A few months ago I decided to section off a small corner with some garden tables and chairs. I thought it would be a wonderful place to sit and chat while enjoying a treat. We offer gourmet hot chocolate, flavored coffee and tea, and with the season upon us, warm apple cider. The idea was a hit right away, and it’s very rare that you won’t find the tables full of laughter. If you listen closely, you can even hear satisfied sighs of delight once they breathe in the aroma of their hot drink and taste their chocolate treat.
“I just put on a fresh pot. That’s been a hot commodity the past few days. Oh, and there was a message from Pastor Joy. If you were feeling up to it, they would still like to meet this morning here for coffee. I told her you would call her right away.” Lilly said.
Every Thursday morning a group of ladies from our local church meet here for coffee. We’re called the Latte Ladies. There are five of us who meet for coffee, chocolate and prayer. These ladies have been my morning cup of sanity many times. Being the youngest of the bunch, I get to be mothered and mentored by four older women on a regular basis.
I have to admit I love it. I might give the appearance of a strong independent woman, but deep inside I love to be taken care of. It was my Latte Ladies who gave me the push to create Chocolate Blessings.
The bell above the door jingles as I pour myself a cup of hot cider. In walks Matthew, carrying brightly wrapped boxes.
“Well good morning, Sunshine,” he greets me using his nickname for me. “Good to see my wife’s pampering did the job. Heather said you could put the ribbon things on these boxes.” Matthew has a brilliant mind, one that is constantly running. The only thing is, along with that brilliant mind, he’s also very logical and practical. While he agrees that the little things in our store help to sell our product, trying to figure out just what little things we need are is beyond his comprehension.
“Ribbon thingies? You mean bows?” I grab a few of the boxes while trying to juggle my dripping cup of cider. Despite specific instructions to not peak, I’m sorely tempted to go against Heather’s orders. The delicious aroma escaping one of the boxes I am holding is almost too hard to resist.
“Hmm, what’s inside?” I asked.
I’m hoping that Heather didn’t tell him I’m not allowed to peek. I dislike surprises with a passion, especially if I know about them. Just knowing about a surprise gets to me.
Especially when it comes to chocolate. Keeping chocolate a secret is just not fair. I’m like a little kid in a candy store, then I find myself actually giggling out loud, ‘cause in reality, I really am a big kid in a chocolate store.
“I was there when Heather told you not to look. You’re allowed to help wrap them all pretty like, but then that’s it. These are those surprise thingies we decided to do,” Matt said while trying to maneuver around all the displays, the front counter and then around the office door in the back.
As we walked into our tiny office, the phone was ringing. Answering it I heard,
“Put on fresh coffee ‘cause we’re coming over.” giggles, and then click. I chuckled. The Latte Ladies. That was Joan. She’s quite the character. Always has a smile on her face, and you just can’t help but to smile when you see her. I can imagine that today she will be wearing some type of Christmas earrings that dangle, light up or sing a song along with her sparkling Christmas jacket.
“Who was that?” asked Matt. Then he looks at the calendar, sees the big coffee mug stickers that are placed on every Thursday, and groaned.
“Let me guess, your coffee ladies. Hey, get them to buy a box, and then you can see what is in them.” What a nice guy, offering me a way out of having to willfully disobey one of Heather’s many orders.
“I think I might just do that … if you hurry and hand me the ribbons and bows.”
***
After an hour or so fiddling with ribbons, I heard the doorbell jingling and laughter filling the store. My Latte Ladies have arrived.
“Hmmm, something smells good.”
“Oh, she put apple cider on. She must love us.”
“Chocolate and coffee – the best of friends.”
“Oh, what do you have in those boxes? I want one.”
As I juggle the boxes in my hand, the women come over to help me arrange them on the shelves. My mouth waters knowing soon I’ll find out what is in the boxes.
