Saints Among Us (20 page)

“It did,” said Louise, “but I have learned that one never knows.”

When they arrived at the chapel, Alice and Jane went to sit in their usual pew, while Louise headed straight for the Assembly Room, which was serving as the dressing room for the Santa Lucia ceremony.

As seven o’clock approached, the chapel filled with many of the same people who regularly attended on Sunday mornings, plus a few additional family members and friends of the participants.

The lights dimmed.

Then, from the back of the church, the faraway sound of high, sweet voices singing was heard. Alice realized the children had begun singing as they left the Assembly Room for the front door of the church. The sound swelled as they drew closer, and the words became clear:

• Hark! Through the darksome night
  
• Sounds come a winging:
  
• Lo! ’tis the Queen of Light
  
• Joyfully singing.
  
• Clad in her garment white,
  
• Wearing her crown of light,
  
• Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
  
• Deep in the northern sky
  
• Bright stars are beaming;
  
• Christmas is drawing nigh
  
• Candles are gleaming.
  
• Welcome thou vision rare,
  
• Lights glowing in thy hair.
  
• Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
  

Light pierced the darkness of the chapel. One by one, a stately line of white-robed children processed up the aisle, sweetly singing the words of the song. They all wore crowns of tinsel, and the girls wore tinsel sashes with long, shining tails. The girls held small arrangements of greenery, each with a battery-powered candle rising from its center. The boys carried long wands with glittering, iridescent stars at the tips. The stars caught the brightness from the candles and reflected it in myriad points of light.

The children formed a choir on the steps of the altar, the smallest first with a gradually taller group moving in and filling the space behind them. Finally, a tall, slender young girl wearing a red sash over her white robe came up the aisle of the darkened church. On her head was a crown of greens with four glowing candles that made the girl’s face and hair radiant. She carried a basket lined with a white cloth and filled with shiny red apples and some of the sweet-smelling saffron buns Jane had made.

As the children finished their song, the girl with the red sash stepped forward. “I represent Santa Lucia, or Saint Lucy,” she said. “Welcome to the first Grace Chapel Santa Lucia service.”

Another girl, one of Alice’s ANGELs, moved to the lectern, where she read a traditional story about the origins of the legend of Santa Lucia. She then explained the customs of the people of Sweden.

Next, two older girls came forward. Both of them were among Alice’s ANGELs. The first sang the opening verse of a song a cappella in a pure, clear soprano:

• The night goes with weighty step
  
• round yard and hearth,
  
• round earth, the sun departs
  
• and leaves the woods brooding.
  
• There in our dark house,
  
• appears with lighted candles
  
• Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
  

Then she faded back and the second girl stepped forward to sing another verse:

• The night goes great and mute
  
• now hear it swings
  
• in every silent room
  
• murmurs as if from wings.
  
• Look! At our threshold stands
  
• white-clad with lights in her hair
  
• Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
  

At the conclusion of the second verse, the other girl came forward again. In unison, the two girls sang a third and final verse together:

• The darkness shall soon depart
  
• from the earth’s valleys
  
• thus she speaks
  
• a wonderful word to us.
  
• The day shall rise anew
  
• from the rosy sky.
  
• Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
  

Next, three children approached the lectern. Stepping onto a stool that allowed him to be seen over the top, the first boy said, “The theme of light is very important to our Christian faith. Hear the Word of God in the following passages from the Bible.”

The second child stepped up. She turned to a new page in the Bible and read from Genesis 1:3: “‘And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’”

And finally, another child ascended to the lectern.

“Psalm 18:24–25, 28, 30: ‘The L
ORD
has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful, you show yourself faithful…You, O L
ORD
, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light…As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the L
ORD
is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.’”

As the little boy stepped back into his place in the group, Louise began to play the piano. The children separated into two groups, one on the left, one on the right. On Louise’s signal, they all sang together:

• Santa Lucia, thy light is glowing
  
• Through darkest winter night, comfort bestowing.
  
• Dreams float on dreams tonight,
  
• Comes then the morning light,
  
• Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
  

As they began to sing it through a second time, only the group of children on the right side sang. Halfway through, the second group of children began, and Alice realized the selection was a round that created a beautiful harmony. At the conclusion of the round, the children’s voices merged again into one melody. Marit Lindars, the Lucia, walked to the lectern and read what was arguably the best-known passage about light from the book of Matthew:

“‘You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:14–16).

Then she stepped to the center of the altar again. Taking one of the saffron rolls from her basket, she held it aloft. “You are invited to the Assembly Room at the conclusion of this ceremony to partake of several traditional foods associated with the Santa Lucia celebration in Sweden.”

She replaced the roll in her basket. Once again, Louise played an introduction on the piano. The children began to sing one final time:

• The night treads heavily
  
• around yards and dwellings
  
• In places unreached by sun,
  
• the shadows brood
  
• Into our dark house she comes,
  
• bearing lighted candles,
  
• Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
  

They slowly filed out, taking all light with them and leaving the chapel in darkness for one long, humming moment before Karin, at the back of the church, turned up the lights and the congregation began to buzz enthusiastically about the remarkable experience they had just enjoyed.

