White Orchids

 White Orchids (1935) by Grace Livingston Hill

Camilla Chrystie, in a mad rush to retrieve medicine vital for her ailing mother's recovery, manages to avoid serious injury when she becomes involved in an automobile accident. Her dilapidated "flivver"? Not so much

...a great truck came smashing down the crossroad, full power, striking the little flivver with a mighty impact, neatly removing a wheel, and sending the car spinning straight into the air in a series of somersaults. It landed in the opposite ditch with crumpled fenders, broken bumpers, a twisted axle, and a fatal injury to its internal organs.

Fortunately for Camilla, a handsome, pleasant young man in a big shining car comes to the rescue. He takes her to pick up the medicine (secretly arranging for full repairs to the broken car) and speeds her home in time to save her mother. The privileged Jeffrey Wainwright has never met anyone like Camilla--with her simple faith and her loving devotion to her mother. She and her mother don't have much of the world's goods, but they do have love for each other and a peace that he can't understand. Jeffrey's world is made up of fancy parties, glamorous women, and mother who may care for him, but who has remained distant from the time he was brought up by nannies. He doesn't quite understand what the Chrysties have, but he feels drawn to it...and to Camilla.

The night he rescued Camilla, he was supposed to be going to a dinner party hosted by his girlfriend--or the one he thinks is girlfriend (though she doesn't act too attached to him). He's been having misgivings and Camilla's accident gave him the excuse he needed to give Stephanie's party a miss and he gives Camilla's mother the white orchids he'd intended to take to Stephanie. Camilla is also drawn to this man and they have a dinner together--but she winds up telling him that they are from two different worlds. He thinks she's talking about social and financial standing, but she means something far deeper. And, if he can't find a way to bridge the gap, he'll lose this sweet woman forever. 

Stephanie, who hates to lose anything she considers hers, does everything she can to make sure he forgets Camilla....or at least can't find her. When Jeffrey has to accompany his mother to Florida, Stephanie trails along to remind Jeff of her charms and while they're there she arranges with her man of business (for she's wealthy too) for the Chrysties to be moved out of their house and the street itself to be bulldozed for a city works building. [Amazing what money can accomplish.] And she doesn't even mind footing the bill for moving expenses and dishing out a bonus (anonymously, of course) if they move quickly.

So...when Jeffrey discovers that faith will bring him into the same world as Camilla and rushes home to let her know that they now share the same values, he can't believe she's gone. And every person he thinks could help him find her is either MIA as well or has died in his absence. It's as if everything is conspiring to keep them apart. Amazingly enough, it's white orchids that will bring them together in the end.

This is another of GLH's sweet Christian romances. I read this before when I was on a Christian romance binge (back in the 80s) and don't remember it as a favorite. But I must say, I really like Jeffrey's integrity--even before he found his faith--and the way he jumps in to help Camilla and her mother early in the story. I also enjoyed the thread with Camilla and her coworker, a young woman who has had no loving influence (like Camilla's mother) to help her know how one should conduct themself in an office environment. Camilla takes the girl under her wing and helps her grow in confidence and character. Of course, it wouldn't be a GLH story without a happy ending and we get one here. A nice story with a good message. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: The light flashed Red and Camilla jammed on her brakes.

Last line: But the bridal bouquet was of white orchids!