9

The hurt won’t go away. I can’t sleep at night. Every time I close my eyes I see my beloved Rachel bobbing in the ocean, gasping for breath. Why couldn’t I have reached her in time? How could she drown? She was a good swimmer. Why did she have to die? We’d only been married nine days...

Amie reached for a tissue and dabbed her eyes. Reading the first volume of her uncle’s journals was not the light entertainment she’d expected, but she was learning a lot about him.

It seemed he was a very sensitive man, one with big ideas. At the same time, he was straight forward, even blunt, when it came to voicing his opinions. And Amie felt proud of him when she read how he’d rallied against a wealthy citizen of Tigerton who wanted to build a shameful dance hall at the end of town in 1949—and Uncle Hal won. He’d been a young, very conservative man at the time.

A year later, he’d enlisted in the Air Force and got shot down. He spent several months in a military hospital in London. There he’d met his wife, Rachel.

Makes a man wonder if there truly is a God, Uncle Hal had penned. If He really existed, He wouldn’t have taken away the one person who meant everything to me.

Amie’s cell phone rang, startling her from where she sat on the colorful floral-printed sofa. She rose from her comfy position, berating herself for not keeping her mobile device within an arm’s reach, and walked to where it lay on the dining room table.

She pressed the talk button. “Hello?”

“What are you doing, you bum? Lying around, eating bonbons, and watching daytime dramas and reruns?”

Amie sent a glance upward. “Hi, Dad.”

He laughed. “Say, Princess, one of the guys at work here had a secretary quit. Want a job?”

“They’re called administrative assistants now.” She wrinkled her nose. “And I’m over-qualified for that position.”

“Over qualified? How so?”

“I didn’t major in B.O.R.I.N.G.”

“Now, Amie, I’d like you to at least consider this tremendous employment opportunity. Buzz is a great guy to work for.”

“Oh, yeah?” She strolled back to the couch enjoying the way her feet sank into the lush, off-white carpeting. “If he’s so great to work for then why’d his administrative assistant quit?”

“She didn’t get enough roses on Secretary’s Day, OK? I don’t know why she quit. But, just between you and me, she was something of a ding-dong.”

“I don’t know, Dad.”

“You need a job, right?”

“Maybe.” Amie collapsed into a pool of multicolored throw pillows. “What I really want is to concentrate on building the hotel and then I’ll be self-employed. Tom suggested that I run the café while he manages the antique shop and we’ll both check in guests. Of course, we’ll need to hire other personnel too...”

“I admire your ambition, Princess, but you can’t start building until the ground thaws. And then it will take months to actually construct the place. You’ll be lucky if you’re able to hold a grand opening next Christmas Eve. That’s a year from tomorrow. What will you do with yourself until then?”

She smirked. “Lie around, eat bonbons, and watch daytime dramas and reruns.”

“Very funny, young lady.”

This time she laughed.

“Now, look, I’m serious—”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Paid benefits and minimum wage.”

“What? I can’t live on that!” She shook her head, marveling at her father’s ludicrous proposition. “That’s a mere fraction of my salary at MBMD.”

“Honey, let me remind you that you’re selling your condo and moving in with Mom and me. That cuts down your expenses.”

She relented somewhat. “I suppose so…”

“And any money you make you can put toward your hotel adventure. Buzz is aware that you won’t be around forever.”

Amie reconsidered the offer. One of her good friends was an administrative assistant—but she’d worked for Amie. “Can I pray about it?”

“Of course. I’ll give you until five o’clock.” With that her father ended the call.

Glancing at the mahogany grandfather’s clock in the corner of her posh living room, Amie groaned. Dad didn’t allow her much time—

It was four-thirty.

 

~*~

 

Tom sat at the table of the Warren home and sipped his coffee.

“Dessert?” Katie asked.

“No, I’m stuffed after that meatloaf dinner.” He patted his overfilled belly. “You’re a great cook.”

Pink washed across her cheeks. “Why, thank you.”

“Yeah, sure beats the usual frozen entrees we usually eat, hon.” Jake’s eyes twinkled.

Katie snapped a dishtowel at him but missed by a good foot and a half. “Oh, you!” She flipped the towel over her shoulder and walked back into the kitchen. Jake chuckled.

Periodically a high-pitched giggle floated down the hallway, as the girls had scampered off after dinner to play. Tom had become used to the background noise of little girl chatter. He was also getting a taste of how a healthy family behaved, although up until the age of twelve, his home life wasn’t the dysfunctional mess it became after Mom died.

“All set for holidays, Tom?”

He sat back in his chair. “I think so.”

“Did Amie decide whether she’s driving up for Christmas?”

“Yep. She said she’d come.” Another sip of coffee. “The rest of her family aren’t Christians and they celebrate by going to Florida for a couple of weeks.”

Jake furrowed his auburn brows. “Weren’t her parents recently on vacation in Hawaii?”

“Yeah, but according to Amie, that was more business than pleasure. Amie’s dad had to work so her mom went along.”

“I see.” Jake sat forward, his forearms on the table. A lock of his reddish-brown hair flopped onto his high forehead. “And Amie doesn’t want to go to Florida with her family?”

“Nope. Never does. She told me she usually finds someone from her church family to spend Christmas with, although this year she didn’t have the time to ask around. So it all worked out that she’ll come up here a few days early and stay for the holiday.”

“Good.”

