Read Online An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller - Free Book Online Page A

was trying to figure out a safe place to hide the box when she heard Elizabeth exclaiming, “You brought chocolates!”
    Grace turned around and saw that her grandmother had taken it upon herself to advance from a walker to a cane this morning.
    “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Grandma?”
    “Chocolate is almost always a good idea.”
    “No, I mean the cane. Shouldn’t you be using your walker?”
    “Not when a cane works just as well. I’m feeling much stronger. Now—about those chocolates you are hiding behind your back.”
    “They are supposed to be for Mother’s Day.”
    “Lovely.” Elizabeth reached out her hand. “I’m declaring an early Mother’s Day.”
    “I’m not sure you’re allowed to do that, Grandma.”
    “I’m seventy-eight years old. I have just survived triple bypass surgery. In my opinion, I have earned the right to do pretty much anything I want—within reason. And in my opinion, eating a little chocolate is definitely within reason.”
    Grace reluctantly sat the box of chocolates on the kitchen table.
    Elizabeth leaned her cane against the chair and eased herself down. “Did you get any of their Swiss-style truffles?”
    “Of course.”
    “Caramels?”
    “Would it be a box of Coblentz’s without caramels?”
    “Not in my opinion.” Elizabeth lifted the lid. “Oh, you got pecan clusters, too.”
    “And buckeyes.”
    “ And buckeyes! Be still my beating heart.”
    “It won’t be beating long if you eat all this candy,” Grace warned.
    “Then am I to assume,” Elizabeth said, “that you brought all this lovely chocolate home merely to hasten my demise? Have you been coveting my collection of butter dishes again?”
    “Your collection of butter dishes?” Grace scoffed. “I would pay to have someone come in and carry most of this stuff out of here.”
    Elizabeth pretended offense. “Just because you lived in a tent with nothing but a duffel bag doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t have our comforts.”
    “It wasn’t a tent, it was a B-hut. They’re built out of plywood.”
    “Ah—so you lived in a box. Big difference.” Elizabeth daintily selected a truffle and sank her teeth into it. Her eyes rolled back in ecstasy.
    Grace watched with amusement. It was nice to see her grandmother enjoying herself again. Grandma had always been fun, but illness had taken much of the starch out of her these past weeks. The fact that she could exchange banter again was a good sign that her body was getting stronger.
    “Hey, sis!” Becky came in, flopped down beside her grandmother, and eyed the candy box. “Ooh. You’ve been to Coblentz’s!”
    The older Becky got, the more she reminded Grace of their mother—a beautiful brunette with smoky blue eyes.
    “I was trying to hide her Mother’s Day gift, but she already caught me.”
    Becky lifted the box lid. “Can I have a buckeye?”
    “One.” Elizabeth held up a finger.
    “What have you been up to this afternoon?” Grace asked. “Homework?”
    “Uh-huh.” Becky popped a chocolate in her mouth and spoke around it. “I have a report due.”
    “Chocolate should be savored,” her grandmother admonished. “Don’t cheapen the experience by talking with your mouth full.”
    “I’m going to start supper before you two stuff yourselves with candy,” Grace said. “Spaghetti sound good?”
    Just then, a knock on the door brought all three of them to a full alert.
    “Were we expecting anyone?” Grace asked.
    Elizabeth and Becky shook their heads.
    Ever since the murder, they had been keeping the doors locked all the time, and Grace deeply resented the fact that they felt the need.
    She peered out the window nearest the door. It felt odd to be so careful in broad daylight, but the Shetler murder had taken place in the middle of a gorgeous spring morning.
    She relaxed when she saw that it was Levi and unlocked the door. He stood on the porch, his feet planted far apart, with what appeared to be a new broad-brimmed