Read Online The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) by Becky Riker - Free Book Online
Authors: Becky Riker
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the success, the good woman declared the need for a celebration.
Karlijna was embarrassed at the thought, “Please,” she shook her head, “do not go to trouble for me. You have done so much.”
Ingr id would not be put off, though.
“You just sit here with Michael,” she led the girl to a chair in the small living area while divesting her of her coat, “I’ll have a small feast put together , and we will rejoice over this blessing.”
Karlijna would have rather helped in the kitchen than tried to hold a conversation with the Am erican, but she saw no way to say so without offending him.
She grappled for a topic even as she wondered whether she should speak in English or Swedish. Obviously, his Swedish was no better than hers , and her English was so poor, she might end up saying something completely inappropriate.
He took the decision from her hands by addressing her in English.
“Did you grow up here?”
“No,” she spoke slowly to find the pro per words, “I am from Belgium. I only did come two months before.”
He smiled at her, and she realized he had a dimple in one cheek. It made him seem friendlier. Karlijna relaxed a little.
“Are you related to Ingrid?”
“Related?” Karlijna was not sure what the word meant.
He seemed to understand the problem, “Is she your family? An aunt or cousin?”
Karlijna shook her head, relieved at comprehending, but wondering how to explain.
“I am not related, as you say. I am vork for Leif and Ingrid for a small time. Now I find new job and pay for a room to live here.”
“Oh,” Mr. Gunderson did not seem put out by this, “Is your family still in Belgium?”
With great effort, Karlijna kept the tears from her eyes, “No. My family vas killed in the var.”
The young man gently touched her hand , “I am sorry, Miss Bergstrom. It has been a terrible war. So many innocent people have died.”
Karlijna did not know what innocent meant, but she recognized his compassion. She swallowed hard and looked down at her hands.
After a moment of silence, she cleared her throat and turned back to her companion, “How long vill you be in Sweden?”
He looked surprised at the change in topic but rallied, “I’ll leave here on Sunday. I only had a short break.”
Karlijna went to bed early on Sunday night, thinking to be more refreshed the following day. However, she coul d not sleep due to her nerves. At the time it had seemed prudent to remain silent, but as she turned from side to side throughout the night, Karlijna could not help but wish she had asked more questions about her duties.
Was she to be a m aid? That she could handle. She had never done it before, but she was not afraid of hard work. She knew what most of the duties of her own family’s maid had been and had even helped out on occasion.
Maybe Mr. Sodergaa rd expected her to cook. That would be a disaster. For, though she could make a few simple meals, Karlijna was not adept in the kitchen.
The young woman could have stewed on it all night, but realized it was not going to h elp her. She needed her rest. Telling herself this was not going to make it more likely to happen so she did what she had for years when she needed to calm herself.
“‘ The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want,’” she forced herself to take a deep breath and unclasp her tightly folded hands.
“’He makes me lie down in green pastures,” she pulled the rough wool blanket up to her chin.
“He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”
Karlijna felt herself slipping out of consciousness as the rest of the words flitted through her mind, not necessarily in their proper order.
Despite her restless night, she woke the next morning early, full of ener gy and enthusiasm for the day. Leif was just coming into the store to open up as she was fastening the buttons on her jacket.
“Good morning, Karlijna,” he grinned at her, “are you off to work so early? And with no
Karlijna was embarrassed at the thought, “Please,” she shook her head, “do not go to trouble for me. You have done so much.”
Ingr id would not be put off, though.
“You just sit here with Michael,” she led the girl to a chair in the small living area while divesting her of her coat, “I’ll have a small feast put together , and we will rejoice over this blessing.”
Karlijna would have rather helped in the kitchen than tried to hold a conversation with the Am erican, but she saw no way to say so without offending him.
She grappled for a topic even as she wondered whether she should speak in English or Swedish. Obviously, his Swedish was no better than hers , and her English was so poor, she might end up saying something completely inappropriate.
He took the decision from her hands by addressing her in English.
“Did you grow up here?”
“No,” she spoke slowly to find the pro per words, “I am from Belgium. I only did come two months before.”
He smiled at her, and she realized he had a dimple in one cheek. It made him seem friendlier. Karlijna relaxed a little.
“Are you related to Ingrid?”
“Related?” Karlijna was not sure what the word meant.
He seemed to understand the problem, “Is she your family? An aunt or cousin?”
Karlijna shook her head, relieved at comprehending, but wondering how to explain.
“I am not related, as you say. I am vork for Leif and Ingrid for a small time. Now I find new job and pay for a room to live here.”
“Oh,” Mr. Gunderson did not seem put out by this, “Is your family still in Belgium?”
With great effort, Karlijna kept the tears from her eyes, “No. My family vas killed in the var.”
The young man gently touched her hand , “I am sorry, Miss Bergstrom. It has been a terrible war. So many innocent people have died.”
Karlijna did not know what innocent meant, but she recognized his compassion. She swallowed hard and looked down at her hands.
After a moment of silence, she cleared her throat and turned back to her companion, “How long vill you be in Sweden?”
He looked surprised at the change in topic but rallied, “I’ll leave here on Sunday. I only had a short break.”
Karlijna went to bed early on Sunday night, thinking to be more refreshed the following day. However, she coul d not sleep due to her nerves. At the time it had seemed prudent to remain silent, but as she turned from side to side throughout the night, Karlijna could not help but wish she had asked more questions about her duties.
Was she to be a m aid? That she could handle. She had never done it before, but she was not afraid of hard work. She knew what most of the duties of her own family’s maid had been and had even helped out on occasion.
Maybe Mr. Sodergaa rd expected her to cook. That would be a disaster. For, though she could make a few simple meals, Karlijna was not adept in the kitchen.
The young woman could have stewed on it all night, but realized it was not going to h elp her. She needed her rest. Telling herself this was not going to make it more likely to happen so she did what she had for years when she needed to calm herself.
“‘ The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want,’” she forced herself to take a deep breath and unclasp her tightly folded hands.
“’He makes me lie down in green pastures,” she pulled the rough wool blanket up to her chin.
“He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”
Karlijna felt herself slipping out of consciousness as the rest of the words flitted through her mind, not necessarily in their proper order.
Despite her restless night, she woke the next morning early, full of ener gy and enthusiasm for the day. Leif was just coming into the store to open up as she was fastening the buttons on her jacket.
“Good morning, Karlijna,” he grinned at her, “are you off to work so early? And with no
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