* * *
"Dad!" Hannah called out as she stepped into her childhood home, feeling engulfed in its warmth and welcome. "We're here."
George Raymond stepped out from the den, a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on the end of his nose. He wore slacks, a shirt and the old gray wool sweater she'd knitted for him several years back. His smile was broad and automatic as he spied Hannah and Riley just inside the front door.
"Welcome, welcome," he greeted, holding open his arms. He gave Hannah an enthusiastic hug and exchanged hearty handshakes with Riley.
"Let me get a good look at you," her father said excitedly, stepping back to examine her.
Hannah couldn't help but blush. She removed her coat and hung it in the hall closet, self-conscious the whole time of how prominent her pregnancy was becoming. A little nervous, as well, knowing she'd be confronting members of her father's congregation. It wouldn't take long for anyone to realize she'd been several months pregnant when she married Riley.
"I'm getting so fat," she murmured, resting her hands on her bulging stomach.
"I don't believe I've ever seen you more beautiful," he told her thoughtfully. "My goodness, girl! You look more like your mother every day."
"Where would you like me to put these things?" Riley asked. He'd returned to the car and had carted back an armload of goods Hannah had insisted they bring.
"Oh, my goodness, I forgot about the pies. In here," she said, directing Riley toward the kitchen.
He followed her into the country-style kitchen and set the flat boxes that contained the pumpkin and apple pies on the countertop. "I swear you packed enough food to feed an army," he chastised. But she noted he wasn't complaining too loudly since she'd baked the apple pie especially for him.
"Dad wouldn't have known what to have ready," she explained for the sixth time. She'd gone grocery shopping the day before, picking up everything they'd need for Christmas dinner. Her father had relied on her to cook the main meal at Christmas for so many years, she doubted that he knew what to have on hand. Rather than leave it to chance, she'd brought everything with her, much to Riley's chagrin.
As Riley and her father carried everything inside, she sorted through the grocery sacks, tucking several items inside the cupboards.
It felt good to be home again, Hannah mused. She felt keenly the warmth of her father's welcome, although she'd had mixed feelings about this visit for several weeks.
Oh, she was pleased to see her father again. They'd spoken regularly on the phone, taking turns contacting each other, and he'd been the one to suggest she and Riley make the two-hour trip to Seattle for the Christmas holiday.