“Sophie? Is she—”
“Ah, she’s doing fine. The birth went well by all accounts, and the missus says the babe is holding her own. She’s tiny, for sure, but strong.” He winked at Paul. “She’s got a lusty cry, so you’ll not be able to ignore her when she wakes up during the night.”
Paul stepped into the boat and turned up the collar of his heavy wool coat. His excitement continued to build the closer they got to the island. When Mr. Atwell docked the boat, Paul jumped to the pier as though he’d been catapulted from the vessel. He extended his hand to Amanda and helped her out.
Mr. Atwell waved them on. “You go ahead. I’ll bring your luggage up to the house later. I’m going to secure the boat inside the boathouse. Don’t think we’ll need it for the remainder of the day.”
The path leading to the house remained covered with the snow and sleet from the earlier storm, and the two of them carefully picked their way along the slick surface. Amanda sighed with relief when they reached the veranda. “Thank goodness. I wondered if I would fall and slide back down to the river.”
A rush of warmth greeted them when Paul opened the front door. Before they could remove their coats, Mrs. Atwell scurried down the hall. “There you are. I’m pleased to see you’ve arrived safe and sound. This weather has been a fright, hasn’t it?” She continued to chirp while she brushed and hung their coats. “What would you prefer first? Something warm to drink or a peek at the new baby?”
Paul pointed to the stairs. “I’m not willing to wait a moment longer to see my wife and daughter.”
Mrs. Atwell laughed. “Then hurry on up. She’s every bit as anxious to see you.”
True or not, the older woman’s words warmed Paul’s heart. During his most recent visits to the island, Sophie had acted as though her feelings for him had grown stronger; he hoped those feelings hadn’t changed with the baby’s birth. Taking the stairs two at a time, he stopped short outside the bedroom door and tapped lightly. He didn’t want to wake the baby if she should be sleeping.
Fanny opened the door and waved him inside. “Where’s Amanda?”
“She’s following behind,” he said, crossing the room in three giant strides. He searched Sophie’s eyes, anxious to see if they would reveal pleasure at seeing him.
She extended her hand and pulled him forward. “Aren’t you going to reward your wife with a kiss?” she whispered.
He grinned and nodded. “It would be my great pleasure,” he said before placing a gentle kiss upon her lips. The baby lay cradled in her right arm, and Paul gazed upon the sight of mother and daughter, both so perfect. “May I hold her?”
“Of course.” Sophie gently lifted the babe into his arms.
“She’s perfect—just like her mother,” he whispered, tears forming in his eyes. “Hello, Elizabeth Jane.” He traced a finger along her cheek, and the infant turned her head toward his touch. “If you are only half as wonderful as your mother, you shall be everything a father could dream of.”
Sophie laughed. “I do hope she’ll prove to be less of a challenge than I’ve been for my father.”
“Well, your father sends his love and is quite excited over the prospect of meeting this new addition to the family.”
“Speaking of meeting family members, I’m afraid I’ve waited as long as I can to see my namesake,” Amanda said, crossing the room. Paul laughed and pushed the soft flannel away from the baby’s cheeks, but Amanda shook her head. “Why don’t you and Sophie visit? I’d like to hold her. I believe Fanny and I can see to Elizabeth Jane’s welfare. We won’t go but a few paces away.”
Paul carefully placed the baby in Amanda’s arms and then sat down on the bed beside Sophie. “I wish I could have been here with you for her birth.”
“I said the very same thing. It would have given me great comfort to have you close at hand when she was born.” Sophie shifted on the pillows. “I’ve been doing a great deal of thinking over these past weeks. I’m excited at the prospect of going home and beginning our new life together as a family. I know we have a great deal to learn about each other, but I believe God will direct our steps.”
Paul tried to hide his private heartache as his thoughts drifted to Sophie’s love for another man. He wanted to be strong for her and for their daughter. He had prayed that God would ease his mind from the one worry that had not ceased to haunt him. His wife loved another man.
“There’s something else I want to tell you,” Sophie said in a serious tone.
Paul met her gaze. Oh, but she was beautiful. He feared what she might say, but nevertheless said, “I’m listening.”
