Memories from Acorn Hill Read online

  Memories from Acorn Hill

  ISBN-10: 0-8249-4945-5

  ISBN-13: 978-0-8249-4945-7

  Copyright © 2011 by Guideposts. All rights reserved.

  All in the Timing by Melody Carlson © 2008 by Guideposts.

  Ready to Wed by Melody Carlson © 2007 by Guideposts.

  Published by Guideposts

  16 East 34th Street

  New York, New York 10016

  www.guideposts.org

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  Distributed by Ideals Publications, a Guideposts company

  2630 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 100

  Nashville, TN 37214

  Guideposts, Ideals and Tales from Grace Chapel Inn are registered trademarks of Guideposts.

  The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

  All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data for All in the Timing and Ready to Wed on file.

  Cover by Deborah Chabrian

  Interior design by Marisa Jackson

  Typeset by Aptara

  Printed and bound in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  All in the

  Timing

  Chapter One

  Alice paused to admire the vibrant flowerbeds that lined the walk up to Grace Chapel Inn. Bursting with sassy pinks, sunny yellows and rich hues of purple, the spring bulbs that Jane had planted last fall were now a glorious rainbow of color. Springtime was definitely here, with Easter just over a week away.

  “Alice,” called a voice from the front porch. Alice looked up to see her younger sister Jane garbed in her gardening overalls, tending a large terra-cotta pot of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. Alice marveled at how her fifty-year-old sister looked years younger with her dark hair gathered in a ponytail.

  “Everything looks so beautiful,” Alice said as she headed up the stairs. “You’ve done a fantastic job with the flowers this year, Jane.”

  “It just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?” Jane looked out over her workmanship and smiled.

  Alice nodded. “Wouldn’t Mother be pleased?”

  “It is lovely,” said Louise, their older sister, as she stepped out the door and greeted Alice. In her hands was a tray with three tumblers and a crystal pitcher of what appeared to be freshly made lemonade. “It reminds me of how it looked when we were little girls.”

  “It really does,” agreed Alice. “I think Mother’s gardening genes are fast at work in our little sister.”

  Jane smiled, but there was a touch of sadness in her blue eyes. Madeleine Howard had died giving birth to Jane when Alice was twelve and Louise, fifteen.

  Louise noticed Jane’s expression, for she frowned dramatically at the hole in the knee of Jane’s faded overalls and said, “I don’t think our mother ever would have worn those kinds of ‘gardening jeans.’”

  Jane laughed. “Hey, Louise made a pun.”

  “That’s not all I made,” said Louise as she held out the pitcher and smiled. “It’s such a warm day that I couldn’t resist. Do you girls have time?”

  “Are you kidding?” said Alice. “Some lemonade would be heavenly. The hospital was so busy that I barely had a moment for a break today. I would love to sit out here and put my feet up for a spell.”

  “Me too,” said Jane. “I’ll run inside and wash my hands first. And maybe I’ll bring back some oatmeal raisin cookies that I made this morning.”

  “Mmm …,” said Alice as she eased herself into the porch swing and ran a hand through her reddish-brown bob. “Don’t you just love springtime, Louise?”

  Louise nodded as she carefully filled the three glasses, then handed one to Alice. “It is such a time of renewal,” she said as she made herself comfortable in the wicker rocker, “as if God is giving all of creation a fresh new start.”

  Alice sipped the icy lemonade and sighed happily.

  Jane rejoined them, setting a plate holding a generous number of cookies on the wicker coffee table. “Did you tell Alice the news yet, Louise?”

  Alice reached down for a cookie, then studied Jane’s face. She could tell by her sister’s expression that something was up.

  Louise pushed a strand of her short silver hair from her forehead and cleared her throat. “Mark Graves sent an e-mail to the inn today,” she began, waiting, it seemed, for Alice to react. The three sisters had run Grace Chapel Inn in their Victorian home since the death of their father.

