Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel by Shelley Shepard Gray Page A

“Work and chatter seem to bring out the best of us here. Where do you work?”
    “In a coffeehouse.”
    “What do you do?”
    “Wait on customers. I make baked goods, too. Cinnamon rolls, donuts, scones.”
    Mrs. Brenneman looked interested. “Scones? I’ve never made one of those.”
    “They’re like biscuits. Most times, I put fruit in them. Any kind will do. Cranberries … blueberries.”
    “They sound delicious. If you weren’t our guest, I’d ask you to make some.”
    “I’d love to, if you don’t mind a guest puttering in your kitchen.” Melody started to stand, eager to be of use. Eager to be invited into the women’s close circle of friendship, if only for a little while …
    “I wouldn’t feel good about that, dear,” Mrs. Brenneman said abruptly. “But I thank you just the same.”
    The refusal was kindly given. But the results were the same. And Melody still felt the sting. “Oh, of course,” she said quickly, trying not to sound as awkward as she felt. “I mean, it was just an idea.”
    “And it was a good one,” Katie agreed. “It’s just that it’s best if we don’t let paying guests use the kitchen. You know how that goes. We’d never want something to happen to you.”
    Obviously, she was trying to take some of the sting out of her mother’s refusal. And she did have a point. There were laws about keeping a kitchen clean and such. “Yes. Yes, of course.”
    “Besides, you had a long day of traveling. And you fainted! I don’t know how you feel, but seeing you on the ground very well scared me half to death.”
    “I’m fine now, though.”
    “Perhaps, but it would be good for you to sit and relax,”Mrs. Brenneman said. “We certainly don’t want you to overdo things.”
    “The baby isn’t due for three more weeks.”
    “Jah,
but
bopplis
have a way of coming when they’re ready,” the older lady said sagely.
    Katie looked over at her son, who was sleeping contentedly in his bassinet. “That’s true. My Eli came on his own schedule.”
    “Was he early?”
    Katie wrinkled her nose. “I wasn’t that lucky. No, our boy came four days late.”
    “As most babies are,” Mrs. Brenneman supplied. “Though my daughter here didn’t want to hear about that.”
    “Not even a little bit.” Anna chuckled. “Actually, Katie complained just about every hour of the day.”
    Katie arched a brow. “Just you wait until you are the one expecting, Anna. Then we’ll see how patient you are.”
    “If I’m only half as impatient as you that will be saying a lot!”
    Just hearing the women joke about labor and delivery made Melody’s shoulders relax. Though she’d been too caught up with so much else, she had worried a bit about when the big day would come. It was a relief to know that it wasn’t likely she would deliver anytime soon. “Well, chances are very good that I’ll be back in Kentucky, bored and restless when it’s my babe’s time.”
    Katie looked at her more closely. “How is it you came to be here, Melody?”
    “I took the bus.”
    “No, I mean, even coming here three weeks from yourdue date is awfully close to your time. Actually, I’m surprised your family let you leave. How did you choose this inn, anyway?”
    “My boss … she gave me a gift certificate.”
    “I’m thankful for that. But why did you decide now?”
    Starting to feel uncomfortable, Melody stumbled over more words. “Well, after I deliver, I’ll have a baby to watch over. I wouldn’t be able to come here, then …”
    “But for Christmas? Why don’t you want to be home?”
    “I … well …” Melody felt as if her throat was closing up.
    Anna cleared her throat. “Melody, please forget Katie asked that.” Turning to her sister-in-law, the blonde glared. “None of that is any of our business.”
    “I’m sorry. Am I being rude? I’m merely just curious. All I know is that my doctor said I needed to stay put when I was so close to my time. What did yours say? Do you have a