Trembling with rage, she steps, and it is only the fear in the woman's face that has her stopping. “I've done nothing to be ashamed of, and I thank God every day for bringing me to this family.”
Daisy and Allen return with Delaney in time to hear her tell Mrs. Batcher, “Nothing you can say or do will make me run from this Church or this family. I am here to stay.”
She turns to find Daisy grinning at her and Allen staring at her with approval. “Let’s go home, ladies,” Allen states.
The ride home from church is quiet. Glenn isn't sure what he missed, but things haven't been the same for weeks. After lunch, Savannah goes to work on her photography while Daisy and Allen go check on the horses.
Glenn finds Delaney and Anika on the porch with the boys. “There you are,” he says with a smile. He crawls on the floor where the boys are playing on a blanket and tickles their fat bellies.
Delaney watches Glenn with the twins. Her little hands are clutched tightly together, and she holds her breath as if waiting for him to strike. “My Daddy didn’t like us. He liked to hurt Mama,” Delaney says.
Glenn stares into Delaney’s eyes and recognizes a traumatized soul. Her eyes have seen way more than she ever should have, and he prays for the right words to reassure her.
“Your Father was hurting Delaney.” He lays the baby down on a blanket and focuses on Delaney. “I’m not saying what he did was right. It is never okay to strike someone, but I am saying it is okay to love him and forgive him.”
“I want to, but I don’t think he was sorry, Mr. Glenn, and sometimes when he kicked her, he smiled,” she whispers. Glenn’s heart breaks thinking of the gentle woman who has cared for his sons and saved his family.
Anika is mortified by Delaney’s revelations, but she knows it will eat her little soul up if she doesn’t speak of it. “Delaney, come here,” she calls softly. Delaney walks over and is pulled into her mother’s lap.
“The Bible says in Revelations, ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things, have passed away.” Anika takes Delaney’s hands, “Do you know what that means?”
Delaney shrugs her shoulders, “I think it means, Daddy is forgiven for hurting us.”
“That's right, angel. Rosie is in God’s arms, protected, cherished and loved. Daddy is forgiven, and all the pain that made him angry is washed away. He loved you, Delaney. When you were born, he was so happy. You were wanted and loved. Never forget that.”
“I’ll try, Mama. Can I go play?” Anika nods her head and watches her run off chasing the dogs.
Bowing her head, she wonders if she will ever believe the words she preaches. Glenn picks up Quinton who has started to fuss and sits in the rocker. Anika glances at him, “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“I’m not. Thank you, I needed to hear that verse today.” Anika glances at him in surprise.
“I like the thought that Sue is free from pain and suffering.” He leans forward to stare hard at her. “Tell me what the verse means to you.”
Anika stands and walks bouncing Allen who has started to fuss. When he calms down, she answers him. “It has multiple meanings to me. For my Rosie, it means that she is held in our Father’s loving embrace, free of pain and suffering. For Saul, I guess it’s the same. The demons that drove him to drink and … lash out, are no more. For me…, I’m not sure.”
Glenn stares at her and smiles, “You're not sure, or you're not ready to share that with me yet?”
“I should lay the boys down for their nap.” She moves inside quickly, so he doesn't see how his words have touched her.
Glenn follows slowly to a downstairs room they’ve turned into a nursery. He hands his son over, watching as she tucks them in. Anika turns expecting him to be gone but finds him watching her. “I need to check on Delaney.” She moves past him quickly and steps out into the autumn air, thankful for the cool breeze. Allen waves when Delaney joins him for her evening pony lesson.
“You’ll have to face your feelings sooner or later,” Glenn says from behind her.
“Why? It changes nothing.” Anika whirls on him. “Why are you pushing me? I'm doing the job you hired me to do, aren't I?” Her emotions are boiling just below the surface, and he has no idea how hard it is to keep her daughter from seeing it. A blush of anger colors her cheeks, and her hands are trembling as she balls them into fists.
“Of course, you are, but your daughter is picking up on your feelings, Anika,” he chides softly. “She is afraid to forgive him until you do.”
“How Glenn? I know that I should forgive, and I even understand he was damaged from the war, but it still hurts!” When the first tear spills, she angrily scrubs it away with her fist. “Who gave you the right to judge me?” she glares at him. Part of her is hoping to anger him and push him away.
Glenn snorts, “I’m not judging you, Anika. I want to help you, the way you helped me.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.” Anika storms past him and into the kitchen to wash dishes.
When Glenn follows, she ignores him, while she scrubs.
“You’re right, you didn’t ask for my help, but I’m going to give it anyway because that’s what friends do.”
Turning to him, she laughs, and it is a bitter cold sound, even to her ears. “I don’t need any