  Alice took a bite of the cookie and simply nodded. Mark, her college sweetheart, had recently come back into her life. They saw each other occasionally when he was not traveling with his job as chief veterinarian for the Philadelphia Zoo.

  “As you know, Mark has a reservation for all next week, from this Saturday through Easter.”

  Alice nodded again, waiting for Louise to continue, her curiosity beginning to escalate.

  “Well, his e-mail today was to request a second room.”

  “A second room?” echoed Alice.

  “Yes,” said Jane with raised eyebrows. “What do you think that means?”

  “I don’t know,” admitted Alice.

  “He hasn’t mentioned anything?” asked Jane.

  “No, not a thing,” Alice said, turning her attention to Wendell, who was now rubbing himself against her legs. “Does it really matter?”

  “Well, isn’t Mark coming here to see you?” said Jane. “Why would he suddenly bring someone else along? Does that make any sense?”

  “Oh, Jane,” said Alice. “I think you’re working your brain overtime on this. If Mark requested a second room, I’m sure he has a good reason.” She looked at Louise. “Do we have another room? I thought we were all booked.”

  Louise smiled. “Fortunately for Mark, I had just received a cancellation. Mark and his mysterious friend will be occupying both the Sunset and the Sunrise rooms.”

  Of course, this inspired Jane to begin singing, rather badly, “Sunrise, sunset … sunrise, sunset, quickly flow the years ….”

  Louise cleared her throat loudly this time. “Please, Jane.”

  Jane grinned. “It just seemed appropriate. I mean since Mark is coming to see Alice and they might be—”

  “I hate to disappoint you, Jane,” interrupted Alice, “but it’s just a friendly visit. We’re certainly not planning to run away and get married, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Goodness,” said Louise. “I certainly hope not.”

  Jane smiled as she plucked up another cookie. “Well, that’s a relief. Imagine running this inn with only two sisters. It just wouldn’t seem right.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Alice, winking at Louise. “I’m afraid that, for better or for worse, you two are stuck with me.”

  Even so, Alice wondered about this mystery guest whom her old beau was bringing to the inn next week. Despite her confident answer to Jane, she was not entirely certain that Mark Graves had the intention of being just friends. But, then, sisters do not have to tell each other absolutely everything.

  Chapter Two

  Friday was Alice’s day off, but she got up early as usual and walked with her friend Vera Humbert, a fifth-grade teacher. Alice spent the rest of the morning working on a quilt that she had been too busy to give attention to the last few months. She planned to take th
e quilt to Peggy Sanders’ baby shower next month, but the busywork was also a good distraction from thoughts of Mark Graves’s arrival tomorrow.

  “That’s looking beautiful,” said Jane as she poked her head into Alice’s room. “Peggy is going to love it.”

  “I hope so,” said Alice. “Peach and pale green are the colors she chose for the nursery. They work for a boy or a girl.”

  Jane picked up a section of blocks and admired them. “You’re getting really good at this. Sylvia’s quilting class must’ve really helped you.”

  Alice turned back to her sewing machine to cut a thread. “I’m afraid I’ve made a few mistakes on it, but the baby won’t notice.”

  “Well, we all have to start somewhere.”

  Alice nodded. “I’ve wanted to do a quilting project for a while. It’s nice to finally have the time.”

  “So does it feel good to be on vacation now?”

  Alice smiled. “It’s wonderful, Jane. I’m so glad you suggested that I take Easter week off.”

  “You work too hard anyway. Everyone needs to take a break sometimes.”

  Alice straightened her back, stretching her shoulders. “Perhaps I should take a break now.”

  “Good idea. I’ll see you later,” said Jane as she headed off to her room.

  Alice went downstairs to the kitchen, then decided to get the mail. She went out the kitchen door and walked to the end of the driveway and the mailbox. She knew that there probably wouldn’t be a letter from Mark today, but on the days she wasn’t working, she liked to be the first one to get the mail. That way, if there was a letter, she wouldn’t have to go through her sisters’ questions when they gave it to her later. Sneaky perhaps, but just simpler, she told herself. As expected, there was no letter from him today.

