“You do?” Isaac asked. He wanted to laugh at the way her excitement came alive as she bounced up and down on the bed.
“You found Princess Addie!”
“Princess Addie?” Lena asked.
“Yes, indeed, I did. I found Princess Addie, and tomorrow after Sunday school, you are going to meet her too.”
Mina clapped her hands and dove at Isaac with her arms wide to hug him close. The trio embraced in a tight knot until poor Lena gave protest.
“You’re squishing me, Mina.”
“This is so wonderful,” Mina said, backing off. “How can I ever sleep, knowing we’ll see Princess Addie tomorrow?”
Isaac chuckled. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep.” He kissed both girls and carried Lena back to her bed. “But I’m going to because I want to be well rested before I see her again.”
Mina was still sitting up in bed as Isaac headed to the door. “Oh, Uncle Isaac, this is really the best day ever.”
He paused at the door. “It is, Mina. It really is.”
7
When a knock sounded on her cottage door, Addie feared that Isaac had somehow found out where she lived. She thought about ignoring it, but when the knocking continued, Addie knew she would just have to face the situation.
“Just a minute,” she called, struggling to do up the back buttons of her blouse in her hurry. Finding the last couple in the middle almost impossible, she gave up.
She opened the door and found Mary with a worried expression. “Addie, are you all right?”
“Yes.” Addie nodded and stepped back. “Please come in.” Immediately, she went back to fighting the buttons.
Mary turned Addie so she could help. “I can get these,” she said, brushing Addie’s hand aside. “I was afraid you’d already be gone to church.”
“I have an appointment at eleven and so decided to stay home.” Addie closed the door and turned to face Mary. “Have you had breakfast? I could fix something.”
“No, I’ve eaten, but please go ahead for yourself.”
“I couldn’t eat a bite,” Addie replied. She drew a deep breath and steeled herself. “What can I do for you, Mary?”
“You seemed worried after you met with that man yesterday. Is there something I can do? I feel responsible since I brought you to him.”
“Don’t. Isaac is a very good man, and it’s quite all right that we met again. I had always hoped we might. We knew each other well in the Yukon. We were just children, but we spent a lot of time together.” Addie motioned to a chair. “Why don’t you sit?”
“I don’t want to cause you delay with your appointment.”
“It will be fine. We’re just meeting a short way from here at the park by the boat dock.”
Mary nodded and took a ladderback chair. “I really didn’t mean to put myself in the middle of your affairs. You just looked so upset yesterday, and last evening, you headed out before I could talk to you. I usually keep to myself, but you’ve treated me like a real friend, and I want to be one to you.”
Addie let down her guard and took a seat opposite Mary on the sofa. “You are a dear friend, Mary. You and Pearl have both been worried for me. It’s wonderful to have friends who care.”
“And I do care. I was worried that maybe that man had caused you some sort of trouble in the Yukon, and now that he was here, he would cause you trouble again.”
A smile touched Addie’s lips. “No, he would never cause me trouble, so don’t let that concern you. However, I’d just as soon you don’t speak of it to anyone else.”
“Of course not.”
“Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your friendship.”
Addie noted the time. “I guess I’d better get ready for my appointment.”
