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Authors: Debra Holland
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prayers.”
His father placed his hand in the small of his wife’s back. “Yes, indeed. Long years of praying for the health and happiness of the family we loved who were so far from us.”
Sudden tears gleamed in his mother’s eyes. She made eye contact with each of the three men, then gazed at the children in front of her. “The answers to many of my prayers are standing here before me.” She spread her arms, fingers wide. “I feel very blessed.”
Joshua glanced at his father, saw smiling, happiness softening the austerity of his face, and he felt a rush of gratitude for the steadfastness of his parents. He cleared his throat. “Shall we head home, or do you think I have to go around and greet everyone?”
With a whoosh and a chug-chug-chug, the train pulled away from the station, the noise interrupting them.
They waited a moment, then his mother said, “Oh, no, dear. There’s a party the day after tomorrow. You can talk to everyone there.”
“The party’s not for us, I hope.” His dismayed expression must have conveyed his feelings because both Seth and Jonah burst into laughter.
“It’s springtime,” Seth said. “The good citizens of Sweetwater Springs will take any excuse for a party. I’m told there’s supposed to be ice cream.” He winked at Micah.
“Ice cream!” The boy perked up. While at the Maynards’, Micah had been introduced to the treat, and like any child, well, like any person , he loved ice cream.
“Yes.” Mrs. Barrett beamed at Micah. “An ice cream social. Adam will introduce you to all the other children, won’t you, son?”
Adam nodded.
Joshua let out a breath of relief. “As long as we aren’t the guests of honor.”
“You’ll be the unofficial guests of honor,” Jonah said. Laughter crinkled the lines around his green eyes, even though his expression remained deadpan.
“Especially for the ladies,” Mrs. Flanigan added.
Joshua suppressed a groan. “I’m still in mourning,” he said with a stiffness in his voice, which he hoped would convey his objection to any matrimonial schemes the women might be hatching. But even as he said the words, the thought of Miss Bellaire flashed into his mind, and suddenly, his objections vanished. He wondered if she’d wish to leave her father for long enough to attend the party.
“You all head on home,” Seth told the Nortons. “Jonah and I will see to your trunks. We’ll leave them on your porch.”
“Thank you,” Joshua said, grateful for the offer. “Good to see you both, again.” He gazed at their wives and children. “And doing well.”
At his words, each man glanced at his wife and exchanged a look with her.
The love on their faces made Joshua’s throat close. He remembered sharing those kinds of looks with Esther years earlier. He remembered too how the gazes had faded away, changing to expressions that were often pinched with disapproval and resentment on her part, withdrawn on his, until finally, there were no longer any loving exchanges. Esther hadn’t even softened to him on her deathbed, although Joshua had tried to remain caring until the end.
Old sadness arose in him. Joshua said subdued good-byes and took back his valise from his son.
A family stood at the foot of the stairs to the platform.
He recognized John Carter and had no problem remembering his wife Pamela. Before Joshua left for the seminary, John’s journey to Boston to find a bride had been the talk of the town. When the couple returned, the newlyweds had an impromptu party, with people coming for miles around to celebrate their marriage. Mrs. Carter had gained some weight since Joshua had last seen her, probably from the three children she’d borne, but the kind expression on her plain face hadn’t changed .
As he exchanged greetings with the Carters and they introduced their two oldest children to Micah, Joshua saw an air of assurance about Pamela that was far different from the timid bride he remembered.
The couple waved
His father placed his hand in the small of his wife’s back. “Yes, indeed. Long years of praying for the health and happiness of the family we loved who were so far from us.”
Sudden tears gleamed in his mother’s eyes. She made eye contact with each of the three men, then gazed at the children in front of her. “The answers to many of my prayers are standing here before me.” She spread her arms, fingers wide. “I feel very blessed.”
Joshua glanced at his father, saw smiling, happiness softening the austerity of his face, and he felt a rush of gratitude for the steadfastness of his parents. He cleared his throat. “Shall we head home, or do you think I have to go around and greet everyone?”
With a whoosh and a chug-chug-chug, the train pulled away from the station, the noise interrupting them.
They waited a moment, then his mother said, “Oh, no, dear. There’s a party the day after tomorrow. You can talk to everyone there.”
“The party’s not for us, I hope.” His dismayed expression must have conveyed his feelings because both Seth and Jonah burst into laughter.
“It’s springtime,” Seth said. “The good citizens of Sweetwater Springs will take any excuse for a party. I’m told there’s supposed to be ice cream.” He winked at Micah.
“Ice cream!” The boy perked up. While at the Maynards’, Micah had been introduced to the treat, and like any child, well, like any person , he loved ice cream.
“Yes.” Mrs. Barrett beamed at Micah. “An ice cream social. Adam will introduce you to all the other children, won’t you, son?”
Adam nodded.
Joshua let out a breath of relief. “As long as we aren’t the guests of honor.”
“You’ll be the unofficial guests of honor,” Jonah said. Laughter crinkled the lines around his green eyes, even though his expression remained deadpan.
“Especially for the ladies,” Mrs. Flanigan added.
Joshua suppressed a groan. “I’m still in mourning,” he said with a stiffness in his voice, which he hoped would convey his objection to any matrimonial schemes the women might be hatching. But even as he said the words, the thought of Miss Bellaire flashed into his mind, and suddenly, his objections vanished. He wondered if she’d wish to leave her father for long enough to attend the party.
“You all head on home,” Seth told the Nortons. “Jonah and I will see to your trunks. We’ll leave them on your porch.”
“Thank you,” Joshua said, grateful for the offer. “Good to see you both, again.” He gazed at their wives and children. “And doing well.”
At his words, each man glanced at his wife and exchanged a look with her.
The love on their faces made Joshua’s throat close. He remembered sharing those kinds of looks with Esther years earlier. He remembered too how the gazes had faded away, changing to expressions that were often pinched with disapproval and resentment on her part, withdrawn on his, until finally, there were no longer any loving exchanges. Esther hadn’t even softened to him on her deathbed, although Joshua had tried to remain caring until the end.
Old sadness arose in him. Joshua said subdued good-byes and took back his valise from his son.
A family stood at the foot of the stairs to the platform.
He recognized John Carter and had no problem remembering his wife Pamela. Before Joshua left for the seminary, John’s journey to Boston to find a bride had been the talk of the town. When the couple returned, the newlyweds had an impromptu party, with people coming for miles around to celebrate their marriage. Mrs. Carter had gained some weight since Joshua had last seen her, probably from the three children she’d borne, but the kind expression on her plain face hadn’t changed .
As he exchanged greetings with the Carters and they introduced their two oldest children to Micah, Joshua saw an air of assurance about Pamela that was far different from the timid bride he remembered.
The couple waved
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