by Zoe Matthews
Mr. Carver called her name and Craig’s. They both jumped up and walked onto the stage.
“It seems there is a little girl left,” Mr. Carver said to Amanda. “I need to warn you though, she can barely walk without pain. Her leg was injured in a wagon accident that took her parents lives when she was two years old. It hasn’t healed properly.” Mr. Carver pointed to the boy sitting next to the little girl. “That boy is her big brother.”
“What are their names?” Amanda asked.
“Jeremy and Grace.”
“Would you like to come live with me on my farm?” Craig walked up and asked the boy.
“I keep telling everyone, I don’t want a new family!” The boy hollered again.
Mr. Carver put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and started to reprimand him, but Craig held his hand out to silence the agent.
“Tell us why. You have to have a reason for not wanting a new family.”
The boy looked at Craig suspiciously, as if he didn’t believe Craig cared about his reasons. Craig stood patiently waiting for his answer.
“I don’t want to be separated from Grace. She and I are all we have left of our family.” He finally responded with defiance in his voice.
Mr. Carver leaned close to Craig. “We have explained to him that being able to stay together will likely not happen. The best he can hope for is if they both go to families who live close by and they can visit.”
“How old is Grace?” Amanda asked the agent.
“She is four years old,” he replied.
“Tell us why it is so important you stay together,” Craig requested of Jeremy. “Why is it so important that you might be giving up a chance for a new family for yourself and for your little sister who could be cared for?”
“After Grace was born, Ma was always sickly. Pa told me my sister was my responsibility and that I was to take care of her if anything happened to him or my ma.” The boy looked bravely at Craig, blinking back tears from his eyes. “I promised him I would. I can’t break my promise to my pa.” The boy’s eyes pleaded with Craig to understand.
Amanda turned to Mr. Carver. “If I wanted to, will I be able to adopt Grace?” She asked, needing to make sure.
Mr. Carver nodded. “You can adopt her, but remember that Grace will need a lot of care and there could be more expenses you will need to pay for because of her leg.”
“That won’t be a problem. I have the means to do so,” Amanda answered. She missed seeing a surprised look from Craig when he heard her admit that money would not be a problem. She stood and quietly looked at the little girl. She had long blond curly hair that desperately needed a brush. The dress was a dull brown and it was too large for her. But Grace glanced up at her with such a sweet shy smile which made Amanda immediately fall in love with her.
Craig and Mr. Carver was still trying to convince Jeremy to change his mind. While Amanda was thinking, she noticed another couple who already had a passel of children walk off the stage with the last boy who had been sitting by himself.
“We always have room for one more,” the woman boomed out with her arm around his shoulders. “You’ll have more brothers and sisters than you will know what to do with, and you can have a place with us for as long as you want it.”
Amanda then knew what she had to do. “Mr. Parker, may I talk to you for a minute?”
Craig looked confused, but nodded. “If you would excuse us.”
Mr. Carver nodded his head as Amanda and Craig returned to the seats they had been sitting in.
“It looks like I will be able to adopt Grace,” Amanda said to Craig as soon as they were seated. “And you want to adopt Jeremy.”
Craig nodded. “I will if I can get Jeremy to agree. We would need to make sure they visit each other often.”
Amanda looked down at her lap, hoping she was making the right decision. “Do you still want to marry me?”
Craig looked at her in disbelief, as if he wasn’t sure he heard her correctly, then he smiled with delight. “Yes, I still want to marry you.”
“Then I accept your proposal. We can both adopt Jeremy and Grace and then they can stay together. Jeremy can keep his promise he made to his father.”
“That is a great idea,” Craig said. “When do you want to marry?”
“It probably should happen soon, don’t you think? So they can stay together.”
“How about today?”
Amanda took a huge breath, then nodded. Everything was happening so fast. But she needed to marry him so the children could stay together. She felt a peace in her heart that this decision was right for all four of them.
“Would you be willing to live on my farm?” Craig asked.
“Of course, Mr. Parker. My shop is too small for the four of us.” Amanda replied. “I would like to keep my sewing business though.”
Craig looked like he was going to argue, but then backed down. “That’s fine. Although I think it’s time you call me Craig, don’t you?”
Amanda nodded her head in agreement and smiled at him. He took her hand and squeezed it, and Amanda felt another stirring in her heart for this man who had relentlessly pursued her for the past year. A caring started to take root in her heart, and she could not stop it.
“Let’s go let everyone know our decision,” Craig kept Amanda’s hand in his as he led her to the children and Mr. Carver.
“Mrs. Drake and I have been able to come up with a way we can all be happy,” Craig looked at both children as he spoke. “I have been asking her to marry me for quite some time now, and she finally accepted. We will be married today and then we can adopt you both. This way you can keep your promise to your father, Jeremy, and you can both stay together.”
