Adam's Bride (17 page)

“That’s not true, and even if it is, it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

“It matters to me.” She took a step back. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to be someone else—an American. I’ve finally realized that I don’t need to be like them. I’m proud of who I am. God’s been speaking to me lately. Reminding me that He chose me from the beginning—”

“And that He loves you for who you are.” Adam finished her sentence with a half smile.

Lidia nodded. “Yes. How did you know?”

“God’s been telling me the same thing lately.”

“Really?” Her gaze penetrated his soul. It was more honest, searching, than anything he could think of. He could feel its pull.

Adam dug his nails into the palms of his hands. He’d almost decided not to tell her the truth. But there would never be a chance for anything to happen between them until he did. “There are things that took place the day Samuel died that I never told you. Things I’ve never told anyone.”

“It’s not too late. Tell me now.”

Adam tugged on his ear lobe and forced himself to tell her. “I doubt if you heard about it at the time, but there was a series of events that happened right before my brother was killed. The sheriff had to handle more than the usual number of petty thefts, vandalism, and looting of stores. A Polish man named Artur was arrested for breaking into several of the stores in town, and most of us began to blame the incidents on the immigrants who had been flooding into town during the previous months.”

He cleared his throat before continuing. “The day Samuel died, he and I had gone into town for supplies. On the boardwalk I overheard your brother saying something offensive to one of the shopkeepers. Jarek’s accent made it obvious that he wasn’t an American, and I made the comment to Samuel that … that it was high time the immigrants were sent back to Europe on the next cargo boat.”

Adam winced at his own harsh words. How long had he prayed that he could erase the past? Yet it was something that could never be done.

Lidia’s eyes darkened. “Tell me the rest of what happened.”

“Your brother overheard what I said and pulled me into one of the side streets where he shoved me against the wall. Samuel had always been quick on his feet, and he tried to defend me. I pushed Jarek back, only to have Samuel throw the first punch. Before I knew it, things escalated out of control … and Samuel was dead.”

Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment. “I’m sorry, Adam. I really am.”

“Don’t you see?” Adam’s jaw tensed. “Samuel’s death was just as much my fault as it was your brother’s. If I hadn’t been filled with such bitterness for those coming into the area and spoken out of turn—”

“It’s over, Adam.”

He heard her words but didn’t miss the pain in her voice. He knew what she was thinking. Would two lives have been spared if he’d had the sense to keep his bitter words to himself?

Lidia shook her head. “It’s time you truly forgive yourself for what happened that day and go on with your life. You can’t take back what you said any more than Jarek can erase what he did. It’s time we all go on with our lives.”

Adam took her hands in his. “If what happened is really in the past, and if you can totally forgive me, then let me court you properly. I can’t let you go.”

Lidia shook her head, and her eyes welled up with moisture. “I said I forgive you, and I meant it, but it’s too late for us, Adam. There are simply too many obstacles standing between us. I saw how uncomfortable you were tonight. My people accept me for who I am. I’m finished pretending to be someone else.”

For an instant, he saw the love he felt for her reflected in her eyes. He hadn’t been wrong about her. She did care for him. If only he could get her to trust her heart.

He squeezed her hands. “Don’t you see? I don’t want you to be anyone else but Lidia Kowalski. Polish, American … Chinese … it doesn’t matter to me. It’s you I care about.”

“I’m sorry, Adam.” Lidia blinked back the tears and turned to run off into the night.

fifteen

“Wait, Lidia.”

Adam took half a dozen broad steps before he caught up with her. Reaching out his hand to grasp her shoulder, he turned her gently toward him. Tears streamed down her face as she looked into his eyes. “Adam, please …”

“Just tell me why. Give me one good reason why there’s not a chance for us; then I promise I’ll let you go and never bother you again.”

She wiped away the tears from her eyes and shook her head. “You say that you care about me the way I am—”

“And you’re not convinced?”

“Why should I be? You obviously despise my Polish culture. Besides, there are dozens of other girls who would jump at the chance to let you court them.” She waved her hands in the air. “Dozens of girls who know how to serve a five-course meal or do fancy needlework like a proper lady.”

“I’m not interested in any of that.” He let his arms fall to his sides. “What is it? The differences between us can’t be that great.”

“Then you don’t know me at all. Don’t you see? I’ll never be anything more than a common laborer, Adam. I have to work in order to provide for me and my brother, something no respectable Yankee girl would ever do.”

She placed her hands firmly on her hips as she continued.

“My mother tongue is Polish. I’m the daughter of a poor itinerate farmer who came to this country for a better life. I’ve had to work my entire life just to have enough to put food on the table. But I’m so much more than a poor immigrant from another country. I love dancing to traditional Polish songs and eating
bigos
, noodles, and cucumber beet soup. I love stories my babcia used to tell me. Tales of dragons,
Zlota Kaczka
, and other legends my people have passed on for generations.”

Adam stifled a grin as she paused to take a deep breath. “Are you finished?”

She flashed him a look of impatience. “For now.”

