Kari held up her hand. “That is not to say that I will be unavailable. I will attend, via conference call, weekly staff meetings when I am out of the office and keep in close contact with my management team. Once every quarter I will spend a week in the office. And Mr. Oskar Brunell will join the staff as a part-time employee at one-half time—that’s twenty hours a week, four hours a day, five days a week.”
She glared at where he sat at the end of the table. “Anyone willing to attest to Mr. Brunell’s being here more than twenty hours in any given week will earn the bonus of their choice: a two-hundred-dollar gift card or a day off—on the house.”
“I’ll see your two hundred dollars and raise you fifty!” Oskar growled.
The laughter and good will echoing around the room did a lot to cheer Kari.
It’s still not easy letting go, Lord, but I will adjust. I’m confident in the people you’ve given me. Thank you.
You said you had “something else” for me? Well, I’m pushing into it.
—
LATER, KARI AND OSKAR SPOKE ALONE IN HER OFFICE.
“What are your plans, Kari? What do you have in mind?”
“It will take me a few weeks to prepare, but I want to go home, Oskar, home to my roots on the prairie. It is peaceful there. I will have the time—and we will have the open spaces—for these children to heal and for us to become a family.
“I’ll need a nanny for the few days I’m in the office, but I’ll always bring the children back and forth from Nebraska to Louisiana with me.”
Oskar studied Kari. “You’re going to Søren, aren’t you?”
Kari’s smile was faint. “If he will have me. If he is willing to accept my brother’s children—my children—as his own and help me give them an intact family.”
She laughed a little. “My children. Who would have thought?”
~~**~~
Chapter 34
May
THEY ARRIVED AT HER HOUSE IN RIVERBEND early in the evening, when dusk was overspreading the prairie. Kari parked the rental car in the empty garage and, leaving the children buckled into their seats, unloaded and hauled their luggage into the house. Then she carried Robbie and led Shannon by the hand inside.
The interior designer Kari had hired had furnished the house with the basics and stocked the cupboards and fridge. Kari had selected a few special or needed things from her house on Marlow Avenue and had them shipped. They would arrive in due time.
It took her an hour to put linens on Robbie’s crib and Shannon’s bed, unpack their bags, find their PJs, and fix the children something to eat.
I will sorely miss Azalea, she realized, as she rooted through the cupboards, familiarizing herself with what was there.
After Shannon and Robbie were fed, she bathed them and bedded them down. They were exhausted.
Robbie was particularly fussy, so she wrapped him in his favorite blanket and, perched on the edge of Shannon’s bed, she rocked him, singing softly until his whimpering changed to relaxed, even breathing. Shannon slipped off, too.
By the time she tucked Robbie into his crib, it was fully dark, and a large moon was rising in the east.
Kari poured herself a cup of coffee and wandered onto the covered porch. She sat down, weary in heart and body. Lord, thank you for getting us here safely. I pray you guide me over the next few days. If I didn’t think this was what you were telling me to do, I’d have to say I was nuts.
From where she sat, Rose and Jan’s house, off to the left, was in full view. She’d planned her own house’s location that way, so that she could always see the little house’s profile.
She stared hard across the creek and Søren’s fields. A few lights glimmered in the windows of the farmhouse.
Is he still up? Or has he gone to bed? Kari wondered. Will he have noticed the lights over here?
As weary as she was, Kari was restless. She left the remains of her coffee on the railing and wandered into the yard. Tonight’s moon cast a glow upon the land. She had no difficulties picking her way toward Rose’s house. She stepped up onto the wide porch Jan had built Rose and sat upon the old bench facing east.
This. This was the view Rose had of Jan’s land. Did she yearn for the man who lived in that farmhouse as I am yearning this night?
A breeze skittered across the porch, and she listened to the prairie’s night sounds: the sweep of an owl’s wings as he hunted the fields, a coyote’s call and, in the distance, the deep low of a cow.
It is so peaceful here, Lord.
Her eyes followed the long stretch of lawn that led away from Søren’s house, that ran up the sloping hill and into the aging apple orchard. Kari knew that the orchard hid the Thoresen family plot.
