The Chilton Crosse Collection #1, page 79
Ben rose from the pew as if he were an old man. His bones creaked, and his muscles quivered. Yet, inside, he felt… relaxed. People always spoke of a calm before the storm. But what about the calm after a storm? After tears have been shed, demons have been confronted, battled, and slayed, and fallacies have been brought to light? He’d experienced a near euphoria, much like a cool-down after a long, exhausting workout, after the body has been tested to its limits, endured hardship and discomfort, then come out the other side. A relaxed, easy, exhilarating calm sets in.
Ben made his way out of the church doors, in no hurry, knowing he’d experienced a clear change of heart, similar to what Scrooge experienced on his own Christmas Eve. There was no other way to describe it. Hope had sprung where only despair had been. Excitement grew where dullness had festered. He wasn’t sure how a newfound hope would influence his future days. But he was actually able to picture future days with more than just dread or uncertainty. The world contained color again. There was life still to be lived—and people still to love, as the villagers in Chilton Crosse had shown him. They had no reason to love him or care about him. But still, they had.
Ben walked out into the falling snow and paused. He could see the entire village from the spot where he stood—the shops, the pub, and Mistletoe Cottage at the end of the street, its lights twinkling in the darkness. Not a soul was in sight so late on Christmas Eve.
He started to walk. Everywhere. On empty pavements in front of the shops. On the fringes of the village behind Storey Road. On vacant country roads. The cold didn’t affect him—he was used to it, numb to it. Each step brought him closer to sorting out his epiphany, filling in the gaps and answering the questions. He turned them over and over in his mind until he was sure of something. And when he was sure, he went to the only place that made sense to him in that moment.
Dark and empty, the nativity was lit only by the full moon. Ben approached the rugged manger he’d crafted with his own hands. He saw the baby inside: a doll wrapped lovingly in a blanket. Jesus.
Before that night, before knowing Mary Cartwright and her faith in this child, Ben hadn’t thought much of Jesus beyond a few Bible stories. But this was the source of her faith—this person, this God. He was the reason she was able to live life with such peace and joy, even in the face of unspeakable tragedy. What is it about Him that gives people such hope?
Ben wanted to know more. He had to know more. And so…
No one in the village saw the dark shadow kneel, stamping deep craters in the powdery snow. No one heard the thump of his hopeful heart or saw the tremble in his fingers as he clutched the silver angel. And no one could hear the earnest, searching prayer he uttered to a small baby lying in a manger.
To Renina Baker at Motophoto for my author photo.
Finally, all thanks to Jesus, who makes everything in this life worthwhile. He is the Source.
About the Author
Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She’s also an avid reader of women’s fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she’s written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.
Traci also adores all things British. She even owns a British dog (Corgi) and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater–must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it’s the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to “look up, slow down, enjoy your life.”
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Did you love The Chilton Crosse Collection #1? Then you should read Ashes of Life by Erica Lucke Dean!
Married for just three months, Alex Barrett is stunned when her husband, David, dies in a tragic accident. And the absolute last thing the pregnant young widow wants is to take on responsibility for his teenage daughter, Maddie. Reeling from loss, Alex struggles to deal with her grief and her troubled stepdaughter, but one question haunts her: why was David with his ex-wife when he died?
All Maddie Barrett wanted was for her parents to get back together, but an icy road took that dream away. Afterward, Maddie is riddled with guilt that she can't share with anyone. Feeling angry and alone, she lays all the blame on Alex.
Alex and Maddie must find a way to move past their pain—shared, yet separate. Thrown together in an untenable arrangement, they fight through a frozen landscape of sorrow and redemption while redefining love, forgiveness, and family.
Read more at Erica Lucke Dean’s site.
Also by Traci Borum
Chilton Crosse
Painting the Moon
Finding the Rainbow
Seeking the Star
Savoring the Seasons
Discovering the Nightingale
Morgan's Grove
Love Starts Here
Meet You Under the Stars
Standalone
The Chilton Crosse Collection #1
Watch for more at Traci Borum’s site.
Traci Borum, The Chilton Crosse Collection #1
