Twilight's Serenade (38 page)

“Sounds all right by me. I know the horses will be happier.”

Yuri took the sack from Kjell. “Did they say anything else about the eruption?”

“It’s finally stopped, but Kodiak is taking the brunt of it. The ash has collapsed roofs, and people are dying from respiratory complications. I’m certainly glad Kjerstin and her family moved to Nome last year. I was heartbroken to have them so far away, but now I’m glad. It would have been a terrible thing for them to endure. Bad enough that so many others are suffering.”

Yuri put the sack on the table and motioned to the stove. “Coffee’s fresh. Should I pour you a cup?”

“Thanks, but I can get it myself.” Kjell went to the cupboard for a mug. Just then the sound of a baby crying broke the silence in the house.

“The baby is here!” Elsa exclaimed and began to dance around.

Yuri felt the blood rush from his head. He grabbed the back of the chair.
How foolish is it to get light-headed now?
he thought.

He looked to Kjell, who just chuckled. “It’s rather like taking a blow to the stomach, isn’t it?”

“I figured I was an old hat at this.”

Kjell shook his head. “You never get used to it. It’s shocking and wondrous every time.”

“Is it a boy or a girl?” Elsa asked her father.

Yuri shrugged. “We don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait until Grandma comes to tell us.”

“It’s a boy,” Laura declared matter-of-factly. “I asked God for a boy this time.”

“What if God decided that you needed another sister?” her grandfather asked.

Laura seemed to consider this for a moment. “I suppose I would have to say all right.”

Yuri and Kjell laughed and Elsa clapped her hands. “I want to see the new baby.”

“Patience, darling,” Yuri told his daughter. “I want to see the baby, too.” But mostly he wanted to see Britta. He wanted to know that she was all right—that she had survived the birth without any complications.

After what seemed hours, Lydia appeared at the top of the stairs to announce that they could come see the baby. Yuri went first, taking the stairs two at a time. The girls followed at a giggling run, while Kjell brought up the rear.

Across the blue-and-white room in a bed that Kjell had made for them the previous Christmas, Yuri could see for himself that Britta was fine. She looked tired, but very happy. “Come see our new addition,” she urged. “The doctor is just finishing the exam.”

“Is it a boy?” Laura asked.

Britta nodded. “Yes. You finally have a little brother.”

Laura smiled up at Yuri. “I told you it would be a boy. God always listens to my prayers. Mama said so.”

“But I also told you that sometimes God says no or wait,” her mother added.

“I know. But I didn’t think it would matter to God this time,” Laura replied. “We needed a brother. We can have another sister next time.”

Everyone but Britta laughed at this. Yuri caught her rolling her eyes instead. “I think your mother has done more than enough for a while. We will let her rest and not worry about giving you another sister just yet.”

“What will we call him?” Laura asked.

Lydia looked to Yuri and then Britta. “Yes, what will you call him?”

Yuri smiled as Britta gave the slightest nod and urged him to speak. “We’re calling him Morris James, after the man who brought me to the Lord.”

Lydia nodded in approval. “How marvelous. I think that’s perfect.”

“Here’s your son, Britta.” The doctor deposited the baby in her arms. “He looks healthy and strong. Congratulations.”

Yuri sat on the bed beside Britta and studied the now-quiet baby. “He’s so tiny. I think he looks even smaller than Elsa when she was born.”

“He’s the perfect size,” Britta countered. “A perfect fit for our family.”

“And he looks very much like Britta did when she was born,” Lydia threw out.

“And only Britta would dare to compete with a volcano for such attention,” her father added, putting an arm around Lydia. “You probably should have named him Novarupta.”

Everyone laughed heartily, but despite the noise, the baby slept on. The earth might well be in turmoil, Yuri thought, but here there was peace and joy.

The days turned into weeks, and Britta found herself once again amazed at how quickly a baby could change. Morris was already growing and taking on a distinct personality of his own. Britta still found herself fretful that something could happen to the infant, just as she had worried with Elsa, but she tried hard not to let it ruin her happiness.

Morris was a delightful child whose nature made him quite easy to handle. He seldom cried and most generally waited patiently to be tended. Now as he slept, Britta couldn’t help but gently run her finger over his soft brown hair and marvel at the gift God had given.

“Is he asleep?” Yuri asked, entering the bedroom.

“Yes.” She straightened and went to Yuri. “How about the girls?”

“Dreaming away.”

Britta embraced her husband. “So finally some time for us.”

Yuri held her close and stroked her long hair. “If I haven’t told you lately how happy I am, you should probably hear it now. Especially since you are at the very heart of such feelings.”

Britta pulled away just far enough to gaze into his eyes. “I’m very glad to hear you say it, Mr. Belikov. I feel the same way about you. I cannot imagine any other life than the one we share together.”

He put his hand to her cheek. “You don’t regret losing out on the travel and excitement of being a world-class violinist, playing for kings and queens? You don’t miss the music?”

Britta shook her head. “The music never left me. You and the children are my music.”

Yuri cupped her chin and kissed her ever so gently. “And you are mine. Like a beautiful serenade.”

“Funny you should say that,” Britta said. “The oldest type of serenade was actually a composition to honor or express love for someone special. I like very much being a composition to express love for you.”

“You’ve always been my serenade and more,” he said, gazing at her in wonder.

“And you are mine,” Britta whispered, leaning her head against his broad chest. “So much of the past was just God’s various interludes to bring us to this moment of perfection. I have no regrets.”

Yuri’s arms wrapped around her and held Britta tight. No orchestra could have made music as beautiful as his contented sigh. She closed her eyes and smiled.