Because of Lauren: A Love Story

by Vivi Underwood

  Jonas looked at his wife with approval. Lauren said exactly the right thing. But knowing Annie, he thought, she might benefit from a few words from someone who had been where she was now. He’d find a moment to talk with her before the evening was over.

  “Give yourself a chance, Annie,” said Lauren gently, “and if you love Cameron, give him a chance. You’ll know if it’s right.”

  “You make it sound so simple, but it isn’t, really.”

  “She has a way of doing that,” said Jonas fondly. “I believe it’s because she sees the end result instead of the obstacles. Don’t discount what she says, Annie. Lauren has a lot of wisdom.”

  They lingered over dessert, and gradually their conversation turned to the house the Juuls had been given an opportunity to purchase.

  “It is the house my mother grew up in,” explained Lauren. “It is such a wonderful old place, full of charm, but with an impossible, outdated kitchen.”

  “It will have to be gutted and redesigned, and we are tearing down a wall to make it larger,” said Jonas wryly. “Hopefully we’ll survive the upheaval.”

  “One of the most unique features of the house is the large central hall,” said Lauren. “The floor is laid with Italian marble and would be perfect for dancing and other gatherings. It’s furnished with antiques that look at least several hundred years old, wouldn’t you say, Jonas?”

  “At least,” Jonas agreed. “Mrs. Viik said she thought the pieces were so perfectly suited to the house that they bought them from the previous owner. That would have been Lauren’s grandfather.”

  “You will all think me terribly sacrilegious,” confessed Lauren with a light laugh. “Or insane. But when I saw that hall, I pictured our future children playing there in rainy weather, scooting their riding toys or maybe, in a few years, even roller-skating.”

  A loud guffaw escaped from Jonas. “Oh, Lauren,” said her husband. “You are priceless. When Mrs. Viik took me through the house the first time, I remember thinking we might consider other options for the room than those massive antiques. But trikes and roller skates? I’m afraid you are way ahead of me there.”

  “As I said,” giggled Lauren, “Sacrilegious! Isn’t it a good thing we don’t have to make that decision for a few years yet?”

  Dessert finished, Jonas stood up and said, “I’m stealing Annie for a few minutes.” He looked at William and grinned. “Would you mind helping Lauren clean up?”

  William looked nonplussed for just a moment, then decided to return the grin, “Are you suggesting I should sing for my supper?”

  “Works for me,” Jonas said with an amused chuckle. It wouldn’t hurt William to give Lauren a hand. He walked over to his wife and leaned down for a light kiss. “We’ll be on the terrace if you need us,” he whispered.

  Lauren looked at him with understanding. “Of course. Take as long as you want, and give her some good advice,” she added softly.

  They leaned side-by-side against the terrace wall, neither of them speaking. Life on the water had quieted down for the day, and the setting sun lent drama to the evening as day reluctantly gave way to night. Jonas’ voice drifted on the gentle breeze, “Do you miss him, Annie?”

  “Yes.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Annie gave an imperceptible nod. “If anyone understood, it would be you.”

  “What worries you the most?”

  “That I’d disappoint him.”

  “In what way?”

  Her sigh, though light, did not escape him. “I don’t know that I am interested in joining his church. I’m not especially religious, Jonas.”

  “Has he asked you to?”

  “Oh, no, but his church and his faith are important to him.”

  “And that’s a problem for you?”

  Annie shook her head and sighed at his obtuseness. “No, of course not. But suppose we allow things to get serious between us, suppose we get married. And then, eventually, he regrets it because I can’t be who he needs me to be?”

  “Have you considered that Cameron needs you to be exactly who you are?” asked Jonas. “A warm, loving woman with so much to give?”

  “I’m scared, Jonas. I was attracted to Cameron the moment we met. When he offered to show us southern Utah, I couldn’t believe it. He was so easy to be with, just a genuinely nice, decent man.”

  Jonas looked at her. “Is he in love with you, Annie?”

  She gave him a wistful smile. “I think it is more accurate to say we are attracted to each other and like being together. William decided not to come to Wyoming because he thought we needed some time alone. To explore the possibilities, I believe is the way he put it.”

  “Decent of him.”

  “Yes, it was. Cam and I talked almost non-stop all the way to the ranch. We traded life stories, and there wasn’t much we didn’t cover. He told me he’d been devastated by the breakup of his marriage and the only thing that got him through it was the love of his sons and his faith in God. I wish I’d had his faith when I was going through my misery over Asle, but it felt good, cleansing really, to talk about it.”

  “If he trusted you enough to confide the most painful part of his past, he feels more than simple attraction for you, Annie. Want some advice from an old cousin?”

  “I could use it.”

  “From the moment Lauren heard about me, she knew she was supposed to come and meet me. At the time, she thought I was an older man, so an attraction between us never entered her head. Then we met. We fell in love almost immediately and knew from the start that it was right for us.”

  “And Lauren accepted that you were not a member of her church?”

  “Better than I did.” He smiled, remembering. “We had a bit of a tiff on one occasion. She mentioned how disappointed her parents would be about her not marrying in the temple. I asked if that was what she had planned for herself. She said, ‘Yes, always.’

