His question must have shown on his face, for Joshua gave a little shake of his head. “Forgive me. I should not have spoken so. It’s just with you knowing the Maynards….”
“Life’s twists and turns.” Torin settled deeper into the chair. “I chose to move to Sweetwater Springs because of you. Your sermons and those few private conversations we had.”
Joshua’s stern expression lightened.
“I don’t regret moving here.” Torin gestured to indicate the area. “Early on, I missed my family. But after long years of no contact, that feeling faded. I can’t imagine not having my friendships with Hank and Brian. They’re my brothers.”
“The Lord’s plan for our lives can certainly unfold in mysterious ways.”
Torin wanted to huff again, considering the words “The Lord” and “mysterious” were usually combined with “wonders,” as in the quote, ‘The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.’ Torin didn’t think anything about his life was wondrous.
Then he reconsidered.Jewel is.
“I know you’re struggling with how best to protect your daughter.”
Torin, who’d started to relax, tightened again. “You won’t understand.”
Joshua’s eyebrows rose. “I can try. No one makes it through life without suffering. So it does no good to compare. I could tell you about my unhappy marriage to Esther, about the problems I had with Micah when we first moved home and he was so upset about leaving his African friends, how I feel when God responds to my fervent prayers by answering ‘no.’ But I don’t think any of those stories would make you feel I understand what you’ve been through.”
He supposed the minister was right.
“I’ve heard much of your daughter. Jewel’s a great favorite of all who’ve been privileged to know her. I hope someday I’m included in that assembly.”
Torin appreciated that the man wasn’t pushing to meet Jewel now. Just speaking to a new person was hard enough, although it helped that he’d been acquainted with Joshua in the past. It also helped to know that the minister would have supported his choice to raise Jewel.
Joshua stood and picked up his hat. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll send a driver and vehicle for you two. If you choose not to avail yourself of the ride, he’ll just leave. If in the future you change your mind, send a note with Inga to let me know.”
“Joshua, uh, Reverend Norton?—”
“There’s not many people who call me Joshua anymore. Aside from my family, everyone calls me Reverend Joshua to distinguish me from my father.”
“Better than being called Reverend Norton the Second,” Torin quipped.
“Definitely,” he smiled. “I’d like if you’d continue to call me Joshua.” He placed the hat on his head. “I will keep you and Jewel in my prayers. Furthermore, you two will always be welcome in our home.”
After thanking the man and seeing him to the door, Torin went to check on Jewel. But she still slept deeply between her rag doll and Brave. These past few days, she’d been napping longer than usual, maybe worn out by her distress at Ivy’s departure and his distraction.
Guilt weighed heavily on him.Her unhappiness now, or potential future wounds?
Back in the hall, he hesitated and pushed open the door to Ivy’s room. The space still carried the faint smell of roses, which gripped him in his chest.I became accustomed to her presence.The emptiness of his home wasn’t nearly as bad as the emptiness in his heart.
Torin tottered the few feet to the bed and sat, lowering his elbows to his knees and burying his face in his hands, swallowing down the grief and desolation that threatened to rise.
He’d prided himself on not needing anyone but Hank and Brian to get by. But he couldn’t deny the powerful emotions Ivy evoked in him and how her absence mattered. He sat up and let out a breath.
Along came a governess who’d worked her way under my skin so deeply, I’ll need half a dozen men and a mule train to pull her out.
20
The first week passed in a blur. What would have been a joyous time for Ivy if Torin and Jewel were with her seemed to drag.
Ivy hadn’t realized how attuned she was to Jewel’s presence. Even though the mansion was as different from Torin’s home as could be, she still found herself keeping her ears pricked for sounds of the child. Always listening for her, knowing where she was, what she was doing, making sure she was safe.
Ivy supposed, in some ways, she’d been attuned to Torin, as well.
Not surprisingly, it took several days for that heightened sense of alertness to wear off, helped, perhaps, by the thick walls that kept the house quiet. Except for the cry of the baby, the other eleven people residing therein went almost unheard.
She had the odd experience of feeling deeply unhappy away from Torin and Jewel, while also appreciating her luxurious circumstances, time with Cora, and getting to add seven congenial people and one adorable baby to her circle of adoptive family and new friends.
