Rose of RiverBend by Vikki Kestell

Author:Vikki Kestell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religious & Inspirational Fiction, Inspirational Romance, Christian Books & Bibles, Religion & Spirituality, Clean & Wholesome Romance Family Life Fiction
Publisher: Faith-Filled Fiction
Published: 2021-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

After Lucy excused herself, Rose remained alone in Karl and Sonja’s living room . . . the living room where Amalie had lain helpless after her stroke and where she had passed away days later.

Rose dropped deep into her thoughts, rehearsing the events that led to the single most difficult episode of Joy’s childhood . . .

“ROSE! AUNT ROSE!” SIGRÜN called for Rose, her voice excited, infused with hope. Rose ran from the kitchen to Karl and Sonja’s living room.

Sigrün leaned over her mother. She turned her face briefly to Rose. “Look!” Rose moved to the foot of Amalie’s bed.

Amalie had opened her eyes.

“Amalie,” Rose whispered. Slowly, Amalie’s eyes tracked toward the sound of Rose’s voice. Rose knew the very moment Amalie “found” her, not by any movement of her face, but by the peace that seemed to settle in her gaze.

“Oh, Amalie,” Rose breathed. “Do not worry. We are here with you. You are not alone.”

“And she can now move her hand,” Sigrün said. “Come. Feel.”

Rose knelt beside Sigrün and took Amalie’s right hand. As soon as Amalie felt Rose’s touch, her fingers closed, as if in panic. Rose tried to gently unfurl Amalie’s fingers, but they resisted. Rather, they scrabbled weakly on Rose’s palm, trying to grab, trying to grip. When Rose looked up, she realized that, because Amalie could not move her head, she had been unable to follow Rose with her eyes.

Rose sat on the edge of the bed, still holding Amalie’s hand, and leaned over Amalie so that her face came into Amalie’s narrow line of vision. The peace Rose had seen earlier returned, and Amalie’s fingers within Rose’s hand relaxed.

“She needs only rest,” Sigrün said, rejoicing. “She will get better.”

Rose did not respond to Sigrün’s declaration. Instead, she said, “We should be careful not to leave Amalie alone lest she become frightened. Agitated. Someone must remain with her at all times. Holding her hand. Sitting where Amalie can see us.”

“Yes, yes,” Sigrün agreed. “We will take turns staying with her—but she has improved. This is a good sign. She will get better.”

Rose was in the kitchen when Jan returned to Karl and Sonja’s farmhouse hours later after looking for the young man who had insisted on bringing Joy home in the rain—the young man who had refused to take “no” for an answer and had grabbed Joy’s arm instead.

Rose saw that Jan was subdued. Thoughtful. Distant.

“Did you find him?” she asked.

Jan nodded. “Ja, I find him. I tell him if touch Joy again, I break his arm. Den he will no’ touch her.”

Rose’s mouth sagged open. “You said you would break his arm?”

Jan shrugged. He was still distant, not himself. “How Amalie?”

“A little improvement. Kjell and Lily are with her. We have not yet heard back from Uli, but Arnie will come as soon as possible.”

“Gud. Dat’s gud.”

Joy came downstairs into the kitchen. She had been upstairs comforting her cousins. Rose knew how fond Joy was of her much younger cousins. In the

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