“Do you mean it?” Jeremy asked in disbelief. “You would marry so we can stay together?”
“Yes,” Amanda answered. “We would like all of us to be a family.”
“Is that an acceptable plan, young man?” Mr. Carver asked, with a twinkle in his eyes, happy that things were working out for everyone.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then let’s get the paperwork done so your new mom and dad can get married.”
Craig picked up Grace and they all moved over to the table where Mrs. Carver was sitting. They quickly filled out the necessary paperwork. As soon as the last paper was signed, Craig motioned to the doors.
“Let’s go get married!” he said with excitement and they started down the street towards the reverend’s home to make the vows to become a family.
Chapter 6
Amanda and Craig walked down the street towards the church and parsonage. Craig held Grace while Jeremy walked beside them. Amanda noticed that Jeremy’s eyes looked happier, like a huge load had been lifted from his shoulders.
When they got to the parsonage and knocked on the door, the Reverend’s wife, Mrs. Abby Watson, answered. She looked happy to see them, but had a question in her eyes as she let them in.
Mrs. Watson led them into a parlor and told them to sit down on a gray colored sofa. Craig kept Grace on his lap and Jeremy sat between them. Amanda noticed Jeremy looking around the room in awe, as if he couldn’t believe how nice the furniture was. A gray sofa was perched at the edge of a large colorful area rug. There was another smaller sofa on the opposite side of the room with a wooden table in front of it. The fireplace had a mantle made out of maple wood above it. On the mantle was a large clock and a few knick-knacks. Above the mantle was a large oval mirror with a gilded frame. The walls had been papered with a rose covered design. It really was a beautiful room.
“We are looking for Reverend Watson,” Craig explained. “We have decided to get married and we would like it to be done today.” While he was talking, the reverend came into the room.
“What’s this I hear about getting married?” Reverend Watson asked with a smile.
“Amanda and I have adopted these two children and we would like to marry so we can be a family.”
The reverend looked carefully at
Craig and then at Amanda. He finally nodded as if he liked what he saw and he had received the answer he was looking for.
“Although I generally give counsel to have an engagement of at least a few months, and I like to meet with each couple before marriage, I do approve of this one. I will be happy to perform the marriage. I understand why it needs to be rushed.”
The reverend said as he shook hands with Craig and then Jeremy. “Today is your lucky day,” he said to the boy.
Jeremy nodded his head in agreement. “My new dad and mom have agreed to marry so Grace and I can stay together.”
“Well, there are other reasons I want to marry Amanda,” Craig looked at her with his usual teasing grin. “I didn’t think she’d ever agree to marry me. I should have thought to throw a few children into the proposals. We would have been married long ago.”
Amanda looked down in embarrassment. Did he have to announce how many times he had asked her and she turned him down? She felt a touch on her sleeve.
“Congratulations,” Mrs. Watson said softly to her. “I think you will be happy. Mr. Parker is a fine man.”
Amanda smiled her appreciation and started to say something when they were interrupted by the reverend and Abby’s teenage son, Benjamin.
“Ma, I think Mary is done with her meal and is tired. Can I show her the room we prepared for her?”
“Yes, I will go with you. I am sure this has been a tiring day for her.” Mrs. Watson looked at her husband and then at Amanda and Craig. “Please excuse me.”
After Mrs. Watson left, Amanda turned to the reverend. “I noticed that you and Mrs. Watson also adopted an orphan.”
“Yes, we did,” the reverend responded. “We have always wanted another child but the good Lord has only blessed us with Benjamin. He has been asking for a little sister ever since he was little. We decided we would allow him to choose one of the orphans for his sister, and he chose Mary.”
“I’m sure Mary will be happy living here with you and your family,” Amanda said. “I am sure all the orphans were able to fine good homes right here in Maple Grove and in the surrounding area.”
“That’s good to hear,” the reverend said. “We will have to help each other and do what we can to make this town the best place for them to live in.”
“So will you marry us now?” Craig asked, getting the conversation back to the reason they had come in the first place.
“Yes, I will,” the reverend agreed. “We need witnesses. Will you mind if we just perform it here in our parlor instead of the church? That way Abby and Benjamin can be the witnesses and they can stay nearby if Mary needs them.”
Both Amanda and Craig agreed to the plan. The reverend left the room and soon returned with his wife and son. He asked Amanda and Craig to stand near the fireplace. Grace stood next to Amanda and Jeremy stood next to Craig. The reverend picked up the bible and started the wedding ceremony.
