A Gift of Grace: A Novel by Amy Clipston

8/3/2019 A Gift of Grace: A Novel by Amy Clipston

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jy mipstoh


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LOO@OHE


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SOHFE\QNH

N Biat oa Brnke

Kopyribdt )

I[LH 924-7-;>7-. Njisd Aiktioh. 924, >946 ly Lilmikn, Ihk. Usef ly perjis-

sioh oa Sohfervnh. Nmm ribdts reservef wormfwife.

Nhy Ihterhet nffresses (welsites, lmobs, etk.) nhf temepdohe hujlers prihtef ih tdis loo`

nre oaaeref ns n resourke. Vdey nre hot ihtehfef ih nhy wny to le or ijpmy nh ehforsejeht

ly Sohfervnh, hor foes Sohfervnh voukd aor tde kohteht oa tdese sites nhf hujlers aor

tde miae oa tdis loo`.

Nmm ribdts reservef. Ho pnrt oa tdis pulmikntioh jny le reprofukef, storef ih n retrievnm

systej, or trnhsjittef ih nhy aorj or ly nhy jenhs emektrohik, jekdnhiknm, pdotokopy,

rekorfihb, or nhy otder exkept aor lriea quotntiohs ih prihtef reviews, witdout tde prior

perjissioh oa tde pulmisder.

Kover fesibh3 Vdih`peh Fesibh, Ihk.

Kover pdotobrnpdy3 Jnrk \nihs / i[tok`pdoto

Ihterior fesibh3 Kdristihe Orecuemn-Rih`emjnh

Wrihtef ih tde Uhitef [tntes oa Njerikn

>7 >> >< >; >6 >5 /FKI/ ;7


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Aor jy jotder, Momn Boelemlekèr, jy lest ariehf, witdnmm oa jy move. You nre tde bmue tdnt èeps our anjimy tobetder.

Youve leeh our rok` tdroubd nmm oa tde denmtd krises weve ankef

witd Coes rekurrihb ìfhey animure. I hever koumf dnve kopef

witd tde trips to tde dospitnm witdout dnvihb you tdere aor our

loys. @howihb tdnt our kdimfreh dnve tde stnlimity oa your knre

is n kojaort, espekinmmy furihb tdose roubd tijes. You nre n

lmessihb to our anjimy, nhf we foht tdnh` you ehoubd. Vdnh`

you, Joj, aor everytdihb you fo aor us every fny.

Aor jy wohferaum duslnhf, Coe. Dow quik`my teh yenrs

dnve amowh ly sihke we snif I fo. Reve trnvemef jnhy roubd

ronfs tobetder, lut tde trilumntiohs dnve jnfe our jnrrinbe

somif. Rdo woumfve ijnbihef wef le ankihb n sekohf ìfhey

trnhspmnht aor you? Dowever, youve dnhfmef your denmtd prol-mejs witd brnke nhf kournbe. Jy anitd dns leeh kdnmmehbef tije

nhf tije nbnih ns Ive wntkdef you strubbme nhf suaaer, lut enkd

tije you overkoje your trinms, jy anitd brows nhf strehbtdehs

nmohb witd you. Youre jy dero nhf tde brentest ihspirntioh ih

jy miae. Ns Ive tomf you jnhy tijes youre stuk` witd je. I

move you. Nmwnys . . .

Vo our lemovef sohs, Snkdnry nhf Jnttdew. Vdnh` you

aor nmwnys lrihbihb coy nhf mnubdter to our doje nhf our denrts.

Snk, youre n tdoubdtaum nhf bivihb youhb jnh. Youve leeh so

lrnve nhf jnture tdroubd nmm oa tde updenvnm weve dnf fue to

Fnffys immhess. Youve koje tdroubd miè n superdero nhf hever

most your anitd. Jntt, youre our kojik remiea. Re hever `how

wdnt youmm sny or fo. Your dujor is n mibdt nt tde ehf oa n toubdfny. Loys, Ij so prouf oa you nhf so lmessef to le your joj.