“I see a woman who loves books and poetry. Someone who can see beauty in a starry night and in the taste of maple syrup. I see a woman who can work almost as hard as any man when she has to and who would give up everything to help a stranger. I see a woman who puts God first in her life and has finally discovered that He loves her exactly the way she is.” Adam shook his head as he continued. “Just like you can’t change who you are, I also can’t change the fact that I was born in this country and only speak English. I can’t help the fact that I feel more comfortable working my land than mixing at a social. But just because I can’t dance and don’t particularly like cucumber beet soup doesn’t mean that you and I shouldn’t take a chance together.”

The corner of her mouth quivered upward. He took a step toward her and tilted her chin up with his forefinger. She was so close he could feel her warm breath against his skin, and it was all he could do to stop himself from leaning over and kissing her.

“You once told me that your people were no different from mine.” He ran his finger across her jawline. “You said that while some immigrants make mistakes, all they wanted was what was best for their families—political and religious freedom and a place to call home. That’s all I want, Lidia. Freedom, home, and a family. I see the way you look at me. Don’t deny what your heart is telling you.”

Lidia drew in a quick breath. Adam’s words shook her to the core. She was afraid to hear what her heart was saying. Afraid that if she gave her heart away completely, he’d only end up breaking it. She’d spent her life dreaming that one day her own romantic champion would enter her life and sweep her away in one magical moment. Instead, she’d met a man whose past collided with hers … and still they had fallen in love.

She swallowed hard. When had love come into the picture? Looking up at him, she felt her chest tighten. The wind ruffled his hair, and she longed to run her fingers through the dark strands. His eyes pleaded with her. If she truly had fallen in love with Adam, then wasn’t this a chance she needed to take? Her grandmother’s tales of brave heroes and beautiful handmaidens all had happy endings. Perhaps God was offering her a happy ending, too.

Adam interrupted her thoughts as he took a step backward and bowed. “I was wondering, mademoiselle, if I might have this next dance?”

She caught his mesmerizing gaze, and her legs began to quiver. “You want to dance?”

“It’s called a mazurra, I believe.” Adam looked down at her and winked. “A traditional dance from Poland.”

She tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help it. “It’s called a
mazurka
.”

“Well, you’ve got to give a fine gentleman like myself credit for trying at least.”

“I … I suppose you’re right.”

Lidia’s heart pounded as she stepped into his arms. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“On you? No.”

A sense of unexpected joy washed over her. Like the night he first kissed her, it was as if this was where she’d always belonged.

She laughed as Adam tried to follow her lead. With her head held high, she let her hands move gracefully through the air. The fast tempo and syncopated rhythm left Adam struggling to keep up, but for the moment nothing seemed to matter except the fact that she was dancing with him beneath a moonlit sky.

He stepped on her foot, and she leaned forward to try to gain her balance. Grabbing her arm, he steadied her, then drew her toward him. His face hovered inches from hers.

She stopped dancing. “I …” Her mouth went dry and she couldn’t speak.

Adam drew her hands toward his chest. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you all evening.”

“Yes?” This time she was ready for his question. This time she knew what she wanted more than anything else.

“Lidia Kowalski, may I have permission to court you?”

“I think today’s the day.” Sarah sat Indian-style on the picnic blanket and dangled a blade of grass between her fingers.

“The day for what?” Lidia rested against one of Adam’s sugar maple trees and let the warm sun begin to lull her into dreamland.

“The day that Adam asks you to marry him.”

Lidia’s eyelids popped open. “Are you sure this time?”

“Well, not one hundred percent, of course, but pretty sure.”

“Did he say something to you?”

“Not specifically.”

Lidia closed her eyes again. “If you don’t know for sure, then don’t tell me.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re making me nervous. On Easter you told me you were certain he was going to ask me, then again at his birthday celebration—”

“Just be patient. He’ll ask.”

Lidia frowned. She needed more than unsubstantiated feelings from Sarah. During her courtship with Adam he’d been the perfect gentleman, escorting her to church, accompanying her to socials, and even taking her out to dinner in town twice. But little had been said about their future. Silvia had dared to imply at one point that Adam had no intention of tying himself down to someone like her. While Lidia knew that the woman’s words were meant to hurt, it was hard to ignore them all the same.

Sarah helped herself to a second slice of lemon cake out of the tin. “You have to admit that the very thought of Adam proposing is completely romantic.”

Lidia didn’t answer.

What
would
be romantic would be an actual ring on her finger and a wedding day set, though she’d never be so presumptuous as to say so to Adam. She’d dreamed about his asking her to marry him for weeks, and what their wedding would be like. While she didn’t expect Adam to agree that the wedding be strictly Polish, she did want certain aspects of a traditional wedding to be incorporated into the day.

She envisioned the engagement when they would invite friends and family to witness the celebration of their commitment. Then on their wedding day his parents would give the traditional Bread and Salt Blessing at their house, and later there would be the Unveiling and Capping Ceremony that represented passage from being a young woman to a married woman. Drawing in a deep breath, Lidia could almost smell the tables of rich food that would be set out for everyone. Hunter’s stew, dumplings, roasted meats with vegetables—

Lidia started as Adam’s puppy jumped onto her lap and began licking her face. “Star!”

“I’ll get him.” Sarah stood and shooed the dog away before he caused any damage to their picnic lunch.