Kari could not see the little cemetery, screened as it was by the trees and the night, but nearly three long years ago, she had often visited the Thoresen graves. Much of each visit had been spent kneeling near the grave of her great-grandmother.
Thinking.
Seeking God’s guidance.
Hoping for answers.
Long ago, Rose stared across this same creek. She sat where I am sitting and studied these very same fields, that same barn, that house, and the origins of the Thoresens’ apple orchard.
More than one hundred years ago, she was a stranger in this land, as I am. She had to have felt lost and afraid many times, Father. Did she ever question your wisdom and direction?
Did she wonder if the man who lived in that house was your provision for her? As I am wondering?
Lord, could this finally be our time?
Eventually, Kari began to nod off. She shook herself awake and walked back to her house.
As she stepped up onto her own porch, a shadow shifted. She jumped, and Søren moved into the moonlight.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, Kari.”
“I-I wasn’t expecting you.”
“We’ve seen all the activity over here the past week—a moving van, furniture being hauled inside, a landscaper clearing up the lot, laying sod, planting flowers. And I saw the lights over here this evening when you arrived.”
He shrugged. “I waited until I figured you had the children in bed before I walked over. You did bring them, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I-I won’t leave them with anyone except the nanny, and only for a few hours at a time. They are a little fragile.”
“I hope it’s okay that I came?”
“Of course. I mean . . . well, of course it is.”
He grunted softly and said nothing.
He is waiting for me to make the first move.
Well, all right then.
“Søren, I . . . have cut my involvement with Michaels Enterprises to the bone. I will take the children there once a month for a few days, a week once a quarter. The rest of the time I, that is we, will be living here.”
“Living here?” He was curious.
“Yes. Shannon and Robbie need a full-time mother. A place where they can roam and play outdoors. Cousins.”
Kari couldn’t see Søren’s face in the porch’s shadows. Couldn’t see his expression.
“So, this is a permanent move?” He sounded aloof, skeptical.
Kari gave him the best answer she could.
“I hope so.”
—
IT WAS STILL EARLY. KARI WOKE TO A LIGHT TAPPING on her front door. She was groggy, but sat up and checked the children—they were sleeping, their breathing regular and deep. She pulled on a robe, shuffled to the door, and opened it as quietly as she could manage.
“Max!” She almost forgot to whisper.
“Hi, Kari.” He hugged her and she wrapped her arms about him, amazed that his head lay on her heart.
“You’ve grown.”
“Yeah. Gonna be as tall as Papa.” He had taken Kari’s cue and spoke in a low whisper. He looked past her into the house. “Are your niece and nephew still sleeping?”
“Well, it is only six in the morning.”
“Yeah?”
/>
Kari snickered. The day began at four in his house.
“Oh, hey.” Max let go of Kari and stared behind her.
Kari turned. Robbie stood there in his little sleeper pajamas, the kind with attached footies and rubber soles, a zipper up the front. He rubbed his eyes, looked from Kari to Max, and pointed at him.
Kari scooped him up. “Good morning, my sweet Robbie. This is your cousin, Max.”
Max waved. “Hey, Robbie.”
Robbie grinned—and buried his head in Kari’s neck.
“He likes you, Max, but he plays shy at first. He’ll get used to you.”
“Aunt Kari?” Shannon peeked from the hall into the living room.
“Here I am, Shannon.”
Shannon scampered to her and peered around Kari’s legs at Max.
“Who’s that?”
“This is your cousin, Max.”
Shannon looked at Kari, crinkled her nose, and grinned.
“You have lots of cousins here, Shannon, but Max is a very special cousin. And guess what? He lives on a farm. They have animals on the farm. If you ask nicely, perhaps Max will show you the animals some time.”
“What kinda animals, Aunt Kari?”
Kari didn’t answer; she looked at Max.
“Hi, Shannon. Do you want me to tell you what kind of animals we have?”
She grinned up at Kari again.
“Do you want Max to tell you about the animals?”
Shannon dithered and then nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Well, we’ve got chickens. And we’ve got cows and horses. And—”
“Horsies!” Shannon was astounded.