  “Hello, Alice.” Ethel Buckley waved from her porch as Alice walked back from the mailbox. Ethel, the sisters’ aunt, had lived in the inn’s carriage house for the past ten years.

  “Morning, Auntie,” called Alice. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

  “Simply beautiful,” Ethel called back.

  When Alice opened the front door, she saw that Louise had just finished registering new guests.

  “I’d like you to meet the Winstons,” said Louise. Alice smiled as she was introduced to the attractive middle-aged couple and their pretty teenaged daughter.

  “How nice to meet you all,” Alice said. “Laura, you must be about sixteen?”

  “Laura is seventeen,” said the mother, “and a senior.”

  “What an exciting time of life,” said Alice as she studied the girl. Laura’s long, chestnut hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her khaki skirt and navy-and-white striped top were casual but stylish. Although they were indoors, Laura wore a pair of big sunglasses with lime-green frames. More striking than the glasses was the unhappy scowl on her face. It seemed that Laura Winston would rather be anyplace but there.

  Alice turned her attention back to the parents. “Will you be in Acorn Hill for long?”

  “Laura is on Easter break all next week, so we plan to stay here until next Sunday,” said Mrs. Winston. “My parents used to live in Acorn Hill, and I’ve always wanted Laura to see—” She stopped herself and glanced uncomfortably at her daughter. “I mean I’ve always wanted Laura to experience her grandparents’ hometown—”

  “Give it a break, Mom,” snapped the teen as she tightly folded her arms across her chest.

  Alice decided to change the subject. “What was your mother’s maiden name, Mrs. Winston? Perhaps we knew your parents.”

  “Campbell,” said Mrs. Winston.

  “Eleanor and Roland Campbell?” asked Louise with interest.

  “Yes.” Mrs. Winston nodded with enthusiasm. “That’s right.”

  “Eleanor and I went to school together,” said Louise. “I always liked her. How is she doing?”

  “She’s fine,” said Mrs. Winston.

  “Didn’t they move to Florida?” asked Alice.

  “Yes. That was about fifteen years ago,” said Mrs. Winston. “My father had some serious health problems that forced him to retire early. He passed away shortly after they settled down there, but my mother made lots of friends and loves the sunshine. She decided to stay down there. Her condo is near Orlando. In a recent letter, she mentioned relatives still living near Acorn Hill.”

  Mr. Winston picked up the suitcases in an obvious attempt to end this conversation. Just then, the phone rang. Louise excused herself and went to the office to answer it.

  “May I show you up to your room?” offered Alice, feeling sorry for Mr. Winston. “I’m sure you’d like to get settled.”

  “Yes, thank you,” said Mr. Winston.

  Mrs. Winston nodded as she took her daughter’s arm. “Your sister said that the roll-away is all set up in there.”

  Laura made a groaning sound. “Great, I get to spend a whole week sleeping on a cot in my parents’ room. What a fun spring break.”

  Alice laughed as she led them up the stairs. “Yes, I’m sure it will seem rather tame around here, Laura. The teens from our church are having a get-together on Saturday night. Maybe you’d like to—”

  “No thanks,” said Laura.

  “Well, perhaps you’ll enjoy getting to know the town,” said Alice optimistically, “becoming familiar with the history and whatnot.”

  “Yes,” said Mrs. Winston eagerly. “That’s just what I was hoping.”

  “I’m guessing you’re staying in the Garden Room,” said Alice when they reached the landing at the top of the stairs. “Since that’s the largest room.”

  “Yes,” said Mr. Winston as he waited for Alice to lead the way, “that’s what your sister told us.”

  Alice took them into the spacious room and smiled to see that Jane, as usual, had placed fresh flowers on the bureau as well as in the bathroom. Foil-wrapped homemade chocolates were on the bed pillows, including the one on the roll-away bed that was set up by a window.

