Room at the Inn (Bellingwood #5.5) by Diane Greenwood Muir Page A
Authors: Diane Greenwood Muir
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passed, the donkey pushed his head against Andrew's leg, and the cat jumped down.
One year ago, Polly had a dog and two cats. Now there were more animals in her life than she knew what to do with. Eliseo could never leave. Jason had come out of Nat's stall to watch Andrew with the donkey and the cat and she heard him laughing quietly as he went back in to finish mucking it out. One year ago, these boys lived in a small apartment with their mother. Today they lived in the same apartment, but because of the family's involvement at Sycamore House, they had room to play and grow. Both of them had grown up a lot since she first met them.
This morning everyone was there again. Weekends were fun at the barn. Jason and Andrew didn't have to be in school and they all spent time with the animals. Hansel and Gretel had apparently found their way around the entirety of the barn overnight. When Eliseo opened the doors, he found them curled up in Demi's stall tucked in for warmth.
Jason and Andrew were bringing the donkeys up for the Living Nativity one last time. They had already donned their costumes and were down with Eliseo. Polly put the finishing touches on dinner. She had invited all her friends , and everyone but Jeff would be there before they began their family Christmas celebrations. Dinner would be simple. Sandwiches and appetizers, salads and plenty of crackers, chips, and cheese.
Andy and Len were back from their honeymoon and were bringing his daughter, Ellen. Beryl had come out of seclusion, announcing she was finished for a month. She needed a vacation. Billy and Rachel were coming and Doug had finally gotten up the nerve to ask Anita Banks for a date. He was bringing her and texted Polly that she had to be nice because he was really nervous. Polly had made Sylvie promise to take a long afternoon nap and stay away from the kitchen this evening. The Merritts were coming, Sal and Mark would be in attendance, and Nate and Joss Mikkels said they wouldn't miss it. The party would be a grand way to celebrate friends, both old and new.
Polly dimmed the overhead lights, allowing the strands of white Christmas lights to stand out. She lit candles in the kitchen and turned on the flickering electric candles in her windows. The coffee was brewed, cider was bubbling, hot water was ready for cocoa and the egg nog poured into a punch bowl. She was ready.
Cars slowly passed the Nativity outside and some pulled into the parking lot. People walked over to spend a few moments considering a night long ago, when the world changed forever. Each night the tableau had been filled with different participants and each night Polly spent time watching as they prepared themselves to represent that very holy family, the shepherds and wise men, who were the first to greet the Savior. Those moments were filled with reverence, even amidst the craziness of donkeys and sheep, attempts to keep warm and the bright lights of cars flashing over them as the twenty-first century clashed with images from two thousand years ago.
She looked out the window and watched as the scene played out one more time. Lydia's Jeep pulled into the lot and Beryl glanced up to the window and waved at Polly.
Polly propped her front door open. Footsteps coming up her back stairs, along with Obiwan's wagging tail, told her that Henry had arrived. She met him at the top of the steps and when he kissed her, she allowed the moment to take her breath away. She was going to savor every moment this evening with her friends. She hadn't felt this much love since she'd been home with her father, Mary , and Sylvester. That had been too many years ago.
"Halloooo," Lydia called.
Polly pulled back from Henry and said, "I'm glad you're here. Did you have a good day?"
"I think the house is finally ready for Mom and Dad."
"What time will they be in tomorrow?"
"Knowing Dad, they'll get in tonight, but they really aren't supposed to be home until tomorrow afternoon."
Polly had spent time
One year ago, Polly had a dog and two cats. Now there were more animals in her life than she knew what to do with. Eliseo could never leave. Jason had come out of Nat's stall to watch Andrew with the donkey and the cat and she heard him laughing quietly as he went back in to finish mucking it out. One year ago, these boys lived in a small apartment with their mother. Today they lived in the same apartment, but because of the family's involvement at Sycamore House, they had room to play and grow. Both of them had grown up a lot since she first met them.
This morning everyone was there again. Weekends were fun at the barn. Jason and Andrew didn't have to be in school and they all spent time with the animals. Hansel and Gretel had apparently found their way around the entirety of the barn overnight. When Eliseo opened the doors, he found them curled up in Demi's stall tucked in for warmth.
Jason and Andrew were bringing the donkeys up for the Living Nativity one last time. They had already donned their costumes and were down with Eliseo. Polly put the finishing touches on dinner. She had invited all her friends , and everyone but Jeff would be there before they began their family Christmas celebrations. Dinner would be simple. Sandwiches and appetizers, salads and plenty of crackers, chips, and cheese.
Andy and Len were back from their honeymoon and were bringing his daughter, Ellen. Beryl had come out of seclusion, announcing she was finished for a month. She needed a vacation. Billy and Rachel were coming and Doug had finally gotten up the nerve to ask Anita Banks for a date. He was bringing her and texted Polly that she had to be nice because he was really nervous. Polly had made Sylvie promise to take a long afternoon nap and stay away from the kitchen this evening. The Merritts were coming, Sal and Mark would be in attendance, and Nate and Joss Mikkels said they wouldn't miss it. The party would be a grand way to celebrate friends, both old and new.
Polly dimmed the overhead lights, allowing the strands of white Christmas lights to stand out. She lit candles in the kitchen and turned on the flickering electric candles in her windows. The coffee was brewed, cider was bubbling, hot water was ready for cocoa and the egg nog poured into a punch bowl. She was ready.
Cars slowly passed the Nativity outside and some pulled into the parking lot. People walked over to spend a few moments considering a night long ago, when the world changed forever. Each night the tableau had been filled with different participants and each night Polly spent time watching as they prepared themselves to represent that very holy family, the shepherds and wise men, who were the first to greet the Savior. Those moments were filled with reverence, even amidst the craziness of donkeys and sheep, attempts to keep warm and the bright lights of cars flashing over them as the twenty-first century clashed with images from two thousand years ago.
She looked out the window and watched as the scene played out one more time. Lydia's Jeep pulled into the lot and Beryl glanced up to the window and waved at Polly.
Polly propped her front door open. Footsteps coming up her back stairs, along with Obiwan's wagging tail, told her that Henry had arrived. She met him at the top of the steps and when he kissed her, she allowed the moment to take her breath away. She was going to savor every moment this evening with her friends. She hadn't felt this much love since she'd been home with her father, Mary , and Sylvester. That had been too many years ago.
"Halloooo," Lydia called.
Polly pulled back from Henry and said, "I'm glad you're here. Did you have a good day?"
"I think the house is finally ready for Mom and Dad."
"What time will they be in tomorrow?"
"Knowing Dad, they'll get in tonight, but they really aren't supposed to be home until tomorrow afternoon."
Polly had spent time
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