As she walked into the kitchen, she found Levi standing practically motionless, his whole attention on Melody’s closed door.
Just a few feet away, her mother and father stood together, looking like they didn’t know whether to shout for joy or cry.
“I still don’t understand why they’re here,” Katie said.
“The girl said she’s a friend of Melody’s,” her father replied. “They’ve been driving through all kinds of weather to get here.”
Levi stood nearby, not speaking.
Just then, the door opened a crack. A pretty auburnhaired girl with green eyes peeked out. “Levi? Do you have the towels and water yet?”
“What? Oh, no. I’ll be right there.” When the door closed, Levi turned to Katie’s parents. “Zack will be needin’ clean scissors, hot water, and towels.”
Immediately, her mother poured water into a large bowl and handed Katie two hand towels. “Go take this in, I’ll get the scissors.”
“All right.”
Levi’s face looked pained as Katie walked by him and went into the room. For a moment, she ached to say something reassuring, but no words seemed appropriate. Instead, she walked to the door and let herself in.
When she walked into the bedroom, the man and Leah were counting, helping Melody breathe.
“It’s almost time, I think,” the man murmured. Then he turned to Katie. “Oh, good. Leah, grab that, will you?”
“I’m Leah,” the girl said. “That’s Zack.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Katie said. “I’m not really sure how you got here, but I know you were sorely needed.”
When Melody moaned again, her cry high-pitched and shrill, Katie turned back out. The girl was in capable hands, her friend’s, the officer’s, and God’s.
“How is she?” Levi asked the moment Katie returned to the kitchen.
“About as well as she can be doing, I imagine. Zack looks to be a capable person.”
“I hope so.”
Mrs. Brenneman patted his shoulder. “It’s a difficult thing, being the one to wait. But it’s how it’s done.”
Katie fixed a mug of hot tea for herself, and one for him as well. When she set it in front of him, Levi stared at it glumly.
“Take a sip. You’ll be glad for it.”
“Danke.”
“I think everything is going to be all right,” Katie murmured with more assurance than she’d ever felt before in her life. “Don’t you feel him with us tonight?”
“Him?”
“Our Lord? Levi, think about it. Here we are all, together. A houseful of scattered individuals. It makes no sense that so much should have happened. So much during tonight, of all nights.”
Her mom nodded, her cheeks pink. “I must say, this is a Christmas like I’ve never experienced. I had planned for my family to sit and relax. Spend time reading. Doing puzzles. Going for walks. Baking. But here, we’ve all been entangled in your story. And Melody’s! Now, I promise I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Levi slowly relaxed beside her. “If the Lord brought me here, I hope he’s still watching over us.”
Down the hall, Melody let out a cry. Beside her, Katie watched Levi grip the kitchen counter hard. Unable to say anything more, she simply held out her hand to him. Then bowed her head and prayed. His hand covering hers, he did the same.
She prayed silently, as was their way. But she prayed with all her heart. She thanked the Lord for being with her and Eli. Thanked him that he guided her through her selfishness, and through each person’s own worries and concerns.
She asked him to be with Melody. And with Zack. And with Leah, too.
And because the sense of peace felt so wonderful—because she felt so close to God, as though he was holding her other hand—she silently said it all again.
Down the hall, Melody cried out again. And then, miracles of miracles, a far different cry was heard.
Tears were in her eyes when Katie opened them again.
Across the kitchen, her mother clasped her hands together and beamed. “Praise God. A child is born.”
Beside her, Levi wiped his cheeks with a fist. “Indeed,” he murmured. Then he finally smiled, too.
Chapter 25
December 25, 6:00 A.M.
“That had to have been the most incredible night of my life,” Leah gushed to Melody the next morning.
After Melody had given birth to the most perfect little girl in the world, Leah and Mrs. Brenneman had helped her get settled, then she and her baby had fallen into an exhausted slumber. Now, just as dawn was breaking on Christmas Day, she was holding Faith in bed. Leah had just come in to help Melody wash and get dressed.
Now Melody was more than happy to let Leah continue to chatter like a magpie about the wondrous events in her life.
“I mean, Melody, who would have ever thought I could have fallen in love on the way to see you?”
“Not I.” Though she’d only heard snippets about the romance, Melody had to agree that it did indeed seem incredible. “Are you sure it’s love, though?”
“Yes.” A new awareness shone in Leah’s eyes. “I’ve been infatuated before. I’ve liked other men a lot. Sometimes I’ve wondered if the relationship I was in was going to turn into love. But never before have I felt anything like this. What I feel for Zack is so strong. So right. It must have been meant to be.”
“I imagine so.”
“Gosh, are you laughing at me?” Leah grinned. “Even if you are, I don’t care. I’m just so happy.”
“I’m not laughing.” In her arms, tiny Faith made a little fist, then relaxed her hand and continued to sleep. Both Mrs. Brenneman and Katie had warned her that newborns slept almost constantly their first twenty-four hours. Melody was glad they’d told her, otherwise she was sure she would be very nervous.
Looking at Leah, she shook her head in wonder. “I just can’t believe you are here. When you appeared in the doorway, I promise, at first I thought you were a dream.”
