blurb:
Pepper Rainwater is thriving in newfound faith, blooming love, and her own Christmas house. But the appearance of her mother brings back all the ugliness of growing up in a storage unit. Can she face family issues from a new perspective and forgive her parents for the past?
The discovery of Foxx Haven' s true beginnings shatter his sense of security. For the first time, he questions his father' s love and deals with getting to know his birth mother. Did God really plan this mess for his life? He' s such a wreck inside, how can he be the man of faith Pepper deserves?
Their mothers bring challenges and time constraints on Pepper and Foxx. He longs to show his love, she yearns to bask in his attention. How will they help their widowed mothers, make life easier for one another, heal appropriately, and look toward a brighter future?
excerpt:
Pepper sighed. She’d never been so calm or at peace in her life. And it was hard to put that into a clear thought. Maybe the sense of completion, or the fact her soul was at rest rather than anxious. Embellishments of deep red, forest green, and gold, along with a collection of snowmen now greeted the sisters from their displays in the upstairs rooms. Thanks to the Pack Rat and two other thrift shops, the Rainwater women had laughed and grown closer while shopping and choosing prominent display places. Snow people amidst perfect fir trees dazzled within a snow globe, chosen by Pink, that graced the chest of drawers.
The house was quiet this Tuesday morning, Pepper’s little haven all beautifully decorated for Christmas. She read Isaiah chapter nine for her Bible devotion.
Mom announced while they decorated that she’d decided to stay in Lincoln, provided it was all right with her girls. That was all the permission Pink needed. She’d already been digging into what kind of help Mom would need. It was easy to contact the local agencies to get Mom’s paperwork and benefits set in motion. Pink offered to help until Mom was able to navigate the issues on her own.
This morning, Pink had gone to check Mom out of the motel and into Bowie’s rental just south of O Street.
“Lord, only You know if Mom will be able to work one day.” Pepper was unaware of any skills or training when it came to her mother. Once Pink leaves, how much time will Mom require?
Pepper spent an hour in the Bible, then took an early lunch, followed by her shift at the motorcycle plant. The sky was gray early in the afternoon, and the temperature had dropped thirty degrees during the hours Pepper spent working. Several inches of snow had fallen, and now crunched with cold beneath her boots. The streets were extra quiet this time of night, except for the engines and back-up beeps of de-icing trucks and snowplows. Flakes sparkled underneath streetlights.
She noted the sign as she passed from Lancaster into Seward County. Driving through the country to Garland struck her as magical. “God, I’m sure You don’t like that word. But right now, magic is what comes to mind. This snow, this night. All so beautiful, only You could make it this way. I’m surrounded by so much white that it looks blue to me. Thank You. Picturesque. That’s a good word. Thank You again for blessing my drive and keeping me safe.”
She turned off Highway 34 to the 196th spur. The bison south of town huddled in a brown mass in the southwest corner of their yard. She noted the familiarity of her adopted home town. Numbered streets, first to sixth. Frazier instead of main street. The old-fashioned construction of the Lutheran church. The elevator on fourth, the tiny fire department building.
As was her habit, she turned her head to see if lights were on in Foxx’s house. None. How strange. His mother’s car and his SUV were gone. Had there been an emergency? Surely he would have texted, knowing she’d check her phone on break.
Some kind neighbor had cleared a single path through town, probably with a blade on his truck. She managed to guide the car onto her drive. Should she shovel tonight or wait until morning? As soon as she put her car in park, she checked her phone. Not a thing from Foxx.
Foxx, dear Foxx. God moved her to Garland, provided the perfect bungalow, enabled her to meet the donkeys at the same time he cared for them. Somehow, as they talked and studied one another’s features, they connected. Connected in a way that had to be God ordained, as though they were lifetime friends. The piney, manly scent of him. His unique heh heh chuckle. His strong tenderness, as silly as that sounded.
The way she responded to his nearness never became old, but more thrilling with each encounter. Increased heart rate, shallow breaths, all senses on alert. The mistletoe kisses and the way she’d shivered inside never ceased to excite. The way she floated, saw stars, and soared each time their lips met. No one in the whole wide world could make her react the same.
She shook her head, shut off the engine, and jumped at the piercing bass notes that blared through the stillness. She hit her head on the door jamb.
Rex’s deep trumpet blew her direction, loud enough for the entire town to hear.
“Good grief. All right. I’ll come say hello.” Foxx got a kick out of the donkey’s signature bray, claiming he made the prelude noise just for her.
She trudged through the snow. Giggled. Wanted to flop down and roll like a dog. She reached through the fence and rubbed the donkey between his soulful eyes. “Rex, you’re a trip. Sometimes I think God made you just for me to come visit.”
How could Rhoda sleep through his ruckus? Pepper couldn’t blame the other donkey for remaining on the warm hay. “Did you hear me drive up, boy, or were you waiting for me? Can you tell I miss Foxx? He must be spending all his spare hours with Lois. He hasn’t responded to my calls or texts. I want to help him, but don’t know how. Any suggestions?”
The donkey shook his head until she moved her hand to caress his ears, base to tip, and then massaged his neck.
Life had interrupted Pepper’s building of her new world. Both moms at Thanksgiving dropped loose bolts in the workings of their new romance. During down moments, she viewed a happy future with Foxx put on hold, based on how much time and attention the older women needed.
Pepper recalled their lunch conversation. Mom had told her, “Don’t feel sorry for me.”
“No way. I don’t like anyone’s sympathy for me, either.” Her response had come without thought. “But I empathize with you. I could have never expressed that emotion without Jesus in my life.”
Mom had frowned in puzzlement.
Pepper took her hand. “That means I feel your pain in my heart.”
She ran her gloved hand over Rex’s smooth nose. “We need to sleep, buddy. I don’t think you have the answer for how long I’ll have to wait for life to settle down for Foxx and me to have time for one another.”
Time is in My hands.
She recognized the soft nudge. “Right, Lord. I need to practice patience right now.” She gave the donkey a final rub between its eyes, and then turned her steps toward home. “It’s hard. Please be with Foxx, Lord, whether he’s sleeping or worrying right now.”
The image of his driveway free of the SUV flashed across her mind’s eye. Should she be concerned? Was there an emergency? Where are you, Foxx?
First line:
Did Thanksgiving kisses under two mistletoe sprigs make the beginning of a meaningful relationship?
Reason behind:
Readers were surprised Christmas House ended on Thanksgiving, so I went on with the story
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK2572MB/ref
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-garland-loree-peery/1144132862?ean=9781522304388
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