Cynthia is here!” Louise sang out as she rushed through the foyer to answer the doorbell. “Come and say hello to my one and only daughter.”
Alice set down a heaping platter of Christmas cookies on the dining room table and then hurried out to greet her niece. “Welcome home!” she said as she hugged Cynthia and helped her with her coat. “Did you have a good trip?”
“The traffic was awful until I got to Acorn Hill.” Cynthia looked around the foyer and frowned. “Hey, I thought you guys were fixing this place up.”
Louise laughed. “Don’t judge a house by its foyer. We’re still a work in progress. Come and see the living room and dining room and say hello to Jane. Then we’ll give you the full tour.”
“Oh my,” said Cynthia as they walked into the candlelit living room. “This is really beautiful.” She walked around the room in wonder.
“It’s mostly Jane’s doing,” said Louise. “Although we all helped out a little. I even sanded the woodwork a bit myself before Jane painted it.”
“It feels almost celestial in here,” Cynthia finally said after she had examined everything. “What a totally amazing transformation. I can hardly believe this is the same house.”
“We considered putting the Christmas tree in here,” said Louise, “but decided to stay with family tradition and have it in the parlor.”
“I like it this way,” admitted Alice. “With all the candles and the greenery on top of the mantle, I think this room is lovely without a tree.”
“Now come see the dining room,” said Louise, her eyes sparkling like a little girl. “It’s lovely too.”
“Wow,” said Cynthia as they went into the dining room. “Everything looks so different from the last time I was here.” She shook her head in amazement. “Everything feels so much lighter and brighter—I absolutely love it! I may never want to go home.”
“Hello,” called Jane as she pushed open the swinging doors from the kitchen. “How are you, Cynthia?”
“Worn out,” she said as she hugged Jane. “You look really good, Aunt Jane. I love that dress.”
Jane set down a tray of cheese and crackers and then held out the full skirt of her burgundy velveteen dress. “I got this in a retro shop in San Francisco a few years ago. Almost forgot I had it.”
“Goodness, Jane, does that mean it’s actually been used?” asked Louise in a horrified voice.
Jane grinned. “Yep. That’s what makes it so special.”
“There are a couple shops like that in Boston,” said Cynthia. “I couldn’t work up the nerve to go, but maybe I will now.”
“You would wear used clothing?” Louise looked aghast.
Cynthia laughed. “Come on, Mom, get with the program.”
“Speaking of program, we better continue our tour,” Alice said, “before our other guests begin arriving.”
“Yes,” agreed Louise, “but Cynthia should take a peek at Aunt Jane’s kitchen first.”
“It’s a little messy at the moment,” said Jane as she led them into it. “I’ve been a baking maniac today.”
“Oh, Aunt Jane, it’s adorable. I love these bright colors, and this floor is very cool. What fun! It actually makes me want to cook.”
“Now, that’d be something,” said Louise. “Considering you barely know how to make toast.”
“Maybe Jane should give Cynthia some lessons while she’s here,” suggested Alice.
“I’m afraid Aunt Jane would pull her hair out,” confessed Cynthia. “I’m really pretty hopeless in the kitchen. Although I do peel a mean potato.”
“All right,” said Louise. “Let’s keep this tour moving. You have to see the library and parlor now, Cynthia.”
Cynthia paused to read the sign on the door to the library. “The Daniel Howard Library.” She pushed open the heavy paneled door and went in. “This is really nice. It makes me want to curl up and read a good book.”
“That’s just the look we were going for.”
Next they went to the parlor. “This is my favorite room,” said Louise proudly. “Don’t you love this wallpaper?”
Cynthia nodded. “Yes, it feels like your style, Mom. Your beautiful piano looks completely at home in here.” She paused by the Christmas tree. “What a lovely tree. Hey, I recognize that little angel playing the flute.”
Louise laughed. “Yes, we’ve all contributed from our own collections.”
Alice glanced around the parlor. The wallpaper really did look perfect in this room. Quaint and old-fashioned, but still light and cheerful. Much better than the old dark print that used to adorn the walls. “Now, let’s help Cynthia get her bags up to the Sunset Room.”
“Sunset Room?” Cynthia looked puzzled.
“Yes, dear, we named the guest rooms.” Louise picked up the smaller overnight bag, and Alice got the larger one.
“Better hurry up, Jane,” called Alice from the foyer. “We’re heading up to see your special room now.”
“Not without me,” yelled Jane as she hurried toward the staircase. “Remember what I said.”
Alice turned to Cynthia. “Jane has been so secretive. She wouldn’t even let Louise or me see this room yet.”
