Authors: Nathan Adams
We set the wedding for three months from that day. The Christmas season was approaching, and though my belly grew bigger, he only seemed to love me more. We prepared the home for Christmas, played with an excitable Ruth as we did so, though I was growing more fatigued the further my pregnancy progressed. We began to go to church together, and I grew more immersed in the community as time passed. No one seemed to bat a lash at the fact that were a blended family of the most unimaginable sense, and I was thankful for that.
I got to know Jocelyn better and realized she was just a very unique woman, but always meant well. Joseph had never shown up to give us his blessing, but then it was also learned that their relationship was strained as well…I learned the day of our wedding why that was, and I recalled it as I prepared for my first night sleeping with my husband.
Jocelyn was helping Olivia to braid my hair, but I noticed her unusual quiet. She was very boisterous throughout the entire process, but now she was practically invisible with her silence. “Olivia dear, would you mind leaving us be while I finish up? I have some things to discuss with Vanessa.” She said.
Olivia didn’t hesitate to stop what she was doing and exit as she was asked to. When we were alone, Jocelyn finished her braid and then placed a hand on my shoulder, “There are some things you should know about Brandon. He’s truly a nice man, a very good man, but he’s got a bit of history too, you see.” She said.
I grew nervous at those words, “Perhaps we should save it for another time then? Maybe he should tell me?” I asked.
Jocelyn shook her head, “He asked me to. Said if you wanted to call off the wedding before it happened that you had every right to. Brandon is a man of God, he really is. He’s a decent man, but he’s made mistakes. Ruth is his daughter, but her mother was Bridget Daniels, and Bridget was Joseph’s longtime flame.” She explained.
When the connections clicked, I realized what Jocelyn was saying and my heart sank, “You don’t mean…?” I asked quietly.
Jocelyn nodded her head, “They had a relationship out of wedlock, and the product was Ruth. At first Joseph tried to pretend it didn’t happen, that Ruth was just his daughter. You see, Joseph wasn’t a believer, so his inhibitions were limited. He had already slept with Bridget, so it was entirely possible the child could be his. Bridget didn’t make it through childbirth however, and so Joseph has forever blamed Brandon for her death.” She explained, “I know as well as anyone that Bridget’s death was just some freak occurrence. She never returned Joseph’s feelings, so I suppose it struck an even deeper blow. Brandon has tried his best to repent for all of this. It’s a hard road for him, and even through all of that, he’s raised Ruth the best he can. Bridget had been seducing him for months and he finally caved. It’s truly terrible, but Joseph found another woman and is living happily in California. I believe Brandon deserves some happiness now too, and Ruth deserves a mother. He wants to raise her in a home centered around the love of the Lord. I’m glad he found you.” She said with a kind smile.
Thinking back on that conversation made me feel a mixture of feelings I couldn’t describe. We really were a chaotic storm when put together, a true scandal, but I realized that day that it was okay. I could forgive him, and I could forgive me. I could even forgive Emily and Lawrence. In the end it was all designed to end up this way. There wouldn’t be an end unless we made one, and God would watch over our union as he watched those mistakes in our past make us stronger servants.
I was wearing a negligee now, waiting for him to come in so that I could surprise him with my more daring display. This would be the first time he would have seen me so bare, and I was nervous.
Unlike Connecticut, no snow fell in Texas. It was dry and mild, and the days just seemed shorter. While I was watching our Lord at work, I heard our door open. It was Brandon, and he came inside dressed down in a robe.
I had to admit he was quite handsome that way. I admired his physique, and he seemed just as nervous as me. We both gave each other a weak smile before letting out our own nervous laughs, but I noticed Brandon’s eyes trace over my feminine figure, and he came closer to me as he pulled me near. “For the first time, I can be with the woman I truly do feel close to. I never expected myself to fall in love so quickly, but here I am.” He said with a light laugh, “You look beautiful by the way.”
“And you are quite handsome…Can I ask you a question Brandon?”
“Certainly.”
“Why a mail order bride? Why not a woman here? Why did you take me, someone who has so much baggage?”
