Page 46 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
A jolt ran up the length of her body and shuddered across her shoulders.
He continued, wanting her to know that trust waspossible no matter what happened. “I believe in a God that cares for us.”
She squeezed the water from a cloth with undue vigor.
At least she heard him.
“I choose to believe it even when all around me are reasons to doubt Him. I believe because of what He says about Himself. He’s a God of love and promises to work out everything for our good.”Please, dear God, make Your love clear to her.
She rose. Faced him. Her eyes blazed with hot challenge. “Can you say that having a child out of wedlock is a good thing? That God can use that for my good? Can you look at me and say that knowing about Jonny, you don’t see me differently?” Her words, her tone, and her expression all said she believed his honest answer was no.
Calm peace, sweet joy flooded his insides. “Like I said last night, you are exactly what I want.”
Ivy stirred and opened her eyes.
Wally took Maddie’s hand and led her from the room. “Maddie, sweet Maddie, don’t close your heart to what I’m offering.”
Slowly, ever so slowly, her gaze rose from his chest to his chin to his nose and finally, to his eyes. “What are you offering?” A whispered plea. A whispered hope.
Or so he chose to believe. “Love, Maddie. I’m offering love.”
“How can you say that knowing what I am?”
Oh, how he longed to erase that pain that fractured her words. “It’s because I do know what you are. A good mother. A loving person. Strong. Courageous. Sweet. Happy.” When she rolled her head in protest of the latter, he chuckled. “I’ve heard you singing as you work. You can be happy when you allow it.”
Her gaze darted to a spot past his shoulder and then back. A tiny, reluctant smile hovered on her lips. “When I forget my past.”
“Then why not leave your past and live in the present?”
Her gaze held his, seeking, questioning, searching.
He opened his thoughts and heart to her and invited her to claim her place there.
The smile she’d been struggling against won and joy…hope…good things filled her eyes. “It’s that easy?”
“Yup.”
“Very well then. Why not? I’ll try.”
They grinned at each other. His eyes warmed with his feelings for this woman. His wife. Together they would build a home, a family…a future. Leaving behind the things of the past. His heart swelled against his rib cage, filled to overflowing with happiness.
He lowered his head and claimed a kiss.
Her arms wrapped around his back and a breathy sigh left her lungs.
Their lips parted but he held her close, her head resting in the hollow of his shoulder where she fit perfectly.
Hand in hand they would take this journey. Together they would face the future. Whatever it held.
12
Maddie slipped from Wally’s welcoming arms to check on the children. Ivy no longer complained of a sore throat. She ate a light breakfast but was confined to bed until they were convinced she was fully recovered.
Otis showed no change and Maddie held back a sob.
Wally pulled her to his side. “I believe his fever has dropped some.”
It sounded like wishful thinking on his part, but Maddie nodded.
