A Convenient Christmas Bride

скачать книгу бесплатно


She arrived late at the church but still beat Josiah and the girls there by mere seconds. Josiah pulled the wagon to a stop at the boardwalk. The twins spotted her and both scrambled to get out of the box in the back. Anna Mae could no more stop herself from reaching for them than she could stop breathing. They fell over the side into her arms, causing her Bible to fall to the ground. Both chattered a mile a minute, though most of their words were unintelligible.

“Girls, girls. Calm down,” Josiah chided, but his eyes were lit with laughter and he seemed as pleased to see her as the twins. He recovered her Bible and reached for Rose. She fussed but finally released her hold on Anna Mae.

“Shall we go in?” he asked.

A wave of anxiety swept through her. “Maybe you should go first and I will sit near the back.” She started to hand Ruby over, but two little hands pressed against Anna Mae’s cheeks and Ruby’s lips quivered. “Ruby go you.” The little head shook up and down positively, a question in the depths of her eyes.

Anna Mae placed her forehead against the little girl’s. To turn this baby away could possibly relay that she wasn’t loved enough, that she somehow lacked the ability to be loved. Anna Mae knew all about those feelings. No way would she ever make this child feel unloved or unimportant. “We’ll all go together.” Bolstering her courage, she shifted Ruby to her side and walked up the church steps.

Josiah rushed ahead and pulled the door open. Anna Mae was happy to see that no one else waited on the steps or in the entryway as they entered. She slipped into the back pew and made room for Josiah and Rose. The piano began playing the moment they were seated. She breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that no one would be able to speak openly to her or about her until after the service.

When it was finished, Anna Mae hurriedly gathered her things. Please, Lord, don’t let anyonespeak to me. Just this once, please, can I be selfish and make it out of here without embarrassment? Please, Lord? Just this once?

It seemed as if the Lord had too many people at that moment to listen to because Mrs. Harvey, a sweet older woman, immediately turned in her seat. “Anna Mae, I am so glad to see you this morning. I’d heard you were sick. Are you feeling better now?”

Anna Mae smiled at her. “Much better, thank you.”

The woman motioned for her to sit back down. She did and then Mrs. Harvey leaned against the pew and whispered, “You won’t have any more trouble from Thelma. I told her that if she breathed one word as to why you chose to quit teaching, I’d tell some of her secrets.” The sweet woman chuckled. “Don’t expect to hear her ever speak of it again.” She patted Anna Mae’s hand.