“Because why would anyone without some sense of understanding know what I’d gone through? I made mistakes, broke my brother’s heart…Gave life to my daughter, but robbed her mother of it. I fell into sin, and I live each day carrying that burden. In a sermon one day, our pastor made a good point however. He said we can’t move on with God unless we learn to forgive ourselves. I can only pick up the pieces and move forward from here. Ruth deserved a mother, and I deserved love…You did too, and that’s why we are here together now.”
I held him near, “Brandon you’re absolutely right.” I said softly.
He hugged me to him tighter still and kissed just behind my ear, “When I saw you walk down that aisle, I knew I had done the right thing.”
We stayed this way for quite a long time, enjoying one another’s embrace. We did not make love for fear that we might harm the baby, so our bodies being close to one another’s for the first time was the feeling that we enjoyed that night.
Before Spring could grace Texas, Lilly Anne Hynes was born, and I watched as she clung to me for what nourishment I could offer her. She had my eyes, and while her father’s features were undeniable on her tiny face, all I saw was love. Brandon seemed to feel the same, and he looked on at her in awe. “She is quite beautiful Vanessa…” he said, “I believe we picked her name well.”
“As do I.” I said with a bright smile. I watched her eyes study mine, and Oliva came in with a fresh water and cloth for me.
“She truly is beautiful…Lilly Anne Hynes…Such a gorgeous name too.” She said in admiration.
Brandon turned to her and nodded, “She’ll be the light of Ruth’s life, don’t you think?” he asked her.
“Yes! Ruth will love her to death. God certainly is good, and you both are very blessed.” She said as she wrung out the rag and began to gently wipe my neck and forehead. “I can only imagine what the day will be like for me…” Olivia said dreamily.
I giggled, “Oh Olivia…You still have so much more time before you should be thinking of things like that. You’re only 17.” I said chidingly.
“Perhaps, but I have always wanted a family. I assume it’s because I never really had one…” she said looking thoughtful.
I frowned a little, “It is sometimes the way of things, but I assure you that you are cared for.” I said.
Olivia seemed grateful, but soon after the exchange of words, someone was knocking on my door. Olivia skirted over to answer it, but instead of welcoming the guest inside, she stepped out. I rose my eyebrow in confusion. What she did meant the guest would not normally be welcomed inside, and I feared the worst.
After a moment, she stepped back in. “You have a special guest.” She said looking a bit worried.
“Well go on, tell me who it is.” I asked curiously.
“It’s Emily.”
I froze, not knowing how to take that news. “Let her inside.” I finally urged as I leaned over to look.
Olivia opened the door, and sure enough Emily was standing there, as radiant as ever. She glanced around the room, looking to Brandon, then to myself, and finally her eyes rested on Lilly. “She’s gorgeous Vanessa.” She said looking up at me with a smile.
I did not smile back in response. I was trying to find all of the energy God had given me to forgive and remember what I had vowed to do before a wobbly grin graced my own features, “Thank you Emily. What brings you here?” I asked.
“To apologize.”
Brandon looked between myself and Emily, “I think I’ll let you ladies be. I’ll come back in once you’re done.” He said nodding politely to Emily, and kissing my lips. He left Emily and I alone.
“There’s nothing to apologize…”
“Yes there is.” She interrupted me.
I shut my mouth for a moment to allow her the time to speak her mind.
“I slept with Lawrence. He complained that your marriage was growing stale and he was running out of options with how to keep it together. He said it was taking much too long to try for a baby, but he was too embarrassed to admit that it might be his own fault.” She said looking sad, “He asked me to help him get his spark back. At first I declined, but I started getting jealous. I haven’t been married yet, or even courted. I’m more than worried it’s about my father’s position. Everyone’s afraid to date me.” She explained.
I smiled gently at her, “Emily, I already figured it out when I saw the paper. On everything, on the infidelity, on the slander, I say it’s alright. God has forgiven you, and he will forgive me too for my bitterness. I don’t want you to shoulder that regret anymore. Besides, Lawrence was right. We had little in common, and it was more of a political move than anything else.” I explained.
