Both women laughed.
“How are you finding working here?” Annie asked as Stephen put his arm around her shoulders again.
“It has been lovely. I feel blessed to be here. Thank you for convincing me to stay.”
Annie laughed and shook her head. “Oh, no, it wasn’t me at all. It was all Adam’s doing.”
Olivia’s cheeks turned rosy at the mention of the man who never failed to plague her thoughts.
Quickly changing the topic, she asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you would be on your bed waiting for the birth of your child.”
Annie smiled. “We came for a little shopping in town and I decided to stop by. I’m sick and tired of staying at home. I’m beginning to think that maybe I left here too soon.”
“No, you didn’t. You know the midwife said any day now.”
Annie snorted. “God hasn’t yet told me when my baby is coming. I believe only Him.”
Olivia giggled at the look the couple exchanged.
Annie turned to her. “Anyway, I came to invite you to dinner.”
Olivia beamed with joy. “That’s lovely. Thank you.”
“Stephen will come and get you in the evening,” Annie informed her and hugged her again.
Olivia nodded and walked with them to their wagon outside. Stephen helped his wife on the wagon bench before swinging on it.
Olivia waved them goodbye and went back inside. She had wanted to ask if Adam would be there, but she had been too shy to do so.
It was almost a week since she last saw him. The matron had given her his gifts and message the previous day, but she longed to see him.
Pleasure had filled her at the flowers and the baked goods which she shared with everyone. Last night, she had spent a long time thinking about Adam and what might have been if she was up for marriage. And then she had remembered that Adam hadn’t really shown an interest in her.
He might enjoy her company but she believed that was just it, nothing more.
Sighing as she realized that she was standing under the sun thinking of a man who was probably not thinking about her, she went into the building.
But she couldn’t get thoughts of him off her mind all day. She remembered when they first met, when he took her to his foster parents’ home and how kind and caring he had been. The children had to either call her name or nudge her to get her attention.
“Dear God, please help me,” she prayed when she found herself still thinking about Adam. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. Am I having feelings for him already? I don’t know. Let Your will be done.”
The washerwoman offered to help her do some fittings to one of the dresses Cora gave her. Olivia was hoping that with the meager salary at the end of the month, she would be able to purchase her own dresses. Annie had also given her some dresses.
When evening came, she adorned the pale yellow cotton dress and waited nervously on the steps for Stephen. She wished she had asked Annie if Adam would be there. She would have prepared her mind to see him.
“Can we go with you, Miss Olivia?” Anna asked, twirling her ponytail along her fingers.
Betty and Rosa stood up and nodded with eager eyes.
Olivia shook her head. “I’m sorry, my darlings. You can’t come with me. Maybe next time. I’ll have to ask Miss Annie first.”
The children’s faces dropped, causing a pang in her heart. She was still trying to comfort them when the gate opened and Adam entered the compound.
Her heart instantly slammed against her chest.
What is he doing here?
Adam strode forward, removed his hat, and ran his fingers through his raven black hair. His gray eyes held uncertainty.
