Holly in December

 

 

Blurb:

She's "Hopeless"...When Hope ran away from home at seventeen it was just the start of a downward spiral that led to mistakes that have plagued her since. Now accused of a crime, she's lost her job and housing. With a young daughter to care for, she finds a place at a church-run shelter.

Nick Slater is a new assistant pastor at Headley Cross Baptist. His focus should be on his job and volunteering at the shelter, but when the same woman keeps crossing his path, he knows God has orchestrated their meetings and resolves to help her, no matter what it takes. But even while scents of holly and fresh-baked pies fill the air with Christmas joy, and Nick finds himself falling in love with Hope and her little girl, the dark stain of Hope's past threatens to affect Nick's career.

Should he ignore the urge to save his reputation, or is God teaching him a Heavenly lesson?

Extract:

Nick drove back to the shelter and waited while Hope put Angel to bed. He stayed in the main dining hall, very aware of the fact he shouldn’t be alone with Hope; especially not in the staff sleeping quarters. Even if the small lounge area up there would afford them the privacy they’d need for this conversation, there were rules and as a pastor he couldn’t break them. In fact, he had more to abide by, as Jack kept reminding him at their weekly mentoring sessions. Instead, he busied himself with making tea and then waiting for her. As Hope came in, he held out the tea. “Just the way you like it.”
She dropped into the chair beside him. “Thank you.”
“Did she go down all right?”
“She’s a little out of sorts. A bit hot, but then it’s been a busy day. She said some of the kids are off sick. I’m hoping she doesn’t go down with it. This isn’t the best place to look after a sick kid.”
Nick nodded. He glanced across the room to find DS Painter watching him and Hope. The officer was sat with another man, just as disheveled, and Nick assumed that was the officer taking over the nightshift. “So, where were we?”
“You were asking questions I really don’t want to answer. Not in front of Angel and not now, either.”
“What are you so afraid of? Do you really think if I knew who you were I wouldn’t like you anymore?”
“Something like that.”
“Please, just give me a chance to help.”
“You can’t put it right. It’s too late.” She got to her feet.
“Hope, please.” His hand shot out and grabbed hers. He swallowed, not expecting a simple touch to send such emotion rocketing through him. “Sit down. Tell me why you’re living here and not in the flat. OK, the flats aren’t perfect, and I know they have a no child policy, but I also know that wasn’t why you were evicted.”
Hope looked at him, her eyes glistening, and then she sat. “I’m a social worker. At least I was until they fired me. Someone accused me of certain things that make me unemployable. I didn’t do any of them. But my boss said he’d have to involve the police and they’d investigate the claims.”
“What claims?”
“Abuse of power, misappropriation of funds, improper conduct, you name it. Apparently, it comes from several sources. Complaints from my clients.” Her face reddened. “And they’re also accusing me of solicitation.”
Nick frowned. “That’s a little extreme.”
She looked down. “I guess.”
His hand brushed over hers. “Hope?”
She shook her head. “Anyway, the flat went with the job, and here I am. I can’t go home before you suggest that. Or go to my aunt’s place. She’d only tell Mum and Dad where I am. I have to try and fix this on my own.” She took a deep breath. “All I have left is a very battered photo and lots of memories of when I was growing up.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She looked at him a morose expression on her face. “When they arrest me, look after Angel. Make sure she doesn’t go into care.”
“It won’t come to that. Go to the police voluntarily, make a statement.”
“But it might. You don’t understand or know the sorts of people I was working with. If one of them has a grudge, then they have the wherewithal to get enough evidence to make those charges stick. Just promise me when that happens, if that happens, you’ll keep Angel safe.”
Nick nodded slowly. There must be more he could do. Hope and Angel had a family out there somewhere. Maybe, given time, he could persuade her to let him help her find them.