Christmas Connections by Halene Dahlstrom

Author:Halene Dahlstrom
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publication Consultants

Patricia looked up, triumphant. She had never seen so many wide-eyed looks in her life. They did appreciate it! Including Robert, who was looking down, one hand covering his face. He was shaking; obviously deeply touched.

“What will she think of next?” Patricia heard one obviously immature teenager ask another as she walked back to her pew.

“Just wait and see!” she whispered. Inspiration number two had descended upon her mind with clarity and brilliance.

Mayville, 11:00 a.m.

Del was out of breath when he caught up to Jean after church. She had half a block's start on him.

“Jean!” he called, hoping to slow her down. It worked.

“I wanted to tell you that your song was nice.”

Jean half-giggled, shaking her head. “It would have been better if Mabel Crane had showed up,” she said, a note of exasperation in her voice. “It was supposed to be a duet. I've never been a soloist!”

“You were today, and it turned out fine.”

“If you say so. But if people have nightmares tonight, they'll have me to blame. I shudder to think about it!” She shook her head again. “So, how've you been? I'm surprised to see you walking.”

“All right, mostly. My car's in the shop. Was supposed to be finished last night.”

“You left it at Moyd's?”

“How'd you guess?”

“A nasty rumor. Makes me glad I don't drive.”

They walked on in silence until Del spoke up. “Mind if I ask a personal question?”

“Ooh, I hate those,” Jean said, smiling. “It usually means someone's about to get nosy in a nice way, or ask my opinion on something controversial. Which is it?”

“The nosy-but-nice kind. I know you've been trying to find Maria's husband, but isn't there other family, like parents?”

“Yes. Maria's mother is living with Maria's older brother. Her father died last spring. Why?”

“Nothing. It's just that I know you're doing a lot for her and all, but she seemed awfully sad when she was in the store last night. If she was my daughter, I'd want to know where she was.”

Jean's smile faded into a solemn look. “You can't always keep track of kids nowadays, Del.”

What a fool I am, he thought, remembering that Jean's daughter Betsy took off five years ago, and there'd been no word from her since.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean… I mean, what I meant was …”

“It's okay, Del. I know what you meant. It's my fault. What I should have said was, yes, Maria has tried to contact her mother. There's a problem though, some trouble with her brother. She's written but we don't know whether her mother has received the letters and not answered, or whether she's even received them in the first place.”

“That's terrible!”

“Yes. But right now, the one she needs to hear from most is her husband.”

Del began to wonder if Jean was setting herself up for more grief by getting so attached to Maria and her son. “What if her husband doesn't show up?”

“We'll do what we are doing now, living each day as it comes.”

Del walked the next block trying to get up courage, then carefully said, “Jean, you get too involved sometimes.

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