A Man of His Word (40 page)

Moriah smiled. “Where’s Gabriel?”

“He’s in the front room.” Rebekkah chuckled. “I think you scared about ten years off that man. I’d never come across anyone so happy to see me in my life.”

“I couldn’t tell.” Then again, she had been more than a little preoccupied. Things were starting to come back to her now, and she remembered how he had stayed by her side, holding her hand, giving her words of encouragement until Velda Anne was born. He had still been next to her when she’d fallen asleep. “Has he held the baby yet?”

“
Nee
.” Rebekkah looked at her. “Would you like him to?”

She nodded. “Please. Tell him I want to see him.”

Emma went to get Gabriel while Rebekkah made sure Moriah was completely covered. Then she said, “I’ll leave you all alone for a few minutes. Velda’s asleep, but if she gets cranky, let me know and I’ll help you get her fed.” She left the room.

Moriah leaned back against the pillow, her baby tucked in her arms. A perfect miracle, she was a gift from God. As she marveled at her daughter, she realized that God had been with her through everything. She had questioned His plan for her life, especially after Levi’s betrayal. But now she could see how going through the pain had made her stronger. Over the past few weeks, she had asked the Lord to heal her heart. He had done that not only through her child but through Gabriel as well. Even after she had hurt him, he stood by her.

“Moriah?”

Gabriel stood in the doorway, as if he didn’t know whether he should come in or not. His gaze went to Velda Anne, and his smile, coupled with the tenderness in his eyes, touched her.

“Come see your niece,” she said, smiling and lifting the baby slightly toward him.

He strode in and stood by the side of the bed, still appearing unsure. She motioned for him to sit next to her, and he did.

“
Danki
,” she said, with all the sincerity and gratitude in her heart.

“No need to thank me, I didn’t do anything.” His brown eyes softened. “You, on the other hand, were incredible.”

She blushed, then looked down at her baby. “Do you want to hold her?” He nodded, and she placed Velda Anne in his arms.

“She’s beautiful,” he said, staring at her. “Emma said you named her after
Mami.
”

“
Ya
. I think it suits her.”

“I think you’re right.” Gabriel smiled.

Moriah took a deep breath as an all-consuming wave of peace washed over her. As she watched Gabriel hold her daughter in his strong arms, she understood how right it all was. He had said he would love Levi’s child, and she could see that love in his eyes as he gazed at Velda Anne’s precious face. He had been by her side through everything, just as he’d promised, never asking for anything in return. He had been her rock through the dark times, and had shared the happiest moment of her life. His belief and love in her had never wavered, a shining example of God’s own devotion to His children.

Tears filled her eyes.

“Moriah?” his voice covered her in a gentle caress. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m so sorry, Gabriel. I’m sorry for sending you away, for not trusting in you.” She wiped her nose with the top of her index finger.

“Shhh,” he said, tucking Velda Anne deeper in the crook of his arm. He reached out and wiped the tears off Moriah’s cheek with this thumb. “It’s all right.”

“
Nee
, it’s not.”

“Listen to me, Moriah. I won’t let you do this. We’ve all made mistakes, but those are in the past. The time of mourning is over.” He pressed a kiss to Velda Anne’s forehead, then smiled. “The time of celebrating has begun.”

She grinned through her tears. “You’re right. We have a lot to celebrate.” Consumed with joy, she reached out and took Gabriel’s hand.

He squeezed it and smiled, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. She knew he understood her meaning completely.

Chapter 19

R
achel snuggled Moriah’s three-month-old daughter in her arms. She and Tobias were sitting on the Bylers’ sofa in the front room while everyone else had gathered in the kitchen. It was Sunday, a day of rest and, in this house, celebration.

“Isn’t she adorable, Tobias?”

“
Ya
,” he said, looking at his niece. “Cute.” He picked up a copy of
Family Life
magazine from the coffee table and thumbed through it.

“That’s all you have to say?”

He cast her a sidelong glance. “What else do you want me to say? She’s a
boppli
. They’re all cute.” He inclined his head and looked at Velda Anne for a moment. “Although I’ll admit, she’s prettier than most.”

“
Ya,
she is. Hopefully we’ll have one of our own someday soon.”

“Maybe.” He gave her a wicked look. “Until then, we’ll have fun trying.”

“Tobias!” Rachel admonished him, but only halfheartedly. “Your parents could walk in here at any moment.”

Instead of behaving himself, he scooted closer to her and nuzzled her neck.

A chill ran through her entire body, and though she didn’t want to—she really,
really
didn’t want to—she pulled away. “Stop it!”

His sly grin made her toes curl. “Only if you promise we’ll continue this later.”