“I didn’t want you to be alone.” Turning serious, Leah murmured, “This whole time, I’ve been so worried about you, Melody. I haven’t understood why any of this happened.”
“I don’t think we had to understand, at least not right now. Perhaps one day we will?”
“Maybe you’re right. Anyway, I can’t tell you how nice the Brenneman family has been to me. When we left you last night, Mr. Brenneman had two rooms ready for Zack and me.”
“They are truly the nicest people. They’ve made me feel so welcome and almost like I was a part of their family,” said Melody. “It’s been a wonderful gift. Now, how long do you intend to stay?”
“As long as you’d like me to.”
“What about Zack?”
“I think he took off until December twenty-seventh.”
“My bus reservation is on the morning of the twenty-seventh.”
“Melody, there’s no way I’m going to let you and Faith travel home on a bus! You can return with Zack and me.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be any trouble.”
Leah grinned. “Too late. If you thought my being here was like a dream, traveling here was a nightmare.”
Melody chuckled, because she knew Leah didn’t mean anything bad. “Then I can only hope that the return trip will be far better. But you had better ask Zack first, Leah. Don’t you think?”
“I’ll ask him, but I can’t imagine why he’d say no.”
“Last night, I was so thankful he was here.”
“He’s an amazing man. Nothing seems to faze him, Melody.”
As Melody thought again of how his take-charge attitude had steadied her fears and brought a new sense of calm to the room, she knew she’d always be grateful.
After a brief knock, Katie Brenneman peeked inside. “Good morning! Merry Christmas!”
“Good morning to you,” Melody said.
“Can I come in?”
“Please do! And please meet Faith.”
&n
bsp; “Ah. Yes, Faith is a wonderful-gut name for your boppli.” Katie leaned forward and admired her with a soft smile. “She’s beautiful. And so tiny.”
“Zack thought she was six pounds.”
“My Eli was almost eight when he was born. No wonder she looks so small.” Turning to Leah, Katie murmured, “We’re having breakfast now. Your Zack has been sitting with us, but I have to say he is looking a little lost out there, sitting among the Amish.”
Leah stood up abruptly, then bit her lip as she glanced Melody’s way. “I’m sorry. Do you mind—”
“I’d mind if you let Zack sit in there all by himself! Go now.”
“We’ll be back after we eat. I know he’d love to see you and Faith again, first thing.”
“I’ll see you after breakfast.”
Katie grinned as she took the chair Leah vacated in a flash. She and Melody watched her practically run out the door, and she said, “Your friend is smitten.”
“It sure seems that way.” As she looked at Katie, she noticed dark smudges under her eyes. “Are you all right? How is your boy? I remember he was sick?”
“He’s better, danke. He’s still sick, but his fever is down, and the steam steeped with peppermint seems to have helped a great deal.”
“I’m glad.”
“May I bring you some tea or coffee?”
“I’d love some coffee.”
Katie stood up. “I’ll bring it right out to you. My mamm made homemade cinnamon rolls this morning, too. Would you care for one of those?”
“Your mother is a wonder, making cinnamon rolls so early. She must not have ever gone to sleep!”
“She is a wonder, but these rolls are easier than most. They use a box of yellow cake mix.”
“I would love to have one, although I feel bad, with you having to wait on me.”
“Don’t feel bad at all. I’m glad to help you, Melody.” She stepped away, then turned back to her. “Listen, I don’t want to forget to say this. I … I am glad you are here. I know I wasn’t at first, and I know I’ve already apologized, but I don’t think it will ever be too much to tell you I’m sorry again.”
“There’s no need.”
“I think there is. I’m ashamed. I just wanted you to know that your visit has been a joyous event for our family. I, for one, will always be grateful that you came here.” She pursed her lips. “And, I just want you to know … I think you’re very brave.”
Melody was too choked up to immediately reply. “Your words mean a great deal,” she whispered. “Danke.”
Moments after Katie left to get her some breakfast, Melody leaned back on the cushions of the bed. Once again, all her attention turned to her precious Faith. “What a miracle this Christmas has been,” she murmured. “It’s a miracle that everything has turned out so well.”
The well-known verse from 1 Corinthians floated through her mind. People often talked about that verse for romantic love, but she remembered someone telling her once that Paul’s talk of love hadn’t really been meant for romance. He was talking about love of faith. Love of each other. Love that was strong and patient and kind.
And that’s how she felt when she looked at her baby. Suddenly, all the ugliness that had filled her life didn’t seem to matter anymore. Suddenly, all that really mattered was here in her arms.
“I brought you coffee,” Levi said from the doorway.
“Levi!” She didn’t even try to contain her smile for him.
“May I come in?”
“Of course. I’m so glad to see you. Would … would you care to meet my daughter?”
Warily he stepped forward, gingerly handling the coffee mug like he was afraid he’d spill it. She noticed he hardly looked at her until he put the coffee cup down. Only then did he straighten and look her way.
His expression turned awed. “Oh, but she’s beautiful, Melody.”
“I think so, too.”
He looked so wistful, so overcome, she motioned him closer. “Would you like to hold her?”
“No, I couldn’t.” But he did step closer.
