St. Michael’s Cove—the “Cove,” a small village 19 miles from Los Angeles; Rose Hill Farm; “The Farm”; Craftsman Cottage—type of cottage where Bernie lives; The Breakfast Place—coffee… Read more “Guide to St. Michael’s Cove Places and Characters”

Friday  Bernie was putting the final touches on her Mother’s Day homily for Sunday when Dot buzzed her on Friday afternoon. “Audrey’s here to see you.” “Thanks.  I’ll… Read more “Epilogue”

Liz called to Anna from the kitchen overlooking the family room while she was arranging the cheeses, pate, and crackers on trays.  “Anna, we are having another… Read more “Chapter 43. Easter Dinner”

While they were singing the last hymn, a nice-looking man in his early forties wearing khaki pants and a blue oxford button down shirt, and brown loafers… Read more “Chapter 42. So You Say You Want a Revolution”

Liz came downstairs just after 6 a.m. to the aroma of coffee brewing; she had programed the coffee machine the night before. She fetched the colored hard… Read more “Chapter 41. Easter Egg Hunt”

Liz had brought Brian’s and Kevin’s artwork to Hope Chapel after work on Thursday. The artwork was arranged on easels around the perimeter of the sanctuary with… Read more “Chapter 40. Good Friday”

Bernie was waiting at 8 am on Saturday morning for Karl to pick her up in the church parking lot.  She was wearing her collar, as she always… Read more “Chapter 39. Dallas National”

I’ll get it—I’m expecting someone from Westside Security,” Brian announced when the doorbell rang just before 7:30 the next morning.  He had just returned from taking Keller out.  Liz… Read more “Chapter 38. Marvelous Marta”

Brian was in his second story office overlooking Wilshire Boulevard on Thursday afternoon when his assistant buzzed him.  “Mr. Levin is on line 2 for you,” she said.… Read more “Chapter 37. Noises in the Night”

“Maybe she went for a walk. She couldn’t have taken the car,” Andy said unconcernedly. “I have the key right here.” He pointed to the keys on… Read more “Chapter 36. The Accident”

“Anna, do you know if Audrey or Andy want to go to the Lenten service tonight?” Liz asked.   “I don’t know about Andy, but Audrey texted me… Read more “Chapter 35. People of Hope”

Liz arrived home on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.to find Kevin on the floor of the family room playing with Keller.  It was a good sign. Brian had worked… Read more “Chapter 34. Stations of the Cross”

“Miss Emma,” Angel said, “Pastor Bernie is on the phone for you; she wants to know if it is still okay if she comes at 3 o’clock… Read more “Chapter 33. Miss Emma”

Brian looked at the Sunday church bulletin as the congregation sang Amazing Grace, and read the sermon title, “Is God MIA?”  Boy, is that fitting, he thought.  He sure seems… Read more “Chapter 32. Is God MIA?”

“Yes, I’ll accept the charges,” Karl said warily.  He motioned to Ginny to pick up the kitchen extension. “Dad? It’s me, Derek . . . I mean Darrin.”… Read more “Chapter 31. Silver Linings”

The house had been filled with the aroma of roast chicken for a couple of hours.  Liz lifted the heavy roasting pot out of the oven and… Read more “Chapter 30. The Little People”

It was almost 2 p.m. when Liz put the final touches on the memo to her boss summarizing the court hearing.  She had been in court all morning… Read more “Chapter 29. Victory!”

The others looked up expectantly at Alison and Charlotte when they rejoined them in the living room.   “That was Crystal,” Charlotte said.  “Max died.”  “You mean, Max, her… Read more “Chapter 28. Uncle Max”

Tonight was Charlotte’s turn to host the monthly SIS group.  She had fully recovered from the accident from a few weeks before. She patted her tummy happily. She… Read more “Chapter 27. Hospitality”

Bernie sat back in her chair in her office after Karl left and pondered what he had just told her during his second visit to her office.… Read more “Chapter 26. The Prodigal Son”

Bernie was sitting at her desk in her office looking at a Bible timeline in preparation for Sunday’s sermon, when she noticed the red light on the… Read more “Chapter 25. Sinners Central”

