13

“This looks great!” Matthew Anderson exclaimed, shoveling a fork full of mashed potatoes and gravy into his mouth. “Mmm...tastes even better.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying the meal.”

Katie’s face bloomed into a pretty blush.

Matt livened up Christmas Day with his quick wit and hearty laughter. The brothers’ interplay was refreshing. Tom acted as proud as a papa over Matthew’s achievements, just as Jake had said. And Tom’s younger brother clearly held the utmost respect for his oldest sibling.

After a lovely and inspiring Christmas Day service, the men gathered in the living room, Matt talking animatedly about his latest college experiences.

Amie assisted Katie in the kitchen.

Once the pork roast was cooked to perfection, everyone took a seat around the expanded dining room table and Jake prayed over the food.

“The stuff at the university is like cardboard.” Matt set down his fork. “OK, you guys, something’s driving me nuts. I’ve been waiting all afternoon for you to tell me, Tom, but since it doesn’t look as though that’ll happen, I’ll just have to ask.”

“What’s that?” Tom replied, munching on his salad.

A lopsided grin formed on the younger man’s lips. “We-ell,” he drawled, “I stopped by the Kelsigs’ on my way into town to say hello to Laura, and what do you suppose her dad tells me?”

Tom shrugged. “What?”

“What? What, you say?” Matt threw his hands in the air in mock exasperation, causing Emma and Carol to giggle at his theatrics. “He tells me you two are getting married!” Matt’s gaze slid from Tom to Amie then back at his brother. “You don’t even tell me yourself, you goon. I gotta hear it through the Tigerton grapevine! What kind of brother are you?”

Tom groaned.

Amie did her best to hide a smile, sitting across the table from him.

Jake chuckled openly from the far end.

“It’s a rumor, little bro.”

The younger man’s face fell. “Yeah? I thought maybe you would tell me...you know, sort of my Christmas present or something.” Matt turned to Amie. “He hasn’t proposed yet?”

“Will you knock it off?” Tom sounded genuinely agitated. “The Warrens might understand your warped sense of humor, but Amie doesn’t and you’re making her feel uncomfortable.”

“Oh, sorry.” Matt gave her a grin that appeared quite penitent. “But, um, seriously...Ron Kelsig really did tell me that.” Matt resumed eating. “I figured it was just talk since you hadn’t said anything to me. I mean, you’ve told me about your plans for the hotel and all.”

Tom nodded as his gaze met hers. An apology pooled in his eyes.

Amie sent him a reassuring smile. The talk didn’t bother her. In fact, she wished there was a fraction of truth to it—perhaps even more than a fraction. The silent admission surprised her.

“I think Amie’s getting used to this particular piece of gossip,” Jake piped in.

Her smile grew while her face heated and the color of her cheeks most likely resembled Katie’s cranberry sauce. Amazingly Jake had discerned her very thoughts.

“As for the hotel,” Jake continued, “it’s been one miracle after the other, what with all the bureaucratic red tape that goes along with trying to build a new establishment. But there hasn’t been a single snag.”

Chewing a bite of food, Tom nodded and swallowed. “It’s been amazing, all right.”

Jake ran his napkin across his mouth. “And while there are those folks in town who’ll always be critical of somebody trying to do something new most everyone else is excited about Tom and Amie’s new business venture. Even the owners of the Rock-a-Bye have been encouraging.”

“My father calls it our business ‘adventure.’” Amie laughed softly. “But I have to admit that Tom’s been the driving force behind our accomplishments so far.” She turned to Matt. “He’s been absolutely wonderful. He’s managed everything.” She stabbed a few green beans with her fork. “Frankly, I don’t know what I’d do without him. There wouldn’t be a hotel going up where my uncle’s gas station once stood, that’s for sure.”

Matt eyed her for a moment, then turned to his brother. “You sure you haven’t proposed to her yet?”

Tom scowled.

“I mean, if you don’t want her, I’ll marry her.”

Amie sucked in a breath and nearly choked. After a coughing fit, she drank some water.

Jake laughed so hard his shoulders shook. “Oh, I can just hear the gossip-mill grinding on this new tidbit.” He moaned, a sound that ran contrary to the amused twinkle in his Irish-blue eyes. “Quick, Tom, let’s send this hooligan back to Madison where he belongs.”

Chortles spouted from Jake and Matt while the two oldest Warren girls giggled.

Frown lines appeared on Katie’s otherwise flawless brow. “That’s enough foolishness, you guys. Poor Amie might never want to eat with us again.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Amie took another sip of water. “My dad and siblings tease me all the time.” She caught Tom’s gaze and rolled her eyes.

“Then more’s the reason you ought not to be teased in our home.” Katie’s gaze landed on her daughters. “And, girls, you will not repeat this to anyone, understand? Mr. Matthew was joking.”

“Yes, Mama,” came the unison reply. The girls’ honey-blonde heads bobbed.

Jake and Matt wiped the grins off their faces. No more wisecracks ensued around the children—or Amie.

The meal came to an end with talk about football.

Amie kept busy by helping Katie clean up.

The evening fell and Katie called everyone around the piano. They sang classic Christmas carols and a few of their modern favorites.

Amie sat on the couch with Ellen and Lucy curled up beside her. From her vantage point, she observed the Anderson brothers and decided the two resembled each other in many ways—the well-defined jaw line and slight cleft in the chin, the sideways, tear-shaped hazel eyes, and dark brown hair. But where Tom’s features appeared almost worn beyond his twenty-eight years, Matt appeared rather juvenile for twenty.