“Why not?” Gently, she held her arms out to him. “Hold her, Levi. After all, she’s in your debt.”
Almost as if he was in a trance, he took Faith from her, taking special care to hold the baby’s head and neck securely. Melody had to smile—Faith looked even smaller in his big hands. She hadn’t thought such a thing was possible.
Slowly, he sat down, hardly lifting his eyes from Faith’s peaceful face. Still her little girl slept on.
Finally, he met her gaze. “Why would you say she was in my debt?”
“It was a poor joke, I suppose. But how could I not feel beholden to you? You stayed with me, because I asked. You comforted me because I needed you—even though being in this room had to be a terribly difficult thing.” Though she knew she was stumbling over her words, Melody kept trying to make Levi see things from her point of view. “Levi, quite honestly, I don’t know how I would have gotten through yesterday if you hadn’t been by my side.”
“But I didn’t do anything. It was Zack and Leah who helped you deliver.”
“Only at the very end.” Reaching out, she pressed her palm on his arm. “Levi, I know you would have helped me if they wouldn’t have come.”
“I would have. But I’m glad I didn’t have to.”
As she watched the man she’d come to trust so much hold her baby, Melody felt a contentment she hadn’t known would be possible to feel.
With a start, she realized she was feeling much of the same emotions toward him that she did with Faith. Longing to be with him as much as possible.
Sometime over the course of her visit, and their time together, she’d fallen in love. She, who’d assumed she’d never trust a man again.
Though Levi’s coffee was delicious, the previous day’s exertions still left her exhausted. She tried hard to resist, but her eyelids grew heavy. “Levi, would you mind watching over Faith for me? Just for a little while?” A yawn escaped her. “Suddenly, I’m so tired …”
And suddenly, she felt so warm and content. She let herself lower her defenses.
She let herself sleep.
Levi blinked as he realized what had happened. Melody had fallen asleep … and had entrusted him with Faith.
In his arms, the tiny baby slept as well. She was so light in his arms, he knew he could have held her all day. And her expression was so sweet, it tore the last of his layers of grief away. Now he could only find hope in his heart. Hope and love for Faith … and a growing love for Melody, too.
When Faith shifted her arm, Levi warily looked at the bed. Melody had made a little area right next to her for the babe.
Perhaps the right thing to do would be to set Faith there and give Melody her privacy?
Yes. That was the right thing to do, for sure. As gently as he could, he set Faith next to Melody and hovered, just to make sure she didn’t cry.
But instead of fretting, the babe shifted, then continued her slumber. Looking like an angel from heaven.
In front of him was a sight he’d always imagined seeing. Of course, the woman wasn’t his wife. And the baby wasn’t the girl who’d died with Rosanna. But for just a few moments, he could imagine that this was his family.
That these girls were his heart.
And so he sat down again. Just in case he was needed.
As Melody slumbered, he took the opportunity to gaze at her. To look upon every feature in a way he would have never allowed himself to do if she was awake. Her hair was slick, silky to the touch.
His fingers twitched as he remembered brushing it away from her face.
Her cheeks held the faint bloom of a blush. He remembered they’d burned bright red in embarrassment when he dared to ask her about her past. And had sweetly pinked when she caught him staring at her for too long.
Her lips, so perfectly formed, gently moved with each breath. He remembered when she’d first smiled at him … and at how dazzled he’d felt. He imagined
kissing her, of holding her close in his arms.
He couldn’t deny the truth any longer. He was enchanted by Melody.
And by tiny Faith, of course. A yearning for a child of his own. Forcing himself to look at the baby, he knew there was no greater gift than a newborn baby. How could he ever have asked Melody if she’d planned to keep Faith?
How could anyone look at Faith and only see ugliness? Surely not him.
Burgeoning inside of him was the warm, sweet feeling of happiness. Of protection.
Of hope.
For the first time in ages, he actually wanted to make plans. He ached to ask Melody when he could come visit. Ached to ask if he could write to her.
And … he wanted other things, too. Marriage. A life beside her.
But even the idea of asking for her hand gave him pause. How would she react to such demands? Would she yearn to forget him? To try and put all the experiences they had shared out of her mind?
Steeling himself, he knew he had to try. He wanted to see her again as soon as possible. Even waiting two weeks sounded like too much.
For better or worse … she had become his heart.
A faint knock startled him. Turning, he watched the door open as Leah peeked in. “Hi. Am I interrupting anything?”
“Nee. Melody is sleeping.”
“And you’re just watching them sleep?”
“I, uh, I just lost track of time, I suppose,” he murmured. Since Leah still stood there, looking at him curiously, he got to his feet. “I should probably go.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch over Faith.”
“Yes. Yes, that’s very good. I’ll um, just leave you now.” With effort, he walked out the door. Already at a loss.
Already wishing he’d had a reason to stay.
Chapter 26
December 25, 10:00 A.M.
“When can we open presents, Katie?” Mary asked. “We’ve been so patient.”
Katie shared a knowing look with her mother. Though Santa Claus didn’t pay them a visit, of course, the girls each had three or four packages sitting on a windowsill, their fancy green and red wrappings making the room look bright and merry.
Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel Page 17