Page 66 of Mail-Order Bride Secret
Wally wrapped his arms around the pair. “This is what I want.”
“I’m sorry for not telling you.”
“You have any more secrets?”
“I suppose I should tell you about...” She ducked her head. But he wasn’t alarmed. He trusted her. He loved her. He knew her well enough to know whatever secret she had wasn’t a threat to their marriage.
“I hit my brother and gave him a bloody nose when I was angry at him.”
He grinned. “I’m sure he deserved it.” He paused and let a hint of uncertainty into his voice. “Didn’t he?”
“I believe he did.”
“Are you going to tell me what he’d done?”
Her head came up and fierceness filled her eyes. “He laughed at the way I put my hair up… I was eleven. He was sixteen. I told him he needed to treat me with more respect.”
Wally sighed. “I suppose I should confess my secret too?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What have you done?”
“Well,” he drawled, dragging out the moment, loving the way her eyes demanded his confession. “I never told you that once upon a time, I loved a girl.”
She nodded. But he saw the way her lips tightened as she tried to hide her feelings.
He liked the idea that she might be just the tiniest bit jealous. “She was sweet, pretty, kind, and had a beautiful voice. I still remember some of the songs she sang.” He sighed expansively as if recalling that time filled him with something…and it did. It was a precious memory. He continued before she could ask questions. “I was seven and she was someone who came in to entertain us orphans. She’d sing and I’d fall in love all over again.”
Pure, joyful laughter came from Maddie.
His eyes were warm as he pulled her closer. “Just like I fall in love with you all over again every morning, every evening, every time I look at you. Forever and always.”
Their kiss was long and lingering.
After a few minutes, she leaned back. “Wally if it took what I’ve been through to bring me to you then I thank God. Every pain is worth it to have your love.”
He nodded. No words were necessary. God had guided them together. They would put the past behind them and walk boldly into the future.
EPILOGUE
Maddie looked out the window at the freshly fallen snow draping the world in a clean blanket. A clean slate.
Today, they would gather at Andy and Della’s house to enjoy Christmas dinner.
After the meal and a time of sharing they would return home to open their gifts to each other.
She could hardly wait to give Wally her present to him.
It was time to go and she turned to check on the children. Her rosy-faced, growing children. The twin’s uncle had been happy to allow her and Wally to adopt the pair.
Ivy beamed with excitement. “I remember when Mama—my other mama—always made taffy at Christmas time.”
It was the first time Ivy mentioned it. “Would you like if we did that tomorrow?”
She nodded, her eyes telling Maddie how much she would enjoy it.
Otis and Wally came in from doing chores. Otis had grown several inches. It was all Maddie could do to keep the child in clothes. Wally patted Otis on the back. The two shared a special bond that sometimes brought tears to Maddie’s eyes.
“Papa.” Jonathan raced toward Wally who swept him up in the air.