Her uncle’s journal corroborated that. Tom’s the fall guy in his family, he’d written. Makes me sick. Tom’s childhood is gone. The boy’s only seventeen years old, but looks and acts twice his age.

Uncle Hal hadn’t given any specifics, but Amie guessed there had been physical abuse in the home. Tom openly admitted his father’s alcoholism. The diary confirmed it. Still, Tom’s background didn’t lessen her opinion of him. It was as Uncle Hal had penned. Tom isn’t responsible for his father’s bad decisions. Just because old Norb goes and gets drunk every night of the week, doesn’t mean his kid’ll do the same. Tom knows the Lord now. He’s got a lot of character for one so young, and I’m convinced God will guide his path. The boy knows right from wrong. He’s seen the effects of his father’s sin and I don’t believe Tom’ll touch a drop of booze in his entire life. But there are a few strong voices in this town that go around slandering less fortunate folks who don’t meet up to their hypocritical standards and it’s a crying shame that Tom believes what comes out of their mouths.

A sad chord plucked Amie’s heartstrings when she thought of all Tom must have suffered. At the same time, she was grateful her uncle had been his advocate and, perhaps, his mentor. No wonder Tom missed his fatherly friend so much. She wondered if this Christmas holiday was especially difficult for him.

Of course it was.

Amie admonished herself for being so insensitive. She’d never asked. For the past twenty-four hours she’d been consumed with herself.

The two girls rose from the couch to play with their new toys.

Tom strolled over from the piano. “Deep in thought?” He sank into the sofa.

Amie let go a weary sigh. “Ever since I got fired, I’ve been so introspective—and selfish.”

“You’re being a little hard on yourself, aren’t you? I mean, losing a good job is a major stressor.”

“True, but thinking about myself so much is making me...” Amie shrugged. “Depressed.”

Tom covered the top of her hand. The warmth of his palm radiated into her arm. “I can relate, but you and I have a bright future ahead of us. Remember?”

“We do.” She nodded. Yet fears of how Tom might react to the news of the sexual abuse she’d suffered fought for space inside her mind. Would Tom think it had been her fault, as Jasper and his pastor said?

“Still, getting canned from any job is a major let-down.” Tom’s voice pulled her from her dark thoughts. “You had a career, Amie. Can’t really blame you for feeling bummed out about losing it.”

She looked into his face and smiled. “Thanks.”

“The upside is that now you can concentrate on...what does your dad call it? Our ‘hotel adventure’?”

She smiled. “Yes, and my father also got me another job in the meantime.”

Tom furrowed his brows, eyeing her curiously. “I thought you were moving up here.”

“I am...eventually. But until construction on our hotel begins, I’ve got to do something with myself.”

He nodded. “I suppose you’re right.” He lifted his hand from Amie’s and sat back against the sofa. After a few moments’ silence, he shot a teasing grin her way. “Just don’t get too comfy at this new job, huh? I’ve gotten rather used to the idea of having my partner around.”

“Don’t worry,” Amie inflected a note of sarcasm into her tone, “it’s a secretarial position. And you’d realize that was funny, Tom, if you had any inkling as to how disorganized I am. Besides, the job only pays a lower than average wage. I’m practically working for free.”

“A lower than average wage, huh?” He shook his head, smiling slightly. “It’s probably a better-than-average wage up here.”

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe it’s a better-than-average wage in Chicago, too...for an administrative assistant position. But it’s a far cry from the salary I used to earn.”

“Welcome to my world.” Tom snorted a laugh.

His remark made her bristle, and it served as a reminder of the chasm between her world and his. She shook off her aggravation. True, she’d grown up with money, a stately home in a posh neighborhood, and two sophisticated parents who handed her their elite social status.

He’d grown up with nothing and no one, except Uncle Hal. And yet, she couldn’t say that she was any better off or any happier. Besides, couldn’t their faith bridge that social gap?

“Better rethink this partnership,” Tom said, gazing at her intently, “before it’s too late.”

“Rethink it?” Amie blinked, then gazed at him. “Why?”

He turned pensive for a few long moments as he peered over at the Warrens and Matt still singing around the piano. “Tigerton is a whole lot different than Chicago. Might even be backwards to a woman like you. Maybe you won’t like living up here.”

“Maybe,” she replied carefully. “But I no longer like living in Chicago. There’s nothing for me in that city and I think I’ve sensed it for a long time.” She considered him, taking in his obvious concern. “I’m tired of living my life at such a break-neck pace, Tom. I’m looking forward to the change up here. But I will admit it’ll probably take some getting used to.”

“What about me?” Challenge rang in his tone. “I’ve got a GED and in a few months I’ll have three managerial courses under my belt. But that’s it. I’m not exactly your typical Harvard grad.”

“And praise the Lord for that.” A smile played on her lips. “Just remember, you’ve got a lot of wisdom gleaned from life experiences. You’re also honest, forthright, and a Christian, as well as one of the best friends I’ve ever had. Who else would put up with my babbling?”

He chuckled and sat back once again, appearing much more at ease and even…confident. “OK, then, Amie. Seems your fate is sealed.”

“I hope so.”

He paused. “Yeah, me too.”

“I’m tired of living in Limboland, not belonging anywhere.” She tipped her head. “Does that make sense?”

Tom gave a nod. “Might even be the reason you feel down.”

“Might be.”

“Except, you have a place in the world…”

He obviously meant Tigerton.

Tom’s gaze met hers, searching her face intently, and a tiny breath caught in her throat as she slowly comprehended the meaning in his expression, the desire shining plainly in his hazel eyes. And he wants to be more than just my friend. Oddly, she didn’t feel panicked, but a wondrous sense of hope was laced with anticipation.