“That’s because I only finished it this afternoon.”
“It’s the first guest room that’s ready for visitors,” said Louise.
“Right this way, girls.” Jane led them up the stairs and down the hallway, before she opened the door with much aplomb. “Welcome to the Sunset Room.”
“Oh, Jane,” gushed Cynthia. “This is fabulous.”
Alice looked around the spacious bedroom in wonder. What used to be an old set of worn bedroom furniture now had a creamy antiqued finish and looked elegant and comfortable. The walls were faux painted in terra cotta tones, giving it a warm, cozy feel. Some nicely matted and framed prints adorned the walls as if they had hung there forever. “How do you do this, Jane?” gushed Alice. “Honestly, it looks like a page out of Beautiful Home magazine.”
“Don’t you love this fabric?” said Jane as she happily plumped a blue, gold and terra cotta tapestry pillow. “Sylvia special-ordered it for me. It’s kind of old-fashioned, but the colors feel contemporary.”
“The whole room has such a warm and welcoming feel, Aunt Jane,” said Cynthia. “I really feel honored to be the first person to use it.”
“Well, don’t feel too honored,” said Jane. “Unfortunately the bathrooms on this floor aren’t operable yet. You’ll need to trek either upstairs or down to use the facilities, but you look like you’re in pretty good shape to me.”
“I don’t mind a bit,” said Cynthia. “Just using this pretty room makes me feel special. I can handle the stairs just fine.”
“Goodness,” said Louise with a worried frown. “I don’t know if my guest room will be able to hold its own against this one.”
“Maybe we should ask Jane to help us with our rooms,” said Alice.
Louise nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. She just seems to be getting better and better at this decorating business.”
Jane laughed. “It’s so much fun. Honestly, it’s almost as rewarding as cooking. Although I have a feeling that once we’re done, I may be tired of it. But you never know. I might have to take up decorating as a part-time job if the inn doesn’t bring in enough business.”
“I think I hear someone at the door,” said Alice. “You three take your time up here and I’ll let them in.”
Since it was still a bit early, Alice suspected it was Aunt Ethel. Naturally, she was right. “Come right in, Auntie,” she said with a big smile. “Merry Christmas!”
“Thank you, dear.” Aunt Ethel peered over Alice’s shoulder. “Is that Cynthia’s car I see parked out front?”
Alice nodded. “They’re upstairs admiring Jane’s guest room.”
“Oh, I must see it! That Jane,” Aunt Ethel handed Alice her coat. “She’s really got an artist’s eye.”
Alice chuckled to herself as she hung up her aunt’s coat. It wasn’t long ago that Aunt Ethel had insulted Jane over her choice of colors in the kitchen. Just like the weather, thought Alice as she went to put on another Christmas CD and check on the refreshment table.
Soon, Fred and Vera arrived with both their daughters in tow. Next came Hope, then Lloyd Tynan along with Pastor Ley and his wife Patsy. Alice had also invited members of the church board to come tonight, hoping that it might help allay some of their fears about their soon-to-be inn, but she really didn’t expect that Florence Simpson and her husband Ronald would show up. She hoped her face didn’t register too much surprise when she opened the door to see them on the porch.
“Florence,” she said with a nervous smile. “And Ronald. Welcome to our home. Come in, come in.”
Florence looked skeptically around the drab looking foyer. “I thought you were doing a renovation here.” She handed Alice her heavy fur coat. Alice tried not to wince as she slipped the coat onto a sturdy hanger. She had never liked the feeling of animal fur, and tried to dispel the image of all the critters that had given up their luxurious pelts.
“The foyer won’t be finished until after Christmas,” she explained as she took Ronald’s wool coat.
“Well, Alice,” said Ronald. “Contrary to popular opinion, I happen to like what you’ve done with the exterior of your house.”
“You do?” Alice glanced at Florence just in time to see her scowl.
He nodded. “I never thought that great big peach house looked appropriate next to the church. It almost seemed to upstage it, in my opinion.”
Florence sniffed. “Well, it seemed like a part of Acorn Hill’s history to me.”
Alice thought it was time to change the subject. “Why don’t you come and see the living room,” she said quickly. “Jane is our decorator, and we all think she’s done a pretty nice job.”
She led them into the golden living area where a number of guests were mingling and admiring the renovations. “There are lots of goodies in the dining room,” Alice assured the Simpsons. “Feel free to look around and see what we’ve done. We’re still in progress, but I’m sure you’ll see that we’ve—”
“I simply adore what Jane’s done in the kitchen,” said Hope as she grabbed Alice’s arm. “I wish she could give the Coffee Shop a makeover like this.”