Chapter Eighteen

L
ouise! That was fabulous!” Jane and Alice converged on their elder sister enthusiastically in the Assembly Room at the conclusion of the Santa Lucia service.

Louise was flushed and smiling. “Tell Karin that,” she said modestly. “She was the one who came up with the idea.”

“It really was marvelous,” Alice said. “Where did you find all that music?”

“Most of it came from that book I found at the Potterston library. And the rest came from the online sources Jane helped me locate.”

Louise suddenly fell silent, her face losing its happy glow.

Puzzled, Alice glanced around—and saw their aunt across the room. Alice looked at Louise’s downcast face and then over at Ethel’s furrowed brow.

“You know,” she said to Jane in an undertone, “I realize that I am known as a peaceful person, but I am just about ready to knock two heads together.”

“May I help?” Jane asked facetiously.

Alice began to stride across the room, but before she could take more than a few steps, Ethel came walking toward the three sisters. She held out a hand to Louise.

“You did a fine job putting the Santa Lucia service together, Louise. What a delightful addition to the Christmas season.”

Louise looked surprised. More than surprised, Alice thought, astonished. She clasped Ethel’s hand and allowed the older woman to pull her into a hug. “Thank you, Aunt Ethel.”

“Louise…” Ethel hesitated. “I mistook your desire to help me with the craft show for interference. I guess I was just so determined to do it my way that I wasn’t willing to accept suggestions, no matter how well intended. I apologize for hurting your feelings with angry words.”

“Oh, Aunt Ethel,” Louise said, “don’t apologize. I know my suggestions can sound awfully heavy-handed. My only excuse is that it seemed like such a big project, and I was so worried it would be too much to put together in such a short time. But from what I can see, you have done a fine job of organizing it. I, too, am sorry for our misunderstanding.”

Ethel’s face softened as she looked at her three nieces. “I know I drive you crazy sometimes,” she said with a smile, “but wouldn’t life be boring without me?”

The Tuesday following the Lucia service, Alice worked a day shift. As she was letting herself into the house in midafternoon, the telephone rang.

“Grace Chapel Inn, Alice speaking. May I help you?”

“Alice Howard?”

“Yes.”

“Just the person I had hoped to find! This is Dr. Spence.”

“Hello, Dr.’ Oh! Do you have news for me?”

“I do.” The vet’s voice was sober. “The tumor is malignant, as we suspected. However, it does not appear to have spread. I biopsied the areas around the edges of the excision, and I believe we have gotten all the diseased tissue. Only time will tell, but your little dog should have a number of good senior years ahead of her.”

Alice let out a sigh. “Oh, thank you, Dr. Spence, thank you so much! Is she in any pain?”

“No, she’s resting comfortably. By the way, I have someone else here who would like to speak to you.”

Mystified, Alice waited while the vet transferred the telephone.

“Hello? Miss Howard? This is Sallie. I don’t know if you remember me, but I am the technician who helped with Miracle the other day.”

“Of course, Sallie.” Alice did indeed recall the dark-haired young woman. “Miracle liked you.”

Sallie laughed. “I guess that might make me memorable since you say she’s not fond of many people. Miss Howard, I wondered if…well, I would like to offer Miracle a foster home until her family can find her. And if they never do appear, I would be interested in adopting her.”

Alice was stunned. She had been praying for such an event, and this exceeded her greatest hopes. Sallie had medical knowledge and a close relationship with the dog’s vet. “Oh, Sallie, this is wonderful news. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have care for Miracle.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Miss Howard. Is there a foster care form to fill out?”

“Yes,” Alice told her. “I do have an application for you. When it’s complete, I’ll send it down to Florida to the director of Camp Compassion, and once he approves it, Miracle can go to live with you.”

“Wonderful! May I visit her in the meantime? I thought it might be best if I saw her in her own familiar surroundings initially. Then you could bring her to visit me a few times before she comes here for good. That would be the least stressful way to introduce her to a new home, don’t you think?”

“I certainly do.” Alice’s pulse was pounding with excitement. Oh, she could not wait to tell Jane and Louise. In addition, she would have to call Mark, of course, and Ellen and the twins. She would enclose a note to Joe with the foster care application. “Thank you so much. How would Sunday be for a first visit? I would do it sooner, but my family is deeply involved in a crafts fair this weekend and we all are a bit overwhelmed right now.”

At long last, the Saturday of the first Grace Chapel Crafts Fair arrived. All day long, people streamed in and out, examining everything and buying, buying, buying.

Louise, dressed in practical khaki slacks and a checked blouse that was her idea of casual wear, met Alice in the middle of the Assembly Room shortly before three.

Alice’s nose was a bit pink, and she rubbed her gloved hands together. She wore a long-sleeved blue sweater over her favorite jeans and she carried a heavy coat. Ethel had recruited her to work outdoors selling hot chocolate and cider, so Alice had been outside much of the day. “It is really chilly out there. At first I didn’t think it was too bad, but that wind cuts right through me.”

“That is a shame,” Louise said. “I know Aunt Ethel had hoped that her outdoor ideas would be a popular draw.”

