The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) (10 page)

“I
am glad you asked me, Regina. Maybe you aren’t aware that most of the early Christians were Jews and that my Jesus was also a Jew.”

Regina looked uncertain, “I did know he was a Jew, but I thought all His followers were Gentiles.”

“Jesus is the promised Messiah, Regina. The Old Testament is full of the prophets telling of his coming. Finally, He came and fulfilled all those prophecies, but not like the world expected.”

“A baby?” Regina knew enough of Christian culture to realize what her young friend was talking about.

The younger woman nodded, “Yes, a baby. Then as he grew and began ministering to people, they expected him to set up a kingdom on earth, but that wasn’t what he planned.”

“Then why all the talk about the Messiah coming to save us?” Regina sounded a little angry.

“He did come to save us, but not here. He was saving us from the consequence of our sins.”

“How could he do that?
The only way to atone for sin is by a blood sacrifice,” Regina’s voice was confident.

“Exactly,” Karlijna k
new this was the crucial point. She leaned forward and took her friend’s hands in her own, “The blood sacrifice was Jesus. He died because of our sins. Every sin that ever has or will be committed was on his shoulders as he died. “

Regina narrowed her eyes, “Jesus was there because the leaders didn’t like what He was saying.”

Karlijna shook her head, “It is true, the Jews stirred up trouble against Him, but even that was in God’s plan.”

“So we really are Christ-killers,” Regina’s voice held a guilty tone.

“Actually,” Karlijna rose to refill the coffee cups, “the Romans were the ones to crucify Him.”

Regina frowned, “Really?”

“Really. But that isn’t nearly as significant as the fact that all of us killed Christ. He wouldn’t have been there at all if I hadn’t sinned, if you hadn’t sinned. It doesn’t matter who nailed him to the cross, it was my sin that made it necessary for Him to be there at all.”

There was silence for a period while the women drank their coffee and the children licked the remaining butter from their sticky fingertips.

Regina rose from her place and began putting her children’s outer garments back on their bodies, “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Karlijna.”

Karlijna was not disappointed or surprised to find her friend was not able to accept the tr
uth of Christ’s sacrifice yet. The girl had been praying and would continue to pray for Regina and her family’s eyes and hearts to be opened to the truth. Until then, Karlijna would show them Christ through her actions.

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

Tuesday morning was cold. 
The biting wind pressed against Karlijna as she trudged to work. Arriving at Mr. Sodergaard’s house had never been such a relief.

Olaf waited at the door, “Come in , Miss,” his voice was as sharp as ever, “You’ll let in the winter.”

“Thank you, Olaf,” she knew his bark was worse than his bite and had grown fond of him despite his apparent aloofness.

Before she had even divested herself of her coat, Mr. Sodergaard called to her from the pa
rlor, “Come in here, Karlijna. You have visitors.”

Karlijna was surprised and pleased to find Pastor and Mrs. Neilson sitting on the davenport.

“Hello,” she greeted them as she entered and sat on the chair facing them.  “This is a pleasant surprise.”

There was a br
ief and uncomfortable silence. Karlijna noticed the look passing between husband and wife.

“Is something wrong?” Karlijna felt it was best to see what they were there for immediately.

Pastor Neilson cleared his throat and looked uncomfortably at Mr. Sodergaard. That man took the hint and rose.

“I
’ll be in my office, Karlijna. Please take as long as necessary.”

He shut the door behind himself.

Karlijna’s eyes followed him out but turned back to her guests as soon as they were alone.

“Miss Bergstrom,” the pastor began, “I hope you know we are not given to gossip, either listening to it or carrying it ourselves.”

Karlijna was surprised by the topic that had clearly brought him here, but she nodded, “I believe you walk with the Lord, Pastor, and that such a thing is beneath you.”

He nodded gravely, “I think you will understand why I am bringing this to your attention.  It is not to give credit to accusations, but to make you aware of what is be
ing said and,” his look conveyed an apology, “to give you the opportunity to make things right if it is true.”

Karlijna’s heart picked up spe
ed, “What is being said about me?”

Mrs. Neilson had been quiet up to this point, but she leaned forward and covered Karlijna’s hand with her own, “We cannot tell you where the information came from, but there is a rumor spreading that you,” she paused and took a deep breath, “spent the night with a French visitor to this house.”

Karlijna’s breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes and forced down the bile that threatened to erupt, and, after a few moments, managed to inhale slowly.