Tom hid his smile so that Jake wouldn’t see how the mere mention of Amie’s name, hearing her voice or seeing one of her emails in his inbox affected him. In truth, he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. He couldn’t deny that he’d developed feelings for her. In fact he hadn’t experienced anything like these weak-kneed, awkward schoolboy emotions since high school. But surely he was too old to have a crush on Amie like he’d once had on Nancy. Wasn’t he?

He gave himself a mental shake. He couldn’t afford to get too personally involved. Not only was Amie Potter way out of his league, but it might negatively impact their hotel project if they became anything more than professional colleagues.

“So…” Jake’s cobalt eyes gleamed with mischief. “Are you taking Amie out somewhere?”

“I’m not planning any candlelight dinners, if that’s what you’re asking. But Amie and I have an appointment on Saturday to see an attorney about legalizing our partnership. That’s about as ‘out’ as I’m taking her.” Why did he feel suddenly disappointed?

“Tom, you old romantic, you.” Jake snorted as he got up from his chair. “And an attorney open on Saturday, huh? Wonders never cease.”

Tom ignored Jake’s playful sarcasm. “It’s Jim Henderson, Hal’s attorney. Evidently, he’s doing us a special favor since Amie will be in town and because he’ll be on vacation for the following two weeks.”

“I see. Well, it’s good to hear that Amie can spend Christmas with us anyway. I know Katie will look forward to having her around for a few days. How nice that she doesn’t have to rush right back to Chicago.”

“Uh-huh.” Tom kept his gaze on his coffee cup. Discussing Christmas made him think of Hal, who wouldn’t be around this year. And there was his infatuation with Amie. From grieving to falling in love… Was he losing his mind?

“Hey, you ready to take a look at my van?” Jake raised a brow.

“Sure.” Tom stood. “Ready when you are.”

“Great. The thing won’t start, and I can’t figure out why.” Jake gave him a friendly slap on the back. “It sure is a blessing to have you around.”

“No, Jake,” Tom replied sincerely, “it’s a blessing to be around. You and Katie make me feel like part of your family and I’m grateful to you.”

“You are part of our family. You’re my brother in Christ.”

“Thanks. Still, it’s kind of hard when a guy loses his best friend. Especially around the holidays. I mean, Hal was my best friend as well as my family—except for Matt, of course.”

“And what a blessing that Matt can take time from his job and college education and visit us for Christmas too. Even so, I understand your sense of loss.” Jake’s voice softened and he slung his arm around Tom’s shoulders. “It’ll be painful for a while.”

Tom inhaled deeply as they reached the minivan. “Yeah, painful is right.”

 

~*~

 

The trip to Tigerton wasn’t as hectic as the last time Amie had made it. In the past four days, since her termination from Maxwell Brothers, she’d been able to relax. She’d read through two of her uncle’s journals, and now she felt thoroughly rested and all set to celebrate Christmas.

Driving north on Highway 45, she passed snow-covered farm fields and gently rolling hills. Then, after she drove by the Tigerton town line, she stopped by the future site of the hotel. Still just a snow-covered empty lot, but a thrill of expectancy traveled up her spine. The owner of the construction company Tom had painstakingly selected said his crew would probably start excavation as soon as the end of March or early April. But already Amie ordered catalogues, anxious to select the decor.

Back in her car, and after a few more winding roads, she finally pulled into the Warrens’ driveway. She parked, climbed out, and opened the back door where she began gathering up several colorfully wrapped boxes.

“Welcome, Amie!” Katie exited the house by way of the opened garage. “Want some help?”

“That’d be great. Here...” She immediately filled her new friend’s arms with boxes.

“What’s all this?”

“Presents.” Smiling, Amie shrugged helplessly. “I always go overboard at Christmas.”

“Oh, no. You shouldn’t have. Didn’t you just lose your job?”

“Yes, but God gave me a giving nature and I so enjoy buying gifts for others. I also got a severance package.” Amie handed Katie one more gift box. “In fact, I hope Tom likes his present. Oh! and wait until you see what I got the girls.”

Katie rolled her honey-brown eyes. “You’ll spoil them.”

“I brought you and Pastor Jake something, too.”

“You’ll spoil all of us!”

“Good. You deserve it.” The gratitude that filled Amie’s being threatened to spill over in sentimental tears. She’d been so certain that she would have to spend Christmas alone. Either that or endure a Florida vacation with her family, listening to her mother, Dottie, and Stephen badger her endlessly about her “foolish decision” to build a hotel in this “hick town.” “Thanks for inviting me to share your holiday.”

“You’re welcome. This will be so much fun.”

After attempting a no-handed hug, Katie laughed softly while Amie turned to extract the remaining presents from the backseat. With her arms filled, she met Jake near the porch. He took the packages from her and scolded her the same way Katie had only moments ago.

“You shouldn’t have done this.”

“But I wanted to. Besides, my mother taught me that guests who show up empty handed are rude, and I already disobeyed her at Thanksgiving when I didn’t bring a dish to pass.”

“All we expected is for you to bring yourself.”

“And here I am.” Laughing, she returned to the car and opening her trunk. “I also brought a few other things.”

“You mean there’s more?”

“Afraid so. But I think I can get the rest.”

She removed the last three Christmas surprises and then lifted her luggage. As she followed Jake and Katie into the house, she heard excited squeals from the girls. Smiling, she had the feeling that this would be a very special Christmas.