Moonlight on the Millpond (41 page)

A letter had come thanking Maddie for the invitation but also saying that Eden would not be visiting until December, weather permitting. Maddie had written back to say they would be there no matter when Eden arrived and then not given it any more thought. So when Eden trudged up the snow-covered road on a sunny day in the middle of December, she was the last person on Maddie's mind.

Clara had not come that day. She'd begun to take Tuesdays and Fridays as days at home. So when the knock sounded at the door, Maddie had no choice but to answer it herself. She swiftly wiped her hands, knowing whoever was outside had to be cold.

“Eden,” Maddie exclaimed, feeling her heart lurch.

“Hello, Maddie,” she said quietly. “Is this a bad time?”

“No, come in out of the cold. I was just doing some baking.”

“Is there something I can do to help?”

“Come and get warm, Eden,” Maddie offered, trying to work out who this really was. She hadn't had more than a few hours with Eden in the past, but the memory was a strong one. This looked like Eden, but nothing else was the same. There was a softness to her eyes and a gentleness to her speech and mannerisms that Maddie didn't recognize.

“Sit here by the fire. I'll make you a cup of tea,” Maddie offered, and Eden glanced around.

“Everything looks wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

“You've done some wallpapering,” Eden said, glancing back into the parlor they'd just walked through. “Oh, and in the small room too. Does your uncle carry those prints?”

“Yes, he has a good selection.”

“Thank you.” Eden smiled when Maddie set the tea in front of her. Maddie took a seat with her own tea, wondering what they would talk about.

“How is Jace?” Eden asked.

“Oh, Eden,” Maddie said as she rose. “He's in the barn. I'll tell him you're here.”

“It's all right if he's busy.”

“Not at all. I'll just run and get him.”

Maddie's brain raced all the way to the barn, so befuddled by Eden's presence she almost tripped on the threshold.

“Maddie?” Jace was suddenly behind her; she had walked right past him.

“Oh, there you are.”

“What's the matter?”

“Eden's here.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing—it's not like that. She's just so changed.”

Jace's racing heart slowed. For a moment he thought they had gone backward in time, a place he did not wish to be.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I just needed you to know she was here.”

“I'll be right in.”

“Don't hurry. We're just talking in the kitchen.”

Jace watched her leave, understanding her plight. The Eden he'd talked to that weekend and then on the train was not the woman he'd known for 25 years. Maddie's only interaction with Eden had been completely negative. He could understand that she would be very confused.

Jace hurried to put away his tools. He was anxious to see his sister, and not because he couldn't trust her. He found the change in her utterly fascinating.

“I've never asked about the folks in the boardinghouse,” Maddie mentioned over tea that Saturday night. The three of them had done a lot of talking, but this hadn't come up. “Have the same people been there for long?”

Both Jace and Eden laughed.

“What did I miss?” Maddie questioned.

“It's terrible of us,” Eden admitted, “but I have one gentleman who looked to be 80 when he moved in, but he's been with me for over 15 years. I still have no idea how old he is.”

“Is he ailing at all?” Jace wished to know.

“Not in the least. He's as strong as ever. May, she helps me in the kitchen,” Eden explained to Maddie. “She determined to learn his age a few years ago, but no amount of probing or questions would do it.”

“It doesn't help that he's half deaf,” Jace put in.

“He hears what he wants to hear,” Eden said. “Like a certain younger brother I know.”

Jace tried to look innocent, but Maddie did not fall for it.

“What was Jace like as a child?” she had to ask.

“As a rule, he did very well, but there were times when I knew he was up to something, and it took some dragging to find out.”

“What would you do?” Maddie asked her spouse.

“Nothing. I don't know what Eden's talking about.”

Eden rolled her eyes.

“I won't tell all, Maddie, but Jace and a friend of his liked to torment the blacksmith. They never thought I would figure it out, but they always came home covered in soot. It was so obvious.”

“Is that how you knew?” Jace asked, causing both women to laugh hysterically.

He was teased about that for the rest of the evening, but it didn't detract from their fun. Indeed, Jace and Maddie went to bed amazed over how much they were enjoying Eden.

Having to talk to herself about worrying, Eden also prepared to retire. The morning was on her mind in a huge way, and if she wasn't careful not to fall into old controlling habits, she would not sleep at all.

“Maddie?” Eden was the first in the kitchen on Sunday morning and spoke to her host as soon as she arrived. “Would it be all right if I went into town for services? Would you and Jace mind?”

