A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (23 page)
Read A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn Online
Authors: Shelley Shepard Gray
“Good enough,” he said in his usual, easy manner. “I was just coming to talk to you. Got a second?”
“Always,” Lukas said as he led the way into his office.
As Roman started telling him about the project he was working on, Lukas felt the muscles in his shoulders relax. This was what he needed. Now, more than ever, he needed to lose himself in work. No matter what else happened in his life, he could be sure that there would be plenty to do here at the mill.
Meet Shelley Shepard Gray
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK
how I started writing. Some believe I've been a writer all my life; others ask if I've always felt I had a story I needed to tell. I'm afraid my reasons couldn't be more different. See, I started writing one day because I didn't have anything to read.
I've always loved to read. I was the girl in the back of the classroom with her nose in a book, the mom who kept a couple of novels in her car to read during soccer practice, the person who made weekly visits to the bookstore and the library.
Back when I taught elementary school, I used to read during my lunch breaks. One day, when I realized I'd forgotten to bring something to read, I turned on my computer and took a leap of faith. Feeling a little like I was doing something wrong, I typed those first words:
Chapter One
.
I didn't start writing with the intention of publishing a book. Actually, I just wrote for myself.
For the most part, I still write for myself, which is why, I think, I'm able to write so much. I write books that I'd like to read. Books that I would have liked to have in my old teacher tote bag. I'm always relieved and surprised and so happy when other people want to read my books, too!
Another question I'm often asked is why I choose to write inspirational fiction. Maybe at first glance, it does seem surprising. I'm not the type of person who usually talks about my faith in the line at the grocery store or when I'm out to lunch with friends. For me, my faith has always felt like more of a private thing. I feel that I'm still on my faith journeyâstill learning and studying God's word.
And that, I think, is why writing inspirational fiction is such a good fit for me. I enjoy writing about characters who happen to be in the middle of their faith journeys, too. They're not perfect, and they don't always make the right decisions. Sometimes they make mistakes, and sometimes they do something they're proud of. They're characters who are a lot like me.
Only God knows what else He has in store for me. He's given me the will and the ability to write stories to glorify Him. He's put many people in my life who are supportive and caring. I feel blessed and thankful . . . and excited to see what will happen next!
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Letter from the Author
Dear Reader,
Many of you know my husband and I have Butch and Suzy, two very spoiled dachshunds. What some of you might not know is that long before we had Butch and Suzy, we had a sweet beagle named Phoebe! We got her soon after my kids started school. Almost immediately, she became the center of our household. Beagles are naturally gentle dogs who like being with children. Our Phoebe was no exception. She became my children's tag partner and hiking buddy. Their favorite cuddle companion and all-around best friend.
Phoebe was a great dog. However, she wasn't perfect. She had a terrible fondness for pizza. And ham. And eggs. And anything else she wasn't supposed to have. In the blink of an eye, she would go from steadfast companion to stealth pizza thief. Whenever there was a particularly tasty-looking snack (and for Phoebe, this was all food), she hopped on chairs, climbed on tables, and nosed her way inside closed cabinets. Once, when she had a torn ACL, she got up on her hind legs and pulled down two large pizza boxes. She then wolfed down the entire contents, all in under ten minutes. It was remarkable.
About four years ago, soon after she turned sixteen, Phoebe passed away. Her death left a huge gap in our family. And, well, it was almost a full year before we ordered another pizza to be delivered. Funny how the things that used to drive us crazy became the things we missed the most!
I was delighted to feature a naughty beagle named Frankie in this book. Though I truly loved writing about two likable people and their six
kinner
, you might have gotten the impression that my heart belonged to that beagle. I guess enough time had finally passed to remember how perfect that imperfect dog had been for us.
So if you, like me, have ever had a pet who wasn't perfect but claimed your heart just the same, this book is for you. I hope you enjoyed
A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn
, my ode to
The Brady Bunch
, and my tribute to one very sweet, very hungry beagle.
Thank you for picking up the book!
With blessings and my best,
Shelley Shepard Gray
PS. I love to hear from readers, either on Facebook, through my website, or through the postal system! If you'd care to write and tell me what you thought of the book, please do!
Shelley Shepard Gray
10663 Loveland Madeira Rd. #167
Loveland, OH 45140
1. The theme of renewal and rebirth is highlighted in each book in this series. In this novel, the focus is on two people who have already found love once before. What obstacles do you think they might have had to overcome that someone who isn't a widow might not?
2. Why do you think Jay needed to move to Florida in order to be happy? Was that fair to his boys? How do you think they would have coped if they had stayed in Ohio?