Rachel could barely breathe. Being married to Tobias had been everything she ever dreamed of—exciting, unpredictable, at times exasperating, and above all, filled with fun and love. They brought out the best in each other, and even though they hadn’t stopped being competitive—she had just beat him in a game of washers last weekend—they also didn’t mind losing, as long as it was to each other. They had also started their marriage on solid financial footing. Between what he made working for his father and her tips and pay at the restaurant, they had been able to buy a house last month.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered in her ear.

“You want to go home? We haven’t been here that long.”

“It’s been long enough.” He looked down at the baby. “Don’t get me wrong, Velda Anne,” he said. “I love you, but you’re taking up
mei frau
’s attention. She’ll tell you herself, I don’t share very well.”

Rachel laughed. “Fine. Let me take her to Moriah. Then we can tell everyone good-bye.”

They walked into the busy kitchen. John Miller was seated at the table with Joseph Byler, the men engaged in a serious conversation. Emma and Ruth were at the opposite end, looking at a devotional book. She didn’t see Elisabeth, Lukas, or Stephen, and assumed they had gone upstairs to their room. Finally, she spotted Moriah standing by the kitchen sink, speaking to Gabriel in low tones. The two of them had spent a lot of time together since Velda Anne’s birth, and Rachel had never seen Moriah look so content. She smiled as she brought the baby to them.

“Tobias and I are leaving,” she said, handing Velda Anne to her mother. “
Danki
for letting me hold her. She’s precious.”

“You’re welcome.” Moriah glanced at the baby. “Thank goodness she’s asleep. She was up for most of the night.”

“And here I thought she was the perfect baby,” Rachel quipped.

“She is,” Gabriel responded, looking at Velda Anne, then at Moriah. “She is.”

Rachel and Tobias said their good-byes and headed for home. She leaned back in the buggy, tucking the warm lap blanket around her.

“You’re awful quiet,” Tobias said, as he led their buggy down the snow-covered road. There weren’t many cars out today, adding to the peace of the Sunday afternoon.

“Just thinking.”

“Want to let me in on your thoughts?”

“I was just thinking about Gabriel and Moriah, and how much has changed in the past year. They look happy together,
ya
?”

“
Ya
. I wouldn’t mind having Gabe as a
schwoger
some day. He’s a
gut
man.”

“Do you think they’ll get married?”

Tobias shrugged. “Who knows? I may have to warn him that marriage isn’t as great as I thought.”

“What?” She turned to him, gaping.

He grinned, then chucked her under the chin. “It’s even better.” Then he winked at her. “Gotcha.”

“Tobias, when I get my hands on you—”

“I can’t wait to find out.”

She laughed, then scooted closer to him, leaning her head against his shoulder, more in love with him than she ever thought possible.

Shortly after Tobias and Rachel had left, everyone moved to the family room except for Moriah and Gabriel. She had transferred Velda Anne to his strong embrace. He never seemed to get enough of holding her. They stood by the sink and looked out the window as dusk descended on the horizon, her mind consumed with thoughts and memories. Velda Anne had taken on the features of Levi, and in essence, Gabriel’s features too. But for the past couple weeks, she hadn’t dwelled on the past. Instead she had thought and prayed about her future.

At one time she thought she wanted to face it alone, with only her child filling the space in her empty heart. Now she knew how wrong she’d been, how selfish and afraid. There was only one way she wanted to face her future, and only one man she wanted to spend it with.

But had she thrown away that chance?

She gazed up at Gabriel, willing him to look at her. Immediately, as if he sensed her silent pleading, he looked down at her, and smiled. “You look different tonight.”

“Do I?”

He turned and faced her, Velda Anne asleep in his arms. “
Ya
.”

“In what way?”

“I can’t put my finger on it.” He searched her face. “You’re just so . . . so . . .”

“
Ya
?”

“Beautiful.”

She smiled. “There’s a reason for that.”

He quirked a brow.

“Because I’m with you.”

She heard his breath catch. “Moriah,” he whispered, his voice husky. Then he gazed at her. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. If you still want me, that is.”

“If I still want you?” He groaned. “Moriah, I love you. I would marry you right now if I could. The question is . . . would you marry me if I asked?”

She stared at him for a moment, this man who loved her so deeply she could barely fathom it. Finally, she understood what love was, and she felt it nestle inside her heart. God had taken her brokenness, and through Gabriel’s love, had made her whole again. “I would be happy to marry you, Gabriel Miller.
Nee
, I would love to marry you.”

Such joy filled his eyes that Moriah felt like she was in a dream. Slowly he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, his kiss filling her with promise, with desire, with love.

Velda Anne stirred, breaking them apart. She gazed at her daughter, then looked up at Gabriel. “I love you,” she said softly.

“I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to hear those words.” His eyes glistened. “I can barely believe I’m hearing them.”

“You can believe them,” she said. “Because I’ll be saying them to you for the rest of our lives.”