Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

knowing someone’s job doesn’t mean we know them. Right?”
    “Point taken.” He sighed; ran a hand through his dark blond hair, messing it up just enough for Leah to see that there were darker streaks hiding underneath.
    “Leah, I should have just answered you right away instead of getting my feelings hurt. You are exactly right to not trust me. So, here we go. No, I don’t do this often. Actually, I’ve never asked a stranded girl out before.”
    The way he characterized her made Leah smile. “Ever?”
    “Ever. I like my job, Leah. I like helping people. And being a patrol officer is demanding.” He paused again—seemed to struggle to find the right words. “Until I met you, I never once considered dating someone I’ve met while working. But then, again, I’d never met you before.”
    His honest words melted her heart more than any polished flirtatious line ever could have. She began to feel trusting of him.
    And even more surprising … well, she, too, didn’t want to say goodbye to him. Not yet.
    Even though she knew Melody was alone at the inn.
    “You know, the roads do look bad,” she said slowly. “And, I’m still a little shaken from the accident.”
    “That’s a common consequence.”
    “So, Officer Littleton, if it’s okay with you, I think Ibetter stay here another day. You know, just to be on the safe side.”
    “That’s a smart decision, miss,” he said before his solemn demeanor melted into pure pleasure. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you say that.”
    “So what would you like to do?”
    “Today, I thought maybe we could just go to a movie or something. The storm is supposed to get worse before it gets better. But tomorrow morning, I’d like to take you by my parents’ place. It’s on the way to I-71. They have beagle puppies. Any chance you want to see a litter of six five-week-old pups?”
    All feelings of unease dissipated in an instant. This was why he was so special. He wanted to show her puppies?
    But just to be sure things were on the safe side, Leah took care to look at him sideways. “Will your parents be there?”
    He held up a hand. “Of course.”
    “Then, yes, Zack, I’d love to go to the movies today and see those puppies tomorrow before I take off.”
    “You drive a hard bargain, Leah Dillon.”
    “Is that a bad thing?”
    “Not at all,” he said with a grin. Which, of course, made her smile, too.
    December 22, 11:00 A.M.
    As the icy pellets turned into fluffy flakes, Katie turned her attention to the girls and one of their favorite snowy-day treats: pretzels.
    “How come we only make pretzels when it’s cold outside, Katie?” Mary asked.
    “I’m not sure. Maybe because it’s what your
grossmammi
did with me. It’s a snowy day tradition,” she mused as she carefully measured three quarters of a cup of warm water, then added it to the bowl filled with yeast, sugar, and salt. As Mary and Hannah stood by, she next measured out bread flour, then handed a wooden spoon to her oldest stepdaughter. “Stir, dear.”
    Mary did, easily, and Hannah was already preparing for her favorite part—kneading. Her little fingers flexed, eager to grab at the dough. Little by little, they crept forward, ready to snatch it from the bowl and begin to make it elastic. “Now, Mamma?”
    “Not quite. Patience, Hannah,” she murmured, feeling her whole being smile with contentment. She’d been married to Jonathan over a year; and while Mary would most likely never call her anything but “Katie,” already Hannah had adopted her as her own—and she was “Mamma,” too.
    Just as Katie felt in her heart “Mother” to Hannah and Mary, Jonathan’s sweet daughters.
    “Are we ready now?” Mary asked.
    Katie peeked into the bowl. The dough was mixed together as well as could be done with a wooden spoon. After lightly flouring the countertop, she nodded. “Ready.”
    Eagerly Mary plopped the dough on the counter, and neatly divided it in half. Then she and