Adam had wanted Mrs. Harrison to come along when he went to fetch Olivia at the orphanage so she, too, could help. But the matron had been unwell.
“I’ll pray for her,” she had told him as he and Olivia hurried away.
Adam became alert in his chair when the door to Stephen’s bedroom opened and hurried footsteps came in their direction. But it was only Olivia passing to get something from the kitchen. Unable to hide his anxiety, he rose and walked to the kitchen where he saw her pouring water into a small basin with a small towel in it. Her strained face tugged at his heart. It had been a long and tiring day.
“Olivia, is all well?”
Her eyes lifted with surprise and he smiled softly at her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She smiled and said, “All is well. It’s almost done now.”
Frowning, thinking she might just be trying to allay his fears, he asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, my love. The baby’s head is out. She just needs a little push and the little darling will be out.”
“God be praised!”
They both whirled around to see Stephen by the door. Adam smiled at his brother.
“I must hurry back.” Olivia brushed past him with the bowl of water.
Adam and his brother returned to the sitting room to wait and pray silently. Stephen continued pacing and Adam imagined himself in his brother’s shoes.
What if it were Olivia’s trying to bring forth their child into the world?
A smile curled the corners of his lips. Yes, he would be worried and move around like a crazed animal, but the thought that the woman he loved would give birth to their child would also fill him with joy. The thought also frightened him. What if he turned out to be a terrible father? He was still trying to find his feet in being a Christian after so many years. Would he be a good father to his child?
Am I not getting ahead of myself? It’s not like I have asked her to be my wife.
That was because he didn’t know how to go about it. He wasn’t sure if he should bluntly ask her or write her a note or send someone to her. How did men propose to women these days? Should he do it through their preacher?
He wanted Olivia to be his wife more than anything in the world, but he didn’t want to ruin the proposal. She would remember it for years and he wanted it to be special so she would always smile when she thought of it.
Trying to get his brother’s mind off Annie, he asked, “How did you ask Annie to be your wife?”
Stephen frowned. “Are you seriously asking me that right now?”
Adam shrugged. “I’ve wanted to ask for Olivia’s hand in marriage for days now, but I don’t know how to go about it.”
Stephen sighed. “I just asked Annie if she would be my wife. She said yes and that was it.”
Adam’s eyes crinkled. “You didn’t go with flowers?”
Stephen roared into laughter. “Flowers? Why would I have gone with flowers?”
Adam scratched the back of his neck. “Well, to make it romantic.”
His brother grinned. “Looking lovingly into her eyes and holding her hands weren’t romantic enough?”
He dropped his hand and shrugged. “I was thinking maybe I could give her flowers and ask her if she would marry me.”
Stephen chuckled. “Underneath that tough exterior you present to the world, you’re a romantic at heart, aren’t you?”
Red-faced, Adam turned away from his brother. “You don’t have to sound mocking about it.”
A soft gurgle of laughter burst from Stephen’s mouth. “Who is laughing now, brother?”