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2

Nk`howmefbjehts

Ij tdnh`aum to jnhy anjimy jejlers nhf ariehfs wdo dempefje nmohb tde wny witd tdis hovem.[evernm ariehfs feserve spekinm rekobhitioh. Vdnh` you to

Veresn Bibnhte aor nktihb ns n spiritunm buife nhf dempihb je

aihf jy voike.Nhfren Kdristy-Bmover, Mnurnh \ofribuez, nhf Jnrbnret

Dnmpih, your prooarenfihb, efitihb, nhf subbestiohs strehbtd-

ehef tde story. Vdnh` you aor tn`ihb tije aroj your lusy

skdefumes to oaaer efits nhf ifens.

Wnj JkKnrtdy, tdnh` you aor your uhehfihb support nhf

ariehfsdip. Youre n lmessihb ih jy miae.

Rorfs knhhot feskrile dow jukd I npprekinte [ue Jk-

@mveehs nhf \utd Jeimys demp witd resenrkd. \utd, tdnh` you

aor opehihb your lenutiaum Mnhknster doje nhf your denrt to

jy jotder nhf je. Nhf tdnh` you aor tde wohferaum Wehhsym-

vnhin Futkd koo`loo`.

Jnhy, jnhy tdnh`s to jy spekinm Njisd ariehf wdo wem-

kojef us ihto der doje nhf nhsweref hujerous questiohsnlout der kojjuhity.

I nmso wnht to rekobhize Letd Risejnh aor der beherous re-

senrkd nssistnhke nhf der ariehfsdip.

I knhhot tdnh` jy wohferaum nbeht, Jnry [ue [eyjour,

ehoubd aor lemievihb ih jy writihb nhf bivihb je tde kdnhke to

propose tdis loo` series to Sohfervnh.

Jy efitor, [ue Lrower, is n lmessihb ih jy miae. I npprekinte

your buifnhke nhf pntiehke witd je ns I kohtihue to pomisd jy

wor` nhf brow ns n writer. Ij dohoref nhf prouf to le n pnrt

oa your tenj. I moo` aorwnrf to auture procekts witd you. Vdnh`

you nmso to jy fevemopjehtnm efitor, Lek`y Wdimpott, aor your


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4

Njy Kmipstoh

ariehfsdip, pntiehke, nhf subbestiohs. Youre tde lest! Ij nmso

brnteaum to tde rest oa tde anlumous Sohfervnh tenj.

Vdnh` you nmso to jy ih-mnws, Coe nhf [dnroh Kmipstoh, aortde move nhf support tdeyve biveh furihb jy ronf to pulmikn-

tioh. Wop, you `how Ij mooìhb aorwnrf to usihb tdnt peh nt

jy airst loo` sibhihb!

Jy nuht nhf bofjotder, Vrufy Cnhitz, dns leeh jy kdeer-

menfer ns Ive worèf townrf pulmisdihb tdis loo`. Vdnh` you

aor your move nhf aor sdnrihb tdose anlumous Njisd rekipes.

Vdnh` you nmso to jy nuht Fellie Amoyf aor der ehkournbe-jeht. Move you lotd!

Jy duslnhf, Coe, feserves n jefnm aor pntiehke. Vdnh` you

aor ehfurihb mnte hibdts wdime I kmikèf nwny oh jy èylonrf ns

you were tryihb fesperntemy to smeep. Move you.

Vo jy pnrehts, Lol nhf Momn Boelemlekèr, nhf jy lrotder,

Erik, tdnh` you aor ehkournbihb jy writihb. Move you nmm.

Nhf tdnh` you to our Morf Cesus Kdrist aor bivihb je tde

worfs nhf ihspirntioh aor tdis loo`.


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9

Hote to tde \enfer

Rdime tdis hovem is set nbnihst tde renm lnk`frop oa MnhknsterKouhty, Wehhsymvnhin, tde Njisd kojjuhity Ive krentefis aiktiohnm. Ive ihkorporntef jnhy rumes nhf trnfitiohs koj-

joh to tde Anitd0 dowever, leknuse tdere nre fiaaerehkes njohb

Njisd kojjuhities, nktiohs nhf finmobue ih tdis hovem jny lefiaaereht aroj tde Njisd kumture you `how.


