Someday soon they’d have all the privacy they wished for. So, for now, she was content to gaze into his eyes while he pressed her hand against his chest.
Kirstyn had accepted that she would not be able to have a conversation alone with Aladdin before the wedding, as they were always surrounded by family members. So when Aladdin sat with her in the Great Hall two evenings before the wedding, she gladly let him hold her hand under the table. Then he leaned over and said, “Will you let me read the letters you wrote while I was away?”
Her heart quickened. “Only if you let me read all the letters you wrote to me.”
“I shall bring them to you tonight.”
After the meal, everyone was hurrying to make final arrangements for the wedding, preparing for extra guests to arrive the next day. While no one seemed to be watching them, she and Aladdin went up the back stairs, first to Kirstyn’s room to fetch her letters—a rather tall stack she’d written but never sent—and then to Aladdin’s room to fetch his. She waited for him in the corridor outside.
Aladdin exited holding a stack of folded letters—almost as big as the stack she had written for him. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of them. She took them and reverently pressed them to her heart. “Thank you.”
Suddenly it occurred to her that they were alone. It had apparently occurred to Aladdin a moment before it did to her because he brushed his cheek against hers, inching his lips around to hers. Then he kissed her sweetly and tenderly, the action infused with so much longing and promise.
When the kiss ended, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Sleep well. I can hardly wait to read my letters.”
She was still a little breathless as she said, “Yes. Thank you for my letters.”
“You haven’t read them yet.”
“No, but I know I shall enjoy them, because you wrote them to me.” She might have leaned in for another kiss if she hadn’t heard someone coming up the stairs toward them. So she slipped into her room and closed the door.
A lamp was burning in her room, as Adela was preparing for bed. Kirstyn hurried over to it and opened Aladdin’s first letter.
My beloved Kirstyn,
I saw a stork today. It flew over Lüneburg, flapping its great wings, and of course, I thought of you. I thought of the day we climbed up and watched the stork feed its chicks. How amazed I am that that beautiful little girl who seemed to me to be a golden angel from heaven has grown up and now—unless I am wrong—actually loves me.
But then I thought about how I have failed her. I have failed to make my fortune, and now that I’m back in Hagenheim, I’m hardly better off than when I left Hagenheim. You are willing, but I am unable. It is one of the worst realizations I’ve ever had.
If you are reading this letter, it means that we are together again and all is well. It’s hard to imagine how that will ever come about, seeing my situation as it is right now. But God would not wish me to be hopeless or discouraged. So I shall do as David did—“David encouraged himself in the Lord”—and continue on. You are more beautiful and loving than I deserve, but I am so grateful for the memories I have of you.
Your loving servant,
Aladdin
Kirstyn nearly burst into tears. But Adela said, as she yawned, “I’m so tired.”
“I’ll put out the lamp in a little while.”
“Are those all letters from Aladdin?”
“Yes.” Kirstyn opened the next one.
“It will be more than a little while if you read all those. Go ahead. I’ll just turn and face the wall.”
“Thank you, Adela.”
“I have to be kind to you. You’ll be leaving me, just like all my other sisters, after one more night.”
Kirstyn was already reading the next letter.
My most beautiful Kirstyn,
By the time you read this letter, you will have already heard that I arrived back in Lüneburg with Herr Kaufmann and his family. Thankfully, he is recovering from his illness, and Abu and I are doing our best to cheer him. Grethel is joyful and content now that she and Johann are married, and that is also helping his spirits, no doubt. It does not seem to bother Herr Kaufmann anymore that Johann is an artist. But perhaps that is because he is a rather successful one, having painted portraits of several wealthy men between here and Florence. And I am very glad for him. He is a good sort of fellow, though he is terrible at running a business. He was not exaggerating when he said he would have ruined Herr Kaufmann’s business in six months. I suppose it is difficult to be good at both business and art.
