© Copyright 2006 by More Than Novellas

Part III

Elizabeth Delayne
October 8, 2006
lizdelayne@hotmail.com

She had lost her home in town ... a building. The supplies. The adventure of owning your own store ... or rather, where her grandmother owned the store.

Her grandmother was safe. She was safe, and even if she had gotten used to her home in town, she still had a roof over her head with her parents.

Even if it did seem a little crowded.

She sat on the long bench, in between her youger sister and her mother. Space was limited. Across from her were her other siblings, her father ... and Oma.

She looked down at her plate of food, knowing everyone expected her to eat. They'd told her so for a days now. She had a lot to be thankful for. Hadn't she just reminded herself.

A family. A home. A *sewing machine* and business. The customers knew where to find them.

And she had a fiance.

She grimaced a little. He'd come out to the farm last night, but he'd been quiet. Or maybe she'd been quiet. She wasn't sure. There were too many questions.

"My Lena," Oma murmured across the table. "Eat."

Sarah
October 8, 06
baughmanks@gmail.com

Lena forked a piece of potato that she had been pushing around her plate. Looking at Oma, she put it in her mouth. After a satisfied grin, Oma looked back at her plate. In spite of her mood, Lena could not supress a chagrined smile.

After the meal had been cleaned up, Oma followed Lena out to the barn as she checked on the animals.

"You und Fritz have much to discuss, yes?" Oma's eyes never left her plate, but her words were heavy with meaning.

"Actually, Oma, there really aren't any more plans to make. We will be married in the spring, we have set a date, and -- "

"Nein, child." Oma's voice betrayed a touch of impatience. "You will never know unless you ask him, mein lieb."

Feeling tears well her her eyes, Lena took a steadying breath and turned to face her beloved Oma.

Elizabeth Delayne
October 9, 2006
lizdelayne@hotmail.com

The road to town was long. Her father’s faithful work horse prodded over the blanket of new snow. All around her was a world of glistening white and above was the bight blue sky. Still, she didn’t notice it, just as she barely registered the cold that was making her fingertips numb.

Her family hadn’t seemed surprised that she’d hitched up the wagon and planned to head to town. She'd left with no excuses, no errands ... nothing but her own confusion and Oma's words echoing in her ears.

You will never know unless you ask him.

She didn't even know *what* she should ask him. Did he love Miss. Goebbles? Had he loved her? Was she-Lena-a replacement?

Would he tell her? Would she know if he was being honest with her? Would she ever be able to trust him—and had she ever trusted him?

And what if his answer to the questions she asked him was yes?

Warm slipped down her cold cheeks. She didn't want to ask. She didn't want to put herself in that position.

But Oma was right.

You will never know unless you ask him.

As she came into down, the beautiful world of white turned, on the streets, to grime as it mixed with mud. Despite the lonely road from the family farm, there were people in town, ding their business as always. She missed it—this living she’d found the few months she’d been in town.

She arrived as his store front and locked the wagon wheel in place. It was now or never. Oma was right.

Aish
October 16, 06
aloverofwords@gmail.com

Stepping into the store, she froze as her eyes met his. In an instant, she was drowning in those deep dark pools of pain, no, of something else - she glimpsed at a hint of sorrow blended within a churning ocean of regret just before the shutters fell, leaving her to stumble back into reality.

"Hallo Fritz.” Lena said, surprised at the easy tone of her voice. As she spoke she realized that her mission would not be fulfilled today, nor ever. She knew now the true feelings of Fritz and with a jolt, this realization had rid her mind of all uncertainty. She had seen within that moment that Fritz did not love her; yet, she also knew that despite his regret at having committed himself to her, Fritz’s gentlemanly sense of responsibility would never allow him to break the engagement and with it, her heart. Determined to free him – her love; it struck her as odd that she should realize this now – Lena steeled herself to do it herself.

“Hi Lena, good to see you again, dearest ” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and Lena’s heart sank even lower.

“We need to talk Fritz, it is very important” she said, barely able to hear herself over the growing lump in her throat.

Instant concern lit his eyes at her tone.

“What’s wrong Lena? Did anything happen? I will be with you in a minute.” Quickly putting his work away, he rushed to her side worried that she was sick or…- no, he was worried she had changed her mind. He had been a fool to leave her in the dark for so long, but he had had difficulty talking about his feelings to her.