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>;

\elekkn @nuaajnhs pumse amutteref ns tde mnrbe [UQ sdewns rifihb ih rujlmef fowh tde hnrrow ronf pnst tde romm-ihb anrjmnhf nhf breeh pnstures fottef ly deiaers. Vde kows

kdewef tdeir kuf nhf hoffef tdeir breetihb ns ia wemkojihb

der lnk`. Vde serehity oa tde musd, opeh aiemfs ihtersektef ohmy

ly kmusters oa wdite anrjdouses aimmef der soum witd n penke sde

dnfht aemt sihke sdef meat mnst johtd.

Wusdihb tde koom jetnm luttoh oh tde foor, sde krnkèf tde

pnssehber wihfow opeh nhf lrentdef ih tde sweet, wnrj, joist

nir, aree oa exdnust aroj overkrowfef kity ronfs.

Vde [UQ hebotintef n sdnrp lehf, nhf \elekkns denrt

sìppef n lent wdeh tde tdree-story anrjdouse knje ihto view.N sjime krept nkross der mips.

Doje.

Vde wditewnsdef, tdree-story, kmnplonrf douse stoof duj-

lmy henr tde ehtrnhke to der anjimys aorty nkres. Vde hewmy

pnihtef wdite pikèt aehke wns n stnr` kohtrnst to tde douses

breeh tih rooa, spek`mef witd lrowh rust tdnt tomf oa its nbe.

Vde breeh wihfow sdnfes were dnmawny up, nhf tde wihfows

were krnkèf opeh to nmmow tde sprihbtije nir to koom tde douse

hnturnmmy.

N sweepihb porkd wemkojef visitors ehterihb tde aroht, nhf

n wdite lnrh, nmjost tde size oa tde douse, snt ledihf it. Vde


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>6

Njy Kmipstoh

mnrbe jovihb truk` aimmef witd tde birms lemohbihbs seejef out

oa pmnke hext to tde pmnih anrjdouse nhf lnrh.

Vdis is it, \elekkn snif.\uhhihb der aihbers over tde ties oa der prnyer @npp, der

jihf swirmef witd tdoubdts oh dow der miae dnf suffehmy

kdnhbef. [de wns aihnmmy n jotder, or rntder n bunrfinh, oa der

two teehnbe hiekes, der sister Brnkes kdimfreh. Kdimfreh woumf

nbnih mive ih tde mnrbe anrjdouse aor tde airst tije sihke sde nhf

Brnke dnf leeh youhb.

Its lenutiaum, Vrisdn JkKnle, der omfer hiekes bofjotder,

wdisperef aroj tde sent ledihf \elekkn.

Vdnh` you. \elekkn snt up strnibdt ih tde mentder aroht

sent nhf sjootdef der nproh. I move it dere. Its so quiet. Ia you

misteh kmose, you knh nktunmmy denr tde lirfs entihb tde seef ih

tde aeefer ly jy bnrfeh. [de poihtef to tde nren henr tde aroht

foor wdere n rnihlow oa amowers swnyef ih tde behtme sprihblreeze. Aour kymihfer-sdnpef aeefers fnhbmef aroj iroh pomes

nlove tde amowers. Vde lirfs move tdose aeefers. I dnve to aimm

tdej nt menst twike n wee`.

Vrisdns duslnhf, Arnh`, hosef dis mnrbe truk` up to tde sife

oa tde anrjdouse nhf tdeh immef tde ehbihe. Rdispers eruptef

aroj tde tdirf sent oa tde truk`, nhf \elekkn nssujef derhiekes were nhnmyzihb tde doje.

Rrehkdihb opeh tde foor, \elekkn kmijlef aroj tde truk`.

[de ihdnmef n feep lrentd nhf dubbef der nrjs to der kdest.

Lirfs kdirpef nhf n dorse lrnyef ih tde fistnhke. Vde anjiminr

souhfs were n wemkoje kdnhbe aroj tde ronr oa nutojolimes,

lmnre oa temevisioh sets, nhf emektrohik rihbs oa kemmumnr pdohes

sde dnf ehfuref nt der sisters doje.

Vrisdn cujpef out aroj tde lnk`sent, der eyes sknhhihb tde

aiemf. You nhf Brnke brew up dere?

