Becoming Leidah by Michelle Grierson

Author:Michelle Grierson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2021-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Pastor Knudsen greeted them silently, with a nod from the altar. He was mid-sentence, giving a sermon about grief and the wisdom of God’s plan, his small frame lost in black robes, dwarfed by an imposing cross hanging above the altar. Maeva had almost forgotten what the interior of the church was like, having been in it only once—at her own wedding ceremony—less than a year before. She had been so nervous, keeping her eyes on the floor the whole time, uncomfortable in Pieter’s mother’s wedding dress, which barely covered her shoes. The villagers seemed willing to ignore this at first, so curious—even pleased—to witness such a surprise marriage, especially Pieter’s, as he was a bachelor and the sole surviving Aldestaed in Ørken. He showed up unannounced on a Sunday, with a red-haired beauty on his arm, a stunning silent creature from somewhere unknowable. Was she a Lapp? A Finn? Or perhaps a Scot—a Highlander? The fiery mane certainly a sign of foreign shores. It didn’t help that she didn’t speak—only to Pieter, in short, garbled whispers—the initial village excitement spoiling like sour cream, within a week.

Maeva learned the word huldra even before she learned hallo. It was one of the many whispers that chased her, even in dreams. She learned quickly to avoid the village. Avoid neighbours. Avoid the market. Avoid church. Which had sealed her fate as the scapegoat for all manner of ills: Snowstorms, stable fires, sparse crops, empty nets. Illnesses. Even shipwrecks. Didn’t Pieter Aldestaed meet her before his boat sank? Or was it after? Suspicious either way… The gossip, never-ending. The consequences, far-reaching in the small district.

The Aldestaeds stood side by side at the back of the church. Pieter pushed his back against the closing door to soften the noise. But all eyes had already turned to them; murmurs and whispers floated through the congregation. Then silence. Maeva stepped in front of Pieter, keeping her gaze on the pastor, who extended his arms wide, gesturing to the large wooden cross above him. It was a good distraction; Maeva slipped into the last empty pew on the women’s side, holding Leidah close, should she cry out. She tried to catch Pieter’s eyes, feeling adrift.

Pieter moved to the men’s side but didn’t sit, keeping to the corner. A few more fishermen than usual—most likely another crew from Bergen—occupied the last row. A blond man in the second-to-last pew craned his head: Hans. He raised an eyebrow to Pieter, who nodded his head proudly at his wife and child. Hans showed his approval with a wink, then turned his attention back to the pastor.

Knudsen clapped his hands.

“And now, it is time to welcome new members into the fold, a most pleasurable duty of ministry.” He held his arm out, pointing to the back of the church. There was another round of murmuring. A flush of heat overcame Maeva, who shifted nervously, rocking the baby even though the child was fast asleep.

“What exciting and blessed times are these, praise God.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.