Jingle Bell Blessings. Bonnie K. Winn

grip on Chloe’s hand as they stood in the main hall of Rosewood Community Church’s school.

      “Not in the same room,” Chloe explained, although she wasn’t certain just how the school was organized.

      Gordon nodded. “That’s how it was when I was a boy.”

      Jimmy looked at him in awe, as though the older man had said he had attended school with the dinosaurs. “You went to school here?”

      Chloe and Gordon both chuckled.

      “Yep. We’d invented fire by then.” Gordon clapped one hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, giving him a small hug while he exchanged an amused glance with Chloe.

      Just then a pretty woman walked out of the office.

      “Well, hello, Grace.”

      “Gordon!” She smiled, a generous smile that lit up her blue-gray eyes. “I heard the hunting went very well.”

      He turned to Chloe. “Ah, the bane of small towns. Can’t get by with much that everybody doesn’t know about.”

      “Afraid that’s true,” Grace agreed.

      “I’m forgetting my manners. Grace, this is Chloe Reed and Jimmy Mitchell.”

      “So good to meet you,” she said to Chloe, then extended her hand to Jimmy. “Always glad to meet another Mitchell man.”

      Pleased, but shy, Jimmy grinned.

      “I don’t have a class this hour,” Grace continued. “Can I help you find anything?”

      “Thought it’d be nice to show them around. You know, a little tour, before they meet the principal,” Gordon explained.

      “I’d be glad to help. I teach part-time in the upper grades, but I know all the buildings.” She leaned down slightly toward Jimmy and confided, “The kids call me old lady Brady.”

      Chloe couldn’t restrain her laughter. “We’re probably close in age. Didn’t realize I was in that category yet.”

      Grace laughed with her. “Came as quite a shock to me, too. Teaching is my second and best career. Didn’t realize it would age me so!”

      Gordon groaned. “You kids are killing me.”

      “You are a sweetheart,” Grace declared as she turned to Chloe. “See why I love the Mitchell men?”

      Chloe had seen plenty of reasons, even in Evan. Because for all his protests, she suspected he was covering a deep and grievous hurt.

      Grace led them down the main hall. “We’re in the administration building. Besides the office, the cafeteria, library and auditorium are in this building. There are separate buildings for elementary, junior high and senior high. Since it’s a church school, we’re not funded by the government but we have private donors. I imagine you’d like to see the elementary building.”

      The cheerful building was filled with colorful banners and posters. “Kindergarten through fifth-grade classes,” Grace explained as they passed individual classrooms. “There’s also a smaller, all-purpose room for the youngest grades. The plays and larger performances are held in the auditorium. More room for all the doting parents and grandparents.” Grace paused in front of one classroom. “This is a first-grade class.”

      “Is there more than one?” Chloe asked, liking the positive energy in the school.

      “That depends on enrollment. Our elementary teachers are certified to teach two or three grades. That way we can adjust to make sure class sizes aren’t too large.”

      “Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.”

      “Are you a teacher, too?” Grace questioned.

      “No. I’m a sec… I work for a legal firm out of Milwaukee.”

      Gordon looked at her strangely, and Chloe fiddled with her purse handles, worrying about her near slip.

      “A fellow big-city native! I’m from Houston.”

      Chloe was immediately curious. “How do you like living here?”

      “It’s perfect,” she replied in a soft voice. “I love it.”

      “Met her husband here,” Gordon added.

      Grace blushed, a gentle pink. “Yes. You’ll meet him at church. He’s the choir director.”

      “A musician?”

      She smiled widely. “Actually, Noah’s a plastic surgeon who happens to love music. Works out well because I do, too.”

      “Do you teach music?”

      “Actually, I teach English.” Grace laughed again. “You probably think you’ve wandered into the land of Oz where nothing is as it seems. A choir director who’s a doctor and a musician who teaches English.”

      Chloe liked Grace’s infectious smile and laughter. “I’m enjoying Oz just fine.”

      “Are we in Oz?” Jimmy asked in a confused tone.

      Chloe met Grace’s glance and broke into another round of laughter. Then she knelt down next to Jimmy. “Oz is a pretend place. It’s very colorful and full of surprises.”

      With a child’s understanding, Jimmy nodded. “But the school’s real?”

      “Very,” Gordon replied. “Do you like what you’ve seen?”

      Jimmy nodded. “I don’t like big schools.”

      “Me, either,” Grace confided. “I was kind of scared when I started teaching, but at this school, all the people are nice and welcoming. In no time, I felt right at home.”

      Grace might teach upper grades, but she had the perfect touch for young children. Chloe was glad they had run into her. She mouthed thank you above Jimmy’s head.

      “I know how it is to be new to Rosewood,” Grace continued. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pen and notepad. She scribbled on one page quickly, then handed it to Chloe. “This is my cell number. I’d like to help you settle in.”

      Chloe felt at a loss as to how to answer. Her position was so tenuous.

      Gordon replied for her. “That’s mighty nice of you, Grace. And, of course, we’ll see you at church Sunday.”

      Church. Because she spent every Sunday visiting her mother, it had been a long time since Chloe had been in a church. But their pastor visited at the care facility, mostly seeing her mom. Chloe’s faith had never wavered. Which was comforting, because she would need it now more than ever.