I have just received another of your letters. They fill my heart with both joy and longing—longing to see you and speak face-to-face with you. Longing to hold you and kiss you, though I have no right as of yet. But my hope is fully renewed, now that God has given me this miracle of reconciliation with Herr Kaufmann.
I will tell you, since I know you will be wondering, that Anna is well. She hurt you by not helping you escape from Michael, but I know you will agree that she was hurt more than anyone by his cruelty. She was quite broken after Michael’s death. But after a day or so of crying, she admitted to me, still with tears, that she knew Michael was the worst thing that had happened to her, and she was ashamed for having helped him hold you against your will. She had found a group of pilgrims who were traveling to Köln who wished to take her with them on their pilgrimage to see the relics of the Three Wise Men. I gave her some money, not knowing if what she said was true, and we haven’t seen her since. I hope I did the right thing.
I think I may have found a house for us. I go tomorrow to look at it. I feel such joy imagining us in our own home together. You fill my thoughts so much, sometimes I am distracted from my work. Do you think I shall be more distracted when you are here with me? Or less? I am eager to find out.
Kirstyn held the letter to her face and kissed it. What joy to be able to read Aladdin’s thoughts about her when he was in high spirits and anticipating their marriage. What was he thinking as he was reading her letters? She blushed as she remembered some of the things she had written. Would he think her too shameless in her longing for him? That she was too honest about her feelings? She might find out tomorrow. But in the meantime, she would savor all of Aladdin’s letters by the light of the oil lamp.
The next morning Aladdin went in search of Kirstyn. He’d hardly slept at all after reading her letters. He took the risk of someone seeing him at her bedchamber, and he knocked on the door. Kirstyn’s youngest sister, Adela, opened it.
“She isn’t here. She got up early.”
Aladdin thanked her and hurried down the stairs. He looked for her in the Great Hall and even the kitchen, but she was not in either place. Would she be in the solar? While he was downstairs, he decided to check the library.
He went in and there she was, standing by the window, looking out. She turned and saw him. She stood there staring at him as he crossed the room, which seemed empty, lit only by the cloudy sky outside the window.
He pulled her to him and kissed her, letting the words of her letters flit across his memory. Could she feel from his kisses how much he reciprocated her longing? He held her close, one hand on her back and the other cradling the back of her head.
When they were both out of breath, she laid her head on his shoulder. “You enjoyed my letters, I believe?”
“I did.”
“I enjoyed yours too.” She squeezed him tighter, one hand gripping his shoulder.
“I’m not sure it’s wise for us to be alone together.”
“It’s good the wedding is tomorrow.” Gazing into his eyes, she smiled. “Perhaps we could get one of the guards to accompany us on a walk in the woods.”
“I would enjoy that.”
The sun chased away the clouds while Kirstyn’s female relatives were making her ready for her wedding. They dressed her elaborately, complete with a veil, and finally she was allowed to go downstairs to join her future husband in their walk to the church.
Ne
ver had there been a handsomer bridegroom. Aladdin’s black hair set him apart from everyone else in the room, along with his dark skin and beautiful dark eyes. But it was what was in his heart and his mind that she loved the best—the kindness and gentleness, love, loyalty, tenacity, and integrity. Her Aladdin had all the characteristics of a prince among men.
She walked down the street toward the cathedral with her hand on his arm, feeling as if she were floating through a haze of joy that dulled her sight. When they reached the door of the cathedral and stood on the steps, she couldn’t see anyone except the priest—and Aladdin.
When they had said their vows on the front steps of the church in front of God, the priest, and all the people gathered there, they went inside the church, leading the rest of the people, including her family, all their friends, and as many of the townspeople as would fit inside. Afterward, the people parted and she and Aladdin walked through the middle of them and led them all outside into the sunshiny street.
People drifted in and out of her consciousness, but mostly she saw Aladdin’s smile and sincere expressions, heard his gracious words to all the well-wishers, and felt his gentle attentiveness to her. And when he whispered in her ear, “I have everything I ever wished for,” she knew she would remember those words for the rest of her life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Aladdin watched Kirstyn’s face as he said, “Here’s our house. Do you like it?”