“Oh, what do we have here? Hmmm, it smells delicious. Oh, and it’s a secret. Wynne, where do you come up with the ideas. I’m gonna have to grab one of these. Tracey, you take one too--you need to put some weight on that body of yours. Judy, won’t these be perfect gifts for our Secret Sister’s group? Oh, and we must add a few of these to the Christmas baskets. Pastor Joy, you know you can’t turn up chocolate. Wynne, why do you always seem to be placing new product out when we arrive in the store. Shame on you, like we could ever deny ourselves the pleasure of your sweets.” Joan Hollingway fired off before taking a breath.
Meet Joan, the one lady in our group who has a habit of talking rather quickly when she gets excited. And if you haven’t already figured it out, chocolate in any form gets her excited.
As each woman grabs her box and coffee we head over to the café section of the store. I’ve made sure that I created this space with coziness in mind. It has the look of an outdoor café, but with the warmth of country cottage. Cushions on each seat, hand made tablecloths, and antique furniture to grace this little corner. Since this is an area where you sit and chat, many of my handmade items for sale in this area. From plaques, to stitchery designs, tattered pillows and quilts. Handmade dolls, candles, sheep of all sorts, quilts and fabric. So many wonderful ladies create these products, and it’s continually being updated with new product on a weekly basis. I firmly believe in showcasing these items. I know personally how much love and care goes into every single stitch and design.
When Matt and I first opened Chocolate Blessings, we began with consignment items in the beginning, until I realized since so many of the ladies who sell here consider this to be their one source of income for themselves.
Normally the first few minutes of each Thursday morning are spent pursuing all the new finds within this nook. After that, we would gather at the table, get comfy and delve right into each other’s lives. For the longest time, my life was the hot topic. Thankfully, no longer. This time it appears to be Tracey’s turn. As much as she is one of my closest friends, I take delight in having the focus set on her for a change.
“So Tracey, how are the kids doing? Was Pastor Mike able to take a break from the church office and watch the little ones for you, or did you have to find a sitter?” Judy asked.
Tracey was married to Pastor Mike Wells, the youth pastor in our church. They have been with us for the past 4 years now, and are loved by many. Tracey has three children and I used to envy her, until I took a few days off and helped around her home after the birth of her youngest. Now I just load her with chocolate every time I see her. Whoever said raising children was easy must have had a full time nanny.
“Little Miles is starting to get the hang of crawling, which means Josiah has to clean up his toys more. Katy is having a bit of a hard time with school. Mike and I have talked about home school, but I honestly don’t think it’s something I could handle right now,” she admits with a sheepish grin.
“Home school Tracey. Are you out of your mind?” I said.
The glare Tracey sent my way made me bit my lip.
“I said we were talking about it, not actually doing it. Mike has talked to a couple families in our church who home school, and they all claim that their children excel more at home. I just don’t know,” she sighed.
I feel a kick on my shin and while I’m rubbing it, I see Pastor Joy give me a dirty look. I’m the one who should be handing out the dirty looks, it’s my shin that now hurts.
“Tracey, would you mind if we brought this to the Lord in prayer? This is obviously something that weighs pretty heavily on your heart, and it’s the last thing you need to be worrying about right now,” asked Pastor Joy. She’s great in hearing what people have to say, and directing things to God.
As Tracey nods her head in agreement, I notice Joan fiddling in her seat. She keeps twisting the surprise box in her hands. “Oh come on ladies, and let’s hurry and open our boxes so we can see what goodies lie inside. I’m sure the good Lord will understand the need to have a bit of heaven in our mouths before we begin.”
Finally. “Please do. Heather made me promise not to peek inside the boxes, so I can’t wait to see what you have.” I said.
“Well, we wouldn’t want Wynne to break her promise, now would we.” Judy said, a wide grin filling her face. As they all slowly open their surprise boxes, I lean in trying to peak.
Inside the boxes, Heather has created a masterpiece. There’s a chocolate basket inside each box with tiny little chocolate forms inside each basket. Judy has a white chocolate basket filled with little chocolate apples. Pastor Joy has a milk chocolate basket filled with little Christmas tree shaped chocolates. Tracey has the same basket but with baby sheep forms and Joan has a dark chocolate basket filled with chocolate hearts. Heather has truly outdone herself.
