Read Changing Traditions, A Christmas Novella for Free Online

deep
inside, I was able to keep going. The time I spent in war, Albert
and I were in the same regiment. I tried to be friendly to him for
your sake and knew that I was going to look after him to make sure
he made it back to you. How was I to know he would leave for
Washington D.C.? I gave you time and space as you tried to move on.
And I’m not planning on pushing you or forcing you to do anything
you don’t want to do, Bethany.” Jeremy made motion to stand, but
Bethany clung to his hand.
    “ Wait, Jeremy, I didn’t
mean to hurt you. Don’t go yet.”
    “ You need time to think,
Beth, and I’ll give it to you. But don’t think I’m giving up on
you.” He planted a kiss on her forehead before moving back to his
sleigh. Before he left though, he came back with a box in his
hands. “I wrote these for you. Perhaps if you read them, you’ll see
how much I care. How I’ve always cared.” Then he was
gone.
    Bethany watched until he
was out of sight and then she just broke down. How could everything
be so messed up? This was not how Christmas was supposed to be.
Christmas was supposed to be a happy time with family. Christmas
was about celebrating the Savior’s birth.
    This Christmas was
supposed to be celebrated with Albert. Perhaps he would have
proposed. But he didn’t love her, not anymore.
    “ This isn’t fair, God! Why
is my life all jumbled up?” No one answered her, not that she was
expecting anything. She, who was always content, now found herself
questioning God’s plan.
    The box grew awkward in
her lap and after blinking her tears away to clear her vision,
Bethany took the lid off. Inside were letters. Letters written to
her. As she leafed through them, Bethany saw that they were dated
before the Civil War even began. Jeremy began writing her before
she even began going out with Albert.
    Even though she was aching
to read the letters, Bethany decided to read them later. She had a
guess at what they contained and her mind was already so muddled to
add more information.

 
     
     
     
     
     
CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Despite the situation brewing between the sisters, everyone
still came over the night before St. Lucia. Momma, Heather, and
Bethany were busy in the kitchen while Carolyn had Rosie standing
on the table to get her St. Lucia dress trimmed. The aroma of sweet
buns filled the kitchen along with an assortment of pies. Surely
they had enough for an army, but right now, no one really cared.
The happiness that filled the room was enough, but Bethany wondered
what would happen when Laura came back from town. Jake was supposed
to go to reason with her and prepare her when he picked her up. She
could only pray it would be enough.
    “ Rosie, stop fidgeting,”
Carolyn muttered with her mouth full of pins.
    “ But I’ve been standing
foreeeevvvverrr!”
    The pins out of her mouth
now, Carolyn gave Rosie a quick kiss on her head. “Now, now, it’s
barely been ten minutes and I’m almost done. What an angel you look
like in this dress!”
    “ Exactly what am I
supposed to do again?”
    “ On St. Lucia day, usually
the oldest girl in the family carries coffee and buns to her family
in bed. It’s a tradition that was celebrated in Sweden and has been
in our family for years.” Carolyn had a faraway look in her eyes.
“If only I still had my first St. Lucia gown. Alas, it must still
be in Sweden.”
    Rosie crossed her arms and
twisted, earning a look of disapproval from Carolyn. “So who is St.
Lucia? And why am I playing her?”
    “ St. Lucia is…oh, Bethy!
Do you remember that letter Mormor sent to us years ago explaining St. Lucia and her
story?”
    Bethany turned from her
position of rolling out more buns and thought, “I supposed it would
be upstairs somewhere with our things. No wait, I placed it in my
diary!” Bethany flew from the room and hurried up to the loft. It
must be somewhere. She, Carolyn, and Laura saved all of Mormor’s letters from
Sweden and this one would be no exception.