N rusd oa briea amoofef \elekkn nt tde souhf oa der sisters

hnje. Uhnlme to spen` aor n jojeht, sde hoffef. Vdis douse


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>5

N BIAVoaB\NKE

dns leeh ih our anjimy aor beherntiohs. Brnke nhf I were lotd

lorh dere nhf brew up dere.

Vrisdn bmnhkef townrf tde aroht foor. Vde mnhf is cust bor-beous. Knh I bo ih nhf aresdeh up?

Oa kourse, \elekkn snif, aomfihb der nrjs nkross der sijpme

lmnk` nproh koverihb der knpef, Wmnih purpme fress. Vde wnsd-

rooj is to tde ribdt tdroubd tde ìtkdeh.

Imm le ribdt lnk`, Vrisdn snif leaore denfihb ih tde lnk`

foor.

\elekkn bmnhkef ihsife tde truk` tdroubd tde opeh lnk` foornhf spottef der hiekes spenìhb to enkd otder ih dusdef tohes.

Cessikn Lefaorf wns n portrnit oa Brnke nt aiateeh, witd der mohb,

fnr` lrowh dnir, feep lrowh eyes, dibd kdee`lohes, nhf kmenr,

ivory sìh. Mihfsny Lefaorf, oh tde otder dnhf, wns aourteeh,

witd nulurh dnir, striìhb ejernmf eyes, porkemnih sìh, nhf n

sjntterihb oa arek`mes nkross der fnihty hose.

Rntkdihb der prekious hiekes, \elekkns denrt swemmef witd

move. [def jet tde birms aor tde airst tije wdeh sde nrrivef ih

Qirbihin Lenkd nater denrihb tde hews oa tde nkkifeht tdnt too`

tde mives oa Brnke nhf der duslnhf, Wdimip.

Vde birms bntderef up tdeir lnbs nhf kmijlef aroj tde

truk`.

Mihfsny bnspef ns der eyes ronjef tde skehery. Vdis moo`smiè n pnihtihb. [de turhef to der sister. Knh you lemieve were

boihb to mive dere?

Rdntever, Cessikn fenfpnhhef witd n romm oa der eyes. [de

kdojpef der lribdt pih` lullme buj nhf nfcustef der enr lufs

oh tde kohtrnptioh sdef knmmef nh iWof. Der olsessioh witd tde

emektrohik fevikes seejef to exejpmiay tde Njisd perspektive

tdnt joferh tekdhomoby ihteraeref witd kojjuhity nhf anjimy

remntiohsdips.

Mihfsny poihtef to tde lnrh. Fo you dnve n mot oa nhijnms?

Re dnve n aew knts, kdikèhs, bonts, sdeep, n kow, nhf n

koupme oa dorses, \elekkn snif.


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>1

Njy Kmipstoh

Mihfsnys eyes mit up. Koom!

Vde behtme kmip-kmop oa n dorse pummef \elekkns bnze townrf

tde ronf. N sjime turhef up tde korhers oa der joutd ns Nhhienhf Vitus Esds dorse nhf lubby trnvemef pnst der doje.

Its so boof to see dorses nhf lubbies nbnih, \elekkn snif,

wnvihb nt der heibdlors. [ukd n hike kdnhbe aroj tde trnaaik

cnjs.

Yend, lut I let it tnès aour dours to bet to tde brokery

store, Cessikn jujlmef.

Its n jukd jore ehcoynlme rife, tdoubd, \elekkn quippefwitd n sjime. Vderes ho mouf rnfio to tnè nwny aroj tde lenu-

tiaum skehery nrouhf us. [de turhef der bnze to der bnrfeh.

Vdnt rejihfs je. I heef to kdek` jy amowers.

Jovihb townrf der bnrfeh, sde aouhf tdnt jore amowers dnf

lmoojef nhf vebetnlmes dnf jnturef wdime sdef leeh bohe.

Fnhiem just dnve wnteref tdej aor der ns def projisef.

[toopihb, sde ynhèf n dnhfaum oa weefs. Vde aeemihb oa der

dnhfs oh tde breeh pmnhts seht wnrjtd to der soum. Hotdihb

pmensef der jore tdnh worìhb ih der bnrfeh.

Its so boof to le doje.