Relieved at the interruption, Alice asked Hope if she had seen the library yet and then happily took her and several others to tour the other part of the downstairs as more guests arrived and were greeted by Jane and Louise.
Soon it was time for the sing-along, and Louise began directing everyone toward the parlor. “Time for caroling,” she called merrily.
Alice had retreated to the kitchen for a brief respite from conversations. She was never at her best at parties and large social gatherings. Besides that, she knew that Jane would appreciate a bit of help cleaning up after her whirlwind day of cooking and baking for the party. She was just wiping down a counter when she overheard quiet voices in the dining room.
“Can you imagine that Pastor Daniel was able to tuck away this much money?” It was Florence Simpson talking in a hushed conspiring tone.
“It seems highly unlikely,” said another voice that Alice immediately recognized as Clara Horn’s—one of Grace Chapel’s most notorious gossips. Apparently Aunt Ethel had invited her friend Clara here tonight, a nice gesture since Clara was a recent widow and had no close family nearby. Alice was about to step through the swinging doors and make her presence known to the two women, but then paused for a moment. She knew she was eavesdropping, but somehow she just couldn’t help herself.
“Well, it’s obvious that his daughters are pouring a lot of hard-earned money into this showy remodeling project,” said Florence. “I’m sure that Alice couldn’t have saved up very much on her nurse’s wages, and Jane just worked in a restaurant and couldn’t have much cash set aside.”
“I believe Louise and her husband made their living giving piano lessons,” added Clara. “There’s not much money in that. Yes, it does seem a bit strange that the Howard household should suddenly find themselves so well-heeled.”
“I just read about a TV evangelist who embezzled millions from his ministry,” said Florence. “Do you suppose that Pastor Daniel could’ve done something like that? You know how the church has always struggled to make ends meet. Could he have possibly been siphoning money off?”
Alice couldn’t remember many times in her life when she had actually felt enraged enough to physically harm someone, but she believed she was coming mighty close right now. She put her hand on the door, ready to shove it open and make a dramatic appearance, but then she stopped herself.
“Pastor Daniel always seemed like a good man to me,” said Clara with a trace of doubt in her voice. “But then you just never know about folks. The Bible speaks of wolves in sheep’s clothing. And it does seem that his daughters are throwing a lot of money around making this place into some kind of fancy showplace. Regardless of where it came from, money like this would be much better spent helping out poor missionaries or even the church itself. I’ve heard Fred Humbert saying that the church roof is in bad need of replacement.”
“I think something smells fishy,” said Florence. “I plan to get to the bottom of it. Might even have to call an emergency board meeting.”
Now Alice knew that she was far too angry to actually confront these two women without losing her temper. She had long ago learned from her father about the danger of approaching someone while still infuriated. He always gave himself a “cool down time” when something flared up amongst the congregation that got his dander up.
“Be angry and sin not,” he would quote to Alice from the Bible. “I don’t want to give the devil a chance to make this situation any worse than it already is.” He was always right. If he gave himself enough time, he usually came up with the answers, and the wait never hurt anything.
So Alice slipped up the back staircase to her bedroom. She knew she needed to cool off a bit, although she wouldn’t be able to hide out for long. Once safely in her room, she got down on her knees and asked God to help her through this trial. She asked Him to help her to control her anger as well as her tongue. Then, worried that Jane’s sharp eyes would soon notice that she was missing from the group, she went back down and joined the jovial crowd of carolers now gathered around the piano in the parlor.
Naturally, it bothered her to see Florence and Clara standing with Lloyd and Aunt Ethel as they sang along with the others. She felt they were hypocritical participating in this party after they’d said such horrid things about her family. She took a deep breath as she carefully averted her eyes from the two women and attempted to focus her attention on the music and the joyful words of the old familiar Christmas carols.
Louise and Jane both looked so happy tonight. Alice knew she wouldn’t trouble them with this unfortunate bit of news yet. It was bad enough that her spirits had been dampened, no need to spoil their holiday too. As the group sang “God Bless Ye Merry Gentleman,” she wondered how her father would handle these two mean-spirited women. Of course, she knew that whatever Father had ever said or done to remedy such malicious problems, he had always done so with grace. If anything, grace had been Father’s main motto for living. It had always seemed to permeate all areas of his life and, quite properly, it was even the name of his beloved little church, and now their soon-to-be inn. Grace Chapel.
Grace, grace, grace. Alice sighed. Dear God, help me.