She covered her mouth with her hands and drew in a loud breath. “I love it.” She turned to her husband and threw her arms around him. “It looks like home.”
“I’m so glad it pleases you.”
Since Aladdin had arranged to have the house cleaned and furnished, with a few servants already employed, they were able to stay their first night in Lüneburg at their new home.
The next day, while Abu was at one of his tutoring sessions, Aladdin and Kirstyn met with Herr Kaufmann. He stood up to greet them when they walked in.
“You’re looking quite well,” Kirstyn said. Truly, he had a lot more color in his cheeks.
“I feel much better.” Herr Kaufmann motioned for them to sit. They chatted about sundry things before Herr Kaufmann said, “I have a notion what it is you would like to talk about, but please, do tell me.”
Aladdin’s gaze met Kirstyn’s, and he said, “We would like to adopt Abu—if he is willing, of course.”
Herr Kaufmann nodded thoughtfully. “I think that is a very good thing. You are both young and will give Abu a wonderful home. I am old and don’t know how much longer I will be here. Abu looks up to you so much, Aladdin, and I know he will come to love you, Lady Kirstyn.”
An hour later Abu came downstairs from his tutoring session. “Aladdin! Lady Kirstyn! I’m so glad you’re here. Now we can go to the Heath and have races and practice archery and have picnics again.”
Aladdin gave him a big hug, then noticed the tears in Kirstyn’s eyes. She held out a hand to Abu, who walked more calmly to her and gave her a quick hug.
“Abu,” Herr Kaufmann said, “Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn have something to talk over with you.”
Abu’s eyes grew cautious as he looked from Kirstyn to Aladdin.
Aladdin smiled at him and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Abu, Lady Kirstyn and I have our own house now, and we’d like for you to come and live with us. Herr Kaufmann will always love you, and Grethel and Johann will as well, and you can come and visit them anytime you wish. But Lady Kirstyn and I would like to adopt you as our son. We want to love you and be a family together. What do you think? Would you like that?”
Abu’s lips parted. He kept looking from the floor to Aladdin and back to the floor. “Would you . . . be my . . . father, then?”
“Yes, and Lady Kirstyn would be your mother.”
Abu’s head was bowed, and when he lifted his eyes, they were filled with tears. He threw himself into Aladdin’s chest, and Aladdin enfolded him, squeezing him tight.
“Is that a yes?” Aladdin asked through the emotion that was clogging his own throat.
Abu nodded. Kirstyn came over and put an arm around each of them. Finally, after a few quiet sniffs from every person in the room, Abu took a step back. “It might take me a little while to get used to calling you Father.” He looked shyly at Kirstyn. “And you Mother.”
“That is quite all right.” Kirstyn smiled through the tears. “We promise to love you always.”
“Yes,” Aladdin added, “and you don’t have to be perfect.”
Kirstyn tucked Abu into his bed and kissed his cheek. “Good night, Abu. I’ll let your father pray with you.”
Aladdin knew his wife wanted to be as close to Abu as he was, but she was also trying to give him time to become more comfortable with her. She smiled and left the room.
“Abu?”
“Yes?” Abu was looking up at Aladdin with those large, round eyes.
“To be our son by law, you have to be baptized in the Church and have my name added to yours. Are you ready to declare that you believe in the God of the Christians?” Compassion for the boy rose inside Aladdin. “I was very young when Priest and Sir Meynard rescued me from the streets, but I grew to love Jesus just as Priest did. Do you think you can do that too?”
“Why do you believe this Jesus can save us when we die?”
“If Jesus had the power to create us, then He has the power to save us.”
Abu’s little-boy face relaxed a bit as he stared up at the canopy that stretched over his bed. Finally he said, “Do you believe it?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“Why do I believe? That is difficult to answer. Faith is—”
“No, I mean, why would Jesus die to save us?”
