As we get closer to the release of Where Healing Starts, I have another between the books short story to share with you.The Applewood Hill Bed and Breakfast is the center for a lot of Hannigan Family life. And although the issues touched on in each book is serious, life at the Applewood Hill between the books often takes on a more lighthearted tone. Read the short story, “Thief in the House”, for a peek inside one of those more humorous events.

Thief in the House

The sweet smell of spring blooms drifted over Karen. Tendrils of hair escaped from behind her ears and danced in the breeze.  Relishing these few moments before the rush of the day began, she leaned back and sighed. The sun warmed her face as it climbed higher in the sky. She took a last sip of her tea and gathered up her journal.

“Mrs. Karen. Mrs. Karen.”

She watched Danny, their neighbor boy run across the field separating their house from the bed and breakfast. She grinned. He splashed joy wherever he went.

He panted as he came to a stop at the bottom step of the gazebo. “Hola. Do you have something for me to do today?”

During the summer, she could set her clock by his arrival. He showed up at eight a.m. sharp every morning. He was only 10 years old, but worked harder than some of the adults they hired to work in the orchard at harvest time. She couldn’t officially hire him, but she would give him odd jobs to help around with then send home some apples or some other food from the kitchen.

She looked across the field and waved at his mother who stood watching to make sure he made it over safely. They were a sweet family and Karen knew they struggled to make ends meet. This was her way of helping them out without making them feeling like they were just taking a handout. Besides, it was worth it to see……read the rest of the story HERE.