Passages of Hope by Terri J. Haynes

Author:Terri J. Haynes [Haynes, Terri J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636094076
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

OLIVIA

In a week’s time, Olivia and Douglas had gotten a little better rhythm of caring for Hope. A pleasant rhythm.

Milly continued to come over to sit with Hope when Olivia had customers. Otherwise, Hope spent her days playing on the floor or sleeping in her basket. No matter how tired he was after work, Douglas always dropped to the floor to play with Hope for a few minutes when he came through the door. The little girl had fallen into the rhythm too. She began watching the door each day around the time Douglas would come home. Every now and then, Hope would wake in the night and begin to wail. On those nights, Olivia and Douglas moved with speed to comfort her.

The only challenge now was that Hope being in their lives was another topic they could not talk about.

Olivia had awakened this morning, Douglas still sleeping beside her and Hope sleeping in her little basket bed. She had come down and started breakfast. When she returned, she found that Hope had climbed into the bed with Douglas. Or he had gotten up and placed her there. Either way, her heart warmed.

When Douglas came down for breakfast, he brought Hope and her basket with him. She was fully dressed, and Olivia laughed at Douglas’ attempt to arrange the baby’s hair. “Good morning,” she said.

She took Hope from him and sat her at the table where Olivia already had prepared eggs for her. Hope dug right in. Douglas sat Hope’s basket bed by Olivia’s sewing table. “Good morning.” He looked at Hope. “Her appetite is recovering.”

“That it is.” Hope had significantly improved. Her skin had almost lost its sickly pallor. She was more active but still not making the noises that normal children would make. But then, she hadn’t had any kind of normal life. Douglas said that he thought the girl may be eighteen months or so based on how many teeth she had, but she was much smaller than she should be for that age. With time and continued care, Douglas was sure she might grow to a more normal size.

What neither of them was saying, however, was who would be caring for her.

Olivia sat down, and Douglas took the chair across from her. “Any word from Mr. Still?”

Olivia shook her head. “I had planned to send him a note today. But if he had any news, he would have let me know.”

Douglas looked at the little girl. “I hope they find Beulah.”

They gave thanks for their meal and for Hope, who was almost done with hers, and ate in silence. Finally, Douglas spoke. “When will you have to work again?” he asked, his eyes drifting to the door to the secret room.

She studied him for a minute. “Mr. Still thinks it may be best not to send more passengers until we have the matter with Hope settled.”

“Hmm,” Douglas said. “I think—”

A loud pounding on the door cut him off. Olivia jumped. So did Hope, but she didn’t cry.

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