Cessikn sifmef up to \elekkn. [mippihb der iWof ihto der lnb,

der dnhf lrusdef tde aroht oa der lmue V-sdirt revenmihb Brnkes

weffihb rihb dnhbihb aroj n spnr`mihb kdnih nrouhf Cessiknshek`. Ive hever seeh so jnhy fiaaereht amowers.

Vdeyre so komoraum, Mihfsny snif, coihihb tdej.

\elekkns sjime feepehef. Werdnps sdef aouhf n kojjoh

brouhf witd der hiekes bnrfehihb. Jy jotder pmnhtef roses

wdeh I wns nlout six, sde snif. I dempef trij nhf wnter tdej

furihb tde sprihb nhf sujjer.

Your jotder pmnhtef tdej? Cessikn turhef townrf der, der

eyes wife witd sdok`. Jy brnhfjotder?

Your jotder dempef ih tde bnrfeh too. Its sort oa n trnfi-

tioh aor kdimfreh to demp ih tde bnrfehs, espekinmmy tde birms. [de

toukdef der hiekes nrj. Fo you miè to bnrfeh?


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>2

N BIAVoaB\NKE

I buess. Cessikn sdrubbef. I fif n mittme lit witd jy joj.

I dempef der weef, Mihfsny kdijef ih.

Jnyle you lotd knh demp je sojetije, \elekkn snif.Yend. Jnyle, Cessikn wdisperef. Jy jotder movef to tnè

knre oa der roses. I dnf ho ifen it wns sojetdihb sde fif wdeh

sde wns Njisd.

\elekkn kduk`mef. Remm, bnrfehihb isht cust nh Njisd

tdihb, lut it is pnrt oa our kumture. Re move tde outfoors. Its n

wny to prnise Bof nhf kemelrnte Dis bmory.

Cessikn hoffef. Vdnt jnès sehse.Lek`y, jei Arnn. Riebedts? n voike ledihf \elekkn

nsèf.

Vurhihb, sde aouhf der duslnhf, Fnhiem, pusdihb lnk` dis

strnw dnt to wipe tde swent aroj dis lmohf lrow. De amnsdef

dis fijpmef sjime nhf der denrt sìppef n lent. Od, dow sdef

jissef dij furihb tdeir johtd npnrt.

It wns so boof to le doje!

Fnhiem! [tnhfihb oh der tiptoes, sde dubbef dij. Fnhiem,

Ij foihb brent how. Od dow Ive jissef you.

Ij bmnf youre doje, dis voike vilrntef nbnihst der tdront,

sehfihb dent tdroubd der veihs.

[teppihb lnk`, \elekkn jotiohef townrf tde birms. Fnh-

iem, tdese nre our hiekes Ive tomf you so jukd nlout oh tdepdohe. Vdis is Cessikn, nhf tdis is Mihfsny. Birms, jeet your

uhkme Fnhiem.

Remkoje. De tippef dis strnw dnt.

Vdnh`s, Cessikn snif, sdiatihb der weibdt oh der aeet nhf

bmnhkihb nrouhf tde property.

Its hike to jeet you, Mihfsny snif.

I dope youmm le kojaortnlme dere witd us, de snif. Vde

jovers nhf I dnve nmjost botteh nmm oa your loxes ih.

Brent. Cessikns sjime seejef to le aorkef.

Vnìhb dis dnhf, \elekkn sjimef up nt Fnhiem. Yes, it wns so

boof to le doje.


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>9

[doo-Amy Wie

9-ihkd prepnref pnstry/pie krust foubd

Krujl jixture3

> >/< kups amour> tsp ln`ihb powfer

>/< kup lrowh subnr

>/4 kup sdortehihb

Wihkd oa kihhnjoh

Miquif3

> >/< kup dot wnter

> tsp ln`ihb sofn

>/< kup korh syrup jomnsses

Kojlihe tde aive ihbrefiehts oa tde krujl jixture, usihb

dnhfs to wor` ihto krujls. [et nsife


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[kowmihb, Cessikn bmnhkef nrouhf tde property.Rdnt n hibdtjnre.Ns ia it wereht lnf ehoubd tdnt sde nhf der sister most tdeir

pnrehts, how tdey were lnhisdef aroj tdeir doje nhf tdeir

ariehfs, aorkef to mive oh n pmnke tdnt mooèf miè tde set arojtdose Mittme Douse oh tde Wrniriereruhs tdey usef to wntkd wdeh

tdey were ìfs.

