No Distance Too Far (36 page)

Astrid laid the back of her hand against Elizabeth’s forehead. “Still running a fever.”

“I know, but not much, and it’s not unexpected. Could I have something to drink other than broth? Like lemonade or iced tea?”

“Of course. I’ll get it.” Astrid stopped at the door, deliberately ignoring Elizabeth’s cranky tone. “I’ll bring one for all of us.”
Do I
go to the dance like Mor says or stay here?
Sometimes the answers to questions came down to a matter of guilt. If something happened to Elizabeth while she was gone, would the guilt make her so miserable she couldn’t bear it? The thought of seeing Mr. Landsverk again made her pick up her pace. Things had just been getting interesting the other day when she was called for the emergency. Why had he not stopped by to see how things were going? Or was that asking too much, considering how little time they’d spent together?

She and Thelma fixed a tray, and she carried it back upstairs. Ingeborg was sitting in the rocker knitting, and Elizabeth lay sound asleep. Astrid set the tray on the low table near her mother and handed her a glass. “How long did she stay awake?”

“Maybe five minutes. The bleeding is normal, and her heart sounds normal, as does her breathing. Yes, she is running a slight fever, but I am so grateful it is not worse that I can’t be concerned.” She set the chair to rocking. “I find it interesting that we pray and pray for something, and then when God answers and it happens, we are almost too surprised to recognize it or to be thankful.”

“We asked for healing for Elizabeth and lost the baby in the process.” Astrid sipped her lemonade. “Could we not have one without the other?”

“Oh, I think so, but in the long run, one day looking back, we will see that this was God’s most compassionate way to answer our prayers.”

“But He could have healed the baby too.”

“Ja, He could have. But He chose not to heal the little one here but take him home. Somewhere in the Old Testament it talks of how death may be saving the person from terrible things that would be happening later in life. I’ll have to look up the place. Once I read that, I was not only comforted but able to face losing patients without as much sorrow.”

“But what if Elizabeth is never able to have another baby?”

“Then she needs to be grateful for the one she has and trust that God knows best.”

Astrid shook her head. “I pray that one day I will come to that trust and acceptance.”

“I pray that for you too. Now, you go take a bath and get ready for the party. Take every moment and squeeze every bit of joy out of it.”

“I wish Grace were here. I want to see her before I leave.
If
I leave.”

“Ja, well, we’ve all been praying wisdom for you along that line too.”

“You don’t think I should go back to school and on to Africa?”

“I think you should do what God is calling you to do.”

THAT EVENING ASTRID and Haakan took the buggy to the schoolhouse, and after Haakan tied the horse to the hitching rail, he helped his daughter out of the buggy. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you. It’s so long since I’ve been to a dance that I might have forgotten how.”

He held his bent arm out to her, and she tucked her hand in the crook of it. “Seems strange without Mor here.”

“Ja, and without Elizabeth on the piano. But the musicians will do well. There’s lots of good food and drink, and people are ready to laugh and have a good time. There’s Benny over there with the rest of the children.”

“Don’t you love his scooter? I couldn’t believe it when our maintenance man at the hospital in Chicago showed it to me.”

Haakan nodded. “He tries hard with the crutches, but this is easier. You did a good thing by bringing him here.”

“Thanks to Rebecca and Gerald, who agreed to adopt him. I couldn’t bear the thought of sending him to an orphanage or worse, back out on the streets. Chicago is not a good place to live, at least for the poorer people.” She glanced up to where the musicians were tuning up to catch Joshua watching her. He sent a smile her way that kicked her heart up a notch.

“I see you’ve made one man very happy tonight.”

Leave it to her observant father. She could feel the heat of a blush climbing her neck. Inga and Emmy ran over to greet her.

Astrid had only had a few moments with Emmy since she’d been home, but the little girl had already won her heart. It was easy to understand why her parents were so fond of her.

“How’s Ma?” Inga asked.

“Sleeping but getting better.”

“She sure sleeps a lot.”

“True, but that is what she needs most.”

“Are you going to dance with Mr. Landsverk?”

“Inga, what a thing to ask.” Thorliff joined them, catching his daughter up in his arms. He looked at Astrid. “Elizabeth wanted Inga to have one parent here tonight.”

“Well, Tante Ellie said Mr. Landsverk is sweet on Tante Astrid,” Inga spouted, “and I asked what she meant, and she said—”

“That’s enough,” Thorliff said as he set her back down. “You and Emmy go play with the other children, and I’ll come get you for a dance later on.”

“Emmy too?”

“Of course.” He watched as the two ran off. “They’ve become inseparable.”

“It’s good for both of them.” Haakan nodded toward a greeting from Mrs. Valders.

When the dancing started, Samuel claimed the first dance and led Astrid into one of the forming squares.

“Did your mother tell you to do this?”

“Nope. I haven’t seen you since you got home, so I decided dancing would be good.”

“Thank you.” She smiled as Trygve and his mother joined their set, along with Rebecca and Gerald and Penny and Hjelmer. The visiting stopped as Mr. Valders took his place near the musicians and called for their attention. The music started, and away they went, the women circling right and the men left. By the end of the dance, she was laughing and thoroughly enjoying herself.

“So are you home to stay?” Toby asked as he partnered her on the next dance. She didn’t have to answer him, as the patterns whirled them apart.
I’ ll think about that tomorrow or Monday,
she told herself.

