The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) (29 page)

I am looki
ng forward to seeing everyone. I am most needing to see you.

Love,

Michael

              Karlijna could hardly believe what she had read. It had been nearly a year and a half since she had seen Michael. The news she had been waiting so long to hear now terrified her. What would he think when he saw her. 

             
She looked so different now. Maybe he would not care for the way she wore her hair – she had no choice in the matter before, but now she did. She had also put on weight, but she didn't think that would be a problem since it had given her some curves that her skeletal frame had not allowed.

             
“Good news?” Louisa came in from feeding the chickens.

             
“He is coming home,” Karlijna looked up as she voiced the words for the first time.

             
“Michael?” Louisa clasped her hands together, “Michael is coming home?”

             
Karlijna looked down at the paper.

“Yes,
he is flying to New York on the – no,” she stopped herself, “he flew to New York yesterday. He is probably on his way to Virginia now.”

             
Louisa took the baby out of her sling and handed Rosie to Karlijna, “I've got to tell John.”

             
Karlijna smiled down at the little face, “Do you care that your cousin is coming home?  Probably not. But, little baby, I am so happy.”

             
Karlijna stood up and began dancing around the kitchen with the little girl. Rosie responded by spitting up all over the floor.

             
Mr. Sodergaard's letter arrived the following day.

Miss Bergstrom,    
May 22, 1945

I have enclosed Armand
's address. I hope it helps you find what you are looking for.

I would give you anything you asked
, and it still would not be enough to absolve me of my crime. I have learned there is only one thing that can heal our guilt and that is the blood of Jesus. 

I will tell you that your mercy toward my sister and me is th
e thing that made me seek God. Though Helga has not discovered her need for him, I continue to pray. She will not speak to me and has refused any financial aid – telling people I have been unwilling to help her. I am afraid I see from the other side what gossip can do.

If there is anything I can do for you be sure to ask.

Your brother in Christ,

Roald Sodergaard

              The joy Karlijna felt for her former boss was tainted with the fear of what had happened to him at his own sister's hand. She hoped it was not serious and stopped to pray for Miss Sodergaard's heart. Then she wrote to Mr. Beauchamp.

Dear Sir,    
June 5, 1945

I have received reports from my friends in Sweden that you have sent someone to find me.  As they fear for my safety, and
as he would not give a name, they refused to give any information to this individual.

I am going to trust you enough to send this letter to you, but I ask that you not give away my whereab
outs without first warning me. My family here is protective of me. If I am in danger, they will take care of me. However, I have no wish to invite trouble.

My name has been changed since leaving Sweden.

I will sign this, therefore, only with,

Karlijna

              Karlijna was reading the letter through when the phone rang. She glanced outside and saw Louisa was walking around the yard, trying still to get a colicky Rosie to sleep.

             
“Hello?”

             
“Karlijna?” the voice on the other end made the young woman's knees buckle and she sat in the nearest kitchen chair.

             
“Michael,” she spoke with as much strength as possible.

             
“I'm at Langley. I got in late last night.”

             
“I am so glad you are safe,” she was crying. “I just got your letter yesterday.”

             
“I love you, Karlijna,” Michael voice sounded funny.  “I can't talk long. Everybody wants to call their wives.”

             
“I love you too, Michael,” she hurried to say it lest he be forced to go too soon.

             
“Would you like my new address?”

             
He gave it to her and then, after telling her he loved her again, said goodbye.

             
Karlijna looked up to see Louisa standing across the table, “Michael?”

             
Karlijna nodded and swiped at her tears, “He loves me.”

             
Louisa laughed, nearly startling the baby back awake, “Of course. But he has told you this before.”

             
“It is the first time I have heard it, though.”

             
A week later, John and Louisa drove Karlijna into town.

             
“Look how this girl has grown,” Sig took the baby as soon as they entered the house.  “She's so nice and round.”

             
Louisa smiled at the praise.

             
“What time do Ellie and Sara get home tomorrow?”

             
Sig shrugged, “I don't know. Ellie's friend offered to bring them home again – though how they will fit all their things into that car is beyond me.

             
“Don't you think they'll just ship them?” John's voice of reason made the ladies laugh.

             
“I suppose,” Sig didn't look up from the baby.  “I sure would like one of these.”

             
The other three gaped at her. She looked up and rolled her eyes.

             
“I don't mean me, “I mean a grandbaby,” she winked at Karlijna who turned redder than the scarf she had tied around her neck.

             
John cleared his throat, “I think I'll go see how Will is doing out in the garden.”

             
“Sig,” Louisa decided to open that conversation, “Karlijna and I have been talking about this.  She thinks it would be better if she and Michael didn't. . .”

             
She paused, looking for words, hoping Sig or Karlijna would fill them in.

             
Sig frowned as though she could not understand what was being said.

             
“I am sure we are married in the eyes of the law,” Karlijna decided to jump in, “but I'm not sure how God feels about our marriage.”

             
Sig's eyes looked like they would pop out of her head, “What could God possibly have against you being married to Michael?”