  “My heart almost stopped. I loved her so much, I’d do anything for her. But that was the one thing I couldn’t give her. It cost me dearly, but I suggested we rethink our relationship.”

  “Wow.” She knew how much he loved Lauren. She could only imagine how painful that must have been for him. “What happened then?”

  Jonas smiled. “Lauren can be a stubborn woman on occasion. She is also a spiritual one. She prays. Often. Quietly. Early on in our relationship, she told me she believed God sent her to me. That day she reminded me of that, and as you can see, she won the argument.

  Annie was silent, digesting his words.

  When she remained quiet, Jonas said, “Cameron is a good man, Annie. If you love him, give him a chance. Give yourself a chance. Lauren and I are proof that miracles happen when we least expect them. And how do you know you are not the answer to his or his boys’ prayers?” he added.

  Though she didn’t reply immediately, Jonas’ words had a startling effect on her. It had never occurred to her that she might be anyone’s answer to prayers because praying was not a habit of hers. Slowly, in a hesitant voice, she said, “On the ranch, at the end of the day, the whole family knelt in a circle to pray. The boys wanted me to join them, and though I felt a little awkward, I did.” A sweet smile of remembrance touched her lips. “To my surprise, their grandfather asked Matt—he is one of the twins, the other one is Josh—anyway, he asked Matt to do the honors. I waited for him to refuse. Instead, I heard a twelve-year-old boy pray for the family. He did it so naturally and was perfectly comfortable doing it. Then, at the end of the prayer, he said the most extraordinary thing. He thanked God for sending me. Me!” she emphasized, “all the way from Norway to help make their dad happy again.”

  “The thing is, Jonas, there was nothing in Cameron’s treatment of me to suggest we were anything other than friendly distant cousins who enjoyed spending time with the boys and getting to know each other.�
�

  Jonas’ voice penetrated the cooling night air as he replied, “I find it interesting that twelve-year-old boys would be that astute. According to Lauren, the break-up of his marriage changed her brother. Then, the night of our wedding, she stood by the living room window to get a last, sentimental look before we left. She saw you and Cameron walking together and called me over. You were strolling arm-in-arm, smiling and talking. Cameron looked happy, and Lauren noticed because she hadn’t seen him like that in a long time. The boys must have seen the change in their father just as she did.”

  He looked at her and said with affection, “I have a feeling you were born to love Cameron and his boys, that he needs you in his life. And from what you’ve told me, his boys recognized that, too.”

  Hearing his wise words, Annie took a deep breath, then looking at him with solemn eyes said, “If Lauren wouldn’t mind, would you please hold me, Jonas? I think I need a hug.”

  Jonas opened his arms and pulled her close. “Lauren wouldn’t mind at all,” he assured her. “We’re family, aren’t we?”

  “They have been out there a long time.” Lauren and William had finished the dishes long since and were relaxing in the den where William had given her details of the trip to southern Utah. Now he said aloud what he hadn’t said at the table.

  “Annie is in love with your brother, Lauren, no matter how much she may deny it. And I am quite certain he is in love with her, too. On our trip, he behaved very properly, didn’t single Annie out in any way, but some things you just know. I didn’t go with them to pick up the boys because they needed time alone, time to get to know each other without a third party present.” He looked at Lauren and said with sincerity, “I told you earlier, I like your brother. If marrying him would make my sister happy, my only objection would be having her live so far away.”

  “So why do I hear a ‘but’?”

  “My sister admires Cameron’s faith, but she isn’t a religious person, nor is she interested in joining his church.”

  “Has he suggested that she should?” asked Lauren curiously. She couldn’t imagine Cameron doing that,

  “Not at all. If you want my opinion, he loves Annie just as she is. She makes him happy, and from what I understand, he hasn’t been happy in a long time.”

  “No, Kellie did a number on him.”

  They both looked up when Jonas and Annie entered the den. “Sorry, you two. I didn’t know we’d be out there so long,” said Annie apologetically.

  “Not a problem.” Lauren smiled at her husband. “I hope you gave her some useful advice.”

  Annie’s eyes softened as she looked at Jonas.

  He gave her a reassuring smile.

  “He did,” she said. “He told me exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing him with me, Lauren. For William and me, Jonas has been our only family here for a long time.”

  Later, as they got ready for bed, Jonas said, “If Cameron and Annie really are in love, your parents are going to have a bigger shock than when you announced our engagement. I, at least, had some connection to the Church, but Annie . . .”

  “Loves Cameron,” Lauren finished. “And if he’s smart, he’ll figure it out and marry her. And when my parents see Cam happy, they will love her and accept her completely.”

  Jonas pulled his wife close and said, “I am going to make a prediction.”

  “Oh? What about?”

  “If Cameron and Annie do marry, in time Annie will join the Church.”

  Lauren pulled away slightly and looked at him. “That’s quite a prediction. Why do you think so? William said she is not at all religious.”

  “She has never taken the time to explore her spiritual side. She is a fine person, Lauren, but religion wasn’t part of her life growing up. She told me she envied Cameron his faith and is afraid of disappointing him.”