“Yeah. We’ve got two horses.”
“I wanna see the horsies, Aunt Kari.”
“Yes, perhaps later today. Ask Max what else they have.”
“What else, please?”
“Well, we’ve got a lot of goats. Pigs, too.”
“Pig!” Robbie hollered in Kari’s ear. He jumped up and down in her arms, so she promptly set him on the floor—and rubbed her ringing ear.
Robbie joined Shannon on the backside of Kari’s legs.
“Hey, Robbie.” Max wiggled his fingers at Robbie, who laughed and, again, hid his face.
“Would it be all right if we came over this afternoon when you get home from school, Max?”
“No school today, Kari. It’s Saturday.”
“So it is. Seems that I’ve lost track of time.”
“Aunt Ilsa asked me to come over and invite you to breakfast. I could show the animals to the kids afterwards.”
“Why . . . why, that would be lovely.”
“Okay. Ilsa said seven, if you can make it.” He studied the two heads that poked out from behind Kari’s back.
“They sure look a lot like you, Kari.”
Max was cheerful as he said it. Maybe a bit too cheerful. A little forced?
“Tell Ilsa thank you. We’ll be there,” Kari said.
Max went away with a wave of his hand, trotting down the path toward the bridge.
—
ILSA PULLED KARI INTO THE KITCHEN AND HUGGED HER long and hard. “I’m so glad to see you, Kari. So glad you’re here.” She backed away from Kari and tried to see Shannon and Robbie, but they were shy and clung to Kari like stickers to socks.
“It’s okay, Ilsa. They’ll get used to you—especially if you have food.” Kari smiled at Søren and Max. They were already seated at the table, waiting for their breakfast.
“Do I have food? Do I have food? Come and see if I have food. Sit there, Kari, however you’d like to arrange yourself and the children.”
Kari carried Robbie and tugged Shannon with her to the long, planked table. She sat down on the bench near Max and plopped Robbie between them. Shannon climbed onto the bench on Kari’s other side.
Then Ilsa brought on the food: Fried bacon, sausages, ham, and potatoes; pancakes, eggs, and hot syrup. Muffins, fruit, juice, and milk were already waiting on the table.
When Søren bowed his head to pray, Shannon and Robbie stared at him with round eyes. Kari bowed her head with Max and Ilsa.
“Lord, we thank you for this food, for all your provision, for bringing Kari, Shannon, and Robbie to us safely. We love and honor you, Lord. Amen.”
“Amen,” Ilsa, Kari, Max, and Shannon echoed.
“MEN!” Robbie yelled.
Laughter floated around the table and Robbie bounced on his bottom, unconcerned that he was the center of attention. He was hungry.
“BAKE!”
“Ah, spoken like a true farmer,” Søren laughed. He placed two strips of bacon on Robbie’s plate. Robbie grabbed one up and gnawed on it.
Ilsa studied Shannon and Robbie. “Goodness, Kari! Max said they looked like you, and they most certainly do.”
Ilsa held out a plate of muffins. “Shannon, I’m Ilsa. Would you care for a muffin?”
“No, thank you.”
“What sweet manners you have. What would you like to eat, dear?”
Shannon’s eyes gleamed. “Pancakes, please.”
“CAKES!” Robbie roared.
Søren grinned at Kari. “I like this boy!”
Max stared from his father to Robbie and then to his plate.
—
AFTER BREAKFAST, MAX AND KARI TOOK THE CHILDREN down to the barn. Kari carried Robbie while Max held Shannon’s hand.
Shannon asked to see the horses first so Max showed her the big bays. She was enthralled when one put his head over the stall door and stared down his nose at her.
Kari was impressed with the care Max took for the children’s size and their safety.
“Don’t ever walk up to a horse’s backside, Shannon. Always let them see you. Stay by their head so they don’t kick you.” He guided her hand to the bay’s soft nose.
“He’s got whiskers!” she exclaimed in wonder.
She put her hand in Max’s and let him lead her to the chicken pen. He unlatched the gate and took her inside.