“I do not wonder,” she told herself to b
e calm, “at your source. I had thought it beneath her,” it was impossible to keep the anger from her voice, “but I was apparently wrong.”

The couple looked to each other, dismay manifested on both faces.

To the surprise of all, Karlijna did not give in to tears. She was too livid, “When Mr. Sodergaard informed me I would have to stay at this house while his guest was here, he asked his sister to stay as well. This was to spare my reputation, but, clearly, it served the opposite purpose.”

Mrs. Anderson shook her head, “I am sorry this has come about, Miss Bergstrom.”

Karlijna nodded. She appreciated their grace in approaching her. It certainly was not an enviable task.

“What do you propose I do?” the girl asked.

Pastor Torkleson shook his head, “Unfortunately, there is little you can do. Gossip needs no proof to continue. It just needs willing ears and tongues.”

“I’m afraid,” his pretty wife added, releasing the young girl’s hands, “it may get worse before it gets better,” she worried her lip, “We have many good people in our congregation, but plenty of them simply don’t see how sinful and damaging it is to slander others.”

Karlijna’s shoulders drooped and she covered her face with her hands.

“Tell us
what happened,” Mrs. Neilson prompted.

Karlijna gave them a brief overview of the week’s events, ending with the disastrous noon meal on Friday and the conversation she overheard between the siblings.

The pastor listened closely, “I’m sorry to ask this,” he asked at the conclusion, “but is there any way someone could have gotten the impression you were,” he paused as if searching for a delicate way to say what he needed to communicate, “involved with the man.”

“Mr. Beaucham
p retired early most evenings. I went to bed when Miss Sodergaard did every night with the exception of the last. I retired before her that night.”

“And the mornings?” Mrs. Torkleson was going to cover all the bases.

“We rose and left the room togethe
r every morning except Friday. Mr. Beauchamp woke me early by knocking on my door.”

“Did it rouse your roommate?” Mrs. Torkleson seemed nervous.

“I don’t believe so,” Karlijna thought about this a moment, “but I met him in the kitchen and the cook was there when I arrived.”

Mrs. Neilson looked to her husband who seemed to be pondering the information.

“Miss Bergstrom,” he finally spoke, “what you have told us is undoubtedly true. You could even prove it through your employer, not to mention the other gentleman.”

“Thank you,” Karlijna said, though she sensed he was not finished.

She was right.

“Unfortunately, we have little to do
to stop the lies circulating. When we questioned Miss Sodergaard, she said she had left you the night before and did not see or hear from you again until she saw you having breakfast with the visitor. She also said your bed was made when she rose, apparently undisturbed from the night before.”

Karlijna didn’t know what to say so she remained silent.

“The best thing we can do,” Mrs. Neilson rejoined, “is to carry on and pray that this will soon pass.”

Karlijna hoped they didn’t expect her to stay silent if questioned. 

The woman cleared up that question, “I am not saying you should not defend yourself if questions arise, but it would be best to remain silent as much as possible. We will speak to the other woman and try to put an end to it.”

Having never dealt with a situation like this, Karlijna decided to yield to their greater wisdom.  There may have been a better approach to solving the problem, but nobody knew the course it was going
to take.

Mrs. Neilson had been right.
It was certainly going to get worse before it got better, and the latter wouldn’t happen until Karlijna’s world had been turned upside down – again.

“Miss Bergstrom,” Mr. Sodergaard called her into his office a week later, “I must speak with you as soon as possible.”

She hung her coat in the entry closet and joined him.  “How can I help you?”

“There have been some stories spreading about
you. They are very disturbing.”

Karlijna sat down in a chair, wondering w
hat else was going to go wrong. The last few days had been a nightmare.  She could feel people’s eyes on her as she walked to and from work. Even at church, she heard whispers of her name as she slid into the pew.

“Sir,” she spoke before he could say another word, “I ha
ve heard some of them as well. You know as well as I do they are groundless.”

He eyed her, his mouth a grim line.

Karlijna began to sweat. If he could believe such a thing of her. . .

“I am not accusing you of the things they are saying,” his voice was sharp, “but it seems the rumors have been started by you.”

Karlijna jumped to her feet, “Me?” she pointed a finger at herself, “Why would I say such horrible things?”

Mr. Sodergaard narrowed his eyes as if wondering whether this girl
was as innocent as she seemed.