Emily seemed grateful. “Thank you Vanessa. I only wish that I could have been stronger, but you’re right.” She said softly. “I’m sorry to have bothered you at such a time, but I do want to ask…May I visit with the baby?” she asked curiously.
I didn’t decline her, and we spent a long time discussing the way of things. Before she left for the day, she vowed to clean up my name back in Connecticut.
By evening I was watching Lilly sleep peacefully in her bassinet, and I rested for the first time all day since she had been born. Brandon came into the room, the happy expression on his face now worn and tired. “I suppose it’s just us for the rest of the evening then.” He said, “I only wish we could allow Ruth in to see you now. She’s begged all day, you know.”
“After the baby has rested for the first few days, she can come in. The doctor says it may even be sooner than that with how healthy she turned out to be. I was stunned myself.” I admitted.
He climbed into the bed next to me, wrapping his arms gently around my midsection and drawing me near. “I believe I really lucked out when you answered my ad.” He said quietly.
I took his hand in my own, and we kissed once more under the fading glow of the oil lamp. His hand intertwined in mine, and our love only began to grow stronger still.
I never thought I would meet a man like Brandon, or have my life back. I could only see us growing stronger together, despite the pasts we came from.
THE END
Clean Western Mail Order Bride Romance
By: Claire Grace
Chapter One
Frederick Howard Fitzpatrick was where he could always be located on a Thursday afternoon: sitting on a little bench beneath the old weeping willow tree with its branches stretching downward
sorrowfully toward his late wife’s grave and the few flowers that poked their heads out bravely against the cold wind. After a long and arduous illness, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, a beloved wife, mother and daughter, passed away peacefully exactly seven months prior.
Even though time had passed, Frederick still couldn’t get accustomed to the idea that his wife would never again greet him bright and early in the morning with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. He would never hear her sweet laughter ringing through the house again. She would never tend to their garden, which was now overgrown with weeds.
The little ones, Angelina and William, were adjusting to the new situation in their own way. William was still too young to remember much of his sweet mother’s countenance, but Angelina was stricken with a sorrow that brought heaviness to Frederick’s heart. She would miss her mother for a long time, and he knew exactly how that felt because he shared her state of mind.
As the wind howled through the trees, rustling the branches, Frederick remembered his sister’s latest letter and how she reminded him that, even though he was a bereaved husband, he was also a father who needed to provide for his children. However, there was only so much he could offer himself, which was why his sister’s suggestion was to find a new wife, one that would be good to both him and the children.
“You all need it,” her letter stated gently, without urging or pushing for something that he wasn’t ready for. But at the same time, he also knew that the longer he waited, the more time his children would spend without a mother, an essential figure in bringing up two little ones.
He buried his face in his hands and wished his wife were here to comfort him. She had always been a great source of comfort in dire times. Her sweet countenance, her strength of character and her faith always kept him on the right path. Now, without her guidance, he felt lost in the world, as if there was nothing left for him but to lead a solitary life, waiting for the sweet Lord to take him away and reunite him with his beloved Elizabeth.
However, he knew that his sister was right. So that night when the rest of the house was soundly asleep, he took to his pen and paper. Under the soft glow of his candle, he wrote a personal advertisement to be sent the following day and published in the biggest county newspapers.
He described himself as he was: in his late 40s, hard-working, a man of God who had been widowed and left to take care of two young ones by himself. He continued by stating what kind of a woman he was looking for, though in reality, he wasn’t sure. He’d like Elizabeth to come back, but since such thoughts were blasphemous, he decided it would be best to mention a few basic character traits that Elizabeth herself had: a pure heart, love for those around her, a profound sense of faith and a willingness to move to Texas, provided their correspondence leads to a fruitful and blessed union.
Normally, he wouldn’t even dream of undertaking such an endeavor, but he knew time was of the essence. His children needed a mother. He was convinced when William, in his childlike naivety, said that this Christmas, he’d like to have a mother who would love him, play with him and take care of him, together with Frederick.
It almost broke his heart. He hoped that in all her mercy and unconditional love, Elizabeth would understand why he decided to take another wife.