Upon a Midnight Clear

“I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it.” A frown flashed over his face, yet faded as if another thought crossed his mind. He stepped toward the door. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

He vanished through the doorway before Callie could respond. She stared into the empty space, wondering what had driven him so quickly from the room.

Glancing at her wristwatch, the time read four-thirty. She had an hour-and-a-half before dinner. She needed time to dress appropriately if they were celebrating Nattie’s birthday.

The word birthday took her back. Nattie was six today, so close in age to her own child, who had turned six on Christmas Day. Her chest tightened as the fingers of memory squeezed her heart. Could she protect herself from loving this child too deeply? And why did Natalie have to be six? Eight, four…any other age might not have bothered her as much.

She dropped on the edge of the bed and stared at the carpet. With an inner ache, she asked God to give her compassion and patience. Compassion for Nattie, and patience with herself.

As he waited for Callie’s entrance, David prepared his guests for her introduction. Reverend John Spier listened attentively, and his sister Mary Beth bobbed her head, as if eager to meet someone new in the small town of Bedford.

“How nice,” Mary Beth said, lowering her eyelids shyly at David. “Since I’ve come to help John in the parsonage, I’ve not met too many young unmarried women. Most people my age have already settled down. I look forward to our meeting.”

“Yes, I hoped Callie might enjoy meeting you, too.”

“Although once John finds a proper bride, I assume I’ll go back to Cleveland…unless God has other plans.”

David cringed inwardly, noticing the young woman’s hopeful look, and wondered if he’d made a mistake inviting the pastor and his younger sister to the birthday dinner. The evening could prove to be difficult enough, depending on Nattie’s disposition.

Looking toward the doorway, David saw Callie descending the staircase. “Here’s Callie, now. Excuse me.” David made for the doorway.

By the time Callie had reached the first floor, he was at the foot of the staircase. Caught off guard by her attractiveness, David gazed at her burgundy wool dress adorned with a simple string of pearls at her neck. The deep red of her gown emphasized the flush in her cheeks and highlighted the golden tinges of her honey-colored hair. As he focused his gaze, their eyes met, and her blush heightened.

“I see the party has already begun,” she said. “I heard your voices as I came down the stairs.”

“Now that you’ve joined us, everyone’s here but the guest of honor.” A sigh escaped him before he could harness it. “I invited our new pastor and his sister. I thought you might like to meet some of the younger people in town.” He motioned for her to precede him. “We’re in the living room.”

She stepped around him, and he followed, watching the fullness of the skirt swish around her legs as she walked. The movement entranced him. Passing through the doorway at her side, he pulled his attention from her shapely legs to his guests.

As she entered the room, John’s face brightened, and he rose, meeting her with his outstretched hand. “You’re Callie.”

“Yes, and you’re David’s pastor.”

“John Spier,” he said, then turned with a flourish. “And this is my sister, Mary Beth Spier.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Callie said, glancing at them both.

The young woman shot Callie an effusive grin. “And I’m certainly pleased to meet you. Being new in town myself, I’ve been eager to meet some young woman who—”

“Have a seat, Callie.” David gestured to the love seat. Interrupting Mary Beth was rude, but he couldn’t bear to hear her announce again that she was one of the few single women in town. David chided himself. He should have used more sense than to invite a young woman to dinner who apparently saw him as a possible husband.

When he joined Callie on the love seat, she shifted closer to the arm and gracefully crossed her legs. His attention shifted to her slim ankles, then to her fashionable gray-and-burgundy brushed-leather pumps.

John leaned back in his chair and beamed. “I hope we’ll see you at church on Sundays. We’re a small congregation, but loaded with spirit. Although we could use a benefactor to help us with some much-needed repairs.” His glance shot toward David.

David struggled with the grimace that crept to his face, resulting, he was sure, in a pained smile. “Agnes will announce dinner shortly. Then I’ll go up and see if I can convince Nattie to join us. I never know how she’ll respond.” He eyed them, wondering if they understood. “I’ve had a difficult time here since Sara… Well, let’s not get into that.”

He wished he would learn to tuck his sorrow somewhere other than his shirtsleeve. He turned his attention to Callie. “Would you care for some mulled cider?”

She agreed, and he poured a mug of the warm brew. He regarded her full, rosy lips as she took a sip. She pulled away from the rim and nodded her approval.

His mind raced, inventing conversation. Tonight he felt tired, and wished he could retire to his study and spend the evening alone.

When Pastor John spoke, David felt himself relax.

“So where do you hail from, Callie?”

Without hesitation, she related a short personal history. Soon, Mary Beth joined in. David listened, pressing himself against the cushions rather than participating.

To his relief, Agnes announced dinner.

“Well, finally,” David said, embarrassed at his obvious relief. David climbed the stairs to find Nattie, as Callie and the guests proceeded toward the dining room.

Callie held back and followed David’s ascent with her eyes. He was clearly uncomfortable. She wondered if it was his concern for Nattie or the obvious flirtations of Mary Beth.

In the dining room, Agnes indicated David’s seating arrangement. Mary Beth’s focus darted from Callie to Agnes; she was apparently wondering if the housekeeper had made an error. She was not seated next to David.

When he arrived back with Nattie clinging to his side, he surveyed the table without comment. Except for a glance at Callie, the child kept her eyes downcast. David pulled out her chair, and Nattie slid onto it, focusing on the folded napkin on her plate, her hands below the table. David sat and asked Pastor John to offer the blessing.

Callie lowered her eyes, but in her peripheral vision she studied Nattie’s reaction to the scene around her. Until David said “Amen,” Nattie’s eyes remained closed, but when she raised her lids, she glimpsed around the table almost without moving her head.

When her focus settled on Callie, their gazes locked.

In that moment, something special happened. Would she call the fleeting glimmer—hope, premonition or fact? Callie wasn’t sure. But a sweet tingle rose from the base of her spine to the tips of her fingers. Never before had she felt such a sensation.

Chapter Six

After dinner, Nattie withdrew, staring into space and mentally recoiling from those who addressed her. David blew the lit candles on her cake as they sang “Happy Birthday” and excused her before the gifts were opened, saying she needed to rest. The wrapped packages stood ignored like eager young ladies dressed in their finery for the cotillion, but never asked to dance.

Callie longed to go with the child to the second floor, but refrained from suggesting it. Tonight was her first evening in the house, so she was still a stranger. And Nattie needed her father.

After they left the room, Callie sat uneasily with the Spiers, lost in her own thoughts.