The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek (38 page)

They were both good. The pumpkin pie tasted spicy and delicious, but he enjoyed the humble pie even more.

Traditionally, the church celebrated the Hanging of the Greens on the Sunday evening after Thanksgiving. With the service over, Adam looked around at the sanctuary beautifully prepared for Advent. Garlands framed the baptistery; wreaths hung on the fronts of the pulpit and lectern while a red bow marked each pew. A huge Christmas tree stood in the narthex—what the congregation called the lobby—its white ornaments glowing on the dark tree. The decorating finished, everyone had adjourned next door for more decorating and refreshments.

Adam strolled back toward the parsonage, again stopping under the big tree to contemplate the house and the church and the town and life in general. He zipped his jacket, pulled his hat from a pocket, and put it on, because November evenings in Texas did get chilly. After taking a deep breath of the crisp air, he blew it out, forming a cloud of moisture in front of his mouth, and listened to the hymn “Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel” ringing in the church steeple.

Through the big windows of the parsonage, he could see the activity inside. The ladies of the church—and a few gentlemen with carpentry skills who didn’t mind being bossed around—bedecked the house. After all, who could expect a single male minister to decorate the way a minister’s wife would?

On the porch railings and inside, up the staircase, they’d attached evergreen branches and bright red bows. In each front window, electric candles glowed. The parsonage looked beautiful and, he bet, smelled wonderful. He’d never be able to concentrate there.

As Adam blissfully watched, Miss Birdie strode out of the house with Chewy following at her heels. After attempting to shoo the dog away several times, unsuccessfully, the pillar ignored the creature and headed straight toward her minister, pointing toward the steeple from which the music emerged.

Her expression and stride warned him he was in trouble.

“What is that song?” she demanded when she was close enough for him to hear.

“It’s an Advent hymn, Miss Birdie, because we’re in Advent. In churches, the Christmas season doesn’t start for four more weeks.” He’d explained this over and over, but the information never sank in. Everyone wanted Christmas carols. “That’s why we’re playing ‘Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel’ instead of ‘Silent Night.’”

She put her hand on her hips. “All of us”—she waved her arm toward those inside the parsonage and generally around town and the state and perhaps throughout the universe—“want Christmas music. You ministers can say anything you want, but for us, it’s not Advent. It’s almost Christmas. It’s time for Christmas songs.”

Adam glanced over her head toward the parsonage. The flickering glow of the candles and the light coming from Janey’s and Hector’s rooms on the second floor warmed him. In a few days, his parents would arrive to spend the holidays in Texas. They’d hate it, but they’d be here.

Thinking about the Firestones and the memory of the Smiths as well as wondering who might move in next, Adam was filled with joy. Add to that the bustle of church members inside and out, the scent of pine, and the sound of chattering and laughter, and the Victorian house was no longer the vacant building he’d moved into in June, no longer the echoingly empty residence of a single man.

He smiled. The choice of music—Advent hymns or Christmas carols—didn’t seem important. “All right,” he said, giving in.

Much to her surprise, Adam took the pillar’s hand. “Deck the halls with boughs of holly… ,” he sang as the two of them strolled toward the parsonage. She joined in after a few notes. “’Tis the season to be jolly… ,” they sang together.

Taking care not to hurt her shoulder, Adam escorted the pillar up the front steps and onto the porch before he pulled her into a quick dance step as they sang, “Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.”

Wonder of all wonders, Miss Birdie laughed as they twirled inside.

The aroma of pine boughs mingled with the spicy scent of hot apple cider and surrounded them. In the hall, those church members who had gathered there joined in—“Don we now our gay apparel” —as Janey and Hector clattered down the stairs of the old Victorian house.

Adam was home.

1. Adam heads out toward Butternut Creek in a car he’s not sure will make it. How do you feel about his starting out so unprepared? Why did he do that? Have you or a loved one undertaken a task with no idea what lay ahead? If so, how did you or your loved one make it through the unexpected?
   
2. Do you know anyone like Miss Birdie? Does a person like her help or hurt a church? How do you feel Adam handled her? How would you deal with a church member or family member or acquaintance who’s so certain he or she is right?
   
3. Adam dreads counseling Sam. Are there duties or responsibilities a minister has that may be difficult? How would a minister handle these? How do you cope with responsibilities you dread? Do you turn to prayer? How does God speak to you at that time?
   
4. Did Sam’s reaction to loss seem realistic? Have you experienced a difficult loss? How did you handle that? Again, do you turn to prayer? How does God answer?
   
5. Willow refuses to become serious about Sam until he comes to grips with his anger. Do you agree with her decision? Why or why not?
   
6. How did the following help Sam to deal with his losses?
   
   • Adam and the church
     
   • Willow, Leo, and Nick
     
   • His father
     
7. Winnie Jenkins says that helping the Firestones is what the church does. Do you agree with their turning the parsonage into a shelter? Why or why not? What concerns did Miss Birdie and Mercedes express? Did they have valid points?
   
8. Hector says that, in his experience, churches don’t always do good deeds. What do you think he might have experienced in his life that would make him believe that?
   
9. Adam tells Hector and Sam that his father, a very successful businessman, didn’t like his choice to enter the ministry—even though he and his sister were raised in the church. Did this make sense to you? Why or why not?
   
10. How had the general become so demanding that Sam felt like a failure? What changed the general? Can you think of some examples of how tragedies change people, either good or bad?
    
11. Where can we find good in the midst of tragedy and loss? Does God cause those? Why do you believe this—or why not?
    
12. Have you experienced a loss that made you angry at God or left you doubting God’s existence? What happened, and how did you recover your faith? Were you changed? How?
    

An experience as a freshman in college has left Gussie Milton unable to trust others.  To cope, she has thrown herself into caring for her aging parents, her photography business, and church work.  Although she'd like to have a relationship, she's frightened.

Miss Birdie and Mercedes see Gussie for the loving woman she is and use their matchmaking skills to encourage her relationship with Pastor Adam. But are Adam and Gussie really ready to be together, or will the Widows’ meddling drive them further apart? Find out in
The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek.

“A warm, witty, wonderful book. I loved it, and you will too.”

—Susan Mallery,
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author

“Heartwarming and hilarious,
The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek
offers a touching, small-town view of the ties that bind.”

—Award-winning author Colleen Thompson

“Wow! Jane Myers Perrine has penned an amazing story with heart, hope, and humor. She created a setting with such unique and spunky characters that you can’t help but fall in love with the people and the place. Grab a comfortable chair and the book and get swept away to Butternut Creek, a quaint town where friendship, romance, and laughter are abundant. Perrine has a beautiful knack for storytelling and creating unforgettable characters that makes this series a must read.”

—Christie Craig, author of
Hotter in Texas
, the humorous romantic suspense series released by Grand Central/Forever

“Perrine has penned a charming, heartwarming story with endearing characters and a lovely small town. I adored Butternut Creek and its residents.”

—Vicky Dreiling, author of
How to Marry a Duke