As each woman at the table savors her tiny piece of chocolate heaven, Pastor Joy brings out her Bible. We have been dealing with how we view ourselves as daughters of God. It’s been an interesting study to say the least. It’s one thing to actually say you are a child of God. It’s another thing to believe it. It’s all about how we view ourselves which then in turns reflects on how we think God views us. He loves us with unconditional love, but we’re the ones who feel there should be limits and boundaries to His love for us.
My favorite one is in Psalms – “I will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” No matter what happens in my life, I will give God the glory. It was this scripture that helped me to hold my head high after the whole wedding fiasco.
After our prayer at the end where we pray for Tracey, I gather up all the coffee cups and empty chocolate boxes. I hear the jingle of the doorbells ring, and briefly glance to see who has walked in. To my surprise it was Nancy Montgomery. The ban of my very existence. It’s very rare for Nancy comes into Chocolate Blessings.
She blames me for running her son out of town.
I pretend to not see her. Maybe that way she will not notice me and then hopefully leave. Past encounters have either left me in tears or made me want to scream. I don’t know how she does it, but she leaves me quaking in my very shoes.
And to think once upon a time she was going to be my mother-in-law.
Chapter 3
“Mrs. Montgomery. So nice to see you. You came at just the right time. We have a new display, called our Sweet Surprise. Don’t you think the little boxes with bows are adorable. And just wait till you see what is inside – you won’t be able to resist.”
Thank goodness for Lily. As she chatters with Nancy, I try to casually slink away.
Unfortunately, neither slinking nor the chatter worked as a victorious diversion.
“Yes, Lily, I will take one of those boxes, but first I must speak with Wynne. I know she has her little Bible study this morning, so she must be around,” Nancy said as she glances around the store.
I know she will spot me any moment, so I stand up straight, grasp Judy’s hand for a quick moment of strength, and call out a greeting, which I hope doesn’t show my hesitation.
“Good morning Nancy. You’ll love what you find in those mystery boxes. Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask as I’m silently congratulating myself for not allowing my voice to quiver.
“Yes, actually there is. Lily, be a dear and ring up a few of those boxes, as well as one of those little gift cards that you have, and have it say Welcome Home. Also I want that white pitcher in the window display holding those lovely Gerbera flowers,” she demanded as she walks towards me.
“Wynne, I have received some news this morning that I wanted to share with you. Jude is coming home today. His father is ill, and he is coming home to help with the business. Please leave him alone. Stay out of his way. My son has finally decided to return home, to where he belongs. You broke his heart once; he doesn’t need you to do it again. Stay away from my son.” The cold glean in her eye was enough to freeze hell over and beyond.
My heart dropped to the floor. It skipped a beat before slowly rising.
Ever since that fateful day when I wouldn’t walk down the aisle, Nancy has blamed me for her son leaving town three years ago. Never mind the fact that it was a mutual agreement not to get married and that it was his decision to move away. She adamantly declares that I broke her son’s heart. While I do agree with her, doesn’t she see that it hurt me too? I understand she’s hurt and feels abandoned by her only child, but why does she continually take it out on me?
Nancy has a habit of giving me the cold shoulder whenever we meet in church. Very rarely does she come into my store, yet she always seems to know what is happening in my life. Nancy and I had a close relationship once upon a time. Jude was a major part of my life for such a long time, and it just became natural to have a relationship with his mother. It was one thing to lose her presence in my life, but it is quite another thing to be treated as a stranger.
I know the joy of the Lord is to be my strength, but in this instance, I don’t feel very strong. For three years I’ve had to pretend that the break up between Jude and I was mutual, that there were no hard feelings. When he decided to leave town, my heart broke. He is such a great guy, and I broke his heart. Not too many people know what really happened between us. We both agreed it was better that way.