A Place Called Home by Lori Wick

care? So many questions but no answers. Christine ached for her grandfather’s presence, yet she knew her pride was keeping her from asking for help. So the afternoon shadows lengthened and Christine sat with only her tears for company.

    Back at the house, Luke and Silas had their suit coats on and were headed for the door. After kissing Grandma Em, Luke handed her a piece of paper. He explained about the verses, and Grandma Em assured him that Christine would get them.

    For Mrs. Hall, Sunday afternoon was usually spent visiting her sister and family. Mrs. Hall’s spirits had been up ever since she had heard from Christine. So, after a good meal and a visit with her sister, Mrs. Hall started walking out to the Bennett residence with a light step.
    â€œGood afternoon, Mrs. Hall.”
    â€œOh! Mr. Jeffers, good afternoon to you! It’s lovely, is it not?” Mrs. Hall smiled at him.
    â€œYes, indeed it is. May I wish you also a splendid week.”
    â€œWhy, thank you, Mr. Jeffers.” Mrs. Hall continued on her way.
    Vince sat astride his bay stallion and watched the woman’s light step, wondering at her exuberance. She certainly didn’t look like the grieving woman he had seen before. Maybe she had had news of Christine.
    Vince heeled his horse into a walk. He had finally cooled off from his last meeting with that incompetent fool who worked for him. Maybe it was time to send for him again.
    Once again in the Bennett house, Mrs. Hall hung up her bonnet and changed her shoes. It was then that she put her finger on what was different about Vince Jeffers.
    She had grown used to his smile, a smile that never quite reached his eyes. He was so different from Mr. Bennett that it was a wonder they had ever formed a partnership. But that wasn’t it. What was it, then, that was troubling her about him?
He had stopped her and talked to her but didn’t even ask after Christine.
How odd! Rarely had he ever given her the time of day.
    Once again Mrs. Hall experienced that strange feeling that she got whenever she saw Vince Jeffers lately, as if there were something she was supposed to tell him or remember that she couldn’t quite come up with.
    Mrs. Hall did a mental shrug as she reached for
A Study in Scarlet
, the new Sherlock Holmes mystery novel that her sister had just finished. Whatever it was with Vince Jeffers would have to wait until tomorrow.

22

    â€œThis week has just flown by, especially since the weather has finally cooled.” Grandma Em shifted. “Did you get your letter off?”
    â€œYes, it’s been posted. I also had another confrontation with your grandson. Why does he put up such a fuss when I try to pay on my bill?”
    Grandma Em laughed but offered no explanation. The truth of the matter was that Mark’s heart was tender to a fault. He and Sue cared deeply for Christine and would do anything to ease her plight. Grandma Em also knew about pride. She knew Christine had plenty of it because she saw herself so clearly in the young woman.
    The women were now on Grandma Em’s street, her house in sight.
    â€œIs that Luke on your porch?”
    â€œYes, I believe so.” Something in Grandma Em’s voice made Christine ask, “Do you think something is wrong?”
    Grandma Em slowed down a bit and spoke softly. “Don’t ask me how I know, Christine, but I think I’m about to get in trouble for painting my own porch.”
    Near the porch now, the women exchanged a glance and then quickly looked away lest they should begin to laugh. The days they had spent painting had been wonderful. Getting to know and trust each other through paint spatters andlaughter had been a tonic to Christine. Neither woman would have traded the experience for the world.
    â€œHello, Luke. You’re in time for lunch. Will you stay?”
    Luke answered as he took his grandmother’s packages and held the door for both ladies. “Thanks,