The woman seemed to consider whether or not she should answer but finally said, “If he doesn’t stop visiting the saloon, he won’t make it much longer. Having you here, he seems to want to stop. For some reason, you’re a very calming influence on him. If you can keep that up, it will be the best thing for him.” She looked around. “Mortimer and John are going to be here for supper in just a moment. Please remember, John needs you as much as Mortimer does.”
Even as Toria was frowning at Grace, she gradually faded from before her eyes. “I’m losing my mind, and I’m not even sure why.” She turned back to the stove to finish cooking, thinking about everything Grace had said to her. Surely there was a way to help her new stepson.
John showed up for breakfast the following morning, telling Toria and Mortimer that he wanted to go to church with them. Mortimer smiled, happy to hear that his son was finally interested in spiritual matters again. When he’d been younger, he’d been very enthusiastic about worship, but losing his mother had changed everything for him.
The three of them walked to the small church together, crunching through the light dusting of snow on the ground. “I love this time of year,” Toria said, spreading her arms wide.
Mortimer smiled at her, loving her zest for life. “Why do you love it?”
“Because while the earth is sleeping under the snow, we’re getting ready for the most important holiday of the year: the celebration of Christ’s birth. The snow makes the entire world beautiful. With the mountains here, it’s even prettier than the Massachusetts Christmases I’ve always known.”
Mortimer exchanged a look with John. “I think she likes it here,” Mortimer told his son.
Toria turned around, walking backwards for a moment and looking at both men, who had fallen behind her in her exuberance. “I love it here. It’s the most beautiful place on God’s green earth. Maybe this town has seen its share of hardships, but I’m determined that all of that is in the past. From now on, it’s going to be sunshine, rainbows, and spice cake.”
“Spice cake?” John asked, looking confused.
“Spice cake is my favorite. I like it even better than chocolate. Oh, and cinnamon rolls. I wonder if cinnamon rolls would sell in the store. I love to bake cinnamon rolls.”
Mortimer laughed out loud. “Slow down, Toria. You’re going to work yourself to death in your enthusiasm to do everything and make the world a better place.”
She nodded. “That’s a fact.” She turned around and walked forward again, stopping at the church. “Let’s worship the Lord together!”
When they opened the hymnals to sing, Mortimer recognized the first thing he’d seen that his wife wasn’t good at. She sang loudly and happily, but she couldn’t carry a tune at all. Listening to her voice made him want to plug his ears. It was a good thing she wasn’t one to sing while she worked. She would run every customer they had out of the store!
After the service, the old woman in front of them turned to Toria. “You’re an awfully pretty girl. Pretty girls should be seen and not heard.”
John covered his mouth to keep from laughing, and Mortimer shook his head. “She’s good at everything as far as I can see. Except singing. Everyone has to have a flaw though, right?” Mortimer asked.
“Hers is pretty fatal. She might want to sing quieter.” The old woman wandered away, and Mortimer studied Toria’s face to see if she was offended.
“I know I can’t sing,” she told him. “I don’t even care. I make a joyful noise to the Lord!”
“You do that very well, my dear.”
Toria grinned. She wasn’t sure if he realized it, but that was the first endearment he’d used with her. Maybe he was starting to care for her after all. She knew she was becoming more important to him every day, but she was maybe being more than just another set of hands to work, or someone to fix his meals.
“I think so.”
John watched the two of them and simply shook his head. He spotted a young lady with her parents across the church, and he watched her. “I wonder if she’d go for a walk with me later.”
“Maybe you should invite her to supper at our house. I’d be happy to cook for four instead of three. It would be easier than being alone for the first time, and we could play a card game after supper.”
John smiled. “You really wouldn’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t mind even a tiny bit. Go over there and ask. You could walk to her house and pick her up if you wanted a little time alone with her. There and back would be plenty, I would think. It’s easier to get to know someone with others around, I think.”
John looked over at the girl with a frown. “Maybe I should wait a little while.”
“Why?”
He looked down. “I’m not a good person. I’ve been drinking a lot.”
“I know you have. Do you plan to continue on that path? Or are you going to live the way God wants you to live?”
“I want to do the right thing. It’s hard.”
Toria took a deep breath. “Your father told me that he’d talked to you about moving back into our home. I want you to know that I’d be happy to have you. Even if you just did it so you could avoid the temptation of going out because you know we’d see you, then you should move back in here. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean it’s not your home anymore.”
John teared up, looking at her skeptically. “Why are you so good to me when I’ve been rude to you? I was determined to hate you when you arrived.”
“I know you were, but I was determined to love you. I don’t know if you’ve realized it yet, but I always get my way.”
He laughed. “Wait until I tell Dad.”
“Oh, your father will figure it out soon enough, don’t you think?”
“I’m going to think about what you said. And maybe next week I’ll ask her to supper. I need to prove to myself I can stop drinking first.”
Toria patted his arm, thrilled with his words. If he was willing to try for himself, it was so much better than if he tried for the beautiful girl across the church. Just to torment him a little, she walked across the church to introduce herself. “Hello. I’m Toria Jackson. I’m new here in town.”
“I’m Patience Graham. My family just moved into town last week.”
“What are you doing here?” Toria asked, thrilled she wasn’t the only new person in town. She spotted John standing behind Patience, waving his arms wildly as if to tell her to stop.
“My parents heard the restaurant in town burned down and wouldn’t be reopened. They’re going to open a new one.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Toria really was pleased. It would mean her little lunch business would be unnecessary soon, but she had a million more ideas that would keep her busy.
“Do you? I’ll be helping them out. I like to cook. I’ll probably have to wait some tables too, but I can live with that.”
“With a smile like yours, I’m sure you’ll make a lot of money in tips when you wait tables. It’s so good to meet you.” Toria slowly walked away and back toward John, who was giving her a mortified look. “Her name is Patience Graham, she’s new to town, and her parents are opening a restaurant to replace the one that burned down.”
“Did you say anything about me?” John seemed more than a little worried.
“No, I wouldn’t do that. It’s your job to ask her to supper if that’s what you decide you want to do.”