Today, like every other day the past few months, Fritz had found himself lost in contemplation and regret over his actions – the actions that had hurt *her* - until she had walked in.

It seemed her very presence caused him to clam up as they neared their wedding, which reminded him, that while the big day seemed to be looming closer, their relationship was no farther along than where they had started.

He was glad for the opportunity to talked to her, had been planning on it himself, but seeing her expression put him on instant alert.

“Fritz…” she swallowed hard, and forced the words out, “I want to break the engagement. Its not right and we’re both only going to get hurt.”

There, it was out, she had made the ultimate sacrifice for him, her beloved, but her watchful eyes found no sign of relief in his face. Instead, his eyes widened in surprise and recognition and Lena registered his emotions with shock. Had he planned to be rid of her all along with the silence that had consumed a bit of her soul everyday?

Sarah
October 21, 06
baughmanks@gmail.com

Fritz warred against the non-demonstrative Germanic heart that beat -- thundered -- within his chest at Lena's announcement. He knew the reason. She thought he did not love her, thought she would never measure up to the fancy Miss Goebles. *Uppity and pretentions is more like it* Fritz thought. Gulping in a great breath of air. Fritz glanced around to ascertain whether any shoppers needed assistance. Seeing none, he grasped her elbow and pulled her quickly into the back room.

"Magdalena, I know I've not spoken my heart yet. Yes, I've spoken my mind, given you my word that we will be married, that I love you. You are my heart."

Scowling, Lena interjected, "Fritz, stop that. Now I know you do not love me. You're--"

Fritz placed two fingers gently on her lips -- lips he desperately wanted to kiss -- and shook his head. "Lena, mein Lena, I could recite flowery words that describe my love for you. Will you believe me? Nein. I could show you how much I love you, but we will wait until after our vows for that. I could give you a list of what I find good and honest and lovely about you. But emotional, physical or intellectual attraction aside, it all boils down to one thing.

"You trust God to care for you. That is one of the things that I love so much about you. For a long time, I had difficulty trusting Him, but your quiet assurance in His providence was beautiful to me. I know that it would please Him for us to marry, that I would be a worthy husband, with His help of course. There is no question that you will be a good wife. And so I say again, it all boils down to one thing. Can you trust God to guide you in this? WIll you trust Him to protect your heart until you find that it is in no danger from me?"

Elizabeth Delayne
November 10, 2006
lizdelayne@hotmail.com

Lena simply started to cry. It all boiled out. The pan of his indifference, the pain of his rejection. The pain of knowing he had chosen someone else … or being allowed to think that he had.

Then the pain of seeing him again. Of watching him run out of the store, having risked his life for a sewing machine.

She sobbed, the pain rushing out like river rapids. Her breath hitched as he stepped toward her, looking helpless … a strong emotion, she thought for him … with her tears.

This was her man. This man who had brought so much heartache, and yes, so much joy.

You will never know unless you ask him.

“Lena---“

She shook her head. “Did you love her?”

“No.”

The answer was immediate and fierce. She stared at him through watery eyes.

“I made mistakes. Plenty of them. Too much pride, too much greed. For attention. For leadership in town. I know I need to make it up to you, but I can’t if you turn away from me,” he reached out, gently took her hands. “Let us put our hearts in the hands of our Lord, Magdelena.”

Lena felt the bandage around the hand that weakly held her own. She brought it up to hold against her cheek, as she closed her eyes.

“You could have died in the fire.”

“I have so much more to live for,” he murmured so quietly that she opened her eyes. “And it was you I went in to save.”

He was a different man, she thought, then the one she had first fallen in love with. He had a different heart. His eyes seemed so … clear, where they had once been so distant.

He had changed. Perhaps God had changed him.

And if God could change a man so dedicated as Freiderick, then God could do just about anything. He could bring them together. He could heal them.

She looked at him, her heart in her eyes. She, who showed her emotions so clearly, saw a glimpse of his as he stared back at her.

“Yes, Freiderick. I think I can trust.” He smiled. “And do you think you could accompany me for a bit of lunch. It seems I’m a bit hungry.”

“You’ll have to close your shop.”

He shrugged. “I've worked in this town long enough for people to know me. They’ll know I’ll be back.”

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