“Do you know all the things that are being said?”

She nodded, ashamed to even have to voice it, “That I . . .I behaved . . .indecently with Mr. Beauchamp while he was here,” she looked up at her employer, her eyes wide, “but you know it isn’t true.  You were with me whenever he was.”

She knew her voice was shaking and her words sounded like a plea, but she couldn’t help herself.  The whole situation was more than she knew how to handle.

Mr. Sodergaard snorted, “If that were all that was being said, I could let it slide.”

H
e turned from her and began pacing the room.

“They are saying that I keep you around for purposes other than translating, that you
give favors to my associates. Most of my sources say that you’re advertising this, and I’ve even heard that you’re running a certain kind of business here at. . .”

H
e stopped speaking when he turned and saw her face.

Karlijna had gone com
pletely white. She was trembling so hard that she could hardly stand up, indeed he felt if he did not get her to sit, she would surely fall over.

Not too gently, the man ass
isted her back into the chair. He leaned out the door and called to Olaf, “Bring a glass of water.  Miss Bergstrom is unwell.”

Karlijna felt the glass being pressed into her hand, but could not put the glass to her lips.

“I’m sorry,” Mr. Sodergaard said, “I know you are innocent of all these things.”

Karlijna looked up at him, her eyes telling how she was afraid to hope.

“Do you know how the rumors got started?”

Karlijna nodded.

“How?”

She shook her head.

“How can I stop them if I don’t know where they started?”

“I cannot give that information,” Karlijna refus
ed to repay an evil with evil. She would not gossip.

He emitted a noise of frustration,
“Who told you about them?”

Karlijna wondered if she sho
uld give him this information. After a few moments of deliberation she decided Pastor and Mrs. Neilson would know how to handle this better than she. She gave him their names.

Mr. Sodergaard stormed from the room and grabbed his coat from the closet, “I
will
find out who started these rumors and I
will
put an end to them.”

Karlijna did not move from her spot for ten minutes after he left.
  She may have sat there longer but for Olaf.

“Miss,” his voice was kinder than she had ever heard it, “Shall I get you something else to drink?  Coffee?  A small glass of wine, perhaps?”

Karlijna looked up at him, unaware of the tears making tracks down her cheeks, “Thank you, Olaf.  No.”

She rose and set the glass of water on the desk and turned back to the man, “When Mr. Sodergaard returns,
tell him I was unwell and decided to take the day off.”

“Yes, Miss,” the man hurried to help her into her coat.  “If you will wait just a few moments, I will drive you home.”

The young lady shook her head, “No, thank you, Olaf.  I think the walk will do me good.”

Olaf watched as she hurried out t
he door and turned to go home. Taking only enough time to throw on his own coat and tell the cook where he was going, he followed her down the street.

Karlijna was never aware of her shadow and managed to slip into her room without being
noticed by Leif or his family. Once there she fell to her knees and begged her Father for aid.

“
Father, I cannot bear up under this burden. I do not know how to right the wrong nor how to endure while I am being so slandered. My good name was all I had, and now that is being torn from me.  What will I do? Please give me strength to live through this time. Please let the truth come out.”

She continued along this vein while Olaf slipped
into the store and captured Leif’s attention.

“Mr. Anderson,” he frowned as he approached, “I would have a private word with you.”

Leif looked around his busy store and scowled, “Is this something that can wait, Olaf?  I have customers to attend.”

Olaf’s fr
own deepened, “It cannot wait. It is a most pressing issue to do with Miss Bergstrom.”

That caught Leif
’s notice, “Come into my living room.”

Leif
was not unaware of the lies circulating about his young friend. Whenever they were spoken in his presence, he was vigorous in defending the girl, but he knew there was no stopping some people from infecting all around them with their malice.

  “What can I do for you?”

Olaf told the man what he had witnessed at the Sodergaard home.

“Where is she now?”
Leif wanted to know.

“I believe she came in here, Mr. Anderson,” Olaf shrugged, “This was where she said she was heading.”

Leif thanked the man and, after seeing him out, went to the back room to check on the lady in question. Seeing her on her knees by her mattress, he left her, intending to send his wife to her shortly. It was nearly an hour before Ingrid got back there and, when she did, she found a sleeping girl, still on her knees.

“I will continue to check on her,
Leif,” she said, “but it will be good to let her sleep some now.”