She smiled. “I realized something not long ago, and I thought I should share it with you. You see, when I went to England, I felt so alone and empty. My mother had died, and my father didn’t have the time of day to share with me. I had Amanda and Fanny’s love, yet it wasn’t enough. There was a vast hole in my heart. I wanted only to fill it—to feel whole.”
Paul nodded. He wanted her to know he understood. Even if it killed him inside. “Then you found Wesley Hedrick.”
Sophie looked at him oddly. “Yes. And I thought he would fill that emptiness. I thought our love would take away my longing for something more.”
Paul felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach but said nothing. He was afraid to even look Sophie in the eye, for fear she’d know his pain.
“But I was wrong.”
He felt his breath catch. What was she saying?
“I didn’t love Wesley. Not truly. I think I used him as much as he used me. I needed something from him that he could never give.”
Paul looked up and shook his head. “What?”
“I needed God. You helped me to see that, Paul. You helped me to know that what I desired wasn’t to be found on earth, but rather in heaven. The peace I’ve had since accepting that— since seeking God’s forgiveness and direction—has made all the difference.” She reached out and touched his face. “I want you to know that Wesley will never stand between us. He means nothing to me now.”
“But what about Elizabeth?” Paul dared to ask. He searched Sophie’s face for a sign that she had realized some new truth and changed her mind.
“Elizabeth is your daughter. Yours and mine. Our love will see her through. Our love for her . . . and for each other.”
Paul could scarcely draw breath. “What are you saying, Sophie?”
She smiled and drew him closer. “I’m saying that the love you planted in my heart this summer has taken root. I believe with tenderness, honesty, and trust, it will continue to grow.”
Paul kissed her passionately, refusing to let her go lest she speak again and take it all back. Her words touched his heart like nothing else could. He’d been praying that she would one day fully accept him as her husband and they could build a life together that would be filled with love and happiness. His prayers had been answered. He silently thanked God for this wondrous gift he’d been given.
From across the room Fanny and Amanda exchanged a glance over the tiny baby. Seeing Sophie and Paul kissing caused them both to smile.
“I do believe everything is going to be all right,” Amanda said. “Sophie has Paul, and you have Michael. Perhaps love will even come to me one day.”
Sophie surprised her by calling out. “Love often comes from the most unexpected source. I’m confident neither of you will ever be without it. God will send Michael home to Fanny and will no doubt send someone to love you, as well, Amanda. I’m certain of it.”
Elizabeth began to fuss, as if protesting that the conversation was no longer about her. Paul laughed and came to take his daughter. Amanda marveled at the tenderness in his eyes. Would she ever see such a look from her own husband as he gazed upon their child?
“I believe it’s time to leave these two—excuse me—these three to get to know one another better,” Amanda said. She looped arms with Fanny and smiled.
“I suppose you are right. We will have plenty of time to fuss over Li
za later.”
“Beth,” Amanda countered.
“Excuse me?” Fanny looked at her oddly as they made their way to the door.
“We aren’t going to call her Liza. Liza is too guttural. Too harsh. I think we should call her Beth.”
Sophie laughed, causing them both to turn. “Her name,” Sophie stated, “is Elizabeth. Not Liza. Not Beth. Elizabeth.”
Fanny and Amanda exchanged a glance and began to laugh. “It’s good to see Sophie feeling like her old bossy self,” Amanda declared. “Better be careful, Paul. She’s something else when her temper’s up.”
Paul chuckled and eased into the chair beside the bed. “And well I know it. Talk about something unexpected. I’ve never seen such a . . .” His words trailed off as he met the quizzical look on Sophie’s face.
“Come on, Fanny. I’ve seen her like this before. We don’t want to be around for what’s coming.”
“You’re right,” Fanny agreed. “You’re so very right.”
A Surrendered Heart
By Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
In the spring of 1899, cholera strikes Rochester, New York. While most of the members of the Broadmoor family flee to their castle home in the Thousand Islands, Amanda Broadmoor and another Home for the Friendless employee, Dr. Blake Carstead, remain in Rochester to help control the spread of the dreaded disease. However, much more than Amanda’s health hangs in the balance. Mishandling of the family fortune threatens to leave the Broadmoor family penniless and scorned by society unless Amanda is willing to sacrifice her future. Will she be forced to marry a man she disdains in order to save the
Broadmoor legacy?
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