. She hadn’t taken advantage of socializing at church much, which could have helped relieve some of her work stress. Nor had she attended service as faithfully as she should.

Her Lord. That’s who she should be depending on for strength, not Simon, as dependable as he was. Caro made a silent plea that this wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.

“Ready?” Simon asked.

“Yes.” And she was now.

Simon pushed the doorbell and she didn’t hear any sound. He opened the aluminum storm door and knocked on the wooden one behind it.

Almost immediately, the door swung open. “Ms. Caro,” Hope shouted. “What are you doing at my house?”

Before she could answer, Jake came racing into the room, as quickly as someone on crutches can race. “Hope, you’re not supposed to open the door.”

“But I saw out the window that it was Ms. Caro from Sunday school and some guy.”

“Coach,” Jake said.

Caro could almost hear Jake’s silent what are you doing here?

Hope looked up at her. “I’m not `sposed to answer the door because it might be bad guys. Mommy said no one is `sposed to know we live here.”

Jake turned ashen.

“Can we come in?” Simon said gently. “I’m guessing your mother is at work.”

“Yes and, um, yes.” Jake stepped back, pulling Hope with him, to let Caro and Simon in.

Simon held the storm door for her and followed her in. She glanced around the room. The beautiful new-looking living room set taking up most of the room contrasted sharply with the worn carpeting and dingy walls. Her stomach clenched. She could readily see the furniture in their Littleton home, she’d seen online. No Christmas tree or any other signs of the holiday were evident.

“You wanna take your coats off and sit down?” Jake shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I have a fire going.”

“No, we’ll just be here a couple of minutes.” Simon unzipped his jacket but kept it on and she followed his lead.

A draft from under the door blew against the back of her legs, despite Simon having closed the storm door. The wood stove in the stone fireplace heated the room comfortably, but today was mild for a winter day.

“We’re here to welcome you to Snowflake Chapel and invite your mother to bring you to our Christmas Eve service,” she said.

Simon offered the papers he held in his hand. “I have some information for you to give to your mother. You can look at it yourself. And I apologize for not calling your mother ahead of time. But—”

“You have Mom’s phone number?” Alarm colored Jake’s face. “That’s worse than you finding us here and Hope letting you in,” he mumbled.

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