Her birthday dress, indeed.
“So you'll always remember who you are.” Nella's smile softened, and a watery film came into her eyes. She cleared her throat, and the moment passed. “Now, what do y'all say to singin’ a few carols?”
Kizzie blinked her tears away. “Wait.” She placed her bundle to the side and stood. “I got a gift to share.”
Nella shook her head. “Now, girl. Ain't no—”
“I wanted to.” She repeated the words Joshua said earlier. “And I thank you.” She nodded toward Charlie. “From both of us, because I don't know where I'd be if it hadn't been for y'all.”
She walked to her coat and tugged the envelope from its folds before bringing it to place in Joshua's hands.
“Ours was bigger than yours,” Isaac said with a frown.
“Isaac Thomas!” Nella said as Kizzie took Charlie from her arms. “It's the heart of the gift that matters more than anything else.”
Isaac's expression turned doubtful, but he pinched his lips closed.
“Go over and open it with your husband, Nella.” Kizzie tried to bite back her growing smile but failed. “It's for the whole family.”
Ruth walked over to stand behind her daddy, and the boys reluctantly joined too, Isaac looking every bit as if he doubted anything he'd want could come out of that little envelope.
Nella studied Kizzie a moment and then turned to Joshua, who shrugged one of his big shoulders and opened the envelope.
The desire to blurt out the wonderful surprise shook through Kizzie, but she merely clenched her hands together in front of her, watching. “It's a way to get your dream started early. You won't have to wait five or ten years.”
“What …” Joshua tilted the paper toward Nella.
“It's a deed?” Nella shot Kizzie a wide-eyed look.
“Since helpin’ with your budget, I know what y'all got in your funds, so I considered that when I met with the lawyer, Mr. Davis, in town. He's gonna finish up the paperwork in the next few days and then y'all can sign, if you want. But the basic idea is that, with what you got right now, you'll purchase the acre by the river right away, so you can go ahead and start your plans for the mill.” She leaned over and tapped the paper. “And then, you can send me a small amount, there.” She pointed again. “Each month, till you own the other three and the house. I'm keeping one acre for myself, is all.”
“You … you can't.” Joshua looked back down at the paper, shaking his head.
“I can.” She laughed. “Don't you want to own your own place?”
“Of course we do,” Nella answered, blinking.
“And this is a perfectly good offer. Just like anyone else who has land they want to sell.”
“Kizzie …”
Evidently, Joshua had grown even less verbal than before.
“Your family already has a good reputation in this area, so you ain't bound to have trouble come your way, plus the location is by the river and a bit closer to town.”
The room remained quiet, all eyes on Kizzie.
Maybe she'd guessed wrong. Maybe they didn't want to stay around here.
“You … you don't have to agree to nothin’. This is just a summary Mr. Davis wrote up so you can study on it a little while before making a decision.”
“Are you gonna live with us in the house?” This from Elias, who, normally the quietest, was the only one who seemed to have a working mouth at the moment.
“No.” Kizzie shifted her attention between the two frozen parents. “I think it's best if I travel somewhere else.”
“What?” This seemed to rally Nella. “Where?”
“I don't know, but it's no good me staying here anymore, for lots of reasons.” She'd tell Nella and Joshua about the attack once the children went to bed, so they'd understand even more.