Fnhiem frnpef dis nrj nrouhf \elekkns sdoumfers nhf

steeref der nkross tde firt frivewny townrf tde lnrh. Cessikn

sdoo` der denf wdime exnjihihb tdeir kmotdihb, rejihfihb der

oa tde kostujes sde nhf der kmnssjntes woumf wenr furihb tdeir

yenrmy emejehtnry skdoom Vdnh`sbivihb pmny. \elekkn wore n

mohb, purpme knpef fress koveref ly n lmnk` nproh nhf n sjnmm

wdite prnyer @nppoh der denf. Cessikn wohferef dow sde jnh-

nbef to èep aroj pnssihb out ih tde wnrj suh.

Fnhiem wns kmnf ih n strnw dnt, fnr` trousers, nhf n mohb-

smeevef fnr` lmue sdirt witd suspehfers. [de nmso wohferef dow

de lent tde dent witd tde fnr -komoref kmotdes. Vdey seejef to

le stuk` ih tde >477s.

I buess tdeyre spenìhb ih Wehhsymvnhin Futkd, dud?

Mihfsny nsèf, der bnze aommowihb tdeir nuht nhf uhkme.

Wrolnlmy. I wohfer ia tdeyre tnmìhb nlout us. Vnìhb ih n


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;7

Njy Kmipstoh

der ejotiohs too kmose to der denrt, nhf sde jibdt wihf up

fepressef.

\elekkn wohferef dow der hieke woumf nfcust to tdis Wmnihmiae nater menvihb der wormfmy existehke. Vde rooj wns n stnr`

kohtrnst to wdnt Cessikn dnf ih Qirbihin Lenkd. Ih der aorjer

doje, Cessikns rooj kohtnihef mouf mnvehfer wnmms kmutteref

witd posters nhf pdotobrnpds nmohb witd anhky aurhiture, ih-

kmufihb n vnhity, fes`, loo`sdemves, nhf n arimmy knhopy lef.

Mnky, tie-lnk` kurtnihs dnf fekorntef der mnrbe wihfows.

Dere, tde wnmms were pmnih wdite. Jost oa Cessikns nhf Mihf-

snys aurhiture dnf leeh put ihto n sdef nt tde lnk` oa \elekkns

property sihke ohmy n lef nhf two fressers woumf ait ih tde birms

hew roojs. Ho pdotos or eveh n jirror duhb oh tde wnmm. Wmnih

breeh sdnfes koveref tde wihfows.

Cessikn lrusdef der dnhf over tde wnmm nhf tdeh arowhef. I

aorbot. Ho emektrikity, so ho mibdt switkd.Youmm bet usef to it. Vde `erosehe mnhterhs wor` renmmy

wemm.

Its pretty ih n sijpme sort oa wny. You ihderitef tdis douse?

Cessikn steppef over nhf moo`ef out tde wihfow nt tde mnrbe,

breeh aiemf.

Vdnts ribdt, \elekkn snif. Brnke nhf I were tde ohmy kdim-freh ih our anjimy, ns you `how, nhf sde meat wdeh sde wns hihe-

teeh. I wns tde ohmy ohe meat, so I bot tde douse. Its leeh ih our

anjimy aor beherntiohs. Fnhiem jovef ih wdeh we jnrrief.

Cessikn ankef \elekkn, aomfihb der nrjs nkross der kdest.

Knh I fekornte it n lit? I how its trnfitioh to le pmnih, lut Ij

hot exnktmy Njisd.

\elekkn hoffef. I tdih` it woumf le o`ny witd Fnhiem, ns

mohb ns you fekornte it tnsteaummy. Remm bo over soje rumes to-

jorrow nater Vrisdn nhf Arnh` menve.

O`ny. Der hieke bnzef townrf tde pime oa loxes mihihb tde

anr wnmm.


23/45

;>

N BIAVoaB\NKE

Imm menve you to your uhpnkìhb. \elekkn denfef aor tde

foor. Imm bo stnrt oh supper. Ia you heef nhytdihb, cust knmm je.

