yard behind Caleb.
“Well, Analisa, I’m sure you’ll be needing some time to yourselves, now that you and Mr. Storm have married. Newly-weds and all that.” The overblown woman took delight in embarrassing Analisa.
Dominie Wierstra, pushed to anger by the woman’s tone, stepped closer to Analisa, diverting the older woman’s attention. “Miss ... Mrs. Storm, I wish you every happiness in your new marriage. If you ever need anything, please feel free to come and see me.” Analisa noted that the man looked doubtful, as if regretting his actions.
Outwardly she was cool and aloof, showing no response to what had passed in the small room. Her mind was so filled with questions that she paid little attention to what was being said to her. She managed to nod in the minister’s direction. If the two townspeople thought it strange that the groom had resumed his daily chores, they said nothing to Analisa. Exchanging a look with Clara Heusinkveld to let her know he was more than ready to depart, Dominie Wierstra moved toward the door.
Rousing herself from her contemplation, Analisa followed them as far as the threshold and stood watching as they mounted the carriage and drove through the open gateway before turning toward Pella. She looked down at her hands. The Bible and the wildflowers were still clutched in her grasp. Releasing a long, slow sigh, Analisa walked to the table and lowered herself onto the end of the bench, her movements those of one walking in a dream. She stared at the flowers and the Bible for a moment before she set them gently on the table beside her. She rested her elbow alongside them and let her fingertips slide back and forth across the embroidered stitches of the linen table runner.
A chicken squawked somewhere outside, and the distant sound of hammering drifted on the air. Caleb, Kase, and Edvard had indeed resumed their duties. Should she begin the noon meal preparations as if nothing at all had occurred? Numbly, Analisa shook her head, hoping to clear her vision. She didn’t get up.
There was a quick knock on the door, but before she could open it, the wooden portal swung inward and Caleb entered. Analisa watched as he crossed the short distance between them and dropped down on one knee to look up at her. He’d left his hat outside, near the pump, she surmised from the fresh-washed appearance of his face and the slick look of his neatly combed jet-black hair. The collar of his shirt was stained with water spots. He reached for her hand. Analisa stared at the strong, dark fingers holding her own and then lifted her eyes to meet Caleb’s.
“I imagine you’re feeling as confused as I am right now.” His voice was low and steady while his fingers played idly with Analisa’s.
She smiled, thankful for his understanding, aware that his confusion was as real as her own.
“I’m not quite sure what I’m to do just now,” she began, the smile fading as she watched his blue eyes, then studied his high forehead and his nose and lips. “Am I to make dinner as usual or begin sewing or merely sit and wonder at what I’ve done this day? I don’t ever remember being so uncertain. There’s always been so much to do.”
“We can’t hide from this, Analisa. We are married, that’s a fact.”
Analisa stiffened involuntarily and immediately regretted it, for Caleb let go of her hand, as if sensing her panic.
“Hey.” He smiled again, rising from his crouched position to join her on the bench. “I meant what I said. This marriage will be whatever you want it to be.”
Analisa was silent, her eyes fixed on a point across the room. What did she want? she asked herself.
“I think the least we could do under the circumstances is take the afternoon off,” Caleb said. “I’ve set Kase and Opa to fence-mending. Why don’t you pack us a cold picnic and leave something here for them? We’ll walk down by the stream and talk things out. I told you earlier that I’ll be leaving here soon, and I
“Well, Analisa, I’m sure you’ll be needing some time to yourselves, now that you and Mr. Storm have married. Newly-weds and all that.” The overblown woman took delight in embarrassing Analisa.
Dominie Wierstra, pushed to anger by the woman’s tone, stepped closer to Analisa, diverting the older woman’s attention. “Miss ... Mrs. Storm, I wish you every happiness in your new marriage. If you ever need anything, please feel free to come and see me.” Analisa noted that the man looked doubtful, as if regretting his actions.
Outwardly she was cool and aloof, showing no response to what had passed in the small room. Her mind was so filled with questions that she paid little attention to what was being said to her. She managed to nod in the minister’s direction. If the two townspeople thought it strange that the groom had resumed his daily chores, they said nothing to Analisa. Exchanging a look with Clara Heusinkveld to let her know he was more than ready to depart, Dominie Wierstra moved toward the door.
Rousing herself from her contemplation, Analisa followed them as far as the threshold and stood watching as they mounted the carriage and drove through the open gateway before turning toward Pella. She looked down at her hands. The Bible and the wildflowers were still clutched in her grasp. Releasing a long, slow sigh, Analisa walked to the table and lowered herself onto the end of the bench, her movements those of one walking in a dream. She stared at the flowers and the Bible for a moment before she set them gently on the table beside her. She rested her elbow alongside them and let her fingertips slide back and forth across the embroidered stitches of the linen table runner.
A chicken squawked somewhere outside, and the distant sound of hammering drifted on the air. Caleb, Kase, and Edvard had indeed resumed their duties. Should she begin the noon meal preparations as if nothing at all had occurred? Numbly, Analisa shook her head, hoping to clear her vision. She didn’t get up.
There was a quick knock on the door, but before she could open it, the wooden portal swung inward and Caleb entered. Analisa watched as he crossed the short distance between them and dropped down on one knee to look up at her. He’d left his hat outside, near the pump, she surmised from the fresh-washed appearance of his face and the slick look of his neatly combed jet-black hair. The collar of his shirt was stained with water spots. He reached for her hand. Analisa stared at the strong, dark fingers holding her own and then lifted her eyes to meet Caleb’s.
“I imagine you’re feeling as confused as I am right now.” His voice was low and steady while his fingers played idly with Analisa’s.
She smiled, thankful for his understanding, aware that his confusion was as real as her own.
“I’m not quite sure what I’m to do just now,” she began, the smile fading as she watched his blue eyes, then studied his high forehead and his nose and lips. “Am I to make dinner as usual or begin sewing or merely sit and wonder at what I’ve done this day? I don’t ever remember being so uncertain. There’s always been so much to do.”
“We can’t hide from this, Analisa. We are married, that’s a fact.”
Analisa stiffened involuntarily and immediately regretted it, for Caleb let go of her hand, as if sensing her panic.
“Hey.” He smiled again, rising from his crouched position to join her on the bench. “I meant what I said. This marriage will be whatever you want it to be.”
Analisa was silent, her eyes fixed on a point across the room. What did she want? she asked herself.
“I think the least we could do under the circumstances is take the afternoon off,” Caleb said. “I’ve set Kase and Opa to fence-mending. Why don’t you pack us a cold picnic and leave something here for them? We’ll walk down by the stream and talk things out. I told you earlier that I’ll be leaving here soon, and I
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