Melody Carlson - Back Home Again

Back Home Again

ISBN 0-8249-4700-2

Published by GuidepostsBooks
16 East 34 th Street,
New York, New York 10016
www.guidepostsbooks.com

Copyright 2006 by GuidepostsBooks. All rights reserved.

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
535 Metroplex Drive, Suite 250
Nashville, Tennessee 37211

GuidepostsBooks, Ideals , and Tales from Grace Chapel Inn are registered trademarks of Guideposts, Carmel, New York.

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

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carlson, Melody.
Back home again / Melody Carlson.
p. cm. (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn)
ISBN 0-8249-4700-2
1. SistersFiction. 2. Bed and breakfast accommodationsFiction. 3. PennsylvaniaFiction. I. Title. II. Series.
PS3553.A73257B33 2006
813.54dc22

2006005583

Cover illustration by Deborah Chabrian
Designed by Marisa Jackson

Printed and bound in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Chapter One

T hin rays of afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves of the old maple tree that dominated the front yard of the Howard family home. Unshed tears blurred Alice Howards vision as she squinted up at the trees majestic canopy. How was it possible that more than fifty years had passed since her father had dug a gallon-sized hole and planted that spindly twig? Yet she remembered the day as if it were yesterday. Father had planted the tree for two reasons: first, to celebrate the birth of his third daughter Jane; and second, to honor the memory of his beloved wife Madeleine. As a result, the tree had always evoked mixed feelings in Alice. She had dearly loved her little sister, but like any normal twelve-year-old girl, she had also mourned the loss of her mother.

And now Father was gone too. For the first time, the reality of this loss penetrated her heart like a well-aimed sword, and her tears began to fall freely. It had been such a shock to receive that phone call today at work. Her father had seemed perfectly fine earlier that morning. Fred Humbert was the one to call. He explained how hed left his hardware store to take a look at the leaky kitchen faucet that her father had told him about yesterday. He had knocked several times before he let himself in.

I found him sitting in his chair in the study, Alice, just like hed peacefully gone to sleep. But when I tapped him on the shoulder, I knew something was wrong. I guess hed had a heart attack. I could tell he was gone. Probably had been for a couple of hours. I knew it was no use to call the paramedics, so I decided to call you. I figured youd know what to do.

Alice had sped home and had spent the rest of the day dealing with things . Now that the arrangements had been made and her two sisters had been notified, there seemed to be little left to do, other than to wait.

It was the waiting that undid her. All she could think of was Father and all the little things she would miss about him, like his sunny smile, and the way he liked to sneak table scraps to Wendell and then complain that the cat was getting too chubby. She would miss his reading aloud to her from the local weekly newspaper and the way he added his own editorial comments that never failed to make her chuckle. No, life would never be the same again.

Of course, Father had been quite old and his health had been failing for years, but Alice had never really prepared herself for the reality of his actual absence. Perhaps shed been in denial. There was no denying it now. He was gone, and there was a big hole in her life. She sat down on the creaky front porch swing next to Wendell. With a deep sigh, she ran her hand over his warm, gray and black fur and wondered what was going on in that feline brain right now. Did he know what had happened this morning? Of course, he must. After all, Father had always claimed that Wendell was insightfulfor a cat anyway. She scratched his favorite spot, on the top of his head right between his ears, and continued to wait. Oh, if only Louise and Jane would get here.

Alice! called a shrill voice from behind her. Alice Christine, where are you?

Alice glanced toward the north side of the house in time to spy a flash of vivid red hair just passing through the overgrown rose trellis. She recognized the shade as Titian Dreamsthe color that Aunt Ethels hairdresser applied to her roots every four weeks. Alice knew she might be able to avoid Aunt Ethel if she hurried into the house, but what would be the use? Her aunt would eventually catch up with her anyway. For, despite Aunt Ethels age (which Alice suspected was mid-seventies, although Aunt Ethel kept this secret) she was a sharp old woman, both in wit and in tongue. And during the ten years shed lived in the carriage house next door, shed become one of Alices greatest challenges in life.

It had been Fathers suggestion to relocate Aunt Ethel nearby. He had been concerned about his younger sisters growing old alone, and at the time it sounded like a good idea to Alice too. Shed envisioned the three of them becoming a sort of family. And indeed they had in their own way.

Im on the porch, Alice called.

Oh, Alice! What are you doing just sitting around at a time like this? Land sakes, there must be a hundred things to do right now.

Yes, Alice said with a tired smile. And Ive been doing them.

But I was just chatting with Carlene Moss down at the newspaper, and she said that you hadnt notified them of Daniels demise yet. Naturally, theyll want to do a front-page story about Daniels life of service here in Acorn Hillprobably need a good photograph too. I think I may have one that will work. Goodness knows that man gave his life to his congregation. For more than six decades too! And what about the memorial service, Alice, have you decided what to

I thought Id leave some decisions until Jane and Louise arrive.

And when might that be? Aunt Ethel peered down at her watch as if she were the stationmaster waiting for a delayed train.

Alice shrugged. Im not sure, but Im guessing Louise might arrive later this afternoon and Jane by tomorrow evening.

Well, I guess its all right for you to sit around all day long if you like, but I have places to go, people to see.

Alice stood up. Leaning over the porch railing she peered into her aunts pale blue eyes. But dont you miss him, Auntie?

For a brief moment, Aunt Ethels veneer of busyness and efficiency seemed to crack slightly, and she even sniffed. Well, of course, I miss him, dear. He was my only living brother, and I expected him to go on forever. She now pulled a lace-trimmed hanky from the bodice of her floral dress and dabbed her nose. I just dont have time to dwell on it right now.

Alice partially understood her aunts philosophy. Sometimes it was easier to keep yourself busy and distracted, to hold your emotions at bay. But maybe it wasnt always the best routeat least not in the long run.

What about this old house? demanded the aunt, changing the subject as only she could do. Didnt your father leave this place to the chapel? Does that mean youll be moving out soon?