             
“Nothing, I hope,” Karlijna could see she had not explained herself well, “but I am not certain I am married in God's eyes. When we took our vows I thought I was taking an oath about entering America. Though I love Michael and am dedicated to him, I do not know if I am married to him.”

             
Sig blew out a breath, “This will take some time to think about. I never even considered. . . I didn't think about it,” she screwed up her face and looked at her daughter-in-law, “Does he know how you feel?”

“I wrote to him, but
I am sure it hasn’t yet arrived.”

             
Sig raised her eyebrows and blew out her cheeks, “I can't see that going well.”

             
“Why not?” Karlijna wondered if she thought Michael would have misgivings about getting married again.

             
“When a man comes home expecting a wife and finds. . .” Sig made a face at Louisa who laughed softly.

             
Karlijna sighed, “I hope he gets the letter soon.”

CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO

Ellie and Sara arrived home the next evening, exh
austed from their final exams. Karlijna didn't have much opportunity to talk to them the first day as they were busy unpacking, sleeping, and visiting friends. Karlijna didn't mind. She was glad for a chance to gather her thoughts together. 

             
One week after he arrived at Langley, Michael got a letter from Karlijna.  He read it eagerly at first, but his happiness soon changed to dismay.

Dear Michael,   
June 5, 1945

I love to picture you in the United States in
stead of in England or Sweden. It is silly because you are still not with me. Perhaps, part of it is that I know you will be home soon. Every day I hope for word from you on the date we may expect you.

I a
m concerned about your return. I wonder if you will like what I look like, if you will be pleased with how I speak now – I have picked up many American phrases. I am also concerned about what you are expecting from me. Do you plan to be my husband?

I do not like to tell you these things by letters because I am fearful that you will think I do not
love you. There is nothing true about that. I love you and want to be your wife. I tell you these by letter so you will have time for thinking before you come home.

Though you knew what you were saying when you mar
ried me, I did not understand. I am afraid I have not made my vows to you before God. I understand that I am by law your wife, but I do not know about God.

I love you more
every day. I read your letters and am convinced of your godliness, of your compassion, and of your love for me. I pray for your understanding in this matter.

Love,

Karlijna

He put the letter down and then pi
cked it up again to reread it. He wasn't sure what to think. She was right, of course, about not participating wholly in the ceremony, but he thought she had come to grips with that.

             
A major he had gotten to know sat down next to him, “Something wrong, Captain?”

             
Michael hadn't seen him coming. He sat up straighter, “No, sir.  It is from my. . .Karlijna.”

             
“Relax,” the older man laughed at Michael's stiffness. “I sneaked up on you.”

             
Michael tried to relax.

             
“Karlijna is your girlfriend?”

             
Michael hardly knew how to answer that, but he knew the Air Force cared only about the legality – not matters of the heart, “My wife, actually.”

             
“You don't sound too sure of that.”

             
“I'm sure, sir. She's my wife, alright.”

             
“Is she uncertain?”

             
The man would have laughed if he had realized how close to the truth he had come.

             
“She confuses me, that's all.”

“Some women are a bit unreasonable.”

              “Not Karlijna,” Michael defended her quickly, “she's very level-headed, actually. I think I was just expecting our life would be a bit different than what she's been thinking.”

             
The major stood, “I hope you work it out.”

             
For the next few days, Michael thought about what the man had said. Some women – and some men, for that matter – were unreasonable. Karlijna wasn't among them. That meant that she was probably thinking more clearly than he was.

             
“Are you packed up?” Major Finlay asked as Michael entered his superior's office.

             
“Yes, sir,” Michael stood at attention.

             
“You leave tonight?”

             
Michael replied in the affirmative again.

             
“Have a good trip. I hope you and your wife can make some sort of compromise.”

             
Michael grinned, “I think she was right all along, sir.”

             
“They usually are, Captain.”

             
Ellie was sitting on the porch reading a letter when she heard a honking horn. She looked up to see Eddy's car in front of the house. She waved and would have gone back to reading Sam's latest letter, but the passenger door opened and a uniformed officer climbed out. Ellie was glad Sara was visiting Melba because she still had trouble seeing the men come home.

             
Ellie couldn't tell who it was until Eddy drove away. She jumped to her feet and called into the house, “Mom, Karli, Michael's home!” then ran out to greet her brother.

             
Her mother was hot on her heels as Ellie threw her arms around her brother. Sig joined the fray. Michael laughed as he held them, releasing them to give his father a hug as well. He stepped back and looked around.

             
“Where is she?”

             
Karlijna was in the garden trying to find some tomatoes for supper when she heard honking and a commotion in the front yard. She stood up and walked around the house to see what was going on.

             
As the young woman rounded the house her heart nearly stopped in her chest. There, not ten feet in front of her stood a slender, blond man with bright blue eyes and the most beautiful smile in the world. With a cry she ran toward him.

             
He dropped his cane and opened his arms, burying his face in her neck. Karlijna could not find the words she needed.