Thorliff approached her with the new man in tow. “Astrid, I don’t think you’ve met Mr. Jeffers, have you?”

She shook her head and smiled at the man. “You are definitely not the Mr. Jeffers that I met, and I do know the story of what happened. He was an atrocious character.”

“So I hear. The real Mr. Jeffers, my father, was a fine man, well loved by all who knew him. I hope one day we learn the entire story.”

“For your sake, so do I. The uncertainty must have been terribly hard for your mother. And for you, of course.” Astrid liked the man’s smile. He sent a warm feeling right through her. He seemed so at ease and friendly. He would be a good addition to Blessing.

“It was and still is. I do believe I have talked Mother into coming to Blessing in the near future.”

“Good. To visit?”

“No. I will be building a house here, and she is looking forward to a new life.” He glanced at Thorliff. “It sounds like we’ll all be starting a new life if our business goes the way we hope.”

Thorliff nodded, and then acknowledged someone calling his name. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Have you met many of the people of Blessing?” Astrid asked.

“Only my business associates and those at the boardinghouse. I did meet your mother at our meetings. She is very proud of you. I can understand why. It is a noble profession you have taken on. It must be very enriching.”

Astrid found herself blushing. “Thank you. Why don’t you come to church tomorrow and then join the Bjorklund family for dinner afterward? We’ll make sure you meet lots of the people here.”
Deborah.

This might be the man for her. I’ ll have to ask Sophie what she thinks.

“Thank you. I’d like that.” He nodded and then added, “Could I have this dance?”

“I’d be delighted.” Together they joined the others in a schottische, following the patterned dancers in the circle. Halfway through Astrid glanced over at the musicians to find Joshua watching her, his face sober. Would she get a chance to dance with him?

When the musicians took a break, Joshua approached her. “I’m glad to see you here,” he said. “I was afraid you’d not make it.”

“Mor made sure I came, and I’m glad I did. You all play so well together. What a delight.”

“Thank you. I’m asking before anyone else can interrupt—may I have the next dance? It will be a waltz.”

Astrid nodded as she smiled. “I think that can be worked out.”

“Good. Come with me while I get something to drink.” He took her hand and led her through the shifting and visiting crowd. So many people expressed their pleasure at her being home again that getting to the punch bowl used up most of the break time. He took a cup from Mrs. Geddick, who was pouring, and handed it to Astrid before taking one of his own.

He was studying her over the rim of his cup, and his smile set her neck to heating up again. What was there about him that caused such a visceral reaction? She carried the thought one further. And at the same time she’d not thought about him at all for days when she was in Chicago or Athens. Was there a difference between love and desire?

But that was nothing to how she felt when he took her in his arms and moved to the music.
Floating
was the only word she found to describe it. He turned them in a circle, one hand firm in the middle of her back and the other holding hers as if she were a precious ornament. When she looked into his eyes, she couldn’t look away. Longing called to longing. Her heart quickened, and she dampened her lips with the tip of her tongue. As they turned, the music thrummed through her veins as if part of her blood.

“May I walk you home at the end of the night?” he asked when the music faded and stopped. “I mean, if you’re going to spend the night in town again.”

“I am, and yes, I’d like that.”

“Good.” He squeezed her hand that somehow had stayed clasped in his. When he left to rejoin the musicians, her hand felt lonely. Perhaps things would be different between them this time.

28

L
etter for you.” Thorliff handed his wife the mail.

“From the Josephson Foundation.” Elizabeth glanced over at Astrid, who had just brought dinner up.

“Well, open it.” Astrid set the tray on the table next to the chair where Elizabeth was enjoying the fresh air and sunshine from the open window.

Elizabeth did as told and, after slitting the envelope, pulled out two sheets of paper. She unfolded them slowly, as if afraid of the contents.

Astrid bit down on her impatience. Elizabeth was recovering, but the pace at which she did normal tasks was indicative of her weakness. And Astrid didn’t know what else to do for her. “Who, exactly, is it from, and what do they have to say?”

Thorliff, leaning against the doorjamb, cleared his throat.

Elizabeth sighed and laid the paper down on her lap and then handed it to Astrid. “You read it aloud, please.”

Astrid took the letter and started.

“ ‘Dear Doctors Bjorklund.’ ” That made her smile. “They could have sent us each a letter.”

“Easier this way.” Thorliff crossed his arms, his impatience locked against his chest.

“I am hoping to find you both well by now. I know you have been through great turmoil.”

Astrid looked up. “Did anyone tell them about your losing the baby? I wrote a note to Dr. Morganstein but didn’t think to contact anyone else there.”

Thorliff shook his head, as did Elizabeth.

“Then they don’t know the half of it.” She continued.

“In our last communication, we postponed anything further on the hospital in Blessing until the winter passed. We’ve waited even longer due to my aunt’s increasing frailty. Now she insists on going forward and is pushing for this meeting to happen quickly. I know this project is near and dear to her heart, and she wants to be active in the planning. But due to her weakened strength, Dr. Morganstein will take her place for the meeting. She is anxious to see you both and volunteered to attend before we could even ask.

“Would it be possible for us to schedule this meeting in two weeks? We would arrive on the train the night before and take rooms at your boardinghouse. If this will not be possible for you, I ask that you telephone me with an alternate plan. Or, as we hope, with your approval.