“She couldn’t go by Sumpter – with you thinking your mother dead. Besides, I imagine when her daughter took on the Gabel name, she decided to keep it as well and not take on any new surnames from the rest of her marriages.”
“Most famous people don’t nowadays,” Jolene said.
“Guess I’m a bit old-fashioned. I’d like my wife to feel proud to be called Mrs. Landers. I figure it’s one way of making us feel sheltered under the same umbrella.”
Jolene grinned. “I imagine it’s also important to a man because he wants to carry on the family lineage under his name.”
“Heritage Inn and Resort have a great legacy. Have you been to the second floor to read it?”
“I have not.”
“And I suppose you haven’t sneaked out to the barn to see the Christmas owls that the Inn is famous for?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Mrs. Fredricks told me how the owners met. Some magical interaction with Mrs. Claus and owl ornaments.”
“Do you think Sandra Fredricks is Mrs. Claus in disguise?” Jolene asked.
“Nope – claims to be her helper though. Understand she found her true love with a globe ornament. Brought her straight to Robert, the man she’s now married to.”
“It all sounds very mysterious,” Jolene said.
“I want to believe God is still in the miracle business of matching two hearts,” Craig said.
“God? I thought we were talking Mrs. Claus,” Jolene said.
“According to Sandra, the lady from the North Pole is merely His hand extended to a lonely world, thus making it all a grand miracle. Suppose everyone way-up-north must have some important role to play in the giving department in order to meet the Santa-helper job criteria.”
Jolene laughed at the ridiculousness of their conversation. “If you ask me, it sounds like a lot of hands are taking claim to new love.”
“Sometimes new love is resistant,” he said, casting a playful wink in her direction. “Needs all the help it can get.”
“If you are referring to us, we do not fall under the new category. So, it must be Selene who has been targeted for you.”
“You keep trying to pawn me off on your sister.” Craig’s voice bordered on anger.
“She needs you. I’ve been managing quite fine on my own.”
He threw his hands in the air. “Can we call a truce? I’m dizzy from repeating myself – I love you, not Selene.” He exhaled deeply. “Now let’s shop. We can do that, right? Friends do shop together.”
“We can shop.” She leaned over and looked in the bag he carried. “Did you buy anything for me yet?”
“No. I have something special in mind for you.”
“Now you’ve got me curious.”
“You must wait until tonight. And I suggest you don’t show Selene – save me some explanations.”
“Fine. Another secret – just what we all need.”
They moved on down the street and continued to fill up their bags. Jolene managed to do it successfully for just under her twenty-dollar limit. Back at the Inn they parted company. She went to her room and dropped off her purchases, then changed into beach wear. Today the kitchen staff were serving lunch at the Heritage-Hut close to the lake.
She could not put off the unavoidable meeting with Selene and their mother. It felt strange to even categorize that duo in her head. To have had no mother her entire life, and then, in the same week that she’d welcomed Barbie into the family, she discovered the woman who’d given her birth was alive and kicking. How could her father keep such a secret from the daughter he claimed to love? And worse still, how could he divide his heart and stay detached from Selene all these years?
The twins had paid the price for their parents need to divorce. That had to be the ultimate offence and she wondered how she’d ever forgive either of them.
Jolene had been taught solid biblical principles at Sunday School, and knew its power to keep a child of God free from a guilty conscience when harboring offence. Forgiveness was necessary in moving forward, but the pain etched deep into her being and she didn’t know how she’d detach from it. Perhaps when she got to know her estranged family better, forgiveness would flow. She prayed it would be so.
Grabbing her bag, Jolene squared her shoulders and headed for the door. No time like the present to start the process.
The sandy beach was littered with sunbathers but she found a lounge chair and deposited her paraphernalia before heading for the Food-shack. It was a tropical-looking hut that sent out wafts of yummy smells that her tummy eagerly responded. She chose a chicken breast burger, sweet-potato fries, and a bottle of ice-cold, sweet tea.
Back at the chair she organized her meal, bowed her head for a brief thanksgiving prayer, and proceeded to bite into the mildly spiced chicken sandwich.
A shadow covered her, and Jolene looked up. unconsciously moaning by the ill-timed visit from her mother.
“I see you are eating,” Sheki said. “May I come back when you’re done? I’d like to get to know my daughter.”
She announced it like it was a normal request for a mother to give.
“Certainly, but drag your chair over with you. Can’t leave it abandoned for a moment today. Seems everyone in the resort has decided to bask in the sun.”
“I’ll ask the beachcomber – or so the hired-man likes to be called – to come set me up beside you. Selene has gone off with Craig somewhere, so this is the perfect time for us to be alone.”
True to her word within fifteen minutes she was perched under a wide umbrella and relaxing in her chair. The canopy managed to rob Jolene of the sunshine she craved, but she kept that disappointment to