  “She really does love him, doesn’t she?”

  “I think so. And I think she’s in love with those boys as well.”

  “Talking of children,” he said moments later, “let’s not wait too long to start a family. I’m sure there must be some little spirits up there anxious to be born who would like to be part of our family.”

  “All those little Juuls?” she smiled. “The missing deacons?”

  Jonas nodded. “Among others.”

  Lauren laughed softly against his mouth. “It would serve you right if the Lord sent us only girls.”

  “He won’t,” Jonas said with absolute certainty. “He also knows we need more deacons in Bergen.”

  She stroked his face tenderly. He said such sweet things, and she loved him so much.

  Jonas cuddled his wife in his arms and knew there was not a happier man alive than he.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  One year later

  After days of a depressing drizzle, on the day Camilla Cecilie Juul made her debut into this world, the sun glittered from a miraculously clear blue sky, and the earth smelled fresh and new. Her parents took that as a sign that she would be a light in their lives and couldn’t wait to bring her home.

  The house by the fjord, that beloved house that had once held past generations of Lauren’s family and was now the place the Juuls called home stood ready to receive and shelter the tiny new addition to the family.

  Jonas held his infant daughter in his arms. With her sweet face and dainty features, she was the image of Lauren. Cuddling the baby securely, he leaned down and kissed his wife, the mother of this tiny miracle.

  “She is the most beautiful, the most perfect little thing I have ever seen,” he said, as he eased down on the edge of the bed where Lauren was resting. Carefully he placed the infant in her arms.

  My family, he thought, misty-eyed.

  A year ago, he had believed that being married to Lauren made him the happiest man in the world. How could he have known that was only the beginning, that there was so much more? Stroking his wife’s hair he said, “I don’t ever want Camilla to feel lonely or alone. Let’s always be there for her, so she knows how much she is loved.”

  The connecting door between the master bedroom and the nursery was rarely closed. The room that was originally designed as a dressing room for a spoiled, young dilettante, and more recently served as a cozy sitting room for Mrs. Viik, had been transformed into a nursery that would delight any miniature princess.

  Lauren stood in the doorway, a tender smile on her face as she watched the sleeping face of her precious daughter. They spoiled her with love, she thought fondly. The infant often preferred being snuggled in the arms of a parent to sleeping in her bassinet. It was not unusual for Lauren to have Camilla tucked in the crook of her left arm while sorting laundry with her right. Or to have Jonas come home from work and find her in the kitchen, preparing dinner one-handed. He’d lean down and kiss her, hug them both, then relieve Lauren of her tiny bundle while she finished making dinner. Or take over the task of preparing it himself.

  Their days were filled with joy. Jonas’ work was demanding, but knowing he had Lauren and Camilla to come home to at the end of a long day made his load much lighter.

  Settling into their home had proved to be an easier transition than they had thought, and knowing how happy her mother had been growing up here made living in the house a special privilege for Lauren. Though the first few months had been challenging—meeting with architects and contractors, accommodating workers with their accompanying noise and dust—gradually, it all began to come together.

  The kitchen turned out to be everything Jonas had envisioned when he first saw the house. With input from Lauren, it had become a warm and inviting room and a favorite spot for them to relax after a long day. And in a moment of what seemed like madness at the time, but turned out to be sheer brilliance, they decided to remodel and build out the servants’ wing at the same time. Now, in anticipation of visiting family for Camilla�
�s blessing, there was plenty of room to accommodate them.

  At Lauren’s suggestion, they included a modern laundry room off the kitchen as well as a mud room to keep puddles contained from future wet and snowy little boots and coats, hats and mittens.

  Lauren was thrilled with the addition. She no longer had to venture into the old cellar to do the laundry and the former service entrance, unused for years, became a convenient entry from the forecourt to the mudroom, perfect for the family in yucky weather. To Lauren’s delight, Jonas kept another promise. The slotted black box now hanging high on the kitchen wall was a fully functioning memento of a bygone era.

  While the baby slept, Lauren went to her computer, emailing family and friends. There was so much to tell these days. And plans to finalize. She and Jonas had been overjoyed to find that Lauren’s immediate family was planning to come for the blessing, then travel on to London to witness the temple sealing of Jonas, Lauren, and little Camilla. The original plan had been for Jonas and Lauren to fly to Utah and be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple as close to their first anniversary date as possible. But the imminent arrival of baby Camilla forced a change in plans. With the baby due just three weeks after their anniversary, Lauren’s doctor did not recommend traveling that far so close to her due date.

  Any disappointment they may have had was quickly dispelled, however. To everyone’s surprise, their gift from heaven arrived three weeks early, on the eve of her parents’ first wedding anniversary.

  Funny how things have a way of working out, thought Lauren. Because her own family refused to consider missing either the blessing of little Camilla or the temple sealing, they decided that both events would take place within days of each other. They chose the London Temple, only an hour’s flight away. This would be Melanie’s first time abroad, and she and Nick were extending their stay by a week to see a little of the U.K., where Nick had served his mission. Choosing the London Temple was the perfect solution.