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    A New Chapter: A Smitten Novella
    A New Chapter: A Smitten Novella
    A New Chapter: A Smitten Novella
    Ebook98 pages1 hour

    A New Chapter: A Smitten Novella

    By Diann Hunt

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    The century-old Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!

    When Lia's childhood best friend Joey moves back to town, his daughter plays matchmaker to help them find their own new beginning.

    Lia is a kindergarten teacher who insists all the Smitten Book Club members read Anne of Green Gables. She likes nothing better than a pastoral novel where an outsider finds a special place in an idyllic community.

    When her childhood friend Joey moves back to Smitten with his daughter Grace in tow, Lia reaches out to help with Grace as Joey settles in as partner in his brother's dental practice. With a little matchmaking from Grace, Lia and Joey soon discover their friendship has grown into a love that could last a lifetime.

    "Charming." —Best-selling author Robin Lee Hatcher of Knit One, Love Two

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateJan 21, 2014
    ISBN9781401691431
    A New Chapter: A Smitten Novella

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      Book preview

      A New Chapter - Diann Hunt

      A man doesn’t always know what he wants. It’s up to the gentlewoman to show him.

      PEARL CHAMBERS, The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship

      CHAPTER ONE

      O
w." Elliana Burton flipped her auburn hair behind her shoulder and cupped her hand against her cheek.

      What is it, Lia? her mom asked, carving more turkey on the dining room table.

      The apple walnut salad, she said as though a marble were loose in her mouth. There was a piece of walnut shell. I think my filling came out. She discreetly eyed the silver filling in her napkin.

      Sympathetic groans rippled appropriately around the table. If anyone knew the value of teeth, it was their friends from the Smitten Assisted Living Center.

      You’d better get that taken care of immediately. Mrs. Hobson pointed a gnarled finger at her. You don’t want to end up like me. She pulled down her dentures to reveal her plight.

      Lia walked over and settled on the sofa. Her mom abandoned the turkey and grabbed the phone.

      Dr. Sam won’t come in on Thanksgiving, Lia said.

      Yes, he will. It’s an emergency. Besides, I changed Sam Oliver’s diapers. He owes me. Mom punched in the numbers.

      Lia moaned. What a bummer. Not only do I have to go to the dentist, but I have to miss turkey and gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, and rolls. This is awful. She leaned her head back against the sofa and threw her arm over her eyes. She could still smell the peach lotion she’d put on after her shower. The lotion her dad had bought her every year at Christmas until he died two years ago. She still bought it as a reminder of him.

      Her mother clicked off the phone. He’ll meet you at his office in half an hour.

      That doesn’t give him time to eat.

      Mom shrugged. He didn’t seem to mind. She shoved herself off the sofa and made her way back to the table, shoes clacking against the hardwood. You know Sam; he’s always willing to help friends.

      He’ll give me that lecture about not coming in on a regu­lar basis. Lia got up and headed for her bedroom to get her handbag—and her dog-eared copy of Anne of Green Gables. One last-minute glance in the mirror and she tucked a strand of baby’s breath at the side of her hair.

      Rightfully, he should, Mom whispered to her guests. She has white-coat syndrome.

      I heard that, Lia called as she walked out the door.

      The noonday sun hung suspended just over Sugarcreek Mountain, bringing a zest of color to the bare trees and brown lawns of winter. Even the frigid cold couldn’t deter her love for the town of Smitten. Cozy shops and bungalows nestled at the foothills of the mountain. People who had time for each other. Front porch people, Lia called them. Everyone had time for a chat.

      As she pulled into the dental practice, she noticed that Sam had a new silver truck. She looked at her little VW Bug—yellow with daisies painted on the side doors. Teaching might not afford the fanciest of cars, but she was quite happy with hers.

      Grabbing her handbag and book, she got out of the car and walked up the entrance to the door. She shoved her remote into her bag, thinking how nice it was to live in a town where they didn’t have to worry about locking their cars.

      The air was crisp, but none of the threatened snow yet. She straightened her navy coat and adjusted her red scarf. After taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. There was no receptionist to greet her, so she called out tentatively, Hello?

      Come on back. I’m just getting things ready.

      Lia rubbed her sweaty palms together and tried to keep the room from spinning. If her kindergarten kids could go to a dentist, she certainly should be able to. She would get a free toothbrush, after all. But those smells, medicinal-type smells, needles, chairs that recline so you can’t get up, bright lights and a mirror. Like she wanted to see that?

      And don’t even get her started on having someone’s hand in her mouth.

      When she reached the room, she saw the back of Sam’s white coat as he gathered together the instruments he needed, instruments that made her stomach flip-flop. The room was quiet, since it was Thanksgiving Day, but the sterile atmosphere still made her nervous. Something about latex gloves brought on thoughts of dark movies with murder and blood and autopsies.

      Her heartbeat kicked up several notches.

      Go ahead and have a seat, he said.

      She swallowed hard. It occurred to her they were alone. If he hurt her, who would know? Her knuckles gripped the armrests. What if he resented the fact that she had missed her teeth cleanings for the last three years? Now was the time he could make her pay . . .

      She took two calming breaths and said, I’m really so sorry to bother you on Thanksgiving Day. I bit down on a walnut that, unfortunately, had part of the shell still attached to it.

      Don’t worry about it. We’ll get you fixed right up. He grabbed an instrument. I normally have an assistant help me, but since it’s Thanksgiving, I couldn’t get in touch with anyone. He turned around and flashed a warm smile.

      Lia’s mouth involuntarily dropped to her chest.

      Joey Oliver blinked. Elliana, I didn’t realize . . . My brother didn’t say . . . Well, how are you?

      Lia finally clamped her mouth shut and swallowed hard. Then she laughed. Her heart pounded, but not because she was seated in a dentist’s chair—because of Joey Oliver. The man she had given her heart to in grade school and never gotten it back.

      If only he knew.

      Boy, it’s good to see you. How long has it been?

      Forever.

      Fifteen years? I’ll bet you’re married with ten kids by now. He kept smiling. I remember when I used to pull your hair and call you carrottop.

      That’s when she and Anne of Green Gables had established a lasting bond.

      I see you still read it, he said, pointing to her book.

      Yep. I admit I have white-coat syndrome. The book calms me down.

      No worries here. I’ll be gentle.

      Something about the way he said that made

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