“Oh, they have been,” Alice assured her. “We sold out of hot chocolate about an hour ago, and the last of the cider just went, which is why I am free. My duties are officially completed.” She gestured toward the doors. “So many people attended the carding and spinning demonstrations that next year I think we should offer more than one of each. How has it gone in here?”

Louise shrugged. “About as I expected. A few small squabbles over square inches, but generally everyone has been polite and helpful. They are happy because they sold a great deal of their wares.” She rocked a little, trying to give her aching feet a break. “Attendance was astounding.”

Alice looked around. “It looks like a flock of crows picked this field clean.”

Louise laughed. “That might be more accurate than you think!”

Tables covered in white cloths were set up all over the room, creating small niches into which different vendors had shown their craft offerings. Tall racks bore baskets, ornaments, scarves and more, but there was plenty of white space atop the tables and on the racks where vendors had run out of items to be sold. The entire space had hummed with bustling people all day long, and only now was it beginning to empty out.

Along one wall were two long tables. One displayed the raffle items Jane and Sylvia had solicited. Sylvia still sat there, animatedly chatting with people purchasing tickets. The other table had been covered in tasty-looking baked goods. There was a mad rush to purchase those, and the very last brownie had been sold more than an hour ago.

Jane, looking positively exhausted, joined them a moment later.

“I’m glad this crafts fair is going to be over today,” Louise remarked. “I’m not sure you could take another week of this pace.”

“Oh, it’s my own fault,” Jane told her. She was wearing baggy brown corduroy overalls with an ivory turtle-necked blouse. “I stayed up until almost three in the morning baking.”

“Oh, Jane, whatever for? You already did so much that I’m sure baked goods were not necessary.”

“I wanted to do it.” Jane grinned. “I’m bleary-eyed and weaving on my feet, but I’ve performed a true labor of love.”

“You’re a saint.” Louise clasped her hands together as though she were at prayer.

“So are you. I heard you tell Aunt Ethel you would walk around, answer the vendors’ questions and mediate any disagreements over space. That could not have been a fun job.”

“Hello, girls!” Ethel rushed up, a pencil stuck behind one ear and a notebook in her hand. Her freshly tinted hair glowed like a beacon, making her easy to spot. “Thank you all for your help. Alice, I know supervising the outside activities meant you were out in that wind all day, but there simply was no one else I would have wanted in that position. Louise, I appreciate all your suggestions. They certainly made this day run far more smoothly than it would have had I fumbled through it on my own. And Jane, dear, I know that most of the credit for the success of this goes to all the hard work you and Sylvia did. I have prayed for the success of this venture, and I think God did a wonderful job of choosing the right people to help me.”

“Florence helped too,” Jane added. “Don’t forget Florence, Aunt Ethel.”

“Well, of course I would not forget Florence,” Ethel huffed. “As a matter of fact, last night, I asked her if she would be interested in cochairing the event with me next year. That way, you wouldn’t have such a burden,” she said to Jane. “I confess I didn’t quite realize when I asked you to chair crafts that it would be such an all-consuming task, and I feel bad about that. Dear Louise helped around the inn in Alice’s absence, I know, but—What?” she demanded.

All three of her nieces were staring at her as if she had grown a second head.

“What?” she said again.

“Did you say you asked Florence to cochair?” Jane’s jaw dropped.

“Why, yes. Oh!” Ethel looked aghast. “Has that hurt your feelings, Jane? I am so sorry I did not ask you first. I just assumed that you would rather not be in charge again next year.” Ethel looked truly distressed. “I am trying so hard to be more sensitive to other people’s feelings. I have never considered a lack of tact to be one of my failings, but this experience has shown me that on rare occasions I fail to recognize when I am being high-handed.”

There was a silence.

“Indeed,” Louise finally managed.

“Well, in any event, if you want the job, Jane, of course it is yours. I’m sure Florence would understand.”

“No. No!” said Jane hastily. “Florence is wonderfully suited for the crafts chairmanship. I think she will do a fine job.”

Ethel consulted her notebook. “I must fly! I will talk to you later, girls.”

Alice thought of Joe MacAfell, the Camp Compassion director, with his ever-present clipboard. Nostalgia washed through her, but her longing to drop everything and return to Florida had receded. She was necessary here. At the hospital, at the inn and with her family.

When Alice had decided to travel south, God opened a door and offered her a new path to tread, and she accepted eagerly. Nevertheless, she knew His present plans for her included sharing her life with her two sisters and aunt, as well as with many others.

She tuned in to the conversation to see Louise shaking her head and Jane laughing.

“I will never forget that,” said Jane, almost doubled over. She quoted, “‘I have never considered a lack of tact to be one of my failings.’ That might be the funniest thing I have ever heard.”

“‘On rare occasions I fail to recognize when I am being high-handed.’” Louise was chuckling now too. “I’m going to cross-stitch that onto a sampler so that the next time Aunt Ethel and I go head-to-head, I can read it and refrain from getting angry.”

“What makes you think there will be a next time?” Alice asked.

Louise and Jane looked at each other, then back at their dear, idealistic sister. “There will be!” they said in unison.