Read Online Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online Page A

because they missed their mom. And she’d gotten some letters from a girl in her past.
    Remembering just how topsy-turvy her life had felt, how out of control it had seemed to be, she wondered if her recent contentment had changed her. Had she now become the type of judgmental person she’d always claimed never to be? “I promise I really will apologize later,” she said meekly. “I will try to become the friend she needs, too. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. I don’t know why I’ve been treating her so harshly.”
    “I don’t know why you have, either,” her mother said. “But it is time to stop. See that you do apologize, Katie.”
    In her arms, Eli’s eyes drifted shut. Unable to stop herself, she gently pushed a stray lock of hair away from his forehead. “No matter what, I’m sure Melody will be as overcome as I was by her child’s birth. Babies are miracles.”
    Even as she said the words, a flutter filled her stomach. Yes, babies were miracles. Even to new mothers who were already feeling overwhelmed.
    Walking to her side, her mother pressed her lips to Katie’s forehead. “Yes, indeed, they are. Now, however, we need to concentrate on the work to be done.”
    “Yes, let’s make those cookies,” Anna rushed to say. “My Henry will want something tasty to snack on this afternoon after being outdoors all day.”
    “
‘My
Henry,’” Winnie mimicked with a smile.
    “Oh, stop, Winnie,” Anna said, her cheeks flaming. “You’re just as dreamy when you speak of Sam.”
    “Perhaps,” Winnie allowed.
    “I just like to tease you because he’s my brother,” Katie said. “Never would I have ever imagined Henry being thought of that way.”
    “He’s lucky I do. I’m a
gut frau.”
    The three of them laughed as the tension dissipated and things were back to normal.
    With a satisfactory smile, her mother nodded in Anna’s direction and then walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a large bag of brown sugar. “I’m thinking molasses cookies might be just the thing,” she murmured. “Let’s get busy.”

Chapter 7
     
    December 21, 12:00 P.M.
    Light rain started falling after two hours on the road. Soon after, the rain quickly turned to sleet, causing traffic to slow. Every lane was packed with cars, giant semis, smaller trucks, and an assortment of other vehicles. Some were loaded down with packages and gifts. Others were so filled with people that the drivers didn’t seem to be paying too much attention to the road.
    As the sleet continued to fall, people switched lanes without turn signals and seemed eager to blow their horns for the slightest infraction. It was stressful.
    So stressful, that Leah had to do anything she could to remain calm and in control. She listened to music, all the while imagining the look of surprise that was sureto appear on Melody’s face when she showed up at the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast out of the blue.
    No doubt, her girlfriend would start crying within minutes, too. She was a crier.
    Actually, Melody was kind of everything. From the minute Leah had met her Amish friend, she’d been struck by the way Melody had yet to meet an emotion that she didn’t wear on her sleeve. She was such a sweetheart. Leah was so glad she’d decided to ask for a few days off to visit her.
    No one should be alone so close to Christmas.
    Just as Leah was driving under a bridge on the interstate, and was carefully navigating the lanes as the traffic changed from three lanes to two, construction zone signs appeared. She frowned as she gripped the wheel tightly. The already crowded lanes narrowed as the road dipped into a valley. Combined with the driving rain and sleet, it took all her concentration to stay in her lane and keep with the traffic flow.
    Sweat beaded her brow as she came upon a line of concrete-filled orange barrels. Now the lanes felt claustrophobic. There was nowhere to go except forward. At regular intervals, she looked to her left and right, making sure she