Page 39 of A Joyful Ring
Risa stiffened. “I didn’t run away. In fact, I spoke with Papa on our way into town. He said to tell you hello. I left Gunder a note letting him know I’ve gone to visit a friend. I hope you don’t mind my imposing on you and your hospitality. If so, please tell me and I’ll get a room elsewhere.”
“Nonsense!” Gloria set a beautiful teapot covered in delicate pink roses on a silver tray, addedteacups and saucers, spoons, sugar, cream, and a plate of cookies, lifted the tray, and motioned for Risa to follow her.
Once they were settled in comfortable chairs near the fire in the elegant sitting room done in shades of pale green and white, Gloria handed Risa a saucer holding a cup of tea, and lifted an eyebrow. “Risa, you are welcome here anytime, and for as long as you want. I’m positively giddy to have you here because I’ve been longing to spend time with you and for the opportunity to get to know you better, but had no idea how to make that happen. Now, start with what happened last night. In the kitchen, you said after last night, Mrs. Baldwin suggested you needed some time away.”
Risa took a bracing sip of tea, then set her cup and saucer on the table beside her. “The moon was out last night, so bright and full, and Gunder had stayed for supper after helping me with the chores. Although I’m not entirely certain of the reason—perhaps it was the romance of the moonlight—he kissed me.”
Gloria looked like she was attempting to hide a smile behind her teacup. If Risa weren’t mistaken, she was sure the woman had muttered, “It’s about time.” She took a sip of her tea, then fixed her gaze on Risa in a way that made her want to squirm. “The kiss was bad? You didn’t like it? He did something to take advantage of you?”
“Good heavens! Gunder would never!” Risa realized she’d raised her voice and drew in a calming breath. “His kisses were quite … magnificent.”
“Kisses? There was more than one?” Gloria questioned.
Risa nodded. “He kissed me, and I kissed him back, and then I’m not certain who was kissing whom, it was all just so unbelievably splendid.”
Gloria didn’t even try to hide her smile as she leaned forward. “And?” she prodded.
“And I spent all night tossing and turning, wondering what the kisses meant. What he intends. What I want. I just can’t live in a tent, Gloria. I can’t. Not after Papa …” She pressed her lips together, refusing to say anything that might be construed as negative about her father.
“Go on, Risa. Say what you need to. If you’re worried it will tarnish my view of Lars, you are mistaken. He’s told me about the years he dragged you from one place to another, the times you went hungry or were cold or baking in the heat. He’s shared all that. I still love him, because that isn’t who he is now. What’s in the past is where it should remain.”
Risa blew out a long breath, loving Gloria if for no other reason than the fact that she knew the tragedies and struggles of their past and still loved Lars. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Gloria, and for letting me stay. Truly, I’m grateful. It’s just, I promised myself I would never live so unrooted again, and I would never put my children through what I went through as a child. I want to marry someone who can provide for his family, can offer security and monetary comforts.”
“And will that security keep you safe and warm on a cold winter night? Will it hold your hand whenyou need encouragement, or make you laugh when your heart is heavy? Monetary comforts, as you refer to them, are nice. I’ll be the first to admit I thoroughly enjoy my home. I’ve never been hungry or suffered in prolonged cold or heat. I’ve never wondered if I’d have a place to sleep or if I’d wake up in the morning. But these monetary comforts seem empty and hollow without love, Risa. Life is meant to be lived with love. Above all, it should always be about love. Perhaps you don’t really care for Gunder as much as you think you do. Lars mentioned a new girl in town, Maybelle, seems to have her cap set for Gunder. Maybe you should step aside and let her—”
“No! Absolutely not! That … that … Jezebel isn’t good enough for a kind, tender-hearted, wonderful man like Gunder.”
“Well then, I suppose you’d best figure things out. Soon. If you aren’t in Lovely to keep Maybelle at bay, how long before the girl turns his head?”
Risa wanted to argue that Maybelle would never succeed in winning Gunder’s heart, but Candi certainly could. She was stunning and kind, and she seemed full of fun. Precisely the type of woman Gunder should love.
Instead, Risa sighed and took another sip of her tea. “Am I wrong, Gloria, to want a home of my own? To want more for my future than living in a tent surrounded by miners, where I’m either freezing to death or roasting in the summer? There wouldn’t be any privacy. None at all. And as small as our home is, it’s ours. Papa made it snug and warm, and I have a good cookstove, and our fruit cellar, andmy chickens and the horses and the milk cow, and we’ve the hams and bacon we smoked and stored in the smokehouse. We may not have much, but the shack we live in is better than a tent.”
“Darling girl, it isn’t wrong in the least to want a home. To want more than living in a tent in a mining camp, which sounds horrid. Your father has talked about your shack, as you both call it. It seems to meshackisn’t a worthy word of a building that offers you shelter and warmth, and is filled with love. That’s ahome, Risa. A real home, no matter how small or big it might be. And I will tell you right now, I would give up everything if I could have my husband back, even if it meant living in a tent. Since that isn’t possible, though, I’m so grateful I met your father. He has brought such joy to my heart, and I hope you know how very much I love him.”
Risa didn’t know when the tears had started raining down her cheeks, but Gloria set aside her tea and opened her arms to her. With a soul-deep sob, Risa dropped to her knees in front of Gloria’s chair and buried her face on the woman’s lap.
Gloria let her cry as Risa hadn’t cried since her mother and siblings had died. As Risa released all that pent-up sorrow and fear, Gloria stroked her shoulders and gently brushed the hair from her face. When she had no more tears to shed, Risa lifted her head, and Gloria wiped her cheeks with a dainty handkerchief that smelled faintly of lilacs.
“Better now?” Gloria asked as Risa sat back and blew her nose.
“I’m so sorry, Gloria. I don’t know what cameover me.” Risa felt warmth fill her cheeks, embarrassed by her display of unexpected emotion.
“Don’t apologize for needing a good cry. We all do from time to time.” Gloria reached out and cupped Risa’s chin, forcing the young woman to meet her gaze. “I think you’ve been holding all that in for far too long, Risa. It’s good to let it go.”
Risa nodded, uncertain if she could speak with a lump filling her throat, but she swallowed it down. “I want you to know how pleased I am that you love Papa. He’s been like a different person since he met you, so much happier than I’ve ever seen him. Thank you for that, and for all your kindness.”
“That is my pleasure, Risa.” Gloria sat back in her chair, and a shadow passed over her face. “I would like nothing better than to convince your father we could have a good life together, but he has been adamant that we wait to wed.”
“Wait? Whatever for? It’s not like the hands of time will spin backward and make him magically younger. Life is fleeting, and you both should grab on to whatever joy you can while you can.”
Gloria raised an eyebrow and offered Risa a pointed look. “I think that is the exact sentiment I was trying to convey to you about Gunder.”
“Oh, I …” Risa sighed again. “I know. I just need to work past my fears and trust that God has a plan. I’ve been praying about this for some time, but the only answer I get is a little whisper that tells me to wait.”
“Then wait you shall until the direction is clear.” Gloria passed the plate of cookies to Risa when she resumed her seat across from her. “In themeantime, how would you like to help me decorate the house for Christmas? I’m already far behind schedule, but it seems there is a handsome man who comes every other day and quite distracts me.”
Risa grinned and took a shortbread cookie. “I would love to help you. Please, put me to work. Let me earn my keep.”
