Loving Tenderness by Gail Gaymer Martin

Author:Gail Gaymer Martin [Martin, Gail Gaymer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2005-10-19T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“He’s beautiful,” Hannah said, leaning over the baby’s bassinet. “What do you think, JJ?”

The child tiptoed to get closer. “He’s small.”

“He sure is,” Hannah said. “You were that small once.”

JJ looked at her questioningly, then lifted one of the baby’s fingers and stared at it before comparing its size to his own.

Jemma chuckled. “The baby looks like Philip, don’t you think?”

Hannah gazed at the newborn and then at Jemma. “He has your eyes, I think. Either way, he’ll be a handsome young man.”

Jemma nodded. “I’m so grateful for this blessing.”

With a mother’s love, Hannah pressed her hand against her belly. A blessing lived inside of her, but she hadn’t accepted it with joy. Questions still rolled around in her mind. What would she do? Would her meager insurance cover the expense? How would she work and pay for childcare? JJ would begin kindergarten in September, and she’d had the wonderful hope of having a little extra income for their needs. Now, a baby.

JJ’s interest soon waned, and he skipped from the room, his voice ringing as he told Andrew about seeing the newborn.

Jemma gave Hannah a serious look. “Is something wrong?”

Hannah lifted her head and let her hand slip from its resting place. “I’m fine. I’m just thinking about all you’ve been through.”

“But look,” Jemma said, gesturing toward the baby. “He’s worth every minute of it.”

Hannah made no comment but gazed at the lovely child.

Jemma leaned over and snapped off the yellow duck table lamp. A small night-light glowed near the door, and Hannah headed for the doorway while Jemma gave a final look at her son before following her.

When Hannah stepped into the living room, she saw JJ playing by the toy box with Ellie. As she approached the group around the fireplace, Philip rose. “What do you think of my boy?”

“He’s handsome as can be,” she said, wondering if Philip also agreed that it had been worth nearly losing his wife for the new baby.

As if hearing her question, Philip motioned for her to be seated, and when she did, he sat, too, then folded his hands between his legs and shook his head. “You know for a fleeting moment, I asked God why He’d given us the joy of a son but threatened to take the child’s mother—my wife—but in a moment, I calmed, reassured by the Lord’s promises.”

“What do you mean?” Hannah asked, unable to believe a man would feel calm in the midst of possibly losing his wife.

“Here,” he said, lifting a Bible from the lamp table beside him. “I’ve kept it right here. I marked the scripture, because the words struck me as I sat there so disheartened and angry. Can you believe? I was so angry at God.”

Thinking of her own situation, Hannah could believe it.

Andrew shifted on the sofa beside Hannah and slid his arm across the back cushion. “We’ve all been there, Philip. Even when we cause our own pain, we blame God.”

“I suppose,” he said, then lowered his gaze to the Bible.

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