The Gift by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Author:Wanda E. Brunstetter [Brunstetter, Wanda E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63409-561-7
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

As Adam worked at the back of his store, putting new inventory on the shelves, he thought about Leah and how the girls had reacted to her this morning. They were clearly becoming attached to her, and he couldn’t blame them. With no mother to nurture them and with him making a weak attempt at filling their father’s role, the children were starved for attention and in need of a parent’s guidance and love.

Taking the girls to school this morning had been difficult. Riding in silence, he hadn’t been able to find the right words to ease their apprehension about going to a new school. Bravely, though, they had walked beside him while he took them inside to meet the teacher. Linda had even reached up to take his hand. At that moment, he’d felt more like a father than the uncle he truly was. Being a father figure was harder than Adam had ever imagined. He never quite knew if he was saying or doing the right things. If Mary could see how things are going with me and the girls, would she regret having asked me to take care of them?

Adam pushed a box of hammers closer to the shelf where he was working. I wonder what Leah would say if I asked her to marry me. It would be a marriage of convenience of course, because I’m sure she doesn’t love me. Weighing the idea further, he pursed his lips. Would she think I’ve lost my mind if I brought up the subject? It would be in the girls’ best interest if they had a substitute mother. Having Leah there full-time to cook, clean, do laundry, and take care of the girls would take a lot of pressure off me.

As Adam continued to stock the shelves, he let the idea of marriage roll around in his head. He’d been opposed to finding a wife all these years because of his mother’s abandonment, but Leah seemed grounded in her faith. He was fairly certain that if she had any plans of leaving their Amish community, she would have done so by now.

Maybe I should talk to someone about this—see if they think Leah might be willing to marry me. But who? Adam’s mind raced, searching for answers. He could speak to Ben about this, since they’d gotten to know each other fairly well, but then Ben wasn’t that well acquainted with Leah. I might talk to Ben about my mother, though. It would feel good to share the feelings I’ve kept bottled up all these years with someone I can trust.

Finished with his task, Adam rose to his feet and took the empty boxes to the storage room. When he stepped out again, he nearly bumped into Elaine Schrock, one of Leah’s closest friends. If he could talk to anyone about Leah, it would be Elaine.

“I’m glad you’re here, Elaine,” Adam said. “If you have a few minutes, could I talk to you?”

She smiled up at him. “Sure, Adam.

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