Vrisdn nhf Mihfsny nppenref ih tde foorwny oa Mihfsnysrooj.

Vrisdn moopef der nrj nrouhf Mihfsnys sdoumfer. Fo you

wnht je to demp you uhpnk`?

Mihfsny sdoo` der denf. Ij aihe. You knh bo fo sojetdihb

emse.

Vrisdn bmnhkef nt \elekkn. Knh I demp you ih tde ìtkdeh?

\elekkn sdrubbef. Ia youf miè, lut its renmmy hothekessnry.

If le dnppy to, Vrisdn snif.

\elekkn denfef fowh tde stnirs witd Vrisdn ih tow. Vdey

hoffef to tde jovers kmijlihb tde stnirs witd loxes. Vdey

steppef ihto tde ìtkdeh, nhf \elekkn aisdef tdroubd tde re-

ariberntor aor ihbrefiehts.

Dow foes your reariberntor wor` sihke you foht dnve emek-

trikity? Vrisdn nsèf.

It ruhs oh bns. [de knrrief n dnhfaum oa vebetnlmes to tde

tnlme. Roumf you miè to jnè n snmnf?

[ure. Vrisdn sjimef.

Wmense dnve n sent. \elekkn hoffef townrf tde tnlme. Imm

lrihb you tde kdoppihb lmok` nhf n `hiae. [de krossef to tdeknlihet nhf retrievef n lmok` nhf tdeh n `hiae aroj tde domfer

oh tde kouhter. [de tdeh shntkdef n mnrbe lowm aroj tde knlihet

nhf lroubdt nmm oa tde suppmies to Vrisdn. Vdnh` you aor demp-

ihb je.

Od, foht le simmy. Vrisdn nrrnhbef tde vebetnlmes oh tde

tnlme. I npprekinte nmm youre foihb aor tde birms.

\elekkn bmnhkef tdroubd tde kohtehts oa tde reariberntor

nbnih. Its ho troulme. Ij foihb wdnt Brnke wnhtef. I wisd If

leeh n pnrt oa tde birms mives sooher. I cust dope tde birms woht

reseht leihb dere. It just le dnrf oh tdej. I sdow up nhf tdeir

wormf turhs upsife fowh. Wummihb out n kohtniher oa potnto


24/45

;

N BIAVoaB\NKE

Bmnhkihb nt Vrisdn, \elekkn hoffef. Vdis is boihb to le

fiaaikumt oh tdej, lut wemm fo tde lest we knh to jnè tdeir

trnhsitioh ensier.Vrisdn sibdef. I `how you wimm. Der expressioh lribdtehef.

Knh I demp you witd nhytdihb?

Ia you brnl tde cuike aroj tde reariberntor, Imm bet tde

bmnsses, \elekkn snif.

Rdime Vrisdn nhf \elekkn servef frih`s, Arnh` nhf tde birms

coihef tdej.

Ohke everyohe wns sentef, Fnhiem nhf \elekkn lowef tdeirdenfs ih simeht prnyer. Rdeh \elekkn mooèf up, sde lebnh pnss-

ihb nrouhf tde pmntes oa ebbs, lrenf, nhf lutter.

Fnhiem nhf Arnh` jnfe jost oa tde kohversntioh furihb

lrenànst ns tdey dnf furihb supper mnst hibdt.

\elekkn arequehtmy bmnhkef over nt tde birms nhf aouhf tdej

stufyihb tdeir pmntes nhf bmnsses. [de trief to frnw tdej out ly

nsìhb questiohs nlout tdeir uhpnkìhb eaaorts, rekeivihb ohmy

ohe-worf nhswers ih respohse.

Rdeh lrenànst wns aihisdef, tde jeh fisnppenref outsife

wdime \elekkn, Vrisdn, nhf tde birms kmenhef up tde ìtkdeh.

Vrisdn fiskussef tde wentder nhf dow jukd sde ehcoyef lren`-

anst. Nmtdoubd Vrisdn nffressef tde birms, tdey quietmy wnsdef

nhf frief tde fisdes wdime Vrisdn nhf \elekkn kmenhef up tdetnlme nhf put nwny tde meatover aoof.

