Melody Carlson - Hidden History

Hidden History

ISBN-13: 978-0-8249-4709-5
ISBN-10: 0-8249-4709-6

Published by Guideposts
16 East 34 th Street
New York, New York 10016
www.guideposts.com

Copyright 2007 by Guideposts. 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 division of Guideposts
2636 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 120
Nashville, Tennessee 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.

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, 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

Carlson, Melody.
Hidden history / Melody Carlson.
p. cm. (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8249-4709-5
1. SistersFiction. 2. Bed and breakfast accommodationsFiction. 3. FathersFiction. 4. PennsylvaniaFiction. I. Title.
PS3553.A73257H53 2007
813.54dc22

2006021345

Cover art by Deborah Chabrian
Designed by Marisa Jackson
Typeset by Nancy Tardi

Printed and bound in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Chapter One

T he day was clear and sunny, and a crisp breeze rustled the leaves of the big maple tree in front of the large Victorian house. Alice Howard breathed deeply as she strolled up the walkway, pausing to admire her sister Janes terra-cotta pots, now spilling over with chrysanthemums in a rich array of russets, reds and golds. Alice could feel autumn in the air, and she was ready for this long hot summer to come to an end. It was still a bit early, but she looked forward to things like leaves crunching underfoot and steaming mugs of hot cider and orange pumpkins piled by the front door. She sighed with sweet contentment as she walked up the front steps to their wide and welcoming front porch.

Hello there, called her older sister from the shadows.

Oh! Alice jumped in surprise. Goodness, I didnt even see you there, Louise.

Louise chuckled. I thought you were daydreaming. She patted the swing. Come sit with me and chat.

Alice had barely set her bag down and joined Louise on the swing before Wendell sprang from the corner and landed on her lap. Hey, big boy, she crooned. How are you doing? She was answered with a contented purring sound as the heavy cat settled himself comfortably in her lap.

Silly old cat, said Louise as she reached over and scratched his head. You would think that he would want a cooler place to sleep on a warm afternoon.

Oh, Wendells always been a snuggler.

Care for some lemonade? asked Louise as she reached for the pitcher and an empty glass.

That sounds lovely.

Louise handed her the cool glass. How was work?

Pretty busy for the middle of the week, said Alice. I guess everyone was out trying to enjoy the last of their summer vacations. We had a car wreck involving a family of five, a girl whod been thrown from a horse, as well as several cases of food poisoning from the Pine Grove youth camp.

Good grief! exclaimed Louise. Were they all right?

Yes, thankfully, by the end of the day not one of our patients was in anything worse than fair condition and all appear to be headed toward full recovery.

Thank goodness for that. Your job is really exciting at times.

Alice smiled. At times, but mostly its routine. Im grateful for that. I can do without days like today.

Louise patted her on the knee. Well, you should be relieved to know that we will not have any guests until tomorrow. We will all enjoy a nice quiet evening tonight.

Oh, that sounds good. Wheres Jane? asked Alice. In her garden?

The last I saw she was in the kitchen about knee-deep in lemons.

Just to make lemonade?

Actually, Aunt Ethel dropped off two boxes of lemons this morning. According to her, Lloyds brother from California showed up with about a truck load of them. Lloyd has been sharing them with everyone in town. Jane started out with lemonade, but that barely made a dent in them. Louise chuckled. I will say this, the house smells delicious.

Well, its a good way to bring summer to an end, said Alice.

It does feel as if fall is creeping up on us.

Alice leaned her head against the back of the swing and sighed. Can you believe its been nearly a year since Father passed away?

It does not seem possible.

Its exactly one year on Friday, Alice said.

Yes, that is one date I will not forget, but I have never been as good as you with dates.

Somehow remembering dates has always been easy for me. Alice set down her empty glass. Even as a little girl I knew everyones birthday and Mother and Fathers anniversary and all sorts of little things. In the last few years Father often relied on me to be his walking calendar. She chuckled. In fact, I just reminded Pastor Thompson that next Sunday is Grandparents Day. I hope he didnt think I was trying to interfere. Father always liked to give the grandmothers a carnation on that day.

Louise adjusted her glasses as she counted the stitches on her latest knitting project. Well, I will probably never be the lucky recipient of a Grandparents Day carnation.

Just then the youngest sister stepped out with a plate of lemon squares. Whats this youre complaining about, Louise? she asked as she set the china plate on the nearby wicker table, nodding an invitation.

Not being a grandmother, Alice answered for Louise as she reached for a sticky yellow bar. Oh, Jane, these look lovely.

I am not complaining, said Louise as she set aside her knitting in exchange for a lemon square. I just doubt that Cynthia will ever make me a grandmother. Goodness knows I would be thrilled just to see her married and settled down. But, of course, she is a busy career woman, and I think she is waiting for Mr. Right to come along.

Whats wrong with that? said Jane as she refilled their glasses. I was older than Cynthia when I married, and sometimes I wish Id waited a little longer myself.

Alice reached over and patted Janes hand. How were you to know things would turn out that way with Justin back then, Jane?

Thats true enough, said Jane. But being nearly forty and never married, well, I think maybe I just panicked.

Panicked? said Louise with raised brows. It is hard to imagine your panicking about anything, Jane.

Jane tossed her oldest sister an indulgent smile. Oh, sure, I probably come across as in control most of the time, especially if I have a lot of confidence in an area, cooking or gardening, for instance.

Or decorating or art, added Alice.

But when it comes to romance Jane sadly shook her head. Well, Im just not too savvy about things of the heart.

Maybe its a family trait, suggested Alice. Its never been my strongest suit either.

Well, speak for yourself, said Louise. I think I fared quite well in the love and romance arena. Eliot and I came close to celebrating forty years of blissful marriage before he was called to his eternal reward.