Second Chances for Nathan Chapter 10, Part 3, Page 60

Dee was very excited about the telephone call she was about to make. She needed to reach Mrs. Thornton to get the details of her conversation with Superintendent Mr. Landis. This could mean an answer to prayer. For the last few years she had been back in her hometown managing the music store. She enjoyed doing so, but it wasn't why she attended college. She was blessed with a natural gift of a beautiful voice and she wanted so badly to share music with others.

Her town was more rural with a great deal of farms and ranches. Most of the townsfolk were making a fair living, but didn't have extra money for instruments or lessons. In spite of the music store, nothing was developing in her quest to reach out to the children in the area. Most of them were needed to help at home . Sure she had been leading the church choir, but other than that, she really was not sure she had any other job prospects. "Hello Mrs. Thornton?" Dee inquired.

"Yes."

"This is Dee, I mean Mary Grace Glexiner. I am Allie's music teacher."

"Oh hello! Please call me Elizabeth. It's good to hear from you. Allie and Nathan have both spoken to me about your search to teach music. As I wrote Allie, I did speak with Mr. Landis recently as he and I needed to talk about the upcoming new school year starting in a few weeks. He seemed interested in the prospect of having a music curriculum beginning in Hope Valley and Brookfield."

"Elizabeth, this is very exciting for me. I am so grateful to you. My sister, Dorothy lives in Brookfield and from what I hear from Allie and Nathan, Hope Valley is a wonderful town with great people. I would definitively like to pursue this possibility."

"Well, if you can arrange to come to Hope Valley with Allie in a few weeks, Mr. Landis offered to interview you if you were interested. He will be in the area with school beginning, so it should work out. May I ask how he can reach you?"

"Yes, of course. If he wants to write me just send a letter to my attention and our town is Brook Springs. My parents have a telephone, but he might miss me. If I'm not at the music store, I could be giving lessons. So, my suggestion would be just to write me with a date, place and time. I will be there."

"That seems like that would do. I'll be happy to help Mary Grace."

"Oh, please call me Dee. I appreciate your help already. Thank you!"

"Your welcome Dee, see you soon."

Clare was feeling better now as she was farther along in her pregnancy. In fact she started feeling a little movement and Jesse felt it too. They both were so thrilled and thinking about what to do for their baby's bedroom.

When Clare was done helping Minnie with the breakfast and cleanup she would help out at the dress shop with Rosemary. Usually the sewing circle was there especially on Mondays so they could catch up on what happened on the weekend and on Fridays to help finish up any orders that needed to be done.

All it took was just one question about how to decorate the baby's bedroom and the ladies were all talking at once. It was difficult for Clare to get one word in edgewise, but she enjoyed all the fussing. "Ladies, I am beyond thrilled to tell you that Jesse and I have felt the baby kick!" she giggled. Of course, the laughter and congratulations were enough for Rosemary to say, "Does anyone have any clothing for Clare to borrow, or should we make some new dresses for her?"

"How about both?" Fiona asked. "Maybe Elizabeth has some dresses to borrow, but we still could sew up a few new ones to wear to church or for going out!"

Flo and Fiona offered to sew an outfit and Rosemary would ask Elizabeth about lending any. "You'll be the prettiest expectant mommy in town!" Fiona said as Rosemary gazed out the window.

Over at Henry's office, Archie was there as promised and ready to work. Henry filled him in on what was going on in the oil business and the new pipeline hopefully starting as soon as the bank gave him the final approval. Then Henry drove Archie over to the oil rig and introduced him to the workers as his assistant. Next they drove out to where they planned to run the pipeline. The surveyors were already at work and that's where the foreman Mike Hickam was. Archie met everyone by the end of the day.

"Looks like you're going to be quite busy Henry!" Archie said.

"Yes, but I've got good dependable men working with me. I'm counting on that with you too." Henry smiled as they both hopped into his car.

When they arrived back in town, they stopped at the Cafe for something to eat. Minnie greeted them and led them to a table. "How are you gentlemen doing?"

"Just fine Minnie. How are you? Can we have 2 orders of your lunch specials please?" Henry asked.

"Coming right up." Minnie said.

"Pastor Joseph!" Henry called, "Come on over and meet Archie, Nathan's dad."