Rdeh tdey dnf kojpmetef tdeir kmenhup, Vrisdn stoof leaore

tde birms nhf arowhef. \elekkns stojnkd tibdtehef, `howihb

ly Vrisdns expressioh wdnt wns kojihb hext.

Remm, I tdih` its nlout tije to sny boof-lye, Vrisdn snif,

bmnhkihb nt der wristwntkd. Uhkme Arnh` wnhtef to menve ly

hihe, nhf its nmjost teh.

Cessikn arowhef, nhf \elekkns denrt twistef.

Vrisdn renkdef ihto der pokèt nhf pummef sojetdihb out. Vnè

tdis. [de pmnkef n kemmumnr pdohe ih Cessikns dnhf, wrnppihb der

aihbers nrouhf it. [dnre it witd Mihfsny. Imm pny tde limm.


33/45

6

N BIAVoaB\NKE

\elekkn pummef oh der hibdtbowh nhf shntkdef tde lrusd oh

der fresser. \uhhihb it tdroubd der mohb dnir, sde wohferef

dow tde birms were smeepihb.[def denrf soat voikes ih Cessikns rooj wdeh sde weht to

kdek` oh tdej n mittme wdime nbo. [de dopef tdey were nlme to

settme fowh nhf smeep fespite snyihb boof-lye to Arnh` nhf

Vrisdn tofny. Buimt hippef nt der wdime sde pohferef tde pnih

nhf nhxiety tde birms were ehfurihb ih tdis hew doje.

Vde lefrooj foor soatmy opehef witd n squen` nhf tdeh

kmosef. Vurhihb, sde aouhf Fnhiem krossihb tde lefrooj wdimepummihb oaa dis sdirt.

Rdnts oh your jihf? de nsèf.

Hotdihb, sde snif, sihìhb ohto tde lef. [de rnh tde lrusd

tdroubd der dnir nhf stnref fowh nt tde mob knlih pntterh quimt

der jotder dnf jnfe mohb leaore \elekkn nhf Brnke were

lorh.

Lek`y, I `how you letter tdnh tdnt. [de denrf tde sjime

ih dis voike. I knh temm wdeh sojetdihb is entihb nt you oh tde

ihsife. De snt fowh lesife der, nhf tde lef bronhef uhfer dis

weibdt. Rdnt is it?

[ibdihb, sde mooèf up ihto dis eyes, tnìhb kojaort ih tde

wnrjtd tdere. I wohfer ia I jnfe n jistnè lrihbihb tde birms

dere.Dis eyelrows kihkdef ih questioh. Rdy woumf you tdih`

tdnt?

Rdnt fo I `how nlout rnisihb teehnbe birms? sde nsèf,

der voike trejlmihb witd uhkertnihty. Nhf wdnt fo tdey `how

nlout mivihb dere ih our kojjuhity?

JeiMiel, de lebnh, tnìhb der dnhfs ih dis. Re wimm jnè

it tdroubd tdis. Re cust heef to buife tdej. Vdey wimm nfcust.

You dnve n mot oa move to bive tdej, nhf tdey heef you.

\elekkn aemt tde move nhf renssurnhke ih dis anke nhf wisdef

sde koumf lemieve dij. I foht `how, Fnhiem. Rdeh tde mnwyer

tomf je tdnt Brnke wnhtef je to le tdeir bunrfinh I wns so


42/45

5 Jix > kup jim`, > kup subnr, nhf > kup amour.

Fnys kup jim`, > kup subnr, nhf > kup a mour.

Fnys 1 tdroubd 9 [tir enkd fny.

Fny >7 Nff > kup jim`, > kup subnr, > kup amour.

Ihto enkd oa tdree kohtnihers, put > kup oa tde jixture. Bive

to ; ariehfs or èep ohe aor yoursema ns n stnrter nhf bive kup subnr; ebbs

> >/< tsp lnìhb sofn

> >/< tsp kihhnjoh

> >/< tsp snmt

> >/< tsp lnìhb powfer

> tsp kihhnjoh

Nff nlove ihbrefiehts to stnrter. Wour jixture ihto < mona

pnhs or > luhft knè pnh tdnt dns leeh brensef nhf amouref.

L ` t ;57 f a 65 t 57 i t Y m ff i

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A Gift of Grace: A Novel by Amy Clipston