3. There were a lot of characters and a lot of relationships to explore when writing this novelâromances between Emma and Jay and Tricia and Ben, as well as new bonds forming between all of the kids and their parents. Which relationship appealed most to you?
4. Beverly Overholt is a central character in the series. How have you seen her grow and change throughout the first three books?
5. I loved the Amish proverb I found to guide me while writing: “It takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.” I thought it worked well for Emma and Jay. How might it be applied to your life?
6. I used a verse from Psalm 119 while writing the novel. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and light for my path.” How has God's word guided you? Has there ever been a time when you didn't listen?
7. I can only imagine what problems Jay and Emma might encounter when they become parents to six children! What do you think will be some of their surprising blessings? What do you think they might find to be an obstacle?
8. Finally, Frankie the beagle had my heart from the moment he first appeared in the novel. Do you have a pet? How has that pet enriched your life?
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest
1¾ cups flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup orange juice
½ cup milk
â
cup vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix cranberries, sugar, and orange zest. Set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine egg, orange juice, milk, and vegetable oil. Add to dry ingredients, stirring until just moistened. Fold in cranberry mixture. Put in greased bread pan and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Serve warm.
(from Mrs. Perry [Susan] Miller, Sarasota, Florida)
Taken from
Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
by Sherry Gore. Copyright © 2012 by Sherry Gore. Used with permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com
Shelley's Top Five Must-See Spots in Pinecraft
H
ONESTLY
, I fell in love with everything about the tiny village of Pinecraft, nestled in the heart of Sarasota and nearby Siesta Key! Here are five places to start your journey:
      Â
1.
Yoder's Restaurant
. I've been to a lot of Amish restaurants. I've eaten a lot of coconut cream pie at each one. But nothing has compared to this well-known restaurant. The line to get in is always long, usually at least a thirty-minute wait. But the long lines allow everyone to chat and make friends.
      Â
2.
The Produce Market at Yoder's
. The market next to Yoder's is full of beautiful Florida-fresh produce. We couldn't resist picking up two pints of strawberries and five oranges. Just to snack onâin between servings of pie, of course!
      Â
3.
Pinecraft Park
. It's the social center of the community! The night we were there, kids were playing basketball, men and women were playing shuffleboard (women have their own lane), and there were at least another forty or fifty people standing around and visiting.
      Â
4.
The bus parking lot
. Behind the post office is a large parking lot where everyone meets to either board one of the Pioneer Trails buses or to watch who is arriving and leaving.
      Â
5.
Village Pizza
. It's located right behind Olaf's Creamery. You can order a pie and take it right over to one of the picnic tables outside. The pizza is delicious. Eating pizza outside in the sunshine in February in the Florida sun? Priceless.
Photographs courtesy of Katie Troyer, Sarasota, Florida
The Pioneer Trails bus arrives in Pinecraft.
Siblings and friends at Big Olaf in Pinecraft.
Enjoying a Song Fest at Pinecraft Park.
Playing bocce in Pinecraft Park.
A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft
Coming Fall 2015 from Avon Inspire
B
EVERLY
O
VERHOLT
froze in shock the moment she turned the corner onto her street and spotted the pulsing red and blue lights in front of the Orange Blossom Inn. Lights that looked at first like the Christmas decor that lit some of her English neighbors' houses, trees, and shrubs.
Then reality set in. The lights weren't Christmas decorations. They were coming from the three police cars that were parked at the curb in front of the inn.
Immediately, instinctually, Beverly started praying.
The prayers continued as she started forward on the sidewalk, asking the Lord to give her strength to handle whatever had just happened at the lovely three-story Victorian that was not only her place of business but had also become her home.
And though those prayers were undoubtedly giving her some strength, one thing was becoming very apparent. Even the Lord's help wasn't going to make her calm, cool, or collected. No. She was on the verge of turning into a nervous wreck.
Unable to tear her gaze from the large crowd gathered in front of the inn, she picked up her pace, racing past all of her neighbors' houses without a scant look at their merry decorations.
She was quickly winded, and even the canvas bag on her shoulder had started to feel like it weighed a hundred pounds. All the Christmas gifts she'd bought that morning now felt like heavy burdens. To make matters worse, the tote kept painfully thumping against her hip with each step.
And when it wasn't clashing with her hip, it felt as if it was attempting to pull her arm from her shoulder. She was tempted to drop it on the ground and simply pick it up later.
Just as she stopped, prepared to divest herself from that bag, her best friend snatched it from her hands.
“I've got this, Beverly,” Sadie said in that forthright way of hers. “You go on ahead.”