“Hens usually aren’t mean, Shannon, but roosters can be. Take a handful of this here grain and throw it right out there. See? They like that. Pretty soon they’ll know you on sight and even that ol’ rooster won’t bother you.”
When they got to the goats, Shannon fell in love. “They are so tiny! Here, baby goat! Max, I wanna pet the baby goats!”
“They aren’t all babies, Shannon. They’re little goats, even the grownup ones.”
The goats came to Max, anticipating he would pet them. He rubbed and scratched their knobby heads and guided Shannon’s hand to a gentle she-goat.
“Here, rub this one right here.”
Shannon, glowing with excitement, did so—and then threw her arms around the goat’s neck in a bear hug. The startled goat jerked back and ran, jumping and cavorting, to the other side of the pen.
“Whoa! That ol’ nanny wasn’t expecting that,” Max laughed.
“How’s it going?” Søren’s voice came from behind Kari.
“They are loving it. Robbie seems content to watch from up here, but he is very engaged.”
“I take it Shannon is more hands-on?”
They chuckled as Shannon ran from goat to goat, trying desperately to hug one of them. Max, laughing, trailed behind her.
“Cow.” Robbie pulled a finger from his mouth and pointed. Three cows with wondering eyes stood at the fence at the top of the pasture.
“Yup. Do you want to see the cow?” Søren asked.
Robbie considered him and then turned away. “Cow.” He pointed again.
Søren held out his arms. Robbie stared at him and then leaned toward him. Søren scooped him up and they made their way toward the fence. Kari followed them.
“Cow! Cow!” Robbie bounced and strained toward them.
The bossies, however, trotted off as soon as Søren approached the fence. They made a beeline for the rest of the herd grazing far down the pasture.
“Cow!” Robbie burst into wails.
“How abou
t a pig, Robbie,” Søren suggested. “How about a big ol’ fat pig?”
He walked to the other side of the goat enclosure and leaned on the pigpen’s rails. “Look at that one, Robbie.”
Kari followed them and leaned on the wooden slats, too. A sow, with eight piglets rooting along her belly, had to have been eight hundred pounds. Kari was suddenly breathless with fear.
“Oh, my goodness! We mustn’t ever let Robbie down! If he climbed in there—”
“Right. Even more reason to train them, starting now, as to what is safe and what is dangerous. Max has known since he was two to stay away from the pigpens. Especially the boar.”
They wandered the barn and the stock sheds, looking at all Robbie showed an interest in. Thirty minutes later, Robbie leaned from Søren toward Kari. His eyes were drooping.
“He needs a nap,” Kari said.
“Let’s take him in the house. He can sleep on the guest bed.” Søren slanted his eyes toward Kari. “You know where that is.”
“Yes, I do.” She craned her neck for Shannon and Max.
“Looks like they’ve gone up the hill toward the apple orchard. Don’t worry about her. Max will take good care of her.”
“All right.”
Kari put Robbie on the bed and laid an afghan over him. When she left the room, he was already asleep.
“I think that’s more excitement than he’s had in a month,” Kari whispered. “Tuckered him right out.”
Kari accepted a cup of coffee from Ilsa and the three of them sat down at the kitchen table. “That reminds me. He has a birthday coming up.”
“He’ll be two?” Ilsa asked.
“Yes. And I haven’t a clue what to do.”
“We can have his party here,” Ilsa announced. “I know all about little boys’ birthday parties.”
Kari stole a glance at Søren.
He was stirring his coffee.
Deep in his own thoughts.
~~**~~
Chapter 35
THE FIRST TWO WEEKS PASSED IN A PLEASANT FOG. Kari organized the house and set up an office area for herself including computer, phone, and fax. She placed her favorite photograph of Rose on her desk and liked to look at it when she was on the phone with Scarlett, Bettina, Oskar, or Cadie.
She’d had another photograph reproduced: The portrait of Stephen and Kelly that had sat on the table between their caskets. Kari placed that framed photo on the coffee table in the living room where Shannon and Robbie could see and handle it.
All God's Promises (A Prairie Heritage Book 7) Page 38