“Excuse me, but if you have all the answers, why the tears? It’s the season for happiness and miracles.”
“Sorry, just some bad news.” She continued to work with the glue gun trying to keep a firm grip despite her shaky fingers.
“I smell cinnamon and chocolate. Do you serve holiday drinks here?”
The woman nodded toward a group of small tables. “Back there. Help yourself.”
“Maybe you’d care to join me. A break might be just what you need, before that string of upside-down hearts take hold and ruin your masterpiece.”
“Oh, my,” exclaimed the woman as she broke them free of the arrangement. “Thanks for noticing.” She peered closer. “You’re not from around here. Did you find us on the Internet?”
Sandra chose not to indulge Mrs. Claus’ latest intervention that led her here. “Actually, I visited here with my family years ago while on vacation. Its unique location and your beautiful treasures lured me back.”
“Reminiscing? Suppose that’s a good thing to do at Christmas.”
“When you’re alone, it’s the only thing you can do. I’m using this trip to turn the page to the next chapter in my life,” Sandra said. “You look like you’re still trapped in the hurting stage.”
The woman threw her decorating tool down and removed her apron. “How about that drink, ma’am?”
“Call me Sandra please.”
“Most folks hereabouts call me Franny.” She busied herself at the refreshment counter and came to the small table with two steaming cups. “Hope you like chocolate. I gave us an extra dose for a good caffeine fix.” She sat and sipped, seemingly her quota of words all used up.
“Well, Franny, do you need a listening ear? Mine is available.”
Her dark eyes penetrated Sandra and she could almost feel the turmoil of should I or should I not race around inside the woman’s head. Bleached blonde hair styled to perfection crowned her starched countenance. Her too-skinny frame appeared fragile and Sandra feared a good strong wind would lift her off her petite feet and blow her away.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough to know you’re very upset.” Sandra went to the counter and returned with a plate of cookies.
“Please, the treat is on me. I always gave my son a sugar treat when he was upset. He said it made his boo-boo go away.”
The woman offered a half-smile. “You’re nice. Not too many people care to give a stranger the time of day.” Her voice took on a hardness at the completion of the sentence.”
“And is that why you’re crying? Did someone snub you today?” Sandra bit her lip, not willing to tell the woman the extent of what she’d overheard.
“I thought I’d developed tougher skin, working in the retail business but…” Again, she looked at Sandra. “Did you hear Joe yelling at me?”
“I couldn’t help but hear some of the conversation.”
“So, are you interested in spreading gossip, or did God send you by to hear my confession?”
“Excuse me?” Sandra regrouped. “I do consider myself a servant of the Most High God, so if you asked Him to send someone, I will be His ear extended. Feel free to dump on me.”
“There’s something magnetic about you. Like you’re meant to tell me what I can do to make my sins right?”
“I can direct you to the one who has the answers.” Sandra took a long gulp of the chocolate. She needed re-fueling for a chore this huge.
“May as well test the waters on a stranger. You won’t judge me near as bad as my sister. I’ve violated her trust. She’ll never forgive me.”
“You might be pleasantly surprised; if she saw true repentance.”
“We have a history and she’s not nice like you,” Franny said. “Cindy’s been having marital problems for over a year. Her husband started coming around. He said he needed an ear to hear his side of the story. But after his crying on my shoulders over too many soothing cups of tea and hosting countless pity-parties for two, we crossed the line. It happened so fast. One minute I was feeling empathy and the next…” Her voice cracked. “My life is ruined. It only happened once, but it loosened a monster in him and my eyes clearly see the man my sister fears. I’m gullible and stupid!”
“The first steps are to seek God’s pardon and then forgive yourself. If you know God, He will help you.”
“I’m not a heathen, if that’s what you mean, but I’m not on speaking terms these days with a Holy God.”
“Come as you are – that’s his motto.”
“Well, Joe is on the way home right now to call it quits with his wife, and guess who he will blame? Her back-stabbing tramp of a sister.”
“Then perhaps you should get there first so she hears the accurate version.”
“Are you kidding? I’m thinking of packing my kids up and running to the opposite side of the country.”
“You can’t run from this,” said Sandra. “It will be hard, but I will pray for you and Cindy, that you will both experience forgiveness and peace.”
Fanny snickered. “Today is a double wipe-out. My father is showing up for lunch with a bimbo he thinks he’s in love with. The man should stick to remembering his first sweetheart, don’t you think? It’s safer.”
Sandra gasped. Could this be Robert’s daughter? Although he’d not mentioned the direction, he said his home was about an hour away. They’d agreed he should pave the way with his girls alone – this chance meeting was never supposed to happen. Not yet. Why hadn’t he told them she’d not be coming to lunch? His was obviously a family with deep troubling issues,