“The Holy Writ says God is love.” Aladdin felt a helplessness to explain all of this. But his love for Abu was growing with every word.
Abu lifted his hand and rubbed his cheek. “If Jesus and God love me, then . . . I want to be a Christian. Like you, Aladdin. I mean, Father.” He smiled as if he were agreeing to play a game of chess or blindman’s buff.
Aladdin let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Will you vow to follow Jesus and have no other gods before Him? Will you be baptized in the Church?”
“I will.”
A week later Aladdin was standing at the back of the nave of St. Nicholas Church with Kirstyn, Herr Kaufmann, Hilde, and a few others. They all watched as Abu was baptized by a priest in the stone font. With his hair dripping, he turned and looked at those standing around him.
Aladdin was seeing Abu for what he was—a vulnerable child with painful memories. It was suddenly written all over his face. But the hope and peace of finally being in a family were also there, the joy of believing in a God who was powerful enough to love him and save him—and give him a family.
Kirstyn and Aladdin surrounded him with their arms, embracing him. Herr Kaufmann, Grethel, Johann, and Hilde moved in and embraced him as well. Aladdin was not the only one blinking rapidly, sniffing, and wiping his eyes.
The priest said the last part of the sacrament of baptism. “Depart in peace, and the Lord be with you. Amen.” Then he took out a handkerchief from inside his sleeve to wipe the tears from his face.
They all went back to Aladdin and Kirstyn’s home, where the servants had prepared a feast. Herr Kaufmann stood to make an announcement.
“It was God’s good will to grant me, in my old age, not one but two blessings—a son in Aladdin and a grandson in Abu—to replace what the devil had stolen from me.” His eyes misted over, and he had to clear his throat before continuing. “God is truly good. I am blessed beyond measure with a wonderful daughter, a prosperous business, and two young men to help me. Abu, I hope you will come to visit me often.”
“I will.” Abu nodded.
Aladdin, who was sitting next to him, squeezed his shoulder.
They all raised their glass goblets. Even Abu was given a bit of watered-down wine in his cup.
“To Abu of Lüneburg. May he always remember fondly this, the day of his baptism into Christ and the Church.”
They all drank to that.
“And may he always have family and friends who care for him as much as we do.”
That night, when Aladdin and Kirstyn tucked Abu into his bed, Abu smiled and said sleepily, “This has been the best day of my life.”
EPILOGUE
Two Years Later
Kirstyn and Aladdin sat on the benches around the table that had been set up in the backyard of the new Lüneburg orphanage. Children ran around, laughing and squealing, playing with ribbons that had been attached to the ends of long sticks. Three little girls about Abu’s age of eleven were practicing the show they had prepared, waving their ribbons in unison, twirling, weaving in and out, then ending with a flourish.
Abu watched them, his eyes focused on one little girl in particular with big blue eyes and hair the color of newly cut hay. Kirstyn’s breath caught as she was reminded of another little boy with eyes that had watched her in just the same way.
“All right, children.” The mistress of the orphanage clapped. “Come to the table. Abu’s birthday feast is ready.”
While the children enjoyed the feast, the Meistersingers sang and played Abu’s favorite songs. Kirstyn fed their two-month-old baby, then handed her off to Aladdin, who patted her back and talked to her in his soft but proud father voice.
When everyone had eaten their fill, Abu came over to kiss his baby sister’s cheek, then sat quickly to watch as the three girls performed their ribbon-stick show. Abu was all attention. He applauded most enthusiastically, and when the blonde-haired girl smiled at him, Abu’s cheeks turned bright red.
Afterward the children started a game of blindman’s buff, and Aladdin leaned over and whispered in Kirstyn’s ear, “Does this remind you of anything?”
Kirstyn smiled. “The time you defended me from Hanns? You were always my hero.”
Making sure not to jostle the sleeping baby on his shoulder, Aladdin leaned over and kissed her. “You were always my lady.”
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