Read Online Irene Brand_Yuletide_01 by Yuletide Peril - Free Book Online Page B

rather than to worship.
    But now that she was responsible for Brooke, she shouldtake her to church. She moved to the window and looked at the church across the street from the motel. The date carved in the stone lintel above the door indicated that the gray stone building had been built in the early part of the twentieth century. A tall spire and columns graced the front of the church that was reached by six wide stone steps. Stained-glass windows added to the magnificence of the structure.
    Squinting to read the worship hours on the lighted sign, Janice said, “Maybe we’d better go to church tomorrow. Sunday school starts at ten o’clock, but we can still sleep late, go downstairs to the breakfast bar and get to the church on time. Okay?”
    “I guess so,” Brooke said with some hesitation, “but I won’t know anybody.”
    “You’ll make friends easily enough, but we can skip Sunday school tomorrow and go to the worship service at eleven.”
    “I’d like that better, and we can even sleep later.”
    “That might be a good idea. You can’t sleep in Monday morning because school starts at eight.”
    Brooke groaned, but it was a half-hearted response, for she was a good student and liked school. Going to school had never been a pleasure for Janice. About the time she’d gotten settled in one school, her parents would move. At VOH, because of her poor scholastic background, it had been an effort to keep up with her classmates. Janice longed for a college education, but she sometimes questioned whether she had the educational skills to get a college degree.
    Long after Brooke was asleep, Janice lay awake contemplating her future. It would be weeks, maybe months, before she could have Mountjoy ready for occupancy. Her inheritance seemed like a fortune to Janice, but she knew it wouldn’t last long when she started renovating the house. Ifshe used all the money to give the house a face-lift, she would have nothing left for the upkeep of the house and living expenses.
    How could she work to support them, go to school and be a mother to Brooke? Even if she took only part-time classes, she couldn’t do it at night or on Saturday because she’d have to look after Brooke. Perhaps she should have left Brooke with her foster parents until she had a home ready for them.
    The longer she thought about it, the more desperate she became. Janice finally got out of bed and sat in a chair to sort out her options.
    The chain store she’d worked for in Willow Creek had a store in Stanton, too. With her three years of experience, she could probably get a job any time. SuperMart provided health benefits and she had to consider that. Her insurance from the store would expire in three months, and without an income, she couldn’t pay for health insurance for the two of them. Even if she made Mountjoy livable, it would be two or three months before she could move there. She couldn’t afford to live in a motel and eat in restaurants during that time. Would she have to take an apartment after all?
    And what about the mystery surrounding Mountjoy? Had her uncle been murdered? Would she ever feel safe living there?
    Because of her lack of sleep, the last thing Janice wanted to do was go to church, especially with a new congregation where she wouldn’t know anyone. But she roused herself from the chair where she’d spent the night, showered and dressed. She woke Brooke, and while she took a shower, Janice went downstairs to the breakfast room and brought hot chocolate and rolls up to their room.
    They arrived at the church just as the Sunday school classes were dismissed. An usher greeted them, handed each of thema bulletin and motioned for them to follow him down the center aisle.
    “Hey, Brooke.”
    Taylor Mallory appeared behind them. “Hi, Miss Reid. I’m glad to see you. Mama told me I should have asked Brooke to come to Sunday school.” She took Brooke by the hand. “Both of you come sit with Mama and me.”
    Brooke glanced at