  “I hope you’ll all be very comfortable here,” she said as the three of them entered the room. “Please, let us know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you,” said Mr. Winston as he set a bag on the suitcase stand. He started to reach for his wallet as if to get a tip.

  Alice laughed and held up her hand. “You don’t need to tip me, Mr. Winston.”

  He nodded. “Oh, sorry. Um, thanks.”

  Alice was on her way out the door when Mrs. Winston called out. “Oh yes, now that I think of it, there is something I need … if you have a minute?”

  “Yes?” said Alice, turning.

  Mrs. Winston nodded to the door. “I’ll go downstairs with you.” Once they were downstairs, Mrs. Winston told Alice she had a problem.

  “Why don’t we go to the parlor?” Alice suggested.

  After they were seated, Mrs. Winston began to explain. “I really hate to trouble you, Alice,” she began, “but, well, you see, Laura is having a very difficult time.”

  Alice nodded. “Yes, that’s not uncommon with teenagers, is it?”

  “Yes, well, it’s a bit more than just adolescent angst,” she continued. “You see, Laura has grown up with juvenile diabetes. Actually, diabetes runs in my side of the family. That’s what my father died from, or rather complications from the disease.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” said Alice. “I’m a nurse and I know how debilitating diabetes can be. But with proper care and nutrition, most diabetics can lead a normal life. I hope that is the case with Laura.”

  “Up until this year, Laura was doing just fine. She had been diligent with her diet and insulin shots and exercise and, well, everything. In fact, she was such an excellent soccer player that she was even being considered for an athletic scholarship from the local college. We thought that everything was perfectly under control.” Mrs. Winston sighed and reached into her pocket for a tissue. “And then it all just fell apart.” She dabbed at a stray tear that was streaking down her cheek now.

  “I’
m so sorry,” said Alice as she placed her hand on Mrs. Winston’s shoulder. She truly was sorry for this poor woman, but even so, she wondered what she could possibly do to help. “You can be sure I’ll tell my sister Jane to have the right kinds of foods on hand for Laura’s condition,” she added. “Don’t worry, Jane knows a lot about nutrition and I will confer with her.”

  “Thank you,” said Mrs. Winston.

  “We have several kinds of fruit juice in the refrigerator, in case Laura’s blood sugar drops. Please feel free to help yourself to whatever you need from the kitchen. I’ll let Jane know about this too.”

  “Yes,” said Mrs. Winston. “I do appreciate that. But what I really wanted to tell you and your sisters is that Laura is blind.” She paused to blow her nose.

  “Oh my,” said Alice. “I am so sorry. I noticed that you held on to her arm, but I thought perhaps that you were steadying yourself. Is her blindness connected to the diabetes? I believe that it’s quite rare for anyone to suffer retinopathy at such a young age.”

  “Yes, you’re right, it is. Unfortunately, Laura spent a long weekend at a soccer camp in February, and the schedule was rather demanding. I think Laura was a bit forgetful about her health.” She shook her head. “I probably never should’ve let her go.”

  “You couldn’t know that something would go wrong.”

  “Perhaps not. Laura overexerted herself and didn’t have her insulin when she needed it, and, of course, with all these kids bringing treats from home, well, Laura ate the wrong kinds of things as well.” Mrs. Winston just shook her head.

  “Oh dear,” said Alice. “That can be very dangerous.”

  “Yes. It was. Laura ended up in the emergency room. We nearly lost her. She was in a coma for several days and when she came out of it, well … her vision was almost completely gone. It has steadily degenerated since then. She can still see shadows sometimes, or so she says, but she is legally blind. Naturally, she won’t be playing any soccer now.”

  “Poor thing,” said Alice. “No wonder she’s so unhappy.”

  Mrs. Winston nodded. “Yes, I just thought you and your sisters should know how her condition came about. Oh, I suppose it’s silly, but I didn’t want you to assume that Laura was simply a spoiled brat. She can be quite difficult, but she’s still trying to adjust to all that she has lost.”