Romance: New Beginnings (Young Adult and Adult Romance, Christian Christmas Fiction book as a Love Story) (Second Chances Trilogy 3) Read Free Page B

Academy. At least for right now. They said they would do what they could to help with her missing so many days, but I…”
    “Hey, you’re in luck. Daniella just started pre-school there this term. I can take Emily to school today and I’ll let her teacher know what’s going on.”
    Once again, Victoria was brought to tears by the generosity of the woman from next door. Thank you! “I don’t even know what to say, but ‘Thanks’.”
    Grace smiled at her, “No thanks needed. Tell me where your pain pills are.”
    “In the bathroom, top shelf. I didn’t want Emily to...,” her voice died off as a horrible cough consumed her.
    Grace entered the bathroom, finding the bottle of pills, and then filling a disposable cup with water. Returning to the bed, she asked, “One pill or two?”
    “Two, please. The first few days are always the worst.” Victoria took the pills and the cup of water, grateful when Grace gently lifted her head up from the pillow so she could swallow the pills.
    “I remember. My older sister did the majority of the care for my mom, insisting I finish school, but I still remember how bad it could get. Do you need me to put a waste basket next to the bed?” Grace remembered the nausea that would plague her mom the first few days after a chemo round. As if losing your hair and being wracked with pain wasn’t enough to go through!
    “No, I finished all of that yesterday.” Victoria handed back the empty cup and tried to keep her eyes open. She was so tired!
    “Good.” Grace returned the pill bottle to the bathroom cabinet, wetting a clean washrag and bringing it back. She gently wiped Victoria’s forehead, returning her smile with one of her own. One done, she folded the chair up and put it back against the wall and then pulled the walker that had been leaning next to it over and opened it up.
    “Please do yourself a favor and use this if you need to. I’m going to grab the girls and get them to school. I’ll have Jane stop by and say ‘Hello’ for a minute before she heads to work. When I come back this afternoon, be prepared to tell us how we can help you out until you have your feet back under you. And before you politely decline my offer, please know that I can be tenacious when I want to be. Neighbors help each other. End of story.”
    Grace didn’t wait for the shocked woman to reply; she smiled at her and then left the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Well, this had certainly added another element to her life, but added it had been. Grace had never shied away from a challenge, or offering help when it was needed, and she wasn’t about to start now. Daniella was going to see what it meant to “Love your neighbor” in living color.

Chapter 3
    Grace arrived at the school with both girls, Emily having dressed herself in the required school uniform of plaid skirt and polo shirt. Jane had worked her magic on her tangled hair, and she now sported two identical braids, tied with matching ribbons on the ends.
    The pre-school classes had already left for the butterfly house, but the school secretary offered to call Mr. Simpson and let him know that Grace would be bringing Daniella over shortly. While Grace went to talk with Emily’s teacher, Daniella stayed with the secretary and watched the fish in the large saltwater tank that greeted the children each morning.
    Grace explained what was happening with Emily’s mom, and the teacher promised to compile of list of homework the child needed to work on to catch up with the rest of the class. Grace and Jane would both pitch in and see that she finished the school year with the rest of her classmates.
    After dropping Daniella off at the butterfly house, she ran a few errands. She then went grocery shopping for both households, arriving back at the school just in time to pick up both little girls.
    “Dani, how was the butterfly house?” Grace asked as she pulled away from the school.
    “Momma, we gots to see a canterpull