“Not at all. I'd like to go with you. Jace thinks he's getting a cough, so he's going to stay in bed, but I would enjoy going to the meetinghouse.”

“Maddie, I was going to go to services at Mr. Muldoon's. Do you mind if we go there?”

“How do you know Mr. Muldoon?” Maddie asked in surprise.

“His brother is a friend of my pastor in Pine River.”

“What an interesting coincidence.”

“So, do you mind?” Eden repeated.

The first thing Maddie wanted to say was yes, she did mind, but then she realized what an opportunity it was. However, she remembered some things Mr. Muldoon had said.

“Eden, I don't usually go there, and I don't know what it costs.”

“It doesn't cost anything.”

“Well, I know there's no pew rental, but I think Mr. Muldoon said something about giving. And I don't know how much to give.”

“It's not like that, Maddie. I'm quite certain that Mr. Muldoon was talking about when the Bible tells us to consider the money we have and to give as cheerfully and generously as we can. You would be a visitor, Maddie. I don't think anyone would expect you to give.”

“You're sure?”

“Very sure.”

“And the Muldoons don't mind if others come?”

“They would enjoy it.”

Maddie found Eden's expression so sincere that she agreed. She went back upstairs to put on one of her better dresses and tell Jace of her plans. As she expected, he was staying where he was, but the women left for town not long after breakfast.

Nineteen

“Eden?” Maddie asked when the sleigh was in motion. The service was over, and they were headed out of town. “What happened to you?”

“What happened to me?” Puzzled, Eden questioned her right back, not sure what she meant.

“Well,” Maddie hesitated, afraid of offending. “You're different.”

“I
am
different,” Eden replied, relieved to tell her. “But I can't give myself any of the credit, Maddie. God has made the changes in me.”

“How is that possible?”

“Oh, Maddie.” Eden searched for the right words. Some of this was still so new for her, but she remembered Mr. Engler had advised that she simply tell her own story. “What you have to understand, Maddie, is that I was very flippant about God. I had no fear of Him at all. I just lived my life as I pleased until I wanted to die. I didn't understand what a sinner I was, or how holy God is. When that was explained to me, I chose to repent to Jesus Christ, who saved me from my sin. The Bible says that when we trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live inside of us. He made the changes you see in me.”

Maddie was driving the sleigh but was barely watching where they were headed. Eden assumed the team knew the way and tried not to worry.

“But I believe in God,” Maddie told her.

“I did too, but I didn't understand that He wanted a personal relationship with me. That was the reason Jesus came to earth. I was miserable and desperate, but it never occurred to me that I didn't have to be until a pastor told me that I could choose to do things God's way. When I understood that, I trusted Him for salvation.”

Maddie had turned to the front now, so Eden stopped speaking. After a moment, Maddie thanked her.

“I appreciate your telling me what happened, Eden.”

“I'm glad to do it, but I'm now wondering if I confused things for you.”

“I don't know,” Maddie said, not willing to tell Eden that she often felt desperate and miserable. “It's a lot to think about.”

“Do you mind if I pray for you, Maddie?” Eden asked, not mentioning how often she already did this.

“No, I don't mind, Eden. Thank you.”

This took them back to the farm. Jace was on hand, bundled to the nose, to see to the team and sleigh, so the women headed inside out of the cold. Eden was on her way to hang her coat in the room off the buttery but stopped before leaving the kitchen. She faced Maddie, putting her hand out to give her arm a squeeze.

“I'm so glad Jace has you, Maddie. I can't tell you how much.”

Maddie stood very still, even after Eden moved away. It was nothing like she expected. She was having her questions answered, but she was as confused as ever. She wanted more than anything to find a warm place and have a good cry. However, she could hear Jace coming in and made a swift decision.

She would not let him know how unsettling she'd found the morning service or Eden's words on the ride home. Jace would think that Eden had said something to deliberately upset her. In having her with them for the weekend, Maddie had come to appreciate Eden in a whole new way. She thought Jace was enjoying her too and didn't want to take the chance of unsettling this newfound relationship.

“Thank you for putting the sleigh away,” she said, greeting her husband with a kiss. “How are you feeling?”

“Not too bad. How are things in town?”

“Fine,” Maddie said, not even thinking to mention that she hadn't gone to the meetinghouse with Doyle and Cathy.

Maddie set to work on dinner, Jace giving her a hand. Neither one of them noticed that Eden did not join them for some minutes. She was taking extra time in putting away her coat and scarf, using those few minutes to pray for her brother and sister-in-law.