A Winter Awakening by Vivian Slate Read Free Book Online

the family land, and his parents were happy to have him less than a mile down the road. 
    Jacob smiled at her, "And you still always know how to cut right to the heart of the matter."
    She smiled and gave her shoulder a squeeze,but didn't say anything. She knew all his tricks, and wasn't going to let him change the subject.
    The cat had crept closer to them, and was now in the corner nearest to them. She pounced on her prey, as Jacob looked down at his feet. 
    "Am I being punished?" he asked.
    "What do you mean?" replied Maggie.
    "There is this woman, a friend of Ellie's. She is divorced and has two boys." Jacob paused and watched the cat as she walked around the loft proudly, mouse in her mouth.
    "There is a man out there somewhere," he continued, "with two boys and he doesn't show up. He won't be a father to them."
    For a few moments, the only sound in the barn was the paws of the proud cat, circling the loft. 
    "And you want to know why God hasn't given you a son?" asked Maggie. 
    Jacob's jaw ached. While he wasn't able to respond, he was comforted by his mother's presence. She always knew when he could use a little guidance. This particular topic was too difficult to stay on, however, so he changed the topic.
    "And I have just been horrible to Ellie. Her uncle passed away. She told me about it and I snapped at her."
    "I see," replied Maggie.
    They sat in silence, Maggie giving him the space she knew he needed. He always figured it out when he was given enough time to think. 
    Finally, he said, "I can't bring her uncle back, and I can't give her a baby."
    Again, Maggie replied with a simple, "I see."
    Eventually he stood up and thanked her for the talk.
    “You know I am always here for you.” She wrapped her strong arms around him and gave him a squeeze before he left.
    Maggie stayed in the loft for another half an hour, praying for her son and her daughter-in-law. She prayed they would both find compassion, understanding, and that, God willing, they would give her a grandchild.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
     
    Ellie sat in her favorite corner of Willow's Coffee Shop, waiting for Sarina. The weight of her uncle's absence settled on her chest as she sat there, in his shop. 
    When Sarina came breezing in, a few young bachelors of Logan glanced her way. She was an average looking woman with medium length curly auburn hair and a cute enough face. The thing that turned heads was that fit, athletic body coupled with those large, obviously fake breasts. Ellie wondered what would have driven her to take such drastic measures with her body.  She could alter her body like that, but judging the reaction of other people in the coffee shop, men apparently didn't care if they were fake.
    "Sarina!" Ellie rose to greet her at the table.
    "Oh, Ellie. I'm so glad you called." Something in the tone of her voice had the flavor of insincerity, but Ellie had grown accustomed to that. She assumed it was due to her nervousness about being new to town. Maybe it was because she wanted so badly to make friends here.
    Being the new girl in town is hard. I remember it well, thought Ellie.
    "Tell me" said Sarina, resting her hand on Ellie's. "What happened? You sounded upset yesterday."
    Ellie told Sarina about her uncle, the will, and Jacob's reaction. 
    "I don't understand it, Sarina. He was behaving so strangely. Could it be because the trip will be expensive? He made some sort of reference to money last night." Ellie thought back to his reaction. He said that if she went to the reading of the will, he wouldn't pay for the trip. Ellie sighed and took another sip of her vanilla latte. 
    "It sounds to me like ol' Jakey Poo is feeling a little threatened by the thought of you traveling without him. Talking to you as a fellow sister and woman, I just don't want you to hold yourself back because he is nervous. Certainly you loved your uncle, and don't you love to travel? Why shouldn't you go?"
    Ellie thought Sarina made a lot of sense. She was