             
“I love how you’ve done your hair,” he murmured, shifting his face so his lips were right next to her ear.

             
Karlijna felt a shiver of pleasure at the feeling of his breath on her face as well as his words. She laid her head against his chest and slid her arms down to encircle his waist.

             
Melba had walked Sara home.

             
“I told you there was nothing to it, but your brother helping out a victim of the war,” Melba said sweetly.  “See, he isn't even kissing her.”

             
Sara felt genuinely sorry for her friend as they watched Michael stretch his arms further around his wife to pull her closer still, as if he may never let go again.

             
“I've got to go, Melba,” Sara barely turned to the girl.  “I'll talk to you later.”

             
She ran and joined her family just as Michael was drawing back to look at Karlijna.

             
“We need to talk,” he whispered to his bride.

             
She nodded.

             
Michael walked to Sara and gave her a hug, “It’s so good to see you.”

             
Karlijna knew she would need to be patient.  The whole family had to have time with Michael. They would have plenty of time to talk later. At midnight, Karlijna slipped into the girls' room with a quilt and lay down on the floor. She had told Sig she was going to do this, so the older woman would know Michael could have his own bed.

             
Michael was ready to sleep shortly after. He was unaware, however, of Karlijna's decision to sleep with the girls.

             
“I'll sleep on the couch, Mom,” he spoke softly.

             
Sig shook her head, “No, you can sleep in your bed.”

             
He was a little embarrassed to have to explain the situation to his mom, but it was a necessity, “I think I'd better not. Karlijna and I aren't. . .um. . .she isn't quite ready for . . .that.”

             
Sig chuckled softly, “I'm aware of that, honey. She's in the girls' room with them.”

             
Michael reddened, “You know about it?”

             
“I do,” Sig tapped her own husband who had fallen asleep in the middle of a sentence. “What are you going to do about it?”

             
Michael scrubbed at the back of his neck, “I have no idea. Am I supposed to wait?  Should we court? How am I going to do that with her living here?”

             
Sig laughed loudly enough to accomplish what her tapping could not. Will woke up and blinked at his wife.

             
“I don't think it is funny, Mom. I'm all tied up in knots.”

             
“Here is what you should do,” she was showing a little compassion. “Tomorrow morning you take that girl and ask her to marry you. Then tomorrow afternoon you find the pastor and ask him to perform the ceremony. Your sisters and Lou and John will put aside everything they have to come over and watch you two get married.”

             
Michael hardly dared believe it was that easy, “Are you serious?”

             
“She wants to be married in front of God and her family.”

             
Michael's grinned threatened to split his face, “Goodnight, Mom.”

             
He started to walk away, but turned back, “Thank you.”

             
Michael had plans to sleep well back in his own bed, but found it was difficult with the scent of his wife on his sheets – especially since she was just across the hall.

             
Despite a rough night, he was watching the sunrise when Karlijna came into the kitchen.

             
“Michael,” she was dressed for the day, but her face still bore the pink of sleep – or she was blushing, “I didn't realize anyone else was awake.”

             
He turned to watch her as she busied herself around the kitchen, “Are you always up this early?”

             
She smiled, “Ever since I was on the farm, I have been. Milking must be done when the cows demand it.”

             
Michael laughed, “I'm looking forward to it.”

             
Karlijna pulled some ham from the refrigerator and began slicing it.

             
“Why are you up so early?” she asked without looking up.

             
“I had trouble sleeping.”

             
She lay down her knife and looked at him, “Why?  Does your leg bother you at night?  Did you find your bed uncomfortable?”

             
Michael laughed and went to stand next to her, “I was having trouble sleeping because I couldn't stop thinking of you,” he put his hands on her shoulders. “I wanted to be sleeping next to you.”

             
Karlijna felt her cheeks flame, “I wrote to you about that.”

             
“I know,” he smiled down at her. “I got the letter.”

             
She chewed her lip, “You were upset by it.”

             
Michael pulled her to his chest and sighed, “I was, but you were right.”

             
“I was?” she drew back slightly to look up at him.

             
“You
are
right.”

             
She cocked her head slightly in question.

             
“So,” he continued as he stepped away, “I'm going to fix the problem now.”

             
He knelt down and looked up at her, “Karlijna Gunderson,” he took her hand in his, “I love you. Will you marry me?”

             
She laughed as she nodded, “I will.”

             
Michael got back to his feet with an alacrity that belied his injury.

             
He slid his arms around her waist and leaned toward her, “I'm going to kiss you now.”

             
Karlijna slid her arms around his neck as their lips met for the first time.

             
The world disappeared around Karlijna. She had been married to this man for a year and a half, she had known his love for six months, but she could never have imagined what it would be to be held by him like this.

             
He drew back, “Today?”

             
“Today?” she was confused.

             
“You'll marry me today?”

             
Karlijna put her hands to her face, “I don't know if that is possible.”

             
Michael slid an arm around her and led her to the table, “I'll call the pastor as soon as you say yes. I'll call Lou and John right after that.”