Christmas in Bethel

Chapter Seven

It’s my experience that more church fellowship takes place in a church’s lobby than its chapel.

Beth Stilton’s Diary

It was four in the morning when I got back from dropping Lee off at his hotel after what was undoubtedly the best night of my life. I don’t know what compelled me to go to church after only three and a half hours of sleep. Maybe I was feeling particularly blessed. Or, more likely, I was hoping to run into the book club ladies. I felt like we were bound together as a group of witnesses to a shared miracle.

Church didn’t disappoint. Ironically, the sermon was on miracles. And on the way out I ran into Pauline, Kim, and Deborah in the church lobby.

“That was quite a delightful surprise you had for us,” Pauline said.

“It was a surprise for me too,” I said. “I didn’t expect that.”

“How did the two of you meet?” Deborah asked.

“It was happenstance. While I was waiting for the book signing to begin, I went to get a coffee. When they announced my coffee, Lee and I both went for it. We ended up sharing a table together to drink.”

“Happenstance my foot,” Pauline said. “It was fate.”

“I loved posting about it,” Deborah said. “All my friends think I’m a celebrity. I’m surprised at how many of my friends are closet Harper fans. I think we’re going to get an influx of new club members.”

“What did you do after you left?” Kim asked.

“We went to Coachman’s. He hadn’t had dinner.”

“Coachman’s? The chicken place? You couldn’t have gone someplace swankier?”

“That’s where he wanted to go. He wanted comfort food.”

“He sounds like a real down-to-earth man,” Pauline said.

“He is, but nothing else about this feels real.”

Deborah said, “You should have seen Maxine after you left. She drank her entire bottle of wine, then half of mine.”

“And a quarter of mine,” Kim added.

“She was three sheets to the wind,” Deborah said. “Tabitha had to give her a ride home.”

“I wondered why her car was still there when we got back.”

“Are you excited to see your man on TV tomorrow?”

“Of course. I’ve set my DVR too so I can watch it over and over.”

“We’ll also be watching,” Pauline said.

They started to leave, when Kim said, “Beth.”

“Yes?”

“Trust me on this. Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy it. You deserve this.”

I hugged her. “Thank you.”

It was maybe the greatest advice anyone had ever given me. Of course I didn’t follow it.