While Reverend Watson talked, Amanda tried to concentrate on the words, but could not. She found herself comparing the difference between her first wedding and this one to Craig. She and David had eloped because his family was against the wedding. They had been married in the local courthouse, but Amanda had not cared. She was so in love with David, she was just happy to be marrying him. They had had a good life together and had been very happy. Would she be able to have a good marriage with Craig?
Amanda looked into Craig’s eyes. He was looking down at her and she saw something there in his eyes that she never thought she would see again. She could tell he deeply cared about her. This marriage, even though it was happening because of the children, meant something to him. For the first time, Amanda felt regret for putting him off and rejecting his proposals for so long. She knew that he was a good man and he would treat her and the children well.
At that moment, as she repeated her marriage vows to Craig in front of the reverend, his wife and son, and her new children, she vowed that she would do everything she could to be a good wife to Craig and a good mother to Jeremy and Grace. Hopefully, someday she would feel love for him.
When the time came to exchange rings, Amanda and Craig looked at each other. Neither of them had thought of rings. Amanda looked down at her left hand and saw that she still wore the ring that David had given her. She immediately struggled to take it off in embarrassment. Craig stopped her.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. He then turned to the reverend. “We will use this one for now.”
The reverend nodded and continued the ceremony. Then Amanda heard the words, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Amanda jerked her head and looked up at Craig. Was he really going to kiss her? As he bent his head toward hers, she suddenly realized she wanted to experience his first kiss, even in front of so many witnesses.
Craig’s lips touched hers softly and then suddenly his arms went around her and he deepened the kiss. It only lasted a moment, but in that moment, Amanda felt feelings toward Craig that she had never felt before. When he stepped away, she had to force herself to not lift her hand to touch her lips in wonder. Could a simple kiss, a wedding kiss, really mean so much? Why did her heart flutter at the thought of kissing him again?
Craig was shaking the preacher’s hand and thanking Mrs. Watson and Benjamin for being part of the wedding. He had taken Amanda’s hand after the kiss and he kept holding it until they were ready to leave the parsonage.
Abby had offered to serve refreshments, but both Amanda and Craig declined.
“We have so much we need to do before we can head out to the farm,” Craig explained while Amanda nodded her head in agreement.
“You need to spend time with your new daughter,” Amanda said, “and we have some shopping to do for our new son and daughter.” She turned to look at her children as she spoke.
Soon they were out the door and on their way to the General store, a new marriage, a new family, a new life.
Chapter 7
“That didn’t take very long,” Jeremy said with some relief in his voice, and Craig chuckled.
“Are you my new mommy?” Grace asked Amanda from her place in Craig’s arms and Amanda nodded.
“Is that okay, sweetie?” Grace nodded, but looked down at her brother for confirmation.
“Sure, Grace, these people are our new ma and pa. We won’t have to go back and live in that orphanage again.”
Grace looked relieved at his words and laid her head on Craig’s shoulder.
“We really should pick up some supplies for these two and then go to my shop so I can pack a few things to take to your farm,” Amanda suggested.
“Our farm,” Craig corrected her and she smiled. “Grace looks tired. Should we go to your house first so she can rest for a bit?”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Amanda agreed. They quickly walked to her shop and she led them all inside.
Jeremy immediately started looking around, making himself at home. Amanda led Craig to her small bedroom behind the kitchen and indicated he could lay Grace down on the bed.
“Why don’t you go to sleep for a little while?” Amanda suggested to Grace who nodded her head in agreement and closed her eyes. Soon she was sound asleep. Amanda lightly brushed some of her blond curly hair from her face, marveling that she now had her own daughter and son. She was amazed how quickly things could change. She stood up quickly and turned around, bumping into Craig who had been standing behind her.
“Oh, I thought you had left to go see to Jeremy,” Amanda stuttered breathlessly, feeling flustered that they were standing so close together. Her room was so tiny. There was barely room for her bed and a small chest for her clothes.
Craig started to answer and then stopped. His hand reached up and brushed some strands of hair from her face much like she had just done to Grace.
“The kiss I gave you at the reverend’s didn’t seem quite right. I’d like to try again.” Time seemed to stop as Amanda watched his eyes move to look at her lips, then back to her eyes. He slowly bent his head and
she tilted her face in anticipation.
“Man, you sure have a lot of fabric here,” Amanda heard Jeremy call out. “Is this a store?”
They both jerked their heads away from each other and Amanda felt a distinct disappointment. For a moment, she wanted to experience his kiss again. She shook her head slightly in confusion. She shouldn’t want him to kiss her. Even though they were married, they hardly knew each other.
Craig looked disappointed too, but then grinned and whispered, “Later.” He turned and left the room to find Jeremy.