Changing Traditions, A Christmas Novella by Rachel Rittenhouse Read Free Book Online Page B

weren’t
home. We’ve been talking long already.”
    “ Talking, not arguing?”
And now they threw this at her. Could anything else possibly happen
today?
    Laura ran over as well and
took both Carolyn and her hand. “Bethy, I am so, so sorry for the
way I’ve been acting. It was Jake who finally made me see reason. I
admit, I did get stubborn and refused to see reason. But now, all I
want is for us to be happy again.”
    Bethany tried to hold down
a sob, but her emotions were already out of sync, “Oh Laura.” She
wrapped her arms around both sisters, so very glad that this breach
was mended.
    Heather cleared her
throat, “Come now, we must fill Bethany in of all that’s she
missed. And don’t forget, we have only five days to finish
preparing the Christmas dinner menu and decorating.”
    Laura tugged Carolyn and
Bethany back to the table. “Where were you, Bethy? I thought you
were home this afternoon.”
    The words wouldn’t form in
Bethany’s mind and instead she looked to Carolyn, praying that she
could read what she couldn’t explain.
    Carolyn just looked at her
with a question, “I don’t understand, Bethany. What did you come
here to see me about?”
    Looking at her sisters
around the table, Bethany debated between telling and keeping it to
herself for a bit longer. “Nothing that can’t wait. Like Heather
said…”
    “ Out with it, Bethy.”
Carolyn’s voice held no nonsense and the three of them were looking
at her, knowing something was amiss, yet not sure what.
    Taking a deep breath, she
decided to make it as simple as possible. “Albert’s
back.”
    Laura’s mouth dropped
open, “Wha….”
    “ And he asked me to marry
him.” There was silence and Carolyn, Laura, and Heather stared at
Bethany not quite believing what she had just said. “And now can we
please move on to Christmas? I can’t process this right
now.”
    Carolyn was not about to
be budged, “Bethy, I’m sorry. How will you ever decide?”
    “ I thought I came to you
for advice, and all you say is ‘good luck deciding’?”
    Carolyn came over and
wrapped her arms around Bethany, “As much as I wish I could help
you, this is a decision you must make on your own. Do you love
Albert or do you love Jeremy? It doesn’t get much simpler than
that.”
    “ But what if I don’t
know?”
    Heather now grasped
Bethany’s hands, “Trust me, you’ll know. When you decide, deep
down, you will feel a sense of peace and contentment with your
decision.”
    But how did she reach that
decision?
     
     
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    The girls spent the rest
of the morning planning their new Christmas traditions. It was
decided that they would decorate the tree with new ornaments rather
than the traditional popcorn garland and candles. Those would still
be in place, but with less, and Laura was going to assist Rosie and
Adam in making some paper stars as well as making some
balls.
    Momma came over later,
thrilled that the girls were now agreeing again. They then decided
on what to make for the Christmas meal — turkey, stuffing, creamed
potatoes, vegetables, and different desserts. Laura decided to put
on a Christmas skit with the help of the others. Everyone was
delighted with the idea of acting it out, especially since it would
help Rosie and especially Adam understand Jesus’ birth in a
different way.
    And so began the start of
the Woodsmall family’s new-fangled traditions. As Bethany walked
home with Laura, she was amazed at how things could develop so
quickly and into something so wonderful indeed. She tried though to
process her decision — DC with Albert or home with Jeremy. It
should be relatively simple. At least, so Bethany would
think.
    Laura interrupted her
thoughts though, “I’m glad Momma decided to go back with Heather. I
wanted you to myself.”
    Forcing her mind to focus
now on Laura and her needs, she turned to her sister, “Oh? Is
something bothering you?”
    “ Well not exactly, but I
just wanted to tell you that