Page 32 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Jonathan nodded, his head tipping forward. She waited until sleep claimed him then settled him on the quilt. The other two asked if they could explore.
“As long as you stay in sight,” she said, and they ran to play.
Wally leaned back on his elbows. “It’s nice to see them enjoying life.”
“They’re good children.” She chuckled. “Though I had to convince them they didn’t need to steal food from the restaurant. I’d feed them.”
“It was good of God to bring them into your care. And now here where they’ll be provided for.”
God. Did He have a hand in this?Perhaps He did. Shecouldn’t say. It seemed to her He helped some people but turned His back on others in their time of need. Did only children qualify for His care? There was comfort in thinking Jonny and the twins were under His watchful eyes.
“Do you think their uncle will want them back?”
“What? Oh… I don’t think so. Though it’s hard to guess what people will do or what motivates them.”
His nod was slow as if he measured the idea. “It’s also difficult to count on people who aren’t honest.”
Had he guessed she hid something? Was this her chance to confess her secret?
“I was taken in by a neighboring family when my parents died.” His voice had deepened, informing her of his pain. “I was scared but they said I would stay with them. They promised it would be forever.”
She wondered if he realized he rocked back and forth.
“But instead, they took me to the orphanage. Left me there. Alone.”
The aching in his voice called to her to do something to ease it. She edged closer and squeezed his arm.
His smile carried gratitude. “After that, I had difficulty trusting people. It was Mrs. Shannon I trusted first. I knew she cared. She proved it every day and in every way.” His gaze drifted away. His jaw tightened. “People should be honest. They shouldn’t make promises they can’t keep.”
The tightness in Maddie’s throat made it impossible to breathe. She’d hidden the truth. Lied even. But for good reason. The truth had the power to ruin everything. Not just for herself but for Jonathan and the children.
Wally gotto his feet on the pretense of checking on the twins. He should not have brought up his past. Nor could he explain why he had. Yes, he’d been devastated…
shattered… when people whom he thought loved him dropped him off with strangers. Yes, he’d grown bitter; developed a shell. Learned not to trust.
“I made it sound as if I’m upset about the past. I’m not. I believe God used the events of my life to bring me to the Shannons and now he’s used the events of your life to bring you here. A new family. A forever family.” At the look on her face, he forgot anything more he meant to say. He could best describe it as doubt.
His remarks had been insensitive to her situation. She’d been married before; had planned on forever. “I’m sorry to remind you of the loss of your husband.”Her dreams had been dashed. “I pray you will find the same healing and hope here that I found.”
She nodded but not a word came from her mouth. Her throat worked as if she swallowed back pain.
Oh, Maddie. How I long to hold you close and comfort you.But he sensed the same shell encased her heart that he’d carried around his for years.
Maddie shuddered. “It’s not like that.” Every syllable stuttered from her.
“What do you mean?”
She rocked her head back and forth. “It’s…I…can’t…” She jerked her attention to Jonathan though the boy had not made a sound.
Questions, concern, and sympathy churned in his stomach. She’d never told him the circumstances of her husband’s death, but it had obviously been traumatic. Again, he mentally kicked himself for bringing it to the fore.
“I’ll rest a moment with Jonny.” She curled up beside her son, her back to Wally, and pressed the heel of her hand to her eyes.
Ahh. I’ve made her cry. And I can do nothing to make it better.
Heavy wet clay had crawled inside his being and weighed him down.
The weight remained as he played with the twins, glancing often at Maddie and Jonathan. When thelittle one sat up and looked around, Maddie got to her feet and folded the quilt.