“Danke,”
she murmured, reverting to Pennsylvania Dutch, as was her way when she was anxious. “Do you know what's happened?”
“
Nee
. I just noticed the police lights a moment ago. You go on ahead. I'll bring this bag inside and meet up with you.” She reached out and grabbed Beverly's arm as she started forward. “Oh, and do try not to panic, dear. Just because you see a couple of police cars parked in front of the inn, it don't necessarily mean that there's something wrong.”
If her heart didn't feel like it had permanently lodged itself in her windpipe, Beverly would have stopped and given her best friend a look of pure disbelief.
Of course something was wrong! She felt it as surely as if there were loudspeakers lining the street, proclaiming the truth of it.
Something mighty terrible had happened at the inn.
In the three years that she'd lived in Pinecraft, Beverly had never seen such police presence. This was a safe community. Peaceful.
Well, until now.
Luckily, her friend's words of wisdom enabled her to refocus. Falling apart now wouldn't help anything and would serve only to make things worse. She had to be strong.
Picking up her stride, she walked into the gathered crowd, then abruptly drew to a stop when the inn finally came into full view.
What a sight it was!
One of the windows was broken, the front door was wide open, uniformed officers were scattered around the lot, and yellow police tape kept the onlookers at bay.
As she looked from one officer to another, panic set in. She couldn't determine who to approach.
She continued to scan the crowd for familiar faces, for anyone to give her some indication about what had happened. Most folks, unfortunately, merely looked shocked.
Then she spied Zack Kaufmann. She'd gotten to know him and his family well a couple of months ago when he'd been courting one of her guests. “Zack?” she called out as she made her way over to him.
He stepped forward. “There you are! The police have been waiting for you.”
She pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling, drew in a shaky breath, then said, “Zack, what happened? Do you know anything?”
“As far as I can tell, it looks like you've had a break-in.”
“A break-in?” It didn't even make sense. She'd never heard of any sort of crime happening in Pinecraft. Why, some people always left their doors and windows unlocked!
Zack looked as if he was attempting to figure out a way to reassure her, when he spied someone approaching from behind her. “Oh,
gut
,” he murmured. “Officer Roberts, this here is Beverly Overholt. She owns the inn.”
“Runs,” Beverly absently corrected. Until recently, she'd believed she'd owned the inn. Now she knew that Eric Wagler was the actual owner. She just managed it for him.
Immediately, a new dread coursed through her. Oh, how was she going to tell Eric what had happened? And when she did, what was he going to say? Would he blame her for being careless?
“Miss Overholt, are you all right?” Officer Roberts asked. “You're looking a bit pale.”
With a shake of her head, Beverly made herself focus back on the scene in front of her. Pulling her shoulders back, she strengthened her resolve. “I'm all right.”
“Sure?” he held out a hand, as if he feared she was about to collapse at his feet.
“Positive. However, I will admit to feeling mighty confused. What in the world has happened?”
“You had a break-in, ma'am.”
“I see.” She'd been hoping Zack was wrong, but as the officer confirmed it, she felt slightly ill as visions of what that meant settled in her brain. Someone uninvited had entered her home. Most likely had stolen from her. Had obviously damaged the place if the window was any indication.
Zack grabbed ahold of her arm. “Easy now, Miss Beverly.”
“Yes. Let's go sit down,” Officer Roberts said. Snapping his fingers, he called out, “Hey, Morris? Is the front room clear?”
“Yep, we're good.”
The policeman lightly rested a hand on her shoulder. “Come with me, Miss Overholt. We'll go sit inside and I'll fill you in on what we know.” Looking at Zack, he said, “Do you want to join her?”
Zack nodded. “For sure. Give me a minute and I'll bring over my fiancée, Leona, as well.”
Beverly sighed with gratitude as Zack trotted off. She didn't particularly want to sit with the policeman by herself. And though Zack and Leona were both only in their early twenties, she considered them both to be good friends.
Zack paused. “Bev, want me to bring Miss Sadie in, too?”
Noticing that Sadie was now crying uncontrollably, Beverly shook her head. “Nee. She has my tote bag, but I, um, would rather it just be the four of us for now.”
“Gotcha. I'll grab the bag from Sadie, then Leona and I will be right there.”
“
Danke
, Zack.”
Beverly followed Officer Roberts up the front stairs of the inn. For the first time in memory, she wasn't looking at the pretty flower beds she'd spent hours tending or the colorful welcome mat directly in front of the door. She wasn't feeling pride about the neat and attractive way she kept the inn. Instead, she was noticing the broken glass littering the porch and the scratches surrounding the frame of the front door.
