Page 55 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Later, in the living room, she explained her feelings to Wally. “I guess the truth is, I was the one who turned away.”
He hugged her. “And now you’ve turned back. Thank God for that. Another prayer of mine answered the way I wanted.”
She leaned back to look in his face. “The way you wanted?”
“God always hears our requests, but He doesn’t always answer the way we think is best. Mrs. Shannon explained it like this. God answers the prayer we would have asked if we knew the end from the beginning.”
Maddie turned the words over and over in her mind. Evil existed in the world. There was no denyingthat. But she couldn’t blame evil on God. Still, why hadn’t He heard her prayer for help when Delroy forced his way into her bed? Evil and God couldn’t coexist. And it seemed Maddie got trapped between the two. But God had rescued her in a different way. He’d carried her through the last twenty-seven months to this place of love and acceptance.
“Sometimes the path to the present is difficult.”
He tipped his forehead to hers. “I wish I could spare you those difficulties.” She felt his chest rumble.
“You’re laughing.”
“Remembered something Mr. Shannon said. ‘It don’t hurt the boys to have to do tough things. Makes them strong.’ Mrs. Shannon would sometimes roll her eyes and say, ‘You mean if it doesn’t kill them first?’” Wally laughed. “You’ll notice it didn’t kill any of them but they’re all strong.”
Maddie rested her head on Wally’s chest, hearing the beat of his heart, thrumming against her cheek. “Seems the hard things have made you better.”
“Thank you. Let’s both be better and stronger as we face the future.”
“I’d like that.”
The next day, her decision was challenged. From the kitchen window, she saw Luke speaking to Wally. Something about their posture sent a frisson of fear down her spine. Then Wally patted Luke on the back and headed for the house. He saw her inthe window and smiled. She told herself it was a normal smile, but she wasn’t convinced. It looked forced.
He stepped into the house.
At the tension in his eyes, she rushed to his side. “What is it?”
“Kit is sick.”
“Measles?”
Wally nodded.
Tremors ran up and down her arms. “How bad?”
“High fever.”
She moaned. “I hoped and prayed they wouldn’t get it.”
Wally caught her hands and pulled her close. He bowed his head over hers. “Dear God, maker and ruler of all we see, please touch Kit’s little body and heal him.”
Maddie added her silent pleas to his. “How’s Lindy?” Her words were muffled against his chest, but she didn’t want to leave the safety of his arms.
“Luke said she’s cranky.”
Maddie bit her lip. “That’s how it started with the twins.”
“I know.” Wally held her tight.
“Kit’s sick?”
At Ivy’s question, Maddie broke from Wally’s arms and turned to the child.
“I’mafraid he is.”
Ivy blinked. Tears pooled in her eyes. “It’s my fault. I made him sick.”