Bernie stood in the narthex of Hope Chapel on Sunday morning, underneath the plaque engraved with the church’s mission statement: “Reaching out to everyone to share Christ’s… Read more “Chapter 24. Nic at Night”

Within ten minutes there were three big uniformed men in Abbey’s bedroom—two paramedics and a police officer.  After the head paramedic revived her, they monitored her vitals, and… Read more “Chapter 23. The Houseguests”

When Liz arrived home late in the afternoon, Sean proudly showed her his nine completed quilt blocks—including an outline of his hand, a ladybug, a rainbow, a… Read more “Chapter 22. Knock-Knock”

It was a beautiful California afternoon when Brian O’Connell finished his round of golf—68 degrees, bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight and a refreshing ocean… Read more “Chapter 21. Golf Course”

Brian had already left to play golf when Liz woke up at 6:00 a.m., and crossed herself.  Martin Luther had instructed his flock to make the sign of… Read more “Chapter 20. Saturday Morning”

The week had flown by. Liz was grateful that the meds had stabilized Kevin, and that he was feeling better. But as Dr. Baker had advised, Liz… Read more “Chapter 19. Green Glop”

Liz lifted the magnetic office identification card on the cord around her neck and slid it over the reader to open the door into the City Attorney’s… Read more “Chapter 18. The Boss”

Even though Bernie’s secretary, Dorothy Patel, was a proper English woman, she insisted on being called Dot or Dotty.  Dot was a formidable gatekeeper who knew that her… Read more “Chapter 17. Karl at Hope”

Dr. Baker, Kevin’s endocrinologist, had just finished examining Kevin, and motioned for Brian and Liz to meet him in the hall.  A nurse stayed in the room with… Read more “Chapter 16. Diagnosis”

“Mom, I don’t feel so good.” Kevin shuffled into Liz and Brian’s bedroom as they were starting to get ready for bed. Liz turned to look at… Read more “Chapter 15. Emergency Room”

When Liz woke up at 2:03 am, she reached for the smooth wood hand cross in the basket on her bedside table.  It was made by an artisan… Read more “Chapter 14. The Office”

Bernie glanced at the digital clock on her desk phone before picking it up when the red light lit up. It was 11:32.  “There’s a Crystal Miller… Read more “Chapter 13. Hope Chapel”

On Sunday the O’Connells woke up to a beautiful day in Mammoth with blue sky, sun and fresh snow.  Brian and kids couldn’t turn down the chance to… Read more “Chapter 12. Mammoth–Part 2”

But instead of being hit by the truck, Crystal was jerked back onto the sidewalk by a stranger who grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He… Read more “Chapter 11. Saved!”

After Dexter left her, Crystal had trouble focusing.  They had been seeing a marriage counselor for almost two years. How could he just leave her after eleven years of… Read more “Chapter 10. Crystal”

All of the kids whooped with delight when they pulled up to the cabin about eleven thirty, after seeing the sled track on the side of the… Read more “Chapter 9. Blizzard”

Thursday morning. The kids stumbled into the car after dressing hastily in the pre-dawn hour.  Brian had packed the car the night before, and Liz added a few… Read more “Chapter 8. Mammoth– Part 1”

Taking the week off had been a good decision. Liz found soon enough that Keller stuck to her like Velcro—he followed her everywhere!  For the first few days… Read more “Chapter 7. Ash Wednesday”

The distress in Charlotte’s ashen face was apparent when she answered the door.  The clip holding her hair was askew, and her thick luxuriant brown hair spilled out… Read more “Chapter 6. A Miracle”

St. Michael’s Cove Chapter Four.  Does Dad know?  They had been in the airline cargo waiting room for 30 minutes.  Liz couldn’t figure out why it was taking so… Read more “Chapter 4. Does Dad Know?”

St. Michael’s Cove Chapter 3.  Cuppa and a Chat  Returning from their morning walk, Bernie made a pot of Irish Breakfast tea in her mother’s Belleek teapot, and… Read more “Chapter 3. Cuppa and a Chat”

St. Michael’s Cove Chapter 5.  The Martin Twins The security system in the Martin home announced “alarm off,” in a loud tone that hurt Abbey Martin’s head.  She muted… Read more “Chapter 5. The Martin Twins”